A/N Wow. Finally and update! And there was much rejoicing. Hope ya like it!
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A warm rush of air swiftly moved eastward over the large amounts of Endor's vegetation bringing seeds and pollen along with it. The sun shined brightly in places where it could seep through the large Linden leaves in the treetops, under the beams of light clumps of large gunoop plants lied waiting for it's prey - basically anything that had flesh upon it's bones. Much of the other vegetation looked helpless in comparison, though compared to other plants that were fairly large. Noelani lurked silently from shadow to shadow under the darkness prepared by the trees, making sure to stay hidden from sunlight of any kind. Her bright orange hair and lekku were back to their original style and hidden beneath a new robe provided by Darth Sidious. Open in the front and lengthy in the rear, the robe was unconstrained and an excellent disguise if needed to be hidden from the barriers of light that swarmed many planets. Still an apprentice to Darth Sidious, only two slices had been performed to each sleeve of the robe, signifying she was not well enough trained to be considered a grown Sith Lord. Under the robe she wore traditional Sith accommodations, a well adjusted fit tunic showing the color of rich blood and black pants with knee height buckled foot apparel.
Resting beneath one of the largest Linden trees, Noelani sat meditated trying to use all her of connections with the force to pin point movement in the desolate jungle. Like a punch to the stomach, one of her waves of energy bounced off a nearby intruder and came directly back to her. With the act of surprise on her side, she leapt from the side of the tree gracefully landing within five feet of a young male Jedi. While the boy fumbled with his holster carrying his precious lightsaber, Noelani snatched her lightsaber from the right side of her tunic and turned the dial on. In rage, she leapt from her position and met the Jedi in midair; their lightsabers fizzled as they fell back down to Endor's mossy floor. Standing face to face, she bared her fanged teeth at the brown haired boy who seemed to be trying to read her mind. Slowly she moved her lightsaber down the boy's to the hilt and with a quick slip of the wrist scorched both his hands. Expertly, she trampled the boy to the ground and delivered the final blow to his chest. A glimmer of blue light was apparent in the corner of her eye, this boy had not come alone. She stood as she turned to form a proper dueling stance and gazed upon her young female opponent. The girl held the lightsaber closely to her side and a look of terror had spread across her face surrounded with frizzy black hair. For a second, Noelani let down her defense and stared at the girl with utter surprise.
"Amalié?" she whispered to the girl.
At that same moment, two driods, appearing from surrounding trees, had issued themselves into attack mode. As they advanced, Noelani kept her defensive stance in front of the girl protecting her from the oncoming shower of bullets. The battle driod stomped forward until he was close enough for one swing of the lightsaber's crystal fire to cut clean through his metal and destroy his memory chips as well as stature. However, the newly invented ball-like driod stayed at a far enough point to not be destroyed and at the same time pinpoint his opponent with red laser beams.
"Get out of here! I've got your back!" Noelani screamed over the bullets to the young girl behind her.
As she was turned one of the bullets grazed her arm and sent pain through her entire body. Enraged, she turned and used to the force to throw the droid into one of the nearby gunoop plants where the roots of the plant disassembled any remaining parts. Happy to have saved the girl and destroyed the driods, Noelani turned to find her new friend. As she turned, the small blue lightsaber was shoved directly into her chest at the hand of the small girl signifying the final blow. Noelani fell to the ground in pain, for it was not the pain of the lightsaber that hurt the most - it had been the pain caused by deceit of a childhood friend.
The Endor forest hologram flickered, as did the small girl before Noelani's tearing eyes. A medical driod moved swiftly in from the corridor and placed Noelani on a hover bed.
"A few scratches and scorch marks that is all, Apprentice Noelani, you will be as good as new by tonight." The driod said mechanically whispering to Noelani. Suddenly the driod began to spark and self-destruct, its voice became high pitched and wailed in pain. Then as if it had been a hologram as well, it seized to exist. Darth Sidious' voice filled the hollow room and echoed off its barren walls.
"CM-15 what have a told you about being comforting to the students?"
"They do not have emotion, therefore... therefore comfort is not needed" squeaked the small droid.
"Exactly. Now do what you must with her I need her ready in three hours!"
"But Master Sidious... her wounds need time to mend, five hours at least"
"She will be down in three and that is final!"
"As you wish, my lord..." Said the driod as it moved the hover bed into the corridor and down to the recovery room.
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"Do you think she is ready Master Sidious?" questioned a young human woman in her early twenties dressed in the attire of a Bounty Hunter. Dark eyes were almost completely masked by short hair, and battle scars adorned her features. She was well known as far as Bounty Hunters go, but it was hard not to be talked about, especially if you were raised by Tuskan Raders and their Banthas. The two stood in the Emperor's briefing room decorated with black velvet walls and many windows whose view displayed the galaxy from three cardinal directions. The woman stood behind and to the right of Darth Sidious, who looked out upon one of the larger senate trooping ships as it floated through the sky.
