Reno hated Rhen Var.  He always had.  From the very first moment he saw the ice world, he had hated it.  He couldn’t stand the biting wind, the cold, the snow...he hated it all.  If he never came across snow again, or a planet that only had one climate, it would be too soon.

     Come to think of it, though, he never did understand why some planets and moons seemed to have only one climate.  Rhen Var and Hoth were all snow.  Tatooine was all desert.  Yavin was all jungle.  Endor was all forest.  Coruscant was all city.  Calamari was all water.  What’s up with that?  Maybe that was why he liked Corellia so much.  At least it had different environments.

     The mythical paradise planet Risa, perhaps?   Some people said it didn’t exist, but Reno wasn’t among that number.  He believed it existed somewhere out in the far reaches of the galaxy, though it might be quite a star trek to reach it. Yes. Risa would’ve been nice.

     As it was, when Odium took him and Zarin off Coruscant he took them to Rhen Var.  His whole life had changed once he arrived at Rhen Var.  Odium had taught him a new way of life.  A new way of being.  A new Force.

     He had resisted at first.  Resisted Zarin and resisted the Sith teaching that he was trying to instill in Reno.  He had been taught that the Sith were the enemy for his entire life.  That they were evil.  That they were extinct.  And now, suddenly, he was being held by one.  That was how he considered his first few days there.  He considered himself a prisoner.  He had left Coruscant under the impression that he would be training in the ways of the Jedi arts with his new Master.  Obviously, that hadn’t happened.

     Reno continued to trudge his way through the snow, trying desperately to make it back to the complex.  As he pushed his way closer and closer, his mind started to wander, he started to lose focus and remember more.  Even without the engramatic interociters attached, his recent experiences with Zarin and the faux Thunder and Jace had made him more open to remembering his past.

     When Reno had found out the truth about Odium, he had been outraged.  He felt betrayed.  He felt furious.  Another case in his past where, as Zarin had pointed out earlier, he had not chose his actions, his actions had chosen him.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

     “You lied to me!” Reno...no, Renn yelled while charging at Odium.  A few days ago he was going to be Reno, when Odium took him off Coruscant with Zarin under the pretense that he would be trained as a Jedi, but no longer.  So eager at another opportunity to redeem himself, he didn’t perceive what was really going on, not until it was too late.  Once they landed on Rhen Var, Odium had told him the truth.

     Suffice to say, Renn wasn’t taking it very well.

     Not being used to running in snow, it was a very slow run, as his feet sank in deep with every step he took.  To make matters worse, Odium didn’t look exactly threatened or alarmed by Reno’s sudden advance towards him.  If anything, the man seemed mildly amused by the situation.  And for good reason.  When Renn finally did reach Odium, he was knocked back with such a wave of force and energy that he was taken off his feet, landing hard in the snow on his stomach.  He winced in pain on the ground and spit out some blood onto the white snow. 

     As he tried to gather himself for another attack, he felt a hand grab him by the neck and hoist him up.  It was Odium.  He placed Renn back on his feet and took a few steps back.

     “Again,” he said.

     Ever happy to oblige, Renn charged at Odium again.  This time he was ready for the Force Wave attack he knew Odium would counter with, and was prepared for it...or so he thought.  The power he was hit with this time was even stronger and he again found himself lying face down in the snow.

     Odium picked him up again.

     “Again,” he said, more forceful this time.  Renn didn’t hesitate.

     And this went on, time and time again.  Attack, fall, get up....attack, fall, get up.  Renn lost count of the times Odium had thrown him to the ground, and couldn’t count the number of bruises and injuries on his body.  He knew only that Odium claimed to be a Sith, and Renn had been taught to fight the Sith, no matter what.  So he attacked.  Over and over again.  He attacked until his body was bruised, bloody and broken.  Until he couldn’t get up again.  He fought to what he thought was his last breath.  That, however, was not to be.

     “Get up,” Odium commanded.

     Didn’t Odium understand that he couldn’t move?

     “Get up,” he repeated, his voice somehow becoming even more menacing.

     Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing Renn defeated, he rolled onto his stomach and planted his hands on the snow.  He pushed upwards and somehow hauled himself up, one last time.

