CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

KORRIBAN

Darth Marr walked out to the top flat entryway of the sith academy, helmeted and hooded head looking out beyond the wide large ramp and off over the Valley of the Dark Lords towards the rising large column of black smoke. The explosion had been loud enough to hear even through the thick walls of the academy and had peaked his curiosity. Necrolis would be coming, and he was not going to dismiss that whatever had happened was a distraction.

Beside the Dark Council member, flanking him on either side Pyrannus and Pumirra stood. With the cathars respectively were both Blackheart and Raistlis Darkstar. Marr looked down the ramp watching the ranks of those he had assemble shuffle with nervousness. Already he could see the unit commanders barking orders, squads moving to either side towards the tomb entrances, while two more secured the entry into the tomb of Ajunta Pall. Marr nodded, pleased with the force he had arrayed to stand and guard their most sacred place. All was as it should be. Now all that remained was for Necrolis to make his appearance.

"I think seeing that, you might get stood up, Master." Pyrannus remarked.

Marr turned his head slightly to view his apprentice before looking back towards the rising smoke. Necrolis would not have been so foolish to announce his arrival else he would have heard and known. Whatever that had been, which Marr guessed was a crashing ship, it was not who he was expecting to arrive. No it was most likely one of the others leading a charge to stand with and join Necrolis, Marr thought. His apprentice did not hold his enemy in as high regard nor take into account his standing and skill.

"You would do well to reconsider, Pyrannus." Marr finally said in reply.

Glancing about Marr noted the two lines, one on either side of the entry, of red robed Royal Guard. The Dark Council most likely had sent them, Marr realized. They were aware of a threat to the academy, though the very specifics had been carefully tailored to keep them relatively in the dark about the nature of it all. All they needed to know was it was well handled by Marr himself. While they may have questions regarding things, most would not dare to challenge him or his position. He had earned that right among them, proven his place and loyalty to the Empire and the Emperor.

" I want you both ready for what is to come." Marr spoke casually, eyes never stopping their assessment over the force below him. "Raistlis has been promised first strike. Pyrannus and Pumirra you will accompany him but not step in to interfere in their confrontation."

"My thanks, My lord." Raistlis stated, keeping his focus ahead and down at the assembled troopers, intentionally avoiding looking at Pyrannus.

Raistlis let his gaze rise to the plume of dark smoke that marred the view of the Valley of the Dark Lords. Had Pyrannus been right, and that explosion been because of or the end of Necrolis Darkstar? Would he be deprived of the awaited confrontation with his father who had all but abandoned him? Don't even think that, Raistlis chided himself. He knew Marr was the wiser, more experienced warrior and sith, and if he did not believe it to be more than a distraction, Raistlis would abide by that. He needed to be ready, he needed to stay focused. When Necrolis Darkstar did show up, he would answer to him.

Pyrannus and Pumirra exchanged glances between themselves. Pyrannus could tell just by the look on her sister's face she was not happy with what they had just been told. Standing down was not in either of their natures. It rankled Pyrannus more, she knew, because Raistlis was going to be the one to face the Emperor's Wrath. Why should he get to do so? She had already defeated him and Blackheart as well for that matter. The honour should be mine for first blood, she fumed silently.

Pumirra watched her sister and frowned. While she hated being held back she could see the anger was building inside her sister. She is going to do something foolish, Pumirra thought as she noted the seething rage in Pyrannus' eyes. There also was no missing who she held responsible too. It was not Marr she was angry with, it was Raistlis. They just fucked and now she was ready to slice out and hand the man his own spleen. Pumirra scowled as she tried to wrap her head about it, and all she could finally decide was that her sister might well actually be falling for the pure blooded sith warrior. If that was the case, sooner or later she was either going to give in and embrace such, or outright kill the man.

