Private Dark Stars in Dark Places

[Raven Ashe]

D A S O O R

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Location: Dasoor, Agarix Sector, Outer Rim
Time: 2208 Galactic Standard

Even at this time of day you could hear the hushed cry of crowds as podracers swooped by. Where there was money to be made, the time of day hardly mattered. If anything the fall of night added an extra thrill for spectator and racer alike. Only those of any skill and grit survived long when piles of credits were on the line. If there was only one law on this planet, it was that the races would never end.

A cloaked figure strode through the dank, narrow streets far from the track. Its course had led long from the center of the city. Every now and then it would pause before a stall, or in front of a rundown shop. Was it gaze drawn by something, or did it seek to watch for those that might haunt its steps?

Dasoor was a useful planet for the cloaked figure's purposes. Lawless and run by the Juvex; a steadfast house of slavers that respected credits and an iron resolve. People you could convince to see things you way for the right price. People that could not care less what you did in the shadows, so long as you did not impede on their own designs. While the city was run by those of sheer strength or by force of will, it was a sprawling, populous one surrounded by equally lawless worlds of the Outer Rim. A little slice of Hell in the Galaxy.

If there was one thing that should be lamented, it was that the choicest victims were in the center of that cesspit. Those occupying the less frequented, less monitored sectors of the city were... substandard. Some would blame their economic standing as being far beneath the average -- the poor, the destitute. Perhaps that was true to an extent; but the cloaked figure had another thought. They were not desired because they lacked the drive, the ambition, the unrepentant resolve to do whatever had to be done... and that was what led them to eeking out a mere existence in the perilous depths of the galaxy.

Too often was it necessary to find something of worth so far from its sanctuary. From where it could be free.

Soon, now, it would return there. Return to the place where it kept the device of power and knowledge that sustained it. The itch that crept across covered fleshed would cease once the power radiating from the device was felt once more. But first it had to be sure no one followed.

Tag: Kynigos Rhy'Doiken | Taiia Locke | Knights Obsidian/CIS

 

[Kynigos Rhy'Doiken]

No one ever plans to end up on Dasoor. A lawless planet, ruled by slavers and syndicates, it didn’t stand out much among the other outlaw worlds of the Outer Rim. The pod racing was the only spectacle worth noting, but it wasn’t enough to bring any sort of tourism in. No, the people of Dasoor would likely spend their entire lives without ever leaving. They were the only thing consistent about the planet. A stagnant pool of criminals and crooks. No one new ever stays for long, and those that do are running or hiding.

In hindsight, there were better options for a Exiled Jedi to lie low. Being a Jedi on Dasoor was like being a Porg in a Rancor pit. Oddly enough, criminals don’t much like the peacekeepers of the galaxy.

It didn’t matter that Kynigos wasn’t a Jedi. Hell, he hadn’t really been a Jedi in years, had he? The last time he honestly felt any bond with his Brothers and Sisters was probably the day he was first Knighted. That didn’t matter though. Thugs wouldn’t ask for his life story. The lightsaber hidden under his cloak would be enough for anyone on this forsaken world to put a blaster to the back of his head.

Not that they’d ever have the opportunity...

Crack!

He didn’t need a lightsaber to defend himself.

Crack!

Bruised knuckles and bloodied boots worked just fine.

Crack!

Truth be told, there was something satisfying about brawling the old fashioned way. Some deep repressed part of Kynigos thrived on it, craved more. Brutal face pounding went against everything the Jedi taught. It was raw. Violent. Hateful.

The whole bloody Order could rot.

A spinning heel kick was the final blow. The firm edge of Kynigos’ boot bashed into the side of the human thug’s skull, leaving him to collapse in front of his Bothan accomplice. The ripples in the Bothan’s fur was like a billboard reading “I’ve screwed up.” Kynigos felt some guilty pleasure in knowing the Bothan was afraid.

The same alley the two thugs had intended to corner Kynigos in had apparently backfired now. Too narrow for the Bothan to slip past and too secluded for the fool to call for help.

“Well come on then!” Kynigos taunted. Blood trickled from a small cut on his lip, only adding to his barbaric look. Oh how he’d fallen. The Jedi armour he wore was practically in tatters now. Hell, Kynigos was falling apart. The Force was like a drug, and withdrawals were hitting hard. He was desperate, internally clawing for any glimpse of the power he’d had. An addict in every sense of the word.

