The Art of Misdirection
Their plan was set. All that was needed was for it to be put into motion. While this did not require absolute precision or planning, Kallus will stress to the Minister and Senator that it is prudent the rebels and their awol mechanic do not learn of their plan before they have time to strike. Pulling this off will finally land them the annoying rats always escaping their traps. And with those rats there will be bigger game to bag, and the prestige that will follow will put them into comas.
Kallus held a meeting with a few Trooper Leaders, Aresko, Grint, Tua, and Trayvis in a briefing room. A projector implanted on the wall was synced to his datapad, ready to get started. "Based upon our previous encounters, these three are a commonality of whom the mechanic meets with." A Togruta, Nautolan, and Astromech appeared. "Dominique, a Togruta who runs a shop right here on Lothal." He will remind them of this shop with a little hologram of it right by Dominique. Aresko and Grint remember this place well. They now understand how this run down shack was able to get the permits to promote their business. The girl they know as Anastasia Stark was a rebel the whole time. "Dayve, an astromech who accompanies this man Grim." Aresko and Grint recognize them too. To think these mechanics are all rebel scum. The Troopers jotted notes, while Trayvis and Tua listened on with furrowed brows. "Grim has an assistant that heads up this space port," The port in the Aurora sector of the borealis system, which he brought into full view, "While he runs the garage on Chandrila." The same garage that intertwined his daily headaches with Katerina for the first time. "From there, there are several sister locations scattered about Chandrila." He put tiny blips around the main garage.
"She only heads the one, right?" Tua double checked.
"Yes. That is the Kendril Mothma began. It's special to her."
"Good. Let us begin." Trayvis declared, taking over.
"Where?" One Trooper asked.
"The shop here on Lothal." Trayvis put the other images away, highlighting Dominique.
"That shop, as well as the port, were shut down for a good time." Aresko reminded his superiors. "On the grounds they were serving as bases for rebel activity."
"Then they cleared a sniff test and got legitimized. Just a couple months later." Grint snarled, the disbelief as sour as a too ripe yogan. "If we're gonna arrest these maggots and link them to traitors in our Empire, i say we squeeze them for all they're worth!" He smushed his palms together, imagining their skulls right center.
"Precisely the plan." Trayvis tapped his nose. He tossed Grint a yogan just to keep him quiet. What a happy little lap dog he is. "Bring me the one known as Dominique alive." He cannot stress this enough. The dead do not provide answers unless killed by illness or the elements. "And do be gentle about it. Mustn't alert the rebel girl before my trap is sprung." The troopers saluted. Aresko and Grint offered to head up this hunt. This was going to be a fun evening for them.
xxx
Katerina was on her hands and knees, choking on the saliva welling in her closed throat. The struggle to not flop onto her stomach in front of her golden eyed bane was intense. It was when she battled the weakness in her legs and wrenched herself upright that her airways cleared. The shroud consuming her dispersed, and soon she found herself on her feet. She wasn't squared to the Inquisitor, who was just lapping up her resistance like honey, but it served to show she wasn't going to cower. Not when he's crossed so many lines this day!
"You…" She snarled with a murderous gleam. A gleam that the Inquisitor longs to see at its Zenith. "BASTARD!" Her roar sent her into a fit off coughs, nearly dropping her to her knees again. She slammed her shoulder to a mounted piping, grunting at pricking took the place of her suffocating.
"Do forgive me for not offering you a gift for your glorious return." He sardonically bowed with a sweep of one hand, with the other behind his back. "It must warm your heart to be back home. Or...some semblance of a home. You don't really have one, do you?" Katerina breathes raspily and glared daggers, but not much else. She just locked her gaze with with him, gradually allowing herself to square to him. "What's the matter? Something on your mind?" More than something! Normal people would be more cautious squaring to a man who is notorious for killing Jedi, and a fair number of others. Especially since she has no backup, and knows they'd never reach her in time. Her thoughts weren't anywhere near erring on the side of caution! The disgust raging within her clouded her judgement. The knowledge that this monster was anywhere near Mon pissed her off to where she will punch every single tooth out of his mouth. "Oh, I see," He chuckled with so much humor it ushered Katerina's adrenaline to boil, "It bothers you terribly that I discovered your mole in our Empire."
"I don't...COUGH-COUGH...have a mole." She rumbled venomously. "Though it isn't a bad idea." She pushed from the wall, taking two steps closer.
