Chapter 3
The last student of the Sith Masters
Raww Le Klueze stood before a horrified Murrue La Flaga and Mwu La Flaga as something about Raww's aura and presence was sending chills down their spines as there was something new about Raww that the two noticed aside from his change in fashion, but they were unable to tell what else was different about him. However Mwu was cautious as he searched the area with his eyes looking for any of those men who were with Raww and any sign of their children, but not could be seen. Darkness surrounded them in the clearing of the forest as some lighting strikes illuminated the area for a few seconds.
"Worried about your daughter Natarle La Flaga Mwu?" Raww said with a grin as he could feel the man's concern though the force. The former mobile armor pilot looked at his most hated foe and shot him a life threading glare that would put fear in other men, but Raww remained clam and relaxed despite Mwu's threats and glares.
"You son of a bitch; Where is she, and where are the other children you kidnapped you psycho." Mwu demanded as he was just about to the point where he was going to rush Raww and attack him. However with a cruel and icy chilling smile Raww simply answered their question by mocking them instead.
"She is aboard my ship along with the others. However I have no intention of harming them." Raww said as his smile changed into a wide grin as he said coldly "I have other plans for them." The masked man let out a chilling laugh as Murrue was unable to take Raww's chattering anymore so she grabbed a rock and she ran towards the former ZAFT solider to attack him.
"You will not harm one hair on my child's head!" an enraged Murrue shouted as Mwu ran towards his wife shouting at her trying to stop her from her enraged attempted on their enemy.
"Wait Murrue! Something else isn't right here." But Murrue didn't listen as she threw the rock at her target, but Raww raised one hand as the rock suddenly stopped in mid air before it could hit him. The rock was floating there as a both shocked Murrue and Mwu stopped in their tracks as they stared at the rock in utter disbelief. What the hell…how is he doing that? Mwu thought as he watched rock floating in mid air before it was sent flying back to Murrue hitting her in the stomach so hard that Murrue was sent flying back as the woman cried out in pain as she felt like that rock had gone through her. "Murrue!" Mwu shouted as the woman fell to the ground holding her stomach with her arms as she was grunting in pain.
"Oh my…did I hit your wife a little too hard?" Raww mocked with a cheerful smile.
"You bastard!" Mwu said as he rushed at Raww with his face full of rage and showed clear signs he was hell bent on killing the clone of his father. But before Mwu could even get close to Raww the masked man grabbed something off of his belt and activated it. A crimson beam shot up from the item Raww held as he quickly raised his weapon the lightsaber and cut downward with lighting fast reflexes in a deadly cutting arc. Mwu cried out in pain as he was slashed across the chest by the lightsaber leaving a large burning cut. Had Mwu been any closer Raww would have killed him in that instant. The next thing Mwu realized was that he was on the ground with a deep burn mark across his chest as his mind was filled with pain while he held his hands over his injury. The smell of burnt flesh and clothing filled the air as bits of burnt clothing from Mwu's shirt that wasn't disintegrated by the lightsaber fell to the ground like snow. Mwu was gripped by pain as the burning sensation from his injury ripped into his mind as his hands were over the wound.
"How do you like my new weapon Mwu…it looks like a beam saber, but it's called a lightsaber. Only warriors like me can handle them." Raww said as held his red lightsaber up. "You have no idea what kind of changes I underwent during the past seven years…it has been an educational as well as a transforming experience for me." Raww spoke proudly as he remembered the first time he met the mightiest Sith Lord of his time.
(Seven Years ago…Almost six months later on the world of Coruscant)
Raww was bound by handcuffs as he was being led down the hall from the medical center; he was wearing a simple brown shirt and paints along with some old shoes. Here on the city planet Raww was cured of his defective genes and aging problems. It wasn't a completely painless procedure, but after several days of intense surgery and gene-therapy the once proud commander of ZAFT was being lead through Imperial HQ down to a transport ship where he was going to be sent to the Kessel spice mines. Raww had heard stories about the dreaded spice mines from some of the other prisoners he had traveled with while heading here to Coruscant on a prison transport ship to be treated since he had cooperated with the engineers on the Star Destroyer and now apparently his fate was to be sent to the worst place in the universe which would be considered hell for him.