     Odium smiled.

     “You have passed your first test, Reno,” he said.  “You did not quit.  You did not submit.  You did not die.  You wouldn’t let me see you defeated.  You showed strength, not only of body but of character.  You showed ferocity...tenacity.  I knew you would not disappoint me in that.  But tell me...did you actually think you could’ve defeated me?  Or were you just getting up out of defiance?”

     Odium did have a point....as much as Renn had wanted to, he knew that he would not have been able to kill the Sith Lord.  Part of the reason he continued to stand up was sheer stubbornness.  He didn’t think Odium wanted that answer, though.  Not that he truly cared one way or another what Odium wanted.  He didn’t care for Odium’s lessons or tests.  He just needed a way to prolong his life here.  If only long enough to find a way off this planet.     

     Renn thought back to his earlier training under Master Doneeta.  In some ways, this was a similar (albeit barbaric) version of the candle test he had performed under Doneeta.  Perhaps the lesson of this was the same. 

     “I could not have killed you,” he grudgingly said.  “I was not supposed to have been able to kill you.  This was designed to show me that I can’t achieve everything at once.  That I must be patient in my training.  That—“

     Renn never saw the backhand coming.

     He had never been hit so hard in all his life.  Not from anyone.  Not from anything.  He fell back to the snow instantly and quickly realized he was staring straight up at the sky, unable to move. 

     He heard the crunching of snow and realized Odium was walking towards him.  Soon the Sith Lord was towering above him, a furious anger present on his face.  Renn seriously regretted giving that answer now.

     “Never,” he said softly, but still threateningly, “ever quote to me the teachings of that weak old fool, Doneeta.

     “He isn’t weak!” Renn had the courage and strength to yell back.  He received a boot to the stomach for his troubles.

     “He is weak,” Odium spat out.  “Or was, I should say.  He‘s dead.  Because of you.  Proof of his weakness.”

     “I didn’t kill him,” Renn said.  “He died because he saved me.  Because he couldn’t kill me.”

     Odium let out a half-smile.  It was a strange smile.  Not one of happiness, but of contempt, sarcasm, and what seemed like a small hint of twisted amusement. 

     “Yes, he does have trouble with that, doesn’t he?” 

     Renn didn’t understand what he meant.  But before he could say anything, Odium brought his boot down upon Renn’s face and sent him into darkness.

     Reno awoke slowly.  It was painful to even attempt to open his eyelids.  Nonetheless, he forced them open.  He was inside a room, lying a bed, a blanket tossed over him.  And he was not alone.  Next to the bed stood Odium, once again glaring down at him.

     “Get up,” Odium commanded.  “Walk with me.”

     As painful as it was to move, he did so.  He followed the Sith Lord outside and back into the courtyard.  For a moment he was afraid that he would have to attack Odium again and go through that lesson one more time.  That was not what happened.

     “You’ve had a hard life, haven’t you Reno?”  Odium’s voice, despite its natural deepness, was calm.

     “My name is Renn,” he said defiantly.  “You lied to me.”

     “Yes, I did,” Odium admitted.  “It was necessary to get you away from Coruscant.  There, your mind would be clouded by Jedi propaganda.  Here, you are free to choose.  And you never answered my question.”

     Choose what, he wondered.

     “Yes,” he said.  “I have.”

     "You have been tossed aside and been alone your entire life," he said.  “Your father sent you away, and now he is dead.  Your uncle hated you, and now he is dead.  Your mother is dead.  Doneeta is dead.  Even the Jedi refuse to have anything to do with you anymore.  Without them, Reno, who are you?  Where do you go?  Whom do you belong to?  You aren’t a Jedi, not anymore.  They have shunned you.”

     “They did n—“

     “No?  And how did your meeting with Master Jerken go?  Were you to be trained by him?  Were you to be trained by any of them?  They were going to cast you aside, Reno, they were going to abandon you.  Dismiss you.  Toss you aside.  The Jedi would be dead to you...as dead as everyone else in your past.”

     Renn wanted to argue with him, but he couldn’t think of anything to say.  He was right. 

     “If you aren’t who you were, Reno, then who are you now?  If you are no longer a Jedi, then who are you?”

