So, I just wanted to clear some stuff up about the last chapter. More specifically about killing off the Willsaams. I actually spent a lot of time thinking about this one, even though I originally killed them off when I played the game.
Eventually I settled on two reasons for killing them off.
1- As stated in the last chapter they represent an attachment (a weakness as the Sith, and the Jedi, would see it) to Jaesa and killing them would push her closer to the dark side.
2- I saw no narrative value in sparing them. As even if you spare them in game, they are never encountered again and are rarely mentioned if they are still alive (I'm fairly certain this is correct. If not please let me know). Though if anyone does have any ideas as to why there might be some benefit letting them live, please let me know. I'm genuinely curious.
Hope that clears things up for anyone who might have been wondering. Any further questions just let me know.
Chapter 33: Ambush
Arkunov had not stayed on Alderaan for long after killing Kendoh.
After exiting the duke's quarters, covered in blood, the Nobles of House Thul had been all too eager to see Arkunov on his way. This did not bother the Sith Apprentice, in truth he felt no desire to spend more time amongst the planet's simpering nobles.
Someday he would have to do something about this planet. But there was no time for that now.
For the moment that Arkunov had finished reporting his success to his master, Quinn had made an announcement, "My Lord, I thought it prudent not to interrupt Darth Baras. We received a recorded transmission. It is queued when you are ready."
Arkunov raised an eyebrow in interest, but made no comment beyond that. Instead, he reached out and began the recording.
The image of a young woman dressed in the robes of a Jedi appeared before him.
"Arkunov, I'm Jaesa Willsaam. My master, Nomen Karr, has no idea I'm sending this message. Let's be real, we both know this isn't about us."
Arkunov paused the transmission, "Thoughts?"
Quinn, his brow furrowed in thought said, "The hunted seeks the hunter. But I would be cautious about believing her, my Lord. I wouldn't be surprised if Nomen Karr had put her up to it."
Vette, who had been leaning against the wall, and quite happily ignoring Quinn until now said, "Don't listen to Captain paranoid. I trust her."
Arkunov nodded at both of their responses and turned his attention back to the holoprojector. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the Padawan. She certainly seemed confident, though was probably just faking it. The bulk of her Jedi robes certainly helped with that.
He paid particular attention to her feet, they were planted firmly to the floor, yet were not in any sort of combat stance. That surprised him, usually force users who felt ill at ease or tense, instinctively moved into a position from which they could easily counterattack. Arkunov did it himself, Jaesa did not.
Either she was as confident as she seemed to be, or her combat skills were not quite up to scratch. Arkunov suspected it was the latter. If that was the case, Karr had seriously neglected key aspects of his padawan's training.
He resumed the recording.
"Our master's pretend otherwise, but this is personal," Jaesa said. Arkunov smirked to himself, she showed some intelligence, that was promising. "You and I are only pawns caught in their private war. And those I love are caught in the middle, it has to stop."
Vette gave a low whistle, "Wow, got to give it to her, she sure got guts."
"She certainly does," Arkunov agreed.
"I appreciate directness, your brutal actions have my attention, but this passive-aggressive foolishness is intolerable. This message includes coordinates where I'll be waiting, alone. Let's end this, face-to-face. No more nonsense."
The holoprojector flickered off, the recording over.
Arkunov turned towards Quinn, "Captain, enter the coordinates. I want us there as soon as possible."
"Of course, my Lord. They are already prepared. The location is in the outer rim, so the journey will take just over ninety-six standard hours," Quinn explained. "But, my Lord. I feel I would be remiss in my duties if I did not repeat the likelihood of this being a trap."
Arkunov nodded, "Your advice is noted, Captain. Even so, sometimes springing a trap, brings forth unexpected benefits."
Once the journey had been completed, the Ruination hovered just outside of a nameless worlds orbit. There was only one other ship in system, at least only one that they could detect.
It was a defender class light corvette, its hull painted blue. A class of ship greatly favoured by members of the Jedi Order.
"Sensors show minimal power," Quinn announced, his brow furrowing at the ship's instruments. "Life support and gravity appear to be active, but not much else. I doubt we would have detected this ship without the precise coordinates."
"Scan for lifeforms," Arkunov ordered.
A moment later, Quinn replied, "No signs returning, my Lord. But the vessel's hull may be interfering."
"I don't sense anything either," Arkunov replied. "But that doesn't mean they aren't there. Hiding."
"My Lord," Quinn said, his voice somewhat hesitant. "May I make a suggestion?"
"Speak your mind, Captain. I have no patience for timidity."
"Of course, my Lord. With respect, I would suggest that we unleash the Ruination's weapons upon the ship. If Jaesa Willsaam is aboard, we guarantee her elimination. Even if she is not, we save valuable time and can proceed elsewhere."
"Your suggestion has merit, Captain. Yet I believe thoroughness will best serve us, not expediency. On this occasion at least."
"Very well, my Lord," Quinn nodded. "I'll prepare my gear to board."
"No. I will handle this alone."