Teffa Darkstar groaned as he tried to focus his vision, slowly glancing about him. It took a few moments of staring at the twisted metal and rubble about him to realize where he was and what he was staring at. The bounty hunter took a couple long slow breaths, letting his head clear and then taking in the twisted metal and stone about him. The StarWolf did not have a broken paw, he thought, it had outright broken its neck. What remained of the ship when it had impacted the building now was beyond salvage and would never fly again. The cockpit had caved inwards and he could see the left side where terminals had been had blown outwards. The control panels were all twisted, and it took some effort and the grating scrape of metal on armour plating on his left leg to work himself free.

Teffa got to his feet but had to hang onto the chair he had been sitting in. I'm not in good shape here, he thought, then suddenly realized the cockpit had twisted with the impact and was now sloped to his left. Teffa almost laughed but pushed aside the moment as his attention went to those that had been aboard the ship with him. Glancing to his right he could see where the upper bulkheads had caved down but had not gotten near where he could make out the slumped form of Tormen Darklight still in his chair and strapped in.

"Tormen… Tormen, you dead yet?" Teffa asked, stumbling over to the other man, tapping lightly with a fist on the man's helmet.

Tormen Darklight groaned and shook his head trying to find his focus. He could feel the tapping on his head and shook it again, hands slowly moving over himself as he took stock of being alright. How he was still in one piece was beyond the smuggler, but it seemed he was. With a groan he unbuckled himself and shifted about in his chair, seeing Teffa standing there and at least upright and alive himself.

"Ok, I swear I have to stop hanging out with you people." Tormen remarked. "You're all fucking crazy!"

Teffa laughed seeing indeed the smuggler was fine. If he was cracking bad jokes, he had survived their rough landing. Glancing back towards the front of the ship, Teffa had no idea how the ship was remotely in one piece. You've not seen the rest of it, he reminded himself, once more thinking about the others who had been stashed inside the ship's escape pod. While the most secure, armoured, and protected place, he still had to wonder if it had survived or not.

Moving to the door Teffa shouldered it but found it would not budge. The control panel all but useless, he knew he had to force it open. Tormen stumbled over to him, wobbly on his legs. Dropping to his knees, Tormen went low on the door pulling and pushing on it, and combined with Teffa doing the same, the two men managed to open it just enough for the bounty hunter to wedge himself in and then shove it open halfway. With the door sticking and clearly jammed with all the warping the structure of the ship had done, it was as good as it was going to get. Teffa looked beyond as he stepped through the hatchway, Tormen following, and all he could do was whistle.

"Wow." Tormen said, the only word that came to him at that point as he stepped beside the bounty hunter and took in the damage.

As warped, twisted and pushed in as the cockpit had been, the StarWolf was far worse in the main body and rear of the ship. Metal had twisted and ripped like wet paper, the entire right side of the hull completely gone and a gaping hole gave view out to Korriban. Fires burned through the rear, black smoke filtering out through the massive hole in the ship's side. Through the hole, Teffa could make out the right engine which had exploded off the ship and was a mass of burning pieces through the large gap.

"If anyone was back here…" Tormen muttered hoping no one had been but fearing the worst.

" Come on." Teffa said, moving to the twisted and broken rail of the upper platform.

The two men picked their way across the warped deck, hoping over the rail and then swinging themselves down and into what remained of the lower deck of the ship. The rooms were barely accessible, the hallway warped and crushed so much that both men had to crawl through to get to where the escape pod was. The damage was so severe they could only pop the lower portion of the hatch to get it open.

"About damn time." Aela Darkstar growled from where she was packed in along with the rest.

"That's the last time I let you drive." Bloodshade added.

One by one Teffa and Tormen helped the others out of the escape pod and then out of the burning wreckage of the StarWolf. Standing outside, looking about the Valley of the Dark Lords, they were at least alive and had arrived.

"If I may, I believe we will need to procure a means off this planet as I don't quite think your ship is flight worthy." Malavai Quinn stated matter of factly.

"Quinn leave the humour to me." Vette said and rolled her eyes.

"Lets just deal with one thing at a time." Teffa growled. "We need to find Necrolis and you can bet they're coming for us too so better get ready for a fight."

