I watched the red blade meet my own in a flurry of blows. I kept trying to clear my mind and focus on the duel at hand however the man I was engaged in combat with made that all the more difficult with his constant streams of insults delivered in a conversational tone.
"If that's the best you can do boy I should give you to Ventress for training you obviously still have lightyears to go before you're ready to face me." The count smirked as he continued to counter my attacks.
I gritted my teeth, he knew that woman was my weak point. I took a step back while sucking in a quick breath and holding for a three count it before letting it escape my lungs.
Leverage, position, advantage.
I mentally repeated the mantra over and over as I felt my feelings calm. I focused on the way my hand was warming metal of the curved handled lightsaber I held in my hand, a saber which was designed by the man that I was currently dueling to be the perfect weapon to employ the lightsaber combat style of Makashi. There was a slip in his guard and I moved in to capitalize on it however the next thing I knew I was on the ground and Count Dooku was in the process of catching my saber and leveling his own at my throat.
"You managed to control your emotions better this time, however you still aren't focusing enough on the force aspect of the duel otherwise you would have sensed my intentions to lead you into the trap that ultimately would have killed you had this not been an exercise. You must remember child that even though we are physically clashing blades with one another the force it was really has the power to overcome." My teacher instructed me in the same tone of voice he did everything in. He was the master of calm while I enjoyed only a causal relationship with it.
"Yes master" I said on instinct as he withdrew the blade of light from my throat and dropped my own on the floor behind him as he turned to walk away his perfectly tailored cape flowing behind him.
When I picked up the curved cylinder my senses frizzled a little. I was quite familiar with the sense though as it always altered me to a single person's presence. It was strange that in the presence of Count Dooku one of the most powerful force users I could only detect his presence when focused solely on him but the female Dathomirian I could feel her in the force whenever she was on what seemed like the same planet as myself. I guessed it was just to demonstrate the difference between her use of the force and Dooku's.
To be honest I couldn't wait to see Ventress, the prized student, and ask her about her most recent mission. I was planning to savior every moment of her anger when I confronted her with her defeat at the hands of Yoda our masters former teacher and the one he fought to a stalemate on Geonosis.
I tried to walk at a subdued pace but found my excitement rising with each step while steadily increasing my footfalls to the point that I was almost running to see her. When I made it to the small mess hall, as befitting a ship with few living inhabitants and lots of droids, I saw her. Pale, lithe, and tattooed she cut the figure of the bad girl that ever male fantasizes about upon hitting puberty, and I could also immediately tell she was upset which I found all the more appealing as it was enjoyable to see the apple of Dooku's eye in such a state.
"I must say Asajj you're quite fetching when you're angry it must be the way your body tremors with rage I bet the motion would feel nice in other situations." I said while moving behind her and retrieving a drink from a large container.
She turned to glare at me but I continued, and cut her off before she could retort. "If you're still in such a mood I'll come by your quarters later to help you relieve some of it. I'm sure the pillow talk about how you failed to bring the Toydarians under our control because of an old green midget will be almost as enjoyable as the feel of your body under me." I said intentionally trying to goad her into a reaction.
It worked as I was suddenly slammed against a counter top when Ventress grasped my throat and forced me back. The anger in her eyes was alight with the passion that fueled our force abilities and I felt the force flowing in her like a raging tidal wave in an angry ocean. Sometimes it was a little too easy to egg her on, but it was always enjoyable. The squeeze on my throat though was getting tighter however so I decided it may be best end it before one of us got hurt and drew our masters ire. After all the dark side of the force was not forgiving. With this in mind I reached forward and grasped the wrist of the hand that was around my neck.
"You arrogant child, you've no idea what happens in the war what with the master's constant coddling you. Only a true sith would be allowed the missions I've undertaken so insult me again when you get out of training PADAWAN!" she snared at me while also insulting me with the reference of a Jedi learner. I was no Jedi. The anger in me flared up as well and I delivered a sharp blow to her stomach forcing her back and releasing my throat. I felt the force gather around me in angry spurts and bursts as I prepared my powers. In retrospect I supposed it was easy for her to egg me on as well.
She whirled on me her two lightsabers appearing in her hand with lightning speed. I smirked as my plan came to fruition. "Your emotions cloud your judgement I suppose they goaded you into reacting rather than thinking no wonder you failed you allowed yourself to become just a dumb brute we have droids for that my darling."
"You little . . . " She snarled but was cut off.
"I believe he is quite right allowing yourself to be so easily manipulated. The dark side relies on hatred and anger as emotions but we must rely on the superiority of the mind to guide our emotions or we are nothing." Dooku's smooth cultured voice instructed us.
