Location: Tython, Akar Kesk
Equipment: Storm Breaker,
Shroudsaber,
Shroudshoto,
Ace of Spades,
Empire’s Shadow
Tags: Open
There were a small handful of strong-willed minds that seemed to have located cracks in the walls of Akar Kesk, the minds of the Light as their resolute dedication kept their minds from succumbing to their fears as they pushed through the dark magic at play. Naturally, Rath didn’t expect for everyone to fall under his spell, and in fact anticipated that there were those strong enough to withstand the dark tricks to the mind. At the rate this small force was going, they would likely reach the central chambers where the Nexus resided.
The Dark Elite mulled over his options as he could simply wait until they reached the bulk of their defences where Darth Imperius and his Knights protected the heart of their temple. However, as the saying went, once given an inch to advance, they’ll take it a mile or longer. As deathly silent and graceful like the darkness that clung to him, as if the Force itself was welcoming him with open arms. Rath rose up to his feet and simply disappeared in the dark hallways.
| ~ |
”We’re almost to the center! Keep your heads on a swivel and stay close.” An older gentleman with graying brown hair and a weathered face whispered harshly to the younger duo at his flanks. The corridor of polished black marble reflected the warm yellow that illuminated their immediate vicinity due to the man’s ignited lightsaber. Both their senses in the Force and their awareness was acute to any disturbance as they cautiously advanced further in. Their boots softly padded on the marble as an ominous red clung along the edges of the floor and walls. It was equally as complex of a structure as it was grim.
”I’ve never felt so much of the dark side in one location before…” The younger zabrak commented as the gloved hand of bantha leather groaned from her tightening her grip onto the cylindrical hilt as the familiar blade of blue offered some form of reinforcement. Her eyes that burned with determination and iron-clad swept from one wall to the next as their brisk pace was mixed in urgency.
”Guard your minds. Many have fallen from being so close to this darkness. We cannot fail.” No matter what happened, they couldn’t afford to fail as the strong-jawed man kept one hand gripped onto the green lightsaber, and the other free as the bothan was prepared to use the Force if necessary. The older man observed as the shadows danced where lightsabers couldn’t illuminate, as if there were unseen figures that followed their every step. Yet when the man took out a glowrod to shine a light where he had sworn to have seen such things, there was nothing except for the black marble walls with their colorful blades reflected off the polished surface.
Fortunately, the bothan sensed it first as he suddenly dashed with his lightsaber raised defensively over his head. Emerged from the darkness was a humanoid in a mask as a blade of midnight ignited with crackling sparks of white. Like gleaming tears of light as the manifested blade slammed into the bothan’s block. The impact was heavy, nearly driving the Jedi down to one knee. Their eyes widened as their hearts pumped with adrenaline from the sudden take of surprise.
Rath was honestly surprised that the bothan sensed his presence, perhaps it was the intention that gave him away, but whatever the case might have been. The warrior followed with a raised knee that struck hard into the bothan’s abdomen. A metallic taste filled the Jedi’s mouth as their stomach empties its contents, causing the bothan to double over, a moment of vulnerability. However the seasoned Jedi stepped to the bothan’s defense with a series of precise strikes and spins. Unleashing a relentless tide of yellow as if the man was fighting with four lightsabers instead of one.
Rath backpedalled to maintain the distance as he parried and evaded the flurry of light with matching agility. The man certainly hadn’t lost his edge as the experience spoke volumes in addition to his own natural abilities. To make matters worse, the zabrak had leapt into the fray as she swung downward with all of her might at Rath. The man’s figure blurred with movement as he sidestepped away from the blue lightsaber, and immediately countered as he ignited the shoto that had been in his other hand this whole time. The smaller yet compressed blade of matching color sliced across her face.