Raww Le Klueze knew he had to try and escape, but he was handcuffed and he was being watched by two guards. If he could only get his hands on a weapon he can use to free himself then he could attempt an escape. Just then he noticed a man in black with an odd looking weapon at his belt. Raww remembered hearing about a weapon that was like a human size beam saber and the weapon Raww was eyeing matched the description he had heard from the chatter between the doctors while he was being treated. Just as the two were passing one another Raww knew it was do or die so he used his quick Newtype reflexes to jump up into the air and kick both guards in the stomach with both feet with such powerful intensity with he was still in mid air just as Athrun Zala did while he was being take by ZAFT officers after being arrested by his father.
Just as the young dark warrior was reacting Raww launched himself off the ground and he slammed both of his feet into the chest of the dark warrior just as he had taken out his lightsaber knocking the weapon from his hand. Raww held his handcuffs to the weapon as it fell. The energy blade cut through the center of the cuffs freeing Raww just before the weapon automatically deactivated just before hitting the ground. With his hands free Raww seized the weapon off the ground and activated it. He sliced the left arm and the right leg of the dark warrior off with a deadly cutting arc as he unleashed the destructive power of the lightsaber leaving the young man falling to the ground once again only this time he was screaming in pain.
The two Stormtroopers were getting up to recapture their prisoner as Raww quickly cut them down with lightsaber as he sliced into the chest of one soldiers by cutting into him from the left side of his rib cage and then cutting out from the right side of the man's ribs while serving his right arm then beheading the head of the second guard. The halls were filled with the smell of burnt flesh, clothing and melted armor as the horrible stench filled Raww's nose as the blonde male grabbed one of the blasters the Stormtroopers had before running down the hall where he came across of incoming group of more Stormtroopers who had heard the screaming cries of the wounded darkside warrior.
Raww heard the men shout off didn't words, but the one that stuck out to Raww was "There…it's the prisoner shoot him!" Raww reacted by rolling to the side of the wall as he fried several shots from the blaster he held. He managed to shot two of the eight Stormtroopers in the chest as they fell to the ground dead. Raww figured that he couldn't stay here long or he would be overwhelmed by reinforcements that were more than likely to be here soon. Le Klueze recalled one moment where he saw Kira using Freedom's beam saber to block energy shots. Raww ignited the red lightsaber and he ran down the hall while using his Newtype abilities to predict and sense any possible dangers while he used the lightsaber combined with his reflexes to send each shot the Stormtroopers fired back to their sender killing them. With each swing of the lightsaber another blaster shot was sent back to the Stormtroopers. A few blaster shots made it pass Raww as they grazed his arms and one cut his cheek. When only two were left standing after Raww reached them he took the Lightsaber and with one horizontal swing he beheaded them as he leaped a few feet into the air filling the air once more with stench of burnt flesh and melted armor as the last two Stormtroopers screamed and cried in agony as Raww killed them.
He continued running down the metallic hallways running towards the exit that would lead him outside. Soon a larger group of about twenty Stormtroopers were on his tail as they were firing their weapons at him. He exited the building then he cut into the control panel outside closing the door. Raww saw he was out on a floating platform that had hovercrafts which appeared to be used by the Stormtroopers for patrol. Raww jumped into the nearest vehicle, but it took him several minutes to figure out its controls. Just at that moment when Raww engaged the engines and the craft was floating off the ground after figuring out how to operate the craft; the Stormtroopers managed to open the door. Raww pulled the control stick to the left hard as he turned to the left and took off heading deep into the city traffic while the soldiers firing their blasters at him. Raww pulled the stick around as he had some difficulty piloting the craft as he was flying downward into the heavy and crowded traffic.
Sure Raww was an experience mobile suit pilot, but he had never flown a craft like the one he was in now before in his life so it was taking some getting use to. He barely managed to control the craft as he finally understood the controls as he stabilized its course and was flying along as he passed many of the wondrous massive skyscrapers of the giant planet-size city. It seemed like Raww had gotten away, but the blonde male was surprised he actually got away because he didn't think he would get out of there. His whole escape Raww believed was nothing more than pure luck.
However a few minutes later before Raww could get comfortable three hover vehicles carrying Stormtroopers were tailing him as they took aim and began shooting at him. Crap I knew this wasn't going to be last I see of them. Raww thought as he felt the danger of the incoming blaster shots as he turned the hovercraft hard to the right diving deeper into fast moving traffic after several blaster shots scrapped the top of the craft Raww was driving. The high speed movement of all of the vehicles of the passing hovercrafts forced Raww to constantly evade them as he pulled hard to the left and the right trying to avoid trying to crashing into someone.
