I don't own anything about Star Wars. Not exactly sure who does anymore but I'm pretty sure it's Disney. But regardless of who DOES own Star Wars, the point is that I do NOT.
Only thing I own about this is the Microsoft word file it was made on.
••••••••••
The Sith Empire tightens its grip on the galaxy. The Galactic Republic and its Jedi defenders lie weakened and vulnerable after the Empire's thus far successful military campaign. Though negotiations between the Galactic Republic and the Empire have opened, both sides are unwilling to compromise. While the political games are played by the leader's of both factions, skirmishes are fought all over the galaxy.
Lord Erebus, a human Sith Inquisitor twenty years of age finds himself beneath the authority of Darth Skotia, a cybernetically enhanced human Sith warrior. Erebus' first task is to spy on Lord Zash, an ambitious human Sith sorceress.
Little do they know that Darth Skotia has already been targeted for death by Lord Zash. Lord Erebus is placed under the charge of Zash by Darth Skotia in an effort to subvert the female Sith. Lord Erebus quickly finds that there is more potential gain working with Zash than with Skotia. With a powerful Lord now made available to her, Lord Zash tasks Erebus with watching over and escorting her young apprentice. He agrees under the condition that he be a partner rather than subordinate to her. She agrees.
His first task is to go and meet the new upstart apprentice aboard the Imperial Fleet space station.
From there he would need to check on a few things on Alderaan to ensure that Skotia would meet his end.
The two Sith meet aboard the imperial fleet and set out for Alderaan. Zash instructs them to report to her on Dromund Kaas as soon as they finish whatever business Erebus has.
•••••
Alderaan spaceport
I glanced at the young Sith sitting beside me in the Alderaanian transport ship. Like me, she was extremely pale, the dark side corruption already beginning to show. She looked almost chalky and it was made even more noticeable by the purple sleeveless robes she wore. This was Darth Zash's apprentice, Herra. She had been named by her previous owners after an old deity of fertility. They had planned to use her for breeding stock to birth a new generation of slaves to the house. They almost succeeded too until the girl had tapped into the force and popped their skulls open like grapes. The scars on her face and lining her arms were symbols to what her life became after leaving those first owners. But that was then. She was a slave once, now she had overcome her past and had risen to the mantel of Sith.
She was quiet which was nice for a fresh apprentice. Most that I met never shut up about how they would one day rule the Galaxy or take revenge on someone or some other such nonsense. It never ceased to annoy me.
As for me, my ambition would be much less grandiose if I could honestly claim to have one. I lacked the same drive and ambition that most other Sith had. I was content with my place as a Lord. True I didn't like serving someone else but it was tolerable most days. Thankfully Zash had agreed to allow me to secede from her powerbase and begin my own.
Naturally I was indebted to her and would assist her in her endeavors, not out of obligation but rather because I appreciated her allowing me the freedom to act on my own. She would see it as me paying her back, but I didn't really see a debt between the two of us.
Standing beside Lord Zash's apprentice was her companion, the force devouring monster that answered to the name of Khem Val. He was massive with grey sickly colored skin, a mouth full of jagged teeth and a massive vibro-sword strapped to his back.
"I suppose you and I will be working together from here on out." The apprentice said quietly. I guess she was tired of the silence.
I didn't respond right away to her. I didn't really know how to delicately say I was really just babysitting her even though I sensed that she already knew. Lord Zash was a strange Lord compared to many of her peers, though I couldn't really talk. It seemed that she had a particular sweet spot for this apprentice of hers. It would be smart of me to make nice with the girl. "You suppose correctly young one."
She nodded and looked out the window of the transport eying the trees passing beneath us.
"I sense that something is bothering you. Whatever it is that's distracting you might end up being your undoing."
I couldn't argue against that. "You probably have a point. I just have a lot on my mind at the moment. Thanks for your concern." I tried to sound sincere. I was trying to remain friendly. I didn't expect us to become friends by any means but I did need her to trust me to some extent.
She turned to look at me. I could see suspicion in her orange eyes and her monster growled. It was easy to see her emotions warning her to be weary of me. That probably went against everything she learned on Korriban. I supposed it only fair that before I ask a young one what her name was, even if I did already know it, that I tell her mine.