The Bothan tried to run, only to be caught up against the wall like an insect. He flinched when Kynigos raised his hand, only to have a look of total horror come across his face when his eyes fell upon to metal cylinder.

“Can’t have you following me, mate.” Kynigos said, as if that justified what he was about to do.

Only once the barrel was firmly pressed against the base of the Bothan’s skull did the Dark Jedi activate his lightsaber...

-----

Leaving behind the two corpses, Kynigos’ cloaked form slipped back into the shadowed streets of Dasoor. By morning the bodies would be found, by afternoon they’d be forgotten. That was how it worked around here. The strong rules over the weak, and the weak were all but forgotten.

Kynigos wasn’t the only hooded figure prowling Dasoors late nigh streets though. There was another, doing it’s best to look casual but nonetheless constantly looking over its shoulder.

Regardless Kynigos felt drawn. Whether it was some remnants of the Force calling to him or some ill placed gut feeling, Kynigos didn’t know. But he found himself stalking the other figure through the night, past the alleys and the shop fronts, and into what would most certainly be trouble.

 

[Taiia Locke]

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Blend In​

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Location: Dasoor​

Armament: Lightsaber​

Wearing: Average clothing​

Objective: Secure the artifact​

Tags: Raven Ashe Kynigos Rhy'Doiken​

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She stepped off her ships loading ramp and closed and locked the hatch behind her, it would not do to be stranded on a world like Dasoor force user or not she would likely not last long if stranded on a world like this. She stepped forward out of the starport and into the busy street outside of it. The light and sound of Dasoor was foreign to her in many ways, such a lawless world far from the core she would have never expected to find herself here.​

The Knights Obsidian had sent her to investigate a rumor of a powerful artifact on Dasoor and to secure it and bring it back for study. In theory it was a simple task but the young former Jedi stood out like a sore thumb here, she did her bust to blend her clothing and hide her saber in a pouch but anybody who had ever seen a Jedi would see that she carried herself like one, that aside she pressed on into the dark streets, emerald green eyes always checking corners.​

As she passed one particular side street she peered into the shadows and saw a man laying face down on the ground by all account probably dead, more than likely a trap she turned away and felt a pull from the force, it was powerful likely the artifact and she turned moving in that direction. The redhead walked slowly purposeful not betraying her attentions to anybody by running or getting overly excite, her plan was simple act like a local as best as possible and find the artifact.​

 

[Raven Ashe]

Ripples in the Force. The cloaked figure stopped sooner than she expected as an all too familiar sensation washed over her. Her breath caught in her throat at the unbidden but not unwanted feeling. She could feel her thoughts become muddled with the overwhelming desire to lash out. Here. Now.

It took a moment, but eventually the figure resumed her movements through the streets and the alleyways. A consuming desire pressed upon her to race to safety, out of sight, free to indulge on the one that followed. Yet, Raven's time on the planet had been worthwhile. Isolated here, far from large gatherings of strong Force Sensitives, she had built up the means to combat the urges. Any sooner and she would have torn the city apart to set upon the prey.

No, even footsteps as she'd paced before. One or two stops to feign being unaware. Just one or two. Now she wanted to be followed.

At last the cloaked figure stopped before what appeared to be a metal wall along a twisted, narrow road. A humanoid-sized panel pulled inward and slid up to admit the figure. Within sight was a handle that snapped upward, followed by the panel dropping into place. Only a Force User (or someone with explosives) would be able to uncover the hidden sanctuary.

Fortunate for Kynigos Rhy'Doiken the door would mysteriously open once he drew near. It would not do so for Taiia Locke , if she kept her distance, however. With one surprise guest that might already be passing deeper into the abode, there wouldn't be an opportunity to extend the same courtesy. The young woman shouldn't have much trouble pulling the handle down from outside, however. A lingering sense of darkness pulsated from where the cloaked figured had touched it would draw attention to its location.

