The New Wrath Borak
Wrath's face was blank, even as he and Hiccup came out of hyperspace upon his colony. Hiccup had come on a mission to look for any potential enlistees for the rebel alliance. The Zabrak people's skills in various fields would make them an excellent asset in the war against the Empire. And since it was Wrath's home he decided to bring Wrath along for a visit.
He glanced back, hoping to see the Zabrak teen smile. But his eyes were glued to the floor, sitting in his chair with a cloud of sadness hanging over his head. He didn't need the Force to determine his mood. From what the other initiates had told him, Wrath had been dumped by his girlfriend after the initiates had gone on their little adventure. He been bummed since then and hadn't talked to Havolian in several days.
As they came into orbit and prepared to land Hiccup stood up and walked over to him. The Zabrak only looked up when the Knight placed a hand on his shoulder. "You alright?" The Zarak looked down and offered a small shrug in response. Hiccup sighed. "I kind of know what you're going through Wrath. I had...let's just say a rough patch with Merida at first," Hiccup said to empathize with him.
Wrath looked up curiously. "So what happened?"
"Well I stopped being an idiot and apologized. I also realized that I wanted to be with her and was willing to do whatever it took to get her back," he explained. He gave his shoulder a squeeze and smiled. "Things will get better Wrath. And if you want to be with her, don't give up just yet."
Wrath walked the streets of his home as Hiccup was at the town square looking at possible enlistees. Wrath looked around, hardly believing he'd been gone from home for nearly a year already. Everything felt and looked the same, and yet different at the same time.
As he was walking someone suddenly stepped into his path. He bumped into them slightly, rebounding back a step. "Oh sorry about that," Wrath apologized.
A Zabrak girl his age whipped around to glare at him, but she blinked and her eyes widened in surprise. "Wrath?" the girl asked in astonishment.
"Oh hey Vooli," Wrath greeted.
"Hey Wrath," Vooli said as she looked him up and down. Vooli had been one of Wrath's peers when he still lived there. She also happened to have been his former crush. She had on a black tank with blue pants and dark boots with fingerless gloves.
Wrath cocked a brow, noting her strange stare. "What wrong Vooli?"
"You look...different," she said in a strange wonder.
"Do I?" Wrath said as he looked down at himself. He was wearing his Jedi robes. And to him he looked the same as he always had. But in the eyes of one of his peers his changes were quite obvious. He'd gotten taller and leaner from his constant physical training. And there was no more of his old reluctance to meet her eye.
Vooli couldn't fight the slight blush that crept to her cheek as she looked at the old loser that was once Wrath.
"Vooli?" Wrath said to get her attention
Vooli snapped from her daze and put on her best smile. "Oh wow Wrath it is just so good to see you," she said as she batted her eyes at him.
"Yeah, good to see you too," Wrath said in confusion. This was strange. Vooli had never spoken to him for more than thirty seconds. She always looked him over and purposely ignored him. "Uh, see you I guess," he said as he prepared to walk around her.
She suddenly blocked his path. "Aw come on, I haven't seen you in like forever. Let's hang out a bit."
Wrath's confusion only continued to grow. But he didn't want to be rude so he shrugged in acceptance. Vooli beamed as she wrapped an arm around his and pulled him along. All day Vooli dragged him around, clinging to him, smiling, and blatantly flirting with him. But all the while Wrath could just tell something was wrong. It wasn't just this strange out of nowhere behavior, it was also the strange feeling he could sense through the Force. Her feelings just weren't there.
Not like when he was with Saphine. When he was with Saphine her eyes would sparkle with affection. And he could feel her joy that seemed to stem from him just being near her. Saphine gave him butterflies and filled his insides with warmth.
He used to think being with Vooli would make him feel that way. But maybe...maybe he just didn't like Vooli anymore.
As Vooli continued to babble away about something Wrath didn't care in the least about he stood up.
"Well it's been good catching up Vooli. But I'm going to head home and see my family," Wrath said as he interrupted. She blinked in surprise as she watched him turn his back on her. Offense and indignation welled up within her.
As Wrath prepared to walk away the last voice from the person he didn't ever want to see again cut through the air to grate on his ears.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Wrath Borak!"