     “I’m no one.”

     "Very true," Odium said.  "But it doesn’t have to be that way.  Join us, Reno.  You can be somebody again."

     “A Sith...”

     “Yes.  And not only can you be somebody again, but you can lash out against those who held you down before, against those who were too weak to do what needed to be done.  You are very much like I once was, Reno.  An orphan raised by Jedi ideals and propaganda, powered by an inner darkness and hatred, and driven by a fire and rage that cannot be squelched.  I know what lies in your heart, Reno, because it is also in mine.  If you do not believe me, look inside and find it.  Look at my heart, Reno, and see yourself.”

     It was true.  He could feel it through the Force as he peered inside him.  Odium was the same as him.  Odium was more like Renn than anyone he had ever met before.  Suddenly, unexpectedly, he was conflicted.  He had been taught that the Sith were evil, that they were the heels, the bad guys.  And yet...here was a Sith Lord, and his soul was a mirror for Renn’s.  He was the same.  They were the same.  They were one. 

     The Jedi must be wrong.  The Sith couldn’t be evil.  Renn didn’t believe himself to be an evil person, and he was the same as this Sith Lord.  Perhaps Odium had even been right about all this Jedi propaganda.  If the Sith were evil, then that would have to mean Renn himself was evil.  That was not something he would admit to. 

     “Now...” Odium said slowly, “I must ask you to choose.  Your old life.  Or your new one.  Which will it be...Renn?”

     He looked up at Odium.  He looked him deep into his eyes.  Though Odium was harsh, in him it appeared that he had found a kindred spirit.  Someone who knew what it was like growing up the way he did.  Someone who understood the anger and rage he felt.  Doneeta had been kind and loving...but he also told Renn to hold back those feelings, to suppress them.  He didn’t understand.  He never had.  Odium, though, understood.  He understood all too well.

     “Not Renn...” he said.  “Reno.”

     Odium smiled.    

* * * * * * * * * * * *     

     Reno continued his slow crawl back to the compound.

     He wondered whether Zarin was awake yet.  He wondered he if he had even knocked him out or not.  He sincerely hoped he had.  Maybe Reno would even get luckier than that.  Perhaps Zarin had died from the impact of his head on the cavern wall.

     Somehow, he doubted it.

     Which meant that Zarin was coming for him.  If not now, then soon.  And if Reno was crawling and stumbling as slow as he thought he was, then Zarin would be on him very soon. 

     He really wished he had a plan, but he didn’t.  As sad as it was, “get the hell away from here” was the best he could muster.  He had escaped from Zarin twice now, although once Zarin claimed was on purpose.  Reno didn’t want to believe him, but as he thought about their first fight, it made sense.  Zarin never really attacked with his full force.  And Reno was surprised from the beginning that Zarin had been willing to give him another chance.  Sadly, Zarin’s story seemed much more plausible than Reno actually escaping on his own. 

     The second time, though...he didn’t think that was part of Zarin’s plan.  He had caught Zarin in a rare “off-guard” moment.  He wouldn’t get one of those again, either.  Nor would he get another chance to prolonging his death.  The next time he saw Zarin would be the last, one way or another.

     How did it come to this, he wondered.  Yes, Zarin had initially hated him when they had first met.  But they had worked past that hatred, in time.  He and Zarin had been friends.  Apprentices.  Brothers.  They had lived together.  They had fought together.  They had shared hopes and dreams together.  It was to Zarin that Reno had first told his dream of creating an entire squadron of Sith pilots.  Zarin had thought the idea crazy, noting that there could only be two Sith at one time.  But Reno had reminded him that there were already three of them at the moment...he, Zarin and Odium.  If they could have three, then why not more?  He never truly convinced Zarin it was a good idea, but that hadn’t stopped him from dreaming about it. 

     Odium had trained them to be the destroyers of the galaxy?  Why was it they now tried to destroy each other?

     He knew the answers.  He knew the answer. 

