Revelation
"I'm sorry, Emperor," the figure knelt head bowed. "She escaped."
The tall, hooded shadow in front of him let out a low hiss that twisted and coiled until it turned into a sentence.
"She needs to die," the cloaked man's voice cracked with age and hate. "I sent you on this mission because you are the very best, and only the very best can kill this loose cannon."
"Yes, Emperor," the mercenary's head touched the floor.
Silence as the boss made sure his orders were understood.
"Do not return unless you have her head."
The assassin's eyes flashed mercilessly under the shadow of his face.
"Yes, Emperor."
"Elan," I spoke into my comm. "Elan, you there?"
"Always, Rain," his voice was sober for once as it crackled through the link. He must've sensed my mood.
"I need you to pick me up." I paused for a second, feeling like I should add something. "Please."
The word felt strange in my mouth, and the line was silent.
"DeathRain, is that you?"
I let out a short laugh.
"I've changed a lot, Sleazebaggano. I'll send you my coordinates."
Quiet.
"… Okay, Rain."
Ten minutes later, I was back on the Sunset's Bane, the ship Elan and I had rented a week ago. We were silent.
I stared out the window, watching solemnly as the stars whizzed past us in electric streaks.
"You have changed," he murmured, the retractable antennae on his head twitching uncomfortably.
"Yeah," I spoke softly, and decided not to stop. "I've seen a lot.
"I've seen my intense anger come flooding out of me. I've seen not only how it hurts my enemies, but my friends and me as well."
No one spoke for a moment.
"I'm still a Sith, don't get me wrong," I smirked, "but I feel like a better Sith now… you know?"
"No… not really," Elan laughed softly. He hesitated before continuing.
"While we're at it, I guess I'd better tell you…"
"Tell me what?" I tilted my head.
"You've always been like a little sister to me," he grinned sheepishly, "but the kind you fight beside instead of fight with."
I nodded, brightening slightly. "I guess you seem kind of like an older brother, huh?"
The Balosar laughed, suddenly his normal self again.
"I would hope so, eh?"
He closed his eyes, a serene smile on his face.
I waited a bit before delivering my next nugget of news—he deserved a bit of a break, even if it was only a few seconds' worth. After I'd felt he'd had a suitable rest, I told him what had happened back on Tattoine, even though it still hurt to talk about.
"I know where the killer will be next," I concluded, making his eyes widen even more than they'd been.
"Where?" He wrinkled his brown, and I breathed in deeply.
"Wherever I am. Take me to Courascant."
The sun was close to setting when we landed. The Sunset's Bane was reluctantly returned, and I stood on the roof of the Senate Building, waiting.
I stared past the four spires that jutted like horns out of the four corners of the building, rising at a gradual angle. The sky began to gleam yellow, and I watched the sun go down, recalling Elan's parting words to me.
You do have a plan, right? He'd said it wryly, as a joke. I shivered slightly.
"I hope so," I muttered, my cloak flying behind me as the fierce winds began to pick up.
"You obviously have a death wish," a voice behind me snarled. "You knew I would come."
"Yeah," I turned around to face the killer. "I needed to end this. And still do." I added the last part on as an after thought. The mercenary smirked, letting out a short, cruel bark of a laugh.
"Then finish it." He began to walk forwards, pulling out his weapons as he went.
"I will."
The boy rocketed up the stairs. He had to get to the Sith in time. He could stop this. He could end this meaningless pain.
The figure ran even faster, glad he'd trailed her.
He could stop this.
Our lightsabers clashed. We struggled, face to face, both of us trying to get the upper hand.
He swung this blade down, almost cutting off my foot. I dodged just in time, rolling across the rooftop and landing the first blow across his leg. It wasn't crippling, but he doubled over in pain.
Cursing under his breath, he pushed forward, swing after powerful swing crashing down on me like an asteroid storm. I was gasping for breath by the time he had me backing onto one of the spires—he was more powerful than the last time we'd met.
But so was I.
I leapt over the man, determination flooding my brilliant flaming eyes, twisting around in the air to land a fierce kick on his face. His helmet flew off the thin spire, catching the bloodred light of the dying sun, which tinted everything it met.
The assassin scrambled to the end of the ledge and peered over, panting heavily.
I looked up at him as he turned, bringing up my blade to deliver the killing blow.
I froze, looking him in the eye. He grinned evilly.
"BloodLust?"