Chapter 5

AN: I know it's been a while but here it is, an update. I am sorry for the long wait. There is a small change to the story, the sith in question will be Darth Acina, at first I thought that an OC sith will be good but after playing Kotor for a bit I decided to change it to her. To me, she always was an interesting character, she managed to become empress after all. Hope you guys enjoy it and tell me what you think.

For weeks since their discussion on the sith code, the ancient sith put Shmi through tougher and tougher training regiments. The woman was beaten, driven to exhaustion, and even fainted a few times but progress was being made, it was being made faster than the sith ghost had expected. Shmis determination to succeed and stubbornness combined with the anger and pain she was feeling drove her on. Every time she fell, she got up, every time the training droid managed to hit her she hit back harder, and every time she felt pain or her emotions she became stronger. It honestly amazed the sith how fast the resurrected woman was picking up on her teachings. They also had two more instances of the bleeding effect happening, the first being longer than the second but the memories helped Shmi progress faster. It all just confirmed her opinion that she was the right match.

Currently, Shmi was eating her rations, even with all the force power, and willpower she still needed to eat to keep her energy up. Her entire body, from head to toe, was covered in bruises and lacerations but she did not only push past the pain, she used it to fuel her just as her ghostly master had taught her to do. Emotions like anger, fear, and hate were also powerful sources of strength she could rely on. The feel of power she got from using the dark side of the force was exhilarating but her mentor warned her to be cautious, a sith should use power wisely not act like a Wookie with a club.

"The rations are running low," Shmi said as she ate.

"Then it would be wise to acquire more," the ghost said. "He flew over a small town on our way here so I suggest we head there once you are done with your meal. We will lock the ship and leave the droids to watch over it."

"Taking the ship there would attract attention," Shmi said.

"Correct," Acina said.

After Shmi was done with her meal she did as her master told her, she locked the ship and left the astromech and training droids in charge of the ship. She had her blaster on one hip and a lightsaber on the other. She also carried an empty backpack on her back for the supplies she was going to buy. Shmi made her way through the lush forests of Seleucami, tall cake trees and strange enormous flowers rose high into the air and tall grass and foliage covered much of the ground. During her walk through the wildness, she noticed some of the wildlife of the planet like a flock of Nunas who just ran as soon as they saw Shmi approaching, one of them hitting a tree by accident. She also saw flocks of starklebids taking shelter among the cake trees.

As she continued to walk she could sense of presents of something following her, stalking her. She could sense its intention, she could sense it moving behind her. Just as the creature leaped from its cover towards Shmi, it an attempt to kill her and feast upon her, Shmi turned around and using the force she pushed it back, sending it flying into one of those large flowers. The creature started getting up after a moment shaking its head before looking at Shmi. She could now see what was attacking her, it was a large cat-like creature, it had four red eyes and a mane of sharp quills. The creature was about four meters long and a meter tall. It snarled at her revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth and its feet sported long claws. It had double tails which were forked and whip-like.

"A nexu," the sith said with interest. "A nexu's light build allows it to remain highly agile and difficult to hit, but also means that it was easily hurt or even killed if struck with enough force; a single kick is usually enough to stun a nexu and cause significant pain. In contrast, a nexu's hide is durable enough to withstand blaster fire."

"You didn't tell me you licked animals," Shmi said as she eyed the nexu.

"Oh, I know a thing or two about the more dangerous wildlife in the galaxy. By the looks of it, this nexu is older and tougher than most. Blaster fire is useless against him so..."

"So use either my lightsaber or the force to take it out," Shmi said.

"Correct," the sith said in an approving tone. Shmi eyed the large feline creature whose red eyes glared back at her with a predatory glint in them. If It thought that she was nothing woke than a weak prey for it to catch and devour, then it will learn just how wrong it is. As the nexu burst into a charge towards her Shmi summed her lightsaber and ignited it, the red blade coming to life. The feline furiously charged at her and pounced, ready to deep its claws into Shmi's flesh but instead of striking the human, its claws struck the soil of the ground, and just as it confusedly looked at the place where its prey should have been it felt a horrible burning pain coming from its side. The creature roared in pain as Shmi cut into its side with her lightsaber after she managed to avoid the strike. The roar of pain echoed throughout the woods, making any wildlife that was near flee in hopes of avoiding whatever was causing a nexu such pain. After the roar subsided the pain-filled beast quickly jumped back from its opponent, now carefully circling around Shmi as it winced with every step it made. Its eyes now shining with anger. As it circled around Shmi it suddenly turned and the human found two large spiked tails coming at her. Shmi quickly jumped in the air to avoid the attack and then used force push to send the creature flying into a nearby tree. Wishing to not waste any more time, Shmi quickly rushed at the beast, using the force to augment her speed and just as the beast was about to pull itself up she plunged her blade into its chest. The nexus red eyes went wide as it unleashed a loud death roar before finally collapsing to the ground, unmoving. Shmi pulled her blade from the beast and turned it off.

