Chapter 15: The Grathan Family
As soon as Arkunov met Drikal Ba'al, the man irritated Arkunov. Ba'al was a tall man, though still shorter than his contemporary and wore red and purple armour. A lightsaber was strapped to his belt and a sneer was set upon his face the moment Arkunov crossed the threshold. "I thought Baras would send me a stealthy assassin. Not some mindless brute."
It was in this moment that Arkunov chose the best tactic to deal with his fellow apprentice. "Watch who you're calling a brute Ba'al", he snapped back. From the moment that Ba'al had opened his mouth Arkunov knew that he thought of him as a sadistic savage. So why should Arkunov let him think otherwise. After all, sometimes it was best to have ones abilities underestimated.
This worked, as Ba'al appeared none the wiser to Arkunov's motives and he proved it with his reply. "You're not talking to one of Baras' Imperial peons. I shall serve our lord, long after you've worn out your usefulness." As Ba'al spoke, Arkunov sensed nothing but absolute confidence from the man. This was good. It meant that Arkunov's plan was working.
A sneer then appeared on Arkunov's face. "I highly doubt that", he said.
Ba'al rubbed his temple at this remark, groaning slightly. "We don't have time for this. There are far more pressing matters at hand. We'll have to get in each others faces another time. Now listen. Locked away here Grathan's been untouchable. Baras wants Grathan to know that he can be reached. And after a year undercover, I've learned how", there was a slight hesitation before Ba'al spoke next, "Lord Grathan has a son!"
Once again a sneer appeared in Arkunov's face. When he spoke again, it was as a mindless brute once more. "A year undercover and thats all you have learned? Another year and you might learn his shoe size", he replied. From behind him, Arkunov heard Vette let out a small snigger.
A scowl creased Ba'al's face at this. Though it quickly vanished under a mask of control. However, this was not evident when Ba'al spoke next. "He wears boots not shoes. Smart mouth", he said, a note of anger in his voice. He then sighed in frustration and continued, Baras assigned me here to find Grathan's weakness. He's kept his son a secret in order to protect him from his enemies. Therefore Grathan would be devastated to learn that his only son and heir lies dead. That would send a message."
Arkunov grinned and replied, "Just tell me he is. I shall be the messenger."
Ba'al scoffed at Arkunov's words. "You will need to be far more than a simple messenger", he said. "Grathan's kid is nearly twenty, and strong with the force. He's been trained in the ways of the force since birth. Believe me, you'll have your hands full."
Arkunov crossed his arms, an arrogant smirk appearing as he did, and then said, "That will make no difference. He shall die. No matter how strong he is."
Ba'al rolled his eyes at this but chose not rebuke Arkunov. Instead he chose to continue with his briefing. "Lord Grathan's away on business. I have secured a spike that will get you inside Grathan's private quarters. But first you'll have to knock out the surveillance so you aren't seen entering the quarters. So just stick your lightsaber in them. You can handle that? Can't you brute?"
Arkunov's hands then curled into fists and his eyes narrowed in hatred. "Keep calling me names Ba'al. See how far it gets you."
A small smirk appeared on Ba'al's face at this. "Is it so easy to get under your skin?", Ba'al said, "Thats all then. Get on with your mission."
Ba'al then walked away, silently dismissing Arkunov. Arkunov then turned and left the room, Vette on his heel. As they walked away the Twi'lek said, "You know I kind of like his attitude."
Arkunov chose not to respond to this. Instead he simply rolled his eyes, focusing intently on his mission.
It did not take long for Arkunov and Vette to reach the private quarters. Along the way the pair had destroyed a total of three security stations, either through the use of Arkunov's lightsaber or Vette's blasters.
The private quarters consisted of a long corridor, with four doors on each side and one at the very end of the corridor. Arkunov presumed they ranged from personal chambers, to private offices; any number of facilities a Sith could want at their disposal. As Arkunov stalked along the corridor, he noted that each door had a small plaque attached to it. Each one denoted the rooms purpose. However, this wasn't what Arkunov found interesting. No, what Arkunov found interesting was that the plaques were all written in the tongue of the ancient Sith.
Arkunov stopped when he came to a door marked with the word 'Tyro'. When translated into galactic basic it could roughly be interpreted as trainee. An acolyte in the modern Sith Empire. Arkunov smirked upon reading the word. In all likelihood this was where Grathan's son was located. After all, it was highly unlikely that Grathan truly cared for his son on any sort of parental level and the use of 'Tyro' was the Sith Lord's way of showing it.
Arkunov then turned to Vette. He indicated for her to remain at the door, she was to make sure that no interrupted the Sith apprentice. The Twi'lek nodded and raised her blasters, covering the other chambers and the entrance to the private quarters. With his position now secured, Arkunov went to commence the true mission objective.