Down a narrow, dark passage sat a circular, enclosed room with a twenty-foot tall ceiling illuminated by candles that lined the room. Suspended overhead were numerous panels, cables, and chains. Discarded on the floor lay the cloak and hood seen on the street, while the one it hid was no where to be found. Could that command the same level of attention -- despite the implied danger -- when a small pyramid shaped object sat on a pedastil in the center of the room, however? It glowed with a red light, and a stifling sense of darkness blanketed the entire chamber. Those knowledgeable in artifacts or the Sith would know its ilk -- a Sith holocron with secrets some would kill to possess.

Overhead, hid just out of sight and in the shadows lurked the one whose home they'd entered. It watched in silence to gauge how one or both would respond or if they'd dare enter. Come in, come in... The second someone reached for the holocron, or if they managed to pinpoint her location despite the holocron's own darkness, she would strike. If they just wanted to talk, well, Raven wasn't a mindless monster. She could listen. Whether she responded depended on the worth of what they had to say.

 

[Kynigos Rhy'Doiken]

Following the thing through the streets felt like an eternity. Kynigos' heart pounded in his ears. Anticipation urged him forward, after the cloaked figure meandering down that walkways. It was hard not to pounce then and there, to ignite his saber and come down on the person in a whirlwind of Form VII. Of course he knew it was unwise, he had no idea who or what this person was, but that gut feeling was hungry for results. Things were moving along too slowly for his tastes. Kynigos' cloaked prey was taking its sweet time going down the street.

Down twisted alleys and damp corridors they went right up until they came to the metal wall. Kynigos watched from afar, watched as the metal wall opened up and the form stepped into the darkness.

Kynigos nearly ran after the door then and there. The idea that he may have just lost his only opportunity was infuriating. It was all he could do to hold back from running, settling for a crouched jog to the door. It was almost like it had never opened in the first place. It looked like a bulkhead of steel, unmoving and ungiving. From a look, no one would have ever guessed that it'd moved just moments before.

Kynigos' lightsaber came to life in his hands. He'd cut through the metal if he had to. If nothing else, he was determined. Driven. Wisdom replaced by blind desire to regain his power. Before he had the chance to press the tip of the weapon into the metal door, it began to open on its own. Kynigos lept back with his weapon at the ready. He half expected someone to come back out. He waited. Waited. Waited.

No one.

Cautiously, Kynigos began to creep inside, using his lightsaber to light the darkness set out before him. The corridor was narrow, the walls close enough that he could have touched either side with his hands. Even walking lightly, footsteps honed by years of training as a Jedi Sentinel, Kynigos could still hear the soft noises of his boots against the floor. It was eerily quite. Like a graveyard.

Kynigos knew he was walking right into a trap, but he didn't care. Not in the slightest. There was too much at risk for him to be hesitant.

When the hallway opened up into a large room, Kynigos paused in the doorway. His eyes were locked on the Sith Holocron. What secrets did it hold? What power? There was so many questions running through Kynigo's mind that he didn't even notice the cloak lying on the ground. His eyes, his heart, was locked on the Holocron.

Despite every warning. Every red flag.

Despite the fact he'd likely just walked into a Sith's sanctuary.

Kynigos made a run for the Holocron.

Raven Ashe Taiia Locke

 

[Taiia Locke]

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Secure the holocron​

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Location: Dasoor
Armament: Lightsaber
Wearing: Average clothing
Objective: Secure the holocron
Tags: Raven Ashe Kynigos Rhy'Doiken

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Taiia was following quickly behind Kynigo’s whether or not she had spotted him was another matter entirely her pace quickened every so slightly she did sense another somebody who violence on his mind she did not know if it was directed at him or not but she could feel the intense bloodlust not anger just the want to do harm. The feeling was foreign to her, she felt sickened by it as she rounded the corner to where Kynigos had gone undergound. She pulled her lightstaff out of the pouch on her belt and the silver blade snapped to life splitting the darkness and bathing the alley in a silver light. It was quite the contrast from a moment ago and at the end of the alley way she saw a dead end with nobody in sight. For only a moment she that she had lost it but the alleyway was not as it appeared.​

