Chapter 9
Six days later. On the planet Xeon.
The Look on Barret's Face is one of pure concentration, his face was frozen still as many beads of sweat trickled around his form, his arms out in front of him his new arm replacement was a new Gaian model, it was based for Military veterans who still wanted to fight, being able to work like a normal Gaian arm, with a few upgrades. The arm was also a weapon having retractable wrist blasters on the fore arm and a wrist blade that came out three inches out of the palm, providing better efficiently in combat. Floating in between is outstretched arms was the familiar parts needed to construct a light saber, the lenses and focus floating around with the red saber crystal. Barret watched as Fenrir, his new master reconstructed his own sabers using the force. After the display the Dark jedi tossed a few components of a light saber with a normal red crystal, and demanded Barret to construct a Light saber. It took Barret two days to come back from Gaia with a new arm, and five hours since he asked Fenrir to teach him. Four of those hours have been spent trying to get the iconic weapon of the Jedi to be made.
Cloud leaned on the wall his cloak on the cowl covering his features and the mask on the only table in the meditation room. He has been watching his apprentice trying to construct a proper blade, but in the duration he came to meditate from his laid back position on the wall. Cloud had felt a disturbance in the force the last two days and when he told his master Kreia, she warned him of a danger coming to his planet. Immediately Cloud contacted with Yuffie receiving information about his next mission, in the next hour he is to depart with the said bounty hunter and Vincent. Cloud planned on introducing Kreia to Barret so the man can train efficiently in his absence. All in all Cloud finally realized that being in charge of a whole planet and organization took a lot of time and effort. Not a lot of training when you have to check up on the troops, citizen needs and common reports. With two Lieutenants dead left a lot of unwanted work, plus Cloud told Barret to focus on Training so now more work was left, Cloud easily pushed it to his assassin droids, although they weren't pleased.
Cloud was brought out of his meditation when he heard the familiar hum of a Light saber. Opening his eyes he saw his 1st apprentice standing their holding the blade in awe while he took some practice swings. Moving from his position from the wall the Dark Jedi moved to the table and activated the Holocron, Barret to absorb with his new weapon to notice.
"Impressive with no training he has managed to construct his light saber with the force, you have found a worthy apprentice Cloud." Kreia said, finally catching Barret's attention. "what the, what are you."
"I am Fenrir's true master, and I shall take over your training."
"Master if you excuse me I have to do an errand for our sith friend."
"Of course, I'll take care of this one." With that said Cloud left with his mask and weapons where they belong. By the time he reached his flag Ship The strife Yuffie and Vincent aboard, he made his way to Rattatak. Where The Count ordered his Apprentice to find a worthy replacement for Tann.
While in hyperspace Cloud took time to get some much needed sleep. While on Xeon he was unable to train with his saber skills but his master decided to teach him a skill forgotten by the modern Jedi. She told him that through the force one can do amazing feats, like holding ones breathe for more than a basic day. Hope one can survive months without getting hungry and how one can go for weeks without getting thirsty. So the past four days have been difficult on him as he practiced these feats. With results, it has been four days since he has eaten and he has yet to get hungry, he only had one glass of water in the past four days. And he was now capable of holding his breath for three hours. Nothing compared to the masters of old, but surely a helpful skill for future references. But even if he can go days without food, or water he still needed sleep.
Yuffie finally settled down in the lounge, sitting on one of the chairs. Yuffie let out a sigh of frustration, 'well there goes a full hour of fruitless effort, there is absolutely no way into Fenrir's cabin without setting off an alarm. I just wanted check his data pad and see what he has been thinking of lately.' Yuffie, while a well-known bounty hunter, was a better thief, so good that barely anyone heard about her. So imagine her disappointment when she met a security that was strong enough to stop her….. For the moment. 'Next time I'm bringing all of my equipment.' Once again the young bounty hunter sighed, when the ex-Mercenary leader walked in taking a seat opposite of Yuffie. 'Well at least I'm on a ship with two sexy men.' You see Yuffie is at the age were most Gaians are looking for partners. Yuffie may be 36 but since she is a Gaian she is technically 18, and at this age Gaians usefully stop any type of carrier to look for a proper mate. Though most youth of this time only follow that tradition when they feel like it, but since there young they can't always ignore their hormones.
