Chapter 6
The meeting Cloud had with the newest additions to his group was short and professional. When Tifa brought her younger sister, the bounty hunter, Cloud was still sitting on his throne, elevating him a good 5 feet into the air a few steps leading up to the small platform his throne was on. Yuffie was a little intimidated because all she saw in the throne was a man holding a golden chalice that still had some wine in it, and glowing blue eyes from underneath the Midnight black cloak, nothing visible but the man's mouth and the eyes that seem to see through her soul. Despite the intimidating look Yuffie was really all that sacred instead she was only curious about what was under the cowl.
"What's with the hood" Was the question Tifa asked before Cloud glared at her his eyes flickered from the glowing blue to the sulfurous yellow for a second before returning to the glowing blue. "You may be one of my commanders Lieutenant, but you have yet to earn the right to question me." It was a weird sensation to hear the man speak; it was like his voice came from all sides of the room. "Of course, forgive me my lord." Tifa was smart enough to know her place, but her sister oddly enough felt turned on. Yuffie always liked a man with power. "Now, is this the bounty hunter you spoke so high in skill?" Tifa nodded, "Yes Lord Fenrir." Yuffie and Tifa watched as the chalice in his hand magically floated back to the service droid, while the new Darth lord stood from his throne and walked down the stairs with the grace of a true noble. The count did more than train his apprentice in combat and force mastery.
It wasn't until he was standing in front of Yuffie that she realized he was taller than her, not as tall as Barret but the man stood at a good five foot eight, taller than the woman but still the same height as the other men. Yuffie could no longer see his eyes but for some reason as he stood directly in front of her she could feel the power in this man, and it made her shiver, in fear and strangely lust. "Since you're here you agree to work for me, but be warned. If you betray me or reveal my existence prematurely, I will personally dispose of you." Yuffie swore she was able to see his eyes now the Sith yellow eye's and little did she know those eyes will haunt her for the nights to come. "Tifa, show our new bounty hunter to one of the empty rooms, I need to meet the rest of the new members." With that the young Sith lord sat back on his throne, the droid returning the chalice to his hand.
When Barret brought along his old friend, the older pilot never recognized the blonde, but Cloud immediately remembered the smuggler who saved him from the slaves all those years ago. "Fenrir, I brought the smuggler." Barret said with a short bow, Cid watched amazed that Barret was being formal to another man. Cid looked up at the intimidating figure cloaked in a black robe. If Barret bows to this man, he must be extremely powerful and give some pretty damn good benefits. "What is it you can do." Darth Fenrir asked the smuggler.
"Well not only am I the best damned smuggler in the galaxy I also have the fastest ship and a spy network so fast that I can know when an important person in the galaxy makes a move." Cid said proud of his spy network and ship."
Cid saw the man smirk, "Then tell me how you never found out I existed." Cid in returned smirked back, "Oh I knew count Dooku had a secret know as subject 626, but I didn't know that the man is now sitting before me a Sith lord." Darth Fenrir was a little unease, no one knew of his existence except those that work for him and the droids Dooku has under control, and memory wipes every week. Even the civilians working on this planet, don't know that he was a Sith they only know that Fenrir was an agent of Dooku. "I see, Barret lead him to one of the empty rooms, for him to be stationed at." Barret nodded glad that the meeting went so well, and he didn't bring his close friend to his own death.
Biggs arrived shortly explaining the mission in fine detail, and once Cloud was satisfied he let the lieutenant go. Then in another few moments Lenzor and Reaper brought forth small gang of 5 mercenaries. "We brought back the mercenaries master." The droid reported, "They are willing to work for you, but they ask a huge sum of credits." Lenzor said. Cloud finished of the wine as he gave the chalice back to the droid as he sat up straighter. "The credits isn't a problem, it's the loyalty. You are going to work for me permanently."