Her arched a brow, impressed by her bravery. "Is that how you wish to play it? Very well." He reached behind her back, igniting one end of his lightsaber. "I suppose I will have to drag the truth from you the hard way." Not that he was complaining. Katerina took to her stance, reaching for her own weapon. Dread robbed her nerves of their steel when her fingers gripped nothing. Dammit! Her staff was on the Ghost. Suddenly, leaving that as a dramatic reminder of her time with them seemed REALLY stupid. "No weapon? A shame. I wanted to test you again." He feigned disappointment with a pouty lip. having his lightsaber is going to seem like a waste of time.
Katerina psat through her teeth. "Haven't learned your lesson yet, have you, Inquisitor?" It is suicide that she's raising her fists to someone with a weapon that can literally cut her down with a slice. Somehow the suicide of her pride by running seemed worse than death. It's the betrayal thinking for her. "You've failed every single test so far." She whipped out her pistols, twirling them like small blades that craved blood. "What's one more?"
xxx
Dom-Unique's Was looking better than ever. Renovations with the neighboring buildings allowed Dominique to create a wings for testing new parts, as well as selling some vehicles that got left behind and revamped. She even had an attic to be put in for extra storage, and has a refrigerated cellar for their more delicate and volatile of compounds. With the gradually returning business, she was able to keep up with the bills. Ever since the Empire shut it down, customers avoided this place like the plague, terrified they would catch whatever put it and its patrons on the radar. The relaunch didn't have a ribbon cutting, but a lot of their pro bono works brought a flood of people to the doors. A sort of demonstration of their skills to show they are not only worth the money, they're worth the risk. Lending a hand to a few troopers and officials didn't hurt their relaunch either.
"Boss, we got a cruiser with fuel ejector seats powered by hydraulics." A rodian warned her with mild irritation in his voice. "The fuel powering the seats leaked into the hydraulics."
"That's not go-wait." Dominique checked recent history and found a rather irritating pattern. "Mr. Nunez is back again?! What he do this time?"
"Tried finding cheaper fuel to power his seats for those stunts of his and it ended up eating through the tanks!"
"That's it!" She sent an authorization message to another department, with an angry message stating it was time for a double down. She handed the data pad back to the Rodian. "Get him to our accountant and tell him the price he'll pay for dismantling our hard work for the tenth time in the scope of three weeks!"
"You got it." The Rodian happily saluted. Finally, he gets to put this daredevil in his place. On the ground with the other paying customers.
Dominique shook her head. She popped in an aspirin. She hates people who waste their resources because of their dumb choices. She returned her attention to her checklist on her wrist com, running through the 52nd item on her agenda. 52nd...and still three hours till lunch. Egh. Maybe she can sneak a snack before lunch. She's running on fumes at this point.
"Excuse me!" Dominique whipped around, brow arching at two men in fancy uniforms approaching her. "Are you the one known as Dominique?"
"Yes. Why?" She faced them with her arms folded. They weren't allowed to come within five feet until they explain themselves.
The two men respected her space by fanning their hands, assuring her they meant no harm. They went in a couple steps closer, lowering their voices to a murmur. "Senator Gall Trayvis has requested an audience with you."
Her brow knit sharply. "Has he?" She knows that name. It's pretty famous. That doesn't mean she'll fumble over herself for him. "For what reason? As you can see, I'm busy." She pointed to the five ringed circus transpiring behind her.
"We just have orders to bring you to him. Come on." One of them motioned urgently.
Senator Gall Trayvis, a man in exile for standing up to the Empire...sending two goons to come and pick her up? The reason unknown? More like the reason can't be said. She can take a wild guess from all the red flags shooting up in her head. "Sorry. Can't. I have too much going on to leave." She turned away to return to work. "You will be coming with us, and you'll do it now." The other pressed, hand instinctually moving toward his holstered arm.
Dominique snickered under her breath, facing them with a bold smirk. "Why so pushy?" She crooned, folding her hands behind her back. Her fingers wrapped to the two wrenches strapped to her hip. "And if his Grace the Senator wishes to see me he can come get me himself!" She flipped the latches, spreading her feet. "I'm not going to be alone with an Imperial Senator."
Their eyes widened in shock. She scrunched her nose, confirming she knows the truth. He's a traitor to those labeled as traitors. The two guards snorted. "Fine. Then we do this the fun way." One decided. He pulled at his gun.
