~O~

Sword Dancer

Kareena listened gravely at the holo video feed.

Lucien was furious.

"We should have known this would happen." Kareena said, evenly.

The feed was of Zero standing over several Jedi corpses, studying them for the moment. Lucien turned partially when Cal and the others entered the chamber. Trilla stared up at the screen with cold indifference, feeling the sour taste in her mouth distracting her. She saw the bloodied, broken shape of Sienna in her arms again.

"This is him, I assume?" Lucien questioned.

"Yes. He's the hunter," Trilla explained, "The one who nearly killed Sienna."

"He's killed two of my people," Lucien whispered, tone a frigid whisper, "What does he truly want? Is it you, Trilla Suduri? I understand you're deemed a traitor by the Empire."

Trilla looked at him, her expression hardening. "This will not stop until I meet him." she told them. "If it is a fight he wants, it's a fight he should have."

"Trilla, we really need a game plan before we face him." Cere reminded her. "Remember what happened last time. He nearly killed Sienna."

"I haven't forgotten. That's why I intend to face him."

"For revenge." Cal's tone changed and he approached her, reading the cold look in her eyes; one of purpose, one of intent to kill. "Trilla, I get it. You want payback for what he did to Sienna. But you know what happens when you seek out revenge."

Trilla showed her teeth. "Don't lecture me, Cal Kestis." she whispered, severely, "Dillon will continue to hunt us until he or one of us dies."

Cal seemed intent to argue as he often did, but was stopped when TC-88 stepped into the room. Everyone turned their attention to the protocol droid.

"TC?" Lucien questioned, "What is it?"

"Lady Sienna is making her way to the ships as we speak." the droid explained, hesitantly. "I attempted to discourage her plan, but she would not hear it."

"Plan?" Trilla hissed angrily and hurried from the room to stop her.

The others followed, rushing as quickly as they could to the hangar where, sure enough, Sienna was preparing to board the ship.

"Sienna, what are you doing?" Cere demanded. "You can't be thinking of going out there!"

Sienna turned to them. "If Dillon is coming to look for us, I must know why."

"You must know why?" Trilla repeated, staring at her in disbelief. "Dillon is an Inquisitor Assassin! You don't ask these things! That scar on your belly is proof enough of that, isn't it?"

Sienna's brow wrinkled at the words. "Yes, I'm not a fool, Trilla." she argued. "Still, I was hoping we would lead him away from this place. I could always fly, regardless of my blindness. I assume a blind woman would draw more attention to him."

Greez stepped forward, pointing at her. "Kid, you're not flying my ship."

"Then fly it for me," Sienna told him. Her expression withered. "Please. These people have worked far too hard to suffer. We owe it to them after everything they've done for us."

Lucien's expression was hard at first, but gradually smoothed out at the words.

Cal looked at him. "She's right. It's us he wants," he said, "We have to do this."

Lucien was silent, considering the situation with pursed lips. Trilla had no idea what to expect from Dillon when they would meet him on the battlefield. She knew that he would come for her and she knew that it would be brutal.

"Very well. I pray for your safe return." he told them. "I will have this place locked down until I hear from you again."

Cere turned to the ship and stepped inside with the Mantis crew following. "Where was that video transmitted from, anyway?"

Greez worked quickly to the holotable, bringing it up again. "Raxus Prime." he told them.

Trilla smiled thinly. "A planet under Imperial rule."

"So what now?" Greez asked, worried.

O

Zero worked at the console of his ship, silently observing transmissions and radio frequencies from various passing transports. He looked up when distortion caught the corner of his eye. He peered into the vastness of space, leaned forward when he noticed something in the distance.

A ship cloaked.

Zero's hands clenched onto the controls of his ship. He was waiting.

Patience.

Zero tilted his head, watching the ripple in the pattern before the ship vanished into hyperspace. He followed right behind it. It was a curious matter as to why it flew the way it did toward Raxus Secundus. Did they intend to challenge him there?