The mercenaries minus their leader murmured amongst themselves. "I accept your terms as long as I get paid for this." Vincent Valentine the only mercenary without armor and the leader of the group said. The other mercenaries didn't agree, as they pulled out their blasters in a short moment, and shot at Reaper, Lenzor, Vincent and Cloud. But in the smallest fractions of time, Lenzor rolled out of fire whipping out his blaster and shot back, Reaper to a blaster shot before he ran up and took a merc as a personal meat shield. Vincent moved his head to the side with his eye's closed while, Cloud tilted his head to the side and watched the blaster bolt narrowly pass by. The mercenaries put up a good fight that didn't last, between the assassin droid and Lieutenant's quick and accurate shots, thanks to their programing and multiple pirate raids. The merc bodies were on the ground while Lenzor and Reaper lined up their blasters to Vincent's head.
Vincent had his eyes closed the entire time, but now had them open his red eye's starring up directly to The Young Sith. Cloud raised his hand signaling for Reaper and Lenzor to stand down. "You will get your credits, along as the amount that would have belonged to your allies." Vincent showed no emotion as he nodded and soon followed Lenzor to one of the many empty rooms in the palace. 'That went smoothly,' Cloud thought to himself, now that everything was set for now Cloud had a call to make.
Cloud was surprised to find out that the Kaleesh that he had nearly killed, and saved his life. Grievous was sent to pick up Cloud, and are now on their way to the planet of Geonosis, where Dooku is finalizing the alliance of the Techno union, the banking clan, And Shinra Energy Company. Cloud stood at the Center of the Cockpit wit Grievous standing to his left. "I notice you're fully up and running, Grievous, did the Count train you well?" Cloud said to the cyborg Kaleesh, "The count is and arrogant human, consider him lucky that I don't try to kill him myself."
"Still angered about how we calls you a droid." Grievous said nothing clearly Cloud poked at a sensitive spot, lucky for Cloud Grievous believes his ship blew up because of count, which is correct but Cloud planted the bomb himself and then detonated it, later bringing the near death Kaleesh to the Sith lord. "I see, you do know you're on a ship with loyal servants of the man you threaten to kill." "I also know I threatened to kill him in front of his best acolyte, death does not scare me Human." Now it was Cloud's turn to be angered, he never liked being called human, and he never liked how unfair and unjust humans are. Many of the Jedi are Human, and were too afraid to let him become a Jedi at the right age because they knew that once he was an adult by Gaian standards that he would be a master. But know they were afraid of the Gaian superiority, in speed, strength, a longer life span, better night vision and so forth. "I will let that one slip Kaleesh for we are in need of your strength, but next time I will butcher you and Dooku will have to repair you from scratch again." Grievous glared at the young cloaked acolyte beside him, and Cloud stared back, soon there was a semi mechanical laughter, "I like you 626, a true warrior. Now if only you were skilled enough to make truth of your promise." Cloud smirked, Grievous just believes for him to be another acolyte but he doesn't know he is talking to a proper, secret, Darth lord of the Sith.
The rest of the trip was without noticeable events as they reached Geonosis's surface and now waited by the exit of a circular room with Dooku talking to the Separatist group. "As I explained to you earlier I am convinced that there will be Ten thousand more systems that will rally to our cause with your support." One of the aliens there spoke in their language that Cloud understood, "What you are proposing could be constructed as treason." Another alien spoke up, "the Techno- Union army is at your disposal count." "As well as the Shinra's funding and our advanced weaponry and ships." Rufus The Hutt said, smart enough to only show via Holocall. Cloud would have tracked the Hutt down personally after he signed the treaty and kill him. That slime ball tried to make him and his brother slaves all those years ago. "The banking clan will also sign to your treaty." "Good very good, our friends from the trade federation have placed their support and when their battle droids combine with yours we should have an army greater than any in the galaxy. The Jedi will be over whelmed and the republic will agree to any demands we make." Dooku said smug with how well these fools fell into his cause.
