Venna didn't hesitate to twist out of the way as two long viridian whip sabers crackled where she was. She landed away from the Kaminoan to face the unknown assailant. Instantly she recognized the rare and unusual Noghri Sith Lord that held its jaw open revealing its hundreds of needle like teeth. She also recognized that she would not last long against such odd weapons that she had never had the chance to face before in a duel and get a feel for the bizarreness of. Further aware that somewhere in the temple was a large Besalisk Sith Lord still looking for her. She knew she needed to remove these opponents swiftly; facing and surviving two unique styled weapons masters was already incredulously difficult, three would be impossible.
Venna used a force jump to close the gap between her and the Kaminoan in an instant. The Kaminoan spun its staff weapon like a propeller to deflect any blow she could produce. The Noghri whipped his whips out in a right then left motion creating waves of death that traveled through the air towards Venna. She spun to her side avoiding the viridian whips before beginning a series of twists and dodges as she tried to become quickly familiar with how the whips functioned in combat. She held out her saber in a neutral position which was normal in a dual with unknown elements present and realized quickly that even a lightsaber whip would wrap around a lightsaber just like any fiber whip would against a normal pole when the viridian whips of the Noghri lashed out and grabbed a firm hold of Venna's saber blade. It hissed as Venna found herself struggling to hold onto her saber while the Kaminoan began to charge her with his pike aiming directly at her back.
In a quick decision she flipped her saber upside down and shoved it into the ground, handing the problem of being stuck to the Noghri who was now struggling to free his whips. She then grabbed the shaft of the Kaminoan's pike weapon, steering it hard into the ground using his own momentum to lift him up into the air, over her own lightsaber and landing him directly on the twisted viridian whips ending the Kaminoan as a threat.
Venna smiled at the Noghri who was still struggling to free his own whips. Taking the Pike saber she threw it hard at the Noghri who was forced to either die while holding onto his saber whips or let go and dodge it. During the time it took for the pike to reach the Sith, Venna grabbed her saber and wrenched it out of the floor throwing it along with the tangled mess of the two whips at a key location and force pushing it at her foe. The Noghri used its incredible reflexes to evade the staff only to appear directly in the path of her saber and his own dual whips, the results where messy to say the least.
"I am a true Lord of the Sith! I do not wield Strength and Power; I am Strength and Power incarnate. Challenge me from this life or the next, the results will be the same, I will be victorious!" Venna yelled out at the temple ceiling. There was a visible glowing red aura emanating from her and her white eyes had turned to a fluctuating deep blood red and light ruby red. She turned to face the remaining Besalisk Sith Lord. "Challenge my reign at your own peril." She stated simply. The Besalisk ignited its massive double bladed lightsaber. "Defeat me and I'll believe you even have a reign," then the two remaining lightsabers it wielded activated in a strike position above his head. Venna reached out to her right and left, summoning with the force, both her lightsaber and the lightsaber of the Togruta which obediently came to her waiting hands where she activated and aimed both of them at her opponent.
The Besalisk began an all-out charge towards her spinning and jumping, creating intricate patterns through the air from the crimson red lightsabers. He looked like a blur of motion mixed with controlled chaos. Venna carefully dodged the massive creatures attack making sure her parries and blocks wouldn't be rendered ineffective due to his superior strength. She knew full well that her size compared to this massive beast was of little advantage despite her height of around 6ft, the Besalisk still had a foot and half on her and even though his body was rotting away he fought as though he still yielded his original muscle frame.
Venna was initiating reverse flips and summersaults simply to stay alive while she analyzed her foes assault. Since the staff saber was long and limited to only attacking with one end at a time, it also limited his attacks with his two normal sabers. The result was she could only be attacked with three saber blades at the most and one at the least. This also limited his own movements, with blades of death carving arcs into the air around him he had to remain between the blades, it was more difficult for him to make sharp twists to the right or left than it was for her. She also took note of the fact that with so many blades making his defense appear impenetrable; his fighting stance was based off of aggression and pursuit, not defense. This made sense, since he had her retreating, but it was time to change that. Having made up a strategy she used the force to propel herself far away from her aggressor then vanished into one of the nearby shadows.