He pursued the cloaked ship until it drew close enough to the atmosphere before powering up the ion cannons of his ship. Once he took a shot it struck the cloaked ship, revealing it to be a customized Star Courier. Zero recognized the model of a salvaged Sith Infiltrator ship.

Interesting.

Zero watched as it spiraled out of control into Raxus Secundus' atmosphere and he continued his chase, following the plume of smoke where the ship had crashed. He found a suitable place to land his own vessel and stepped out.

The ship was laying there, cockpit open and no one to be found. Curious.

Zero scanned the trees and grass around him.

A lightsaber activating turned his attention to his left where he noticed Trilla standing there. She was smiling; a look that was cold, sinister.

"Dillon." she said. "You wanted me? Here I am."

Zero tilted his head at her, reaching for the lightsaber at his side. Trilla raised her chin and Zero positioned his left heel. Just as Trilla always remembered him doing at training.

She was the first to move with a fierce shout.

O

Dillon was knocked to the floor with a grunt.

Trilla smirked down at him, reaching out with one hand. He laughed, taking her hand and picking himself up. Their masters had been observing them from a distance, nodding their approval. Dillon relished the attention.

"So, do you think they liked it?" he asked.

Trilla laughed, shrugging her shoulders. "I think you need to work on your form, my friend."

"My form? Really?" Dillon grinned. "I came up with a new one just today."

Orn Daru was observing them from his place at Cere's side. The two Jedi Masters watched as Dillon took a stance, the Force around him sharpening. Trilla took a few steps back and watched the ground split into little grooves, reflecting the motions of the Force.

"I'm still working on it." Dillon told her, after a few moments.

"Dillon, come." Orn Daru said, approaching and interrupting the discussion. "We have studies tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Master." Dillon waved at Trilla. "Bye. See you later, Suduri."

Trilla chuckled. "You too, Fray."

Trilla snarled with effort, her lightsaber colliding with Zero's. The two combatants were locked together in battle, their movements fluid as they danced through the air, blades striking one another. Zero was silent, calculating with every swing.

Sienna was nearby, making her way out of the ship when Zero viciously kick Trilla in the face, sending her flying into a nearby abandoned building.

"Trilla!" Sienna shouted.

Zero turned sharply toward her, tilting his head when he watched her rushing toward the building. He gave chase, spinning through the air; the Force sliced around Sienna, but her shield was projected with one hand, deflecting each attack and forcing Zero backwards.

Sienna made her way into the building, just as Trilla was rising. The other woman looked toward her, mouth shining with blood. Her eyes widened in horror.

"Sienna!" Trilla exclaimed, her tone filled with panic and anger. "What are you doing here? You cannot be here with me while - !"

Sienna shook her head, helping her stand. "I told you I won't let you do this alone."

"You fool woman!" Trilla spat, shaking her head, rebuking her. "You nearly died to this man, I won't see it happen again!"

"It won't!" Sienna insisted, her tone sharp now as she cupped her cheeks. "I'm focused now. You have to trust me."

Trilla shook her head, stung by the contact and her tone. "No, no, I trust you, I - "

The wall erupted and Zero was already surging through, lightsaber slicing through the smoke. Trilla quickly moved, raising her lightsaber to block his attack. Sienna hurried out of the way, watching them locked in combat.

Trilla clenched her teeth with effort, forced back several paces before she gave a shout, twisting the saber and forcing Zero back.

Sienna, I give my word... she thought, he will not harm you again.

Slices of the Force danced around them; Trilla's side was slashed and she flinched in pain, daring a glance toward Sienna, who looked frightened the moment she seemed to smell her blood.

"Enough!" Trilla shouted, finding the strength to call on the Force with everything she had.

Zero was suddenly yanked from her with Trilla's shout of effort, the Force sending him flying into the floor's metal, down deep into a storage chamber.

Trilla dropped to her knees with a groan and Sienna made her way over to her, hands on her shoulders. Trilla smiled up at her hesitantly, taking a few moments to breathe as she felt Sienna's hand on her side. The woman was inspecting her for more wounds.