"I guess we do!" Dominique was quicker throwing one wrench. It bounced off his head, knocking him out instantly. His friend wasn't any quicker with his firearm. Dominique rushed him, jabbing an elbow right between his ribs. Once he lurched forward, she hammered a wrench cupped between balled hands to the back of his head. The crack from when he hit the floor was sweet music.
Workers were rooted in place, gaping in fear that this would be another uprooting. "Get back to work! There's nothing to worry about!" She lied. She heard more troops approaching the front doors. She glared down at the unconscious pair. "Already had backup prepared." That's okay. She knows how to deal with unruly customers.
Pained wails and grunts, followed by the distinctive sound of bones breaking and a few muffled blaster shots caught Dominique's ears. Chills fell down her spine when she caught bodies falling past the door windows. Her heart was pounding, worry for her employees was skyrocketing. She can't uproot them and ask them to run again. They might never come back this time. She steeled herself and went for the doors. When they burst open she automatically tossed. It pierced the wall halfway, just mere inches from the gawking face of Vizago.
Vizago glared at an astonished Dominique who seemed doubtful of his existence right now. "Is that the thanks I get for getting rid of your blockade?!" He gestured to the dead troopers being carted off to who knows where to be disposed of.
"Vizago?!" She cried, rushing out the door. She saw the series of helmets and guns dropped everywhere. She was kind of nervous about what awaited those whom they were removed from. Vizago bounced his brow with a debonaire chuckle. He was waiting for that thank you he's owed. She shoved him to the side, away from the workers. "What are you doing here?!" Close enough.
"This place is always full of excitement." He shrugged at his obvious lie. "Plus I get good deals on my broken toys." He winked.
Dominique huffed crossly. She does give him 75% discounts because of the help he lends. Two of his guys were dragging those morons she knocked unconscious off to be eliminated. She wanted to stop them, but there was a more pressing issue that she knows is what brought him here. "What was their problem?"
"Haven't you heard?" He teased, snaking an arm around her shoulders. "Senator Trayvis is a rooter for the other side." He plucked one of her wrenches from her belt, admiring how stainless the steel remained even after knocking two guys upside the head. "Lures in rebels and gets them killed."
"I heard." Word of his double agency spread fast. "Knew these morons were up to something." They weren't exactly subtle about it.
"Here's something I know you're unaware of." He lowered his voice to a rumbling whisper. "The good Senator's nephew…"
"The one killed six years ago. What about him?" She knows about that too.
Vizago's grin widened. He loves suspense. "Turns out the one who tore that sweet little would-be Trooper open was our favorite little mechanic-fighter."
Dominique's stomach dropped. "Katerina?! No! She...she wouldn't do something like that!" That isn't the fun loving, job saving, indestructible nerves boss she's known. That can't be right. "She isn't a...a killer." She's bruised people, sent them to the hospital, even poisoned a guy with vehicle fluids. But Dominique has never seen her intentionally kill someone.
Vizago saw she wasn't accepting his words and moved off of her. "I'm only relaying what I've heard." He raised his hands. He isn't saying this to upset her. "Amongst this news is Trayvis will is out for blood. The blood of the one who robbed him of his family." Meaning...in spite of her constant denial...Dominique was being approached in order be to turned into bait. "I would suggest you leave tonight. Unless you want to be dragged into this mess again."
"Katty…" She moaned with glossy eyes. What have you been up to? Is this even the same Katerina?
"The mechanic causes more trouble than she is worth, doesn't she?" Vizago taunted. "Perhaps it would be fruitful for you to abandon her and save your own skin." The wrench vanished from his hand and was then pressed at his jugular. He was nonchalant about it, but eyed Dominique impressed by her bold move.
"Suggest something like that to me again and I will throw you into the melting pot." And that wasn't a veiled threat. It was a promise.
Vizago raised his hands, stepping back with a smug smile. "Such loyalty to someone who seems to cause you heartache."
"If it wasn't for her there would be nothing for my heart to ache over." She lowered the wrench, marching for the doors. "I won't betray Katty. Ever." She warned him. "Thank you for your help. But you can go now!" She slammed the doors, leaving Vizago to feel particularly proud of himself.
