Chapter 16
(Coruscant, Imperial Palace)
Several hours have since past since the "event," at the senate building, or otherwise known as the breaking of the senate. Exar had arrived at the palace, but chose to clean up, and refresh before coming before Palpatine. He was, unbeknownst to himself, stained with blood here and there across his black and purple robes and armor.
So after his little refreshment, he stood before the throne room entrance before two red-clad royal guards, his arms crossed, a look of boredom upon his face. For the Emperor apparently had this tick, Lord Vader had spoken of, where he made those waiting to meet with him, wait far longer than necessary for his signal to speak with them.
'How utterly droll.' Kun had though, but alas, there was little he could do, and thus stood waiting outside the massive throne doors.
Night had fallen upon the city-world, and the lights and majesty of a world that never sleeps passed on by outside one of the many massive windows of the palace, and Kun found himself wasting away his time by looking out the window.
"My lord, Kun. The Emperor will now see you."
The guard on the right informed as he ever so slightly craned his neck to speak to the Sith lord. "Hmm, about time. Thank you for your diligent guard." Kun said with sarcasm lacing his every word as he entered into the throne without another glance at the guards, whom he could feel through the force did indeed feel offended by Kun, and with that knowledge he smirked and continued on to the throne.
"Forgive the late hour for which I have desired to speak with you, your majesty but I think it punctual to report on the happenings within the senate this day."
"The time of day doesn't matter, Kun. Proceed with your report." The old Sith waved off Kun's politician like apology, and sat upon his highly elevated throne with his hands clasped neatly in his lap. A passive look on his wrinkled face.
"As you wish, your majesty." Kun replied with a bow.
"I have successfully broken the senate, your highness. I am afraid that many senators that had since been considered treasonous or supportive of anti-Imperial sentiment sadly died, and their remains were carted away to where I know not. I think it is safe to assume their bodies shall never be found. Lest awkward questions arise from their home planets, and I assure you that their colleagues will not utter a peep." Kun informed with dramatics in his voice, and a dark twinkle in his eyes.
"Excellent, lord Kun, excellent! For too long have those senators been a thorn in my side! With this war the Moffs have inadvertently given me an opening to be finally rid of those contemptuous fools, and ineffectual political hacks!" Sidious spat with delight still upon his features.
"Now, if you would please, lord Kun, I have other matters that require discussion while we have the time."
"Of course, your majesty." Kun replied smoothly.
"Lord Vader is well aware of the situation in the Core concerning Abregado-rae and it pleases me to be able to declare the bacta supplies are secure from the Moff fools."
"Then lord Vaders counterattack was a success?"
"An unquestionable success lord Kun!" Palpatine declared with a horrid cackle of his.
Exar nodded his understanding with a bit of delight about him. After all, he would have been utterly surprised if Vader had lost to these Moffs.
"This however is not what I want to discuss with you. No, rather it concerns what your part to play in this war will be." Sidious intoned.
"You may or may not know this Kun, but the vital and massive Tapani sector has fallen into Moff hands, and now serves as the critical entryway into the core for the Moff traitors. Moff Laird Gustavu has, by our intelligence reports, subjugated the ruling houses of the Tapani nobility, and is consolidating his power there."
"Sounds very troubling indeed, your highness." Kun interjected and the Emperor nodded.
"Indeed it is. That is why I am ordering you to take command of the re-conquest of that vital region of the galaxy. After all, I need to be sure that my fellow Sith can competently command an imperial navy, and army task force, right? "
"Of course, your highness. I would be most pleased to undertake this mission! I have been away from war for far too long as it is anyway!" Exar informed with delight now in his voice.
"Very good. I will expect you to take off with the 68th fleet in a weeks time at the latest, otherwise you may leave when you are most prepared. The full fleet will be returned to full strength as well. Admiral Refflet will be joined by Grand Admiral Octavian Grant. He is from the Tapani sector and will aid in accessing the loyalties of the noble houses. Otherwise, use any and all means necessary to quash all opposition within the sector, lord Kun!"
"It shall be done, your highness." Kun replied with a stiff bow.
"Now, I understand that your fleet detachment returned to Imperial Center sometime ago. My loyal Hand, did he return as well?"