Upon boarding the ship, Arkunov reached out with the force. Trying to sense Jaesa's, or anyone else's, presence. Yet he found nothing. Though that didn't mean she wasn't there. After all, a skilled force user would be able to hide their signature well enough.
Arkunov himself could do it. Though he rarely felt the need to do so.
Brow furrowed, Arkunov turned and made his way down to the lower deck. His red blade guiding way through the darkened ship.
Before long, he had scoured every room, except for one. The cargo hold.
It was there that he found the Jedi.
There were two of them, both human. The two men both had their lightsabers drawn, blue and purple blades shining in the dark. The shorter of them stepped forward, levelling his blue blade at Arkunov.
"Well, well," he smirked, "we're going to have to thank Nomen Karr after all. The Sith showed."
The taller man stepped forward, though he kept his weapon lowered. "Stand down, Sith. The Padawan you seek is not here. Master Karr discovered her plan and talked her out of it."
Arkunov wasn't surprised to hear this, for while he hadn't detected any hint of deceit in Jaesa Willsaam's voice, he hadn't just assumed it would be a perfect opportunity. After all, there was always the possibility that she had tricked or been manipulated by Karr. If he was perfectly honest, Arkunov was pleased to find out it was the latter, that would make things easier for him later on.
The smirking man moved, taking up a position near Arkunov's unarmed side. "It's not your day." He sneered. "You were expecting one lowly little Padawan to crush, and instead you got us."
Arkunov smiled back at him, "You two will do just fine. I enjoy crushing your kind."
The Jedi's eyes narrowed, "Then we have something in common."
He fell into a Form IV stance, blade pointed towards Arkunov. The Sith Apprentice could barely stop himself from smirking, he could feel the aggression swirling around the Jedi, the eagerness for the battle to begin. "There is potential here," Arkunov thought.
Perhaps sensing his comrade's intentions, the other Jedi stepped forwards.
"I am Ulldin," he announced, "this is Zylixx. We are fully trained Jedi Knights and more than your match. You should submit."
Arkunov's only response was to scowl. That was the typical Jedi attitude, demand surrender then begin hostilities anyway. He was beginning to find it more than a little bit irritating.
As such, Arkunov found himself smiling when Zylixx interrupted his companion.
"Of course, we have yet to encounter a Sith who had the sense to surrender. You all seem bent on having us destroy you."
Zylixx sounded eager; almost pleading Arkunov to attack.
"Admit it," Arkunov whispered to Zylixx, "you'd be disappointed if I gave up."
"Not at all." Uldinn said, attempting to draw Arkunov's attention away from Zylixx. "We don't go around picking fights."
Zylixx, completely missing Uldinn's attempt to save him added, "I wouldn't trust it if the Sith surrendered. I prefer the surety of death."
Arkunov let loose a bark of vicious laughter, "Keep thinking like that, and you'll fall to the dark side before you know it!"
"Shut. Your. Mouth." Zylixx snarled, taking a step closer so that he was within striking distance.
"It seems I have touched a nerve. Come on Zylixx, give in. I can tell you want to."
"Zylixx," Uldinn said softly, "remain calm. The Sith is just trying to unbalance you. Don't let this get your skin."
"It's a bit late for that." Arkunov muttered.
That was too much for Zylixx and he charged forward, bellowing in anger. Arkunov intercepted with his lightsaber and forced his opponent into a blade lock. Their faces illuminated by the glowing weapons, Arkunov grinned down at the Jedi, "It feels good, doesn't it? The anger, the hate. I bet you wish you'd given in sooner, don't you, Zylixx?"
"Shut up! You're the problem! I will be calm, when you are dead!"
Uldinn, who had been frozen in shock, chose that moment to intervene.
The other Jedi slashed towards Arkunov, who was forced to push Zylixx back and deflect the purple blade.
"Zylixx," Uldinn called, "get a hold of yourself!"
Zylixx, who had been knocked slightly off balance, regained his footing and brought his focus back to the battle. He had been ready to charge again, but hesitated slightly when he heard Uldinn. He shook his head, trying to recenter himself.
Arkunov couldn't allow that.
Pushing Uldinn back with the force, Arkunov sent the larger Jedi crashing into the wall, he slumped to the floor, dazed.
Arkunov turned his attention back to Zylixx. Unleashing a flurry of form VII strikes.
Zylixx intercepted them, quite skillfully and moved into a counterattack of his own. Arkunov recognised the principles that Zylixx was using; the fifth form of lightsaber combat, Djem So.
Enhancing his strength with the force, Zylixx attempted to power through and cleave Arkunov in twain. The Sith Apprentice was able to protect himself, catching every critical strike with his blade and allowing his armour to absorb the lesser blows.
Arkunov laughed, as he saw the frustration that began to form on Zylixx's face, as the Jedi failed to break his guard.
"It feels good, doesn't it? The aggression, the rage. How long have you been hiding it? How long have you wanted to unleash your vengeance? That's what this is about isn't it? Let me guess, your master was killed during the war? Perhaps your family? A lover? Something like that. Well here's your chance, lash out and strike me down!"