The searing pain left the Jedi scream as if droplets of molten carbon had been splashed across her face. Rath’s peripherals caught sight of the man advancing towards him with a raised saber, and the Elite promptly kicked the zabrak at her core as the strength was overwhelming. The impact knocked the wind out of the jedi’s lungs as she flew across the hallway with a high risk of slamming against the polished wall. Fortunately for her, the bothan had regained his wits as he intercepted his companion’s trajectory and used the Force to bolster his body so that he could catch the zabrak into the safety of his arms and to endure the harsh impact his back received from being driven into the wall instead.
To Rath’s surprise, the man didn’t spare a thought of hesitation when his peer was sent flying, and went through with his attack onto the dark warrior. The saber clashed with the ultrachrome as the cloak superheated into a piping hot glow of gold and orange. Rath didn’t let it linger as he stepped away from the yellow blade. Out of the trio, the man was clearly the bigger threat, or so he had deduced from their exchange.
”Press on without me. I’ll hold him off here, and I’ll join you once I’m done.” The man ordered the duo as he stepped in between the two jedi and Rath. His yellow lightsaber raised defensively, poised to defend and counter any attack that the masked figure could dish out.
”But Master, we can’t-!”
”You’ll only find your own deaths if you continue. Whether by my hand, or by the ones behind me. Your only chance of survival is to run.” Rath interrupted their chat that would have been an emotional conflict between student and master forced to make the difficult choices. The one that they called a Master narrowed his hazel eyes upon the figure as his jaw clenched. It was one thing if it was a threat, but the lack of an edge in the man’s voice despite how distorted it was. The man couldn’t help except to think it was a warning. But that was absurd, why would a Sith warn them of anything?! It had to be a trap, they decided.
”We came here with a single, unified purpose. And that’s to reclaim this temple and restore it to its proper glory.” The man spoke through clenched teeth as he found it hard at the sheer audacity that this apparent Sith possessed. Rath’s duets of yellow that burned with the cold anger and bottomless grief shifted over to the two Knights as they rose up to their feet. The zabrak covered most of her face with one hand as she peered at the dark warrior with tainted eyes of yellow. Anger had taken hold of her it would seem, and the bothan didn’t catch it as he was still trying to shrug off the painful ache in his back.
”It is your funeral then.” Except he wasn’t directing the statement towards the master, but to the zabrak who charged at the warrior. The halls filled with an angry-filled warcry as her body flew across the short gap at high speeds. Her intention was as clear as day with her blue lightsaber raised to slice the very source of her ire in twine.
”Laqae!” The old man called out as it was the only time his wall of strength began to crumble, and it had only grown bigger as Rath simply thrust his lightsaber forward with a lunge, advancing forward to intercept the berserking zabrak before she could swing her lightsaber. Just in case as a fail-safe, Rath had poised his shoto in a reverse grip to protect his body from the arc of her swing in the event that she still managed to get a slash out. Best to be safe than sorry.
The one that they called Laqae found herself stopped as she practically ran into the midnight blade all the way to the hilt. She gasped with wide eyes as the intense heat boiled her organs. Rath turned his lightsaber off to allow the jedi to collapse to the ground, her lightsaber now switched off clattering upon the ground. What was a team of resolute force of Light had now begun to crack as one of their own fell. To them, they were close to friends and family as any Jedi could afford. But to Rath? Well, he
should feel something for it, and perhaps he should feel thrilled for killing a Jedi as many Sith would be. However, the man could only pity the loss of a life as he silently shook his head.
”You… kriffing frag-head!” The bothan spat venomous words that was unbecoming for a Jedi, and the ambient Force of the Dark only fed into their growing rage.
”Steel your mind, Kesh! We still have a mission to do.” The master barked as the lapse of shock had ebbed away. The one named Kesh gritted his teeth in frustration as he gripped the lightsaber tightly, but at least he stayed his hand for the time being. A sigh of disappointment could be heard from the mask as the cylindrical hilt on the ground lifted into the air by an unseen force before retreating to Rath’s flank. Just as he ignites his lightsaber of midnight, so too did the blue energy blade ignited to life as it floated by a telekinetic grip.
”Very well then. I’ll grant you the deaths that you seek.”
Altan