"Yes he did, your majesty. I however ordered him to await my instruction to return to you. I have been trying to impart upon the boy a stronger connection to the dark side. He lacks focus I have noticed." Kun lied, hoping that the old Sith would accept his excuse, as he doubled his mental walls through the force to stop any scent of deception coming off him through the force.
Palpatine did indeed seem quiet for a moment as his glowing yellow eyes fixated on Kun. A few seconds passed however before the old man seemed to relax ever so slightly.
"I see. Well then, since you are keen on continuing to train my agent, I will order you to send him before me tomorrow. I look forward to seeing his improvements."
"Trust me, your majesty," Kun interjected quickly, "you will find that he has far surpassed where eh once was, I promise you that."
Palpatine nodded slowly as if in contemplation or deep thought.
"Very well, Kun. We are done here then. Go rest, and tomorrow bring Valek here to the palace. I will possibly have more to discuss with you then as well."
Kun bowed, "Very well, your highness." Kun said and Sidious waved him away with a wave of one hand. Kun turned and quickly left the throne. A hint of annoyance about him as he began to think about how little time he had in actuality spent training young Viathan, or "Valek," as the Emperor still called him. Sure he had taught him how to wielded his two sabers better as he himself was an expert at Jar'kai through the application of the Niman dueling style. Through the force, kun had made Viathan meditate into darkness more, taught the boy to use his failures, his anger and rage as a source of brute power. Also mildly he strengthened his ability to control Sith lightning, but the more arcane the more secret and powerful of Sith arts, Kun had barely touched upon. 'He will have to prove himself I suppose.' Kun decided with his grey eyes becoming focused with mild irritation creeping along his spine. 'Better still, I should prepare him for his meeting with his "master" tomorrow.' The Sith lord thought, and with that in mind he quickly appropriated a shuttle and made his way to Vaders' palace.
(Imperial Intelligence Headquarters, Coruscant, Imperial Palace)
Armand Isard stood, both hands clasped behind him, staring at many monitors before him. All of them were either filled with agent video reports, or actually live footage of battles taking place in key areas of the galaxy. His network of agents in Moff space were reporting on several Moff invasions taking place to consolidate their power inside both Mid and Outer-rims. Moff forces were attacking the worlds of Socorro, Ruuria, Tantive V, and Telos IV, along the Hydian Way trade route in the Outer-rim. Only Socorro was off the trade route, and Isard assumed it had merely to do with subjugating a world deep inside their borders. The Moffs could not afford a world that deep into their territory being Imperially aligned.
In the Mid-rim the Roche asteroids were coming under Moff attack, and his majesty had specifically ordered the asteroids reinforced, lest the technologically savvy Verpine species fell under Moff dominion, and as such, Grand Admiral Zaarin had been appointed leader of that campaign and had already left Coruscant at the head of Task Force 3 with over 1200 ships, including 50 Stardestroyers. Further Moff forces had been reported to be amassing in the Alui sector for what was possibly a full invasion of the Chommell sector. A sector that was still loyal, and under the control of ex-Moff now governor Panaka, the possibility of a full-scale attack on the sector that held the homeworld of the Emperor was something Armand was not pleased with hearing. 'This would surely enrage his majesty.' He thought as the report passed him by on a monitor.
Suddenly a console on his desk started to beep, and seeing it was a communication from his colleague and near equal appointed recently by Palpatine, Lord Cronal, or as most knew him as, "Blackhole."
Quickly accepting the transmission Armand took his office seat, and was not surprised to see the shadowy visage of Blackhole appear on the monitor he used for communications. The "man," took on a shimmering starscape, and had intimidating blank eyes. Though Armand and a select few were privy to what and who Blackhole was, the man still caused Isard to grow a little on edge when spoken to.
"Greetings, my lord Cronal. To what do I owe the honor of speaking with you?"
"Your pleasantries are not needed, director, though, appreciated." The near see-through figure spoke in an androgynous voice that reeked with either politeness, or curtness depending on his mood, and Armand felt Cronal to be in a "good," mood at the moment.
"I am only in contact with you as we have a new situation forming in Imperial-loyal Outer-rim space. The Moffs are making their first move into our remaining holdings there and have forgone consolidation as priority one. I believe they are growing restless."
Armand visibly stiffened and he sat up even straighter than before in his office seat.
"What exactly are we looking at, lord Cronal?"
