Chapter 5: First Strike
Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to Disney, I only own my OCs
Last Paragons
Alexandra's eyelids twitch as she begins to wake up, moments later they slowly open. Groggily she rubs the sleep out of them, when her vision clears enough to see Alexandra's eyes widen in surprise at the sight of Leliana's face close to hers. Not wanting to disturb her sleep, Alexandra pulls Leliana's arms off and quietly gets out of bed. After showering, brushing and donning her armor, Alexandra exits her room.
Arriving at the commons she sees Yuna preparing to cook breakfast.
She said, "You're up early."
Yuna looked over her shoulder, "I've always been an early riser."
Alexandra asked, "Are you only one up besides me?"
The redhead answered, "Alec is outside practicing his lightsaber sequences. I swear, training is like the only thing he's interested in."
Alexandra cocked her head, "He doesn't have any other hobbies?"
Yuna shook hers, "Not that I know of." Taking a seat, Alexandra removes her lightsaber from her belt to stare at it, anxious to see it in action.
They're soon joined by the rest of the crew and eat breakfast.
Upon eating her fill, Leliana laid out the rules, "Okay, while I've allowed you three Sith on my ship, there are rules you must follow. You treat my stuff with respect, no tinkering with the ship and third, I steer the Forgotten Star and under no circumstances are you allowed to mess with equipment lockers in the back or try to enter my room. Are we clear?" The three Sith nodded, "Good." They enter the bridge and Leliana takes her place in the pilot seat.
Kenta said, "I feel the time is right to attack the Empire."
Alec asked, "But where should we attack first?" Leliana activates the holomap, projecting the Core Worlds.
Yuna rubbed her chin, "An assassination won't get their attention. We need to launch an attack on a critical structure or base to send a message to the Empire."
Stepping closer to the map, Kenta pointed his finger at one particular planet, "Kuat will suffice."
Alexandra asked him, "How so?"
Kenta explained, "The planet is well-known for shipbuilding. It's the home of Kuat Drive Yards, whose shipyards and construction facilities are the most prominent feature, encircling the planet in the shape of a large ring. Kuat is considered one of the most efficient shipyards in the galaxy, its defenses were formidable, with protection provided by the Kuati Sector Forces and designs used for self-defense by Kuat Drive Yards. Kuat also has an aristocratic government and exported luxury goods, alcohol, art and food while importing electronics, machinery and raw materials. It has a population of three point eight billion with eighty percent being Human and remaining twenty percent other species."
Alexandra raised an eyebrow, "How do you know this?"
Kenta looked at her, "I was born there. It played a significant role throughout galactic history, so it makes perfect sense why the Empire would capture it for the shipyard. If we attack it the Empire will certainly move to defend the shipyard."
The Sith apprentice objected, "If what you said about the defenses is true, it'd be suicidal."
Leliana crossed her arms, "It would be extremely challenging to destroy the shipyard but damaging it enough would slow production of capital ships."
Turning to the smuggler, Kenta nodded, "Exactly. Our objective is two-fold. One: Infiltrate the shipyard and set demolition charges to blow up sections of the ring. And two: Destroy any production facilities on the surface."
Leliana said, "Due to the formidable defenses you mentioned, we'll have to split into two groups. Alec, Yuna, myself, you and Alex. My team will focus on planting the demolition charges on the shipyards. Kenta and Alex will head to the surface to attack production facilities. I don't have anything we can make explosives out of, but I do have a contact the area she can leave a dead drop for us."
The three Sith head out but Leliana grabbed Alexandra's arm, "Alex, please watch your back. The Sith are notorious for stabbing people in the back once they outlived their usefulness."
Placing a hand on the smuggler's shoulder, Alexandra replied, "I appreciate your concern, Leliana. I do. But my masters are nothing like the Sith you encountered. I sense no malicious intent from Kenta, Yuna or Alec. They genuinely want to help me."
Leliana's green eyes didn't lose the sense of uneasiness, "Just...don't let your guard down, okay?" She pulled Alexandra closer, wrapping her arms around her, "I can't lose you again."
Alexandra said, "I'll be fine. I can finally fight for myself." Leliana releases her and sets course for Kuat, making the jump to hyperspace.