The only response Zylixx gave was to roar and unleash an even more ferocious series of attacks. Exactly what Arkunov had been counting on.
The Jedi Knight had lost all control. His technique completely gone; Zylixx was little more than a ravenous berserker now.
Easily batting aside the Jedi's weapon, Arkunov moved in for the kill. His crimson blade cleaving towards Zylixx's neck. Yet the lightsaber never reached it.
Uldinn's purple blade was an inch from Zylixx's throat, yet that was just enough to forestall Arkunov's victory.
Snarling, Arkunov stepped back, forced onto the defensive as both Uldinn and Zylixx engaged him.
The two Jedi, both skilled individually, were nigh unstoppable together. Even Arkunov could not deny that.
Uldinn struck high, with heavy Djem So cleaves, forcing Arkunov to protect his head and shoulders. Zylixx, on the other hand, sent ferocious thrusts and cuts at Arkunov's waist. It took every bit of the Sith Apprentice's skill to hold them off.
Even so, he was forced to give ground. Fighting backwards through the ship. The comparatively tight confines of the ship's corridors preventing Arkunov from maneuvering around them to a more favourable position. As such, Arkunov was forced to seek other advantages.
Now out of the cargo hold, Arkunov traced his way back to the stairs. Proceeding up them, Arkunov adjusted his position within the melee.
He had the high ground now.
Uldinn was now unable to strike as high as he had been, now having to attack in the same area as Zylixx. Which meant the two Jedi were forced to work around each other, or risking ruining any chance they had of victory. While Arkunov now had to focus all of his defensive efforts on one area, Arkunov now knew exactly where both of his opponents were going to strike.
Taking full advantage of his new footing, Arkunov took a permanent position on the steps. His opponents would now be forced to reach further in order to strike him. Allowing Arkunov to unleash, powerful cleaves down on his foes.
He flowed back into his offensive sequences, his strikes descending rapidlly and alternating between the two Jedi in less than one-hundredth of a second.
Zylixx, rage flowing through him, abandoned defence entirely. He attempted to impale Arkunov on his lightsaber, but was countered at every turn. His only reward, vicious burns on his forearms.
The only reason he still lived was because of Uldinn. The larger Jedi had resorted entirely to defence, doing his utmost to keep Zylixx alive. Uldinn was forced to hope that eventually one of his partner's attacks would score a telling blow.
It never happened.
Reaching out with the force, Arkunov ripped the wall next to Uldinn apart. Uldinn was sent crashing back into the opposite wall, he would recover, but not soon enough.
Effortlessly redirecting Zylixx's latest attack, Arkunov made a single vicious counterattack, and sent the Jedi's head rolling across the deck.
The Sith Apprentice did not savour the victory, instead he turned his attention to Uldinn. Who had just struggled back to his feet. Arkunov didn't give him a chance to recover.
The Jedi's lightsaber flew from his hand into Arkunov's own, the Sith Apprentice activating it in one smooth motion, before levelling both blades at Uldinn's throat.
"What a waste," Uldinn gasped, eyes fixed on the twin blades. "I had no idea Zylixx was so... imbalanced. You exposed his weakness so easily."
"Really," Arkunov said, "you had no idea? I thought it was obvious, your friend was too aggressive to ever be a good Jedi. Zylixx would have made a far better Sith. What a waste of talent."
Uldinn glowered back at Arkunov. "You do not know what it means to be a Jedi. Nomen Karr will show you what it means."
"We shall see." Arkunov said.
He didn't give Uldinn a chance to reply, for Arkunov cut his head off with the Jedi's own blade.
Turning from the cargo hold, Arkunov made his way to the bridge. He had one last thing to do.
When Arkunov returned to the Ruination, Quinn and Vette were only mildly surprised to see his armour covered in burning cuts. As well as, two new lightsabers hanging from his belt.
New trophies for his collection.
"My Lord." Quinn said, bowing in greeting. "Was there any sign of Willsaam aboard the ship?"
"No," Arkunov replied, "the ship's navicomputer did not provide any illumination either. All recent travel information had been deleted. But, there is another use that I have for the vessel."
"What do you mean?" Vette asked.
"Follow me."
They followed Arkunov the bridge and watched out the viewport as the abandoned ship vanished into hyperspace.
Vette frowned at Arkunov. "What did you do?" She asked.
"I set the autopilot to Typhon. Once in system, it will activate a distress beacon. Once the Jedi locate it, they will find the bodies aboard. Nomen Karr will undoubtedly learn of this. He will realise he has no choice left to confront me directly, and once he does... I shall end this."
Just to let you guys know, that 24 hours after I have posted this chapter I will be changing the name of this story. As mentioned in previous chapters and the poll I posted before.
So soon this story will be called, Sith Warrior: Hunt for the Jedi
Next chapter is going to be the long promised interlude, followed by the final chapter of this story. Maybe an epilogue after that, I haven't decided yet.
So, just to let everyone know. I now have a story up on FictionPress. There's a link to my profile that on my profile here.
It's called Reign of Blood. Kind of a vampire dystopia story. Check it out if you want and please a review if you do.