"The sheep you lure in." He purred. "A shame they will be slaughtered before too long." And he took his leave, returning to the shadows that spawned him.
xxx
The Inquisitor studied her quietly with incredulity, tracing her every crossing step in the steady circle they marched in. She was on high alert, maintaining a good distance and keeping her focus hardest, yet ready to do do battle at the drop of a hat. Her guns weren't aimed at him, but rather wielded like small blades. He sincerely doubted hse she was in the right frame of mind. Without a proper weapon, The Inquisitor already calculated his odds of winning insurmountably in his favor. Then again, this girl seems to have mastered survival with the mere threads in her arsenal. Always able to pull herself back from the brink and live another day. He respects that tenacity, admires her drive to live when all is doomed to die. Perhaps this is why he's digging in his foot and charging at full speed in order to humor her.
Katerina fired one gun twice, unaffected by him repeling her shots. She skipped back at half his speed, firing a couple more shots. The Inquisitor flourished the saber, backing Katerina to a wall. He had he trapped between two smaller slabs of wall. Too high to jump and too narrow for her to dodge. He grinned as he thrust his saber for her soon to be beatless heart. Katerina reached up and was lifted, legs splitting far, just as the saber pierced the wall. The Inquisitor gawked absolutely baffled and soon realized she had been backed to a wall with a ladder leading to a linked fire escape between the buildings. She planted her feet securely to the two walls and aimed. The Inquisitor wasn't to block in time, but her shot whsiked past his face. Instead they hit a piping imbedded at ground level between the walls. A sheet of steam blew in his face. Hot enough to sting, not enough for damage. Katerina grasped the ladder and then kicked off with one foot, landing on the other side of the blinded Inquisitor. He hissed irately, rubbing fiercely at his eyes. Katerina took this opportunity and charged him, shooting relentless. The Inquisitor swatted at the bullets with ease, as expected of a force weider. But once Katerina was in his reach she snaked her left pistol inside his handle. She spun round on one foot, wrapping her other leg to his waist. She used her momentum to swing up his body, wrenching his saber arm up with her, and planted a hard elbow to the right side of his head. The impact was just enough to make him release his saber. Katerina continued her ascent of him, pushing off his shoulder while smashing a boot to his face for extra lift. She landed a good ways from him in a couch, throwing his lightsaber aside and coming around ferally with a leg extended.
The Inquisitor groaned irritably at the stinging on his face. Were it he could see the boot print he'd be pissed rather than working up a grin. "I must admit, you do pleasantly surprise me, Little One." More than surprise. She countered him flawlessly, disarmed him, and left him a bit disoriented. more amazing still is how she knew she would be outmatched so long as his saber was in his hand and evened the odds. All with her bare hands and a few shots. She truly lives up to her clone nature, but more evident is how instrumental the Jedi were in her training. "You're far more skilled than your Jedi counterpart."
"Glad you approve." Honor be damned. She raised her guns and fired on him. Without his saber, he can't dodge forever. The Inquisitor had his hands behind his back and lazily weaved between the shots. His gaze was hard trained on her trigger itchy fingers rather than the barrels. The millisecond between that squeeze and the shot was all he needed to craftily dance around her shots. He was getting closer with each dodge, skipping two to five feet closer each time. Katerina was wasting her bullets. She put the guns away and went for him again. The Inquisitor was ready for her this time. He allowed her two punches and a few kicks. He slipped behind her and chopped at the back of her neck. Katerina staggered forward, then blindly kicked back. The Inquisitor caught the foot by the ankle and smashed his elbow to her knee. She yelped in pain, lurching forward to pull it free. The Inquisitor pulled her close and bashed a flat palm into her nose. Her balance was faltering. He moved in fast hooked a foot behind her bracing heel and ripped the foot out from under her. She saved herself on her palms. He stomped on her chest, smashing her hard to the stone, and then connecting a force packed punch right to her forehead. It wasn't the contact of his fist drawing a numbed, pained expression from Katerina. It was the impact of the force rippling through her body, cracking her bones and drying up the marrow that left her completely unable to utter a scream. Shaking beyond her comprehension reduced her to jelly. her vision blurred in and out, the blood pounding in her ears. Her own breath was heard but it was strained. Her whole body felt like it was failing. Her organs shutting down. She wanted to vomit, but her body feared the agony it would cause.