It had worked out perfectly, well other than my actually getting angry with her, as Dooku was a creature of habit and would be by the mess hall to get a bite to eat after lightsaber sparring as he had done nearly every day since I had trained with him. Seeing this would raise my stock in his eye and lower Ventress' own putting me one step closer to being the next sith to be chosen.
"Yes master" we both said, and Asajj stepped away from me tucking her blades back into her belt.
"Now I believe I have an assignment for you." Dooku said looking directly at me.
My name is Narcyz Dahrk I am a force sensitive born to human parents on Stygeon Prime and orphaned at a young age. I grew up under the care of a man I met when I was very young, Count Dooku, when I met him he was a Jedi that wrestled with taking me to the Jedi temple and ultimately decided not to in order to keep me away from the corruption that was taking hold. However, when he left the order and started his separatist movement I quickly fell in line with him. He trained me in the use of the force and in fencing and dueling with a lightsaber, but when he was away on other business I was instructed in more conventional weaponry such as blasters by bounty hunters and droids. The count was a fearsome man but one that was worthy of my admiration, and I was even starting to believe in his cause.
Which brought me to what I was doing right now, preparing for the first mission he had trusted me with since this galaxy wide conflict broke out. It wasn't glamorous it was merely a weapons test on some no name planet in the outer rim some place called Maridun. It was a stepping stone to a greater command and more of my master's trust, so I would carry it out to the best of my ability.
First thing was first however, I had to prepare myself for the journey. Pressing the button and listening to the beep as the drawer opened I looked through my clothing. I lead a very minimalist lifestyle, so I didn't have much. I pulled on the black compressed suit meant to make space flight and change in atmospheric pressure more tolerable. On top of that I placed a plan brown long sleeved shirt and a set of black fabric pants. I then strapped a blaster holster onto my belt and putting a slender blaster pistol into it. I know if you use a lightsaber you aren't supposed to use a blaster, but I find that sometimes a long-range weapon is a wise idea. The lightsaber went on a clip near the back of my belt and I pulled on a brown shawl to cover my weaponry up and took a good look at myself in the mirror.
Standing at five feet eleven inches and weighing in at 180 pounds I was wiry and lean, a good build for my style of swordsmanship, with dark nearly black hair that I kept cut into a short military haircut which contrasted hard against my pale skin, and light blue eyes encircled in a ring of dark blue around the iris that many people described as piercing. I would never claim to be the best-looking creature in the galaxy, but I was far from the worst. I pulled and adjusted the clothing to try and conceal my lightsaber the best I could before I went to meet the general that was testing the weapon.
General Lok Durd was a robust male Neimoidian who was dressed in finery and an air of self-imposed superiority. Just seeing his tall, fat figure I immediately didn't like him however when he spoke he solidified his position as a being I would dislike.
"What took you so long boy? It's bad enough I must babysit you but being late is unacceptable. Now prepare the cruiser and load the droids we haven't got all day." His voice was rich and cultured with an air of pompous superiority.
"It would seem to me if you were really in such a hurry you would've loaded the droids already." I retorted I couldn't help it I didn't like the Neimoidian or being ordered around by anyone who wasn't my master.
"Apparently you aren't aware of your place child I'm a general and what are you?" He questioned with a smirk.
I felt my hands squeeze tight before they disappeared under my shawl and gripped my saber. The force was coursing through me and I felt my anger rising while I created a spark of hate for the man from seemingly nothingness to fuel my power I felt strong. It would be so simple to strike down the fat creature before me.
Leverage, position, advantage.
I went over the mantra in my head a few times to calm my nerves and extinguish the flames of hatred I sparked from nothingness obviously the man had done nothing to me other than talk, and therefore killing the general would not put me in a better position with my master. At least killing him in the hanger before he tested the weapon that I had been assigned to carry out wouldn't. I loosened my grip on the concealed saber and smirked.
"Actually 'general' I'm the one that has been sent to babysit you after all a routine weapons test is hardly a mission the Count would send an important general on, you're nothing but fodder to him Lok. Now when you are ready I'll be on the ship." I said putting a mocking emphasis on the general part, and then walking by him and onto the ship.
I always found space cold and lonely. It not that there isn't a sort of beauty that the universe has but the beauty was more of a cold and weary thing. Its grandeur was impressive for about ten minutes when you were first immersed in it, but after a while all the stars passing by blended together and the vastness remained unchanging. The universe would be more interesting as a still frame picture rather than a constantly moving and involving place. Well that and I wasn't the biggest fan of space flight it always took a while and it felt very confining on the ship. Ironic that an endless emptiness would feel confining.