Cloud then felt something through the force, a signature that he was familiar with, Cloud closed his eyes and reached for the small whisper in the force, those around him clueless to what he was doing, his cloak covering his whole person. It was then that Cloud felt it, he was so surprised, 'How could a Jedi sneak up so close to me and I never noticed, especially him?' There was a brief silence in the room and Cloud took this moment to walk up to his "master" and whisper in his ear, "I sense there is a Jedi, shall I dispose of him." Dooku smiled amongst himself, he knew who the Jedi was and Knew that he was watching the entire time, he simply waited for his apprentice to notice. To say that he was satisfied was an understatement. "Take some droids with you and capture the Jedi." The count said aloud getting some gasp from those around, "as you wish master." With that Cloud left the area and after walking down the hall way saw to destroyer droids, "You two come with me."
In the next half hour Cloud found the cloaked Jedi, as he sat in his star ship trying to signal someone, most likely the council. The two rolling balls of death stood up and with a hand motion he signaled the droids to attack. Cloud himself jumped from the ledge to ledge, until he found himself on the same ground level with the Jedi, hiding behind the rocks surrounding the area. He was at and snuck around the Jedi staying unnoticed. "Anakin, Anakin, do you copy this is Obi-Wan Kenobi." Cloud stopped on his path to flank the Jedi. 'Wait that's Obi-Wan.' Cloud took a moment to look at his old friend. The Jedi master once again tried contacting his padwan. Until an Astromech-driod picked up, "ah R2-D2 can you get Anakin I need him to relay a message." It took a while for the droid to come back. "Ah Anakin my long range Transmitter has been knocked out I need you to transmit this message to the council." Cloud waited in the darkness torn on what to do in this situation, on one hand Obi-Wan still thinks him dead and is now an enemy to his plans but on the other hand Obi-Wan was his best friend and Rival from the Jedi academy. Could Cloud really turn in his friend to be killed. 'Damn it, what am I supposed to do!' Cloud mentally shouted while he took deep calming breaths and repeated the old Jedi code, to keep calm. Being a student of Kriea requires you learning both codes, one to calm yourself down the other to motivate you.
Obi-wan continued his report to the council, until the droids that Cloud brought interrupted him, and soon the transmission was cut. With his decision made, Cloud chanted the Sith code in his mind His eyes becoming yellow. Cloud walked in between the Droids While Obi-wan final registered his presence. With a raise of his hand Cloud told the droids to stand down. "You got until the Count of three to surrender peacefully and you will live another day Jedi."
Obi-wan took a moment to register his position; he was forced to put his back against the wall by two destroyer droids, while a cloaked stranger threatened his life. "One," The man said as he took out a Obsidian crimson cylinder that Obi-wan recognized as a Light saber. Immediately Obi-wan's chances of surviving this fight wouldn't last with a Sith in his way backed up by to troublesome droids. 'Is this the master or the new apprentice?' Cloud turned on his red Light saber its blood red glow an intimidating sight, but nothing Obi-wan never saw, in fact the Light saber was strongly familiar. "I surrender," Obi-wan said noticing he was one count left; he turned off his blue Light saber and let the cloaked figure rip it from his hands using the force. "Good choice," Cloud Used force Lightning on his old friend sending his rival into the stone wall behind him effectively and painfully knocking him out. Once Cloud was sure Obi-Wan was out cold, he picked up the Jedi and went to bring him back to his "master". "I hope you can forgive me my old friend." Cloud said the dark side lingering a little but weak enough for Cloud to regret hurting his friend.
Cloud waited outside the room that contained Obi-Wan while Count Dooku interrogated the man. It took a good 5 minutes before The Cout walked back out, "You can talk to your old friend now if you like, but remember he is now an enemy, and will be treated as such." Cloud bowed to his dark lord, "Of course master." The Count walked away and Cloud took the small amount of time he had to talk to his dear friend.
