(Fighting the dark side. )

Chapter four:

Bastila smelled burning ozone, and a split second later felt flaring agony. Her skin crawled, itched, burned. She screamed as Malak's lightning coursed through her. It felt as if though her very blood was on fire, burning away at what resolve she had left. Darkness frayed the edge of her vision as she fought to keep conscious. She could feel herself falling, falling into the abyss, calling upon the Force, as weak as she felt, to sustain her just a little longer...

Suddenly, it stopped. Bastila panted, trying to keep her strength. Malak chuckled to himself, taking delight in seeing the captive squirm beneath his fingers. I will break you.

Her body was numb. Her mind raced. She could feel the blood pushing in her ears. Internally she prayed for someone, anyone, to come rescue her. Thoughts of Cale Lestin came, unbidden to the surface. Who he was, who he is, who he would become. His resolve flowed through her. Her strength returned, albeit slightly, and she turned away from Malak.