My wrist communicator sounded, and I pressed to answer it with the ease of a practiced routine. "Dahrk"
A droids robotic computerized tone came through. "General Durd orders your presence on the main bridge."
I scoffed, he was ordering me? Only Dooku could order me. "Sorry I didn't get that." I said and then turned the wrist communicator off, leaned back in the chair I was sitting in, and closed my eyes.
The meditation I was taught allowed me to focus inward, so I did a sort of 'systems check' of my physical body. After all you are your body. I felt good my body was in tip top shape. After that I focused on the Force. The roaring feel of fire engulfed me. It was warm and inviting it shaped the world around me showing me that I could destroy the things in my sight. I then focused on an empty metal cup I had been drinking from that was placed on the desk and drew on the Force. Telekinesis was the ability my powers had first manifested in, although Dooku repeatedly told me I just needed more practice and a deeper understanding of the Force to unlock more powers; For the moment however, telekinesis satisfied me. The cup lifted off the table and began to spin around in the air. Satisfied with that result I closed my eyes and opened the carefully constructed restrains on my anger, allowing it to flow through the Force to crush the cup. The sound of warping metal filled the small room and when I reopened my eyes the cup had been crushed into a small cube while the anger in me coursed through singing to me.
Leverage, position, advantage.
I felt my nerves clam as I rose from the chair. Besides affirming my strength my meditation taught me that if I wanted to continue my mission I HAD to go to the bridge regardless of how much I wanted to spite the fat Neimoidian. Otherwise I wouldn't have any of the information needed on the weapon. With a heavy sigh I pulled my shawl back over and made sure it hid my equipment before I exited my room. The ship was vast and cold since only metal, droids, ships, supplies etc. are stored. Very few of the passengers had a core temperature to worry about so the ships didn't waste much time on large scale heating and cooling and instead installed smaller units in just a few rooms. Luckily for me when I stepped onto the bridge the heat was pumped up to accommodate the large general.
"Nice of you to join us." The general sarcastically quipped in that annoying aristocratic voice of his.
I put my gaze on him for a long moment wondering how the force crush ability would work on him, maybe it would shrink him a couple of waist sizes at least.
"I had to jump to another star system, so I could eat, as it seems you've eaten all the food in this one." I took a seat and looked him dead in the eyes to see if he would challenge me; He didn't and instead returned his attention to a hologram that was active in the middle of a meeting table. That course of events wasn't shocking after all it was just him and me in this room, droids didn't count they were cold lifeless hunks of metal that obeyed whomever was their programed leader.
"As I was saying tactical droid once we reach the planet we will set up a mobile operation base and deploy my defoliator tank there for a test. We will then proceed to a small village of migrant Lurmens to test the weapon on living sentient beings. Afterwards we will report my success to Count Dooku."
Seriously that's what he wanted to discuss? His plan for ascending through the ranks of the separatist army? I stood and began to walk away but then stopped and looked back at Durd. "Don't waste my time with such trivial matter again."
Just to ensure that my point was made I focused on the battle droid standing near the general and let my anger at the general flow through me while making a squeezing gesture with my right hand. The droid folded in on itself before a great screeching of metal was heard that indicated the reduction of the droid into a useless cube of metal and wires. Once the droid was crushed I exited the room walking quickly though the hallways and back to my room.
Leverage, position, advantage.
The drop from hyperspace woke me. It was never a pleasant thing to experience the sudden stop after moving so quickly for so long. It was only cumulated by the fact that I was asleep and completely unprepared for the stop which resulted in a rather unceremonious fall to the floor from my sleeping cot.
"Force be damned" I grumbled as I picked myself up from the floor.
Just as I was standing up I heard a robotic voice come over the loudspeaker system of the ship. "Attention all units to their stations and prepare for shuttle drops to the planet Maridun."
Pulling myself from the floor I moved quickly to put on my gear and rushed out to the hanger. When I arrived, and I saw them loading the defoliator tank into one of the multitude of dropships that were being prepped to land. I saw the fat general waddling about shouting out orders to his programed servants all the while making his way to the ship with the tank on it. I made up my mind to actually talk to the general and walked calmly through the room still nurturing an anger about the way I was woken. When I was in range I approached the general to find out all that was about to happen.
"What are you doing, have you cleared a landing zone yet?" I asked my voice coming out harsher than usual, okay so the calm thing didn't work out this time.
"The landing zone was cleared on my last trip here; this backwater planet hasn't changed a bit." Durd said in his overconfident voice although his response almost elected a sigh of frustration from me.