When Cloud walked into the room he saw Obi-wan levitating against his will unable to move. "The Count is right you know." Obi-Wan recognized the man who knocked him out early, no doubt in mind that he is a Sith, and that Count Dooku was his master. "You can't convince me, the council already knows that your master is the Sith lord. There is no other Sith lord in the senate, the only Sith are the two here on this planet." Cloud walked around with Obi-wan so he could always face him. "It is True that Count Dooku is a Sith, and it is true that he is my master, but I assure you I'm just a lowly acolyte, the only true Sith Lords are Darth Tyranus and his master Darth Sidious." Obi-Wan seemed to be unnerved by this bit of information, "Why should I believe you in this, for all I know your the real apprentice and Darth Sidious is a myth." Cloud let out a little laugh, Obi-wan is a smart paranoid man whenever the Sith was involved, ever since he met and fought Darth Maul. "Oh I think you should believe me, after all I'm an old friend, Master Obi-wan Kenobi."
Obi-wan didn't show any outward expressions, "My apologies, but I can't seem to remember being friends with a Sith." Cloud stopped moving and reached for his Light saber the thin Feminine look to it and when the Light saber blazed to Life the beautiful Silver color, Obi-wan widened his eyes. It was then he remembered the man used another but blood red, and he recognized those Light sabers to be Cloud's. Obi-wan then took a moment and steadily began to think logically. It was said that the count murdered Cloud, so it is possible that he saved the light sabers and presented it to this acolyte. "You wield weapons that belong to an old friend, don't think you ca-" Obi-wan couldn't find the words he was about to say when the Cloaked figure took off his hood, revealing to him golden spiky hair with glowing blue eyes along with the youth full smirk on his face. "I'm hurt you don't believe me Obi-wan." Cloud said turning the saber off and holding it up to his heart as he faked a pained look.
"No, it can't be the reports said you were dead, Cloud." Obi-wan looked so lost so confused and so hurt, that Cloud felt a small pang of guilt in his heart. "That doesn't mean I was dead, only a fool believes in what a report only said. When Dooku nearly killed me I thought that you my best friend would be able to sense me screaming through the force. But know you Zack and Shaak-Ti left me, never even sent a search party, leaving me in the hands of the Sith! I was your brother in all but blood, but as soon as you read a report by an anonymous bystander you believe me dead." Cloud started out mad but when he finished the sentence he got so quiet that Obi-wan barely heard him. Obi-wan looked at his older friend, the look of youth that cursed the boy to wait a long time to fully become a padwan, now still making him look no older than his own padwan. And the look on his face tore Obi-Wan apart. 'Despite his age, he is still young, still barely an adult.' But now all that doesn't matter, they're going to execute you publicly, and you have no way of getting out of this alive, the Jedi will come trying to save you but they too will die. We have an army on this planet of intense strength. And many of Dooku's acolytes running around ready to wreck so Jedi's apart, even if you do bring in the clones. " Obi-Wan stared at his friend unbelieving how much he knew, he felt his heart break some more when he realized Cloud was staring at him hatred obvious in his eyes but his face slowly breaking down. This was not the same Cloud that used to challenge him every week in battle and improved drastically after each round. He was broken and lost, Obi-wan couldn't help but pity the young dark Jedi.
Cloud now stood in the stands where he saw his oldest friend tied up to a pillar, as they brought in other prisoners, the senator of Naboo and Obi-wan's apprentice. Then time seemed to speed up for Cloud, he was the only on still sitting with his cloak all around him, he is chanting the Sith code in his Mind, 'Peace is a lie.' The Geonosians brought out the beast of execution. 'There is only Passion.' The crowd roared as the Prisoners started to fight back not permitting themselves an easy death. 'Through passion I gain Strength,' The Geonosians and the beast of execution are losing and the crowd starts getting angry.' The prisoners are surrounded by droids. 'Through strength I gain power.' Mace Windu appears next to the count threatening to kill the bounty hunter Jango Fett. 'Through strength I gain power," the Jedi come out of hiding and destroyed the droids about to kill Obi-wan and his padwan. 'Through Victory my chains are broken,' Cloud stands up head bowed underneath his Cloak. 'Through victory my Chains are broken.' Cloud is walking up to a group of Jedi still standing in the stands. "Hey guy's someone is coming," Three Jedi turned and faced Cloud, while the cloaked figure turns on his red Light saber, the sinister Red intimidating the young group of Jedi as they realized there facing a dark Jedi. Cloud looks up his hood now pulled back to hide his facial features but to allow his naturally glowing eyes to be seen, The Royal blue turning into a cold stare his eye's full of chaos. "The force shall set me free." Fenrir said Then everything went to hell, Mace Windu fell from the balcony and started destroying droids left and right, all the other Jedi started getting their fair share of action, and the three padwan Jedi that stood in Fenrir's way turned there Light sabers on and one of them charged the young Sith.