"Forgive me, I've forgotten my manners. I am Erebus, Dark Lord of the Sith." I said quietly. She looked me in the eye then seemed to relax just a bit.
"My name is Herra." She said, a bitterness to her tone. Seems her name was a touchy subject for some reason.
"I have heard of you." she continued. "Your very… well known among the acolyte populace on Korriban. You killed many of the acolytes that were undergoing their trials just before I arrived to the planet. I spent most of my time hearing horror stories from other acolytes. I was told if I ever saw you that I should turn and run the other way as fast as I could." She said.
"Yes I remember." I sighed. "I was tasked by the Dark Council through one of the Inquisitors, Arzanon I think his name was. He had me scan acolytes and run them through their little computer system to see if they were real acolytes or traitors planted by the republic. When I found them I was instructed to purge them."
Herra's eyes went wide at the revaluation. I guess she simply thought I was another typical Sith Lord, killing random acolytes just because I felt like it. I almost snorted at the thought. I had better things to do with my time than kill random acolytes.
We landed in the Alderaanian spaceport closest to House Organa. I immediately stood and stretched out. I hated sitting around for very long and the transports from space to the planet we're always slow. It made me jittery. Herra ordered Khem Val to stay within the spaceport and out of trouble. I hit a few keys on my wrist computer to tell my personal Droid companion, an HK-51 series assassin droid, to stay under stealth field and remain in the space port as well. The monster responded to Herra in a language I didn't recognize then stepped away.
"What exactly are we doing here? I doubt were here for the exotic food." She said as we walked down the ramp and into the reception area to stand in line for customs.
"Your right." I responded. "We are here to see one of my contacts in regard to a certain thing your master wishes to move. Why? Do you have a dinner date?"
I meant my last question as rhetorical but I got an answer anyway.
"No I don't. I wouldn't suffer a male seeking me in that regard. Besides, while a male is good for some quick relief, I've always preferred the gentle touch of a female."
I shrugged as the last lifeform between the desk and I walked away. I wasn't surprised by the girl's answer. I was surprised she could still stomach being touched by a man at all considering her past but thought it a good thing. It meant that if I slipped up and bumped into her by accident I wouldn't get a lightsaber swung at my face. I slid my Imperial passport onto the desk scanner. It would take a moment to clear me so I could move along.
"Before we leave the spaceport, I know that you have had a very unpleasant life thus far but now you are Sith. You have probably already seen the many political games that take place within our order. It's all a show of supposed power. If you plan to stick around then I suggest you refrain from angering those above your station. It will be easier for you in the long run. In cases where we deal with Sith of higher standing than our own, you will have to endure any offence they give and allow me or Darth Zash to deal with them on your behalf."
Herra didn't look like she really understood what I meant so I decided to shelve that particular lesson until I had proper example at hand. I decided to change the subject. "Furthermore, you and I are supposed to work together. At some point you and I should train with one another so that we can see how best to assist one another in battle. You should also know, unlike many Sith I have no reason to try and take action against you or Zash. My prospects are much brighter with her as my patron and you draw attention away from me by being her apprentice. Most will see you and instantly assume you are her second in command." I said as the automated counter returned my pass to me.
She gave me no response but I could tell she was mulling over everything I had just said. I waited as she had her pass scanned and felt a small rush of irritation when her pass was cleared almost immediately. Go figure.
We fell into step beside one another as we exited the spaceport out into the sun.
I squinted and waited for my eyes to adjust to the bright mid-day light. The Dark side corruption had changed my eye color from a smokey grey to blood red with a small jagged ring of orange Midway between my pupil and the edge of my Iris. The shade my hood offered helped and I was able to see clearly after only a few seconds. Looking beside me I almost smiled seeing Herra fiercely rubbing her eyes trying to see. I pointed to a nearby cab stand. "Lets catch a ride to house Organa. I don't believe we'll need to spend much time on this planet so long as we don't cause any trouble. The Organa's aren't our biggest fans but I have an old friend there who gets me in and out so long as I behave."
Herra nodded and followed me to the small taxi terminal just outside the spaceport. I ignored the Droid that stood managing the taxi station and touched my data pad to the currency transfer terminal. When the interface on the terminal flashed green, I hopped into one of the seats of the cab. Herra slid in beside me.