After a while, she pulls the lever forward deactivating the hyperdrive. Kuat appears in front of them alongside the shipyards and like Kenta said, the Empire captured the planet and was using it to build Star Destroyers. Leliana activates the Forgotten Star's stealth system to approach the shipyards. When they get closer, however, Leliana sees it's heavily guarded by cruisers. They'll have to forgo the first objective and proceed to the second objective. The light freighter descends through the atmosphere and lands outside the production facility.
Shutting the engines down but keeping the stealth system on, Leliana activated the holographic projector, "This place will certainly be well guarded so I think we should split into two groups. One will grab the attention of the patrols and the other will infiltrate the production facility and destroy it." She immediately grinned, "Yuna, would you care to join me in providing the distraction?"
The redhead nodded, "Sure. I was starting to wonder if we'd ever get to see action."
Alec added, "Might encounter some real trouble, so I'll join ya." That settled the group walks down the ramp of the Forgotten Star.
Outside the entrance door to the production facility, legions of stormtroopers stand there guarding the structure that produced Imperial walkers. Some are bored out of their minds due to the lack of action, wishing someone would attack. Suddenly one of the troopers get shot in the head and falls to the ground with a smoking hole in his helmet. The others point their blasters at the direction the shot came from.
Alec appears seemingly out of nowhere, his head bowed.
The stormtrooper demanded, "Who are you? State your name!"
Alec slowly raised his head showing his masked face to them, "Darth Nova, your executioner." Lightning starts crackling between his fingers and raises his hand, the electrical bolts fly toward the troopers. It's not long before the lightning connects with the troopers' armor earning screams of pain, smoke starts emanating from them as Alec amps the intensity of the lightning. The stormtroopers turn into charred husks while the Sith Lord ends the barrage. The sickening scent of burnt flesh permeates the air.
More Imperial troopers runs out of the base and set up a defense as a trio of Dark Jedi appear.
Yuna walked to Alec's side, "Dark Jedi. Never imagined we'd come across them."
Leliana joined them, drawing her blaster pistols, "It's not surprising considering how paranoid the Emperor is regarding opposition to his rule. This is going to be fun."
Yuna looked at the smuggler out of the corner of her eye, "You met them?"
Leliana said, "Met a few during my two years of hiding. Some put up a stubborn fight but they are nothing compared to the Sith Lord I defeated. I'll prove you don't need the Force to kill a Jedi, Sith or Dark Jedi." Once the Dark Jedi are close enough, the Sith Warriors and smuggler take in their appearance.
The first Dark Jedi was a male Human about 25 years old, stood at 6'2" tall, had a slim build, skin that was paler than Alec's, yellow eyes and had a scar running across his left cheek. He wore dark gray and black clothing.
The second was a female Zabrak around 23 years of age, stood 5'8, athletic build, 32C cup breasts, horns protruding from dark red, almost black hair tied in twin braids, dark brown eyes, pale blue skin with tribal tattoos that were part of Zabrak culture.
The final Dark Jedi was another male Human around 20 years of age, stood 5'11, slim yet toned build, yellow eyes, short silver hair and moderate skin tone.
The Zabrak Dark Jedi ordered, "This is your only warning. Leave now or be destroyed."
Leliana said, "Have to pass on that. Pity it has to be this way, I would show you a good time, beautiful." A grin appears on Leliana's face when she spots the Zabrak's cheeks turn pink despite the tattoos.
Shaking the blush off, the Zabrak draws her traditional saberstaff and her human comrades do the same with their single-hilt lightsabers, red blades ignite with a snap-hiss.
Parting his cloak, Alec draws one of his lightsabers. Pressing the activator button a yellow blade emerges and enters the third opening stance of Niman with the blade held at waist height in both hands, angled downward and pointed to the side with the feet closely spaced.
Yuna draws her blue lightsaber and enters the Makashi opening stance.
The first Human male Dark Jedi enters the Djem So attack stance, the female Zabrak entering the opening stance of Ataru and the third Human male Dark Jedi stepping into the second opening stance of Niman with the blade held at head height in a two-handed grip, angled upward and slightly in with the dominant foot placed forwards.