The Besalisk charged the spot where he had last seen her and stabbed his saber blades into the shadow to reveal nothing there. He stepped back carefully, "If this is how the modern Sith behave in an honorable fight, then you are un worthy to receive this temples knowledge!" "Honor is meaningless for the dead, as you'll find out shortly…" Her voice echoed throughout the temple. The Besalisk, continued to carefully survey the area looking through and around the gargantuan stone bookshelves.
As he was looking through one of the bookshelves at another isle for signs of movement, Venna appeared from nowhere on his left side grabbing his upper left hand that held his left single saber and twisting it to the point where it cleanly cut off his right upper hand. Before he had a chance to respond she was gone again. He held up the stump surveying it closely where his right hand once was surprised yet impressed that he couldn't sense her prior to her revealing herself. "So is this your tactic? Cowardly picking off your foes limbs until he is no longer a threat? You're a disgrace!" He yelled out. "My tactic is to win by any means." Her voice replied.
Then the massive bookshelf to his right began to crack. The Besalisk used the force to make a run for the end of the bookshelf but the massive shelf broke and crumbled down into the corridor below on top of him. He dodged a few boulders only to be hit by others, as he was trying to get up the bookshelf to his left collapsed as well effectively burying him beneath a large pile of rubble and dust. Venna walked up onto the new massive mound of rocks and dust. She held her hand out and in seconds the last single saber of his came to her hand from the mound of rocks.
When the Besalisk burst forth from the rubble seething in anger, his nemesis was nowhere to be found yet again. In a fit of rage he yelled, "Enough of this, face me!" Venna stepped forth on the edge of the two destroyed bookshelves. "I planned to." She said as she ignited both the violet saber and her own white saber. The Besalisk ignited his own staff saber before launching himself at her in seconds with his saber staff held high in the air with intent to kill her from his impact. She predicted his move and had already launched the violet saber into his trajectory in a spinning motion which met him dead on severing both his left arms. When he landed he stood up and began carving an infinity symbol into the air with his remaining lower right hand that grasped his staff saber.
Venna laughed, "I've won; you no longer can effectively use your weapon. Kneel before me and accept your fate." She said as she aimed her saber at him. "I wouldn't be so sure." He grinned eerily as his skin tore on his face somewhat. She watched him twirl his staff saber, as he was about to complete the infinity symbol in air with his left hand, she watched in amusement expecting his saber staff to fall to the ground where his left hand would have caught it, only to find it continue on its path unhindered yet no visible hand caught it. "For a mighty Sith Lord, you have much to learn about the Force." He stated as he unexpectedly thrust his saber at her.
She was stunned enough that the thrust of her opponent was sudden to her and her power over the force only gave her mere seconds in warning. Barely escaping the blade of her foe as she side stepped it to avoid impalement, she was late in her dodge and the saber blade ran against her lower hip. She hissed in pain as she knocked the damaging blade away and reformed her basic stance. The stench of cooking flesh and burnt fabric wafted up into her nose. But her opponent wasn't done in his attack and stepped in closer to her spinning his saber staff in a perfect arc which came down on her with intent to cut her clean through from her shoulder to hip. Instead of stepping away from the massive Sith she held her blade close to her face and waited for his own blade to come down on her shoulder armor.
The Besalisk's saber came hard down on her shoulder plate only to bounce back up. Venna, having received and effectively deflecting the blow, dropped low and spun around to his left side opposite his saber that was in the motion of flinging upward uncontrolled. She sprung up to his height swiftly sticking him with her own saber blade into the trapezius area on his shoulder. On her way down she elegantly twirled removing her saber from his chest cavity and landing behind him while still facing him.
He turned slowly around to face Venna who was standing in an almost victorious stature. "The thing about being dead is you don't feel anything and nothing inside works, effectively making a normal kill strike nullified." He grinned arrogantly. "I guess I'll have to try for your head." She replied with the same arrogance. "Good thought, unfortunately you won't get the chance again!" He roared as he used the force to throw her a good 20ft away from him sending her into a solid stone wall. The impact had smashed her into the wall with such force she felt massive bone fractures throughout her body forcing an involuntary scream of pain but she wasn't done either, and she used the force to accelerate a run where she nearly avoided his staff saber which had followed the force thrust. Unfortunately for her she had a broken thigh on one leg, a broken shin on the other, a few broken ribs dislocated arm and blood was streaming down her face from what she suspected was a fractured skull.
