KORRIBAN

Blackheart Darkstar woke to the hand placed firmly over his mouth keeping him from voicing little more than a muffled grunt. Annoyance and anger flashed in his eyes as he stared up into the face of Raistlis, quickly registering there was no danger. The pure blooded sith hovered close over him, glancing about the makeshift camp in the darkness, keeping close watch on the Overseer that lead them. Loun was sound asleep, and Raistlis wanted her staying that way. Looking back down at Blackheart, he held a finger to his lips as he drew his hand away, indicating for the man to keep quiet.

"Keep your voice down." Raistlis hissed the words.

"What are you up to?" Blackheart asked in hushed tones, sitting up and trying in vain to stifle a yawn.

Raistlis cast another glance to Loun then back to the zabrak before speaking again. "I want your help."

Blackheart frowned as he knew exactly what the man had in mind. There was no doubt Raistlis was itching for a fight, not that he could blame the man. Blackheart was sick of the running and hiding himself. Despite that, Blackheart had agreed with Loun on her assessment of what they were up against. He did not like the fact Raistlis was going to do something rash and foolish. For a moment he had the thought he was thinking far too much like his mother.

"You're going after them." Blackheart stated, and Raistlis nodded.

"It's dark, they're out there, and I am sick of running away." Raistlis whispered in answer. "Come with me, lets cull the herd and let them know we aren't helpless little victims."

Blackheart mulled the man's words over, thinking about it. Loun had said they would hit them, thin them out as they could. He was still not sure now was the time for such, however. That was not even taking into consideration sneaking off and leaving the sleeping Overseer alone and vulnerable. While he had his doubts about the course of action the other sith was determined to undertake, Blackheart could not help but like the idea at the same time.

"Look I'm sick of this. I'm sick of the ration packs, sleeping on the ground." Raistlis added as Blackheart did not immediately answer one way or another. "We can get these guys, you and I can bloody their noses. What do you say?"

"Alright." Blackheart finally nodded in agreement. "We go hunting."

The squad was kept small to make them harder to detect and to keep their mobility high. Pumirra accompanied the six troopers into the hills and valleys. Walking along with them, she knew her very presence was keeping them on edge. She was feared, and that fear meant they had best do all they could to please her and do their jobs well. Failure was death, and they all knew that. It was a price none of them wanted to pay.

"Taen, Khess, get up onto that ridge running parallel to cover us and get a clear signal back to base." Squad leader Pattis growled low into his helmet's mic, arm waving up to the high ground as they moved into a wide valley with steep sides.

"A wise precaution. " Pumirra said soft and low.

Pattis gave the woman a nod, thankful his helmet hid the scowl on his face. He had not been happy at all when she had simply walked up and joined them. First night out and we had to have her along, he thought. As if his men were not antsy enough chasing sith out in no man's land. All of them were well aware of how close they were to the wilds. None of them would venture there, risk the madness that seemed to overwhelm anyone venturing into that domain. If the sith easily succumbed to such, he and his men stood no chance. He half hoped the hunted prey did run there, then he could get off the sith home world and away from Pumirra specifically. It was for the best for his squad.

Pattis looked about at the three troopers remaining. He knew each and every one of those under his command. He had served with them three tours on Balmorra, another two on Taris. They were battle hardened and capable, but he was still nervous this time out. Orders had come in cancelling their shore leave on fleet, directed to the sith home world of Korriban. Placed under Pumirra, Pattis felt uneasy both with location and who they answered to. The fact they were hunting force users just added to his concerns. My ulcer is going to be killing me, he thought.

"Thermal checks?" Pattis barked the question shoving his doubts from his mind and glancing to the two men with the portable units. He could not afford to dwell on things out of his control, not while there was a mission at hand.

"Negative, sir." The first trooper named Kerin answered, followed quickly by the same from the second soldier, a large burly man named Etis. Jalin just stood by the man, the third trooper in their group, blaster held ready and scanning about for any possible targets.

Kerin was one of the few Pattis knew he could count on. He was always a cool head, even under fire. The man had been a rock on Taris, even in the face of rakghouls. Etis was pure muscle, with the smash mouth attitude that matched. He was a good fighter all around and followed orders well enough. Jalin was the one Pattis knew he had to keep a firm grasp on. The man was easily rattled, but despite that he was handy with a blaster and had not failed him yet.

"Be cautious. I sense danger." Pumirra offered, glancing about with her feral gold-beige eyes. Her cathar heritage gave her a distinct advantage over the soldiers in night vision, meaning she did not require the cumbersome head gear the others wore. Added to that, she had a sharper sense of smell, though at present she caught nothing on the wind. Despite that she could feel something coming, though what specifically she did not know. It was a presence in the force, a tremble she could feel, that had brought her a warning.

"Taen, Khess, report in." Pattis ordered after hearing the sith.