Cloud sidestepped the Padwan's downward swing and easily severed the Jedi from his legs killing the younger Jedi, the other two were more smart and took him on together weary of their friends mistake knowing this Sith is strong. They did a really good job a dancing around the secret Sith Lord, but soon fell when one got over confident, and tried to cut Fenrir the same way the first Jedi died, While his Friend held her own against the stronger opponents blade locking them in a stand still. The young padwan was sure he would finish the fight but was surprised when the cloaked man Stuck out his left arm grabbing both of his hands and stopping the light saber from causing harm. Seeing this female Padwan tried to swing her Light saber again to make the Sith release her friend only to watch in horror when the Sith moved the other padwan in his arm and used him as a meat shield dying in place for the Sith.
"Noooooo! Kelvin." The last padwan fell to her knees and dropped her Light saber crying, shocked from the fact she had cut down her friend. She looked up at the Sith anger in her eyes but before she could pick up her saber again the man picked her up with the force and said, "do not worry, you will join him soon." Then he tossed the girl into the ring where the surrounding droids turned to her, and without her weapon it didn't take long for her to join her friends in the force. Darth Fenrir stood watching the dead body in the arena, and soon looked around and notices his old friend Obi-wan cut down droid after droid after droid. Cloud continued to watch until a few gunships arrived to save the Jedi. Cloud took this moment to escape, knowing he had a job to do. But sure enough he failed to notice a Jedi master that saw his position and soon ran after him. Another Jedi, but one that is a Jedi Knight all so followed the master in wonder of what caused her such distress.
Cloud soon found himself on a platform with a speeder, "Stop," Cloud turned to see a Togruta Jedi ran after him, and when she turned on her Blue light saber and stood in front of him, eye's defiant, and Cloud couldn't help but smirk. "Stop Sith you're not going anywhere." As Shaak-Ti stood before him her Hand on her Light saber, her stance looking a lot more stable than he last remembered, he also couldn't help but notice, that she became more fit as the slender arms had more curves, not to the point that they were unattractive but enough to show she is more than skilled enough in saber skills. It just hit Cloud just how beautiful she was and how much he truly loved her couple of years ago. But those thoughts did not linger, for he is no longer Cloud Fair the jedi padwan, he is now Darth Fenrir the secret Sith lord, And to stay a secret he will even kill his former love.
But of course cloud decided to play dumb, so looking around with exaggerated movement he tried to find who she was looking for, "Sith were. You can't possibly mean me?" His tone was playful borderline idiocy. Though Shaak-Ti was not amused, "I won't fall for your strange Tricks I saw you murder three padwan in quick succession. I know you aren't some fool." Cloud stopped being dumb as he smiled, and Shaak-Ti unable to see his eyes could only focus on the smile on his face. "You were always a more shy girl when it came to men, always watching from a distance were one can't notice you." Shaak-Ti didn't change her facial expression but was failing at hiding her blush, lucky for her though her skin was naturally red. "Turn yourself in now and hand over your weapon."
