Legal crap: Same thing appliesfrom my first chap.

Other crap: OK folks, from her on out, the rating might go up due to graphic violence, and the like, but I'll try to keep it kid friendly :)

Now, enough of my ranting! On to the story!

Raze peered at Mandalore cautiously, his expression visible even behind the impenetrable face plate. Zaknafein ignored him and replaced his comlink in its obscure holster on his belt. Unseen red eyes blazed at the three members of his squad.

"Alright, you heard the man. Take up point posisitions until Delta and Echo forces arrive."

Drake didn't understand the source of Zak's agitation, and decided to give him a buzz on the comm each trooper had inside their helmets.

"Sergeant?"

"What, Drake?"

"Did something Lord Vader say before we arrived here bother you?"

The Chiss' helmet visor whipped in Drake's direction, half of it hidden by the protruding stone corner he was using as cover.

"No, Drake. And even if it did, it's none of your business." he snapped.

"Sir-"

"Private, let me tell you something. I put up with you because you're big, ugly, and a damned good shot. However, I would appreciate it when I tell you to shut-up, you do so."

"Yes, Sir."

"Sergeant." this tone had a much more officer-like quality to it.

Zak spun on the newcomer, who happened to be the Lieutenant of Echo force. Both briefly saluted the other, then Zak's rough voice grated into the man's left ear.

"Where is Delta?"

"Ten seconds back, Sir."

"Well, then tell them to hurry the fuck up!"

"Sir, they're going as fast as possible without taking heavy losses due to Rebel sharpshooters." the Lieutenant replied cooly, daring to face the volcanic power of Mandalore's wrath. The Sageant's piercing gaze rested on him for a few minutes longer, waiting to see if the man would test his boundaries further. When he didn't, Zak added a few words of advice to him.

"Lieutenant, as you well know, the moment you signed your name to join the Stormtrooper Corps, your ass became the property of the Galactic Empire. Since I outrank you, and the fact that you've been ordered to 'assist' me," his snort carried over the comlink. "you belong to me. As such, you will obey my command as if Vader himself had given it to you."

The Chiss turned back to peer down the dimly lit hall, observing ghosts only he could view.

"It may mean the difference between life and death, Stormtrooper."

The lower ranking officer flinched at the intrusion of Zaknafein's voice, but did not bother to respond, accepting his rebuke in silence.

By the time this argument had taken its course, Delta came flying into the through the twisted doors, all blaster fire, armor, and the screams of the dead and dying. Zak roared his orders, both Echo and his own squad leaped into the fray. Soon the passage became little more than a smokey death trap, bright killing beams piercing the gloom to spastically bounce down the stone corridor.

"Echo unit, hit their left flank NOW!" Zaknafein ordered.

Quick in response, Echo leaped forward, their white shoulder pads marked by diagonally painted yellow stripes. They hit the Rebels with astonishing power. Red blazed from their rifles, mowing down the enemy like a lawnmower attacking a grassy lawn.

Zak recalled Drake, Raze, and Gremlin, the latter sporting a long, black scorch across his chest plate. It was so fresh that it was still hot to the touch. With a single gesture, Mandalore and Co. hit the remaining soldiers hard, thermal grenades doing most of the dirty work.

The few foolhardy Rebels left thought they could break through Zaknafein's squad by sheer numbers, but those who tried quickly realized their mistake by surgically placed bolts in vital areas.

Trapped at both flanks by Echo and Delta, unable to retreat due to the nearly verticle rise of stone behind them, and the small, but lethal, commando team to the fore, the six remaining soldiers dropped their rifles and begged for mercy. They were given a small reprieve, and the surrounding troops allowed them to think they might leave Yavin with their lives intact. Then again, the Rebels hadn't met Sergeant Mandalore either. That was about to change.

Their first glimpse of him was only the blood encrusted treads of his combat boots. They didn't hear the command to the troopers nearby to stand them up. Roughly. Then they were allowed to see the rest of him.

Zak wore the signature Prototype Snowtrooper armor, kama (The battle skirts worn by Clone Commanders during the Clone Wars) and the typical T-visor of the former Grand Army of the Republic. The kama was ripped and bore multiple burnt holes in it, testament to its long combat tour, and his armor was scarred and pitted. Fresh crimson was splashed across his helmet and body, the most disturbing area being the humanoid hand print on the right side of his visor, its spread fingertips brushing the helm's domed top. Both his shoulder pauldron and kama were a deep maroon. A brown bandolier crossed his upper torso, loaded with extra ammo.

