Story of My Life

[GhostOfProtocol]

The empty halls of the palace stung, each and every footstep through the corridors causing pain. [member="Mythos"] was dead, fallen during the battle of Lujo. The palace was a constant reminder of what happened that day, but a reminder of death was best, more power coming from the hatred. It gave power to the dark, powered those who required it.

Colt required it, he fed from it. The anger in the walls, he fed from it. The anger at the man who killed his friend, it fed him power. The darkside flowed through his system, it gave him the power he needed to take control. He needed to take control, Atrisia had no leader anymore, not since [member="Mythos"] had died. His family had fled, leaving him. Atrisia was his in some cases, his former master having never left the planet it a will.

The walls were shrinking in on the man as he stepped forward, boot connecting with the floor to a thud. The palace was empty, any word spoken would echo. A dead body lay at his feet, a former Sith who had tried to escape, a hidden blade to the throat had killed him within moments. His blood had plastered his own body, Colt and the flooring having come off perfectly clean.

He stepped over the body, robes swinging behind him. He was alone in the quiet, absorbing the power.

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

The hologram flickered to life above the projector on board Patriot, Knight Mullarus' personal 'Charger' Assault Freighter. There stood a rather simple-looking, stereotypical hooded Sith man who was tall and slender, his voice still young, but now devoid of pride. "I realize now the mistakes I have made, just like you did, Mullarus." he said, as the dark-haired and stormy-eyed ex-sith turned Jedi Knight stood before the projector with his hands in his pockets, watching and listening as the young Sith turncoat seemed to beg to him. "Our master has perished. The Dark Side failed him, and it will no doubt fail me and the others, too. Master Jedi, I never thought i'd hear myself say it, but...I seek your guidance!"

"You're anxious and afraid" Krux told him, able to easily tell how violently the Sith was shaking through the hologram, "Relax. Tell me where you are, and I will cross the stars to reach you." The man in the hologram was not the only one feeling anxious, of course. It had been a few days since he and his new Padawan Learner, [member="Setzi Lunelle"], who also happened to be his partner and lover, had agreed to split. Temporarily, he said, though, as this would just be a part of her training. He would always be there to support her in everything she did, but there were some trials she would have to face without him holding her hand through it. He was confident in her, no doubt she knew now that the Dark Side was the wrong path to take, and he was no longer afraid she would turn to it once again. What worried him were the adventures she would face alone and never want to return to his side. There was fear in his gut that this would be the end of the love they shared, despite how much it had endured before this trial. Fortunately, he was well-versed and centered with the Light Side of the Force now, and if Setzi would choose to end the seemingly unbreakable bond they'd shared for so many years, he would simply lower his head and accept it. He would shed no more blood over her deception, even if it would break his heart.

Suddenly, hologram nodded and Krux returned to reality, "M-my name is Jakson. Jakson Kell. I am - er, was, a Sith Acolyte living on Atrisia at the Palace of Lord Mythos...u-until he perished on Lujo, Master Jedi."

