Star Wars: The Shadow War

[Imperial Overlord]

This takes place approximately one thousand years before the events depicted in the six Star Wars movies.


********************************* STAR WARS*************************

****************************** THE SHADOW WAR*********************


The Galactic Republic is undergoing a period of unrest. The worlds of the Rim are bearing the brunt of policies that favor the wealthy Core Worlds who have control over the Senate. As discontent rises and moves to reform the Republic are debated in the Senate, the Jedi Knights, the keepers of peace and order throughout the Republic, have dispatched many of their order to the outer worlds in an attempt to prevent hostilities while a political solution can be found.

Several Jedi have died or gone missing in the course of these duties. Jedi Master Vann Des Selloc and her padawan have been ordered by the Jedi Council to investigate these events. Vann has arranged to meet an freighter captain at Lexol who will provide the Jedi Master with covert transportation to Barona where Jedi Master Tesltan Hayes has mysterious dissappeared . . . .




Two figures in dark robes strode through the darkened corridors of Andulage. The city had been built deep into the earth during the world's early history as a mining colony. The construction also provided protection from the terrible winds that were common on this part of Lexol. One of the figures consulted a datapad. "It shoudl be this way," she said.

"With respect master, that's what you said the last corridor." By the sound of his voice he was a human male.

"Hmpf," she replied and continued down the dingy passage way. It opened up into a larger semicurcular chamber with a half dozen corridors branching off of it. Flacking paint proclaimed this to be B-17. "See?" she replied.

"Yes master," said the other. The room was almost deserted with only a few beings passing through and a battered, protocal droid sitting in a kiosk. "I think the ship is that way," he said pointing at one of the corridors.

"Very well then," said Vann Des Selloc. "Lead on. And stop calling me master."

"Yes Vann," he replied. The walked down the passage and opened the thick door at the end. Inside was a sparse docking bay with retractable roof. Sitting in the center of bay was an ugly ship, a blocky light freighter that had seen better days.

An astromech droid consisting of a cylander propelled by spider like limbs was working at an open hatch on top. A sandy haired man wearing safety goggle was working on the ground on a panel near one of the big thruster tubes.

"Excuse me, I am Vann Des Selloc. I am looking for Captain Retan."

The man looked away from the panel and pulled of the goggles. His hair was blonde, but his skin was night black. He wore dark pants and a heavy spacer's jacket. A blaster was strapped to his thigh. "That's me," he said.

Vann pulled down her hood. She was a golden skinned woman and tall, almost as tall as the burly spacer. Her dark hair was pulled back in a braid. Her angular features could have easily been described as severe if her demeanor was colder. "I believe you were contacted by a mutual friend about a job?"

"Yah. Lankus vouched for you and said you needed someone good. I'm good. There's a small matter of compensation though."

"I am aware your services aren't free. How much?"

"Depends exactly. What do you want?"

"An inconspicious arrival at Barona and perhaps transport elsewhere."

"That's vague."

"Unfortunately we do not quite know yet what our needs will be."

"Alright. Six thousand to Barona and to wait around for a few days. We renegotiate after that."

"Agreed," she said. "That is, if you're ship is up to it."

"What? That? That's just some routine preventative maintenance and upgrades. No need to worry about it sister. We can take off in an hour if we need to."

"Good," she replied. "The sooner-"

The door behind them slid open. Two leather skinned
Weequays entered first followed by three green skinned, red eyed Duros. The Weequays carried vibroblades and had their hands on the butts of long barrelled blaster pistols. All three Duros were armed with blasters as well. Two wore black suits. The one in the center wore a red suit with gold trim.

"Ahh, Sulos Retan," the leader said. "You weren't going anyware without discussing it with me, were you?"

"Of course not Sinnya. I'm just chartering a flight, getting money in my pocket."

"My money," said Sinnya.

"I haven't forgotten."

"Don't do anything stupid Retan. There is no system too far for me to reach."

"You'll scare my customers away if you keep that up Sinnya. Which means you won't get any money." Of course Sinnya wanted to scare away the customers. That way Retan would be deeper in debt and would eventually have to sign over the Wise Dancer.

The Duros turned and walked away. His entourage followed him. "You have some interesting associates captain."

"Not by choice, I can assure you. But if you wanted someone spotless you would look elsewhere."