We didn't say a word as the Droid piloting us rambled on and on about the many houses of Alderaan. I didn't care about which Noble house led the planet into whatever silly era. I could tell Herra didn't care either by the feel of her aura.
Luckily, the ride to House Organa was short. Alderaan was a surprisingly pleasant planet when you ignored the warzones outside the city walls and irritating taxi droids. We were greeted by an Organa servant that led us to a young man standing on the upper steps of one of the smaller meeting rooms.
"Ah! Welcome my friend. It's good to see you once more." He said warmly, his arms spread as though to embrace me. This was Fabian Organa, a young but ambitious man who had assisted me on a few tasks here on Alderaan back when I was still an apprentice. I counted him as a friend. He didn't actually hug me. I had nearly snapped him in half the first time he had tried and now he never got too close unless absolutely necessary, though he did love to push his luck.
"Oh? Who's this young beauty?" he asked. He took Herra's hand and touched his lips to her fingers. "Well met fair maiden. If I may, what is someone with your radiance doing in the company of this brute?" He asked. I froze, my eyes went wide at his blatant flirting but took a small step forward just in case Herra tried to kill him.
To her credit, Herra didn't do anything except snatch her hand away from him and hid slightly behind me.
"Be careful Fabian." I warned, the tone of my voice sharp. "She can kill you just as easily as I can and she has far less reason to let you live. Do not try your luck with this one. Please, as a friend do me that favor."
Fabian lost his signature grin. He glanced from me to the girl. I saw a flash of understanding in his eyes before he nodded and returned to his happy-go-lucky demenor. "Ah but I know you will protect me. And hey if I die looking at that beautiful face then I'll go a happy man. I'm very sorry miss. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Please let me make amends. May I offer either of you a drink? Food perhaps?"
I sighed. "Thank you. Don't take it personally, life has been especially cruel to this one."
He waved me off and pulled a small data disk from his belt.
"It's fine, I've had my fun. I'm not the type to harass a poor girl, especially when she could cut me in two. Here, everything that I've been supplied concerning that mission of yours. I swear you need to stop doing missions involving killing people on your own side. Use it well my friends, it isn't often you get this kind of intel." He said.
I nodded and pocketed the disk. I would look over the information it held later. We didn't spend much more time in Fabian's company. A servant girl brought us drinks and some small sandwiches. We stood to leave shortly after finishing the offered confections. Fabian offered to escort us back to the spaceport personally but I denied him saying I needed to speak with people who he was better off not knowing existed. Fabian nodded in understanding and wished us both farewell. Just before our taxi departed Fabian offered Herra his hand. The girl hesitated then placed her hand in his. They shook hands once. I glared at my roguish friend as the taxi sped off. Fabian's hearty laughter followed after us as we sped away.
Later as we reached the spaceport I asked if she was okay. She nodded and said that Fabian was nothing like any of the men she had ever known. He was pleasant and radiated a feeling of warmth that she had rarely ever felt during her time as a slave. It was only the touch of his hand that brought back memories of times better left forgotten. She also thanked me for speaking on her behalf. She said that she understood what I had said earlier about letting me be her sword and shield and for now, I had her trust. I was thankful for that. It showed that perhaps Herra had a chance of healing. I did however warn her about giving trust so easily. She shrugged me off but I feel that she would still keep my advise in mind for the future.
•••••
Herra and I were surprised to find that Darth Zash had paid for us to ride back to Dromund Kas aboard the Black Talon, a well known high class imperial transport. We were greeted by a female Imperial lieutenant. I mostly ignored her until she mentioned a protocol droid that supposedly belonged to me. Aside from the assassin Droid following invisibly behind me I didn't own any droids. Herra and I glanced at each other, both of us instantly suspicious.
We met with the Droid who gave us a quick greeting then placed us on a holo-call with its real owner: Grand Moff Kilren.
I could feel Herra's anger ignite when he ordered us to take control of the Black Talon and intercept a republic war ship, The Brentaal Star. That man had a pair on him for sure, thinking he had any authority over us.
We are sith. We bend to no one's will but our own.
