Kahn didn't respond for a moment, as he watched Malice beginning to pull himself out of the drunken stupor the Sith seemed content only minutes before to wallow in. It was apparent that any feelings Malice might have sheltered, any spark of love that might remind him of the life he'd once shared with Amalia, was gone, destroyed by the Darkness.

The Jedi Master stood up, not wishing to be in the Sith's presence any longer. It was clear that he would not be able to obtain any useful information from Malice, and the hate in the Dark-Sider's features unnerved Kahn. Not because he was frightened, or because it was anything new for Malice to display- it was more the fact that he couldn't bear to imagine his Master seduced by the Dark Side, didn't want to admit that, if he wasn't able to get through to her, all the goodness and kindness that always shone so brightly in her might be replaced by the bitter hatred that the Dark Side cultivated in its disciples.

"You're wrong, Malice. Amalia's not too far gone into the Darkness yet, and I won't let her slip away. I won't lose her."

His words held a steady tone of determination; he'd already lost his wife and unborn children months before, and he wasn't about to lose his Master- and friend- as well. After all Amalia had gone through to keep him from the Darkness, he would do the same to bring her back to the Light.

*Your nieve if you think you can save her Kahn. You did not see her like i did. She wanted no saving, only to vent*

Getting up, Malice groggily walked over to Kahn. Stumbling against a service droid, and using it as a brace.

*What else is there for a jedi to do but vent when they let their feelings go. In my time as sith Kahn, i have learned that jedi keep their feelings deep inside. Trying hard not to let them surface....to see the light of day. But feelings never go away, and are always there*

Pausing, Malice let a sly grin cross his face. He slowly started to notice the feelings Kahn was trying to keep hidden for him. Amalia meant much to Kahn, this Malice knew without reading him. In one time, she had also meant something to him. But she destroyed that....along with herself.

*And when a jedi gives up on life, letting their shields down, where can those feelings go but up. She was flowing with much pent up anger, hatred, and much pain. Face it, she wanted to turn, to taste the power the darkside offers. You had your chance but turned away from it....now, she gets hers*

Though he meant to reveal some solutions and insight as to why Amalia had turned, Malice was also pushing on Kahns emotional buttons. Seeing just how much the jedi could handle of hearing one talk about the master...and friend he cared dearly for.

Donovin's gaze looked beyond Hali yet again, his right hand lightly reaching to grasp onto her left elbow as he took a minor step past her while still holding onto her.

".. You must mean Zeta. I felt him just a moment ago. I'm not sure why he's here, but I do intend to find out."

He stepped back, his hand still gently grasping onto Hali. His eyes focused in on her face, her eyes in particular.

"It's alright, you're safe. I won't let anything happen to you,' he said, offering her a gentle yet reassuring smile.

"I need to head to one of the supply shops. I ran out of crystals. Would you like to help me select a few of them?"

Kahn's eyes narrowed as Malice spoke, halting in his exit of the bar. The Jedi Master was aware of the Sith's intent; he knew Malice was trying to get under his skin, trying to get a rise out of him. Any other time, Kahn would have been able to present the calm, collected demeanor of a Jedi worthy of his rank.

However, whether it was the fact that he'd been gone from Naboo for so long, or because of the growing sense of guilt and frustration in the Jedi, Kahn's usually neutral tones contained a bare hint of hostility when he responded.

"Look at where the Dark Side has gotten you, Malice. Drunk and mumbling incoherently in a bar. Somehow, I don't think that's quite what Amalia wants. I will save her, Malice."

Kahn attempted to keep the effect Malice's words had on him from showing, but inside, the hopeless view the Sith illustrated concerning Amalia fed an emotion that could corrupt even the most pure of heart, and consequently, an emotion threatening to the Jedi way of life: fear.

Fear that this was his fault; that if he hadn't been so wrapped up in his own problems, so self-centered, he might have recognized that something was changing inside his Master. Fear, irrational fear, that Malice was right, that he would be too late- and that he would lose Amalia to the same chaotic Darkness he'd spent his entire life battling against internally and externally.

What kind of Jedi am I, when I'm not even there for my own Master?

Kahn shook his head, knowing such thoughts would only worsen the situation, and acutely aware how dangerous such emotions could be. Jedi could feel fear; they weren't machines, after all- however, it was how a Jedi handled fear, how they were taught to handle it. Taught to let it flow through, without harboring it or letting it fester until it grew into anger and hatred.

The Jedi Master knew all this, but for the first time in months, he was having a difficult time following his training.

Hearing Kahns words sent a shrill of laughter from Malice. He did so love riling up people. It gave him pleasure beyond what any drink could do.

*The darkside will use me as it wishes, and then throw me away when my mission is complete. I know this and have come to accept it. But i also know that the darkside is by far from being done using me. Therefore i have nothing to worry about*

Though they had been seperated, and enemies for many years now, Malice could still read Kahn like a book. A new, and different book albeit, but read him the same he could. The emotions from him, though try as he might, did not escape Malice's senses.