"Well done apprentice, looks like all of those beatings are finally starting to pay off, your skills have improved significantly." the sith said.

"I guess that as well," Shmi said as she returned her lightsaber to her side as she eyed the large feline beast. She then removed her gaze from the nexu and looked to where she was heading before the beast attacked. "Best continue on, as much as I appreciate the exercise, I don't have a wish to face more of them."

"Shame, that would certainly be entertaining to watch," the sith said. Shmi began to walk once more as she conversed with the ghost.

"And that chance of me dying," Shmi said, raising an eyebrow. "If I die you die remember."

"You are now skilled enough to fight off a few mindless beasts and if things truly get to the point of being life-threatening then you would simply let me deal with it. I have not taken control over your body since Korriban and I'm able to do it now, only with your consent of course."

"That's good to hear," Shmi said if a bit uneasy at the thought of someone taking over her body. The thing on Korriban was done out of desperation but now she wouldn't like anyone to have control over her, especially considering that she was once a slave once. She wanted to be completely free without anyone holding her leash. Her body and her life were her own and nobody was going to take it away from her. She was given a second chance at life and she had no intention of wasting it. The journey lasted for about an hour, luckily no more of Seleucimis wildlife tried to kill her and the time was passed discussing the sith teachings with her master. Once she finally arrived at her destination she was met by a sight of a small village with a few of its inheritance wandering along the streets. As she walked she noticed a peculiar thing in the settlement or rather sensed it, there was fear coating the people who lived there, fear, despair and hopelessness. Shmi wondered what could be the cause of that.

Shmi walked along the streets looking around before she wandered into a small shop, the bell rang as she entered the store and she started looking around. There were many things in the store a settlement like this would need but Shmi did not need those, she need rations and water.

"Greetings, what can I do for you miss?" a voice was heard and Shmi turned to look towards the counter where a blue-skinned twi'lek was standing. The man had the same aura of sadness and fear as the rest of the people she passed by but he was trying to mask it with a polite smile.

"I'm looking for rations, preferably something which at least has taste and water," Shmi said.

"Well, I do have some packet combinations of dehydrated veg-meat and polystarch. I also have several packets of nuna jerky if you are interested. For the dehydrated packets, you are going to need to put them into water first so they can become addable."

"Fine then, I will take those and the jerky. And the water also," Shmi said as he put the credits on the counter. The store worker brought the meal packets and water and gave them to Shmi before taking the needed credits. Shmi was about to leave but she could not help herself, she wanted to know what was causing these people such despair. "I'm sorry to intrude but I noticed that the people here are a bit…monotonous. Could you tell me why?"

The man's polite smile fell quickly and a sad and pained expression took its place. "It's no concern of yours miss, it would be best for you to leave."

Shmi eyes narrowed at the man. "You can tell me, I've seen and heard quite a few things recently, so I'm familiar with bed situations."

The man looked at her for a moment before sighing. "Months ago a group of pirates came to the village, at first they only asked for supplies and occasionally money but over time their extortion became worse and they have recently started taking women and children away."

"Why haven't you fought back, why let them oppress you?" Shmi asked.

"Some brave souls tried but their effort ended up costing them their lives. No one had tried ever since. People are too afraid to even look them in the eyes nowadays. When the pirates come we just give them what they want, hopping for their visit to be short and as painless as possible."

Shmi could see the pain and suffering on the twi'lek features, the should sense his pain and loss in his heart. "If you allow them to continue then you will never be rid of them. Better die a free man than live as a slave."

"Easier said than done miss. We aren't fighters or soldiers, we are farmers, we don't even have weapons to challenge them with," the man said in a desperate tone. Just as Shmi was about to make a counterargument the doors of the shop burst open and in walked a purple-skinned twi'lek female.

"They are coming!" she shouted. "They are here!"

Not a moment later the sound of a speeder reached Shmi's ears. The twi'lek woman ran towards the man, who must be her husband. The woman started shaking and crying in the man's arm and Shmi could not help but feel pity for them. A moment later she heard the sound of the speeder stopping. She turned her gaze to look out of the door and saw six weequay cutthroats armed with blasters step out of the speeder.