He was loosing the Stormtroopers in the distance as they had trouble trying to avoid getting hit by incoming vehicles. Raww turned his craft and he did a nose dive down towards the deep depths of the city hoping to avoid purist. Raww took his craft and he landed it on a junk pile he found at what appeared to be the bottom. Raww had landed in the rough and dangerous lower levels of the city planet. The blonde jumped out of the craft as he took the blaster and the lightsaber he had with him as he began trying to navigate his way through the treacherous area as he climbed around the foundations of the massive skyscrapers. For hours Raww ventured deeper into the dark lower levels which his lightsaber was the only light he had. He ran into some trouble with some thieves along the way, but when Raww swung the Lightsaber at them they ran away like frightened children.
Hours more passed as the blond man was already hungry as he was trying to find his way back up to the higher levels which was proving to be a very difficult task as he had almost slipped and fell to his doom twice as he climbed upward, but he had managed to grab onto something to keep him from plummeting to his own demise. One day had passed when a hungry and tired Raww finally reached the top as he saw people of many different races and cultures walking about their daily routines as the former ZAFT solider watched from the shadows of a near by alleyway. He turned his head and saw a human wearing red and purple robes…he seemed elderly, but he appeared to be an easy target since Raww needed new clothes and some money since he needs food because he was quite famished.
He sneaked up on the man as he hid behind a large object what appeared to be a dumpster. Like a vicious predator Raww leaped out from his hiding place with the Lightsaber ignited as he beheaded the man while he was careful that he didn't damage his clothes. With the man slain Raww stripped the man of his clothes and his belongings as he changed into them. Now with some more appropriate civilian clothing for himself Raww mingled in with the crowd after leaving the blaster in a dumpster since he couldn't carry it with him without drawing attention, but he kept the lightsaber with him as he hid it in his robes. The blonde man blend in with the crowd a he disappeared while looking for a place to eat. He wandered the city squares for a few hours until he noticed a place that looked like a club of some kind. He walked into the establishment as he looked about and saw the place was filled with people of different races like Bothans, humans and one or two wookiees along with a number of few other races.
Raww made his way to the bar at the far end of the club after working his way though the crowd that were either dancing with one another of just standing around chatting. Raww reached the bar where he took a seat. He watched as a female Twi'lek approach him and asked "What will it be pal?"
"What do you have? What is most poplar item here?" Raww asked with an observant smile.
"Here." The woman said as she slid Raww a menu across the counter to him where she pointed out several items that were poplar here. After looking over the menu which Raww was slightly surprised that he could read and make out. A few moments later the blonde man picked out two items and a few minutes later the alien woman brought Raww; Jawa juice and a few pieces of fruit. Raww was hesitant at first, but after taking a slip and a bite of the fruit Raww took a quick liking to the odd alien food. He began feasting after he paid the woman using the Galactic Empire Credits he had stolen from the old man which surprisingly the woman didn't seem to ask him for any kind of identification of some kind, but it didn't matter to Raww since he was starving.
When he finally finished he turned his head towards the doorway and saw a familiar face followed by two Stormtroopers. The man with them was the same young man who Raww had sliced off his arm and leg when he stole his lightsaber yesterday. The blonde knew he was imminent danger so he quietly and carefully hid in the crowd, but just as he slipped out a back door near by the young dark warrior noticed someone leaving. Raww was walking down a alleyway as he passed some garbage cans along with a few dumpsters as stream were coming out from vents along the ground near the walls of a few of the buildings. Raww heard the door into the club open up and the two Stormtroopers rushed out. When they took notice of Raww as the Stormtroopers opened fire on him. Raww ignited and lightsaber and just as he did before Raww deflected the blaster shots back to their senders killing them with ease.
However from behind the young man who Raww had taken the lightsaber from had run around the buildings and entered the alleyway hoping to surprise Raww from behind. The young man had shoulder length black hair, blue eyes and had an athletic build as it seems his arm and leg Raww had cut off had been replaced with new mechanical limbs. The man drew his lightsaber as he ignited its crimson blade and he pointed at Raww. "You lowlife scum bag…I'll make you suffer for what you did to me and for my humiliation. No one strikes let alone steal the lightsaber of a student of the darkside of the force."
"Heh." Raww said with a confident smile as he continued to say "A student…well then you don't seem like a real threat to me." After his insult the young dark warrior used the force to send various items such as trash cans and bottles flying at Raww. His Newtype senses alerted him to the attack as he jumped into the air and did a back flip to avoid getting hit while used the lightsaber to slice some of the objects thrown at him apart. The blonde solider preformed a few more quick somersaults to avoiding getting hit as he cut apart a few more thrown objects while in mid air. The young dark warrior gave up his assault as he charged Raww with his lightsaber. The two began clashing with one another as both of the two exchanged blows with one another.
