Title: Malastare3
Author: Luna
Date: 5-13-00
Reviews: Yes, yes, yes!
General disclaimer: see part one and two…
***
"Xanatos." She said. Xanatos had been a former pupil of Qui-Gon's, who had fallen to the dark side. He had a deep hatred for all Jedi, especially Qui-Gon, and had tried on numerous occasions to bring about his demise. She had met Xanatos only once- when she was temporarily apprenticed to Qui-Gon herself. But once was more than enough. She shuddered at the memory of their last encounter.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him. He acted as though he didn't hear her, and continued.
"I'm surprised you recognized me. I barely recognized you. You've changed so much, grown up." He said wickedly, gazing over her. "I'm glad you're here though." He grinned, and took a few steps towards Daylon.
"Maybe you didn't hear me. I asked what you are doing here. Answer me." She said.
"No need to be angry about it. Anger leads to hate, right? And we all know where hate leads. Do you hate me, Daylon?" he asked.
"No, I do not." She said, clearly.
"Are you sure? Don't lie to me. I can see it in you. Hatred. Deep, pure. Come on, admit it." He goaded her.
"I never hated you."
"Not even after what I did to you?"
She took a deep breath. "No."
"That wasn't enough?" he asked. He still had that damn grin on his face. "Because I can make you hate me, Daylon," he said, close to her now. "I can. And I will."
She couldn't say anything. White hot rage nearly blinded her. She tried to breathe, tried to center herself, but it just wasn't working. There is no emotion, only peace… she recited the Jedi code in her head.
"Oh, like that's going to work. Come on, I know you've got your lightsaber with you. Take a swing. Kill me. Gut me like a fish. Make me pay." He said. His grin had evolved into a smirk.
"Come on, Angel-"
"Don't call me that!" Daylon said tersely.
"What? Angel?"
She took another deep breath, and another. He's just trying to make you angry, don't let him.
"Xanatos, I will ask you one more time. What are you doing here?" she asked, calm now.
"You already know, don't you?"
She had formulated an idea the moment she had seen him. He was going to disable the Malastare government somehow, so that he could freely import and sell his spice. He would make a fortune off the drugs, and destroy a planet with one move. Xanatos always did like double motives.
"That's right, and now you make it triple." He said, turning his back to her and picking up a candy from a dish on the bed. She could have killed him right then and there, but it wasn't the Jedi way. She would be giving in to her anger, fear, and frustration. She would be no better than him.
"You are a double motive yourself, actually. Killing you will bring me great satisfaction, and Obi-Wan great grief. Which, in turn, will give me great satisfaction. So, you see, your appearance, unexpected as it was, is an asset."
"And how exactly do you plan to bring the government under control? Misuse of the force?" she asked.
"No, no. That would be difficult, and tiresome. I'll just take them hostage." He said smugly.
"When? It's past one in the morning. Half the members have gone home by now."
"No, they're still here. I had the building surrounded long ago. You should have known this, Daylon. What, did Qui-Gon never get around to teaching you to be aware of your surroundings?"
Her jaw clenched involuntarily.
"That isn't important right now. What's important is you. I want to see your hate. Show me." He said. He stepped closer and touched the side of her face. "That's a very pretty dress you have on. You look,… exquisite. Did anyone tell you that? Obi-Wan, perhaps?"
Daylon recoiled at his touch.
"What's the matter? Am I making you uncomfortable?" he said, getting even closer. "Good."
Daylon had just about had enough of this. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how she could stop Xanatos. She didn't doubt that he had the place surrounded. But his followers were held by fear, and fear alone, and once he fell, they would fall as well. All she need to do was get Xanatos. But that would prove difficult. She took a step back. He followed her, staying very close, and placing one hand on her thigh. She was almost paralyzed with fear now.
"Remember what I did to you?" he asked. "I can make you hate me."
"No," she said. It came out more of a choked whisper than a declaration.
"You don't sound very confident. Did I take your confidence as well?"
"No." She said it stronger this time.
"Are you sure?" he asked, kissing her neck. She shuddered, and tried to push him away. He held on to her.
"You couldn't escape me last time, what makes you think it will work this time?" he asked. She continued to struggle in his grasp. He was bigger than she was, stronger. But she couldn't let it happen again. She had to get away. She used the force to pick up the candy dish and send it flying at his head, but he stopped it in mid flight and let it crash to the ground.