Necrolis watched the rising black smoke from the academy spaceport and shook his head. Looking back from just above the tomb of Tulak Horde, he could see the squadron of troopers guarding the way to the marketplace, and bet there were far more beyond at the entrance to the academy itself. Marr, you are nothing if not predictable, he thought. It was, after all, sound strategy for the man to have put in place. Make him fight, tire himself out, before he could face Marr. It was all about gaining an advantage.

Necrolis glanced back at the spaceport, then again to where he knew he had to head. Rising he made to go and confront Marr but stopped. Looking back at the black smoke rolling upwards and played with by the steady wind, Necrolis swore under his breath. He had to know if and how many of them had survived and come after him.

Hoping the rest of the way down, Necrolis made his way carefully towards the shuttle landing pad where he could get a better view. Even as he drew closer he could see the Star Wolf had crushed in a good portion of the face of the spaceport, the ship looking like a smoking, burning, mass of ruined metal. Voices calling out drew his attention ahead and to his left. He could make out the Imperial officer in the dark grey and black uniform barking out orders even as troopers hurried to take up position on the narrow ledge around the guard wall. Snipers, Necrolis knew, likely looking for survivors from the crash.

Moving quickly, Necrolis worked his way about the end of one of the large metal guard walls, keeping out of sight as he closed the distance between himself and where the troopers were setting up. Once he was in a position to close the remaining distance quickly and strike, Necrolis glanced towards the spaceport once more. Even without aid, he could make out movement and figures emerging out of the wreckage. Some of them had at least made it, he noted.

Nercrolis watched and waited, seeing as they set up and were ready. As they zeroed in on their targets, he moved to strike. Reaching out, Necrolis grabbed the closest of the troopers by the neck with the force, lifting him off his feet. As the others took note and began to scramble to account for the surprise attack, Necrolis tossed out one saber, letting the red blade slice through numerous troopers before returning to his hand. Flinging away the gasping force captured trooper, Necrolis ignited both of his sabers and glared hard at the Imperials.

"One chance." Necrolis growled. "Put the guns down and walk away or die where you stand."

"The Empire does not cower from traitors!" The man, older with salt and pepper short cropped hair, barked out from behind the line of troopers under his command.

Necrolis shook his head. He cast a look slowly over the troopers, noting their hands trembling. They could see the half dozen of their fellow soldiers already down on the ground bleeding and taken out in mere moments. They all knew if they fought, they stood no chance. It was merely a matter of following orders or not, Necrolis realized. Such was easily remedied, he knew. Reaching out with the force, Necrolis lifted the man off the ground by his neck, squeezing so the man gasped and wheezed loudly as he fought for air. Levitating the man, Necrolis guided him through the ranks and over to the edge of the mesa, holding the man suspended over the long drop down to the reddish brown dirty far below.

"Do not make this fools mistake." Necrolis snarled before flexing his fingers wide apart and letting the man go. His screams echoed as he fell to his death. Before his screams had stopped or he had hit the bottom even, the troopers had all tossed their arms down and run.

Gathered outside the ship, Teffa drew both blasters and made to head off through the rubble into the spaceport. He had no idea where to even look for Necrolis. When he heard the faint cries and sounds of combat, the bounty hunter froze. Glancing about he could see the others looking about as well in alarm. Finally it was Asha who pointed off to the higher ground where Teffa looked with the others to where a reddish flash of a lightsaber could be seen.

"I think we found him." Bloodshade remarked with a smirk.

They stood and watched as an Imperial officer was floated over the edge of the drop and then let go. Asha lowered her head and looked away, even as Tormen just whistled and watched the man flail helplessly as he fell. Teffa scanned over the ridgeline, noting the Imperial forces that were running away, and he guessed more than likely had been setting up to snipe them where they stood unawares. Necrolis had intercepted them.

"Great now we just have to get to him." Asha commented turning to glance towards Teffa.

"We stay together and move forward, he'll find us." Teffa remarked.

"Agreed, it makes the most sense." Malavai Quinn added, backing up the bounty hunter before anyone could say anything. "We know where he was heading. We make for the sith academy and back Necrolis up."