Yuffie notice Vincent playing Dejarik with one of the droids nearby, there were three droids in the lounge room one to play games against, another to serve drinks and food, the last one is un active until it is needed. While watching Vincent play with the droid who was set on the hard difficulty, Yuffie noticed that the man had a golden clawed arm. "How did you get that?" Yuffie asked, Vincent followed the gaze and saw his left arm, or its replacement. "Gaia's Veteran program,"
Yuffie let out a gasp, "you fought in the last Great Gaian war." Vincent nodded as he recalled the war; it was the after math of the war that leads him to live as a mercenary. "But wait, I know that customizable arms are available for veterans but I thought the golden color was for high ranking officers." "It is," The short comment from Vincent was cold and sharp, telling Yuffie that she shouldn't push about the arm anymore. "So, what side did you fight for?"
Let's take some time to go over the Gaian Empire, right before its discovery by the republic. Gaian space is a little beyond the outer rim, the furthest system known to the galaxy. The Gaian system has no star; in fact the center of the system is the solid rock planet Gaia. Gaia only has three planets revolve around it, along with one moon. The other planets are called, Spira the blue planet of the system has a few islands and small continents compared to her sister planets. The second largest planet in the system is Gran Pulse, the green planet, mainly grass lands ruins and forest. And the last planet is Cocoon the artificially made planet. This system was the most puzzling in the galaxy, mainly because how the planets have their own light source and heat that replaces the need of a sun.
Floating around the planets are three giant creatures that give off enough heat and Light to rival a star's, the three creatures are called, Fal'cie. The One that floats around Gaia is called Helios, the one the floats around Spira is called Sora, and the last one that's taking place over Gran pulse and Cocoon is Phoenix. The Gaian system blew the greatest minds the galaxy had to offer, no one understanding how those creatures could preserve the planets, Or how one super planet was the center of gravity, or how the Gaians were able to create a planet completely out of metal and make it habitable with flora and fauna.
The Gaian empire had a strange history, even though there has been many rebellions against the monarch empire they have, they always had a supreme ruler with a civilian council, every time a ruler became a tyrant a rebellion rose and they always manage to kill the king, even though the government style never changed. Although sometimes some of the rebellions involved total war fare among all the planets in the system, called the Great Gaian wars, there have been four great gain wars, each one bloodier and more destructive than the one before. When discovered by the Republic the Gaian Empire was in the middle of Great Gaian war IV, also known as the Last Great Gaian war. The war ended when the King's Son, who led the rebellion, killed the King, and returned the Empire to its stable condition. They civil council then elected the prince as King but the Prince denied the position and so someone else became King, but now all the people live in peace, and sole focusing on medical, science and cultural advancements. The Gaian Empire signed a treaty with the republic stating that Gaia will remain a self-govern system and will allow trade between the two governments. Though there had been many restrictions. The republic can't have access with Gaian technology, unless approved by all council members and the Kings vote, and the republic has to offer something of equal worth.
There republic aren't the only galactic officials that made profitable treaties with Gaia, the new Separatist government and many personal businesses such as the Banking clan, trade federation, and even the Hutts made their roots into Gaian soil. Out of all the treaties The Gaia Empire has the best deal. Every one want's Gaian Goods, wither it be new spices, medical herbs, technologies or simply an embassy on the planet, and they will do almost anything for it. While Gaia can easily cut of ties with any of these groups, even though the loss of trade will affect their new lifestyle. The Galaxy now knows Gaian's as supper intelligent, scientist, and more peaceful people. But most of the galaxy underestimates the Gaian race, for they don't know the bloody history behind the modern empire.
That will be all you'll need to know on Gaian history, as Vincent answers Yuffie's Question, "I fought with the rebellion, I was part of the team that infiltrated and took out the king." Yuffie beamed at this bit of knowledge, "you fought with the Prince!" No one of Yuffie's Generation knows what the Prince looks like as the late King's son erased his identity so he can live a normal life. The only thing everyone knows was that the Prince lost his arm in the fight with the King, and the prince had the same hair color as the king, black and messy wild.
