Notes and Disclaimers: Master Liatrix is my Jedi sentinel, and all other characters are gratefully borrowed from our lovely SWTOR universe. There maybe SPOILERY elements to those who have not yet participated in the JEDI KNIGHT storyline. Features Lord Scourge and Jedi Knight, SIS Agent Jonas Balkar and Satele Shan. Sort of a sequel to my first story, The Well of Undying. (Sorry, I know it's been a long while…)

Feed back is welcome. Enjoy!

The Foundation of All Desire (Part One)

By: Feravai

Master Liatrix hesitated outside the Jedi Council Chamber on Tython. She'd been there many times before—as an apprentice, a young Jedi Knight, and many times as a seasoned commander and Jedi Master. A feeling of dread coiled inside of her like a pit viper waiting to strike.

Liatrix closed her eyes, summoning a cloak of shadow to enshroud her mind. Melancholy replaced her dread and brought with it the semblance of peace. It was a false peace, but it was enough to secure her secrets. She had so many of them now—some she could barely admit even to herself. Nothing could change the fact that the secrets were in fact her truths. It began with one secret long ago. One secret begets many, and secrets are, after all, the first cousins of lies.

No matter how tense or dark the past had been, she had always been lauded for her service to the Republic. The darker decisions she'd made were explained away under the guise of military strategy—a firm hand was needed to lead…to triumph. She had saved millions of lives and had a hand in redeeming the Jedi who had fallen prey to the dark side.

Only darkness can fight darkness…

Even after the year spent under The Emperor's control, she hadn't felt so unnerved to face The Council as she did now. She was told, the evil deeds she'd done during this time, weren't her fault. She had been absolved and welcomed back into the fold, before delivering the severest of blows against the Empire. She was younger then, her secrets fewer and easier to hide, especially amid the stunning victories.

Liatrix pushed against the cold steel of the council door, and slipped inside. She paused a moment, expecting to see the entire Jedi Council seated before her, but was met only by the Grand Master, Satele Shan.

"Master Liatrix. Thank you for coming."

Liatrix remained placid, and nodded. "Forgive me, I thought the rest of the Council would be joining us."

"I thought it would be best if we spoke privately."

"Very well. I sense something is worrying you." Said Liatrix.

"Indeed." Satele nodded. "I'll get right to the point. I've seen some troubling changes in you Liatrix. You haven't been yourself."

"I assure you, I'm fine. I don't know what exactly has prompted you to worry, but there's no need."

"I'm concerned, that you're spending too much time in the company of your Sith companion, and that his views might be rubbing off on you. I see the two of you together, so often." Said Satele.

"It's true. We do spend a lot of time together, but it's for a good reason. I'm teaching Lord Scourge how to fit into our world. It's not as if the Sith would welcome him back with open arms after what happened. He's considered a traitor in his world, and met with suspicion, even hatred, in ours. It's difficult to give up a life you've known for over three hundred years, to start over."

"I can't deny that, however, I believe he's dangerous, Liatrix. He's shown no interest in becoming a Jedi, and in the few times we've spoken, I've noticed his eloquence. I see the effect of his words on you. They carry a lot of weight. The power of the dark side is subtle and seductive and some Jedi lose their way before they even realize it. When I see the two of you together, I wonder, who is the pupil and who is the master."

"Lord Scourge and I, share our ideas as equals. Two sides of the same coin, if you will. We don't always agree, but I think that's perfectly natural, given who we are. In fact, he once said to me, that most of what he's learned about the force was from the Jedi. Surely, that should give you some peace of mind?"

The Grand Master stood in silent contemplation, and turned her gaze up slowly. "I sense you are walking a very dangerous path."

"I always have." Liatrix smiled, trying for her most reassuring expression. "But I haven't failed you yet."

"Do be careful. The Council and the Republic rely on you."

"I'll be fine." Said Master Liatrix.

Satele Shan nodded, and backed away, wordlessly excusing Liatrix from the meeting. She watched the young Jedi Master slip out of the council chamber, the door closing behind her with a soft groan.