I restrained myself if only barely but the force lashed out violently around Herra. Kilran's protocol droid was crushed into a metallic ball then smashed into a wall, pieces of metal were torn straight from the floors and the entire ship seemed to groan as though it were being slowly compressed. Herra lifted her hand and used the force to choke Kilran. I was impressed that she could manage it from so far a distance. Everyone watched the holo-projection of the Grand Moff be lifted off the ground and clutching at his neck. I watched in satisfaction as the man slowly asphyxiated. Then my common sense kicked back in and I remembered just how much attention it would draw if Kilran we're to die. Zash would have a bantha.
"Enough." I commanded, my voice cold.
Herra's eyes narrowed and she closed her hand a little tighter, further restricting Kilran's ability to breath. The fool began to go still. Being ignored sparked my irritation back into burning anger.
"Enough!" I roared and released a small torrent of Sith lightning at her. She screamed in agony and her pet Dashade charged me. I used the force to restrain the beast in midair. Herra was seizing and had dropped to a knee but managed to keep from dropping to the floor, her body needed some time to process the residual electricity. I dropped the Dashade to the floor and offered Herra a hand to pull her up and steady her. She glared at me before ordering her Dashade to stand down, though each word was stuttered out.
It took a moment for the anger fueled adrenaline to pass. I normally tried to keep calm and not let my emotions control me but being ignored by an apprentice in front of witnesses was not something my pride would allow me to let slide. If we had been alone I probably wouldn't have cared.
This trip had suddenly turned into a high profile assault on a republic war ship that was carrying a defector and I had an apprentice Sith that wasn't even mine along with her pet Dashade to deal with. I would definitely be having words with not only Darth Zash but Kilran as well after this was all done. The Grand moff would be lucky to get out alive.
After a quick moment to recompose ourselves and for me to forcibly wipe the memory of our squabble from the Lieutenant's mind, we all made our way to the command deck. I allowed Herra to take charge. I considered it a test of her ability to think clearly and plan under stress. It was also a small apology for electrocuting her. Attacking a female always left a bad taste in my mouth.
Herra did very well in my opinion. She allowed the captain to live so long as he pledged his and his crew's undying loyalty to her and convinced them all that with assistance from her and myself they could indeed take on the Brentaal Star. She now had them motivated and loyal to her and all but owned the ship.
Once the Brentaal Star begin sending boarding parties our way, I left to repel the republic forces flooding the ship while the crew and Herra began planning on how to storm the Brentaal Star in return. I insisted that Herra remain aboard the bridge when she turned to follow. That got the young girl very upset with me again.
A maelstrom of dark side energy formed around her and she almost allowed her Dashade pet to attack me again. I wasn't worried, I knew that my own robotic ally was hidden and waiting on proper justification to drop his stealth field and fire a high caliber plasma bolt into the Dashade. I was only worried about killing the apprentice. Zash wouldn't like it at all if I killed her apprentice over a little disagreement.
Luckily for me, both apprentice and force eating monster settled down when I reminded her that Zash charged me with watching over her. I also added that she would be coordinating the counter assault on the Brentaal Star. She couldn't do that if she was beside me fighting. Besides, this whole ordeal wasn't our problem. Succeed or not, I'd make sure the credit would go only to us or that the blame would fall squarely on Grand Moff Kilran's shoulders. She especially liked that last part and it got her motivated to do as I said.
Before anything else though, I needed to kill that ridiculously nicknamed traitor aboard the republic ship.
•••••
The fighting had been intense. Not that I participated all that much. I used the force to hide myself and literally walked past the enemy forces side by side with HK-51 who couldn't help but viciously rip apart every republic soldier we passed. Finally the ship seemed to be purged of republic soldiers so I returned to the bridge. Herra and the ship officers appeared to have been waiting for me.
"My Lord, we have a strike plan and troops ready for a counter attack. I assume you will be leading the charge?" the captain asked.
I nodded. "But of course."
"My Lord! Incoming transmission. Long range. It isn't the Brentaal Star."
Imagine my surprise when the holo-image of Satele Shan appeared.
"This is Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan hailing unidentified Imperial vessel. I'm on route to your location with sixteen Republic vessels. I am asking you to retreat before more lives are lost."
Herra and I glanced at each other. Her expression clearly said "what now?"
I rolled my eyes. "Well met Grand Master Shan. I am Erebus, Dark lord of the Sith. We only want the traitor. Deliver him to us and we will absolutely agree to a cease fire."