The dark warrior of the darkside of the force swung his saber at Raww in different directions as Raww could only defend since it appeared his foe had reflexes better than his or perhaps much better than his own, and than that of any coordinator he had even fought hand to hand with. Raww was forced on the defensive as he used his blade to protect himself as each swing from his foe's attack stuck his own weapon hard as Raww was pushed back. He may have been able to learn how to deflect blaster shots with his lightsaber, but Raww had no experience fighting another person armed with a lightsaber. The former ZAFT commander was at a serious disadvantage as was pushed back and he fell onto the ground after getting pushed down by the force. Le Klueze was down on his back as his lightsaber was kicked out of his hand and it was knocked away beyond his reach. Death was upon him as the dark warrior put one foot onto his chest and raised his lightsaber above his head ready to impale him with it.
"You're just a worthless armature!"
I won't. Raww thought to himself as his blood was boiling as he saw the image of Mwu La Flaga and Kira Yamato in his mind's eye. In a burst of anger Raww shouted out "Lose to some punk kid!" Raww raised his arm and stretched it as he tried to reach desperately for the lightsaber.
"Sorry chum, but it looks like I win." The dark warrior said as his weapon was coming down towards Raww, but as he was reaching for the weapon above his head on the ground while his hate for Kira and Mwu was still burning strong the saber twitched from its position where it laid for a few seconds when suddenly it flew into Raww's hand. Without wasting a moment Raww ignited the lightsaber once again as he swung it around and took off both of the warrior's legs from the knee up as the warrior fell back screaming in agony. The warrior fell back hitting the ground as his lightsaber fell out of his hands and rolled away beyond his reach as Raww stood up standing over his wounded prey. "Please…" the warrior said as he began begging for his life as he muttered "Spare me I beg you."
"Sorry chum, but it looks like I win." Raww said with an evil smile as he took his lightsaber and he cut the dark warrior in half from the head down to his stomach as the warrior screamed in his final moments before getting his life taken. The air around Raww smelled of burn flesh and circuitry since his lightsaber had cut though the mechanical leg of the dark warrior. Raww put away his weapon as he turned to walk away from the scene before more Stormtroopers came, but the minute he turned around he stopped dead in his tracks as his mind was suddenly overwhelmed with fear. He glazed into the shiny black mask of one of the universe's fear men to ever be born. His mechanical breathing was sending chills down Raww's spine as something about this person's presence was leaving the blonde man in a constant state of fear. If Raww was any more scared he would probably pee his paints. His new foe's cape was moving to the gentle wind that passed though the alleyway.
"First you escape our military headquarters then you elude our soldiers and now not only have you wounded and insulted a student who I was training in the ways of the force. But you have killed him as well now." Darth Vader said as his malevolent presences was made known as his shadow began to cover where Raww stood. Vader drew his own lightsaber as its crimson beam emerged from its handle while Raww reacted by drawing his once more. "I advise you surrender now. You may have beaten my student, but I assure you I am much stronger than he was."
"If I surrender I will only die a painful and slow demise in those accursed spine mines. I rather try to get pass you then suffer that fate." Raww said as his grip tightened around his lightsaber ready to try and fight for his freedom. However Raww never knew that he was fighting a battle he couldn't win.
"If you wish." Vader said with an icy chill in his voice as Raww was the first to attack. His anger was controlling his actions as he let loose a screaming battle cry as he tried to rush Vader, but instead of fighting him in a lightsaber battle the dark lord of the Sith raised his hand and the blonde ZAFT commander found himself being strangled to death by Vader. After almost passing out from nearly getting strangled to death by Vader, the dark lord dropped him as Raww grasped for air as he held his throat.
Raww tried to recover quickly, but before he could stand Vader grabbed the man by the neck and raised him up holding up a few inches off the ground. "You have promise…the force is strong within you and you have already taken your first steps towards the Dark Side. I heard about you from Captain Needa when he returned from his expedition. The Emperor thought about having you executed for your recent actions, but I believe now we may have a use for you, but you need to learn some proper obedience first." Vader said as he strangled Raww by the neck until he passed out from the pain and lack of oxygen.