*You were never a jedi Kahn....never. You may have the title, and may feel the jedi powers coursing through your veins. but we both know why you chose to try and become a jedi.....you were afraid. You grew afraid of the darkside and its chaotic power....so you ran to the jedi. Hoping they could protect you. Well look what you did. By going to them and having them protect you from your problems, you merely added kindling to the fire*

Malice began to walk closer to Kahn, wanting to get right up to his face. A low whispering voice flowed through him as he made his way ever closer.

*You problems added to theirs and became their problems. And look where it has ended Amalia in. All that dark energy which surrounded her. From both me and you, has finally broken through her wall of protection and serenity. Throwing her into the chaos all sith endure for the sake of its power. But since you had disappeared, she had no one to rely on. Organa i'm sure was away often, why with running an academy what would anyone else expect. The other jedi wouldn't be able to help her, for they do not know her as well as you, i, or Organa do*

Coming up right next to him, Malice leaned in close. His mouth right up against the young jedi master's ear.

*You have failed in your duties to protect jedi. She has fallen, and it is because of you. Should you find her, it will only make her worse. She will feel guilty no doubt of what she has become, and she will run. Not wanting you to see her for what she has turned into. Give it up...... let her be. She will be dealt with in time....once i find her*

Malice's words have never sounded more malacious since the two last met. The darkside had made Malice one of the coldest, and most evil people in this galaxy. It had eaten away at his humanity. The humanity which allowed him and Kahn to become friends, and Amalia and he to fall in love. Now, to fill the void that was present, Malice had only but one choice. And that was to embrace the darkside for what it really was. Cold, ruthless, and a killer.

"You were never a Jedi, Kahn. . .never."

Kahn's carefully controlled, neutral expression faltered as Malice began taunting him softly, the Sith's words just loud enough for him to hear. Right now, the Jedi Master wasn't as in-control of his emotions as he usually was- a weakness that Malice had recognized and exploited almost immidiately. And the problem was, even though Kahn knew what Malice was doing, it didn't seem to make a difference; the Jedi was responding all the same.

"She has fallen, and it's because of you."

The Jedi Master's fists clenched at his sides, as Malice struck a nerve, the fear that had been growing in Kahn since he found out about Amalia's turning. He gritted his teeth, trying to count backwards from ten to calm himself- he only got to six before Malice's cold, threatening tone broke through his thoughts once more.

"She will be dealt with in time. . .once I find her."

The intention was clear in Malice's words; the icy, deadly-serious way he said it left no doubts as to his emotional ability to carry through with the implied action. Maybe that was what made Kahn lose control for a moment- the way Malice, once his friend, could now behave so cruelly towards his ex-wife, and Kahn's Master and friend- or maybe it was just that the turmoil building in the Jedi Master finally reached the breaking point- whatever it was, Kahn didn't have time to figure out, as his fist met Malice's face.

The blow seemed to have caught both of them off-guard; Kahn stared at his hand, as though it were something alien to him, not a part of his body. Then his gaze lifted to meet Malice's eyes- he saw the mockery there, and knew what taunting words would be on the edge of the Sith's tongue- words Kahn could hear echoing inside of himself already, whispers that came from the Darkness.

"You couldn't kill her if you tried, Malice. She's too strong for you to break."

Though unsteadied by what he'd just done, Kahn's voice was firm, his gaze like steel.

"Maybe this is my fault- and maybe it isn't. But I don't plan to fail- I will help her back into the Light."

With that, Kahn turned, not caring to stay and listen to the Sith's words any longer- right now, he knew he needed time to calm down- right now, he was too worked up to get anything done. The violence he'd exerted was a very threatening sign for a Jedi, and Kahn well knew it. He needed to meditate, sort out his thoughts and feelings, before his search progessed farther. Otherwise, Amalia might not become the only Jedi victim the Darkness claimed as its own.

The punch hit its mark square on, sending Malice reelng backwards. Had he not detoxified himself the way he did, he would have found himself on the floor, and his mind in another world right now. But instead, a wide grin was upon his face, followed by a soft chuckling.

Though the punch had hurt, Malice knew what had made the punch hurt so. He had struck a core in kahns emotional pool. Releasing some of that pent up emotion the jedi keep hidden from the world. Upon standing, his dark blue eyes met the brown of Kahns, both staring at each other. Their minds going in different directions on what had just happened.

"You couldn't kill her if you tried, Malice. She's too strong for you to break."

The words only seemed to fuel his amusement. Sending his soft chuckle into a slight laughter.

"Maybe this is my fault- and maybe it isn't. But I don't plan to fail- I will help her back into the Light."


As Kahn spoke his last words and left, Malice lifted up a hand and rubbed the cheek that had been hit. All the while laughing to himself.

*Maybe so Kahn, but that would have been in the past. Amalia is no longer as strong as she was. The darkness has taken over, weakening her mind. Telling her to let those emotions flow forth, allowing me to tap into it. She will fall......this i promise. On my life...*

His words reaching no ears in particular, malice turned around and headed for the bar counter. Where he would resume his drinking. From here, it was on to find Amalia.