"Unfortunately I cannot say the same seeing as your attacking one of my ships. I want you to see reason." She replied. "The Brentaal Star is under my protection. Our convoy was ambushed and I sent the Star ahead. I just crippled three Imperial dreadnaughts. I don't wish to destroy you. The peace between the Empire and the Republic is fragile enough already."
I snorted. "If you really wish to prevent the loss of more life Grand Master then return the traitor to us. He is the only reason we are here. Hand him over and you have my word this fighting stops immediately."
She shook her head. "I can't do that Sith."
"Then the lives I take today are your fault. Their blood will be on your hands." I said, almost forlornly. "End transmission ensign."
The ensign controlling communications jumped to obey my command.
With that I left the bridge, staying only long enough to tell Herra not to do anything stupid and make sure she didn't die. HK followed behind me as we made our way to the cargo bay to steal one of the republic ships that had infiltrated the ship. It was a quick and easy flight and once we managed to land aboard the Brentaal Star, we walked invisibly through the ship, sabotaging shield generators, weapon system controls, rigging small sets of explosives HK carried and leaving a trail of corpses until I found "the General" in the center of the ship being guarded by two Jedi, a Togruta Jedi Knight and his Mirilaan Padawan as well as a small squad of republic commandos. The commandos were setting up barriers on the door opposite the one I entered from and the Jedi were trying to reassure "the General" that he had nothing to fear. They couldn't possibly know just how wrong they were. I had to stop myself from laughing at how easy this would be.
Without anymore delay I dropped my force cloak. I could sense HK hanging back near the door, waiting for me to start the altercation before springing into action. I cleared my throat and everyone instantly trained their weapons on me.
"Who are you? You should not be here." The Jedi Knight asked as he activated a light green bladed saber.
Before anything else could happen, a high-caliber blaster bolt pounded straight through the Jedi Knight's skull leaving a massive cauterized hole in it's place. His corpse crumpled to the floor in a heap.
"So much for that." I thought to myself before I allowed the force to surge through me. I fried the nearest commando with Sith lightning from my left hand and crushed "the General's" windpipe with a gesture of my right. He fell to the floor gasping for breath until he turned a ghastly purplish grey and died.
In the blink of an eye, a Jedi, one of the Republic's best, and "the General" lay dead. I hadn't even drawn a lightsaber from my collection yet.
HK deactivated his stealth generator. If droids could grin I knew that HK's smile would be manic.
"Termination protocols engaged." He said before charging the remaining three commandos. Their blaster fire bounced off his armor plates, leaving only small barely noticeable scorch marks.
HK wouldn't have been able to do that kind of kamikaze attack when I first purchased him from the Hutt called Nem'ro. I paid to have every one of his armor plates and his wrist mounted vibro-blade swapped with replications made of solid cortosis. I had most of his internal components swapped for high quality polymer copies making him much lighter to help balance the weight of his cortosis armor. I also paid a fortune to equip him with a Czerka CZX-X sniper rifle, the upgrade to the 4 model that could fire both high-caliber plasma bolts and .54 caliber durasteel bullets. HK rarely ever had to resort to physical bullets but it helped when he had to kill something with energy shields. Most shields protected extremely well against plasma based weapons like blasters but had an inherent weakness to non-energy based projectiles. In addition I even paid to upgrade all of HK's internal computer systems. He now processed information faster than most computers. I knew paying to have HK outfitted with the best armor and weapons available on the black market would pay off and so far it had paid for itself a thousand times over. Good thing too, I had completely depleted my savings on that Droid.
I was confident that my HK-51 unit was the deadliest assassin droid since Revan's HK-47. He was easily the deadliest and most effective one currently in existence. He was one of a kind and the closest thing I had to a friend. Well, one that traveled with me.
I drew my saber-staff and activated only one of it's blades to block an over head swing from the Padawan. I held her lightsaber at bay easily, the longer handle of my saberstaff giving me extra leverage. I could sense she was distracted by how easily her master met his end. I pushed her off and with a flourish fell upon her using Makeshi.