"Perhaps it would be prudent of us to scan the area of the landing zone, and scan the area in and around the village you wish to strike with your field test again to ensure nothing has changed." It was more of a statement than a question, but I figured posing it as a question would get the best result. As the general may think I cared about his plan.
"There is no need it is time that we get to the planet and test my weapon. Now come." The general said as he boarded a landing shuttle.
I took a long look at him before turning and delving deeper into the ship heading toward the command bridge while waving a dismissive hand toward the general. "I'll catch up."
"Scan the general's landing zone" I ordered once I made it to the command bridge.
"Roger roger." The droid toned out and it started pressing buttons with its poorly designed three fingered mechanical hand.
"It looks like the landing zone is clear." The droid said after a moment and I looked at the holographic scan report it did indeed seem clear and the planet.
"Now scan the areas in and around the village, wide scan set the parameters at 30 miles." I said not wanting any surprises.
"Roger roger." Again the droid replied.
"Sir there appears to be a recent crash site near the village it's still smoking, looks like a republic ship."
Now that was interesting, and more importantly I would get to tell the idiot general I told him so. Now however I wondered what was going on out here that would cause a republic ship to crash land. There wasn't a battle fought out here as far as I knew. It was certainly worth investigating so I left the command room and moved quickly through the halls to return to the hanger bay. Once there I commandeered a ship along with a pilot droid and took off for the crash site.
The crash site was empty of life, but I was unable to find any bodies and there were tracks and drag marks from the wrecked remains of the ship indicated that they moved in the direction of the landing zone, and the village Lok Durd planned on testing his weapon on. I whirled on the droid I had with me.
"Where is the general now?"
The droid looked about as befuddled as a droid possibly could before it answered me with an almost human like motion of its arms. "The general should be at the landing zone now."
I took for the village at a dead run without bothering to see if the droid was following, it was just a hunk of metal after all. The tall grass of the planet hid me well even at the pace I set as my passage was marked by nothing more than a slight parting of the grass. I felt as my heart hammered in my ears and allowed my current discomfort to fuel my anger and focused on my connection to the force with the intent to enhance and sustain my body as I ran. Anger flowed through me as I reached a village that was currently being shot apart, and searched by droids. I came to a stop while still in the tall grass and observed what was happening while trying to calm myself.
Leverage, position, advantage.
As I calmed my senses sharpened and I saw them, five in total, a pair of people in clone armor carrying a wounded man dressed in a dark Jedi jerkin, and two other people, a blue female twi'lek and a young togruta female both dressed in rather revealing clothing that didn't look practical or modest enough to be Jedi garb, however they both wore metal cylinders at their hips that could be lightsabers. Now I had a choice to make. I could either follow the group and spy on them perhaps finding an opening to take them out, or I could report what I found to the general and gather reinforcements to attack them while also giving the group time to hide, the wounded man to recover, and letting the Jedi devise a counter strategy. Making my choice I quickly barked into my wrist com what I had seen, hoping that the general would listen, and took off toward the group of republic fighters.
Following them without being detected was actually a lot easier than I expected as the tall grass and their desire for rapid exodus hid my approach. I got close enough to overhear them as they finally came to a stop in a small clearing that was completely surrounded by grass. I leaned in and stilled my body and emotions as I eagerly awaited whatever they had to say. I was closer enough to identify the injured man as Anakin Skywalker a man that my master Count Dooku had already bested. My eyes lingered on his animatronic arm and I self-consciously gripped my arm while feeling glad that my master had not been as brutal to me as he was to Skywalker.
"Yanno I can't figure those villagers not wanting to fight, no pride I guess." One of the clones said as he waved his hand about and clutched his blaster.
"I call it no courage." One of the Jedi, a small togruta girl that was sitting down eating a ration stick said. Now that I was so close to her I could tell she was young, younger than I was that was certain. I felt inclined to agree with the girl anyone who just lays down and lets an invasive force push them around had no courage.
"Sometimes it takes courage to stick to one's beliefs young Padawan as any Jedi well knows." The blue twi'lek woman said. Now that I was standing so close I found the twi'lek girl awe inspiring. She was strikingly beautiful with very delicate defined features of the face, an athletic body common to most twi'lek females with very wide hips that I found myself wondering what it would be like to hold onto. She was, distracting.
"We need to find a ship! And I think the only one around here belongs to the separatists." Skywalker exclaimed as he settled on the ground and looked around.
I saw it than, a scout droid hidden in the grass, although it wasn't staying low enough to avoid exposing its antennae. Droids were nearly as crippling as they were useful.