A deathly silence fills the air as the combatants wait for the other to launch the first strike. When a breeze passes through, the Zabrak rushes toward Alec, leaping into the air to close the distance. Alec raises his lightsaber up to block the leaping overhead chop and pushes her back with pure strength. The Zabrak unleashes the Saber Swarm on Alec who drops into a defensive posture blocking each strike then retaliates with a Force push that sends the enemy flying over crates. Switching to attack mode, Alec jumps toward her drawing his second lightsaber. The Zabrak sees her opponent pull out his second blade, in response she activates the other end of her saberstaff. She ducks to avoid the Cross Strike maneuver then lands a Force imbued kick to the jaw that sends Alec careening back. Recovering the Sith Warrior holds his secondary blade in a Shien reverse grip. He next watches the Zabrak back flip and free one hand to launch heavy crates, Alec uses Force repulse this allows his opponent to rapidly close the distance turning off one blade of her saberstaff. Alec's electric blue eyes widen in surprise before he jumps up to escape having his feet severed. A hard right hook sends the Dark Jedi to the ground.
Alec tightens the grip on his lightsabers as the realization sets in, Kenta, Yuna and himself haven't been in lightsaber duels for several years and frozen in cryostasis so they have serious dueling rust to shake off. Briefly gazing to his left, he sees Yuna switching to Soresu to stave off her opponent's aggressive power attacks, teeth clenched.
As for Leliana she was engaging the third Human Dark Jedi.
The dark side user deflects shots from Leliana's blaster pistols with his lightsaber and uses the Force to rip them out of her hands, the DL-18s skid across the ground behind the Dark Jedi. Unfazed the smuggler gives him the bring it gesture with a taunting grin. The Dark Jedi runs toward Leliana augmenting his speed and swings his red blade in wide arcs, Leliana ducks, jumps, bends backward and slides underneath to avoid the strikes. The Dark Jedi fails to react in time when Leliana's boot connects with his back sending the dark side practitioner flat on his face. Getting up the Human male gives Leliana a hated glare, his yellow eyes gaining a fiery intensity.
Leliana didn't flinch having seen scarier things in the galaxy. Grabbing a flash bang, Leliana sets the timer and throws it. As expected the Dark Jedi grabs it with the Force and the flash bang detonates, the Dark Jedi covered his ears from the loud explosion and was temporarily blinded from the flash. Leliana uses this opportunity to charge at her opponent, cocking her fist and drives it deep into the man's stomach knocking all of the air out the smuggler follows it up with a roundhouse kick that sends the Dark Jedi to his back. Not letting up, Leliana closes the distance when she's blasted by Force lightning. It wasn't a lethal intensity but enough to stop the smuggler in her tracks, allowing the Dark Jedi to get up. The ringing in his ears stop and vision returns.
He executes the Draw Closer technique, grabbing Leliana with the Force and pulling her to his blade. However, he cancels the maneuver when he senses danger. He pulls his head back to prevent it being chopped off by Alec's second lightsaber. Leliana lands on her feet and runs toward the Dark Jedi, leap into the air and nail the drop kick though her opponent blocks it with his forearm.
Baring his teeth in frustration, the dark side practitioner couldn't believe a non-Force user can keep with him despite having the advantage of the Force and lightsaber. Using the Force to augment his speed, the Dark Jedi runs to Leliana, raising his lightsaber above his head in an overhead chop, Leliana catches the enemy's hands but the Dark Jedi pushes the blade closer to the smuggler's face until Leliana pokes him in the eyes and drives her palm into his chest. She uses this opportunity to flip her adversary overhead. The Dark Jedi recovers quickly and executes a Force push sending Leliana crashing through crates. Fighting the pain hitting her back, the smuggler gets up.
Leliana groaned, "Had to get cocky. I should have just shot him."
Alarms blare inside the production facility as stormtroopers race to the location the intruders are.
The lights in a corridor go out and the commander of the group orders the personnel to restore power. They next hear the door being pried open and footsteps echo.
Suddenly a red blade ignites revealing the wielder: Kenta Stone.
He greeted, "Hello!"
The commander ordered, "Open fire!" The sound of blasters fill the corridor as Kenta uses the Barrier of Blades to redirect the bolts back at the Imperial troopers as he advanced. He clenches his fist to pin a trooper to the ceiling then uses the same hand to block the other troopers' blaster bolts via Tutaminis. He twirls his saberstaff to direct a bolt to the stormtrooper pinned to the ceiling before he fell. Not letting up, he rips the blasters out of the remaining troopers' hands and cuts them down. The commander orders the troopers on the other side of the door to open as Kenta comes closer. The door opens just as the commander was stabbed.