"…..yeah, I fought with the prince." Vincent said as his eyes started off into the distance while one of his Dejarik pieces were taken out of play, his memories catching up to him. Yuffie notice the glazed look in his eyes, and her excitement left, she obviously was bring back some harmful memories, so she stopped asking questions and decide to go over the ways to enter Fenrir's cabin without setting the alarm off, instantly thinking up new ways to try to disable the alarm without waking her Lord.
Planet Xeon Fenrir's training Chamber.
Barret was on the ground completely unable to move his massive body, his light saber rolled out of his reach, while the floor was covered in his sweat. Standing above the new dark Jedi, was one of the Training droids holding a practice saber, Kreia set the thing to its most difficult setting, and told Barret to defeat the thing only using his light saber. Needless to say, Barret couldn't get passed the Droids Offense and now earned himself several burns on his body. Barret spent the past two hours trying his hardest to use the Makashi saber form, trying to defeat the droid but the droid managed to exploit his weaknesses and singed off all the hairs on his arms and torso.
"You know I always said that we looked like kids playing with sticks compared to the ancient sith, but you really do look like a kid swinging a toy sword around." Kreia said her voice had a disappointed tone in it that seemed to irk the Massive man. "No wonder your wife died if this was all you could do." Something inside Barret broke, as that comment hit a nerve, in an act of pure anger and will Barret stood up and received his light saber with the force, standing as the atmosphere seemed to grow staler. Gone was the leader of avalanche and now awake is the Beast with in the Gaian. Barret charged the droid, swinging his blade, as the droid brought up its own weapon to block, but made a beep of surprise as it flew from the force. While flying through the air the droid pivoted so its feet allowed it to rebound off the wall. As it made recalculations to face the angered monster. This time focusing on redirecting the attacks rather than trying to with stand them.
Barret was furious but the discipline drilled into him when he was a soldier allowed him to attack using the form rather than swinging blindly. The anger fueled his body, giving him unknown energy and it worked as a tremendous pain reliever as the Droid was still capable of striking him with counter strikes that would put down a lesser man. Causing the droid to recalculate its methods.
Kreia watched on from her spot above the Holocron, this is what she wanted to witness, the potential power he had, watching at how his spar with the droid went she was able to come up with many different training sessions on where she would be able to draw out the best of his ability and make him just as deadly as he is now, without having to draw out so much of the dark sides power. Kreia knows all too well the corruption and the decomposition that came from drawing the dark side's power, two of her previous apprentices were prime examples. Actually the way Barret is acting now it reminded her of one apprentice in particular. She swore to herself not to create another slave to the force. Even now she worried as she looked into the sulfuric yellow eyes that come from the man's Skull, even as the dark skin slowly paled. 'This time I won't create a monster." Barret reminded her so much of him; the lord of pain, Darth Sion. The former Jedi master and Lord of Betrayal had her work cut out.
The Planet of Rattatak
Cloud was only able to rest for one hour but that was enough for the young dark Jedi to recuperate his exhaustion for the day,boarding a shuttle with his personal guards, Vincent and Yuffie, he made his way to where his reserved seats to the gladiatorial pit fight, "The Cauldron". Luckily this job was easy, watch the candidate for Dooku's assassin, and then tests her skills himself. Simple enough, in fact it made the blonde Gaian wonder why the dark lord didn't do it himself.
Cloud was brought out of his thoughts as the pit fight began first on the line up a female Dathomirian, Vs a Male Gamorrean, the fight was relatively short and as time passed on Cloud watched the deadly Dathomirian woman carve up her enemies. It wasn't until the woman killed the Giant Flog. Cloud watched her raise the green and blue sabers in which she slaughtered so many in this pit.