Walking to the end of the alleyway she looked around and listened to the force. The holocron was close she could feel the draw of its dark presence slowly she turned toward the door and gently laid her had on the hidden doorway, not knowing the means of its mechanism but determined the path lie through it. She closed her eyes and reached out probing the hidden passage and with a click the doorway opened as she applied the force to the mechanism that held it in place forcing it to open. She stepped in slowly extinguishing her blade and silently moving into the tunnel at the end of the path she arrived just in time to see a man rush at the holocron she would have halted him but the force was almost screaming at her, she was in a dangerous place quickly her saber unlatched and the other hilt flew to her free hand and the two blades ignited as she stepped into the room two silver beams of plasma splitting the dark of the chamber.​

“By Order of the Knights Obsidian I am here to secure that Holocron, had it over quietly. I would rather not harm anyone, but I will.” she walked slowly toward the center of the room her guard still well up she dropped into the basic stance of Soresu though this was modified she held one saber low and one high, unknown to them she was nearly a master in this form and highly proficient modifying it to use dual sabers instead of a single blade.​

 

[Raven Ashe]

The shadows above stirred as the man, and then the woman, sought to make claim to the holocron. Living Darkness swelled and surged out from above off to the right. It bulged and swept down from about the panels that offered as much sound baffling as concealment. A low growl accompanied two tendrils meant to knock the male -- Kynigos -- to the left of the prize he sought with such abandon. They would strike with a solid force able to knock an unprepared soul's breath away for a moment. A third tendril of black shot out toward the opposite side of the stand where the holocron sat; it would curl upward in an effort to snatch the prize from its perch in case the man managed to overcome the physical assault.

With a hiss, the bulk of the dark creature landed on one foot before pivoting violently. Three more obsidian appendages shot out toward the woman now. These were intent to disarm to knock Taiia unconsciously. If any of the lengths of shadow were served by a lightsaber, the isolated portion would evaporate back into the void -- or more to the point, the Force.

Not content with merely keeping the holocron out of greedily clutches, however, the ink black humanoid creature soon shot across the distance toward the Jedi. Much like Kynigos, Raven too had a deep hunger, which a richly saturated user of the Force such as Taiia was nothing short of a walking banquet on display.

Streams of darkness would strike and lash out at the woman desperate to break her defenses. Enough for her to sink two or three-inch long pointed teeth or elongated claws into her flesh. Rend Taiia defenseless and drain her of the Force. Raven had been building up the ability to control her hunger here, but presented with such abundance how could she possibly ignore it?

"I would," the Force monster hissed. What was a little more harm in the galaxy?

Meanwhile the holocron would be kept safe elevated in a tendril behind her. That was the plan, anyway.

Tag: Kynigos Rhy'Doiken | Taiia Locke

 

[Kynigos Rhy'Doiken]

Kyingos had been expecting something. Some sort of threat or barrier to block him from the Holocron. A Sith maybe? Or perhaps some wayward Rouge who'd stumbled upon the place. But the living shadow that dropped from the ceiling, followed by the tendrils that struck vipers, was unexpected. Unexpected was an understatement. Kynigos was thoroughly surprised. He narrowly avoided the first shadowy tendril that snapped at him like a whip. The second struck him square in the shoulder, forcing Kynigos' body to spin away from the glowing Holocron.

The Exile tumbled to the ground, still holding his lightsaber in his hand. If he had learned anything in life, it was to never drop your weapon, for any reason. That's how you wound up dead. Naturally, he spun to deflect another from his mystery foe, but there was no follow up. Kynigos' eyes were wild, falling upon the woman now at the other side of the chamber, facing off against what could only be described as a monster.

His attention shot back to that dark appendage holding the Holocron up out of reach now. Nothing in between him and it's secrets now, not with that Thing focusing all its attention on the woman. What was stopping him from cutting the tendril to ribbons and collecting his prize?

Well for one, Kynigos saw no way out. Not without passing by that Monster and the self proclaimed Knight Obsidian. As far as Kynigos was concerned, they were both his enemy here. The Woman wanted the Holocron, the beast protected it. Kynigos would be the one to walk out of here with it.

Leaping to his feet again, Kynigos' weapon slashed at the tendril holding the Holocron up. The moment his lightsaber passed cleanly through, the upper portion of the tendril disappeared like it had never been there. Dissolving into nothingness leaving behing only the base of the tendril and the Holocron. With nothing left to hold it up, the precious little pyramid fell right into Kynigos's ready hand.