Blast doors are lowered to stop the Sith but it proved to be useless as Kenta cuts his way through and sends the cut piece of metal into an unfortunate weapon scientist killing him instantly. Seeing more troopers approaching Kenta blasts them with Force lightning with enough potency to show their skeletons through the white armor. Cutting off the attack, he watches them fall to the ground, their bodies cooked from the intense lightning.
Moving along, the Sith turns right and spots an Imperial Inquisitor blocking his path, his lightsaber already ignited. The two initially start walking then charge, raising their red blades above their heads and clash.
Adhering to the principles of Djem So, Kenta presses the attack using his size and strength to push the opponent into a defense.
Elsewhere in the production facility, Alexandra short-circuits the control panel responsible for the machinery that produces parts for the Imperial walkers. Her job done she leaves the control room and heads for a storage hanger. In it were finished AT-TEs.
Ahead of the young Sith apprentice was a red-skinned female Twi'lek Dark Jedi.
She stood 5'6, maybe 5'7, high B cup breasts, 21 years old, slim build and yellow eyes, one of the initial signs of dark side degradation.
The female Twi'lek draws to Alexandra's surprise a purple lightsaber instead of the traditional red and enters the opening stance of Juyo with the lightsaber held in a one-handed, horizontal high guard, the body half twisted with the off-hand swept across and down.
Alexandra remembers Kenta explaining to her that Juyo was the most dangerous of the lightsaber forms, known as the Way of Vornskr or more appropriately the Ferocity Form. Juyo was the most demanding, both emotionally and physically.
Physically, Juyo was based around offense: Attack, attack, attack!
The attacks were described being more open and kinetic than Djem So moves but less elaborate than Ataru, executed in high-energy staccato bursts. It required the same intensity as Form V but greater energy to compensate for the broad attack patterns. Because of this, Form VII moves were more difficult to execute than the graceful and linked sequences of Ataru. The physical difficulties were nothing compared to the mental stress it put on the practitioner, requiring him to fuel himself with aggressive feelings and attack with passion. To put it simply, a duelist must allow himself to enjoy the thrill of battle and relish in the feeling of victory. The Juyo user was described having an outward calm appearance but the internal pressures were teetering on the verge of explosion. Because of its ferocity, a Juyo duelist needed to have a lot of self-discipline to fully master the form. In addition, it required mastery of other lightsaber combat forms to build their Juyo from.
Juyo users were proficient in using the Assured Strike maneuver where strength was traded for the near-certainty of landing a hit. Another maneuver was the Vornskr's Ferocity, a vicious attack sequence based around Force fueled aggression. A Form VII master can use the technique without allowing the influence of the dark side to pervade their aggression.
Like with the other forms, Juyo did have shortcomings.
It was weak against Force-based attacks. The style's about giving in to the fury of the Force and any fury coming at you are going to cause some problems. Its focus on offense left a Juyo user open to counterattacks.
Brushing the anxiety out of her chest, Alexandra draws her lightsaber, igniting it with a snap-hiss. Resting on the side of caution, Alexandra uses Form III.
This was it, her very first lightsaber duel.
The Twi'lek strikes first, running at Alexandra and right away executes the Vornskr's Ferocity, Alexandra blocks each strike and catches a fist aimed for her face. The Twi'lek presses forward launching strike after strike, testing the black-haired girl's defense. One vicious overhead chop sends Alexandra to the ground, the girl rolls away from a downward stab. Getting back up Alexandra realizes she needs to meet her opponent's strike head-on. Switching to Djem So, Alexandra charges at the Twi'lek swinging her lightsaber in a horizontal sweep that's blocked the retaliates with another round of the Vornskr's Ferocity, this one faster and more aggressive than before.
Alexandra sidesteps a downward strike and enters a saber lock, having the height and strength advantage she pushes her blade toward the Twi'lek's face. She spots the Dark Jedi freeing one hand and cocking it backwards, realizing what she plans to do Alexandra pulls her hand back and thrusts it forward at the same time as her opponent does, entering a Force lock. The Twi'lek grunts from the resistance Alexandra was putting up. However, the young Wolf's superior affinity with the Force prevails and pushes the Twi'lek away. Looking up, she watches Alexandra leap toward her, using the acrobatics and footwork of Ataru to compensate for Djem So's lack of mobility. The Sith apprentice reverses the grip on her blade, her opponent rolls out of the way of a stabbing move.
