CHAPTER FIFTEEN! (okay, so I studied a whole weekend and several days
strait without doing anything else-including writing. And I flunk the
stupid Spanish test anyway. THUS, I'm back here doing what I'm good at.I
hope.)
Anakin piloted the speeder over countless melting plants and burned out energy producer stations. This was the part of Couriscant that the power was made. Where the electricity was produced and where radiation rates were the highest. Most of the factories were run by droids. There was also an ancient history about radiation and living things, they didn't get along. Some beings morphed into things to build up immunities from the radiation- and that's what lived in the gutters and shadows. Humans morphed into hideous creatures that were rumored to ambush speeders and feed on their occupants. Later the speeders would show up- drenched in blood as if painted by it. The Death Region.
Slin was on edge, he looked at every moving shadow and looming hulk of a building they went past. "Are you sure 'bout this Anakin?"
"I'm sure."
"Really sure?"
Anakin laughed, "Don't worry pall, this'll be a piece of cake."
"Sure." Slin said shakily, "Piece of cake. Piece of cake." He looked around. It was getting late in the evening, and the sun was beginning to set. "All Cafrin said was the Death Region. How do you know where to go?"
"There's only one building that's high enough off the ground to be non-radioactive." Anakin said quietly.
"And? Where is it?"
Anakin nodded out the front of the speeder, and Slin turned. His eyes bulged. "That's where we're going?"
"Yup."
Slin scratched his head, "You are one crazy womp-rat!" He looked at building they were coming up to. As they got closer the more he wished he could distance himself from it. It had 'Trouble' written all over it in big orange letters. Broken down and immense, it was falling in on itself. It looked like if the wind blew too hard it would fall down.
Anakin looked at the building out the windshield of the speeder. He must be crazy; he'd heard the stories and watched the news holos. But whoever had captured Padme had money to throw around, and they'd be able to keep off the radioactive creatures.
As the speeder approached, and to both Anakin and Slin's amazement, a huge block of the building opened up, revealing a landing bay.
A chill ran up Anakin's spine. They were being expected. Still, he piloted the ship into the huge landing bay. "Here." He said, looking over to Slin, "In the glove compartment, there are two blasters. Take one and give me the other."
"But you got your laser sword!" Slin whined.
"JUST DO IT!"
"Alright, alright!" Slin took the two blasters out of the compartment and handed one to Anakin, then holstering the other on his belt.
Anakin set the speeder down, and shut off the engine. He looked around, the silence was eerie. If there was a better place for a trap he didn't know of any. Slowly, he got out of the speeder, walking toward the lift. Slin followed reluctantly.
Suddenly, a red beam of light came to life in one of the shadows. Anakin instantly recognized it as a lightsaber, although the handler was hidden by darkness.
"Head for the top stories." Anakin whispered to Slin, who paled at seeing the lightsaber.
"Wha? But-"
"Just do it, okay friend?" Anakin asked quietly. He rested a hand on his lightsaber, holstering the blaster.
"But you can't fight a Jedi." Slin whispered back.
"Trust me." Anakin said, taking a step toward the shadows that hid this new opponent, "This is no Jedi."
"But. Anakin?" Slin bit his lip.
Anakin turned to his friend, flashing a grin, "No problem right? I'll catch up."
Slin nodded, turning to run to the lift, pushing the door button and then getting inside.
It wasn't until the doors to the lift closed Ankin's opponent immerged from the shadows. Dark robs, a tall figure, and a white beard. Anakin hesitated, he walked around, not taking the lightsaber from his belt. "What are you doing here old man?"
The man cracked a sinister grin. "I am here to stop you."
Anakin tilted his head to the side. "I don't want to fight you, I don't know you." He paused, taking in the picture of the old man who stood before him. "I don't have anything to do with you, so go."
"Draw your lightsaber." The old man said in a commanding voice, "Or die."
Anakin took his lightsaber from his belt, but still didn't ignite it. "Then what is your name, so I can know it before I kill you."
"I am Count Dooku."