"No worries people," the raspy voice of one of the pirates was heard. "We are just here to collect what is owed to us due to our protection of this humble settlement."

Shmi could hear the cockiness in the pirate's voice and saw him smiling once he turned his head towards the shop. He saw Shmi standing at the entryway and started walking towards her. She took a few steps back as the weequay entered with another one joining him a second after. They both reeked of arrogance and malice. The one in front sported a predatory grin as he took a look around the shop, looking over where the couple was standing and then moving his gaze to Shmi.

"And what do we have here?" the pirate asked smugly. "I haven't seen you around here before so it means you must be new."

"You could say so," Shmi said calmly while trying not to flinch back due to the man's bad breath.

"You see there is a way we do things around here," the weequay said as he took a step towards Shmi. "Everyone here has to offer something if they want our continued protection."

"I don't need your protection, I'm fine on my own," Shmi said while glaring at the pirate.

"That's not how things work, you can't say no," the man said in a chastising tone.

"I just said no so you better leave me alone," the human woman's answer served only to annoy the weequay pirate which caused him to frown and lose come of his cool. He grabbed Shmi by the arm and pulled her closer.

"No one says no to us and you will learn the reason why," the pirate said in a threatening tone.

"I just said no," Shmi said and quickly pulled out her blaster with her free hand, aimed it at the pirate's stomach and pulled the trigger. The sound of a blaster going off was heard in the store and a moment later the pirate's grip on Shmis had loosened and his body fell to the floor. The other pirate just stared shocked at his comrade's body for a moment before pulling himself together. Before he could even lift his blaster rifle to aim it at Shmi, a red blaster bolt hit him in the chest and his body crumpled on the floor next to the other one. The two twi'lek stared at the human with shock in their eyes. Before anyone could say anything blaster bolts started flying from the outside towards the store, more specifically towards the person who just killed two pirates.

"Kill her!" one of the weequay pirates shouted. The couple ducked behind the counter while Shmi took cover up against the wall next to the door. She took one quick look around to see if there was any way out only to find none, the doors were the only entrance to the shop with a small window to the side which was too small for her to feet through right now.

"Maybe I should have thought this through first," Shmi mentally chastised herself.

"Yes, you should have," Acina said.

"It would have been better if I pushed them outside," The blaster fire stopped and she carefully moved towards the doors to look outside. Just as she took a peek a blaster bolt flew passed her head. "I guess we are taking a different approach." Shmi put her blaster back in his holster and pull out her lightsaber. Igniting it she jumped out of her cover only to deflect the first blaster bold that came her way, and the second and the third.

"So much for subtlety," Acinas voice echoed in Shmis mind, she could her the siths displeaure.

"Kill the Jedi!" she heard one of them shout as they continue to fire at her. She redirected a blaster bolt back at one of the pirates, making him drop dead on the ground before doing the same for another one. She then force pushed the third one before returning the final blaster bolt to the one who fired it. After all of it was done, silence filled the air. Shmi took a look around to see three dead pirates with smoking wounds laying on the ground with the fourth unconscious with two more in the shop. As she looked towards the store she saw the two twi'leks exiting carefully both looking at her with shock and awe.

"Y-You are a Jedi," the female said in a shaky voice.

"I'm not a Jedi," Shmi said, facial expression serious.

"B-But you have a lightsaber," the male said.

"The Jedi aren't the only ones who wield such a weapon," Shmi said. The two of them continued to stare at her before the woman threw herself at Shmi feet.

"Please I beg you, the pirates took my child away, they took my boy away, I'm begging you, please return him to me. We will give you whatever you want, just do it, please," the female twi'lek begged, tears running down her cheeks, her voice desperate. Shmi looked at the kneeling woman in front of her, she felt pity and sadness for her, no parent should have their child taken away from them. Then a strange feeling came over her, one of sadness and loss, of not wanting to see someone go. It was so sudden and unexpected that when she came to she saw that the two twi'lek were looking at her with concern.

"I-I will help you," Shmi said and the eyes of the couple went wide with hope.

"Do you think it wise?" the sith asked. "We did not come here to involve ourselves in other people's business."

"They need help, these pirates took someone precious away from them, someone has to return them back," Shmi said in her mind, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Be it as you wish," the sith said.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," the woman said.

"Yes, thank you," the male twi'lek said.

"No need to thank me yet, you can do it after I bring your son back to you."

"They also kidnapped others, children and some women," the husband said.

"Do you know where their base is?" Shmi asked the couple and both shook their heads. A groan came from the side and Shmi looked to its source, the one pirate she force pushed was coming to. "Then let's ask our friend here," she said with a smirk.