Wrath sighed and suppressed a groan as he turned to face his old tormentor. Draag had the same sinister sneer he always had. But now instead of striking fear and apprehension in the teen he was now just annoyed. He stared blankly at Draag as he and his friends stared him down.
"Hey Draag. Guys. Good to see you. But I gotta go," Wrath said as he turned away from them.
"Hey get back here Wrath!" Wrath stopped to look over his shoulder, he saw Draag's eyes narrowed into a glare. "What? You think you're better than us just because you're a Jedi now? Too cool to hang out with the likes of us non Force sensitives? I bet you're still a lousy fighter," Draag spat at him.
Wrath narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists at the insult.
"Oh, getting mad Wrath? How about we spar, just like old times and see what you've learned?" Draag taunted as he patted his vibroblade at his hip. Wrath almost immediately accepted on the spot. Eager to shut Draag up and punch him in his smug face.
But something held him back. Made him hesitate as he thought about who he had been and who he was now. The old Wrath was a pushover and a punching bag. He never met anyone's eyes and walked with his head down.
But the new Wrath was different. He had friends. He was brave and with a bit more confidence. He'd held his own in real battle. He'd had the guts to kiss a girl.
He was a Jedi.
And Jedi didn't fight to settle petty squabbles from the past. They didn't fight for revenge or glory. They didn't fight to prove anything. They fought for the sake of others, not themselves.
Wrath closed his eyes, using a calming technique he'd learned and let out a breath. He opened his eyes to meet Draag's gaze.
"Pass," he said simply. With that he turned on his heel to walk away.
"What's wrong Wrath? You a chicken? You scared?" Draag cackled.
Wrath stopped to look over his shoulder. "No. I'm a Jedi," he called back with pride. With that settled he was about to make his way home when he nearly bumped into someone. He teetered back a step in surprise before looking up to the eyes of Hiccup. "Oh, sorry Master Hiccup."
"It's alright Wrath," Hiccup said dismissively. His eyes flicked over Wrath to land on the teens. "Old friends?"
"Not exactly. They use to mess with me. Especially the big guy," he said as he jerked a thumb back at them.
"What did they want?" Wrath gave Hiccup a quick recount of what had happened. Hiccup smiled down at him and nodded in approval. "Good choice Wrath. Jedi don't fight for such petty reasons like glory or revenge." Wrath nodded knowingly. "Now how about you go and kick his butt?"
Wrath nodded before pausing and realizing what Hiccup had said. "What?" he asked in surprise and confusion.
"You're right about Jedi. We don't fight for ourselves. We fight for others. But sometimes a bully has to be put in his place," Hiccup explained. He looked up at Draag. "And I think you're the best guy for the job." Wrath stared at him to see if this was some kind of joke or test. But Hiccup was serious.
So he accepted. He followed Draag and the others to the empty lot where he'd faced off with Draag and lost countless times before. Draag stood at the ready, throwing a confident smile and winking at Vooli. But the girl only glared and turned her head to look at Wrath before blowing him a kiss.
Wrath made a disgusted face and ducked as if the vile imaginary kiss was flying at him. He could guess what was going on now. She and Draag had broken up or something and now she was trying to make him jealous by being with Wrath, the former loser turned Jedi.
As one of Wraths peers was about to hand him a blade Hiccup stepped forward. And to Wrath's surprise he unclipped one of his lightsaber before holding it out to him.
"Just turn the power down," Hiccup said as he continued to offer it to him. Wrath reached and took it. He spared a second to admire it before turning around to face Draag. With a breath he ignited the blade. The green plasma blade sprang out, making everyone gasp as they marveled at it. Wrath turned the power down to non lethal levels before giving the nod that he was ready.
Hiccup stepped back to give the two opponents some room.
Draag held his confident smirk as he paced in front of Wrath, trying to intimidate him. It irked him when he saw it wasn't working. He stepped closer, almost within striking range. He gave a fake lunge to make him flinch, only for Wrath to remain perfectly still.
"We doing this or not?" Wrath asked impatiently.
Draag glared before swinging at his head. Wrath ducked the attack before parrying his next one. Draag swung at him wildly with a flurry of slashes, only have Wrath block, dodge, and parry each one. Wrath backed away as he kept on the defensive, letting Draag wear himself out. He was focusing mainly on using Form III, which was all about defense and conserving energy, waiting for the perfect time to strike when the enemy was tired.
