Author Note
It took me ages to write this fight. I wanted to show just how powerful Sith Gothic is without him proving too much for Malak and also the fight had to reflect that Sith Gothic is not a normal Sith. I think I managed that during this battle.
Reviews
superfanman217
I'm glad you like it so much
dionlosito
I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Joe Lawyer
You'll see how powerful he is becoming in this chapter, but he still isn't very well trained so don't expect too much.
Sterata
Yeah sorry about the cliffhanger it just seemed to work and I know it took me a while to update but it took me ages to write the fight. I'm not very good at them.
Doombug
I am trying to update faster.
LordGhostStriker
Lol
Sith Gothic. Chapter 18
I am Darth Revan, Dark Lord of the Sith.
Those who use the dark side are also bound to serve it. To understand this is to understand the underlying philosophy of the Sith.
The dark side offers power for power's sake. You must crave it. Covet it. You must seek power above all else, with no reservation or hesitation.
The Force will change you. It will transform you. Some fear this change. The teachings of the Jedi are focused on fighting and controlling this transformation. That is why those who serve the light are limited in what they accomplish.
True power can come only to those who embrace the transformation. There can be no compromise. Mercy, compassion, loyalty: all these things will prevent you from claiming what is rightfully yours. Those who follow the dark side must cast aside these conceits. Those who do not—those who try to walk the path of moderation—will fail, dragged down by their own weakness.
Those who accept the power of the dark side must also accept the challenge of holding on to it. By its very nature the dark side invites rivalry and strife. This is the greatest strength of the Sith: it culls the weak from our order. Yet this rivalry can also be our greatest weakness. The strong must be careful lest they be overwhelmed by the ambitions of those working beneath them in concert. Any master who instructs more than one apprentice in the ways of the dark side is a fool. In time, the apprentices will unite their strengths and overthrow the master. It is inevitable; axiomatic. That is why each master must have only one student.
This is also the reason there can only be one Dark Lord. The Sith must be ruled by a single leader: the very embodiment of the strength and power of the dark side. If the leader grows weak another must rise to seize the mantle. The strong rule; the weak are meant to serve. This is the way it must be.
My time here is ended. Take what I have taught you and use it well.
-Darth Revan from his holocron
On Board The Leviathan
Darth Malak, the Dark Lord of the Sith slowly raised his saber and turned towards the doors. Malak couldn't see his foe clearly as the emergency lights weren't bring enough, but he didn't need his eyes to tell him who it was. Malak moved slowly down the corridor the red-hot plasma blade matched the dim illumination adding the effect that everything was bathed in blood.
"The only thing standing between myself and Revan is you" Malak hissed, while whirling the hilt of the saber he held through his fingers "Are you so eager to die?"
With his supernatural senses Malak could sense that the dark side swirled around Gothic as the younger moved towards the Dark Lord. The scarlet-red saber flashed and hummed it could even be heard between the wailing of the alarms. Someone had sabotaged the ship rather effectively, but that wouldn't matter as long as Malak could get past the Sith traitor before Revan reached the freighter currently docked in the nearby hanger bay.
Malak raised his blade and narrowed his eyes. Gothic did the same and the two of them slowly got within range so they could strike at each other.
Suddenly their sabres met and then just as suddenly broke apart to whirl over their wielder's heads. After that both Sith stepped forward with a slashing motion and their blades locked again for a brief second. Then they both moved away and turned on the spot so they could angle their red blades down to make diagonal slashes at their foe.
Malak was impressed, Gothic was able to predict the Dark Lord's moves thanks to this strong connection to the Force. He didn't have the Dark Lord's training, but he did have an unrivalled connection to the Force and unlimited potential. Yet Malak wasn't worried, he had decades of experience behind him were as this boy did not.
Great red flashes illuminated both their bodies as the two red blades ground together in a terrible noise that hurt the ears. Gothic was using the Force to enhance his strength Malak realised and without even meaning to it seemed. However the Dark Lord was a warrior of great skill not a feeble old man so with a mighty shove he pushed forward and Gothic staggered back.
That was when the veteran Sith made a mistake, he should have gone in for a quick kill, but he went for the door. Yet even before he even began to try to cut through it the Force warned him of danger. Malak was just fast enough to block Gothic's attack, the strength of the blow shocked the Dark Lord and he found himself moving backwards in order to avoid losing his balance.
"It will take more then that to defeat me, Gothic." Malak said in this machine voice.
The Sith who was allied with the Jedi was then the one moving backwards as he was made to defend himself from a rapid series of strikes aimed at not killing him, but removing a limb or two.
Malak now knew he wouldn't be able to get to Revan in time, he'd missed his chance, but rather than get angry about that Dark Lord decided to use this small disaster as an opportunity. He'd lost his last apprentice and was now seeking a replacement, if Gothic proved himself worthy he would be a suitable replacement or at least would be once the Dark Lord had broken the boy and rebuilt him as something more suitable for Malak's needs.