"More skilled," He mocked, tracing two fingers along her cheek to her under her gaping jaw, "But still have much to learn." He ghosted those fingers past her chest right to her stomach. His sneaking under her shirt shattered the grip her daze had. He prodded at his favorite scar. "How many deaths have you survived before this point, I wonder." He caressed the wound, lavishing in her trembling at his light touch. "Do tell me." He whispered with a sultry tone.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" She drove a fist up that was caught. The Inquisitor had lifted himself enough for her to bend a knee and kick him off. She rolled backwards into a crouch, launching for him. The series of punches she trailed up her body were deflected at every thrust. Her kicks were stopped by a foot to the knee. One punch was guided high, leaving her open to a swift palm to the rib. She winced but grabbed hold of the hand to pull him in to a roundabout kick to the chest. He swatted the leg away. Having enough her leviatted her up and tossed her over head. She was planted to a wall, hitting bars on her way to a crashlanding. She groaned defeatedly but was still moving. The Inquisitor cracked his knuckles, marching toward her with his palms raised. Katerina grasped something cold and steel. Recognizing the shape, she waited for him to draw closer. His feet came on either side of her. He was kneeling down. She twisted swiftly, swinging the object with all her might. As she expected, The Inquisitor stopped it with a hand. He cursed himself for not seeing what she was swinging was his lightsaber. The barrel was aimed for him! "Don't you ever touch me again!" She pushed the button. The Inquisitor roared was the tip grazed his cheek, narrowly missing piercing his skull. Katerina snaked from him as her staggered and sliced at his abdomen. He dodged again, split gashes in his armor bruning to his suit, hand clutched over his cheek. He hissed like a rabid animal that had been kicked one too many times. "How about I put a hole in your spine, you sick bastard!" She angled the saber straight and charged.
"Perhaps another time!" The Inquisitor flourished his wrist. His lightsaber, with Katerina clinging to it, was lifted high into the air. "Though I must admit," Before she could let go, he clamped a hand to both her wrists, trapping her in the air. He then jabbed a fist right between her ribs, "I find your murderous nature quite charming. And refreshing." White hot pain constricted her insides, blood and spit splattering to his face. She slumped to the fist, being lowered down. The Inquisitor got her stand for just a moment before unleashing the back heel of a spinning kick to the side of her head. This time when she hit the ground the impact left her there. She choked on her own saliva, her muscles throbbing too fiercely for her to get up and fight again. "To think, this whole time, you possess the nerve to shoot a Senator. A friend of yours, no less." He meandered to her. She struggled to roll onto her stomach, each cough ushering a sore pang. He knelt down and relieved her of her guns, tossing them aside. "You're far more ruthless than I gave you credit for."
"You're talking...out...of your ass!" She spat on the wound on his cheek. He rapidly punched her in the face, throwing her face to the dirt. She spat out a tooth he dislodged, glaring back at him defiantly. "I'm not friends with ANY Senators!" She roared exhausted, pushing half her body up by her palms. "I came here because she needed to answer for an old sin! That's it!" She coughed dryly, her ribs killing her.
The Inquisitor snickered at such a blatant lie. Concinign to others, but he isn't so gullible. "Is that so?" He roughly flipped her onto her back. He pinned one hand under his knee. He flagrant punch allowed him to restrict the other one. Refreshing that she can still fight. Most would give up by now. When will he learn she isn't like the rest? "Would it have to do with regards to this?" He pulled the data pad with her whole blacked out file on it. Katerina's guard slipped and she revealed in dismay that he had it right. She glanced heatedly to the side. A small tremor in her was felt. "My, my, it would appear I had it wrong from the start. And here I thought she was as selfless as she is brave." He put the pad away. She tiredly tried to wiggle free. No luck. "She didn't redact your file to hide you." A placed a hand to her cheek, running a thumb under her burning oceanic eyes. "She redacted your file so that you would never learn the truth." He tapped her nose.
She direly wishes she had the strength to spew vomit in his face. The feel of his touch on her was worse than a burn from his saber. She wants to bite his hand off. "What truth?" She spat. "I don't know what you mean!"
"Come now, no need to pretend, My Dear." He hummed hungrily. "You know full well of what truth I speak…" He leaned down until his nose was just a breath from hers and whispered, "Little Clone." A hole was punctured in her bottled up defiance and it all came leaking out, leaving her pale as a sheet.
xxx
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN HER YET?!" Trayvis nearly blew the ear off his only surviving thug.
He was wincing like a puppy being kicked. He got away by the skin of his teeth. A chunk of his armor was missing. That Devonian is ruthless. "Forgive me, Sir. The Togruta put up resistance." He attempted to sound alarmed. "She had...friends. Someone might have tipped her off about you."
