Chapter 2 - Something In The Way
Zeerd leaves his room some time later then makes his way to the cockpit, however is stopped as he passes the training room where his apprentice was practicing with some training droids, he stands at the door leaning on the door frame watching her slice at the droid with a Sith training saber. He assessing her silently watching as she gracefully swings the saber around taking each droid out one by one, there was something magical about watching saber fighting it was like art. She finishes the droids off then starts to breathe heavily she hears clapping from the door he master was there watching her all along "Sorry master I did not notice you there" she places the training saber back of the weapon rack, Zeerd walks over to weapon racks and stands next to her "How about we have a quick duel?" Zeerd picks up a training staff "Sure master" she picks up two training blades, they both walk to other ends of the training room "Any rules, master?" he nods "Yeah no Force powers or dirty fighting apart from kicking they count". Shaai then gets into a stance placing one of her weapons into an attacking position and the other a defending one, Zeerd stood there in a relaxed stance he then suddenly charges at her performing a side flip and landing a strike onto one of Shaai's blades. Shaai then goes for a stab at his stomach but he blocked it with the other end of the staff, he then withdraws backwards then leg sweeps his apprentice as she falls to the floor he mockingly states "Your stance seems to need some work" she then jumps up to her feet then loosely swings her weapons around at him which he perfectly blocks the pushes her back with the tip of his staff "Always use your forms" she then quickly recalls all seven forms then slipped into form II:Makashi recalling that this form helps one on one duelling. She swiftly swings one blade at a time striking his staff, but he was prepared and quickly wrapped the tip of the staff round her hand and disarmed her left hand then kicks the blade away. She was now open for an attack he then attacks fast lunging forward pushing her against the wall, he then knocks her weapon out of her hand but is unprepared for her as she kicks his staff put of his hands she then punches him in the chest, which he counters the second time it happens, which he then proceeds to parry her oncoming attacks then he suddenly grabs her fists then sweeps her legs dropping them both to the floor. He grabs her tightly, which she then surrenders at he then releases her and stands up "Not a bad fight" he says as he used the Force to move the weapons onto their racks "You still need a little work on your stance, but not bad" "Always criticising me" she says jokingly. They both make their way out of the training room and then into cockpit, they both spot Dromund Kaas which was the capital of the Sith Empire. Zeerd then sets the ship to land on the planet's surface.
The ship lands in the largest of the spaceports, and then from there they take a speeder through the dense jungle towards the capital Kaas city. Kass city was the crown of the Empire with its large skyscrapers and unpredictable lighting storms spanning it and the surrounding landscape. They landed their speeders just outside the city walls, which towered anyone standing beside with its cold dark presence. They walk through the gate, and get stopped by mysterious man in a dark robe "What brings you to the capitol Darth Zeerd" the man asks as her walks over "It doesn't concern you" Zeerd turns to look at the man, who he recognises "Hur'ak Vael it's been awhile, you still an apprentice?". "It has been, and no I am now a Lord known as Lord Argus, but still a rank under you my Lord" Zeerd begins to walk "Anyway I'm heading to the Imperial Citadel to report to the council" Argus follows behind him "I'm heading that way as well. May I ask who your friends are?" Zeerd stops and turns to face him "Of course how rude of me" he points to Shaai "This is my apprentice Shaai, maybe one day you'll be given an apprentice" his fingers moves to Hran "And this is Hran an old friend I'm helping out". "I guess I'll be heading to the cantina" Hran states and starts to head off in the other direction "Shaai go join Hran will you" "Yes Master" she nods before she walks off to Hran.