Krux made a face. More Sith whose names he recognized. If his memory served him well, he'd remember Lord Mythos to be a Sith Lord who was close with his nemesis and old master, Darth Pyrrhus. To hear he had died in the battle of Lujo, which he had neglected to take part in to begin his Jedi training, was not so much a sad thing to hear. One less Sith tainting the galaxy was always good news. Krux raised a hand modestly, "Please, just call me Krux. Send me your coordinates, Mister Kell, and i'll be there."

~~~

​Unfortunately, that was the final transmission he received from the turncoat Sith in Mythos' old Palace on Atrisia, despite Krux's efforts to contact him again. He rushed to the planet and landed his starship far enough away where it would be difficult to spot, and - donning himself in his armor, just to be safe - rushed into the Palace, doing his best to avoid detection.

It would cause his heart to drop into his stomach when he would finally manage to find his way to the exact coordinates where Jakson Kell had contacted him from, only to find the young man a corpse, with another Sith standing over him, blood dripping from his wrist. He grit his teeth, feeling the urge for justice. However, he said nothing, only staring with cold eyes at [member="Jardo Snow"] as he stood in the doorway.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

For a moment, the world was silent as two men locked eyes, a million words being spoken in none. The dull sound of breathing filled the corridor, a dead body lining said floor. The hidden blade slid back into it's wrist holder, the self cleaning feature cleaning the blood from said blade. It had been mere moments since the death of the turncoat, but the stare between two men made it feel like an eternity. Another breath, Colt maintaining the stare.

He stepped forward, hood covering his face and eyes, cloak covering his robes and the rest of his body. The male in the doorway was giving off the light, the lightside of the force surrounding him like a smell, a bad smell that he couldn't get rid of. Colt took another step, feet connecting with the stone floor happily. A lightsaber swung at his waist, clearly not used in weeks.

Colt stared, eyes burrowing into the heart and soul of the lightsider. The palace was his domain, [member="Mythos"] would of wanted his home to be respected in the hands of a friend. A small picture hung on the wall, the picture of a ship in orbit of a storm riddled planet. In the other corner of the corridor, an old statue of a Sith stood, lightsaber up in front of his face.

Colt moved one step further, eyeing the lightsider.

"A guest, how wonderful"

The force was with him, telling him every single movement the lightsider would make. He had the advantage before the battle even begun. The force was more than a tool, it become the life of a person and the person learned to rely on it, mold it with his mind.

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

The Sith stared somewhat coldly at him. It made sense, of course, despite his comment about being a guest, there was no doubt he thought Krux was uninvited. "Indeed, I am a guest. Before you slaughtered this man at your feet, he had been the one to invite me. I can see you have foiled his plan, though..." he said, his voice deep and experienced as he glanced down at the corpse of the turncoat he had hoped to bring back to Voss.

"But will you let your guest, who did not come uninvited, leave quietly without anyone being hurt, or will you give in to your Sith teachings?" Krux Mullarus asked, his hand starting to float closely to his hip, where his own lightsaber hung.

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The lightsider was foolish, he wouldn't walk from the palace alive. He had journeyed to a planet under One Sith control and stepped into the One Sith heart on Atrisia, he wouldn't ever be allowed to leave unless it was in a body bag. Colt kept his gaze on the lightsider as he stepped forward again, a smile forming on his face.

"The force tells me many things. You are a Jedi, and as such you will never leave this palace alive"

His words formed daggers, hoping to cause pain and fear in the heart of the lightsider. He wasn't done though, he had a point to make and he was going to make a point.

"Your Jedi friends killed my master, and in return I will slaughter you"

He withdrew his lightsaber from his belt, using his shoulders to wriggle the cloak from around him. The cloak hit the floor, covering most of the dead man. Colt's purple hair blew lightly in the wind, an open window opposite the two men allowing a draft to enter the room. With a flick of his thumb, the crimson blade slid from the hilt of the elegant weapon, filling the room with a strange red glow.

He brought his arm up into the hold known as "Krayt's Eye", taking his time to bring his second arm up to take up a two handed grip on his weapon.

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

[youtube]https://youtu.be/thWnEiVxMWM[/youtube]​

Krux frowned. Should've known.

When the Sith's lightsaber ignited, his own snapped into his hand and activated, a dark blue blade hissing out of the old, battered-looking hilt. The white-hot core of the blade sparked and shimmered with power, seeming unstable. The Jedi Knight took his weapon in both hands as well, his gaze meeting his opponent's.

"Very well. I should never have have underestimated a Sith's desire for vengeance, even when focused upon the wrong person. Go on, then. Get angry. Your power is useless when it cannot be controlled."

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

"Power can always be controlled"

The red blade lunged, body following. A simple feint was all that was necessary against this Jedi, that was the hope anyway. The stab was aimed at the shoulder, the left shoulder. However, just before the stab connected, Colt twisted his body, turning his own blade on the stomach. He hoped to get the Jedi to block the shoulder and instead attack the mid section, it was a simple tactic, one that the form of Djem-So relied on, the technique that made Djem-So as powerful as it was.

Colt was a great duelist and as such he would be able to position his own body perfectly. Any attack made against him would easily be defended, and a simple force barrier made sure to defend against any unwanted force attacks. This fight would rely on the strength of the two men with blades, it would do that until Colt got bored anyway.

"Your move, Jedi Knight"

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

As the Sith remarked back to him before beginning his assault, Krux scoffed, swiping his blade across his body to parry the Sith's strike, seeing through his feint.