"You're so beautiful when you're angry." The words were cold, disgusting. They were spoken with malice and dark pleasure. They made Daylon feel awful. She wasn't in control. Her mind panicked. She had to get away, had to escape. It couldn't happen again, it just couldn't! Memories came back to her; nightmares, waking up screaming, feeling like it had been her fault for letting it happen. Not this time.
She wrenched one arm free and struck him in the jaw. It hardly had any effect.
"Is that how you want to play?" he asked, moving to hit her back. She used his strike to her advantage. When he swung at her, he became off-balance for a split-second, as the momentum of his arm changed. At this precise second, she kicked at his legs, and he fell backwards. She summoned her light saber to her hand, and ignited it.
"You can't beat me, you know this." He said, igniting his own saber. "I am stronger than you are."
"We'll see," she said, moving into a ready stance. Xanatos lunged at her, trying to hit her side, but she deflected it and pushed him back. He came again, this time with a high target. Daylon stepped back, easily avoiding his clumsy blow. Is that all you've got, Xanatos? She thought.
"Far from it," he muttered before striking again. Their sabers clashed, and they were brought face to face. Xanatos' yellow blade sparked against Daylon's silvery one, brightly illuminating the room. With a cry of anguish, Daylon pushed him away with all her strength. He staggered back, grinning maliciously.
"It's so much better when you struggle. Like last time."
"No, not like last time. Never again, Xanatos." She said, parrying a quick set of blows. He was on the offensive, backing her to the right, and then leaping over her shoulder. He had changed direction, and was now backing her towards the bed. He was manipulating the battle. Daylon saw this, and waited until she was a step away from the bed. Xanatos swung low, and she jumped high. High enough to flip backwards across the bed, so that she was standing on the far side. He was forced to follow her, giving his thoughts to movement rather than attack. Daylon took this to her advantage, and forced him on the defensive. She was striking at him now, but she couldn't hold up for much longer. He was blocking and deflecting too easily. She hit him with all her strength, and it didn't move him. He was right. He was stronger than she was. She would just have to beat him tactically and technically. She was more agile than he was, and faster. If she could lure him to an area that provided enough space for her to maneuver, she would have a chance. She fell into a defensive position, and started backing towards a door at the far side of the room. Xanatos kept hitting, harder than ever, and Daylon kept blocking. He was striking so hard that she could feel the shock of the blows travel up her arms. She kept retreating, leading him towards the door. He was still hitting hard. Daylon thought that maybe if he kept it up, he would tire himself, and they would be equaled. But when they finally reached the door, he was not showing any signs of fatigue. Daylon used the force to open the door, and proceeded to back through it.
"I know what you're doing, and it won't work," he said. "You've just taken the path to the gardens."
The gardens… she thought. She remembered something Qui-Gon had once told her: "Fighting is not always the best way, my child." She reflected on these words now. If I can get far enough away, I might be able to find a place to hide for a while, gather my thoughts, think of a plan… she decided to try to put some distance between her and Xanatos. When she felt the cool night air, she knew that they were outside, and took her chance. There were no lights in the garden, so she had the cover of night. She took a few steps back, until she was in the dark, and he was still in the lit hall. Then she made her move, leaping backwards into a flip, once, twice, three times… and she was gone. On the last jump, she had grabbed onto a tree branch, and pulled herself up. Quieting her rapid breathing, she took in her surroundings. A large, lush garden filled the courtyard. It almost reminded her of the temple gardens. But these gardens were oppressively enclosed, affording her no escape. She could hear Xanatos' footsteps on the moss-covered ground.
"Stop shielding from me, Angel." He said menacingly. He was getting closer, and she would be forced to make a move soon. The glow of Xanatos' yellow lightsaber alerted her of his position. Just a few meters away… if she could get behind him…
She stood on the thick branch, bent over to avoid the foliage, and began to walk towards the end. She was right over him now. Just a little further… She leapt down behind him, ready to attack. As she ignited her saber and swung at him, he turned… and vanished. Before her mind had time to question, her instincts made her turn around to block the blow directed towards her head. Xanatos had projected an image of himself to distract and lure her, and had snuck up behind her. They fought now, she just barely defending herself, and he going for the kill. The grin on his face made her shudder inwardly. It was if someone was drilling into her very bone marrow. It set her teeth on edge. He was enjoying this… enjoying seeing her struggle with her emotions, enjoying seeing her tire physically… and he would enjoy watching her die if she didn't do something soon. He lunged at her from a sharp angle and barely missed. His saber burnt her dress. She realized that she was in trouble.
**Obi-Wan! I need you! Help me, please!**
To be continued…