"She's a hard one to change, that girl. Her father had been simpler, he was more easily brainwashed."
"I understand, Sir, but how can you change her? She is extremely influenced by her past, as we just saw. If she remains so connected to this Amalié, if she interferes with our plans, this could result in a extreme disaster. Thats why I say we just get rid of her."
"Do you think I haven't thought of that already?!" said Darth Sidious in a sharper and more aggressive tone.
"Sorry Sir, I over stepped my bounds," she said cautiously, knowing perfectly well it was dangerous to tango with the Sith.
"Don't worry Sadie, she will be complete soon enough. All she needs is a incoming message from an old friend. As for that old friend, I do not doubt your abilities, after all, you are a Bounty Hunter. I believe you know what to do." He said quietly as he directed Sadie Crow to the door and led him down the hall to the message viewing room.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Amalié raised the hilt of her training lightsaber to her forehead, in an abstract sort of solute. The other Padawan, Mée Eydese, a Twi'lek, did the same. Amalié preferred her own lightsaber to the training ones, which were all exactly the same and set on Low to avoid severe injuries. She thought herself much to old to be involved in this kind of a mock duel, but Depa had insisted that Amalié take part in a practice duel to test her skills. Mée was two and a half years younger that Amalié, but already well known for her fighting skills. Mée had put on a bandanna across her forehead in an attempt to keep her navy blue hair and lekku from falling into her face, and one blue and one grey eye stared down Amalié.
Both simultaneously ignited their lightsabers. Amalié went habitually into a defensive position, moving her crystalline pale blue blade in a figure eight motion. Mée took the chance to begin her attack. She thrusted her brilliant green energy beam toward Amalié, who expertly blocked it. Mée spun her lightsaber in her hand and attacked again, this time, Amalié had to block it backhand, leaving her front of her torso unprotected. Mée spun around to administer the "fatal blow" accept that Amalié wasn't there. Mée turned around quickly, to intercept a blow from Amalié's 'saber. The two energy beams sizzled as they connected. Amalié had to admit that the rumors were true, Mée was an excellent fighter. Amalié unleashed a series of blows that left them both winded, but neither ready to give up quite yet. She reached out into the Force, trying to find some flaw in Mée's technique, something, anything that would give her an advantage. They Padawans walked in a circle 'saber's still ignited, catching their breath and giving each other a stair down. Mée gave a little smirk before rushing toward her. Mée made a strong attack, forcing Amalié to make technique based defense attacks. Amalié realized that she was trying to beat her with skill, and doing a fairly good job of it.
Amalié gritted her teeth. She reached deeper into the Force, and began to lose herself. She watched Mée's style, and began to recognize attacks before they occurred. Amalié was able to block and dispense attacks like it was a game. Mée seemed to have a deep connection as well. It was as if the two were doing a dance. Amalié began to search for a way to win. She knew that if she was going to win this, she was going to have to out smart Mée, but that meant that she would have to risk getting injured. She reached out into the Force again, once again going into a state of anticipating all attacks. and began an attack. She could feel her mentor's surprise with her new and foolish looking approach. She felt Mée's blade scrape her skin and bit back a yelp of surprise. Amalié saw Mée leave herself open, raising her 'saber to high to deliver a blow. Amalié was quick to change positions, and aimed toward her weak spot. It was a trap, Mée was able to step aside, and hit Amalié square in the back with her saber, delivering the "fatal blow." It was over.
Amalié felt the 'saber burn into her skin. She had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. She'd had much worse burns before, and those from her actual lightsaber, not one set on low. This loss stung deeper, and pierced Amalié's pride. She had wanted to win.
Mée turned of her 'saber, and extended a hand to help Amalié up.
"Great job," Mée said, giving a friendly smile, "I almost thought I was going to lose." Amalié accepted the hand, and stood up. She rubber her back and her arm where Mée's 'saber had made contact.
"You're a great fighter," Amalié complimented. And a rather arrogant as well, she added to herself. Mée nodded and went back to see her mentor. Amalié looked over at Depa, who shook her head in disappointment.
"You shouldn't have lost that Amalié," she said quietly.
"I know. I over thought the situation." Amalié said somewhat embarrassed to lose to someone so much younger than she. "But I had this connection with the Force," Amalié explained, "It's as if I knew what Mée was going to attack. It was amazing."
"I believe that is one of the best duels you've fought. Your 'saber skills have come along way, my young Padawan. Your understanding of the Force has come a long way, and now you've proved to me you are capable of handling it to your advantage." Depa gave her a smile. "I believe now, you are ready for the trials."
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A/N I'm very proud, I actually wrote a semi-decent action sequence. ^.^ Oh joy! Please Rand R!!