"Approximately two hours ago, give or take some thirty minutes, Eriadu made contact with Naval Command here on imperial Center. The Moffs have been moving around military assets since the onset of their declaration of war and treason. Of course you know that we here in I.I, have been trying to track and locate all known military vessels we maintained in the Expansion Region and Mid and Outer rims. This has proven difficult."
Cronal reminded Isard with no emotion coming through.
"As such, my sources have informed me that a massive fleet, some three-thousand ships in total has not been accounted for in the Gordian Reach. Yet the Sector fleet remains. I am curious as to why such a mass concentration of Imperial ships were in that region of the Outer-rim to begin with, but it is not my business, it is the Emperors." Cronal reminded himself more so than Armand.
"Nonetheless, back to my original statement. Eriadu has contacted Naval Command to report an imminent attack by Moff forces. The Seswenna sector is still ours and vital to our re-conquest of the Outer-Rim when the time comes."
"Of course, lord Cronal." Armand interjected. "However, I fail to see what Imperial intelligence has to do with what is a military problem."
"It is of paramount importance that we see to it that Seswenna hold, director Isard."
Cronal retorted with no emotion still upon his voice.
"Thus naval Command has authorized the dispatch of another seven-hundred support vessels to Seswenna, as the sector fleet has also diverted a mass quantity of its defense forces there as well. I however find this attack on Eriadu foolish on the part of the Moffs."
Armand raised a brow at this. "Oh? And why is that my lord Cronal?"
"Because director, the Moffs are by a majority idiots and fools. However attacking Eriadu, as well as the earlier attack on Abregado-rae are foolhardy. They are playing with their fleets and not proceeding down a coherent attack route. So either Vellam is the worst leader in all time, or he is making these foolhardy move on purpose, and we are the fools for not seeing it beforehand."
"What are you suggesting, my lord Cronal? I mean really suggesting." Armand asked as he grew a little tired with the mans continued swerving along what he meant to say.
"I think this attack on Eriadu is a distraction for different targets in the immediate area, as well as for a greater purpose. The attack at Abregado-rae, while a smart move to try and make at this early and hectic time, was conducted with outdated, and easily replaceable ships from the Old Republic." Cronal declared with his eye slits becoming oddly smaller as if in anger.
"Vellam is conducting this war in a point A, to point B manner. He is following a laid out plan."
"He was probably planning this rebellion for sometime lord Cronal." Armand reminded him, but Cronal ignored the director.
"This is the movement of a man seeking to distract, and even annoy. While victory looks to be a bonus for he and his Moff friends, it does not seem to be necessary. No moves have been made into our territories in the Expansion region, or Inner Rim. As if they are afraid of moving in…yet."
"Are you suggesting then that they are awaiting a go ahead from someone beside Vellam?"
"No dear director." Cronal coolly replied. "No, Vellam is awaiting the go ahead from someone in Imperial loyalist space. This war seems all too sudden, and while I have my suspicions I have no proof. I however want you to report back to me immediately should any, abnormalities, be found."
"Why, of course lord Cronal." Armand, equally as coolly, replied.
"As such, I want you to monitor the Eriadu attack with all available resources and keep me up to date on the situation. I will investigate my theories, and in time we shall see what fruit my suspicions bare."
"I will endeavor to keep you up to speed lord Cronal."
"See that you do, goodnight director, Isard." Cronal curtly responded and ended the transmission leaving the imperial Intelligence director with a sour expression along his middle-aged face. "Blasted, paranoid, fool." He muttered at having to deal with this man under the Emperors command, and Armand quickly tried to shake the whole call with Cronal off, as he was going to be up all night. Only now he was definitely in a bad mood.
(Eriadu, Seswenna Sector)
"Admiral Muly, sir! I have confirmed hyperspace reentry coming up on us sir!" An officer in a captain uniform called out, though Muly did not remember the name of this officer of the many he had to come in contact with on a daily basis.
"Order all ships in the fleet to ready themselves! All TIE fighters and interceptors at the ready, bombers I want lined up and ready for target distribution at my leisure! All ship captains are authorized to commit their own fighters and bombers to their specific needs, but ensure we are kept up to speed!"
"Aye, admiral sir!" the captain called as he went for the front of his ship, and witnessed an impressive Imperial fleet suddenly jump in from hyperspace. From what he could see they were all unfortunately up to date, and he felt the adrenaline pound through his body.