The moment it touched his flesh, Kynigos could feel it tugging at him. His stomach sank, then twisted and contorted itself into knots. The potency of the darkside wrapped around him, and yet it felt just out of reach. Kynigos reached for the force, only to be denied access just like before. It teased him, pulling at strings Kynigos didn't know were there, plucking cords within him that made his heart race. Kynigos could feel the power radiating from it, if only he could unlock it.

With only one exit in sight, Kynigos prepared to fight his way out. With the Monster clearly the larger threat here, he decided it might be wise to try and help the woman. It certainly had to be better than facing off against that Thing alone, without the Force to bolster him. He charged into the fray, aiming his saber at the Monster's back.

Taiia Locke Raven Ashe

 

[Taiia Locke]

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Secure the holocron



Location: Dasoor
Armament: Lightsaber
Wearing: Average clothing
Objective: Secure the holocron
Tags: Raven Ashe Kynigos Rhy'Doiken



Taiia didn’t flinch from the monster, believe it or not she had actually seen worse in the nether and where the monster normally may have sensed fear was only determination and focus. Taiia slipped a foot back and changed her stance this time it was a modified Ataru both sabers forward and at chest height, without warning she dashed forward her feet leaving the ground as she spun her body quickly before the tendrils could close the distance fully and she slashed both sabers through them on either side. Her feet touching the ground only long enough to push off and send her lunging toward the monsters body both sabers forward again. It was a wreckless charge but potent worthy of an Ataru master but a master she was not.

She was focused on the threat in front of her but her senses were on the man as well at the moment the greater threat was the creature in front of her. She called out the to the unknown man “Circle around it and attack from behind!” not a very jedi thing to do but still she did as was necessary. Her objective was the holocron not misplaced nobility or sacrificing her own safety, her training with the Knights and the Mandragora had assured that she was ready to face such an abomination.

 

[Raven Ashe]

Raven's red eyes were fixed on Taiia, though her head jerked slightly to the side as the male sought to claim the holocron for himself. As the thought of retaliation entered her thoughts, however, the Meal with Legs decided to play Ataru Master. Aggressive. Fast. A Jedi Form that was surprising effective if little more than a means of distracting your opponent -- as long as you were prepared to counter it. The fang-filled visage with the scathing red eyes met Taiia's gaze as she launched forward. It almost seemed like the monster was grinning with its teeth locked together and chin lowered.

As the two threw themselves forward, the monstrosity before them suddenly 'melted' into the floor. The black stain on the floor instantly shot forward beneath Taiia until it stopped on the other side near the way out. Only it was no so quick to flee; the terror reappeared with arms and claws wide open. Perhaps her two pursuers would kill one another with the target between them suddenly absent. A woman could dare to dream.

A slow, booming laugh followed her reappearance. "You think a young Jedi and a broken man are a match for me? I will enjoy watching the hope die in your eyes as I siphon the Force out of you, leaving you a broken husk like the man before you, Jedi. And you," Raven's eyes shifted to look at Kynigos, "so desperate to cling to an object of power, having none any longer. You think it will instruct you? Guide you? Heal you because you lay awake at night crying yourself to sleep, remembering your former glory?" Laughter followed. It was easy for her to feel the man's lack of channeling the Force -- a wound that screamed meager meal if ever there were one.

If either of them had thought the Dark Side creature before them an unthinking brute driven by instinct or impulse, they now had reason to think otherwise. Especially when it flicked its right hand and a length of silver appeared delicately, yet firmly, held there. "Come, for I am famished." An onyx blade shot out of the lightsaber in her hand. The white edge a thin means to guage where it ended and the black mass of the monster began.

On second thought... Raven started to slowly move toward them if they had not already grown tired of idle feet. The tip of the saber was held up before her while her burning red gaze peered over it at her prey.

Tag: Taiia Locke | Kynigos Rhy'Doiken

 

[Kynigos Rhy'Doiken]

I complete honesty, this little fight was frustrating. Before he'd been able to rip his lightsaber into that Sith, or whatever She was, She'd melted away like a snowman on Tatoooine. What was Kynigos supposed to do? Stab the puddle on the ground!? He had a feeling Sith lightning would have done well there. Electricity flashing across the oozing black form, burning it's way through her body regardless of what form she took. But when Kynigos reached out, he could practically feel that wall of Light blocking him from channeling the Force. He knew the power was still there! He could feel it! He was certain it had guided him here! But walls had been placed by the Jedi preventing him from using his power. Walls he intended to send crashing down.