     It would’ve all worked out fine, he thought to himself, if Zarin hadn’t killed Odium.  That was when everything fell apart.  That was when their dreams died.  That was when his dream had died.  When Zarin had turned on Odium after The Choosing, Reno had been forced to turn on him.  An entire decade of the three of them together...all their work...gone in a matter of moments.  They were supposed to kill together.  They were supposed to conquer together.  They were supposed to rule together.  It wasn’t supposed to end like it did.  It wasn’t supposed to—

     Up ahead he saw the outline of the complex.  He was close.  Very close.  But...there was something else.  A shape. 

     A human shape.

     Zarin.  It must be.  Somehow he had gotten a head of Reno.  Not too hard of a task, probably.  Reno wanted to crawl the other way, but he couldn’t.  There was no escape this time.  It was over.  He wouldn’t die on his stomach, though.  If this was to be the end, he would have it be such an end...

     He forced himself to his feet and stumbled forward.  He grabbed his lightsaber and activated it again.  As he approached the figure, things started to become a bit more clear.  He could make out more details and features.  And yet, as he got closer, things got even more confusing.  No, it couldn’t be... 

     He finally stopped about two feet in front of the person.  His saber deactivated as it slipped from his hand, embedding itself into the snow on the ground.  He was shaking now, and not all from the cold. 

     “Master...” he whispered. 

     “Yes, Reno, it’s me.”

     “But you’re dead.”

     “Yes, I am,” Odium whispered.  “Because of you.”

     Reno shook his head.  “No, not because of me,” he said.  “It was Zarin’s fault.  Zarin did it.  This is Zarin‘s fault, it‘s all his fault.”

     “You know that is not true,” Odium said.

     “It is!” Reno yelled.  “Zarin killed you!  At the Choosing...you chose me!  He was mad with grief and anger!  He lashed out and killed you!  I remember it!”

     “You have come so far, Reno,” Odium said, a sadness in his voice. “And yet somehow taken a step backwards.”

     Reno squeezed his eyes shut.  This isn’t real, he told himself.  It isn’t real.  This is just another of Zarin’s illusions and tricks.  Odium is dead.  I know that.

     “You won’t fool me again, Zarin,” he said.  “Not this time.  You won’t get anything else out of me.  I know you’re not real. You’re just an illusion.”

     “I am not here to debate my existence with you, Reno,” Odium said quickly. 

     “Then why are you here?”

     “To bless you,” he said, and with a wicked smile, added, “and curse you.”

     “What are you talking about?”

     “I’m going to give you a unique opportunity, Reno, one very few get.”

     “What’s that?”

     “A chance to change the future.  I know what happens, Reno.  I know your path.  I know your end.  And I know how to prevent it.”

     “How?  How can I escape Zarin?  How can I escape here?  How can I save myself?”

     “You are so shortsighted, Reno,” Odium said, disappointingly.  “An unbecoming trait for someone who claims to be a Sith Lord.”

     “Then what—“

     “You must kill the one who is expected and not expected, or that person could be your end.  You must kill the one who you know best and least, or that person could be your end.  You must kill the one-winged angel, or that person could be your end.  One of these people will kill you, though precisely who has yet to be determined.  If you are to live, you must destroy them all.  There is no way around that.  Leave even one alive, and you will die.”

     Reno truly didn’t know what to say.  He didn’t understand anything.  Why would Zarin have his hologram say this?  How was there even a hologram here?  Reno had torn off the engramatic interociters.  He shouldn’t be seeing anything else. 

    “If this is true,” he started. “Then how are you cursing me?  I know what to look for now.  I know who to kill in order to survive.”

     “Yes, you do,” Odium replied.  “But that will only make you more paranoid than you already are.  You will see things where there are none.  See enemies where none exist.  Make enemies where none before were.  It will drive you insane before the end.”

     “I don’t believe you,” he grumbled.  “You can’t trick me again, Zarin.  I won’t fall for it.  I won’t believe you.”

     “Believe me or not, it is your choice,” Odium said.  “But understand your choices.  If you ignore my warning, you will gain everything you never knew you wanted, yet die.  And if you heed my warning, then you lose everything you never had, yet live.  The choice is yours.”