"All ships fire at will! Don't let their blasted transports reach the planets surface!"
At that his Stardestroyer, the 'Malcontent' rocked as all frontal turbolaser batteries opened fire, and missiles flew from his ship. Corvettes and frigates flew forward to intercept enemy fighters and front line Moff forces as they started sending up Victory Stardestroyers, and Tartan cruisers, as well as a few Acclamator II ships.
Muly ordered his seven Victory-class Stardestroyers to frontal attack positions and they directly engaged the Moff frontline and caused quite a bit of damage.
"Admiral sir, TIE fighters from the enemy are attacking our engine!" his captain called out and Muly sternly ordered their interceptors to engage them and keep all bothersome Moff starfighters off their tails.
"Admiral Muly!" Another officer shouted from comms.
"Several of our Imperial-class Stardestroyers are reporting that the enemy bombers are suicide running into their engines and shields! Their Tartan cruisers are acting as escorts and are receiving the brunt of our attacks, many are being destroyed in the process!"
Muly scrunched his face in confusion. 'What are they doing?'
"If they are attacking the engines they are obviously trying to merely cripple our maneuver capabilities! Have all interceptors, peel off from fighter duty, and circle them around to guard all engines and shields of our priority ships!" he ordered as the Malcontent violently rocked and threw several officers around the bridge.
"Admiral! The Moff fleet has suddenly brought in reinforcements upon the fleets starboard side! They're Enforcer-class picket cruisers! Four of them sir, and they're hitting us hard!"
"Three more on our portside admiral sir!" A second officer yelled as their ship lurched again.
"All Victory-class ships disengage our front dammit! Swing around and defend the fleets' flanks at once! Move up our three Star Galleon frigates and eleven Broadside cruisers to ward off their attacks on the Victory I-class ships as they move into position! I want those new Victory II's moved up from the back at once! Get the on our port and starboard as well, have them move forward on that damn Moff fleet!"
As Muly barked his orders he watched his fleet out the Malcontents viewport as his ships desperately turned and headed for their new positions as his lesser and more expendable ships moved up, and blocked the heavy Moff fire on his Victory I's.
However when his ship rocked again, it was a awesome explosion that sent he and his ship captain flying forward and several other officers fell to the ground.
"What just happened?"
"We've lost shields and engines sir! Enemy bombers are hitting our communications!"
"Keep us in contact with the fleet at all costs! Where are those damn Victory's?"
"They're moving in sir, but those Enforcers are hitting us, and them hard!" The nameless officer cried out as emergency lights began blaring as critical systems began to fail.
"We've lost a Stardestroyer!" An officer cried after another moment and Muly could see out the viewport the ship in question sever in two pieces as explosions pushed the two pieces further apart into the cold emptiness of space, and their destruction would soon follow.
"Rockets are hitting our Victory I's sir! Victory II's are at our sides and are reporting the Enforcers are turning!"
Muly's captain now reported as officer scrambled about in disarray as they desperately tried to fix the ship, or at least keep it running.
"Sir we've lost communications! I can't hail any of our ships!" The comms officer panicked as he desperately tried rerouting the communications and other sectors of the ship to get them back into ordering position with the fleet.
"All port turbolaser batteries are reporting critical failures, starboard is at half capacity!"
Muly honestly was at a loss for words. Those Moff Enforcer units had caused far more damage than he would ever have thought possible, and now as they had him corned they were pulling back, though his own Victory II's were now firing on them.
"We're still receiving messages, but we cant send out sir!" The comms officer reported as he tried to collect himself more. Then explosion after explosion began rocking his ship as something was taking place out in the great battle above Eriadu.
"All Imperial-class Stardestroyers are reporting engine and shield damage, at varying levels admiral sir! Four Victory I-class Stardestroyers are gone, as is now two Imperial class! Three Tartans remain, and they are critical sir! Our fighters have penetrated their defense line, but are being picked off by their interceptor squadrons-"
"Get me back the ability to communicate with my fleet officer!" Muly finally yelled as the Malcontent rocked some more.
Ten minutes of brutal space fighting past before Muly and all on the Malcontent witnessed the Moff fleet fully cease attacking him and his all but destroyed fleet of what was several dozen vessels, now turned to less than two dozen.
"Admiral Muly sir, they are preparing to enter hyperspace!"