Anakin nodded, "Nice to meet you Doky."
The Count's features turned into a scowl. "The Jedi Councle are fools to have sent such a weakling to face me."
Anakin's temper flared, and he activated his lightsaber with a snap- hiss and he charged. But his blade was deflected, and he stumbled back to fend off a blow. He tried to strike with bringing his blade from below- but that was deflected as well.
Dooku brought his saber away, then slashed at Anakin's face.
Anakin stumbled backwards again, desperately trying to get the energy blade away from him. He slashed up-
Dooku dodged away, the young Sith who he had been so close to killing was still on defensive, stabbing at his belly. And it worked.
Anakin got up, backing away while Dooku circled.
Dooku smiled, circling like a rock dragon. He watched as the overconfident young man try to catch his breath. It was then the Count smirked. His opponent wasn't skilled at all, he wasn't even trained properly.
Anakin watched as the Count came around. He wished he could just take that guys smile off with a vibro-spanner. He knew, and Dooku knew. He hadn't been trained for this, he never really knew what he was doing when he tried to practice.
Dooku lunged, bearing down on Anakin with the vengeance of the dark side. Anakin ducked, still on the offence. He slashed down, but Dooku was ahead of him, and he had to parry a slice to his chest.
Dooku laughed, "Come Come. This is getting dull."
Anakin swung around, his lightsaber humming savagely, desperately attacking Dooku's back, only to be pushed away. Still he advanced. "Sorry to disappoint."
Dooku met Anakin's attack head on, and smiled as he watched his opponent squirmed.
Anakin flung himself away, swinging his saber in an arc that finally marked Dooku. Well, sort of. It singed his cape.
Dooku backed away, and picked at his smoking cape, then turned to Anakin, a glare on his whiting features.
Anakin smiled nastily.
Dooku drew away, one moment he had been in control, then, it was gone. He studied his opponent; the brash thief had done something truly amazing. Dooku saw that Anakin had copied his exact maneuvers perfectly. Dooku had seen people learn a little bit from his maneuvers, but he had never seen anyone copy them to the exact movement. "Impressive."
Anakin laughed, it had worked. Use the trick on it's user, it works. "Come on Doky." Anakin raised his saber, "This is getting boring."
Dooku charged, but Anakin leapt up and spun, aiming at the old man's head. But Dooku was faster than he looked and shifted slightly so Anakin overcompensated and had to throw himself away from Dooku's blade. Dooku didn't let the opportunity slip and slashed down, and only the thief's unbelievably quick reflexes saved him.
Anakin propped himself up on his knee and held his saber above his head and held off Dooku's blade. He smiled, "Oh, I'm really getting scared now."
"This is just the beginning." Dooku flicked his wrist, trying to bring his blade under Anakin's but Anakin deflected then brought the blade up under Dooku's defenses- savagely stabbing at the Count's chest. Now it was Dooku's turn to stumble back.
The Count tried to catch his breath. It was amazing; he had been taught by some of the best Jedi fencers in the galaxy, why didn't he know that maneuver? He glanced at the thief who stood a few feet away. Where had these new techniques come from? It was as if-
Anakin circled the winded Dooku. He had to admit, this was- fun. He had never dueled with anyone. It had been a little worrisome in the begging, but now it was actually getting to be enjoyable. In a crazy, adrenalin-burning way, but hey, that was right up his ally. Anakin looked over at Dooku, who was still gasping for air. The old man was crouched on the floor and getting a little purple, maybe had was having a heart attack. Anakin walked over to the old man, standing about six feet away. "Do you want to go home yet?"
Dooku looked up, a cruel smile curving his lips.
Anakin realized the danger too late, and he couldn't dodge it as the Duke's blade slashed out, and sliced at his leg. Anakin screamed as searing pain burned into his leg, he stumbled backwards and parried another slash. He fell back, breaking the fall with his free left had and keeping the Count at bay with his saber. It was then that he realized that getting into this particular saber-fight might have been the stupidest thing he had ever done in his life.