Out of the dust walked the massive 7.5ft Besalisk Sith Lord. "Did you really think that I, the remnants of Lord Desiderious could have been defeated by you? I grant you, you fought well, but in the end, only the true Sith Lords earn the privilege of the ancient texts." He said as he grabbed the human by her neck and lifted her up like a rag doll then thrust his saber into her belly. The Besalisk had been looking down as his saber sunk into her belly then looked up with surprise to find her smiling. While she was staring in the one remaining foggy eye of the mummified corpse, she grabbed his hilt holding it firm inside her belly. Her saber that she still grasped and he had assumed was lost in the impact, came up in a blur of motion lobbing off his head and both the forearm of the invisible hand that grasped her thin neck and the wrist of the one remaining hand.
The corpse stumbled back slightly as if trying to balance itself void of a command center then with a loud thud crashed backwards onto the cold ground ending whatever remained of Lord Desiderious. Venna, finally the victor, fell to the ground collapsing where she had been dropped before reaching out to the rotting hand that still clutched the saber hilt flipping the switch off. Once she was free of impalement she rolled on her back to delve into a deep meditation within the force.
Keekay awoke to the warmth and bubbles of a Kolto tank along with medical personnel in the med-bay moving about their duties. Shortly after gaining consciousness he was pulled from the tank which was connected to the upper level of the med-bay where he was laid out on a bed while medical droids and personnel attended to him. Master Saysha walked into the lab shortly thereafter and took a seat on the edge of his bed. She looked at him with her "awareness look," that he hated.
"Where am I going to go?" Keekay asked Saysha. "What do you mean?" She replied. "I betrayed the very codes I stand for." "Yes, yes you did." "I am prepared to have my title of padawan and member of the Jedi Order revoked and face charges for the crimes of what I have done." "I am pleased that you're not blinded by arrogance and see what you have done. However, I believe your readiness to accept punishment is premature. Evidence of the battlefield shows that the prisoners we we're guarding had been in communication with Imperial forces and where about to turn against us. Your crime actually ended up saving Republic lives along with the lives of the Jedi Ard troopers. You created a big enough distraction that the sign to switch sides was never given and the criminals continued to fight with us until the very end where they turned on us, but by then Republic reinforcements arrived and rendered their betrayal insignificant."
Keekay read her expressions very closely, since she had basically raised him she was like a big sister and they both knew how to identify the other's emotions without words. From what he was reading out of her body language and expressions she was slightly feeling a mix of emotions. "I along with the Jedi council on Tython have been discussing what happens next. Your loss of control is inexcusable, and to throw away lives like you did is heinous." She said sharply which felt worse than the blow he had only recently recovered from. "However, we all recognize that as an Ard Trooper heinous acts happen. We also have considered that the force compelled you to behave the way you did. I personally have sensed that the council expected this outcome to happen." This caught Keekay's attention.
"I guess you now are fully aware of what I am…" He said flatly, almost miserably. Saysha gave a weak grin. "Keekay, you have been like a younger brother to me personally since the day I brought you to the temple, there is nothing you can hide from me I am fully aware that you struggle with what's in here and in here." She said pointing to both his heart and head.
"That being said, I don't know any sentient being that doesn't have some internal struggle inside them. You know, there are literally thousands of Jedi Masters who desire to be on the high council and you want to know what advice I would give them?" Keekay looked up at her with curiosity. "Don't waste your time. The real Jedi's that effect the course of the Galaxy are those like you and me that face challenges the galaxy provides us with every day. From the Knight guarding the outpost in the outer regions with a small detachment of troops to the Master guarding the Supreme Chancellor with the Elite Guard, these men and women are seen; they are the light that lights the night for the troops that follow them. They are a beacon of hope when none is there to those who see them, from hardened warrior to slave without an ounce of hope of their own.