"Impossible! They are winning the battle officer!" Muly contradicted, but the officer shook his head in disbelief and pointed to his monitor.
"Nonetheless sir, they are leaving!" Before their eyes the officer was proven right, as the fleet of hundreds of Moff vessels quickly jumped into hyperspace, and left the battered Imperial fleet in their wake.
"Sir! Urgent Hypercom, from Seswenna!"
"By the force officer, what is it now?" Muly demanded as he all but ran to the communications station.
"They are requesting immediate assistance from the sector defense fleet. They are reporting an even more massive Moff fleet attacking them! They claim the attack here on Eriadu is a diversion!" The comms officer breathlessly reported, and Muly eyes widened in shock.
"What's the status of the planets surface? How many enemies landed?"
"None admiral sir! No Moff landing shuttles even left their Stardestroyers in the first place!"
"What of our hyperdrive, the fleets hyperdrives, and overall communications!?" Muly barked his questions and his captain spoke with several officers working on critical systems terminals.
"Our hyperdrive, and engines are damaged, and will take days at the least to repair! Communications are still down as well."
"The fleet is reporting similar damages, and a massive loss of fighters, bombers, and interceptors sir!" The comms officer interjected.
"So it was a diversion. Damn it all! They crippled my entire fleet, and we cant even get a message out to our sector fleet command!" Muly thought aloud.
"Captain! Find a shuttle in the bay, and get down to Eriadu at once! Apprise them of the situation and get a message out to sector command immediately, direct all remaining naval assets to Seswenna before the planet falls!"
"At once admiral sir!" The captain quickly saluted, and all but ran towards the hanger bay.
The admiral, took in a breath and merely shook his head as he leaned into the communications terminal. "What a mess."
(Coruscant, Vaders Palace)
"Okay, so why don't you try to do what I just did?"
"I'll try, but I think you give me way too much credit." Leia said with a near moan, as Viathan motioned for her to lift up his lightsaber that he had just used the force to lift himself.
Off to the side of this training room Starkiller had pointed out to them, sat non other than Starkiller with his hood down as he and his droid called PROXY watched Leia and Viathan.
The princess extended her right hand toward the stationary lightsaber and imagined it floating, and was practically glaring at it is concentration. To her surprise the hilt began jittering back and forth before suddenly moving toward Leia, but then she dropped her arm in frustration.
"I cant even get the darn thing off the ground!" She groaned out and Viathan shook his head wearily.
"Leia, you were getting there. It takes time is all." Viathan countered and she cast him a not so believing look.
"Says the Imperial that can do whatever he wants with the force on a whim."
"Not everything, though you are wise to think anything can be done with the force." Viathan countered with a smile. "Concentration as I said, is key. However the application of all your raw emotions, and the transferring of those emotions into power is also key. Get angry, sad, afraid, whatever you may chose. Use it to empower yourself! You understand" He further instructed. She simply nodded in reply and he nodded happily as well.
"Okay then. Try once more." He instructed and sidestepped out of line of sight.
Taking in and releasing a large breath of air, the princess closed her eyes and extended her hand towards the hilt. Viathan sensed that the princess was indeed channeling into some of the darker emotions that fed into the dark side. He sensed great anger, and immediately Viathan believed she was thinking about Bail Organa, or perhaps just some Imperial horror story that particularly angered her. Whatever it was, it worked. As Viathan smilingly watched his lightsaber shakily rise into the air.
"Excellent work, now try to look upon your accomplishment." He coaxed as she slowly opened her eyes in an attempt to keep focus.
When she saw what she was doing she showed a magnificent and triumphant smile, and she practically radiated happiness. All the while managing to hold the singular saber hilt in the air.
"Good, but now how about you try putting it down, gently now."
She gave a nod, and once more focused on the hilt, but keeping her eyes opened this time, and with her determination, focus, and raw power, Viathan, and Leia were most pleased when the saber gently landed on the metal ground of the training room.
"I think that is good for now. It's late after all." Viathan commented as he remembered how the star was setting when the princess had come to him asking for a little training. They had been doing such for several hours by now. Mostly meditations, levitation's, and mental attempts at communication.
"You know something Viathan, you train really slowly." Starkiller declared with a smirk as he remained seated on a bench some ways away from the two.
Viathan cast him a mild glare and crossed his arms.