The testing phase of this new plan was proving to be more entertaining than Darth Malak had expected. As the two blades met again with an ear aching screeching noise the Dark Lord had to admit that the younger Sith was adapting well to the situation. He wasn't using any one lightsabre style Gothic seemed to anticipating and reacting as the situation required.
While on the offensive Gothic used Djem So, which was rather artless compared to Malak's own form, but none the less effect. However when on defence the human from another galaxy was just able to have his sabre were it needed to be. It was if the Force itself wanted to keep the traitor alive.
Knowing that this duel could go for some time, and also knowing that a younger man had better stamina, the Dark Lord changed his tactics. He called upon the Force and channelled the energy into a blow that sent the younger Sith flying to into the door that was sealed shut.
Then without meaning to, Malak was sure, his new chosen apprentice lashed out with his own powers and sent his soon to be master down the corridor with a blast of raw Force energy.
Both blows had been strong ones, enough to break the bones of lesser men but that didn't stop either of them from carrying on the fight. Two red sabers ignited and the two Sith stood up, facing each other once again.
With speed superior than to what was natural for humans they clashed once more. Their sabers weaved left and right, up and down; parrying, slashing, and stabbing.
Malak moved back as he almost effortlessly blocked the attack and thrusts of his foe. He knew now the telekinesis wasn't the way to win this and that he couldn't outlast the boy, so he had figured that letting the younger Sith exhaust himself was the better plan.
Without warning Malak dodged to the right, letting Gothic saber slip by and then he aimed an elbow strike to the back of the traitor's head. He hadn't meant to do that, but the Dark Lord had been unable to resist hurting the younger Sith when the opportunity had shown itself.
However the elbow never met its target as Gothic ducked under the blow and then turned, so that he could sweep his saber at the older Sith's leg, but Malak was able to jump over the swipe with ease.
Then the fight went back to being a matter of strength as Gothic changed tactics all of a sudden. The two blades clashed as each warrior poured their might into the struggle. But that turned out to be a feint of a sort.
Gothic suddenly leapt back and moved like a Jedi Knight rather than a Sith Warrior, and had the Dark Lord the time to study the move he would have realised that the younger man was now trying to mimick Revan's style of fighting . It was as if Gothic didn't care if he fought like a Sith or a Jedi as long as won.
The sudden change of momentum sent Malak stumbling forward and into a kick. Gothic had been out of position for a sabre strike, as he was flipping, but his boot was in the right place to met Malak's face. However the blow didn't do much damage as the Dark Lord's artificial jaw was sturdier than one made of flesh and bone.
Gothic seemed to realise his mistake just then, but rather than do anything about it he removed his coat and then took out his other lightsabre. It seemed that the young Sith was willing to try anything to try anything if it gave him a chance to win this fight. But before the betrayer of the Sith could try to mimic Revan's two lightsabre style the lights went back to their normal level and the alarms went off. Then a group of Sith troops entered the room and aimed their blaster rifles at Gothic. Malak could have called them off, but instead he took a few steps back and decided to see what would happen.
The troops opened fire only to find their shots deflected. Gothic was employing the classical Form V variant known as Shien, or the Perseverance Form. Using Shien allowed a Sith or Jedi guard their body against blaster fire and enemy strikes without compromising their ability to launch powerful counterattacks. The style worked best when countering attacks from multiple opponents
Which Gothic was demonstrating right now, he didn't bother to deflect the bolts back at the troops he simply dropped his other sabre and used his sith weapon to bat the bolts aside until he was close enough to kill the soldiers with his sabre. The troopers were slaughtered in a matter of seconds.
Before the last solider hit the ground Gothic turn to face the Dark Lord and for a moment the two of them simply gazed at each other.
Malak raised his blade into a Makashi salute and then let it fall. Gothic didn't bother with that he but he didn't go on offensive either and the older Sith knew why. Revan was gone, his ship had entered hyperspace both of the Force Sensitive humans had been able to sense it. Which for Gothic meant he had already won. His mission had been not to defeat Malak, rather to delay him and now that this was done he wasn't sure what to do.
The Dark Lord on the other hand knew exactly what he needed to do. He wanted to carry on with the test so Malak closed the distance and brought this humming red sabre around in a twirl that would led to Gothic losing a hand if he didn't react in time. He saw it coming so Gothic stepped to the side and then slashed at Malak's thigh but the red blade was intercepted by the Dark Lord's own weapon as he twisted his whole body.
Both men then straighten themselves and the two red blades arched through the air and smashed together. The force of the two blows sent shockwaves of pain up the arms of the two Sith and Malak knew that it was time to end this little bit of fun. He was not a young man any more and didn't have the stamina Gothic had.
Malak span a few times to put some distance between himself and Gothic, then he raised his hand and Force Lightening came racing at the younger Sith. While the Dark Lord was summoning that power the traitor brought his Jedi weapon to his hand and then he crossed his two blades so that when the lightening reached him the sabres were able to shield him.
On the outside Malak's only reaction to this was a raised eyebrow, but in the privacy of his own mind the Dark Lord was smiling. Gothic was far more powerful than his level of training should allow. A lesser Sith Lord would have considered Gothic too dangerous as an apprentice, but Malak wasn't concerned he would break the boy and mould him into an unstoppable Jedi killing machine.