Returning to her feet, the Twi'lek reignites her lightsaber and runs at Alexandra, the 19-year old quickly pulls her weapon out of the ground parrying each attack then executes the Fluid Riposte. The speed of the transition catches the Dark Jedi off-guard. With one precise swing, Alexandra disarms her opponent of her lightsaber. The Twi'lek, however, refuses to accept defeat.
She unleashes a powerful torrent of Force lightning at Alexandra prompting the black-haired girl to raise her lightsaber as protection against the current.
The Twi'lek Dark Jedi taunted, "Give up, child. You cannot win!" Returning to her feet, she increases the output of the lightning.
'So this is the power of the dark side of the Force.' Alexandra thought with a grimace.
Freeing one hand, Alexandra shoots a torrent of Force lightning of her own packing more power. The Twi'lek's yellow eyes widen before the red lightning hits her, making the red-skinned beauty roll across the ground for a few minutes before coming to a stop.
The Twi'lek sat up, "You are strong. No, powerful. You are like a calm before the storm. Darth Vader would certainly be most pleased having such a powerful Force user at his command."
Stopping her attack, Alexandra asked, "Who is this Darth Vader you speak of?"
The Twi'lek stood with a malevolent grin, "A being that's slaughtered many Jedi." Using the Force to call her lightsaber back, she said, "No more playing around, it's time to get serious."
Alexandra blinked incredulously, "All this time you were toying with me?"
With the malevolent grin still on her face, the Twi'lek roared, "Here I come!" The two clash blades, Alexandra jumps back to evade a strike aimed for her chest.
The slightly younger duelist nails a powerful Force push making the Dark Jedi skid back. The enemy recovers and rushes at Alexandra, jumping over a strike intended of severing her feet and lands behind the black-haired Sith Warrior and scores a hit on her back earning a scream of pain and damaging part of her cloak though her armor took most of the hit, saving Alexandra of a potentially disabling injury. Remaining calm she whips around, kicking the Twi'lek's thigh followed by a roundhouse kick leaving a bruise.
Leliana throws a savage uppercut against the challenger's face; the male Human Dark Jedi she discovered was named Taven, lands on his butt panting. He was bleeding from a wound on his left temple, a scorch mark on his right shoulder left by Leliana after retrieving her blaster pistols.
For the smuggler herself, she was relatively unharmed save for a few bruises.
Taven rushes at Leliana, swinging his lightsaber wildly as Leliana evades.
The Dark Jedi growled, "Damn you, stop moving!" A hard punch lands deep in his abdomen causing him to cough up blood, "Gahhh!" Leliana pulls her fist back, shaking it from the force of the impact.
Taven stated, "I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you, girl!"
Leliana taunted, "You're the cocky one, fool." With a frustrated yell, Taven charges Leliana again.
The smuggler twirls around, getting behind the Dark Jedi, wrapping her arms around his waist and lifts him nailing the German suplex. The Human's lightsaber falls out of his grasp. That's quickly rectified when he calls it back to his hand and targets Leliana's stomach, scoring a hit though not the kind he was looking for. Leliana grunts from the impact. Had her instincts not told her to evade, she would've been cut in half by her opponent's blade.
This allows Taven to stand up.
Without thinking, he said, "You cannot beat me, girl. Not with the power of the dark side at my command. And once you are dead, I will do the same to those you love. Who should I start with? Your reputation means you have very few close ones. Who's the closest to your heart?" Leliana's gut told her the Dark Jedi was trying to probe her mind.
Taven figured out who it was and a sinister grin formed, "That black-haired girl. So, that girl is the closest to your heart. What's her name, though? Once you're dead, she will share the same fate." That sentence would be his undoing.
Leliana began laughing, "I don't know what's funnier. The fact that you think you can beat me or the fact that you were dumb enough to threaten someone I love. Ever heard of a man named Count Dooku?" She waited for the sign of acknowledgment from her opponent, "Well I've beaten him and in comparison, you're nothing."