     With those final words, the...thing...that was Odium, began to disappear.  Reno raised an arm up to stop it, but to no avail.  Within seconds it was gone.  He truly had no idea what to say.  He was stunned into silence.  None of that made any sense.  What did Zarin have to gain by telling Reno that?  To confuse him?  If so, it worked marvelously.  He had never been more confused in his entire life.          

     He shouldn’t be, though.  What was there to be confused about?  Zarin was trying to screw with his head and keep him off guard and confused.  End of story.  But how was he doing it?  Reno had ripped off the memory device.  That couldn’t be affecting him.  Perhaps this time he had seen a real vision?  No…that couldn’t be it.  It was Zarin.  It had to be.  That was the only thing that made sense.  The only thing.  He’s been screwing with Reno’s head the entire time so far.  Reno had no reason to believe this was anything other than that.

     He shook his head and snapped himself awake.  He had to keep moving.  Zarin was after him.  Maybe that was what he saw?  A distraction.  Just something to help Zarin gain some ground on Reno.  It made sense.  If that was the case, he would have to get moving.  He wasn’t far away from the complex.  If he hurried, he could make it there before Zarin did.  Maybe there he could find a shuttle. 

     And then what?  Pilot it?  He wasn’t exactly in any condition to pilot a shuttle.  But then, the alternative was death and when put in that light, he could attempt to try and fly a shuttle out of here.  Could crashing a shuttle into the ground really be any worse than sticking around here?

     With that in mind, he picked up his dropped saber and pressed forward.  He was close now.  Too close to give up.  He trudged his way through the last quarter mile to the complex, tripping and falling in the snow, but always getting back up.  He wouldn’t give up.  He refused to give up.  He had gone this far.  He could got a little bit further. 

     He reached the main gate to the complex.  Above the building on the far side he could see the top of Zarin’s shuttle.  He was so close.  So close.  He just needed to—

     Across the courtyard, standing in front of the door that led to the part of the complex where ships landed with his blood-red lightsaber already activated, was Zarin.

     His first instinct was to turn around and run back towards the mountains.  But there was nothing out there but a cold, slow and painful death.  Besides, he was tired of running.  Tired of running from his past, from his problems, and from himself.  He was through running.  This time, he was staying his ground.  This time, he was fighting.

     Reno ignited his own blade, held it tightly in his hands and stared down Zarin. 

     “So we come to it at last,” Zarin said, loudly enough for his voice to echo throughout the courtyard.  “The conclusion to our little story...the finale of our drama...the dénouement.  It ends, old friend.  Right here.  Right now.”

     Reno nodded, satisfied that one way or another, it was all going to be over soon. 

     “It ends.”

     They both walked forward slowly, lightsabers at the ready.  Despite his newfound courage and will to fight, Reno knew that this probably wasn’t going to end well for him.  He had a bit more drive and determination in him than the last time he faced Zarin (if only because he could see the top of his salvation above the buildings), but he was still weakened, both physically and mentally.  They both had an injured leg, though, which at least evened that part up a bit.

     They drew closer to each other.

     As he stepped closer and closer to Zarin and certain death, he found he was not entirely focused on the coming duel.  Why should he be?  He knew he couldn’t win.  He was going to die here.  He knew that for a fact now.  He was dead.  Silently, he wondered if he had ever lived in the first place.

     He didn’t contemplate his death for long, though, as he found more important things to think about. 

     His squadron.  What would become of them?  Would Thunder take command?  Would they seek out TOS and get retribution for the death of Reno?  Without Reno’s leadership, would they disband?  Were they even alive right now?  He didn’t know the answers to any of these questions.  He would like to believe that they were all alive and well, and that when they found out about his death, that they would avenge him.  He would really like to believe that. 

     What would Jace do?  Would he go mad with grief and rage at the loss of his Master?  He would probably hunt down everyone in TOS to avenge him, from the lowliest of grunts to Zarin himself.  And then after that...what?  He couldn’t picture Jace continuing on without Reno there.  He didn’t see him following any other Sith Lead except for Reno.  Perhaps Jace would try to wrestle command from one of the others...or quit the squadron entirely.  Without Reno around, Jace’s life was pretty meaningless, after all.

     Reno and Zarin closed the gap between them to about five meters.