I surprised her for only a second, the graceful fencing style clashing with the longer hilt of my saber. An upward swing threw her off balance and sent her saber flying out of her hands. She threw herself forward and tackled me to the ground. She rolled away and retrieved her lightsaber before attacking me again. She was fast on her feet, never staying in the same spot for more than a few moments. I capitalized on her application of Ataru still being unrefined. There were more than enough openings for me to get back onto my feet.
I activated my staff's second blade and spun in place swinging my saber at waist height. The girl rolled beneath my attack. I went low and swept her feet out from under her just as her roll ended. A quick high-voltage blast of lightning left her seizing on the ground. It wouldn't kill her but it would be agonizing and keep her out of the fight for a minute or two.
From the corner of my eye I saw HK ram his fist through the chest of the last republic commando.
"You'll p-pay for your c-c-crimes Sith. I'll avenge my master." She stuttered out, the electricity in her system still causing her issues. I chuckled.
"Which crimes? I've committed more than a few in the eyes of the Jedi." I replied honestly.
She snarled. I wouldn't be surprised if my comment disgusted her. That holier-than-thou attitude that most Jedi had irritated me. It was so boring. They always said basically the same thing: "Blah blah you'll pay. Blah blah your evil. Blah blah the light side will prevail."
It was like they practiced those lines in a mirror or something.
"Your evil ends now Sith. I can't allow you to leave this ship." She said as she struggled to stand.
I sighed. She had basically recited the very words I had just been thinking.
"Yes yes I know, I've heard it all before. Can we just move on to the part we fight? I have an apprentice waiting on me."
She screamed in anger and charged me again. I reactivated the blades of my saber-staff and met her head on.
I stayed on the defensive, changing on the fly between Soresu, Makeshi and Juyo, easily blocking each swing the Jedi sent my way by maneuvering my saber-staff around my body. I didn't use any of the Sith rituals I knew or any force powers more advanced than the push and pull, the Padawan didn't stand a chance against me as it was and I was just killing time at this point.
After a few minutes of her screeching and raining blow after blow onto my staff, she seemed to lose heart. Her strikes lost their former power and her cries off fury became whimpers of despair. Finally she just stopped and crumpled to her knees panting for breath and crying. I watched, somewhat fascinated as her lightsaber rolled out of her hand. I'd never met a Jedi who just gave up. Most that I had met were fanatical and willing to fight to the death. Not this one it seemed.
Once I was somewhat sure she wasn't simply baiting me into letting my guard down, I lowered my own lightsaber and deactivated both of its blades. I reached out with the force and pulled the Padawan's lightsaber into my hand and looked it over. It was well constructed and simple in design. A relatively thin hand length hilt wrapped in a leather of some kind with a single green string tied near the blade emitter.
I could also feel the light side of the force permeate the weapon. It would never serve me as well as my own darkness infused sabers if I took it with me. My own connection to the dark side was far too strong for it.
Oh well. I didn't really feel like adding another to my collection. The two I had in addition to my personal curved-hilt saber, saber-staff and my former Master's lightsaber were cumbersome enough. If I planned to expand my collection past five then I needed to buy a storage unit to keep them in or something.
I looked down on the Padawan and sighed. She was small, young, a female, and now not just crying, but crying pathetically.
I sighed again and offered her lightsaber back to her.
"Here. My mission is finished. I'm leaving now." I said. I didn't feel like killing her anymore. Her stupid girl tears killed the mood.
She looked up at me, her expression confused, as though I were speaking in tongue or dialect she didn't know. I stood there like a fool waiting for her to take her weapon until HK made his opinion known.
"Master, we do not have time to waste on this female. Allow me to end her life so we might move along?"
I gave him a look to which he simply looked back at me with his unchanging robotic expression. Sometimes I hated being unable to intimidate droids. I waved him off and looked back to the Padawan.
"What's the matter young one? Why won't you take your weapon? Why did you stop attacking me in the first place?" I asked, not because I actually wanted her to attack me again but more because I was curious as to what her answer might be.
She glared at me, though the effect was diminished by the tears rolling down her light green cheeks.
"I'm done with your games Sith." She said through her tears. "I am no match for you. If your going to kill me, there isn't anything I can do to stop you. You've made that very clear."
"It's exactly as I said master! We should exterminate the female and return to the Black Talon." HK commented.