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A warm rush of air swiftly moved eastward over the large amounts of Endor's vegetation bringing seeds and pollen along with it. The sun shined brightly in places where it could seep through the large Linden leaves in the treetops, under the beams of light clumps of large gunoop plants lied waiting for it's prey - basically anything that had flesh upon it's bones. Much of the other vegetation looked helpless in comparison, though compared to other plants that were fairly large. Noelani lurked silently from shadow to shadow under the darkness prepared by the trees, making sure to stay hidden from sunlight of any kind. Her bright orange hair and lekku were back to their original style and hidden beneath a new robe provided by Darth Sidious. Open in the front and lengthy in the rear, the robe was unconstrained and an excellent disguise if needed to be hidden from the barriers of light that swarmed many planets. Still an apprentice to Darth Sidious, only two slices had been performed to each sleeve of the robe, signifying she was not well enough trained to be considered a grown Sith Lord. Under the robe she wore traditional Sith accommodations, a well adjusted fit tunic showing the color of rich blood and black pants with knee height buckled foot apparel.
Resting beneath one of the largest Linden trees, Noelani sat meditated trying to use all her of connections with the force to pin point movement in the desolate jungle. Like a punch to the stomach, one of her waves of energy bounced off a nearby intruder and came directly back to her. With the act of surprise on her side, she leapt from the side of the tree gracefully landing within five feet of a young male Jedi. While the boy fumbled with his holster carrying his precious lightsaber, Noelani snatched her lightsaber from the right side of her tunic and turned the dial on. In rage, she leapt from her position and met the Jedi in midair; their lightsabers fizzled as they fell back down to Endor's mossy floor. Standing face to face, she bared her fanged teeth at the brown haired boy who seemed to be trying to read her mind. Slowly she moved her lightsaber down the boy's to the hilt and with a quick slip of the wrist scorched both his hands. Expertly, she trampled the boy to the ground and delivered the final blow to his chest. A glimmer of blue light was apparent in the corner of her eye, this boy had not come alone. She stood as she turned to form a proper dueling stance and gazed upon her young female opponent. The girl held the lightsaber closely to her side and a look of terror had spread across her face surrounded with frizzy black hair. For a second, Noelani let down her defense and stared at the girl with utter surprise.
"Amalié?" she whispered to the girl.
At that same moment, two driods, appearing from surrounding trees, had issued themselves into attack mode. As they advanced, Noelani kept her defensive stance in front of the girl protecting her from the oncoming shower of bullets. The battle driod stomped forward until he was close enough for one swing of the lightsaber's crystal fire to cut clean through his metal and destroy his memory chips as well as stature. However, the newly invented ball-like driod stayed at a far enough point to not be destroyed and at the same time pinpoint his opponent with red laser beams.
"Get out of here! I've got your back!" Noelani screamed over the bullets to the young girl behind her.
As she was turned one of the bullets grazed her arm and sent pain through her entire body. Enraged, she turned and used to the force to throw the droid into one of the nearby gunoop plants where the roots of the plant disassembled any remaining parts. Happy to have saved the girl and destroyed the driods, Noelani turned to find her new friend. As she turned, the small blue lightsaber was shoved directly into her chest at the hand of the small girl signifying the final blow. Noelani fell to the ground in pain, for it was not the pain of the lightsaber that hurt the most - it had been the pain caused by deceit of a childhood friend.
The Endor forest hologram flickered, as did the small girl before Noelani's tearing eyes. A medical driod moved swiftly in from the corridor and placed Noelani on a hover bed.
"A few scratches and scorch marks that is all, Apprentice Noelani, you will be as good as new by tonight." The driod said mechanically whispering to Noelani. Suddenly the driod began to spark and self-destruct, its voice became high pitched and wailed in pain. Then as if it had been a hologram as well, it seized to exist. Darth Sidious' voice filled the hollow room and echoed off its barren walls.
"CM-15 what have a told you about being comforting to the students?"
"They do not have emotion, therefore... therefore comfort is not needed" squeaked the small droid.
"Exactly. Now do what you must with her I need her ready in three hours!"
"But Master Sidious... her wounds need time to mend, five hours at least"
"She will be down in three and that is final!"
"As you wish, my lord..." Said the driod as it moved the hover bed into the corridor and down to the recovery room.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Do you think she is ready Master Sidious?" questioned a young human woman in her early twenties dressed in the attire of a Bounty Hunter. Dark eyes were almost completely masked by short hair, and battle scars adorned her features. She was well known as far as Bounty Hunters go, but it was hard not to be talked about, especially if you were raised by Tuskan Raders and their Banthas. The two stood in the Emperor's briefing room decorated with black velvet walls and many windows whose view displayed the galaxy from three cardinal directions. The woman stood behind and to the right of Darth Sidious, who looked out upon one of the larger senate trooping ships as it floated through the sky.