     The squad would probably go on, he finally settled on, one way or another.  There were too many people involved, Force sensitive or not, for everyone to just quit.  He was pretty sure Thunder and Jen would continue on without him around.  Seven and Palin, as well.  Those four were pretty much the core of the group.  As long as one of them was around, he thought his dream would of a Sith-based pirate squad would live on.

     Three meters.

     He quieted his mind and emptied it of all thoughts.  He calmed himself down the best he could and focused on the Force.  His link with it was still weakened by his state, but he could feel its presence.  It supported him.  It strengthened him.  It guided him.  Too bad it wouldn’t be enough to win.

     One meter.

     Reno let out a fierce yell and raised his saber.

     Zarin lowered his saber as he ran forward, preparing it to meet Reno’s.

     They clashed.

     The silence of the courtyard was broken by the sounds of the lightsabers crashing together.  The initial strikes were quick, but calculated and efficient.  Neither wasted effort on grand gestures of swordsmanship or showboating, nor did either try to sneak in an early kill shot.  They both knew this contest wasn’t going to be decided in the opening few minutes.  This was going to be a test of endurance.  It was going to be a marathon.  It was going to be an iron man duel. 

     To his surprise, the opening minutes of the duel went surprisingly well for Reno.  His attacks, although not as powerful as they could be under ideal circumstances, were powerful still, and effective enough to send Zarin reeling back on a few occasions.  He knew he couldn’t try power attacks for long, though.  The simple fact was that Zarin was a very big, very strong man.  Reno, on his best day, was nothing compared to him.  And he certainly wasn’t having his best day today.  Strength was not something he could rely on here.  He needed something else.  But what?

     Reno let out a flurry of strikes, all of which Zarin blocked easily.  He didn’t care that be blocked them, though, as he never intended to hit him with any of the swings.  They were still in the testing phase of the duel.  They were testing...or re-testing, really...each other’s limits.  And they were biding time.  This was a marathon duel they were having...it wouldn’t do to blow up five minutes in.

     Suddenly, Zarin swung high at Reno’s head, causing him to duck and roll out of the way.  He hadn’t been expecting that.  It was a little more aggressive than he thought Zarin would be.  Perhaps he had figured wrong about this duel?  Maybe Zarin just wanted to end this quickly.

     Zarin swung at Reno’s head again, but this time he blocked with his saber.  He pushed Zarin’s saber away and took a swing at Zarin’s chest, but the other man was too quick for him.  He jumped a foot backwards and Reno’s slice hit only air.  They both took this time to back off a bit, gather their thoughts, and quickly create a new strategy.  

     He quickly wondered how long he could keep this up.  An hour?  Two?  No way.  Zarin would get him before that.  He just wasn’t as good as Zarin.  He couldn’t match him with a lightsaber, nor could he match him with the Force.  The only thing he thought he might be able to do outsmart him.  He was always the smarter of the two.  Reno, after all, had grown up on the streets.  He needed those kinds of smarts to stay alive.  Zarin spent the first few years of his life living in virtual nobility.  It wasn’t until he came to Rhen Var that he had faced any true difficulties.  He didn’t possess the street smarts that Reno had.  He had never had to weasel his way out of death before.  Reno had.  And he didn’t mind doing it again.  It would be, perhaps, his only weapon.  Well...here goes...

     “Is that the best you got?” he taunted.

     Zarin didn’t take the bait.  He ignored the taunt and attacked.  Reno wasn’t dissuaded, though.  He blocked the shot and put some distance between them. 

     “You used to be a lot better than this,” Reno said.  “Has age finally caught up to you?”

     If Zarin was even paying attention to Reno’s words, he didn’t let on.  He simply continued his assault.

     What he needed was something that would stop Zarin.  Something that would have enough impact on him to make him halt his siege.  But what...wait.  He had it.  He knew what to say.  He knew what would stop Zarin dead in his tracks and give him some time.

     “You know, maybe if you’d learned how to handle a lightsaber better, Odium would’ve picked you over me all those years ago, and then he might still be alive today.”

     As expected, Zarin stopped.  The look in his eyes was one of pure rage and hatred.  For a second, Reno regretted saying that…but only for a second.  He had succeeded and bought himself some time.  Zarin loved to talk about the past.  He loved trying to get Reno to talk about it.  He knew this would give him a few minutes.