One of the younger Rebels gasped in shock.

"Y-you're the Crimson Banshee, aren't you?" she stammered.

The corners of the Chiss' mouth curled upward at the mention of his nickname. So, his and Thrawn's little joke had gotten around. He decided to toy with her for a bit, maybe even keep her for a little while for a few days worth of fun.

"Why do you say that, hmm?"

Her eyes widened in fear.

"Lieutenant, your ferocity and cunning is feared throughout certain parts of the Rebellion."

Anger tinged his tone when he spoke. "First, woman, my rank is not Lieutenant, its Sergeant." his stance slid into a far more menacing one. "Secondly, I think I need to spread that fear to all parts of the Rebellion. Any suggestions on how I may succeed in this?"

She seemed to have no answer to this. The rest of the little band didn't offer any solutions either. Zaknafein took a long stride forward and roughly placed the hot barrel of his blaster pistol against her temple.

"I asked you a question, wench!" his free hand jerked her towards him, digging the gun deeper into her skull.

"I-I don't know, Sir."

"I think you do." was the hissed reply. The fist clenching her shirt released itself and rose to slap her. As his hand raised, one of the older males lunged toward, trying to attack Zak. This did not go unnoticed, and was followed by the Sergeant's sharp movement of hand across his throat, his meaning ominously clear. Two Stormtroopers marched forward and gripped each of the human's arms.

"Since you seem to not know, maybe this shall serve as a reminder." he paused, savoring the horrified look on the woman's face. "Fire at will, Corporal."

"No!" the female tried to escape the Chiss' clutches, but failed miserably.

The sharp report of a blaster shot echoed loudly across the gulley. The two Stormtroopers allowed the corpse to fall forward, blood pooling around it.

"You bastard!" she hissed past wet tears.

"My dear, you should have realized from the beginning that there would have been no correct answer to that question. Or, at least, one that would have allowed your friends to live."

"Then why not kill me?"

"Because, that would defeat my purpose. To spread a story, someone must be alive to tell it." his gloved hand caressed the contours of her rounded face. A low chuckle escaped him as she flinched violently away from his touch. "And besides, me and my squad will be planet side for a few days, and we'll need some form of entertainment. Believe me when I say, no one will notice Rebel scum like you will have gone missing. For a few days at least."

She spat at him, and he only laughed harder at her, even as the offending material slid down the helmet's face plate. Much to her surprise he stepped back and holstered his blaster. He again used hand motions to order his troops to take the remaining prisoners inside the temple, far out of eyeshot of him and his captive. Raze, Drake, and Gremlin went with them, leaving Zak and the woman alone.

"If you attempt to run, ego or not, I'll kill you myself."

"Fine, Banshee."

"Now, I'll place these on you." the Chiss brought forth a pair of manacles and placed them around her wrists, locking her hands behind her back. A soft click told Zaknafein they were on securely and stepped an arm's length away. His hands rose to the bottom of his helmet, pressed an obscure button, and pulled it off his head.

She nearly screamed it hadn't been for him clapping his hand over her mouth.

"I'd be very careful if I were you." the hand crept away from her face.

Slowly, ever so slowly she opened her eyes and saw once again his true face. Bile rose in her throat at the thought of this... thing even so much as touching her.

Glowing red eyes leapt out at her, and smooth dark navy skin contrasted sharply with white eyebrows and what remained of his hair, most of it having been shaved off. His ears were pointed and when he smiled again, fangs gleamed softly. Against her better judgment, she reached up and felt for herself what her eyes told her to be soft. She wasn't disappointed.

"I thought Chiss didn't have white hair and pointed ears." she whispered.

"Ah, so you know what I am, do you? Very good." his tone lightly mocked her. "Then again, most Chiss haven't been modified either."

"Modified?"

"Physically modified to hear better, far more aggressive, and cunning than most humanoids. The by-product of this is white hair and pointed ears. I was the lucky one of my bunch. I survived while the others died."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Against her will, she felt some sort of pity for the beast in front of her. This was quickly washed away in a bright wave of fury when he leaned forward and crushed his lips against hers, his hands tightly gripping the back of her head to prevent her escape. After a few humiliating minutes, he released her and growled. "Remember, you are mine to do with as I please. Disobey me.. Well, you know the consequences."