"Not 'might have,' she was tipped off!" Trayvis snarled. He ripped himself a new one. He should have known better than to assume Katerina wouldn't inform her friends about his treachery. It won't save them, or her. "Alright. Keep an eye on her. I'll deal with this myself."
"You, sir?! But-"
"But nothing! There is a certain finesse needed and none of you have it!" He ended the call, making the trooper flinch. This was either going to go really well or really badly.
xxx
Katerina was rooted to the spot. She was quivering, utterly helpless as terror coiled to her limbs. The Inquisitor was lapping up her cold fear as it dripped down her brow. "You are a clone, aren't you? Of that Jedi, Kanan Jarrus." He knows! How does he know! She...she wouldn't have told him! Would she?! Katerina is going to kill Mon the next time she gets the chance. "It never ceased to bother me whenever I saw the both of you. How similar you behaved, your well synced movements, the way you looked." He's been obsessed since their meeting on Stygeon and has been piecing together their relationship ever since. "That bit of intrigue became a nagging feeling back at that warehouse." That is where it all came together for him. "I came to the assumption you were related. How close I was. It almost makes me laugh." He laughed anyway. To think the simplest explanation hid such a grand secret. A clone that escaped its disintegration. His boasting wasn't nearly as fun as he'd hoped. Not with Katerina refusing any words of protest or denial. She just lied there and took it all in, blood trickling from her lip from biting down too hard. "No words? Not going to tell me I'm wrong, or I'm speaking out of ignorance?"
She closed her mouth, making a gross gurgling sound. Blood and saliva were spat right in his eye. He roared in disgust, moving off enough that the knee was lifted. She twisted her grabbed hand and latched to his wrist. She pulled herself up and punched him so hard in the jaw she actually tossed him a good two feet. She curled her feet under her and sprang away in animal like crouch. "All the Empire does is speak out of ignorance." She recovered her guns, keeping a close eye on the Inquisitor as he got his saber back. She got off a shot too fast for him and shot him through the leg. That'll slow him down. "You'll always spin the lies you fashioned as truths and quash anyone who dares to speak against you." She's bore witness to their depravity firsthand for many years. She may hate the Jedi...as much as it pains her to admit...but they are the one entity she so desperately wishes could rise again from the ashes. The Empire can be suffocated in those ashes for all she cares. "Here's one thing you'll never twist. For all their mistakes, the Jedi didn't need fear to be strong or to rally others." And with that said she turned her back on him.
The Inquisitor squeezed his leg, biting hard at the pained wail in his throat. He forced a dry laugh. "Are you going to run from me like you did your friends?" That stopped her in her tracks, her heart skipping ten beats. The Ghost crew...they...they must be so…pissed at how she left. Zeb...will he be able to forgive her? "The truth terrifies you, doesn't it? Knowing you were created to destroy the very Jedi you fight beside." She balled her fingers into fists. Her shoulders tensed. Images of...her frenzies flipped her stomach. The faces of the Ghost crew...after learning what she is...the fear they must have felt. Their blood running cold seeing how easy it is for her to take a life. She thought she put it behind her. That life. It just came back, and it was Kanan and Hera who made it possible. "How did he take it? Your Jedi Counterpart. How did he take to his precious companion being a clone?" She psun back around on her heels. She shot for his head, tearing a graze on the side. He didn't flinch or scream. he just smirked. "My, my. Not well it seems." He snickered at the glossing of her eyes.
"How…" She rasped. "How did you find out?" She kicked his shoulder, planting him to the ground and pinning his saber hand with her other boot. She had both her guns on him, still he was impassive. "Who told you?!" She screeched.
"Who do you think told me?" She gritted her teeth, eyes shimmering with a thirst of blood to spill. "Do not worry. The Senator didn't tell me anything." He caught right then and there when her muscles slackened from relief. "In fact…she never revealed much of anything during our talk." She tensed again. He was touching the right nerves. "No matter how hard I pressed," He tapped a sly finger to his lightsaber, bringing horror to her face, "She would not surrender to the obvious fear running down her spine."
"You…" That bandage on her neck! the reason she was jumpy. She smashed the barrels onto his forehead, pressing harder and harder as she fought pulling the triggers. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MON?!"