They both make their way into Imperial Citadel "What business do you have in the Citadel, Argus?" "Need consult with the archives about this holocron" Argus shows him the holocron which appears to be pyramid shaped, glows a dark red and hums with energy "I've never been a holocron expert but that one looks quite powerful, where did you get it?" before Argus could answer a guard approaches Zeerd "Darth Zeerd the council have waiting for your arrival" "Of course lead the way. Speak to you later Lord Argus" the guard starts walking towards the back of the room "This way". Zeerd enters the Dark Council chamber which was a large room with twelve seats, 6 on each side, "Ahh Darth Zeerd you have arrived, finally" Darth Marr announces to the rest of the council "So Zeerd tells about Balmorra, since you were there" Darth Barras demands, "Well apart from losing the battle and my arm in the process. Nothing much I was knocked out of the fight and awoke after the battle to hear that we lost, I was out matched by a Jedi" "So you do not know about the loss of imperial control over the planet then" Darth Ravage explains. "No I was unaware of that; I had left the planet as soon as I had awoken" "So I guess you are excused. Now leave us if we need you we'll contact you"
"This appears to be a usual cantina, but more imperial military around" Hran states as he enters the Dromund Kaas cantina "I wouldn't know, first I've ever been in" Shaai explains. "Your shitting with me right", Shaai shakes her head "Well I guess I'm going to have to show you a good time then" Hran walks over to the bar and takes a seat, with Shaai closely following behind. Hran gestures two fingers at the barman "Two shots of the strongest stuff you have" the barman nods in response a walks away, Shaai is currently looking around the cantina at all the inhabitants. Hran nudges Shaai and her heads turns to face him "Keeps your eyes facing forward, you don't want to attract unwanted attention to yourself" he tells her as the barman delivers the drinks to them, she nods in return, Hran flips a few credits at the barman and he walks off. Takes his glass and picks it up, Shaai also does and they both down the drink at the same time.
"Bloody council" Zeerd mumbles as he exits the lift, then raises a brow as he spots Lord Argus "No praise of good intentions then" he retorts, Zeerd shakes his head "The usual bullshit, get any useful information out of that holocron?" Argus shakes his head "No some Imperial agent took it off me Cipher 11 or something" he scratches his head "Do you mind if I travel with you for a while got nothing on at the moment being a "Lord" and all" Zeerd puts his arm over Argus's shoulder and walks with him "You know what I would like that, I could use another Lord with me on my journeys" They make their way towards the speeder taxis "So where are we going now?" Zeerd steps into the speeder "First we need to collect my friends form the cantina then to Nar Shaddaa, the world of smugglers and gangsters" Argus steps into the speeder next to Zeerd "Oh great"
Enter the cantina to be surprised by the sight of a half-naked Chiss fighting two Imperial soldiers in the middle of the room and at the side a Togruta taking bets. Zeerd walks over to her Argus following behind "What's going on her then" he speaks into her ear, she jumps a little "Oh Master you've arrived, oh this it seems our bounty hunter friend got drunk and someone was hitting on me so he started a fight and I'm taking bets" Zeerd nods "The usual then. Oh by the way Lord Argus will be joining us, is that okay with you?" "Sure the more the merrier, anyway what did the council say?" "I'll tell you back on the ship, but let's see who wins first"
Hran raises his fists at the two men stood in front of him, who he started a fight with for a reason he can't remember anymore but that didn't matter to him he knew he had to win. The first soldier takes the lunge but Hran moves slightly backwards evade the hits ever so slightly, he returns with a jab to the jaw, then a punch to the left side of his face with his left fist. The second soldier takes his chance and lands a hit onto his right shoulder but luckily for him in his drunken state he felt only a pinch, which he follows with a leg sweep which knocks the man onto his back, which he then gives him a swift elbow to the face knocking him out cold. "Now only one left" he said to himself as the other man tackles him which he starts squeezing him very tightly, Hran then head-butts him causing blood to spew from his nose also releasing his grip at the same time, Hran takes advantage of this moment to uppercut the man in the jaw knocking him to the floor and out. Hran spits blood on the floor they raises his arms as the men and women cheer at him. Zeerd claps along with Shaai and Argus "So how much we win then" "5000 credits" Shaai replies. Zeerd walks over to Hran "Come on buddy we need to get back to the ship" "I did well didn't I" Zeerd nods then carries Hran off to the ship.