For the next several days Raww was held in a prison cell as he was tortured and beaten up every day and through the night by Stormtroopers. Such was the price for insolence in the empire, but Raww was barely alive when the seven day came as his half naked body was riddled with burses and deep cuts along with several broken bones. Blood covered most of his body as more blood was dripping from his mouth…rags from the clothes he still had were barely holding together as they covered a few of his burses. Raww lay imprisoned in a dark room waiting for the Stormtroopers to return torturing him until he was dead, but lights on the floor came on as the door open. Vader walked in.
"I see you are still alive. You are stronger than I had thought most men would be dead by now at this point." Vader looked down at Raww who was left on the cold, hard metallic floor. The man was motionless as he laid there while his eyes looked up at the Sith Lord. "The Emperor has decided your fate…you will be sent to our Royal Guard Training Grounds to be trained, and to test you. The emperor has taken a small interest in you…the guards will soon be here to take you to a medical chamber where you will be healed before you are sent off. I will see you again in six months."
Vader said his words as he turned and he left the room leaving Raww alone as he laid there trying to image what destiny has in store for him.
In the months to follow Raww was forced to endure immense hardship and vicious training at the Royal Guard Training Grounds on the barren wasteland of the planet Yinchorr. The former ZAFT solider managed to barely survive his training, but he managed to survive to the final test that would be given by the emperor himself. Each test he underwent Raww was nearly killed, but he had always managed to survive by using his Newtype abilities to alert him of dangers. That gave him the survival tool he needed to survive his time training on what Raww thought was the second worst place in the universe.
Raww Le Klueze was wearing a purple and white along with metallic grey colored training uniform while another trainee accompanied him into the room along with as he was wearing a green and black training uniform. The two stood before the emperor as they both gave Palpatine an honoring bow. Vader approached the two as he handed the two men double ended blade weapons that Raww and the other trainee's practiced with during his horrible time on the wrenched planet. "You two are the last of the trainees to survive to this point. We only have one more opening left, so fight and prove your worth to me." Palpatine said as his sickly yellow eyes were upon the two men.
"You two must fight to the bitter end for your emperor; now begin." Vader ordered as Raww didn't waste a second pushing the trigger on his weapon to engage the two blades that shot out from both ends of the weapon Raww held as the warrior did the same. The two quickly began clashing against one another as sparks began to fly from their weapons as they met with each blow they exchanged. Raww's foe attacked with a downward swing from above as he Raww defended.
Using his Newtype abilities he could see each attack coming as he countered attack with a deadly swing of his weapon as he came close to taken off his foe's head. His opponent kicked the white warrior in the stomach as he felt back and landed on the ground, but he quickly rolled over backwards on his back as he jumped back up from the ground and was on his feet again. But as Raww's foe was closing in for the kill Raww dropped down doing a halfway split as his foe swung his weapon trying to behead him while Raww stabbed his foe in the stomach running him through. His foe dropped his weapon as he began to die as blood filled his stomach causing the man to begin choking on it. He fell to his knees as Raww stood up and watched the man die painfully until Raww grew bored as he took the man's head off with an excellent deadly swing from his weapon. As the head of his foe rolled along the ground where it stopped near Vader's feet as the eyes of the warrior had a last look of horror on it; Palpatine rose up from his chair.
"Well done warrior." Palpatine congratulated as Raww bowed before the emperor.
"I am somehow not surprised that you survived your time here." Vader commented he gestured for Raww to remove his helmet. The newly graduated royal guardsman removed his helmet and his blond hair fell down onto his shoulders. "This is the man who caused us that small ruckus a few months ago. I would like to request that I train him in the ways of the force. He has potential my master. He managed to slay one of my students; he could make a useful replacement for that weakling if he receives proper instruction." Palpatine put one hand on his chin as he considered Vader's proposal until finally.
"No Vader you will not train this man." A moment of silent befell the room. "I will see to his training myself." Raww was surprised by the news while Vader…you can really tell if he was surprised judging by the mask he wore. "You already have many assignments for you to deal with Lord Vader so I can tend to his man's training myself. Besides I have plans for him." Palpatine said with a grin as his yellow eyes looked down at the bowing Raww.
"I am ready to serve you master." Raww said as he knew that it was better to obey than to be killed. The blonde mobile suit pilot had indeed survived his moments in hell on the wasteland planet. Now the real trails for him were about to begin.
A/N: part two of what happened to Raww in the past continued in the next chapter. Raww has been changed hasn't he…or has he? Who knows what a madman like him is thinking?