"Sir you talking about stealing from the clankers? Count me in!" One of the clones said as he pulled his blaster rifle close to his body and moved his arms in an approving gesture.
"We need to find them first." The lovely blue female pointed out.
The droid got dangerously close and was about to expose itself, I went completely still as it advanced forward. The force flowed about me and the tingling I felt warned of danger although it was clear to see the droid was about to expose itself.
"I think we just did." The Padawan jumped up and pointed toward the grass on the opposite side of where I was hiding as the recon droid hovered a little too high above the grass.
"Blast it!" Skywalker shouted, and the clones opened fire.
The clones and Padawan rushed off immediately after the droid turned to flee while the lovely Jedi hesitated for a second casting a glance back at Skywalker who assured her he was fine before she took off after the droid as well albeit at a walking pace. Now was my chance I un-holstered my blaster and lined up a shot on Skywalker in the area around his waist that was heavily bandaged, paused a second to get my breathing right, and fired. The blast took him full in the back and he folded on himself and upon hitting the ground he stopped moving. I rushed from my cover to his side, but it was then that I was pushed from my feet by a great irresistible power. I landed rolled to my feet and fired my blaster at the downed Skywalker. This time I was able to locate my attacker as she leapt nimbly about halfway between Skywalker and I and reflected my blast back at me. I dodged it easily enough and faced the blue woman that prevented me from reaching Skywalker.
"Aren't you lovely."
Seriously that was the first thing that came out of my mouth when I first saw her. I fought the blush of embarrassment, not at saying she was pretty but, that my attraction to her was the first thing I could think to comment on. Master of the witty dialect that's me. Thankfully the Jedi didn't seem to care what I just said as she stood there a stoic determined look on her face and her lightsaber at a guard pose.
"Who are you?" She demanded
I smiled at her. "Don't you know its polite to offer your own name first before asking someone else's?"
"What makes you think I'd give you a name after what you just did?"
Well she had me there I actually didn't expect to find out her name. "I didn't expect to find it out, but how about a trade, my name for yours, and if you give me your word as a Jedi I'll even go first."
"Fine you have my word."
"Hello, I'm Narcyz Dahrk it's nice to meet you." I said and included another smile and a welcoming hand gesture free of obligation.
"I am Jedi master Aalya Secura. Now tell me what is it you are doing out here?" Her question was direct and to the point, but it was difficult not to hear the pride in her voice when she said she was a Jedi master.
"I hear the separatists are paying a million credits a head for dead Jedi. Somehow though I get the feeling you are much more fun alive." I causally informed as I shifted my body into a little bit more of a shooters stance and looked her up and down.
The twi'lek's face was stone as she ordered. "Put your weapon down, surrender."
"Perhaps it would be more profitable to offer you to an outer rim planet as a dancer or whore you may be worth more than a million credits to them." I quipped back as I started to walk in a slow counter clockwise circle with Skywalker as the epicenter.
She followed my movements, and mirrored them with her own, not allowing me to get any closer to the downed Jedi knight. However, I did notice her nostrils flare slightly at my mention of her being a dancer or a whore. It was a sensitive spot for a lot of females of all races in general, and twi'leks in particular as they often found themselves in those situations more so than other races of women. Upon seeing that slight reaction I decided to push on it a little harder.
"Or is that your purpose at the Jedi temple? After all they are forbidden relationships and attachments." I said as I put extra emphasis on the word attachments.
Why was she just standing there? a little part of me wondered as I continue to walk the circle.
"Are you the stress relief outlet for the Jedi? Is that why they let you stick around?" I goaded
I then realized why she was just standing there to guard over her fallen comrade she was stalling, waiting for her allies to finish the droid off and return. Once the fight morphed into two Jedi and two clone troopers against just me I would have an impossible time winning the engagement. It was time to progress the confrontation as time was firmly against me. I shifted my grip on my blaster and prepared myself.
"Well my sweet blue beauty I would be happy to take the Jedi's stress relief tool away, but I don't want to kill you, so would you mind stepping aside so I can finish Skywalker, then you and I could find some place quiet to go afterwards." I said winking at her
"I'm not going to let a low life like you have one of the Jedi." She retorted as she shifted her grip on her lightsaber and got into a defensive stance that was indicative of the combat style Ataru.
Fire and determination burned in her eyes it was clear she wasn't going to let me have him. It was admirable so far, she had proven herself to be an impressive person. However, the fire and determination although remarkable and appealing was also inconvenient for me. So, without another word I fired my blaster at her.