"Do tell apprentice of Vader how should I train someone like milady princess of Alderaan?" Leia looked between the two, a little bit of worry slipping upon her features, as she wasn't there when the two agreed to be cordial.
"My master always taught me how to fight first, and meditate later. The force is a channel for power, for your emotions, it is not to sit and commit self retrospect." The younger boy declared with a lopsided smirk upon his face, and Viathan cocked a brow.
"Oh? So your master has taught you none of the more potent intricacies of the force?"
"Of course he has. But nothing beats a lightsaber in your hand, and the force acting to increase speed, agility, and strength." Starkiller declared as he cast a look at PROXY.
"Isn't that right PROXY?"
"Oh yes master! You have beaten me on many occasions with me doing my best to kill you! That force you speak of truly makes you a fine opponent!" The droid, in a rather too cheery voice for Viathans liking replied.
"Did that droid just say it tried to kill him?" Leia whispered the question, but before Viathan could answer Starkiller apparently heard her.
"Oh yeah! PROXY is not only a good sparring partner, but he keeps you on edge and ready for a fight at all times by pushing you to your absolute limits, and by that I mean, yes he tries to kill me." Starkiller informed, a strange smile forming on his face.
"So you think yourself invulnerable behind a saber eh?"
"Well I'm not one to brag, Viathan, but I think I could very well outclass you in a saber duel?"
Viathan raised a brow, and sent Leia a smile and wink to hopefully calm her, as he sensed her tense up.
"Do you wish to back that statement up apprentice of Vader?" It was not Viathan who spoke, but rather a new voice, one that caused all in the room to turn and see Exar Kun in the doorway leading into the training room. A smile now on his face as he approached his apprentice.
"After all, you can talk, but can you commit actions to back up your meaningless words?"
Starkiller jumped from his seat and tossed off his cloak.
"Sure I can, lord Kun, but what do you say to me fighting your apprentice? Or should I say sparring." The boy amended as he pulled his single saber hilt from his belt, and began stretching.
Kun looked to Viathan with the question evident on his face.
"I will spar if you allow me my master." Viathan answered the unspoken question and Kun inclined his head in agreement.
"It's settled then, the apprentices of myself and lord Vader will have a friendly little spar! I look forward to this." Exar commented as he sidestepped for Viathan, and the fifteen year old boy discarded his own cloak similarly to Starkiller.
Exar noted that the princess from Alderaan was still silently standing close to him and looked a tad but worried.
"Don't worry about them young princess. They have both been conditioned since early ages to fight, and spar. This will be like a childhood game to them." Kun assured as he looked upon the daughter of his closest ally.
She looked up at him with big brown eyes and studied him for a moment, and he merely cast her a smile before looking towards the two boys once more.
"If you say so." Kun heard her comment as she too looked back at the two Sith boys as they stood opposite one another. Viathan had one of his two saber hilts in hand, and Starkiller held his one.
"Alright you two. No serious lethal injuries, no life long impairment, and no unnecessary banter! A good clean fight with limited use of force abilities!" Kun declared as he acted as referee, and both boys without looking at him gave a single nod.
"Activate sabers!" At that both boys activated their crimson colored sabers, and took up their positions and preferred forms. Starkiller was a Juyo practitioner so Kun knew he was going to be aggressive, and his own apprentice took up a very easy to see Niman stance, which Exar knew very well personally and figured his apprentice would do this since it was best suited for dual blades, but it also worked well for a single saber as well. Kun also noted that while Niman was what Viathan was going for, he picked up that his apprentice was favoring an emphasis on Ataru which was blended in with Niman.
'Ataru, pretty aggressive even against Juyo. This will be most fun to watch!' The dark lord thought as he continued to watch the boys stare one another down, both quietly and eagerly awaiting his go ahead.
"Begin!" Kun called, and as expected Starkiller launched at Viathan first. His blade being held in a backwards manner was swung up by the boy and connected with Viathans crimson saber hard as he arched it down to meet the oncoming beam.
Starkiller forced Viathans saber up and away before launching into a sudden and fast left to right attack towards both flanks of Viathans stance hoping to break his concentration and get him locked into a pattern of left to right.
