Chapter XII

The High Lords were again in session, Owedd's blond hair had begun to reach its usual length reaching just below his ears and they shook as he spun to regard Araf, "The others have proven worthless, only the Jedi Master and the Sith have showed true promise,"

Araf was contemplating a plan of attack against the Jedi, the only real threat in their plan of conquest, "The Jedi have retaliated as expected," he was quiet for a moment, and his eyes pierced into the hearts of his companions, the two who had come to love as brothers, "And they have lost as many as they have seen,"

"Ten worlds have fallen against our power and the power of the Dark side," said Owedd quietly.

Nissak remained a quiet spectator of the events, "Vergere's information on the Jedi has proven to be of much value,"

Owedd sneered, "Araf and your tolerance of that Fosh, that…alien is really beginning to harm my thoughts,"

Araf shot his fellow High Lord a look, "then wish you we attack without proper knowledge of these…minorities,"

"That has not stopped us before," he replied stubbornly.

Anger blazed in Araf's words, "this is a new age, a new era, a new order, an awakening of our true power, do not let your petty dislike this one alien to affect you, it will disrupt your ability to fight and in turn make you useless to the Order,"

Owedd nodded feebly, accepting Araf's anger in turn, and in an attempt to change the subject he subsequently said, "Lady Darra hasa Jedi on her ship Last Sight, she tried to stealSaesee Tiinthe alien Jedi from Master Icrone but he faithfully killed the being after a few questions, Darra has Jedi padawan Ian Riath,"

"Ian Riath?" muttered Araf, "a padawan of the…Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master?"

Owedd nodded.

Nissak spoke, "This slight tolerance of the alienVergere will eventually lead to our salvation and imminent victory,"

Owedd scowled, "It is inevitable?"

Nissak nodded, "In agreement with the Lord Seeker, the high one,"

"So our victory is assured?" asked Owedd again, searching his companion for the twinge of a playful jest, sensing none he bowed his head, obviously satisfied.

"I have foreseen it," continued Nissak, "the day that the Seekers will dominate the universe,"

"It is good," said Araf.

"It is good," echoed Owedd.

"Now the time has come for the Jedi Knightand the Sith to face the ultimate test of their abilities," said Nissak.

Araf and Owedd smiled, "yes, this will be most entertaining,"

Darth Rageous was the most powerful of the known Sith in the galaxy, he was also the last of that unique order, the final vessel for true darkness. He kept within him years of training and self-taught lessons in the dark side, it was only Sidious' official appointment of him as a Sith that he really took to his title.

His face was pale and ashen, and his eyes were glowing a deep dark yellow, although his master had taught him to hide his presence in the Force he was not as adept at it as Sidious, although his master could be standing right next to a Jedi, one even such as Yoda he could hide his presence, Rageous could not, he could shroud it, prolong his being found, muddy the minds of even Jedi Masters but he could not prevent them from eventually seeing him. His short black hair tingled as the Force filled him like a storm, and he watched as the JediKnight came closer to him.

Keroth he had learned was the Jedi's name, and he had learned that this particular Jedi, although well built and trained in form II lightsaber combat, he was not as strong a Jedi in the Force.

Darth Rageous' activated his lightsaber and it hissed like a Verpine serpant at the Jedi Master, the crimson blade a pure reflection of the wielder and a true imitation of all the blood it had spilled in the time it was constructed, he leapt toward the Jedi Master.

Keroth Tyram stepped back nimbly and the Sith's blade missed him by a short distance a few more inches and his body would have been slashed, although he was adept at Makashi, the most elegant of the lightsaber forms he had much respect for Form Zero, the knowledge of when to draw one's lightsaber against when to keep in inactive.

Keroth also knew that the Seekers were watching and he did not wish to reveal his lightsaber technique to an observant crowd.

The Jedi Master twisted his body ever slightly evading another lunge from the Sith Lord, he grunted and he swung himself away avoiding the blade wherever possible, his robes scorched where the tip of the lightsaber stuck it and he muttered a Corellian curse beneath his breath; although his weapon was returned on his entrance into this arena which had numerous large and small random objects in it he still hesitated to draw it. It would enable him to kill, something which he did not want to do.

Then a thought occurred to him, what is Rageous joined the Seekers, would his power influence them into even more darkness, their thinking was warped yes, strict hatred for alien sentient beings but being introduced to a being whose only desire was to dominate the galaxy would be too much. The time had come, and he made his decision-his lightsaber snapped on with a hiss and the pale ice blue color lit his face gently.

Rageous smiled wickedly and leapt toward him, the lightsabers connected and crackled sending sparks around them, Rageous spun on his heel sent his lightsaber in an arc all around his body, Keroth block and lost a few steps back.

The Jedi Master switched to the offensive and drove Rageous back, with clean even strokes his lightsaber close to his body at all times but with a pure elegance that even Count Dooku would have admired, he was powerful in his technique and recently had gained mastery of it.

Rageous sneered at him but Keroth pressed the attack, not allowing the Sith Lord to distract or taunt him, he was a whirlwind of light his blade's movements were slowly but surely becoming erratic and his blade had become a pure ring of energy as he sent the Dark Lord back.

Rageous sneered again andscreamed using his rage to fuel himself in the Force to throw a repulsor chair at the Jedi, Keroth nimbly leapt over it and brought his lightsaber again into the offensive position, both stood still, waiting for the other to move, quietly regarding each other and formulated a strategy.

Rageous moved and Keroth spun in a similar motion catching the Sith Lord off guard as he swept his blade through his waist, pure shock and confusion marred Rageous' face as he glanced at his legs, he fell to the floor with the shocked expression still on his face.

Keroth deactivated his lightsaber and watched as the life slowly left Rageous, although the Sith Lord was his sworn enemy and his greatest fear he was still a living breathing being. He saluted the dying Sith before clipping his lightsaber to his belt. He awaited the entrance of the High Masters and the Lords.