1
I walked into the Separatist transport, totally and utterly proud of myself. I was being posted at the Citadel for a training mission. I felt at home, surrounded by the shining, golden battle droids, so I figured I'd love it there.
My friend, BloodLust, bolted into the transport with me, late as usual. We looked into each others' eyes excitedly, my bright red eyes peering deeply into Blood's golden eyes.
"So they let you come?" Blood grinned, his eyes sparkling, "I thought you flunked the Force test, right?"
I smirked as I remembered how amusing it had been for me when shards of purple crystal I had broken with the Force had flown across the room, slicing a couple of battle droids and maiming a bounty hunter.
"No," I replied, "Dookou said I was 'dangerously wild'—his words, not mine—when I went Force-ballistic."
The transport doors closed, and I reached up to grab on of the handles of the ceiling for balance as it took off.
"Oh, come on, Rain," Blood playfully shoved my shoulder, "I could've sworn a fleet of crystal shards was zoning in on me."
I grinned. It was true. But something else was bothering me. Blood saw it in my eyes and nodded knowingly.
"Yeah, I've been wondering that, too." He dropped his gaze to the ground. We both voiced our thoughts.
"Where is master Dookou?"
"I bet he's organizing another diversion so he can find a way to attack Courascant." I reflected back on the time he had told me to pretend to be a newly-found, Force-sensitive child. I had been picked up be some unsuspecting Jedi and taken to the Academy, hiding my lightsabers in my boots. During the first period, I was told to come and introduce myself. I'd bent down in front of everybody, pretending to flick some dust off my shoes, and I'd pulled out my dual lightsabers, their red blades glinting dangerously, and yelled as loud as I could. Most kids had jumped up from their seats, pulling out their puny green or blue training lightsabers that hardly did any damage, and others ran and hid, grabbing their friends whose mouths were wide open, staring at my real 'sabers.
I'd ran as fast I could, cutting some important-looking junk in half, slicing off an arm or leg here or there, and speeding towards the docking bay, where a troop of Droidekas would pick me up.
Meanwhile, Count Dookou had attempted to assassinate Padmé Amidala, the Queen of Naboo. What looked like half the Jedi Council chased after me, but I was faster and got away, two Droidekas rolling behind me and shooting at the knights. Dookou failed at the attempted assassination, but he'd said that I did well, and that the only reason the Queen was still alive was because a Jedi called Anakin Skywalker had been with her.
I snapped back into reality when I heard Blood yelling at me above the noise of the ship, waving his hands around in front of my face as the transport descended.
"Rain! Rain, we're here!"
I stepped out of the ship and onto the rocky, hot, lava-filled land the Citadel had been built on eons ago.
I looked up and saw what would be a dark, menacing figure to any Jedi who arrived, but to us Seps, it was like a second home, if we had any home to begin with.
Blood and I stepped into the Citadel, excited beyond measure to be in a place like this, a place designed so that no Jedi could escape.
A Tactical Droid walked jerkily up to us and spoke bluntly in a metallic voice.
"BloodLust, turn right to reach your dorm. DeathRain, turn left."
Both of our faces fell when we heard we were going to be separated. I moved left, slowly moving out, but I felt a soft tap on my shoulder. I turned, and BloodLust swept me into his arms, and his lips met mine, and we stood there for a moment, both slightly shocked, and both slightly delighted. The Jedi could have their stupid no love rules, but the Sith could do whatever they wanted. Whatever we wanted.
I sat in my room, thinking about Blood.
He had red-streaked blonde hair, deep golden eyes, and he always wore a playful or determined look on his face. He wore black body armour, not unlike that worn by the Republic clones, and his utility belt always held something useful, from a grappling hook, to a piece of cheese, to a spare battery. He always fought with every piece of energy he had.
Me, I had long, silver-streaked brown hair, always braided to the side. My piercing, blood-red eyes could always find a way to get into trouble. I was raised to be ruthless, and I am an expert in the art of stealth. I've been used as an assassin multiple times by Dookou, my master. I wore I black, fitted sleeveless top an short black pants with no pockets. On my thigh was a distinctive fox tattoo, and, hidden in my tall boots were secret pockets that usually hold long, twisted knives. I had gauntlets that I had stolen from a dead clone—my first kill—and had painted my fox sign on. My long, black cloak and hood obscured most of my face. I don't know where I am from, but I do know that I was born to be a Sith.
I moved my right arm, the one that nobody but Count Dookou, the man who fixed it, knew was mechanical. It was completely covered in clone armour, so no one would see my weakness.
I sighed sitting on my cot. Thinking would get me nowhere. I needed to do something.
Then, a thought hit me—I could go exploring! My face brightened considerably at the prospect of some potential troublemaking chances.
The corridors were dark and empty—that meant it was nighttime. I crept through the maze-like halls, glad that Dookou had handed me a map of this place before I'd left.
I passed Blood's dorm, and a soft snoring emitted from inside. I shrugged, walking off. Blood wouldn't appreciate me waking him from his sleep. Even for a little adventure.
I grinned. Maybe even for some rule-breaking.
I heard footsteps behind me rapidly turning a corner. I ducked into an empty hallway, peering out at an interesting sight.
There was a line of humans and a few other beings—Togrutans, Twi'lek, Rodians—no doubt Republic prisoners. Most of the beings were adults, but one was a boy about my age—sixteen or seventeen—with long black hair, and an even longer, thin braid on one side of his head. He was a Jedi Padawan. Why was he here?
The procession passed, and I wondered why they didn't try to escape.
Then I noticed the Commando droids on their other side. Those droids were made for harder tasks, ones that ordinary, stupid battle droids would fail miserably at. This must be one tough group.
I crept through the halls, the commando droids not noticing that they were being stalked—why would they? I am, after all, the best at what I do.
We came to the door after a while, and I watched as they put the teen in the laser chains. As he hung, suspended in midair, the droid grabbed an electrostaff. I winced as the boy was repeatedly jabbed with the painful stave; I had felt its lightning before. Dookou had told me time and time again that endless challenges, anger, and hate are what make a good Sith.
The droid brought the electrostaff down for a fatal blow, and I made my decision.
I was more than hate.
I couldn't stand by all the time.