"Sith arrogance! If only you would open your eyes!"

After the parry, the Knight would spin, gaining momentum for his counterattack, unleashing a controlled flurry of strikes and jabs at his foe. It was a technique of Form VII, Krux's preferred lightsaber form from when he was a Sith himself. Maybe he'd mix things up with some Form II later on, but he pressed the offense with Juyo to see if his foe would succomb under the overwhelming flurry so soon.

"The Dark Side will destroy you!"

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The Jedi would parry the attack, much to the annoyance of Colt. He would begin to attack with Juyo, a form that Colt himself wasn't great with, a form he'd never once used. He knew that the form itself was all quick attacks, but that was it. The Jedi would successfully push Colt back, Colt almost allowing himself to be pushed backwards.

It was a game.

He would slide his lightsaber down, across and up again as the Jedi came into attack. This would result in his blade coming up behind the blade of the Jedi, connecting in a saber lock. It was a move that he'd seen once, not quite sure what form it was, it just appeared to be a thing people did every so often. He growled under his breath, twisting his body to eye the Jedi.

"Nice try, my dear friend"

He would twist his hand and his lightsaber, parting the two men. He would bring his blade down into another saber lock, breaking it easily and bringing his left boot up, aiming to kick the chest of the Jedi. The fight was only just starting, Colt knew that full well.

Spoiler

Was imagining this to happen, will be honest

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

The opponent was quick, and frankly, Krux began to feel he talked too much. Maybe he was being a hypocrite in saying so. He was clearly experienced in some way, yet he couldn't help but feel the man wasn't a Sith Lord. A Knight, perhaps?

Krux kept up with the man's strikes until he was surprised to see a boot lashing out at him, slamming into his chest and making him stumble back into a couch, tripping over it and landing on the other side on his back. Quickly, however, he stood back up and got ready for more again.

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Colt eyed the fallen sofa lightly, lightsaber tearing into it as it was dragged across the upholstery. His yellow eyes flared at the fallen Jedi as he crawled to his feet, resilient and stupid. Crawling back to your death was normally frowned upon, better to take your hat, tuck your tail between your legs and walk away. Life was a fickle thing, something taken for granted.

Colt arched his lightsaber wide, swinging it towards the side of the Jedi. He could either parry and save himself, or he could attempt to attack, killing himself and Colt both. He flicked his left hand, the sofa being pulled towards the two men, another distraction to keep himself alive. Colt didn't want to die, he accepted his life wasn't much, but he was forming it, making it better and making it his. Life was his, he could shape it as he wanted.

The sofa would fly towards the two men, a force pull at work. Colt would allow the lightsaber to do it's thing before launching into a force jump to clear the sofa flying towards the two duelists.

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

The Jedi Knight lifted his blade to the side to deflect the Sith's horizontal strike at his side, going for a counterattack until he realized the man was plotting something else. The sofa behind him now came flying toward them, and then the Sith hurdled it very quickly. Krux lowered his lightsaber to his side and grabbed the sofa with a Force Grip, briefly deactivating his weapon and placing it on his belt to grab the furniture with both hands.

He waited for the Sith to land on the other side, then hurled the sofa back at him with a grunt, taking his lightsaber back in hand after he did so.

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Colt allowed the lightsaber in his grasp to slide back onto his belt, hands shooting up. The sofa would be caught instantly, Colt using the force to push the sofa up, causing a hole in the roof. A dull thud announced that the sofa had connected with the roof above, another thud confirming that it had slipped and hit the floor outside. Colt didn't much care for the sofa, it was a sofa, it was replaceable. The hole was perfect however.

Alter Environment was a great force power, a power that allowed for many different things. Colt raised his hands lightly, calling on the force. The temperature would drop, the sky above the hole filling with storm. Rain would begin to pour into the corridor, lightning overhead. Colt would lower his hands quickly, still calling on the force as the room began to shake, a minor earthquake underneath the two men.

Colt unclipped his lightsaber, thumbing the blade again.

"Unlimited POWER!"

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Krux was impressed to see the Sith literally catch the sofa and, to put more icing on the cake, hurl it through the ceiling. It was true, what he always said. The Dark Side was a path to many unnatural abilities, even if they would one day destroy him.

The Knight took a step toward the Sith to continue their dancing of blades, but the ground began to shake and the...weather began to pour...inside? Krux's silver-furred cliak started to mat against him like a damp rag, so he tossed it off at last, leavinf just his white robes.

Confused, Krux threw a hand foreward again to try and Force Grip one of the man's legs and hurl him into a wall, then through the hole in the ceiling.

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The force was pulling on him, a tug from the Jedi Knight. The ground shook again, a crack appearing in the tiled floor, splitting through the floor itself. He threw himself forward, allowing the Jedi Knight's pull to take hold on him. He felt the force lift him towards the wall, his force barrier shooting back up to cover his body, stop the grip. He kicked from the wall, using the force to power his launch and his jump over the head of the Jedi, happy when his feet connected with the ground.

The lightsaber in his hands came down into a Krayt's Claw hold. He brought the blade up, jumping and twisting in the air. He'd switched his form to Ataru, a form his body naturally lent towards. The jump was powered by the force, and he landed again, bringing his blade around in an arch from head to toe. He flicked his left hand out, force lightning arching towards the left rib of the Jedi. It was a simple choice, block the lightning but get struck down or block the lightsaber but get blasted aside by the lightning, the pain would begin to fry the man.