She rushes at Taven, getting past his defense and grabs his hands, slamming the butt of her blaster pistol on them striking a pressure point that made Taven drop his lightsaber. Kicking the weapon out of reach, Leliana's boot connects with her opponent's chest cracking a few ribs then throws punches at the same area sending more bolts of pain through the Dark Jedi's body. Gazing past the enemy Leliana sees explosive barrels. Ducking to escape a beheading, she rushes to the barrels.
Taven hisses each time he took a breath due to his cracked ribs. He feeds on the pain to fuel the dark side within.
Looking for his target, he hears a whistle coming from behind.
Turning around he saw Leliana standing in front of barrels.
She taunted, "Come on, Dark Jedi, I'm right here. Come get me." Taking the bait, Taven leaps into the air, reversing the grip on his blade with the intent of driving through Leliana.
Leliana waits until the Dark Jedi nears and somersaults away as the Dark Jedi's red lightsaber pierces the ground.
Quickly regaining her footing, Leliana pulled a pair of thermal detonators from her belt and armed them, "Bye!" She throws them at the barrels, Taven's eyes widen before he's sent to fiery oblivion.
A sigh escaped Leliana, "All joking aside that was slightly difficult."
Alec continues his duel with the Zabrak Dark Jedi, Zoe.
Since Ataru wasn't meant for prolonged combat, Alec sees Zoe tiring herself out. That doesn't mean she was able to land hits on his armor.
During a saber lock, Alec uses the second lightsaber to stab Zoe in the leg making her cry out in pain, while she fell to the ground Alec destroys her lightsaber with his dual blades in a scissoring motion. With the now ruined weapon laying her feet, Zoe realizes she was at her opponent's mercy.
Placing his lightsabers on his belt, Alec forms a grabbing gesture and the Zabrak Dark Jedi feels an unbearable pressure in her chest that grows more painful as Alec slowly closes his hand until it forms a fist. With a sudden jerk of his fist, Zoe screams in untold agony when she feels her chest being crushed until the bones snap like they were twigs. A raspy gasp escapes her lungs before she collapses. Behind his mask, Alec was breathing heavily.
Alec sighed loudly, "Damn, that was tough. Need to resharpen my dueling skills." Nearby, Yuna parries each of the first male Human Dark Jedi, Talon's attacks.
Seeing an opening in her opponent's defense, Yuna ducks a broad sweep then quickly thrusts up swinging her blue blade, beheading Talon. Deactivating her weapon Yuna attaches it to belt before staring at the scorch mark on her left arm. It was a light cut though it still hurt.
She said to herself, "That was a little too close for comfort." The redhead meets up with her companions.
Back with Alexandra, she enters a saber lock with the female Twi'lek, both twirling their blades left or right to rip the challenger's weapon out of their hands until Alexandra lands a punch to the face. Throughout their duel she discovered her opponent's Juyo was comprised of Soresu to compensate for Juyo's lack of defense and Ataru for agility.
The Twi'lek goes for a horizontal strike that's blocked and Alexandra counters with a Force push that sends her opponent crashing into a pile of metal pipes. Her body takes out the columns supporting the structures and the pipes bury her with a loud clang. The Twi'lek rises out of the pile and levitates some up, taking aim. Alexandra sees the pipes launched toward her and swings her lightsaber cutting the first diagonally in half, the second in half vertically and sprints toward the Dark Jedi, leaping into the air to dodge the third. The Twi'lek brings her red lightsaber up as Alexandra slams into her, the Dark Jedi staggering back from the force of the impact. Alexandra bats away counterattacks with tight parries. Her dark side opponent cartwheels to avoid a swipe to her feet, twisting her body to land behind Alexandra. However, the Sith apprentice quickly turns around thwarting a stab. She suddenly deactivates her lightsaber catching the Twi'lek off-guard landing a punch to the abdomen then quickly reactivates her weapon, launching the Saber Swarm at the Dark Jedi. The Twi'lek screams in pain as she feels the silver blade cut into her flesh until one final horizontal slash sends her corkscrewing through the air.
Her torment isn't over, though because she next feels herself being lifted into the air. Opening her yellow eyes she bears witness to Alexandra holding her in place with her weapon hand and the fingers on her free hand spread wide. Red lightning appears but instead of launching it, Alexandra compresses the lightning into a ball of electricity.
Alexandra said, "This is your end! You are the first subject to my attack, Force bomb." With that she launches the ball of electricity at the target.