"My, my, my, so easily worked up." He cooed tauntingly. "Mon, you say? How informal of you. I thought you weren't friends with her." He gelamed. Katerina was screaming profanities at herself for that slip. "You certainly care about her. You were close with her cousin, were you not?"
She knit her brow. I will kill Kallus when I see him. "I worked for Ken! That's it! I never got close to Mon...Mothma!" She needs to stop using the nickname! The next potshot at Mon won't be in her leg. "Least of all when she became a tool for your Empire!"
"How very cold of you. I am sure she was a lovely person during the Clone Wars." He shrugged.
"I wouldn't know. I was building engines, not rubbing elbows with politicians!" She prayed she sounded as contemptuous as she was feeling.
"And building rapport with the Jedi." He shot another deadshot in her core, breaking her apart chunk by chunk. "You're so close with your counterpart and his student. You fight on par with the Masters." He was able to lift himself up enough, unnerving her slightly when he edged her guns back. He looked her dead in the eye, turning her to stone. "I find it difficult not to imagine you hadn't interacted with them."
"What are you getting at?" She's never denied knowing the Jedi. Mostly because she doesn't confirm it either. But she's really missing the point.
"I am able to recall how heartbroken you were to see Master Unduli was nothing more than a mere phantom." She sank somberly, glancing aside as that sour mission corroded her. She and Kanan were beyond holding out hope that one of the masters had survived. If she had, then how many more did? She was their ray of hope. When she turned out to be mummified remains...IS SHE STILL THERE?! "Who had a greater hand in your training? The clones? Or the Jedi?"
Katerina's pupils narrowed to slits. She drew a gun back to smack him. "FUC-" The Inquisitor slipped a hand free and dealt a swift force packed blow to her stomach, launching her into a wall. She flopped onto her stomach, still clutching her guns. She groaned tediously at the familiar dizzy spell coming onto her again. "Bas...tard…" She hissed in a heave, pushing onto her hands and knees.
"The pain you struggle with. It must choke you." He shoved her against the wall by the neck. The one hand was crushing her neck, and she swears she heard the wall crocking behind her. "Tell me, did it hurt when the Senator became one of us? Did it hurt Kendril?" He pinned one of her hands to the wall while the other one fought in vain to pry his from her neck. "Is that why you shot her? Because she betrayed everyone who believed in her?"
"Shut up…" She was digging in her nails to no avail.
"Oh it did, didn't it. How alone you must feel." He chuckled. "The clones whom were your true brethren are no more. The Jedi, who I can safely assume trained you, are dead and rotting." He moved himself closer, putting a leg between hers and pinning her hips with his. The invasion caused her to involuntarily blush. "Senators from the old days are now joined with us. Kendril, the poor man, dead. And the Rebels...Jarrus…" He took in a long breath, putting his lips to her ear, "They want nothing to do with you."
"Stop it." She whimpered. Tears ran down her cheek.
"They do not want you amongst them anymore, do they?
"Not your Lasat lover…" "Not the Mandalorian, droid, or Twi'Lek…" "Not the Padawan…" "And not the man from whom you were cloned." "They all despise you. They all hate you now. They know of your true purpose - the glorious denouement that you will inevitably deal to them." "He knows it. His padawan knows it. Today, tomorrow, perhaps another 15 years from now - one day…" "You will kill those Jedi. Killing is all you were born to do."
"GO TO HELL!" In a blind outburst of demonic rage she stretched her neck, opened her mouth wide, and bit into his neck so hard blood was drawn.
The Inquisitor released an anguished howl. He pried himself away, losing bits of skin in the process. He clamped a hand over the running wound, gazing upon the rabid animal with his blood running down her jaw. She spat it to the ground, stomping on the bits of flesh. It could have been madness from the blows he has taken but the man started laughing up a storm. "THAT'S IT! THAT'S THE SPIRIT!" He salivated. Katerina scooped down and picked up a sharpened piece of metal. "Unleash your killer instinct! Let the rage consume you like it must have the day!"
"That's where you're wrong! I didn't answer the call!" She threw the metal like a star. The Inquisitor dodged it with a baffled expression. Katerina practically teleported in front of him. he barely diverted a swift punch, retaliating with his own. A grudge match of punches and kicks ensued, with the Inquisitor looking more confused than concern with how close her strike were getting. "I didn't answer the order! I was still at home! Working on SOMETHING! I arrived to the temple after the fact." He knows everything else, why not rain on his parade with more facts. "The only ones who died by my hands were clones that hid in the cracks, your Stormtroopers, and some pathetic 13 year old boy wanting to play soldier!" It really was wrinkling the Inquisitor that she was confessing to her crimes with little shame. It was intriguing at the same time. "I've never obeyed the Empire! I've never served them! So for whatever alternative reason you came here for today, it's already falling apart!"