Kynigos wasn't so quick fight after the Sith proved she was capable of speech. He pivoted himself away from both the Sith and the Jedi, still holding that cursed Holocron in his hands. "What is this place?" He demanded. It seemed strange to keep a Sith Holocron on Dasoor. Kynigos hadn't heard of any ancient Sith temples here, or nexus's of the Dark Side. He was desperate to find one though. Somewhere strong in the Force, strong enough to help him break the barriers blocking his connection.

Kynigo's eyes darted between them both. He didn't trust either of them. A Sith who was apparently 'Famished' and some girl belonging to the Knights Obsidian. Either one was probably just as likely to slash their weapon across his chest and take the Holocron he had; something Kynigos simply couldn't allow. As Such, he held his Saber prepared to defend from either of them.

"You tell me why someone who is so Powerful , such as yourself, ended up on a backwater planet?" Kynigos went on. There was no flattery there. He was mocking the Sith, hoping to coax her into giving him sort of explanation for what had brought her to Dasoor. Of course, he was praying it was a Force nexus. It didn't hurt to try and ask, could it?

Taiia Locke Raven Ashe

 

[Taiia Locke]

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Secure the holocron​

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Location: Dasoor
Armament: Lightsaber
Wearing: Average clothing
Objective: Secure the holocron
Tags: Raven Ashe Kynigos Rhy'Doiken

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Taiia was expecting contact but where she found none she found herself flying straight at the man and turned her sabers away quickly shifting her weight hard to slip just past him and avoid a collision, the landing was not graceful but she bounced quickly back up to her feet standing up next to the man glancing at him out of the corner of her eyes, only thing hurt there was her pride if anything. “You will find me much harder to kill than that. But you are welcome to try” she smiled at the monster almost mocking it and daring it to come at her, no sense rushing in again the battle would be brought to her and she moved back to her soresu stance a prolonged battle in ataru was a foolish plan soresu was the best way for her to outlast and it was her best form when it came to mastery. Her sabers we brought up again as she stared down the monster.​

She was the picture of a typical Jedi, serene unphased by the darkness before her confident but there was more underneath she was different than a Jedi having explored more of the force than Jedi would dare, there was a depth of knowledge of both light and dark that gave her confidence even against a stronger yet unknown foe.​

 

[Raven Ashe]

The tip of the obsidian blade pointed straight at Taiia when Raven came to a stop. Those burning, red eyes were on Kynigos in that moment. He chose to engage it in conversation? A heated breath escaped her fanged maw as the desire to leap upon the Jedi woman gnawed at her every waking moment.

"You are holding it in your hands, mortal." A sharp snort burst forth. "Small creatures like yourselves could not understand. You think power is a hammer that you build strength to wield. Perhaps if you understood better -- if I had the slightest inclination to teach you -- you would not suffer as you do." A breathy laugh followed. "Have no fear. I will steal that fear from you as your heart slows and the last drop slips from your veins."

In truth, the holocron was not from this world. However, Raven saw no reason to describe what led her to this place. It had no bearing here. If these two wanted to do her a favor all they had to do was die.

Raven's left claw shot out toward Kynigos as she sought to cast him aside to the far side of the room using the Force. Oh, if only her Masters could see her now. To see their little monster had grown up and learned to harness the her true potential. She was no longer either the humble servant of the Dark Side nor the insatiable monster. Yet... the hunger remained. Oh, yes, did the hunger remained.

The black mass shot forward, saber in hand ready to deal with the pretty Jedi Taiia Locke and her blades. More weapons did not make you stronger, or faster, or more even more capable. They might allow the darling survive longer, however. So long as she didn't grow too tired or react too slowly that Raven's darksaber could carve off a little piece of her flesh. The blows would be quick, but they would be even stronger. A huntress eager to sink her fangs into the throat of its prey before the rabble decided to intervene again.

Yet, Kynigos Rhy'Doiken had no reason to fear. A swarm of tendrils would gladly lash and strike at him to keep him from leaving the chamber. He was not a delectible meal worthy of her immediate attention. But she would not tolerate a thief to part with her holocron.