     “What did you say?” Zarin said, his voice barely above a whisper.

     “Oh, you heard me fine,” Reno said back.  “Odium knew I was the better of the two of us.  He knew I was the right choice.  Maybe if you’d been a little better, he would’ve chosen you.  As it was, you were always second best.”  That was a blatant lie on Reno’s part.  He knew full well that Zarin was always the better apprentice of the two.  He only hoped Zarin didn’t pick up on that. 

     “Odium did choose me, you fool.  And then you murdered him.  And we fought, and I won—“

     “If you won, then why was I the one to leave Rhen Var with the SSD?  If you won, then why was it I who formed Sith Squadron?  If you won, then why are we even here?”

     Zarin was not quick in answering, and when he did, his voice was low and shaky.  Unlike before, when he spoke low but calmly, his voice sounded a bit off.  He was almost laughing softly.  Crazily. Maniacally.    

     “...this is all your doing.  Your fault.  We would not be here, were it not for you.”

     “You didn’t answer my question,” Reno put in.

     “Your fault...” he repeated.  “It wasn’t me, it was you.  You murdered Odium...you lost the duel...you stole the dream...it was all you...not me, you...”

     “Strange...I was going to say the same thing about you,” Reno said.  “But despite what you and your Odium hologram have to say, I know the truth.  I know—“

     “What Odium hologram?  What are you talking about?” Zarin interrupted.  The surprise and confusion in his face and voice initially surprised Reno, but he didn’t let it get to him.  Zarin wasn’t going to fool him.  He knew full well what Reno was talking about.  More mind games.  Reno wasn’t going to play along.

     “Don’t even try, Zarin.  I know you too well.  You set up that hologram to buy yourself some time so you could reach the courtyard before me.”

     “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re babbling about, Reno,” he said dismissively.  “The only holograms I ever programmed where Jace and Thunder v1.0.  I never programmed an Odium.”

     Reno ignored him.  He didn’t want to listen to any more of Zarin’s lies.  He knew the truth.  The truth about the hologram, and the truth about Odium.

     “I know the truth,” Reno stated.  “You failed the Choosing.  You killed Odium.  You lost the duel.  Everything that happened is on your head.  There is no way around that.”

     Reno expected Zarin to comment back.  He expected him to defend himself against Reno’s accusation.  He expected the conversation to continue.

     He didn’t expect Zarin’s sudden attack.

     He should’ve, but he didn’t.

     The attacks were ferocious, and insanely quick.  Reno barely had time to block any of them.  Not only that, but they were wild and powerful.  Reno was being driven backwards, stumbling and tripping as he did so.  That kind of clumsiness could...would...get him killed.

     Reno tried his best to block the assault from Zarin, but he was failing.  His parry’s were weak and slow, and Zarin was pushing him back further and further.  The fatigue he felt throughout his body was starting to rear its ugly head.  Reno had been wrong...dead wrong.  This wasn’t going to be a marathon duel of any kind.  It was going to be over very soon.  He just couldn’t protect himself from this kind of onslaught. 

     Unlike their duel ten years ago, Reno was going to lose. 

     Unlike their duel ten years ago, Reno was going to fail.

     Unlike their duel ten years ago, Reno was going to die.

     And then it happened.  A hard swing from Zarin knocked Reno’s weapon out of his hands.  It landed a couple yards away and lodged itself into the snowy ground.  Reno made a quick attempt to grab it, but Zarin hit him with a Force Wave.  Much like his lightsaber a few seconds before, Reno went flying backwards and lodged himself in the snow.  He couldn’t move.  He couldn’t call his lightsaber to him.  He couldn’t defend himself. 

     “Now, Renn...I reclaim my lost dream and life...and end yours...”

     This is it, he thought to himself as Zarin stopped above him, his saber raised high and ready to strike the deathblow, it has all lead to this.  With nothing else left to do, Reno closed his eyes and waited for the end...

     ...but it didn’t come.