The Grand Master waited silently, until she no longer felt Liatrix's presence close by. She tugged down the hem of her tunic and glanced over her shoulder. The private entrance at the back of the chamber creaked open, seemingly on cue, and a tall shadow fell across the glossy marble floor.

"Did you get all of that Agent Balkar?" Said Satele.

"Jonas." The handsome SIS agent corrected. He liked to be informal, if he could swing it. "And yeah. I did."

"Do you have anything for me yet? I've had several disturbing visions, but nothing concrete. The future is always in motion."

Jonas shook his head. "Nothing solid. I have my people running checks on a few bank leads, security satellite footage, ship rentals, that sort of thing."

"Get back to me the minute you have something. I'm concerned. Something isn't right and I have to find out what it is. Before it's too late." Said Satele.

"I gotta get ready to move. I'll be keeping my eyes on her." Said Jonas.

"Thank you agent." Said Satele.

A week later, SIS Agent Jonas Balkar had tracked Master Liatrix to a cushy Coruscant condominium. To call it 'cushy' was an understatement. The condo was the sort purchased by senators and other wealthy uppity ups, not Jedi. Not even the Hero of Tython and holder of the Republic Cross of Glory. Most Jedi barely had lunch money. He shook his head. She had to be visiting someone important. Hardly a crime.

Much of the building was faced with rose-bronze tinted glass, and had it's own private landing pad. A small one, but a landing pad none the less—a rare luxury on fast-paced, crowded Coruscant. The balcony, with it's jungle like assortment of plants and fountains, was ideal to drown out the city's hustle and bustle. Balkar thought on his tiny three room hole-in-the wall by comparison and winced. He never spent much time there anyway.

He took up his jawa juice and took a swig from the mug. I'm rusty at this. It had been a long time, since he'd personally surveilled a subject. There were agents under him, who usually saw to this brand of investigation, leaving him to the more exciting jobs. If it hadn't been the Grand Master of the Jedi herself asking this of him, he'd have wondered who he had pissed off to get stuck with this detail. He peered through his hi-res macrobinoculars. Master Liatrix was back at the condo, and she wasn't alone—finally something of interest. His holo went off. Damn it.

"Master Satele. I'm sorry. This isn't a good time."

"Anything to report, Agent?"

"My apologies. It takes time, and I do have a reputation of being thorough." Said Balkar.

"I do realize. Any news?"

"No. With a bit of finagling though, I managed to get a secure viewing location. Had to call in a few favors." Balkar glanced about the empty Valor class cruiser, conveniently moored across from the condominiums.

"You're on Coruscant?" Said Satele.

"For now." His brows furrowed. "I'm sorry Master Satele. I have a situation. Gotta run."

"Understood."

"Jonas out."

He clipped off the holo and slid it back into his pocket. "Now what are you up to Master Liatrix?" He muttered to himself, as he focused his macrobinoculars on the windows.

Master Liatrix faced the window, a bedroom window, from what he could see. She wore an elegant black gown—an expensive one he guessed, given the way the material skimmed her body. "Mmm, shimmersilk. Got to be." The last time he'd felt that material run through his fingers was when he spent a night with a set of blue skinned Twi'lek triplets on Nar Shadaa a few months back on his previous assignment. Hutts kept a lot of gorgeous women, but none of them held a candle to this young human Jedi woman he was stalking—er surveilling, he corrected himself.

She turned to face her as yet unseen companion. Even from where he watched, he could see she was beaming.

Lucky guy whoever he is.

Balkar's gaze swept over her fine featured profile, then lower to the side swell of creamy breast skimmed by the watery material of her gown. If he had to guess, he would say it was Corellian. Corellian designers fashioned some of the most seductive clothes in the galaxy. He shifted uncomfortably, his trousers tightening, in places you don't want them tightening during work hours. He'd been working entirely too much lately. Coruscant simply didn't have the same night life, as Nar Shadaa.

What he saw next made him kick over his jawa juice, and nearly drop his macrobinoculars. A Sith Lord…not just any Sith Lord, but Lord Scourge, the former Wrath of the Emperor stood before her, clad only in his undershorts. Even though the Grand Master suspected the Jedi's Sith companion of being involved somehow, Balkar would never have guessed in a million light years, what he was about to become be privy to.