There was only silence over the comm. When no answer happened, Pattis barked the demand a second time even as he brought up his blaster rifle. Something was amiss, the squad leader knew. Taen was tough as they came, and good in a fight. Khess was younger but capable, the woman acting as the team's communications specialist and field medic. If they were not answering, there was either a communication problem, or worse they were no longer able to answer. Pattis felt that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and knew the odds of it being a comm problem were slim to none.

A sudden flare of bright light blinded Pattis as his night vision flared suddenly. He had no time to move or react, forced to close his eyes tight against the sudden sharp brightness that made his night vision useless. Pattis did not even manage to see the attack coming, let alone have the chance to cry out. The lightsaber sliced clean through his neck before arcing back into the night from where it had been tossed. Pattis stood his ground, unmoving for a few moments before finally the body crumpled towards the ground. The trooper's head rolled free off his shoulders as the body went down, bouncing along the ground over to those he had commanded.

"Shit, Sarge is down!" The comm crackled with life as the attack hit them, the remaining troopers looking about.

"I've got nothing, where are they?" Etis growled, trying to locate a target.

"Sarge is down, man! We're done for!" Jalin yelled, looking to Etis and Kerin wide eyed and full of fear.

Pumirra rolled her eyes and flexed her hands, the claws extending and retracting. She had felt such coming, and now the moment was upon them. She was rather impressed that they had the temerity to attack them and not just run. Perhaps she had under estimated them. Ambushing her forces, taking down three of them before they even knew they were under attack was quite the feat, the sith knew. This is going to be fun, she decided.

Raistlis crouched low behind a stand of larger boulders, waiting with Blackheart, the two watching the patrol. They had arrived in time to see two troopers dispatched to the high ground where they had made their approach. They had been easy prey, each of them taking one and letting their lightsabers slice into them. Caught off guard they had no time to get a warning out. Knowing time was now of the essence they had crept in close, aided by Blackheart's ability to wrap the force about them to keep them unseen. The bulk of the group was clustered, perfectly lined up for them to attack.

The sith warrior stood and tossed his saber, taking the lead figure in the head before he caught it, shut the weapon down and returning to cover. Both sith then wasted no time in moving off, aware their general location had been tracked with their opening attack. Blaster fire rained over the rock formation they had been behind, flashes of light in the darkness. They were nowhere near the spot, unseen they moved forward and about to the other side of the ravine. Knowing the forces had already been cut in half, it was now a simple matter of hitting the remaining four bodies and taking them down.

Raistlis once again lead the attack, leaping the distance between them. He took down the first trooper at the waist with a swipe of his saber. Momentum carried him across the distance, blade spearing through armoured chest of another trooper before he could turn and target him. The trooper twitched, blaster shooting uselessly into the dirt of the ground as Raistlis turned to find his next target. All too easy, he thought. He was unprepared for the blast of force energy that slammed into him, lifting and tossing him onto his back.

Raistlis had efficiently cut the remaining forces in half, even as Blackheart rushed in to join him. Halfway to the group, the sith raised his hand and let loose with the force lightning at his command. The crackle of lightning echoed off the ravine walls, even as it lit up the darkness about them. Blackheart kept the stream of energy on his target, watching as the trooper twitched and writhed, held in place even as he was fried to death. In the light cast, Blackheart saw and took notice of the remaining member of the group. This is not good, Blackheart thought as his gaze took in the sith they would now be up against. They had not noticed her in the group, and it was too late now that they had engaged them to run.

Pumirra wasted no time in launching into an attack, the black-white lightsaber coming to life in her hands. She realized the counter attack coming a moment before Blackheart let loose with a stream of lightning, beating her to the punch. The cathar pivoted to her left, bringing the weapon up to catch the blast along its blade and deflecting it. The two of them worked well together, she noted, the inquisitor buying time to have the juggernaut get back to his feet and in the fight. These were the kids, she knew, and she wondered where the third member of their party was. Where was the traitorous Overseer?

"Almost good enough!" She growled as she enjoyed the moment, eyes taking in the inquisitor.

"Raistlis, get out!" Blackheart yelled, casting a glance over to see the other sith rising back to his feet.

"No, we kill her here and now!" Raistlis yelled, charging at Pumirra.

Pumirra waited until Raistlis drew close, the juggernaut racing headlong to press the attack. Brash and foolish, the cathar noted. The young juggernaut was all offence, the follies of youth in thinking he was invincible, that his strength would overcome any obstacle. Reaching out with her free hand, Pumirra called on the force to grab and lift the man off his feet, grasping and squeezing about his thick neck. Raistlis grunted and fought for breathe as he felt the pressure on his throat. Kicking and thrashing, he knew he could not free himself. While the cathar sith remained focused on him, her grasp via the force would remain strong. He had little time left. Hand still gripping his lightsaber, Raistlis tossed it at the woman in a last ditch effort to avoid being choked to death. As the blade flew from him, he felt the hold about his throat fade. Raistlis dropped to his feet, falling to his knees as he gasped and sucked in quick lung-fulls of air.