TO BE CONTINUED! (I will! I just hope I'll get some done tonight and write some more tomorrow on. But don't count on it. *ahh! The writer's trying to be comical!*)
Anakin piloted the speeder over countless melting plants and burned out energy producer stations. This was the part of Couriscant that the power was made. Where the electricity was produced and where radiation rates were the highest. Most of the factories were run by droids. There was also an ancient history about radiation and living things, they didn't get along. Some beings morphed into things to build up immunities from the radiation- and that's what lived in the gutters and shadows. Humans morphed into hideous creatures that were rumored to ambush speeders and feed on their occupants. Later the speeders would show up- drenched in blood as if painted by it. The Death Region.
Slin was on edge, he looked at every moving shadow and looming hulk of a building they went past. "Are you sure 'bout this Anakin?"
"I'm sure."
"Really sure?"
Anakin laughed, "Don't worry pall, this'll be a piece of cake."
"Sure." Slin said shakily, "Piece of cake. Piece of cake." He looked around. It was getting late in the evening, and the sun was beginning to set. "All Cafrin said was the Death Region. How do you know where to go?"
"There's only one building that's high enough off the ground to be non-radioactive." Anakin said quietly.
"And? Where is it?"
Anakin nodded out the front of the speeder, and Slin turned. His eyes bulged. "That's where we're going?"
"Yup."
Slin scratched his head, "You are one crazy womp-rat!" He looked at building they were coming up to. As they got closer the more he wished he could distance himself from it. It had 'Trouble' written all over it in big orange letters. Broken down and immense, it was falling in on itself. It looked like if the wind blew too hard it would fall down.
Anakin looked at the building out the windshield of the speeder. He must be crazy; he'd heard the stories and watched the news holos. But whoever had captured Padme had money to throw around, and they'd be able to keep off the radioactive creatures.
As the speeder approached, and to both Anakin and Slin's amazement, a huge block of the building opened up, revealing a landing bay.
A chill ran up Anakin's spine. They were being expected. Still, he piloted the ship into the huge landing bay. "Here." He said, looking over to Slin, "In the glove compartment, there are two blasters. Take one and give me the other."
"But you got your laser sword!" Slin whined.
"JUST DO IT!"
"Alright, alright!" Slin took the two blasters out of the compartment and handed one to Anakin, then holstering the other on his belt.
Anakin set the speeder down, and shut off the engine. He looked around, the silence was eerie. If there was a better place for a trap he didn't know of any. Slowly, he got out of the speeder, walking toward the lift. Slin followed reluctantly.
Suddenly, a red beam of light came to life in one of the shadows. Anakin instantly recognized it as a lightsaber, although the handler was hidden by darkness.
"Head for the top stories." Anakin whispered to Slin, who paled at seeing the lightsaber.
"Wha? But-"
"Just do it, okay friend?" Anakin asked quietly. He rested a hand on his lightsaber, holstering the blaster.
"But you can't fight a Jedi." Slin whispered back.
"Trust me." Anakin said, taking a step toward the shadows that hid this new opponent, "This is no Jedi."
"But. Anakin?" Slin bit his lip.
Anakin turned to his friend, flashing a grin, "No problem right? I'll catch up."
Slin nodded, turning to run to the lift, pushing the door button and then getting inside.
It wasn't until the doors to the lift closed Ankin's opponent immerged from the shadows. Dark robs, a tall figure, and a white beard. Anakin hesitated, he walked around, not taking the lightsaber from his belt. "What are you doing here old man?"
The man cracked a sinister grin. "I am here to stop you."
Anakin tilted his head to the side. "I don't want to fight you, I don't know you." He paused, taking in the picture of the old man who stood before him. "I don't have anything to do with you, so go."
"Draw your lightsaber." The old man said in a commanding voice, "Or die."
Anakin took his lightsaber from his belt, but still didn't ignite it. "Then what is your name, so I can know it before I kill you."
"I am Count Dooku."
Anakin nodded, "Nice to meet you Doky."
The Count's features turned into a scowl. "The Jedi Councle are fools to have sent such a weakling to face me."