The Inquisitor caught her next punch and twisted the arm shaprly behind her back and shoved her to the dirt. She caught herself on her palms, flipping around and back onto her feet. She squared her hips, twirling the guns she recovered on the push. The Inquisitor narrowed his sights on her person, searching for the smallest twitch to betray her resolve. He found none. Not only does she lack shame in her actions - annoyance for ignoring the call, yet delighted she admits to being a killer - she stands confident that nothing he says will sway her.
"You may have ignored the call," He tapped his skull, "But the urge is there. The anger you have towards the Jedi, the scar they've left," A scar that will never heal, he might add, "It's eating you alive inside."
"Shut up." She snarled ominously.
"You blame them for all of this. For us." He purred. I...I do...I really do. She clicked one hammer. "If it weren't for the Jedi, none of this would be happening." It may have happened, but not with so many dying for nothing. She clicked the other hammer. "Those are your feelings." They've always been my feelings. And regardless of how hard she's tried to fight it, she can't suppress it anymore. She raised both guns. "You hate them. You hate Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus. You hate whatever divine entity brought the Jedi and Sith into this world." Her dead eyes were locked onto him, a fresh image of him with thousands of holes tearing him to shreds would be enough to bring the light back. "It is written all over your beautifully torn face." He ignited his saber. She knit her brow. She squeezed one gun, made a quick apology, and then threw it. The Inquisitor arched a brow. It was a pretty pitiful attempt. Then a series of rapid beeps caught his ear, and dread consumed him. Looking him dead in the eye, Katerina shot the gun. The overload was aggravated to critical by the piercing bolt. A miniature explosion packed enough force to send the Inquisitor flying into piles of trash, shrapnel melted into his suit, flesh...and pride. It should be more satisfying that she can somehow outwit him. But when she recalls it was the job of the clones to know how to overpower those who wield the force, it just makes her sick. Because it just means he's right. "You can...fight it...all you like." He spat up blood...and bits of flesh, clutching at his side as he pushed on a trash bag. "It won't change what your destiny is." He snickered. "You are going to kill those Jedi one day." She bit into her lip. "It's all part of your directive."
"Who...told...you?!" She snapped on each word, tearing chunks of his darkened person. "WHO?!"
"No one." He was happy to choke out, laughing darkly. "I learned of your secret with my own ears." She knit her brow. His own ears?! Was he spying on us?! When?! "Who knew such a ruthless killer was underneath this visage." He lecherously traced fingers to the outline of her figure, drinking up the lithe vision. So deceptive. "You certainly frightened your friends in that alley. Near that old home you hid in." A cold sweat ran down her face. Ezra's old home...he was spying from one of the rooftops! He had to be. "You all should really keep your voices down." He heard everything! Katerina was staggering, going dizzy with nausea. She...she's the reason Mon is in danger! The Ghost Crew...they would be in danger too. And...and whoever else is involved with her. Mon. "By the by, I forgive you for those men you killed back on planet Rumain..." So he did have her followed! Kallus and The Inquisitor went the extra mile to bag her. The Inquisitor clicked his tongue, warning her to not strain her attention before he gets to the best part. "But I don't think Senator Mon Mothma will be easily forgiven." And shut down. Hard, all at once, no drawn out whir shut down. Everything inside of Katerina from her brain to her bowls just shut down and went cold as a grave. Her eyes went as void as space, and her arms were falling limp to her sids. Her quivering hands about to drop her guns. She took shaking steps away, turning different shades of green, on the verge of toppling over. Mon...Mon...MON! She...has...to move! MOVE! MON-DANGER-MOVE! She broke into a dead run, racing for whatever direction she heard vehicles.
"Yes, run little clone." The Inquisitor purred. "You will not get far. Not this time." And he will be waiting to slap the collar on her. He pulled himself from the wreckage, babying his torn up body. He stroked the gashes and tears, humming with delight as he ground the ashes between his fingers. "Oh yes. You will not get far." He got on his comlink. "This is the Inquisitor requesting immediate pick up."
To be continued.