A pair of Sith stood at the far side of the room. The first was an older woman, dressed in aristocratic clothes, with a stern look on her face. Arkunov didn't know who she was, although she was likely the mother or tutor to the young man next to her. It was he that Arkunov then turned his attention to. He was tall and had an athletic build, he had dark blond hair and green eyes. The young mans face was soft and had freckles scattered across it. He was simple combat gear and had a Sith warblade strapped to his back. Grathan's son was sat behind a metal desk, his arms crossed and was conversing with the woman.
Grathan's son was the first to notice Arkunov's presence. He stood up suddenly from his desk, reaching for his weapon. "Mother, a stranger approaches", he said, caution in his voice.
The boys mother then turned to face Arkunov. Levelling a glare filled with cold fury at the Sith apprentice. "I am Cellvanta Grathan! How dare you enter my son's room uninvited! Who are you?", she demanded.
"My name won't matter when the two of you are dead", Arkunov replied, his voice filled with anger.
To her credit Cellvanta Grathan didn't back down. Instead saying, "You'll find I am not so easily intimidated. My son may still be an acolyte, buy I am fully Sith!" She then shifted her gaze to her son, her tone momentarily shifting to one of motherly concerned. "Beelzlit, take cover!" she said.
Beelzlit, foolishly, did not obey his mother. Instead he stepped past his mother, drawing his sword as he called out, "No mother! I stand at your side! Attack!" He then charged at Arkunov, weapon raised. As his foe bore down on him, Arkunov took the time to appreciate the strike. It was a perfectly executed attack from the first form of lightsaber combat.
However, it was not enough. Arkunov drew his lightsaber in a blur of motion. Deflecting Beelzlit's attack with a perfect form three defence. The Sith apprentice then pushed back, sending his opponent staggering backward. As Arkunov turned, repositioning himself to engage Cellvanta, he noted that Beelzlit's strike lacked the skill of an experienced warrior. While the attack itself had been perfectly executed, it spoke of hours of practice in a dojo, rather skill earned from actual combat experience. Cellvanta stabbed toward Arkunov with a form two strike. Arkunov chose to sidestep this rather than deflecting the attack. As he moved past, Arkunov slammed a boot into her back, sending Cellvanta staggering away from the Sith apprentice. This allowed Arkunov to intercept Beelzlit, slashing out with a form seven attack. This left a vicious burn mark across the boys armour, though it failed to cut the boys flesh.
Unfortunately, Arkunov was not able to follow up on his offensive. For Cellvanta had recovered and was launching a new attack at the Sith apprentice. The two Sith exchanged a flurry of blows, Arkunov holding a dominant advantage. The Sith apprentice rained down a series of strength based attacks, forcing Cellvanta to commit more and more of her energy into her defence. However, it was not long before Arkunov was able to break the stalemate. Spotting an opening in Cellvanta's defence, Arkunov lashed out with a powerful force push. Cellvanta was sent flying across the room, crashing into the opposite wall. Arkunov heard a loud crack as her ribs broke. She slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Arkunov whirled around, just as Beelzlit attacked with the force. He hurled a force push toward Arkunov. The Sith apprentice remained unfazed and instead responded with a force push of his own. The two blasts collided and cancelled each other out. Arkunov then followed up by force choking Beelzlit. He ripped through Beelzlit's defences, wrapping a telekinetic fist around the young man's windpipe. Arkunov held the choke, only releasing his victim when Beelzlit was at the edge of unconsciousness. He then hurled him across the room. Beelzlit crashed into the wall, where he slid down onto the floor, right next to his mother.
Arkunov advanced toward the pair. Lightsaber raised to deliver the killing blow.
"Stop! You are more than a match for us!", Beelzlit yelled, his tone pleading and full of pear. He then turned to his mother, who had just regained consciousness. "Mother, if I am the target, save yourself. I don't want to see you die."
Cellvanta scowled, clearly disgusted by her son's display of weakness. "My son, you must not sacrifice yourself for anyone, not even me. A Sith must endure at any cost", she said. Cellvanta then turned to face Arkunov, a spark of ingenuity in her eyes. "Assassin, you've carved your way into the inner sanctum of Lord Grathan's compound, all to kill a boy?", she questioned, her eyebrows raised. "You are but a breath away from the master himself. Spare us, and I'll help you destroy my husband instead."
A chuckle escaped Arkunov's lips at this. "You want me to kill your husband? Aren't you the dutiful wife?", he said.
"I married Lord Grathan for power. It was a means to an end. Now I want out", she replied, "I can't tell touch my husband. I've waited for so long for someone to end his oppressive rule."