Watching Liatrix and the Sith wasn't enough anymore. Without taking his eyes off the Jedi's bedroom window, he rummaged through his equipment bag, until he found his parabolic listening device. He shoved the earphones on his head, and set the device up, using one hand. After the crackle of the static cleared, their voices came in loud and clear.

"Simply looking at you, is torment enough. Do you not tire of pursing this pointless course of action?" Said Lord Scourge.

The Jedi took a few steps closer to the hulking Sith, and peered up at him. "It's not pointless to me. Please try…"

"Only because it is you, that asks." Scourge murmured. He nudged her sepia coloured hair away from her face, and regarded her for a long time. The backs of his thick red skinned fingers skimmed the perfect side swell of breast Balkar had spied earlier. The Jedi closed her eyes, her lips softly pursed, in anticipation of a kiss. The Sith Lord bent and pressed his mouth to hers, the kiss tremulous—far softer than such a powerful man could be expected to deliver. The Jedi's hands ran over his ribcage to his sinewy muscled back, small pale fingers kneading the Sith's scarlet flesh. Liatrix drew back, just enough to allow the dress to fall in an ebony ring around her feet, before the pair became a tangle of limbs again.

A chorus of moans, sighs and growls sounded through Balkar's headset. The SIS agent drew a deep breath and held it for several beats, leaning forward, as he watched the couple's exchange heat up.

Lord Scourge swept the Jedi into his arms, carrying her the short distance to the bed. He set her down gingerly and took care to keep his weight off of her.

"This job isn't without it's perks." Balkar mumbled to himself and smirked. Then, for the second time in an hour Balkar kicked his jawa juice mug and jumped.

"What the…" He started, and fumbled the macrobinoculars. An angry growl vibrated through his headset, and then the sound of shattering glass, splintering wood. The agent refocused. The Sith Lord seethed, teeth gritted in pain, his hands and arms bloody to the elbows. He paced the condo like an injured jagalor.

To Balkar's disappointment, Master Liatrix had wrapped up in a robe and wept before the Sith Lord. "I'm so sorry."

"I told you it was a pointless exercise. I can't do this. No matter how much I desire it."

Liatrix winced. "You need kolto."

"No, what I need, is to stop torturing myself. Even if we had succeeded, what do you plan to do about the good doctor?" He sneered.

"The only thing I can do. I'm not worried about my husband right now. I love you. I need you. I want, you."

Balkar whistled low and long.

"Buying this stronghold…I was foolhardy." The Sith growled.

"No. It's the best thing we could have done. At least we can be alone together now."

Lord Scourge shook his head. "And that's going so well isn't it."

The Jedi winced as she dabbed at the Sith's cuts and picked out jags of glass. "These are deep, you're going to bleed out, if we don't get you kolto."

"Do you think I even feel it?" Said Scourge. "It's not as if I can die."

"All right. I admit it. This didn't go quite as we planned." Said Liatrix.

"You think?"

"We just need to do the ritual again. We need to disperse your pain even more. The city wasn't enough. We need a planet. That should do it…perhaps even this one. Millions live here. Look how far we got this time."

"And after that?" Said Lord Scourge.

"Another planet, if we need. The galaxy is full of them."

"Perhaps, I should simply call you, My Lord Emperor, from now on." Said Scourge.

Liatrix scowled. Scourge snatched her wrist and pulled her against him, his blood leaking onto her robe and skin, colouring it as red as his.

"Don't pout Jedi. It was a compliment. Think of all you could do as Emperor." Scourge pursed his lips, eyes gleaming, as he studied Liatrix.

"Well, as your Emperor…I can't have you bleeding all over our rugs. House keeping already has their hands full. Let's get that kolto."

"As you command, My Lord Emperor." The Sith Lord bowed, a mocking smirk lifting his lips.

The pair vanished from view. Balkar lowered his macrobinoculars. "An adulterous Jedi…forbidden rituals. This just gets better and better."

Jonas Balkar was sure of one thing: He had to meet the Jedi.

((To be continued…))

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