I sighed. Just before I could turn to tell HK to shut up, the entire ship was kicked by a massive explosion. Debris began to fall from the ceiling and alarms sounded. I toppled over to my knees nearly crushed by a falling computer monitor from the wall but barely managed to avoid it and stay relatively upright. The Padawan girl though, was hit and knocked unconscious.
HK shouted out to me as another explosions rocked the ship. "We have to leave now Master!"
I jumped back up to my feet but couldn't force myself to leave. I felt the force tugging at me, telling me there was something important about the Padawan unconscious beneath the large computer monitor that had nearly taken me out.
I thought for a second more then did something I couldn't explain. I reached down, lifted the massive monitor with the force and pulled the unconscious Padawan up onto my shoulders. I followed HK though the door we had entered from and used the force to dash through the corridors back the way we had come in.
I stopped to rest just outside the door leading into the hanger. HK was very unhappy as he caught up. "Master why have you stopped? The ship is still exploding."
"No fucking shit." I thought to myself as another tremor rocked the ship. HK brought the grump out of me sometimes.
We ran through the hanger, the ship still being rocked by explosions, until we managed to stumble back inside the ship we had stolen to come aboard the Brentaal Star.
I looked to HK and motioned to the cock pit. "HK ready the ship for take off and get us back aboard the Black Talon. Preferably before the Brentaal Star explodes."
"As you command master." He called from the cockpit.
I set the unconscious Padawan down in the passenger bay and waited for us to dock back onto the Black Talon. Half way there HK entered the bay.
"Master, I must ask, are you feeling well? You have never hesitated to deliver death before."
I waved him off. I didn't have an answer for him anyway.
"Just get us back to the Black Talon."
Maybe I'd have an excuse by then for saving the life of a Jedi Padawan.
•••••
We were received Back onto the Black Talon with cheers. The entire crew was celebrating their victory over the Republic. I shied away from the happy crew and left to the large suite I had been assigned. I had HK deliver the Padawan to the room under stealth field. He had tucked her into the bed and left just as I had instructed. Before I took my own leave of the room, I left a small note telling the girl not to leave the room for any reason then stuck it on the girls face where she couldn't possibly miss it. I still posted HK as a sentry outside though. I ordered him to watch the girl and remain under stealth. If she tried to leave or if anyone attempted to enter the room, he was to detain them and keep them out. If anyone attempted to enter twice, he was to then execute them.
I returned to the bridge to find the crew asking Herra what they should do next. She seemed to be standing a little straighter as I entered. I sensed her pride as I walked through the bridge and stood beside her.
"Your mission was successful." She said.
I nodded. "Don't sound so surprised. I didn't become a Lord by accident."
She snorted. "Don't be a braggart. It's an ugly trait. I already know how strong you are. I can feel your power when you enter a room."
I glanced down at her. "Can you? Your very strong in the force then. For one as young as you to be able to sense the power of others without instruction is a very advanced skill. Especially since I try to hide my power."
"I had to learn. It was that or die." She replied.
I nodded. I remembered my days on Korriban. If I closed my eyes I could still feel the crimson sands scape against my face.
"You did well. You should be proud."
She said nothing. My wrist vibrated. I looked down and saw a small message from HK.
"The female is unamused with your note placement." It read.
I sighed. "Wonderful." I thought to myself.
"If you need me I'll be in my room. Let me know before you come by. There's a small development that needs my attention and I we don't need it becoming common knowledge." I said quietly.
That did get me a look from Herra. I shook my head. "Later. I promise you an explanation. For now just enjoy this victory."
Without another word I left to see what the situation was with HK. I arrived to find the padawan standing inside the door way held at gun point by HK.
"Greetings master. Your hostage has awoken. I thought it best to inform you. She was very unhappy with where you left your note."
I sighed.
"Get in the room." I said. The girl glared defiantly at me but didn't move. My irritation was beginning to spark. Anymore and it would light the flames of true anger and no one would like that. Me getting angry typically involved lightning. Lots and lots of lightning.
"Get back in the room before your seen you foolish girl." I hissed, this time allowing my power to flow and be felt. The girl visibly reacted. Her eyes dilated, her skin paled, she tensed up and she took a step back into the room.