Draag growled as he grew frustrated. He hadn't landed a single blow on Wrath. This was usually over by now.
"Still the same as ever Wrath! How about you actually fight back like a-" In a green blur Wrath brought the blade down on the side of Draag's neck. The teen gave a startled cry of pain as he staggered to the side. He slapped a hand up to his neck as he tried to rub away the stinging.
"Huh, look at that," Wrath said in surprise at his own skill. "If this were an actual fight I would have just killed you," he pointed out. It was true, if the blade had been at full power he would have just decapitated him. He'd by all accounts just won.
But of course Draag wasn't going to accept that. He snarled before rushing him. The next few minutes consisted of Draag trying to get in a strike. But Wrath handled him with amazing skill as he blocked and defended before counter attacking, leaving painful welts on Draag's arms and neck and even the side of his face.
"Were you always this slow?" Wrath asked. Draag may as well have been standing still. With a shout Draag's rushed him, arm cocked back for a powerful vertical swing. Wrath prepared for it. And sure enough Draag swung Wrath stepped forward and ducked under it before he slung his saber behind his back. As anticipated Draag's blade crashed into it, blocking a blow aimed at his back.
Draag took a moment to blanch in surprise, only for the bottom of Wrath's boot to painfully collide with his face. Everyone watched the moment, time seemed to slow as Wrath's boot smashed into Draag's cheek, knocking spittle out of his mouth as he teetered back. Draag swayed on his feet, world spinning as he began to lose focus. Wrath deactivated the blade and turned away right as Draag fell to the ground, vibroblade clattering to the floor as he made his way over to Hiccup.
Everyone's jaw was hanging low as they stared at the unconscious form of Draag. The best fighter of their age group. Their eyes all flicked over to Wrath as he handed the Jedi back his lightsaber. They could hardly believe it. Wimpy loner Wrath Borak had won!
"Woohoo. Go Wrath!" Vooli cheered as she rushed him. Wrath turned to face her only to have her give him a sudden hug. She pulled back and smiled before leaning in with puckered lips. She knew Wrath had always liked her. But he'd been a wimp and a loser. Now he was a cool Jedi. Perfect boyfriend material. She was so lost in thought of what being with Wrath would do to her reputation and popularity she was surprise as Wrath blocked her path with his hand.
She blinked in surprise before leaning back in confusion to find Wrath's face blank.
"Sorry Vooli. I just don't like you in that way," Wrath said.
"What? But you liked me right?"
Wrath only shrugged. "Yeah. I guess I did," he replied casually. He stepped back, gently removing her arms from his shoulder before he just up and walked away from her without a second thought.
Vooli stood there, gaping in shock as Wrath turned his back on her and walked away. She'd just practically thrown herself at him and he turned her down like she were stale bread. To her mortification she heard snickering behind her and turned to see her peers laughing at her utter rejection by Wrath fricking Borak.
As Hiccup and the rebels flew through space he looked back to see Wrath sitting up straight and an air of pride about him. His mood was much better it seemed.
"Feeling ok Wrath?"
The Zabrak nodded. "Yeah. I do. And I've reflected on your words Master."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. And I realized I'm not ready to give up on Saphine just yet," he said with a smile.
Hiccup gave a chuckle. "Glad I could help."
As soon as he reached the Temple Wrath went looking for Havolian. Eventually finding him in the scroll chamber looking over an ancient Kinnaran scroll. He walked up to where he was sitting and dropped down beside him. Havo stopped reading to look at him in slight surprise.
"Hey," Wrath greeted.
"Hey," Havo said back. They hadn't talked in a few days, Wrath blaming Havo for making him go on their little adventure. Havolian sighed. "Look man. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pressured you."
Wrath shook his head. "Nah, it's not your fault. It's not like you had a blaster to my head. And you didn't make me lie to Saphine. I went because I wanted to get my crystal. End of story. Sorry for blaming you, I guess it was just...easier," Wrath said with a shrug. He held his fist out. "We good?"
Havolian paused for a moment before smiling he raised his own fist up before bumping fists with his good friend.
"We're good."
new chap.