Starkiller suddenly ended the pattern and sent quick jabs toward Viathans abdomen which Viathan opted to roll away from rather than block. Coming from his roll Viathan swung his saber down on Starkiller with great emphasis being put into his muscles adding a great amount of weight to the blows. Starkiller met everyone as the two angled their blades to clash against one another once more from one side to the next.
Viathan twirled his saber along Starkillers and swung the younger boys saber to the left forcing Starkiller to follow it and swing himself around, but he used the weight to fling himself in a 360 degree arch and slammed a hard kick into Viathans stomach pushing him back into a fall. Starkiller quickly ran at the fallen boy and, using the force, jumped into the air and connected his saber down upon Viathans waiting one. With his own strength Starkiller pushed the two connected blades closer and closer to Viathans body in hopes of forcing him to a quick surrender, but Viathan, with a surge of the dark side, flung Starkiller off, quickly leaped to a stand and once more flew into a round of connecting hard flurries with Starkiller, pushing the younger Sith back. Viathan twirled himself around and slammed his blade into Starkillers, but Starkiller then leaped over their connected sabers and attempted a strike towards Viathans knee, which Viathan barely missed and connected a flinging upwards punch into Starkillers chin sending the boy reeling back with an ever so small amount of blood forming at his mouth, but Starkiller didn't seemed too fazed by the move, and quickly brought his saber up, then slammed down, and forced Viathans saber to the left, and tried to connect his saber to Viathans throat, but the older boy purposely fell to the ground and kicked Starkillers leg out and dropped him to the floor.
Kun watched the two ferociously fight one another with the princess cringing as the two progressively became more violent with their slamming attacks, their arched blows, and fast flurries. Exar on the other hand couldn't be more happy to see Viathan and even Starkiller use every ounce of raw power and ability to fight. Neither one holding back any punches, or what some would consider "low blows," Kun knew them to be all a part of their Sith tutelage.
"My, my! If only lord Vader were here to see this!"
"Here to see what Kun?"
Kun flung himself around at hearing the memorable baritone voice of Darth Vader, and so did Leia. For somehow they had missed the distinct sound of the Sith lord walking into the training room.
"What is going on here?" Vader loudly, but not angrily, asked as he stepped forward, and a noticeably shaken Leia stepped back the further he approached.
"Nothing bad lord Vader I assure you. Just a friendly sparring match!" Kun declared as he waved a hand towards the action and sidestepped for Vader to watch, and Leia immediately ran around to stand on the other side of Kun, or the side not next to Vader. If the hulking Vader noticed that he didn't say anything or care, because he laid his eyes on his apprentice and the boy Kun was teaching, dueling one another with great force and aggressiveness.
"Let's see whom bests who! Eh, lord Vader?"
"Yes let's." He quickly retorted crossing his arms.
Neither boy had heard or noticed Vaders entrance as they continued to heatedly duel.
Viathan swung his saber from over his right shoulder and met Starkillers once more, who carried it and again swung around to slash at Viathans waist, but the older Sith acolyte quickly slammed the saber down and forced the blades into a struggle filled X. Both sabers were hitting the metallic floor as both boy used their strength to either hold the saber down or push back up.
Finally Starkiller let one hand leave his hilt and force pushed Viathan directly in his face across the rooms floor. Viathan connected with the wall behind himself with a thud, and he knew he hit his head, because he was momentarily dizzy, but quickly shook it off.
A growl escaped his throat as he angrily grabbed his second saber, activated it, and leapt at Starkiller with the force. His first saber hit, followed by his other, as he speedily and angrily attacked one to the other in quick succession, never relenting as Starkiller noticeably went on the defensive and had to block from left to right.
Viathan swung around and Starkiller met his first saber, but the second one was aimed at his head and forced Vaders apprentice to duck, and roll away, as Viathan used his first saber to angle an attack at the rolling away boy.
Starkiller, much as Viathan had done earlier, swung a leg and connected with Viathans knee, forcing the boy to fall once more on his back and drop a saber in the process.
With momentum, Starkiller flung himself up, and with his saber behind his head brought down a hard push onto Viathan, whom had to hold the younger Sith away as he lay on the metallic floor.
Neither of the boys masters, or Leia could see what those two saw, and it only forced them to become even more aggressive. As the one stared at the other, all they could see were glowing, and glowering yellow eyes, as both fed upon the raw power of the dark side to try and defeat one another.
