Sorry for the delay. New chapter up. Enjoy.
The battle between Master and Apprentice had lasted longer than either participant thought possible.
Quinn's strategy was working. She didn't think about what she was doing, just simply letting her body and the Force do what needed to be done. She didn't think about what moves she shouldn't be using and those she should, she just moved. She just fought. At this moment she was neither Sith nor Jedi and the effort was doing exactly what she had hoped it would do; confuse the dark lord and amplify her own natural skills.
Unfortunately, Thanaton was still a powerful Sith and all she was able to really do was hold her own. Every offensive strike was countered, but none of his strikes hit their mark, either. It was a stalemate. The longer the fight lasted, the more the fight would skew in the Sith's favor and Quinn knew it.
Thanaton laughed, stepping back to size up his opponent once again. "You've improved and you have far more spirit. You would do well back by my side. The Jedi will never accept you. Not fully. You've tasted the power of the dark side for too long to truly step into the light."
Quinn scoffed. "You've attempted to kill me on more than one occasion and you had my own mother executed in front of me. Regardless of where I actually land in my life, be it Sith or Jedi, my place will never again be by your side."
Quinn felt a slight tremor from her father and it distracted her. She didn't have time to worry about it, for Thanaton sensed her momentary distraction and sent a strong wave of Force energy in her direction. She moved out of the way, but wasn't fast enough and took some of the hit square in the chest. It knocked the wind out of her momentarily and she heard a slight crack.
Seeing Quinn was injured, the dark lord attempted to capitalize, charging to make a killing blow with his lightsaber, but Quinn recovered too quickly and ignored the pain, managing a grazing blow to his left knee. He crumbled to the ground and Quinn was able to disarm him.
She clutched her side as she stood above the defeated man. He was on his knees, but Quinn could tell the fight had taken a toll on her, too. She stood only by sheer force of will and little else.
"This is the part where you offer to spare my life, in return for my surrender. No doubt, you think with time I can be turned to the light." He spat at her, his eyes almost glowing red.
Quinn nodded, hearing blaster fire and lightsabers behind the door. Moments later, Major Deshan, Captain Jorgan and M1-4X came in. She didn't need to turn around to know it was them. She knew Aric's place in the Force almost better than her own.
"Yes, A Jedi would do those things. They don't take the lives of unarmed men." Quinn leaned in closer, so only he could hear her. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not a Jedi."
For the first time, Quinn saw genuine fear in the Sith's eyes.
"Cipher! Shoot her!" He yelled.
During the entire fight, Cipher Eight hadn't moved a muscle.
"Sorry, Sith. You ordered me to bring Quindalyn to you. You said nothing about fighting her." He said calmly, crossing his arms over his chest. His glowing red eyes glared at the Sith. You didn't need to be a Force user to see the anger in them.
Thanaton looked over at Quinn. "I'll see you in hell."
Quinn laughed. "I look forward to it."
She plunged both her lightsabers into this chest, sliding them both several inches down before pulling them out. The Sith's eyes widened momentarily, then relaxed as he crumbled to the ground dead.
Quinn's squadmates just witnessed her kill an unarmed man at her mercy, but she doubted they'd care. She didn't turn to them, just closed down her weapons and approached her father.
"I was never told the truth about what happened to your mother." He said. His voice was sad and quiet, but still held an edge of anger.
Quinn looked deeply at him, with both her eyes and the Force.
"You loved her." She said.
Cipher Eight nodded. "I did, regardless of our differences. My profession forced me to keep the pretense of master and servant, but I did love her."
A sense of peace ran through Quinn. She had been created out of love and for some reason, that information made all the difference.
Jorgan cleared his throat. "So, what are we doing with him?" he asked, gesturing to the Chiss.
Quinn continued to look at her father. "He's earned his freedom. You should leave. Now. I have a feeling this compound won't be here much longer."
Cipher Eight nodded. "Our paths will cross again."
Quinn smiled. "I think they will."
With a small smile, the Cipher turned and slipped out. Kalyo had been listening in and was currently powering up the ship. He planned to be gone before his daughter and her companions could even make it back to their ship. Father and daugher parted ways, but Cipher Eight have a feeling they would meet again. Only time would tell if it was as friends or enemies.
With a sigh, Quinn turned and joined her squad. She was still clutching her wounded side, but she felt stronger now than she had been when she first entered the chamber.
"You alright?" The Major asked.
"Not really." She said honestly. "But I think I will be. Master Jerel?"
The Major frowned. "Alive, but unconscious. He was tortured with some kind of mind reading device. We're not sure how much of his mind is still intact. Elara is working on him back on the ship, but she's not sure if there will be anything of his mind left to save."
The adrenaline Quinn had been running on was wearing off and she began cringe in pain.
"Let's get back to the ship and turn this compound into a dusty crater." Jorgan said, slinging his rifle over his shoulder, supporting Quinn with one arm and pulled out his side blaster with his right hand. Quinn didn't fight the help.
They hurried out, Quinn's nightmare over, but her Master might have paid the ultimate price for his padawan's revenge.
To Be Continued...