"You've been cut here, too," Sienna breathed.

"I'm fine." Trilla hissed, rising. "I must finish this."

She jumped down into the storage chamber, scanning the rows of abandoned, empty cargo containers. She walked toward the place Zero had fallen, discovering the cracked helmet he was wearing at her feet. Bending down, she picked it up, turned it in her hands for study.

Movement in the shadows and she noticed the yellow eyes of the assassin. Zero stepped out, raising his lightsaber, revealing the true damage of the Empire.

His face was pale, head shaved and covered in disfiguring scars. He had metal pipes shoved into his head and neck. The torture he had endured...

"Dillon." Trilla said, quietly.

Zero was wide-eyed and emotionless, stalking toward her with cold indifference. He looked like an empty machine, immune to the old name.

"Dillon," Trilla repeated, glancing briefly up at Sienna who crouched at the top floor, frightened. "The Empire finally silenced you, didn't they?"

Zero was already charging for her.

Blows from the Force were struck between the two; Zero kicked out his leg, striking Trilla in her side, at the wound. She let out a shriek of pain and rage, taking his arm holding the lightsaber and twisting, slamming her head into his.

Zero flinched back with a grunt, but recovered quickly enough to slam his head back into hers. He did this several more times that Trilla was forced to release him, doubling over with a groan.

The assassin watched as she recoiled, disoriented. Then, he looked up toward Sienna and jumped. Trilla recovered and noticed that he was after her now.

"No, you don't, coward!" she snarled, jumping into the air.

Sienna let out a cry, raising her Force shield moments as Zero was upon her. With a blow of his saber, she saw flashes of memories from him projected into her head.

Screams.

Blood.

Torture.

Sienna shook her head with anguish, holding the shield up as Zero punched his lightsaber nearly through it. Tears filled her eyes and she struggled to comprehend the colors in her head.

"Bloody shades, stabbing greys," she whispered, "Hateful rays of black and yellow..."

Trilla jumped with a fierce shout of effort, which removed Zero from Sienna's shield. Her lightsaber sliced into his arm, sending him tumbling to the floor. Just as he struggled to stand, Trilla's weapon cleaved through his leg, cutting it cleanly from his body.

Not a single sound or scream of pain. Zero collapsed to the floor, his expression still blank as he stared up at the two women over him. Trilla took a moment to catch her breath, leveling her saber at his chest. Zero barely moved, barely reacted at all. The only sign that he was in pain was the mild darkening of his eyes.

"It's over, Dillon," Trilla hissed, "You shall never harm her again."

Sienna was still overwhelmed as she turned to Trilla. "I saw it..." she breathed. "I saw what they did to him. Oh, God..."

Trilla looked at her briefly, then down to Zero.

"It's over," she repeated, "I will never allow you to - "

Zero immediately shot his hands up, took the saber handle she held and forced the weapon through his chest. Trilla's eyes widened with a startled gasp and Sienna let out a cry of shock. Zero looked frozen in pain for a few moments more, then he focused on Trilla and his eyes widened. He smiled at her and that was when she saw it.

Peace.

Gratitude.

At last.

He was laughing now as he gave one final choke before stilling. Trilla stared down at him, stunned by what had happened. Sienna had said nothing and she noticed the other woman was watching him with a sympathy there that hadn't existed before.

And she understood now.

Zero didn't attack Sienna in that moment simply for a cheap attempt to wound her. He did it knowing that Trilla would attack and kill him. He sought his death and he most likely craved it for a long time. How long had it been?

"Trilla..." Sienna said, gently.

Trilla felt it then; the pain from her battle catching up with her as she dropped to her knees with a groan. Sienna's hands were on her shoulder, then her side as she helped her back up.

"We need to go," Trilla hissed, "Who knows how long it will take for the Empire to realize what had happened to him."

"There's a town nearby," Sienna offered, "We could stay there for the day. Then, we radio the others so they know we're alive."

Trilla nodded. That seemed to be the most sensible course of action.

And at least for now, they were safe.