In order to begin that process he had to show the younger Sith exactly who was the Dark Lord. This involved Malak reaching out and squeezing the younger man's neck with the power of the Force. Gothic dropped his weapons and grabbed at his own throat as if to try to pull away an invisible hand that was choking him. However nothing physical could stop what was happening and Malak was able to hold the attack until the younger Sith blacked out. When he did the Dark Lord let Gothic drop to the ground.
(Line Break)
On Board The Leviathan
I woke up with a pounding headache, with my muscles aching and other parts of my body were throbbing in pain. This wasn't due to the fight I'd just had it was partly because I'd been asleep on a cold metal floor for what must have been hours judging my how dry my mouth felt.
Because of a pounding headache it was difficult to think, and it was slow work to try to clear the fog that clouded my mind, but eventually I was able to focus enough to get my body to move the way I wanted it to.
I started by lifting my hand so I could rub my eyes a little, there was gunk in them and until that was dealt with I wouldn't be able to see clearly. Then once that was done I discovered that it made little difference as I was sitting in total darkness.
Then I struggled to remember not only where I was but how I came to be here in this place, which was most likely a cell of some sort.
"Malak" I muttered to myself "I am a prisoner of Malak. I am here because I fought Malak.
It was if saying his name three times somehow summoned him. The door opened and the light blinded me, but I could hear just fine and what I heard was the sound of of heavy boots strode on metal that were moving closer and closer towards me.
I then felt fear, quite a lot of it actually, but I was unable to act on that fear as moving my arms was about my limit right now. Maybe I could have made my legs work given more time, but I was out of that now.
The footsteps stopped less than a meter from me, and I felt more than saw the looming presence that seemed to somehow thicken the air, making it more difficult for me to breathe. Slowly I turned my head so I could look and all I saw was a silhouette, but I knew exactly who it was.
"Rise" the mechanical voice ordered.
I was too weak to visit the Force powered compulsion and while I'd pushed my body to it's breaking point trying the fight Malak I still found myself trying to get to my feet
Somehow I was able to stand up for a moment and I had to lean against a wall as my legs weren't up to supporting my weight.
The Dark Lord watched me I could see his eyes narrowing in sadistic amusement as I struggled to remain standing. I needed medical attention we both knew that, it was just that Malak was inclined to give me any.
"Stand up" the Dark Lord ordered.
I was nearly able to do it, but I couldn't fully stand I had to lean on the wall or I would fall flat on my face. I was too tired and too sore to even be afraid now I didn't even care about staying alive. I just wanted to lie down.
"Get bent" I said.
I saw Malak's body stiffened, he was not used to such blatant disrespect of that I was sure and he didn't just accept the insult. I felt body roughly hauled upright with the Force and then slammed into the wall. I would have collapsed if not for the fact that I was pinned in place.
"You will obey me, apprentice" Malak told me "I don't care how long it will take to break you and I have no issues with torturing you".
I'd never understood why anyone would torture someone unless it was to get information. That at least made some sense, but there were people who inflict great amounts of pain on another person for their one sadistic pleasure. In my view it was needless and counterproductive, it was easier to get people to do you wanted if there was something it for them.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" I said "Let's just get on with it already".
Darth Malak would have sneered at me if he had a mouth to sneer with, but he did a pretty good of expressing his disdain for my words with his eyes. His very yellow eyes.
"Soon enough you will be begging me for death, and I will not be merciful. You will suffer until you break" Malak said.
I was sure he was right. I would break because everyone did sooner or later, if they didn't go totally insane or just die. So there was no reason to make this harder on myself that it had to be. But still I hadn't been able to resist goading Malak.
Not that it really mattered. I'd already won My self appointed task had been to slow the Dark Lord down long enough for Revan and Bastila to get away. They would find the rest of the Star Maps and then find the Starforge. Then when Malak faced his old master again she would kill Darth Malak and save the galaxy.
My part in that story wasn't over yet. I knew exactly where, but not when, I'd see the crew of the Ebon Hawk again. So really it was in my best interest to keep myself as healthy and sane as possible until then. But I couldn't just give in right away. I had to let the bad guy think he had broken me so that he wouldn't suspect that I was really just going to bide my time until I could defect again.
"Death is not an option – ever. Even when I have broken your mind and gotten what I needed from you, you have your uses. I will turn you into a weapon and unleash upon the Jedi" Malak was now saying "You will follow my instruction because you will realize that my way is right – that I am your master."
When I nodded The Dark Lord let me drop to the ground and I did my best not to crumble into a heap on the floor.
Then someone else, a medic by the looks of him, approached Malak and saluted him professionally.
"My lord" said the medical guy "We are ready to begin kolto treatment".
"Very good" Malak replied "Take him to med-bay and do what you need to do to keep him alive and sane".
Now I just knew there was going to be torture. I was so not looking forward to it.
"Yes, Lord Malak," the medic replied with a short bow.
As some arms took hold of me a part of brain decided that now was a great time to pass out and everything went dark.