The woman stared into the viewing plat form he was in, as their eyes made contact, "the dark side is strong in me, for I am sith!" The woman named Asajj Ventress claimed aloud. Cloud eyes hardened as he looked at the woman, true she may be powerful, but he could sense the fear inside her, he can also sense the shattered heart of her soul, she was blind and stuck in her world of illusion. Cloud stood up his cloak hiding his physical appearance the hood up and his mask on. "True you are strong and the dark side serves you well, but just because you fight and act like the sith doesn't mean you are one. It just shows you're an imitator, after all the sith don't fear anything, and you Dathomirian have much fear." When cloud finished his sentence he jumped from his platform free falling and right when he was about to hit the ground he used the force to stop his fall, via a very powerful push on the ground causing dust to float all around hiding his form from sight.
Asajj was furious, this man called her an imitator, she was about to show him not to mess with a sith when he jumped down from the platform and blinded her with the cloud of dust from his landing, it was only by her strong connection through the force was when she blocked the sinister red beam of energy that was this man's light saber. Her eyes took in the man's masked and for some reason she felt the fear that she hasn't felt in a while, the fear of death. Asajj soon snapped out of her fear but the brief moment was all Cloud needed to grab her face, "feel the powers of the dark side." Cloud said unleashing a torrent of Lightning into her body. Cloud watched as the woman went limp. Cloud spent another second staring at her defeated form when he walked away motioning for Yuffie and Vincent to take the woman with them to the ship.
Cloud awaited in the cargo room, of his ship were the unconscious woman lay, he waited for the woman to awaken so he could once again challenge her power. First I will test her skills with a saber, then her skills with the force. Lastly I would show her how superior he was to her, and maybe use her as a double agent against Dooku. After all he was a bit ahead of schedule and Dooku is not waiting for the arrival of his new pet, just yet. 'Yes I will make her swear loyalty to me, and when the time comes to wipe out the Darth lords, I will have two strong apprentices by my side. Then after we wipe out the sith, the republic is next, the galaxy doesn't need a government that is so corrupt. Yes I would have to bring about a new empire.' Cloud stopped planning his long term goal as he noticed the woman start to awaken.
Ventress woke up feeling sore to the core, her vision was still blurred as she tried to stand, now up to her full height she noticed she was in a cargo bay, but before she could question why she was her, the force warned her just in time to stop a light saber strike, the Red blade of her opponent clashing with the green and blue blades she holds. It took her a moment to remember that this man had shocked her till she blacked out. Once again Fear ran through her body as she stared into the mask.
"Good, now test your skills Woman." The masked man said, Asajj didn't know why but she did as she was told, she struck with the same speed and velocity that she shown in the pit. Her Jar'Kai form was quick, agile, and deadly. At least to someone without proper Jedi training, the way she is now Fenrir guessed that she would be a very powerful Padwan. With only one blade active the young sith was able to block, parry, and redirect his opponents attacks. Even if he wasn't the best at Soresu he was more than capable enough to hold his own against this sloppy predictable form.
Ventress was stuck between awe, fear, and anger. In awe because this man is easily stopping her advances, in fear cause she knows he isn't trying, and anger because of how weak she is. But even through all the anger and Fear clouding her, she was in awe by the man's simple and fluid moves with the light saber. She did one last Swing of her blade to try and separate the man from his legs, but the Sith simply jumped over her, and when she turned to face the man, he lifted up several crates with the force and threw them at her.
Thinking quickly Asajj Cut down the first few crates coming at her and sent the last two right back at the secret sith lord. Once again fear and anger came into her mind as she watched the man easily stop the crates from hitting him and set them down gently. It was like she was trying to break throw a ship's hull with her bare hands, her attacks were pointless. Still the woman pressed on determined to harm the man, and at the same time wondering what he thought about her skills.
Pathetic, that was the thought that went through Cloud's mind as he watched the woman desperately try to kill him, had he been the same person he was back when he was a Jedi, he would no doubt struggle with this woman, but alas the entire time Dooku sent out other acolytes to work in the war, Cloud has only been getting stronger. Cloud once again stopped the woman dead in her tracks as their weapons locked. He Felt the Dathomirian struggle to against his strength, he smirked at how much more powerful he was, holding back this woman's pitiful attempts with one arm.