You have been blessed with a uniquely difficult struggle and even though the council wishes to expose this strife of yours as dangerous and threatening, it is simply which will make you, you. Overcome your challenges and as one of the most powerful Jedi to exist you will feel what it is like to be that beacon of hope, that light in the night." She stood up and handed him his two sabers. "Padawan Keekay, I believe in you. Pick yourself up and arise to the challenges you face like I have seen you accomplish so many times before. There is a war between that which is good and that which desires its obliteration. I need you and so does this Order. I will await you in the command center." Master Saysha finished and walked out. Keekay was speechless as he sat in the silence processing her words.
After Keekay had readied himself he headed for the command center where he was greeted by a group of Jedi. Some gave him looks of disgust and distain while others gave him nods of acceptance. Saysha motioned with her head slightly for him to come join her which he did. She gave him her look of pride which was something he hadn't expected. "Padawan," She acknowledged. "Glad to have you back Padawan Keekay." One Master said followed by others in the group around Master Saysha.
"So the council has postponed our duties as Ard Troopers and tasked us with hunting down this Sith Lord identified as Lord Quauhtli. He is more powerful than any Sith we have recently faced in the war. We suspect that he is worth 10billion in credits alone with how much information he possibly has on the inner workings around the Emperor as well as what has made him as powerful as he is. Thus the Republic has issued a warrant and bounty reward of 10billion to whomever can capture him alive, dead 5million credits. Our objective is not to sit around and wait to be notified when he is captured our objective is to follow the mass of bounty hunters and smugglers that will come out of hiding, hunt him down and swarm around him creating a massive living sign telling us where he is." The lead Master Jedi explained.
"Sounds quite simple but how can we be sure that it will work?" One of the Jedi Knights asked. "It will, greed will compel the determined to exploit the bounties of the Imperials to get to him. Since the price for his capture is so ridiculously high, bounty hunters and smugglers will team up to capture him under the assumption that he is extremely dangerous. Their numbers will reveal his location inevitably. All Sith have their own agenda and he will at some point use non imperial means to eventually carry out an operation of his own." Master Saysha stated. "Exactly, so what we're going to do is divide into multiple groups and patrol sectors of space known for bounty hunting and smuggling. Since obviously the kinds of people we are after wont trust Jedi, we need to turn into those we are watching." The leading Master explained. "Use your contacts and sources to help you accomplish that. Use your credit chips to purchase your new equipment and when you do find information on this Lord Quauhtli contact everyone else to meet at a location and together we will move in on him. Are there any questions?"
"I have to ask, what makes us think we can succeed this time?" A Jedi Knight asked from the group. "Last time this same Sith killed a Master and two Jedi Knights with multiple Jedi's surrounding him. What is going to make this attempt to subdue him any different?" He continued. "Four things, One, we're not focused on winning a battle so our attention will not be divided. Two, we have Master Baowan, an expert in battle meditation. Three, we have Master Saysha who is one of the top two Jedi Weapons Masters in the current Jedi Order. Lastly all of us have been specifically chosen because we have attributes that will contribute to his capture." The lead Master explained. "So if there aren't any further questions let us depart and begin our hunt for this Sith Lord." He said dismissing everyone.
Shortly after the briefing, Keekay found himself and Master Saysha on a freighter bound for Mandalore. "So, you actually know this guy?" He asked her. "Indeed I do, before the war when I was a Knight he got me deeply interested in the art of combat and the Mandalorian life style. Matter of fact I even hid from the Jedi Order for a short period to go and train with him and his people. It's where I was able to expand on my mastery over the tri-saber art style." She explained as her mind flooded with memories. "Don't the Mandalorian's and the Jedi have a… rough history? Ya know, the whole Mandalorian War prior to the current era where they team up with the Empire on a regular basis to assist in the destruction of the Republic and their Jedi overseers?" Keekay remarked.