While the others talked and organized, Vette moved to stand at the edge of the drop, eyes watching and following the figure of Necrolis as he disappeared back behind the secure walls that lined the higher passage. She had seen that dark nature of his before, even questioned him on it. When push came to shove, she knew he had no compulsion against killing. Still, he was not as bloodthirsty as some sith she had seen. He had honour, and integrity, he fought with purpose. Even knowing so, it was hard to see him drop the Imperial officer to his death in so casual and easy a manner. He's gone to a very dark place to fight Marr, she thought.

Vette sighed and moved to follow after the group, a hand straying to the front of the gree armour she wore. Even as she dropped into the back of the group, she felt the small light tap on the plating of her leg armour. Looking down, she noted the small jawa beside her.

"Blizz." Vette greeted the little creature, "Hi there."

"Sith save Blizz, sith save nice blue lady." Blizz quickly spoke. "We go save sith?"

Vette gave a small short laugh and crouched down, tossing her arms about the little jawa and giving him a tight hug. Biting her lower lip she studied the little creature a moment before nodding her head in answer to him.

"Yes, we're going to go save him back."

Marr paced back and forth a few steps in either direction before turning once more and re-tracing his steps. Hands clasped behind his back as he did so, he struck the impatient and imposing figure atop the long slope of the ramp up to the academy entrance. Marr did not turn his head, but his eyes slid to glance over at the newly fixed entry. It had taken a short amount of time to repair the damage done by Shadellis Darkstar, but despite looking new, all Marr could see was the smoking crater that it had been. He knew if he looked at some of the stone about the sides of the building or small wall that ringed the outer edge, there would still be small cracks to mark the damage that had been done.

He could feel Necrolis was nearby and close. The tremors in the force did not lie. He had yet to see the man, but that he guessed had more to do with the distraction of the starship crashing into the spaceport. Marr had thought about such happening long and hard. It was clearly a distraction. Necrolis would have guessed he would have marshalled forces. What better way to draw them away? No, Necrolis and his family members were on Korriban and they were coming.

"Worried?" Pyrannus asked as Marr continued to pace about.

"Hardly." Marr growled back at her in annoyance. "You should control your anger better and focus more on the present, Pyrannus."

"Oh I'm focused."

"Are you?" Marr questioned back, stopping in his pacing to turn and face the cathar sith. "You are too eager to try and prove how good you are. You are so blind you cannot even fathom we are not the hunters here but the hunted. Necrolis is coming, but we know nothing of his plan of attack. We are on the defensive."

Pyrannus listened to Marr's words and shook her head. They had them coming to them, they had the numbers and forces against them, what more could they want? Sure, Necrolis was out there and would show up at some point, but to think they were not in control and dealing from a position of strength baffled her. The momentary thought rushed to the fore of her thoughts that perhaps Marr was afraid. Pyrannus knew better however, and brushed it aside.

"As you say, Master." Pyrannus finally answered. "We will be patient, and we will be ready for them."

Marr chuckled and nodded to his apprentice before returning to his pacing. He had no doubt the woman could hold her own, and would indeed be ready for what would come. Despite that, Marr sensed she had become overconfident and too sure of herself. If she were to try and go up against Necrolis, Marr had little doubt her confidence would take a hit when she was defeated. Where Pyrannus found herself once that happened Marr was unsure. Some rose to the challenge and grew stronger still, others crumbled and never recovered.

Thinking on Pyrannus invariably made him think of her sister. While it was clear there was a weakness in her being enamoured of Blackheart, she was far more level headed and cautious. Perhaps it was the difference between them. While Pyrannus marched headlong into the fight, Pumirra was the one to stay back and use her abilities to heal as well as fight. That difference was such that while Pumirra was just as strong a fighter, it was a more cerebral approach that she took. Marr suspected both were destined to do great things, but perhaps one or both would never live up to that destiny.

"We shall see… we shall see." Marr whispered as he paced and waited for his opponent to show himself.