"Surely you can do better than this? Cloud taunted making the woman scream in anger actually pushing him back, making him take a few steps back. "Better, but I'm still not impressed." With that said the Sith used his free hand to force push the woman across the cargo hold, her back hitting the wall. Cloud slowly walked up to her closing the distance, watching the pain in her eyes as she forced herself to stand back up. When she stood up ready to continue, Cloud took off his cloak showing the Black and silver robes underneath, and his second Light saber, as he grabbed the weapon and activated it. "You are, weak, undisciplined, and extremely sloppy. Allow me to show you how a real sith fights." Cloud could feel the woman's anger and he can read the fear in her body language.
Asaj now was able to see how built the man was, even though the robes he wears she can tell he was athletic, and even though he took off his cloak the mask was still present and covered his entire head. She watched as the man swung the silver and red blades around his body as he got into a stance she never saw before.
'If she manages to survive my first set of attacks then she is worthy.' With that said both dark Jedi faced each other, it was so quite that the silent hums of the light sabers became booming echoes with in this room. A few seconds felt like an eternity for the Dathomirian as she awaited the man's strike. Her only comfort is that he would have to run up to her to get within range, at least that's what she thought. As soon as there was movement from the Masked sith Asajj jumped to the side narrowly dodging the silver blade that would have cleaved her in half. Ventress didn't have time to think about how he closed the distance so fast or how she dodged, because as soon as she was back on her feet she found herself barely surviving the rapid and powerful strikes that came from the man. No thoughts were in her mind she was acting purely on the force and instinct.
Cloud smiled mentally to himself, 'yes she would be a great apprentice, now for her initiation.' In two quick movements Cloud destroyed both of her weapons, earning a yelp of surprise from the woman as he force kicked her into a pile of crates. Standing up straight Cloud made his way to the crates. When he was only a few feet away, one of the crates flew directly at him, by instinct cloud cut the object in half and looked up to see that the Dathomirian woman had ran off into the hallway that lead to the barracks and his cabin. Amused Cloud followed after taking his time for the woman had now where to escape.
Ventress can feel the adrenaline giving her energy to run; exhausted, beaten and weaponless she knew it was suicide to face the man. She knew she was going to die, and her best chance for survival was to find an escape pod in this ship, but so far every door she encountered was sealed shut. Panicking she saw one more door left, and as soon as she reached for the door, she paused for a second as she felt the evil chill that ran down her spine. Looking behind her she saw the man that defeated her slowly walking up to her. Immediately she went to the last door, and didn't even register that it opened, as she ran into what she could only guess was the ships Lounge room. Looking around in desperation she saw two Light saber hilts lying innocently on a desk, taunting her. Asajj didn't even think when she reached out with the force activated the dual crimson blades, and turned at the last second to block both of the man's sabers. For a moment Ventress gained some confidence back until the man she locked swords with, used the force in a way she never knew of. The man gave a mighty shout sending her into the very same desk she took the blades from, shattering the wooden piece of furniture on contact. Dazed Ventress could only shake her head until she felt the overwhelming presence of the man before her, towering over her beaten form with the silver blade of his weapon near centimeters from her neck. Ventress Eyes widened in fear 'am I really going to die.'
There was a small laugh, "Damn, she looks about ready to piss herself." Ventress looked with her eyes to the side to see a young woman wearing a tight top exposing her midriff and very t-shirt and tight shorts. For a moment all fear left Ventress as confusion took place. "Well lord Fenrir considering you haven't killed her yet, is she worthy?"
Lord Fenrir soon let out a big sigh as he deactivated his weapons, "Damn it Yuffie, you just completely killed the mood, didn't I tell you to stay in your room until after I tested this woman." Yuffie just plopped right down into one of the many seats, as she pulled out one of the meal bars that she was about to eat. "What I got hungry and you were taking your sweet time." The bounty hunter said casually, as she took a bite out of the bar, placing her feet on the small coffee table before her. "Watch you tone bounty hunter, remember I'm your master, and I can dispose of you anytime I want." Yuffie just mumbled something like 'yes sir', but no one could know what she said since she spoke with her mouth full.