Saysha smiled, "not all your enemies are overcome by destruction. The best way to overcome an enemy is turning that enemy into an ally, thus the fruits of such an action we are both benefiting from as we go to see my contact who is a Mandalorian." "Well what can I expect? What is he a sergant or something?" Saysha smiled again, "you like underestimating me don't you?" "It's so rare that I get to." He smirked back." "He ranks as an Aliit'alor or clan leader currently. His clan is small nowadays; it was once one of the largest during the Mandalorian wars but they were called 'the clan of the front,' cause that's where they led from. It was also where they died." She said solemnly. "Mandalorian's… I don't understand em. They lust for war and glory to the point of near extinction. It's like a fly attracted to a lightsaber, once it catches the light it finds out too late that the light wasn't all it was cracked up to be." Saysha chuckled, "Jedi can never understand why they are how they are, because we are exactly the opposite of what they are. Same goes for the Mandalorians, we are a living breathing contradiction to them with our values."
The freighter lurched and shook as it began its decent. They looked out a nearby window which surprised Keekay. "Forest? I pictured Mandalore more… populated." He said to her as he continuously surveyed the forest. "It is, very much so, just on the other side of the planet." She explained. When the ramp from the freighter exited they strode down to the marshlands. "Thank you so much for letting us ride aboard your sturdy ship." "Anytime ma'am just let me know if ever you need a ride. I also left you my holocom number for you." "Your too sweet." Saysha said giving a slightly flirtatious touch to her gratitude. Keekay always found her skills of simple social manipulation funny and impressive.
Once the freighter had taken off she turned to face the forest which was where Keekay was already facing. "So where is this clan leader of yours?" "Right in front of ya boy," a deep Mando'a accented voice covered by a respirator replied as a tall man armored up in the famed Neo-crusader suit became visible directly in front of him. "Well, take a look at who decided to show up after all these years." Saysha stared at the man watching him closely. "Look who decided to actually move up on the food chain," she replied. He gave a hearty laugh, "once a mere Russ'alor and Knight of the Jedi, now a war hero and Master of the Jedi. I must hear the stories you have to share, now who is this small thing?" He said looking down now at Keekay.
"This is my padawan, padawan Keekay and easily one of the strongest up and coming Jedi of this era." "Well is that so, you that good?" He said looking down at Keekay. "Test me and see, but I would suggest turning in that relic for some new and advanced steel cause you'll need it." Keekay replied holding his ground. He gave another hearty chuckle, "woa, he certainly does have some of your attributes Atin, particularly stubbornness. Let's return to camp and talk there." He said signaling them to follow.
As the two Jedi entered the camp they were greeted by the scene of hundreds of Neo-crusade armored Mandalorians training and going about their business. "Wow, talk about a trip to the past. Are they unaware that they lost the war so many hundreds of years ago? Are they even aware that the Sith returned to the known galaxy?" Keekay joked. Master Saysha held her hand up to silence him. "What is the number one thing I have taught you about an opponent?" "Never underestimate him." "Exactly, they wear the armor of old because they follow the code of the old Mandalorian ways. These are the real warriors that caused a tear in the Jedi Order of the time creating Revan. Since the end of the war their clan returned to this region and began to rebuild and prepare for the next crusade. I have kept their existence a secret since I discovered them. They put the modern Mandalorian bounty hunters that roam the galaxy to shame, which is why I have brought us here." She explained.
The Mandalorian that they were following led them into a tent and stepped around to the other side of a table. "So tell me what brings you here Atin." He said to Saysha. "I need a favor, a favor I know you can arrange. We need to become bounty hunters." She said flatly. Even though the Mandalorian was wearing a helmet that covered all his facial features Keekay could sense an eyebrow raise. "Sooo, you think by coming to The Clan of the Front who train in anticipation for the next crusade they'll be able to what, turn you into a bounty hunter because we're just so good at it?" He said skeptically. "No, but I do know you have contacts that are, Nari." Saysha said. "Perhaps I do, but I have to admit, I'm curious as to why a Master of the Jedi would want to become a bounty hunter. Usually if you want to defect from the order you simply stop returning their calls and pick up the nearest bounty." He joked. "Usually you would, but since this isn't a defection and more of an operation we need the looks more than the action." "Hmm, interesting… very interesting. Very well Atin, give me till tomorrow. I suspect you're aim is to be able to get in and out of Imperial Space freely then?" "That is indeed the aim." Saysha replied. "Ok, but before I can agree to this, temporary or not, only Mandalorians can wear any kind of Mandalorian armor…" He told her as he looked at Keekay.