Anakin's temper flared, and he activated his lightsaber with a snap- hiss and he charged. But his blade was deflected, and he stumbled back to fend off a blow. He tried to strike with bringing his blade from below- but that was deflected as well.
Dooku brought his saber away, then slashed at Anakin's face.
Anakin stumbled backwards again, desperately trying to get the energy blade away from him. He slashed up-
Dooku dodged away, the young Sith who he had been so close to killing was still on defensive, stabbing at his belly. And it worked.
Anakin got up, backing away while Dooku circled.
Dooku smiled, circling like a rock dragon. He watched as the overconfident young man try to catch his breath. It was then the Count smirked. His opponent wasn't skilled at all, he wasn't even trained properly.
Anakin watched as the Count came around. He wished he could just take that guys smile off with a vibro-spanner. He knew, and Dooku knew. He hadn't been trained for this, he never really knew what he was doing when he tried to practice.
Dooku lunged, bearing down on Anakin with the vengeance of the dark side. Anakin ducked, still on the offence. He slashed down, but Dooku was ahead of him, and he had to parry a slice to his chest.
Dooku laughed, "Come Come. This is getting dull."
Anakin swung around, his lightsaber humming savagely, desperately attacking Dooku's back, only to be pushed away. Still he advanced. "Sorry to disappoint."
Dooku met Anakin's attack head on, and smiled as he watched his opponent squirmed.
Anakin flung himself away, swinging his saber in an arc that finally marked Dooku. Well, sort of. It singed his cape.
Dooku backed away, and picked at his smoking cape, then turned to Anakin, a glare on his whiting features.
Anakin smiled nastily.
Dooku drew away, one moment he had been in control, then, it was gone. He studied his opponent; the brash thief had done something truly amazing. Dooku saw that Anakin had copied his exact maneuvers perfectly. Dooku had seen people learn a little bit from his maneuvers, but he had never seen anyone copy them to the exact movement. "Impressive."
Anakin laughed, it had worked. Use the trick on it's user, it works. "Come on Doky." Anakin raised his saber, "This is getting boring."
Dooku charged, but Anakin leapt up and spun, aiming at the old man's head. But Dooku was faster than he looked and shifted slightly so Anakin overcompensated and had to throw himself away from Dooku's blade. Dooku didn't let the opportunity slip and slashed down, and only the thief's unbelievably quick reflexes saved him.
Anakin propped himself up on his knee and held his saber above his head and held off Dooku's blade. He smiled, "Oh, I'm really getting scared now."
"This is just the beginning." Dooku flicked his wrist, trying to bring his blade under Anakin's but Anakin deflected then brought the blade up under Dooku's defenses- savagely stabbing at the Count's chest. Now it was Dooku's turn to stumble back.
The Count tried to catch his breath. It was amazing; he had been taught by some of the best Jedi fencers in the galaxy, why didn't he know that maneuver? He glanced at the thief who stood a few feet away. Where had these new techniques come from? It was as if-
Anakin circled the winded Dooku. He had to admit, this was- fun. He had never dueled with anyone. It had been a little worrisome in the begging, but now it was actually getting to be enjoyable. In a crazy, adrenalin-burning way, but hey, that was right up his ally. Anakin looked over at Dooku, who was still gasping for air. The old man was crouched on the floor and getting a little purple, maybe had was having a heart attack. Anakin walked over to the old man, standing about six feet away. "Do you want to go home yet?"
Dooku looked up, a cruel smile curving his lips.
Anakin realized the danger too late, and he couldn't dodge it as the Duke's blade slashed out, and sliced at his leg. Anakin screamed as searing pain burned into his leg, he stumbled backwards and parried another slash. He fell back, breaking the fall with his free left had and keeping the Count at bay with his saber. It was then that he realized that getting into this particular saber-fight might have been the stupidest thing he had ever done in his life.
TO BE CONTINUED! (I will! I just hope I'll get some done tonight and write some more tomorrow on. But don't count on it. *ahh! The writer's trying to be comical!*)