Ventress's mind finally rebooted, the powerful man that she feared a moment ago was now having a friendly banter between this woman; suddenly she gained a major headache. "Damn it Yuffie, get out now." This time Yuffie could tell that Fenrir was furious, as she felt a cold chill down her spine and several smaller objects around the sith were floating. Even though Yuffie felt the rage from her master she couldn't help but feel turned on. She always did like men with a lot of power, but she wasn't dumb, and immediately left before Fenrir chose to kill her. 'If only I can get him to use that anger in a more pleasurable way.' Yuffie thought to herself giggling while she exited the room.
"I'm going to kill that woman one of these days." Ventress then noticed that the man's guard was down and reacted quickly, her light sabers activated as she jumped up, only to feel a hard grip on her throat when the man reached out, she can tell that the arm was made of metal, as it crushed her windpipe. "As for you. I offer you a choice." Fenrir then tossed the woman aside, watching as the Dathomirian gaged and desperately try to catch her breath. "Serve me, or die."
Ventress looked up at the towering form of Lord Fenrir, and saw opportunity, all her life she always had a master of some sort, and these past few years as she wondered the world of Rattatak master less she felt lost, scared, and most of all useless. A weapon was all she is, a slave was all she was, and an apprentice was what she had been. Asajj made her decision, kneeling before her new master. "I am yours, if you find me worthy to serve you." she said. Darth Fenrir reactivated his red saber and held it right above Asaj Ventress's neck. "Once again I'll say, you're weak, sloppy, undisciplined, and reckless. You are not worthy of becoming a sith." Dread filled up every part of Ventress at his words, and for a moment she thought she was going to die, until she heard the deactivation of his weapon. "But you are worthy to become my apprentice. Like you, I was a slave, rescued by the Jedi, and like you I left the Jedi order, but I am not sith, at least not the sith everyone knows. My name is Darth Fenrir, for I will destroy the Darth Sidious and Tyranus. I will recreate the sith." Ventress looked up at Darth Fenrir, "I may not be strong enough to do so now, so for the moment I would need your assistance, my apprentice." Asajj Ventress bowed her head, "yes, my master." She hasn't said that word for years, and for some reason, she was really glad to have a master. "Good study this data pad, it will have you caught up on our plans, and the information of your next mission. You will be going to kill Anakin Skywalker. Ventress looked at the data pad, "yes my master." She said immediately taking a seat to study the data pad before her mission.
Cloud walked out of the lounge, and muttered something and all the systems were back online and all other doors were unlocked. Cloud thought to himself on his next steps, his training needed to continue no doubt, but what force techniques will he learn. He mastered the basic force powers, and even forces Lightning. He is currently mastering old basic techniques holding his breath for hours, staying awake for a minimum of three days straight, not eating or drinking for weeks. He learned a unique and ancient technique of shouting with the force. What can he do to become stronger, Kreia will always teach him new techniques in the force but, she limits him. Cloud knows that mastering the force takes time with each new technique but he is tired of basic techniques. No matter, in the end he could always refine his saber skills and the application of the force techniques with his fighting style.
"So we got the Dooku's pet what next." Cloud hid his surprise well when Vincent spoke seemingly out of the shadows, the Mercenary leaning against the wall without the slightest movement. "We will drop her off with the bounty hunter Durge; from there The count ordered us to lead the attack on the planet of Hypori, there are many Jedi on the planet an Dooku found it best to send us to assist Grievous. Something tells me we would need their assistance." Cloud once again was put off by Vincent's reaction; Cloud can't read this man at all. It was as if the man lacked emotion, and can seal off his mind from the force. The thought Made cloud tremble, Vincent was a wild card; Cloud can't tell if the man was 100% loyal, and that made the young sith nervous.
Vincent was a master at hiding emotion, and thoughts, when he was only two Gaian years old; he was forced into the government's black op organization, the Turks. Being the youngest initiate, Vincent had the longest and the most difficult training available. The end result was a weapon colder than anything known to the galaxy. That's why after the war he was a successful mercenary, taking any job without fail. Knowing this Vincent is no doubt the most dangerous person under Cloud's command, and that's why the man makes The Darth Fenrir nervous.