Blackheart watched the sith attacker get a hold of Raistlis, only to then lose her grasp as she parried his saber toss at her. With her attention on him, Blackheart raced in at her, leaping forward. Pumirra turned back towards him just as he closed the distance. Barrelling into the female sith, Blackheart grabbed at her arms, getting a hold of her forearms even as they hit the ground rolling. Pushing over hard, Blackheart slammed her down into the ground pinning her under him. Pumirra grinned and purred up at him, staring at the zabrak intently.

"Well this is cozy!" Pumirra purred up at Blackheart before bringing her leg up hard, forcing him forward, shifting under him to roll out and escape.

Rising she threw up a hand, force slamming the leaping Raistlis backwards as she caught him mid-air. Once again, Raistlis slammed into the ground on his back, attack thwarted once more. Blackheart moved to bring a hand up to use lightning, but the cathar was quicker. Pumirra swung a fist in a backhand blow, connecting with his left cheek. She then hopped to shift her weight onto her right leg, lashing out with a kick that snapped his head back, dropping him to the ground.

Blackheart's vision swam with the blow. Unable to focus he floundered as he tried to get to his feet. Before he could get his bearings he felt someone grab him, pinning him down. Blinking and trying to clear his head, the zabrak felt the warm softness of a tongue lick up along his cheek before a purr reached his ears. Shifting his weight, he realized he was held down and caught. The cathar had positioning on him, her weight situated perfectly, and Blackheart could feel the added weight of the force pressing down to hold him firmly in place. Damn she is strong, he thought unhappily, knowing they were outmatched even fighting together against her.

Pumirra stared down watching the inquisitor closely her attention now fully on him. The other sith, Raistlis, had fled as the inquisitor had yelled for him to do. She was slightly surprised the juggernaut had not kept up his pointless attacks, leaving his comrade behind. Looking back down at the young sith pinned under her, she took the time to study him fully. He was rather attractive, she noted, though a bit younger than she in age. Red skinned with black tattoos that ran in lines over his face, his cheeks and nose, accenting his eyes, he was the typical zabrak really. Still, there was something more about him, Pumirra noted. It was in his gaze, the eyes shone with an intelligence and power, something she guessed the man himself had yet to comprehend.

"Not that I didn't enjoy earlier, but this is far more my speed." Pumirra grinned and purred as she spoke, teasingly rocking her hips just a bit to grind on the man.

"Best kill me, I won't hesitate to do so to you when I escape." Blackheart threatened while trying to ignore the feel of her against him.

"Oh we are going to have such fun together." Pumirra commented before rising and dragging the man up to his feet. Her clawed hand wrapped about his throat, even as she pinned and held one arm behind his back with the other.

Blackheart glanced over his shoulder as she shoved him forward to get him moving. He could feel the pull and burn in his arm. She had him well under control, and he was all too aware of the claws that tipped her fingers that were poised at his vulnerable throat. For a moment he contemplated trying to fight, but decided against it. She would not hesitate to kill him, and he had no real hope of breaking free from her. There was also something about this cathar sith, something he could not place. It was a seeming familiarity that bothered him, knowing they had never met before but feeling something between them all the same. Don't even think about her like that, he chided himself forcing away the thoughts of her on top of him rocking against him.

"Who are you?" Blackheart asked, deciding it could not hurt to speak and know who his captor was.

"I am Pumirra." The woman answered back, slowing them up to press her face close to his ear so that her breath caressed over his skin. "You and I are going to get very well acquainted. How pleasant that is, well, that you will decide."

Blackheart arched an eyebrow at the woman's words even as she pushed him again and got them moving forward once more. Does she mean to torture and kill me, or fuck me, he wondered. He could not help the thought he might well enjoy the latter, remembering how she had shifted above him moments before. Frowning, he realized he needed to steel himself more against those thoughts. She was the enemy, the last thing he needed to do was hesitate because he developed a crush on his captor. Just remember it's all a game to her, nothing more than an act to break him with feminine wiles, he reminded himself.

Raistlis watched from the lip of the ravine, wiping the back of his hand at his nose and clearing a bit of blood that dripped from it. He was hurting, but not enough to keep him out of a fight. He had only grudgingly retreated and followed Blackheart's advice. He did not like the fact at all. Leaving Blackheart to the enemy left a sour taste in his mouth. Seeing the inquisitor dragged to his feet and marched back towards where the Imperials had set up camp, he knew at the moment there was nothing he could do to help him. Any rescue he might mount would not work, not given the cathar sith was the one he had to face.

So much for the best laid plans, he thought sourly. He knew Loun was going to be furious with them, especially him. There was nothing more he could do. Neither of them were a match for the cathar sith, as he had found out the hard way, and he had doubts now even Loun could stand against her. At least I know where they are going, and he's alive, Raistlis thought. Rising and turning back, he struck out towards their camp. The fury of the Overseer awaited him. Time to get it over with he knew, hoping that perhaps if Loun joined him, and they could free Blackheart, all three of them might stand a chance against the other sith.