"She's a hard one to change, that girl. Her father had been simpler, he was more easily brainwashed."
"I understand, Sir, but how can you change her? She is extremely influenced by her past, as we just saw. If she remains so connected to this Amalié, if she interferes with our plans, this could result in a extreme disaster. Thats why I say we just get rid of her."
"Do you think I haven't thought of that already?!" said Darth Sidious in a sharper and more aggressive tone.
"Sorry Sir, I over stepped my bounds," she said cautiously, knowing perfectly well it was dangerous to tango with the Sith.
"Don't worry Sadie, she will be complete soon enough. All she needs is a incoming message from an old friend. As for that old friend, I do not doubt your abilities, after all, you are a Bounty Hunter. I believe you know what to do." He said quietly as he directed Sadie Crow to the door and led him down the hall to the message viewing room.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Amalié raised the hilt of her training lightsaber to her forehead, in an abstract sort of solute. The other Padawan, Mée Eydese, a Twi'lek, did the same. Amalié preferred her own lightsaber to the training ones, which were all exactly the same and set on Low to avoid severe injuries. She thought herself much to old to be involved in this kind of a mock duel, but Depa had insisted that Amalié take part in a practice duel to test her skills. Mée was two and a half years younger that Amalié, but already well known for her fighting skills. Mée had put on a bandanna across her forehead in an attempt to keep her navy blue hair and lekku from falling into her face, and one blue and one grey eye stared down Amalié.
Both simultaneously ignited their lightsabers. Amalié went habitually into a defensive position, moving her crystalline pale blue blade in a figure eight motion. Mée took the chance to begin her attack. She thrusted her brilliant green energy beam toward Amalié, who expertly blocked it. Mée spun her lightsaber in her hand and attacked again, this time, Amalié had to block it backhand, leaving her front of her torso unprotected. Mée spun around to administer the "fatal blow" accept that Amalié wasn't there. Mée turned around quickly, to intercept a blow from Amalié's 'saber. The two energy beams sizzled as they connected. Amalié had to admit that the rumors were true, Mée was an excellent fighter. Amalié unleashed a series of blows that left them both winded, but neither ready to give up quite yet. She reached out into the Force, trying to find some flaw in Mée's technique, something, anything that would give her an advantage. They Padawans walked in a circle 'saber's still ignited, catching their breath and giving each other a stair down. Mée gave a little smirk before rushing toward her. Mée made a strong attack, forcing Amalié to make technique based defense attacks. Amalié realized that she was trying to beat her with skill, and doing a fairly good job of it.
Amalié gritted her teeth. She reached deeper into the Force, and began to lose herself. She watched Mée's style, and began to recognize attacks before they occurred. Amalié was able to block and dispense attacks like it was a game. Mée seemed to have a deep connection as well. It was as if the two were doing a dance. Amalié began to search for a way to win. She knew that if she was going to win this, she was going to have to out smart Mée, but that meant that she would have to risk getting injured. She reached out into the Force again, once again going into a state of anticipating all attacks. and began an attack. She could feel her mentor's surprise with her new and foolish looking approach. She felt Mée's blade scrape her skin and bit back a yelp of surprise. Amalié saw Mée leave herself open, raising her 'saber to high to deliver a blow. Amalié was quick to change positions, and aimed toward her weak spot. It was a trap, Mée was able to step aside, and hit Amalié square in the back with her saber, delivering the "fatal blow." It was over.
Amalié felt the 'saber burn into her skin. She had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. She'd had much worse burns before, and those from her actual lightsaber, not one set on low. This loss stung deeper, and pierced Amalié's pride. She had wanted to win.
Mée turned of her 'saber, and extended a hand to help Amalié up.
"Great job," Mée said, giving a friendly smile, "I almost thought I was going to lose." Amalié accepted the hand, and stood up. She rubber her back and her arm where Mée's 'saber had made contact.
"You're a great fighter," Amalié complimented. And a rather arrogant as well, she added to herself. Mée nodded and went back to see her mentor. Amalié looked over at Depa, who shook her head in disappointment.
"You shouldn't have lost that Amalié," she said quietly.
"I know. I over thought the situation." Amalié said somewhat embarrassed to lose to someone so much younger than she. "But I had this connection with the Force," Amalié explained, "It's as if I knew what Mée was going to attack. It was amazing."
"I believe that is one of the best duels you've fought. Your 'saber skills have come along way, my young Padawan. Your understanding of the Force has come a long way, and now you've proved to me you are capable of handling it to your advantage." Depa gave her a smile. "I believe now, you are ready for the trials."
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A/N I'm very proud, I actually wrote a semi-decent action sequence. ^.^ Oh joy! Please Rand R!!