Living up to its name the electric ball hits, enveloping the Twi'lek in a colossal yet concentrated explosion of raw Force energy. When the explosion stops, nothing was left of the Twi'lek, not even her lightsaber. Placing a hand on her forehead, Alexandra closed her eyes in relief. That duel was intense and she had close calls with her opponent.
All of a sudden, the hand covering her face is pulled away and she stares at it, blue eyes widen in horror. She took a life, even if it was a Dark Jedi it was still a life. It's something she will never wipe her hands clean of. Alexandra feels her stomach churn and runs to the nearest trashcan. Opening the lid, she empties her stomach. Once she was done, Alexandra walks to the exit but slides down the wall staring at her hand with horror filled eyes again. She tries to convince herself that what she did was justified. The 19-year old was caught up in the heat of battle at that point.
Alexandra lets out a scream when the realization overwhelms her. After that, she faints.
Kenta locks blades with the Imperial Inquisitor and pushes him back despite the Inquisitor's best efforts to hold his ground. Kenta was just too strong.
The Sith Warrior thrusts the challenger back and uses the raw power of Djem So to bash through the Inquisitor's Makashi defense. A broad swing breaks the defense and Kenta severs his opponent's right arm, the Imperial Inquisitor screams in pain as he felt the pain of losing his limb. Kenta chains the attack, removing the opponent's head. He next watches the Imperial Inquisitor dissolve in dark side energy. Kenta's seen it happen before but it never ceases to amaze him. At the same time, he never understood why some dark side users would dissolve or explode while others didn't.
After the feeling of victory passes, Kenta feels a tremor in the Force. He concludes it was telling him that something was wrong.
Following the disturbance while causing damage, he enters the room his apprentice was in. The young Sith spots the black-haired pupil laying on her side.
He said, "Alexandra!" Kneeling he places his fingers on Alexandra's neck for a pulse and to his relief he finds one. Placing his strong arms underneath her, Kenta carries her bridal style out of the room.
Eventually reaching the entrance to the production facility, he meets up with the others.
Alec, Yuna and Leliana run up to him.
Yuna gasped upon seeing their student's state, "What happened?"
Kenta shook his head, "Don't know. She was like this when I found her."
Leliana said, "Let's get out of here. I have a feeling more Imperial troops will arrive." Nodding the group walks up the ramp to the Forgotten Star and Kenta carries Alexandra to her quarters, placing the girl on the bed.
Alec asked, "Is she injured?"
Kenta replied, "No, I didn't see any."
Leliana advised, "You three go rest up, I'll stay here until she wakes up."
Yuna nodded, "Very well." The Sith Warriors exit the room as Leliana sits on the bed.
After a while, Alexandra's eyes opened and the girl sat up, "Where am I?" She feels a hand on her shoulder making Alexandra quickly look at who it belongs. She finds herself staring into Leliana's eyes.
Leliana queried, "You okay, Alex?"
Alexandra held her head, "I can't believe what I've done."
Leliana furrowed her brows, "Did what?" She feels Alexandra starting to shake as the memory of what happened came back.
The teenager said, "I...I...just...I killed someone!" Leliana knows what Alexandra was referring to, having done it herself many times before.
She stated, "It's not something you get used to. It was either you or that Dark Jedi, Alex." The Sith apprentice buries her face into Leliana's chest, tears falling down her face.
Alexandra sobbed, "That doesn't make it any better!"
Leliana wrapped her arms around Alexandra, stroking her black hair, "I'm here, Alex." After what seems like forever, Alexandra passes out exhausted from the crying. Leliana lays there with the slightly taller girl, holding Alexandra close. She felt the same way after she killed someone during her first job as a smuggler. Her adoptive father was there to comfort her. Despite what she told Alexandra, Leliana had gotten used to killing as horrible as it sounds. She knew the life of a smuggler was a dangerous one.
Now it was her turn to provide support for Alexandra as she adapts to her new life as a Sith. Taking down the Empire is not going to be an easy task.
A/N: Chapter 5 done.
The gang launched their first attack against the Empire, targeting Kuat.
They encountered resistance and Kenta, Yuna and Alec had trouble facing their respective opponents thanks to dueling rust, though they prevailed in the end.
Alexandra had her first lightsaber duel and performed one of her new Force attacks. However, the effects of her first duel left its mark on her.
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Stay tuned for chapter 6.
Vader 23A