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Somehow, the Sith had broken free of his Grip. This was the first time he'd seen anyone resist something like that, not even from a Sith Lord or Jedi Master. Whoever this man was was trying far too hard to strike down his Jedi Intruder. Of course, he was Sith. What more did Krux expect?

The Sih leapt over Krux and somehow tried to spew forth Force Lightning with a saber attack simultaneously. Being more than a few feet away, this strike looked extremely awkward to perform. Krux instinctively lurched his left forearm forth, a large blue energy-shield like half-sphere forming on his arm, catching the Lightning and deflecting the lightsaber strike. It was a variation of Force Protect, taught to him by his now-lover back when they were both Sith. Her ability was meant to be a bubble to protect against all outside matter, but Krux managed this variation, in which he could still move slowly, but it only acted like a shield protecting a part of him.

For now, it would be enough to defend against both simultaneous strikes and allow him to attempt to rush forward and lash out at the Sith with Form II: Makashi jabs and thrusts, thrusting around the blue shield now formed upon the Knight's left forearm.

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The shield was going to cause some issues, and Colt thought about that as he allowed the Makashi strikes to back him up, blocking each and every shot. He could switch his form across to Djem-So, but that wouldn't remove the shield. He was tired, the force had taken everything from him, his environment move had very nearly made him pass out. He backed up down the hall to a door at the end of the corridor, the door to the throne room. The front of the palace itself, blaster proof durasteel doors. They'd hold out a lightsaber for a few seconds as well.

He kicked the Jedi away again, falling back into the throne room. Using the force he slammed the switch, the doors slamming shut in front of him. He breathed, shutting his lightsaber down, feeling out in the force. The Jedi was the other side of the door, he'd be through easy enough. But for now, for now he had a chance to breath.

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Krux battled with his lightsaber in one hand and his spectral Force Protect shield in the other for a while, himself and the Sith exchanging blow for blow as Krux began to have the Sith retreating down the corridor that was their battlefield. Furniture in the corridor, tables, paintings, and windows were shattered as the crimson and steel blue blades collided. Krux could tell he had his foe on the run, starting to tire. The Knight began to feel some exhaustion, but he had fought theough far worse battles, and his tolerancy for pain could take more of a beating.

Eventually, the Sith launched another swift kick at him, slamming into his shield and sending him back a few feet again. This gave the Sith time to retreat behind the large steel doors at the end of the hallway, slamming them behind him.

Krux unclenched his left fist, the heater-shield-like Protection on his arm dissipating and deactivating his lightsaber. He stared at the doorway, feeling the tired presence of the Sith on the other end, regaining his strength. Krux didn't mind. In fact, he began to debate leaving.

Time to negotiate.

With an exhale of breath, Krux spoke. Maybe his voice would be muffled on the other side of the door, but the Sith would likely hear him anyway. Krux took a knee a few feet from the doors and closed his eyes, resting himself, "You're beaten, Sith. Give me a good reason I shouldn't leave now that you've stopped to rest."

[member="Jardo Snow"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Colt cackled, watching the door lightly. The Jedi was true to his roots, negotiating like he was taught in whatever order he was a member of. He paced back and forth, deep breaths to regain his energy. He remained silent for a moment, regaining any and all strength for one final fight. The jet grey door was all that was separating the two men, and it would serve as the best weapon in the final part of the brawl.

He pulled his hand close to him, the door starting to buckle. He would cackle once more, the bottom of the door starting to pull itself up. Colt watched the door, closing his eyes as he felt the top of the door tear away from it's hinges. He smiled, extending both his arms, the door flying towards his Jedi foe. It was a skill that would normally be preformed by those of a higher rank, but he'd had many years of experience.

He thumbed on his blade, using the door as a ramp, launching himself back at his foe.

[member="Krux Mullarus"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Spoiler

I just have to say: That's super badass Awesome duel so far

The cackles from beyond the door penetrated the Knight's ears as if the Sith had been standing directly beside him. The heinous laughter sent chills up Krux Mullarus' spine, despite all the horrors he'd witnessed in the past. A puppet of the Dark Side shouldn't frighten the Knight so much, considering he used to be one himself, yet this made Krux feel a sense of fear he hadn't felt since he saw what had happened to the wicked Sage Bane on Fresia, and this Dark Side-loving Sith wasn't even horribly twisted and contorted into something no longer human. Or alive.

Yet fear stabbed at the Knight's mind like a hungry hutt with a bowl of roasted nerf steaks.

Then, the door began to creak. Krux quickly hopped back onto his feet and snapped his eyes open, igniting his lightsaber, illuminating the candlelit hallway with a swathe of dark blue and a sparking lightsaber blade core. He expected his foe to come trudging through the doors, but suddenly, the top became unhinged. Krux had a feeling he knew what was about to unfold.

Then, finally, the door burst off of its hinges and came flying toward him. If the Knight did not have the reflexes of a Jedi, he surely would have been smashed by it. Thankfully, there was an opening at the top where he could leap over it and let it ruin this hallway behind him. He leapt up and over it.

But there was another obstacle. The Sith had leapt over the door as well. Krux's eyes widened as he quickly swept his lightsaber across at the Sith, likely colliding blades with him in the air as the large, durasteel door crashed down the hallway and destroyed all of the lovely furniture in its path.

[member="Jardo Snow"]