     He opened his eyes again.  Zarin was still standing above him with his lightsaber in his shaking hands.  He looked like he was trying to force himself into killing Reno.  Like he was telling his arms to swing, but they weren’t listening.  He was breathing hard and his face was contorted and scrunched.  Reno did not know what was going through Zarin’s mind.  He did not know why Zarin was hesitating...why he hadn’t killed Reno yet. 

     Then his eyes locked open.  His face was frozen, no longer contorting like he was torn inside between two forces.  His hands were no longer shaking.  He had made his decision.  And with a loud, hate filled cry, he swung downwards...

     ...only to turn off his lightsaber mid-swing.  The blade extinguished itself inches before it would’ve hit Reno.  Zarin looked at his lightsaber hilt and hands as if they had in his greatest moment betrayed him.

     “I can’t...” he struggled to say, his voice strained and sounding like every word was painful for him to say and hear.  “I can’t do it.  Not yet.  You don’t understand!  You don’t know why yet!  You need to understand!  You need to know why!  You can’t die before knowing why!”

     “What...” he asked softly.  “What do I need to know?”

     “Why...the truth...” Zarin muttered.  “What else?  But we‘re through with interrogation games.  We‘re through with holograms.  We‘re through it all.  No more working together to help get you past your walls and barriers.  No more trying to help you.”

     “I don’t need help from you,” Reno spat back, as he forced himself to his feet.  He wanted to be eye to eye with Zarin for this.  “I’ve broken down my own walls.  I can stand on my own two feet now.  I can show you the truth myself.”

     Zarin gave a half-smile.

     “There is no greater lie than the one we tell our self, Renn,” Zarin said.  “You should understand that more than anyone else, for inside your soul you cling to the greatest lie of all.  Inside your mind you tell yourself this lie every day.  You pretend the past didn’t happen, you ignore the truth, you abandon reason...and all for what?  To protect yourself from the truth?  To hide who you truly are?  To hide the truth that the life you live doesn‘t belong to you?”

     “What about the lie that you tell yourself, Zarin?” Reno interrupted.

     “And what lie would that be?”

     “That I am the source of all your problems, and that killing me will fix everything.”

     Zarin shook his head slowly.  “I don’t believe that killing you will fix anything. Renn...nothing can be the same.  Nothing can be as it was.  Nothing can be as it was going to be.  Nothing can change it so things are the way they should’ve been.  Nothing...All that is left if for you to find out the truth, for you to die, and for the universe to move on.  I don’t proclaim to make things right here.  They can’t be right.  They never can be right again.  Not after that day...”

     “The day you murdered Odium,” Reno interrupted.

     “The day you murdered Odium!” Zarin shouted back.

     “Another lie you cling to.”

     “It is you who lies, Renn!  I have told you nothing but the truth from the very beginning.  You can’t even tell yourself the truth.  I showed you the truth about your childhood.  I showed you the truth about you history with the Jedi.  I showed you the truth about your life that you wouldn’t even admit to yourself.  What have you done in return?  You lied, you were defiant, you escaped...I have done everything to help you and yet you fight me at every turn.  You fight me even now!  I have spared your life time and time again, and you repay my generosity with hostility and lies.”

     “You didn’t exactly give me much reason to help you.”

     “Perhaps my methods were cruel,” Zarin admitted.  “But my intentions were pure.”

     “Including your attention to murder me?” Reno asked.  “Tell me, are the intentions behind murder ever pure?”

     “Why don’t you tell me, Renn,” he said back.  “When you slew our Master, was it pure rage that drove you to it?  Pure anger?  Pure hatred?  Tell me, which was it?”

     “It always comes back to that, doesn’t it,” Reno said. 

     “It is the beginning and end of everything, old friend.  The beginning of our lives and, at the same time, the end.  All three of us died that day, Renn, though two of us kept going after death.  Why is it that we kept walking when Odium did not?  Why is it you stole not only my life, but my dream?  It‘s time for the truth, Renn.  No memory devices.  No holograms.  No lies.  You said your walls were down.  Everything is laid out before you, then.  The truth awaits, Renn.  It beacons.  It calls to you.  It knows you.  And it wants you to know it.  Answer it, Renn.  Answer the call to truth.  And let everything be understood.”