Cloud frowned visibly and soon reached for his obsidian handle, snapping to life the menacing crimson blade. "It seems you don't know who I am. Maybe I should refresh your memory." And with that said his other hand reached for his moon light color handle, and soon it to blazed to life in its shining light, similar to flowing quicksilver. That was when Shaak-Ti made a face different from the Stern face she had earlier. Her face was of shock before she found herself in the deadly art off a saber duel. Shaak-Ti was already figuring out who this cloaked man was but she was denying it with every thought. Maybe he took his light sabers from Cloud's dead body. Shaak-Ti thought as she narrowly dodged the red blade from removing her head, and soon blocked the silver blade that followed. Maybe he was trained to know how to mess with her. Yes that was it he was Sith and Sith are Liars. With her new found determination she fought back with all the might that is known as Jedi Master Shaak-Ti turning the battle to her favor, pushing back the Sith lord.
Cloud found himself on the receiving end of Hurricane Shaak-Ti as he was barely able to block dodge and counter the Jedi Master's skill in swordsman ship, her Makashi being three times better than the last time they fought in the academy. It was then that he held back the blue spinning Hurricane with his pillars of strength, the three Sabers meeting and locking each other in place as the edi and Sith faced each other. "You have gotten a lot better since the last time we fought, Shaak-Ti. But I also trained, and My Kuro-Shikon is still as deadly as ever. Shaak-Ti still refused to stare the evidence in her face, believing the man before her is a imposter. But when the tide of battle changed to her barely able to follow the flying blades wielded by the Sith before her, she knew no matter how much she didn't want it to be true. That the man fighting her with a Kuro-Shikon style that was even more advanced than ever, is none other than the boy that haunted her dreams for the past two years. Cloud Fair was breathing and alive.
Cloud notice Shaak-Ti's form becoming sluggish, and he knew it was because she finally accepted that she was fighting him, but ever so Darth Fenrir struck. In a quick moment Shaak-Ti's light saber was destroyed and she was force pushed to the edge of the platform, where she now held on for dear Life. The Cloaked Man walked up to the edge as he stared down at her. 'Have to make sure,' Shaak-Ti force pushed the man's face, but the man had a force barrier raised, but it wasn't strong enough to stop it from removing his hood, revealing the face that Shaak-Ti always wanted to see, but now she wished she didn't.
Cloud watched as the Great Jedi Master Shaak-Ti had tears coming out of her eyes her strong domineer changing when she realized the Sith before her was her former love. When Cloud disappeared two years ago Shaak-ti was in so much emotional pain, she spent most of her time Building up her saber skills and the rest mourning the young man that she eventually fell in love with. Funny how their friendship started because she fell in love with his brother first. Cloud's showed no emotion on his face and he raised his boots, "Good bye Shaak-Ti, I'm sorry it has to end this way." Even though his face didn't change Shaak-Ti saw the pain in his eyes. As Cloud's foot descended onto Shaak-Ti's hand she closed her eyes, 'If Cloud is the enemy I rather die now than to face him in battle again.'
"Master!" a blue Twi'lek woman probably no older than Anakin showed up and distracted the Sith Lord, she turned her blue Light saber ablaze as she charged him. Cloud was surprised by the amount of skill she showed in saber combat so surprise that he was open to the full force of the push he received flying across the plat form. The Young Jedi knight quickly went to help her master up, "Thank you Aayla," Shaak-Ti said. But when the two looked back for the Sith they notice he has fled, and the speeder was nowhere to be seen. Aayla made a noise with her mouth, "damn, he got away." "Language my apprentice." Aayla looked a little embarrassed but soon recovered, "come on the gunships are waiting." The new Jedi knight went ahead while Shaak-Ti looked back to where she dueled with her old friend and love, 'Cloud how could you have fallen.' With that the Jedi master returned to her normal attitude and the former evidence of her tears disaaperaed, there was a war going on and she has to do her part. So Shaak-Ti head back following her previous padwan to gunships, as they carried her off to the battle field.
(I know Shaak-Ti isn't Aayla Secura's master but in this story I made it that way, to make it easier on myself. So if you have a problem please place it in my I don't give a fuck box and I will kindly with hold my fucks. That sounded better in my head. Anyways, please tell me what you think good, bad wtf, needs more emotion ect.)