Employing a tactic Viathan had been taught by his old master, he focused all his force power into his overall strength and connected both his booted feet with Starkillers abdomen, sending him reeling backwards coughing slightly.
Jumping feet first back up, Viathan ran at Starkiller, picking up his second saber along the way, and with the same technique slammed his sabers one after the other into Starkiller. The younger boys face betrayed him as he visibly showed that he was surprised by how much heavier Viathans attacks seemed to have become. The more raw dark power Viathan concentrated the more heavy and hard to defend against his slashes became and soon Starkiller abandoned his defense and quickly ran off to Viathans side, his saber once more in the backwards held position.
What Starkiller lacked in weighted power, he made up for with force enhanced speed, and as Viathan breathily ended his force aided swings at the air, Starkiller rounded around him and jumped into the air and connected a kick into the back of Viathans long haired head, forcing Viathan face first into the metal floor.
Viathan rolled away from an anticipated downward slash and leapt up once more and with the force he sensed Starkiller about to angle his saber at his throat once more as he angled himself off the floor, and as such brought his two sabers up in an X and connected against Starkillers. In a kneeling position Viathan had to fight hard to force Starkiller back and come to a stand as the two boys clashed their sabers together, and fought for supremacy.
Finally, Viathan slid his sabers down Starkillers and pointed them downwards before quickly twirling them with momentum, and much to his utter glee rounded them up and placed them at Starkillers neck. Only to have his victory cut short as he then looked down ever so lower and saw Starkiller had his saber pointed upwards at an angle at his throat. The boys had angled one another into a tie, that if real would have killed them both.
A clap sounded in the large sterile training room, and both boys turned to see Kun clapping, Leia looking horror stricken, though mildly relieved now, and Darth Vader standing looking at them with an inclined head to the side as if in study of their current position.
"Most excellent work Viathan! It fills me with great pride to see your skills improving!" Exar declared as he approached the pair and motioned for them to lower their crimson saber, and both boys complied. They looked at one another with passive face, but it was Starkiller who broke it first with a small smirk. "Nice duel, Viathan." Vaders apprentice complimented, and Viathan found himself returning the smirk.
"To you as well Starkiller. I have not dueled for a while now, and you helped to loosen me up a bit."
"Next time I'll win though."
"We shall see, my friend. We shall see." Viathan retorted with a good-natured but still serious looking smirk upon his darker features.
"What do you say lord Vader? I think both our apprentices are good enough to be leading the war charge now personally!" Exar called over his shoulder as Vader stomped his way over, and placed his arms on his belt, and looked down on Starkiller, who bowed his head to his master and didn't dare look up at him until he spoke.
"You did very well, my apprentice. Indeed I am, like lord Kun, impressed." Vader intoned and Starkiller slowly realized what his master said and slowly looked up at him, and searched his masters dark and expressionless mask as if looking for confirmation on what he just said. When Vader gave a bow of his head almost as if he were assuring Starkiller of what he said, Starkiller beamed a brilliant smirk of happiness, and gratitude towards his master. For it was rare that Darth Vader gave compliments, and when he did, Vader meant it. So Starkiller beamed with pride. "Thank you my master." He replied at last and bowed.
Exar looked down into Viathans eyes as they returned to their usual dark brown, and he gave a smirking incline of his head. "You did well too, Viathan." Viathan too beamed a smile, and bowed his own head. "Thank you my master." He replied much the same as Starkiller.
"I think, these two will make a fine pair for our needs lord Vader. What do you think?"
"Indeed. They may be doubly as useful together as they are apart." Vader agreed in relent.
"Well then. I sense a partnership forming beyond just ours then, eh Vader?"
"Perhaps. At the very least, such a thing would be interesting too see." Vader responded, once more crossing his darkly covered arms.
Leia silently came to stand next to Viathan and he cast her a smile to calm the mild worry he sensed from her, and she smiled back, making Viathan even doubly happy.
Yet Viathan didn't know just how much of Starkiller he would actually be seeing during this war.
Authors Note: Phew! longest chapter yet ever! :D So do you guys like my battle above Eriadu? What did you think of my hard to write but very proud of, duel between Viathan and Starkiller? Any thoughts, comments, ideas? Please leave any form of comment, even criticisms! Otherwise, as usual please point out or forgive any and all grammatical errors, and enjoy! I am on a writing roll! Haha :D