I was done waiting and used the force to throw her forcefully back inside. HK followed right behind me and sealed the door. Once the door was closed and we were out of sight I tried to calm down. I hated getting mad. It made me feel out of control and I hated feeling a lack of control. I fell into a chair and began running a hand through my hair. It was comforting. After a few minutes I called down and forced my power back in check. The girl had picked herself off the floor and pressed herself into the corner of the room farthest from me. She stood fearfully watching me like a dog scared of being kicked.
I decided that alcohol was definitely needed.
"HK, go fetch me the strongest drink you can find. The higher alcohol content the better. And don't bring me the stuff the field medics use on lacerations again." I said.
The assassin Droid only nodded and left the room. With a wave of my hand I sealed the room once more.
"What are you going to do with me?"
I looked over to the girl. She was still pressed against the wall, though her color was back to a normal light green shade.
"I dunno." I muttered. "Keep you out of sight for damn sure."
My answer confused her. "What do you mean out of sight? Why am I not in a holding cell?"
I shrugged. "Because your not an Imperial prisoner. You are my prisoner. Look to be honest, you should be dead right now. I have no idea why I didn't finish you when I had the chance while we were fighting, I have no idea why I took you with me off the Brentaal Star, and I have no idea what the hell to do with you now."
The girl glared at me. "I won't fall to the Dark side. I won't allow you to turn me."
I snorted. "Oh please. Your too weak to use the Dark side of the force and far to annoying to be MY apprentice. I have standards, thank you very much."
She scoffed. "Excuse me?"
"Your excused but your not leaving the room." I said flatly with a deadpan expression.
The padawan looked at me as though I had grown a second head.
"What?" I asked.
"Was that a joke?" she asked hesitantly.
I ran my hand through my hair again and groaned. "No you foolish girl. You asked to be excused." I replied sarcastically. "Fine, go wherever you like as long as it's in this suite and away from anyone who might see you and make my life more complicated than it already is."
Now she was surprised. "You DON'T want your troops to know I'm here? Why? What the hell is going on? What the hell are you planning on doing to me?!" she shouted.
I rolled my eyes at her. "Quit your shouting. If I wanted to do anything to you I would have done so by now." I snapped. "The situation is relatively simple. I don't know why I saved you, but I did. I would rather you weren't here, but you are and since you are I'm going to keep you out of sight and out of trouble until we get to Dromund Kaas. From there, either me or HK will take you to Tython or some other planet in a Republic controlled system."
Now the girl was completely flabbergasted. "You expect me to believe that your going to help me go free?"
I shook my head. "No. I expect you to obey me. To an extent anyway. You'll die otherwise."
HK reentered the room carrying a large bottle and a small tray. He tossed the bottle to me and set the try on the small dining table.
"The small Sith girl asked me to make sure you eat Master. I thought it a good idea to bring extra for the female captive as well."
I nodded. "Thanks but I'm not exactly hungry right now, I'll eat later." I looked over to the girl and motioned for her to sit. "Eat."
She glared at me, this time in suspicion, but she didn't move. I rolled my eyes again. I didn't care if she ate or not. I had already told her she had nothing to fear from me. If she didn't want to believe me then so be it. She could starve until I got her to a Republic system and out of my hair. For now though, a strong drink was definitely a must.
••••••••••
And it is done.
Ladies and gentlemen the first chapter of my Star Wars story is complete.
PLEASE READ.
To everyone thinking it, yes I know I have a very weird spread of fanfiction. Elder scrolls, Destiny and now Star Wars are all very different kinds of stories but I was working on all of these (among others) for a long time now. It's only now that I finally put in the time to write them down them up (sorta) and to post them.
Please let me know what you guys think. If I get enough good feedback on this one I'll keep writing and posting for this one. If not then I'll probably leave it drifting in the "ideas area" of my mind.
PLEASE READ DONE.
I may also be posting the first chapter of another story I've been working. It follows the life of a young mercenary who unknowingly befriends the chosen successor of Death himself. Adventure, drama, romance and tragedy follow.
Let me know if you guys are interested in seeing it.
Anywho, enough with the sales pitch.
Thanks to everyone who follows my work. It means a lot to have people who enjoy my writing. This stuff has been sitting in my head for years so it feels good to do something with it and have people think it's good or even have some send me messages on how to improve.
As always, I am
TheForlornSage
Walk always dear family.