For a moment Arkunov hesitated. He relished the challenge of taking on a Sith lord, especially one as infamous as Grathan. However, this was not the time. Arkunov could not afford to test Darth Baras like this, at least not at this point in his apprenticeship.
Arkunov then levelled his cold gaze at Cellvanta, looking directly into her eyes. "Those aren't my orders", he said, his voice full of menace. Arkunov's lightsaber then flashed forward. Severing the head of the two opposing Sith before they could speak another word.
After completing the assassination Arkunov had returned to Drikal Ba'al's quarters. Arkunov's fellow apprentice stood exactly where Arkunov had left him earlier. Ba'al raised an eyebrow as he saw Arkunov enter the room. "I'm surprised you survived. So, is it done? Is Grathan's son dead?" he asked, condescension in his voice.
There was a cocky smirk on Arkunov's face as he replied. "I didn't even break a sweat", he said.
"Somehow I doubt that", Ba'al responded, rolling his eyes as he did. "Doesn't say much for Grathan's security forces if a clumsy clod like you was able to into his private chambers and off his son."
Arkunov glared back at Ba'al. "Why don't you back up that mouth with action?", he asked, anger creeping into his voice and his hand straying toward his lightsaber.
Ba'al smirked as he said, "Thats exactly what I had in mind." As Ba'al spoke he drew his lightsaber, its crimson blade flashing into life. He continued, "Killing the murderer of Grathan's son will solidify my cover here. Besides, Darth Baras can replace you easily enough."
Arkunov drew his own weapon and said with murderous glee, "Baras will be needing a new spy. I'm going to enjoy killing you."
Ba'al shook his head, still underestimating Arkunov. "Though I'm more than capable of facing you alone, a smart man uses every advantage and I am a smart man." Ba'al the pressed a button on his wrist com. Suddenly alarms burst into life throughout the facility.
"The intruder! The intruder is here! Everyone, to me! Attack!", Ba'al yelled, as he unleashed his first attack.
Arkunov was able to block the attack. He pushed Ba'al back and sending his fellow apprentice staggering backwards. This gave Arkunov a split second to look behind him. He saw a pair of Grathan's guards entering the room, their blaster raised and aimed at the Sith apprentice. Arkunov then flicked his gaze toward Vette. The Twi'lek took his meaning and whirled to face the two men. Unleashing a volley of bolts from her twin pistols.
Arkunov then returned his focus to Ba'al. The other Sith apprentice attacked a form four strike. Arkunov countered this by utilising a form five deflection. This pushed Ba'al's lightsaber to the side, sending him staggering. Arkunov then slammed an elbow into Ba'al's jaw, forcing the apprentice to take a few steps backward. Arkunov then turned his attention back to Vette's fight. The Twi'lek had successfully wounded one of the two guards, forcing him to take cover. However, his comrade had now had Vette pinned down behind a large monitor. Arkunov lashed out with the force, hurling the man across the room. He crashed into a wall, the force of the impact snapping his neck. Vette the rose up from cover and opened fire, successfully eliminating the second soldier.
Now finished with that engagement, Arkunov returned his attention Ba'al. This time when Ba'al raised his blade again, Arkunov shifted to an offensive stance, disrupting Ba'al's flow of attacks. This was done by unleashing a series of power attacks. Arkunov had used a similar strategy in his last duel. However, Ba'al was apparently more skilled than Cellvanta Grathan had been. Ba'al lashed out with a kick. The blow connecting with Arkunov's knee, he buckled momentarily off balance.
Taking full advantage of Arkunov's opening, Ba'al thrust forward with his lightsaber. Aiming for Arkunov's heart. However, the blade never even came close. Arkunov roared, unleashing the full power of the dark side. Ba'al was blast off of his feet and was sent flying across the room. He crashed into the wall, creating a spiderweb of cracks with the force of the impact. Ba'al groaned in pain, clutching his side. However, Arkunov didn't give him any time to recover. For Arkunov's lightsaber flew through the air, slicing Ba'al's throat. The Sith apprentice fell to the ground, a look of shock written over his face.
Arkunov stood panting for a moment, letting the adrenaline of the fight out of his system. After a moment Arkunov turned toward Vette. "Lets go. We're done here", Arkunov said. He then started walking, Vette falling into step behind him. Out of the corner of his Arkunov saw that looked somewhat perturbed at his seeming lack of reaction. However, she could not see what passing through Arkunov's mind. The young Sith was replaying the fight. He noted the flaws in his technique. The mistakes that he had made. Analysing each one and learning from them.
For it was all part of his journey down the dark side.
So I finally got back to this story. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you guys think!
Also I posted a one shot over on my blog, the Empire's Fortress, after a really long time of nothing. Please check it out. The link is in my profile.