"A good point. Shall we prepare for departure?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sulos Retan walked down corridors to the sub-levels that Sinnya controlled. He could'nt wait to see the last of the slimy crime boss, but in order to do that he had to pay off the last of his debt. The price that had been charged on those parts had been robbery and the terms of the loan worse, but he hadn't had a choice at the time. Now it looked like he might be able to get out from under.

The corridor opened into a promenade, a vast cavern containing cantinas, parts shops, joy houses, covert weapons dealers, smugglers, vehicle salesmen, tramp captains, spice peddlers, flop houses, and other assorted port scum. Flickering lights from various buildings kept the promenade in perpetual twilight.

He stepped into the promenade and headed towards The Bone Yard. Put a payment down and start getting out from under. Something hard poked him in the small of his back. "Keep walking hu-man," said a synthesized voice from behind him. Iskeroone. "Towards that alley, yes-yes. No sudden moves or dead-dead you will be."

[Imperial Overlord]

"Alright," said Retan as he began walking slowly, "take it easy. You don't want to do anything stupid Iskeroone."

"You the only that do that. You think you could cheat-cheat Iskeroone."

"You were the one who was cheating. And I still beat you." The spacer crossed the street, the compact Varalule behind him. The alley in question was not unoccupied. A broad shouldered man with dark hair and a few missing teeth was waitng. Shuka, Iskeroone's muscle. "Shuka, you still hanging around with this loser? It's going to cost you."

Shuka smiled. "Not this time," he said. "This time it'll cost you. All the money you're carrying." The big man laughed at his joke. He had a battered and compact CYZ series blaster in his hand.

"The money isn't mine," said Sulos. "It's Sinnya's. You take it and you won't be able to show your head in a civilized system without it getting removed."

"No-no,' said Iskeroone. "The money is yours still. Not-not Sinnya's yet-yet." Sulos turned to face Iskeroone. The Varalule was a stocky one and a half meters covered in scales under a plastifab robe. The small blaster pistol in his stubby fingers was more than adequate for the job of removing Sulos Retan from the galaxy. "No money and you still have ship-ship."

Which explained this whole mess. How had Iskeroone known he was coming with money? Sinnya had told him. Sinnya didn't want Sulos getting out of debt, he wanted the Wise Dancer. Iskeroone would take the money and Sinnya would keep his hands clean. Someone really needed to drop a Mandalorian war droid on him.

"I think you should let him go," said a dark robed figure. Iskeroone stepped back and turned around. It was the other passenger, the male. His cowl was down, revealing a pale skinned human male, clean shaven with dark brown hair. His eyes were dark and bored into Iskeroone. Sulos was quite conscious of Shuka's presence behind him.

"Go-go," shouted Iskeroone, waving his blaster.

There was a snap his on an igniting lightsaber and a blue blade was projecting from the kid's hand. Sulos hadn't seem him draw the blade, but it was in the kid's hand now. "I think not."

"Lightsaber does not make one Jedi," hissed Iskeroone, his voice synthesizer sending out static.

The hum of the blade permeated the alley. "Maybe I'm not a Jedi. Maybe I am. But you're in a very tight spot. A very bad place to face a man with a lighsaber."

The Varalule hissed. "Let him go," the kid repeated.

"Let him go," the Varalule repeated. Sulos didn't need to be told twice. He moved around Iskeroone and over by the kid, his hand on the butt of his blaster. The backed around the corner and the kid turned off the blade. He couldn't have been more than twenty.

"Thanks," said Sulos. "I owe you one." He kept checking behind them as they walked rapidly away. The blended quickly into the pedestrian traffic. Iskeroone wasn't coming.

"You're welcome. The name's Sithe Jendar."

"You and your master are really-"

"Don't say it. Yes, we are."

"The dark robes. Not, not you know but close. Loose fitting clothing underneath, freedom of movement. Close, but not, am I right? What your used too, but nothing anyone would look twice at."

"Yes. Close, as you say. But not."

"Why am I getting a bad feeling about this?"

"I don't know."

"Why did you turn up so convienently. The Force?"

"Yes. My master had a premonition and sent me to keep an eye on you."

"Okay kid. You're going to keep tailing me."

"Those were my master's instructions."

"Then follow me. I'll give Sinnya his money and then let's get off this rock."

[Ford Prefect]

Oh cool, a new story by you. I'm going to keep up with this one.

[Imperial Overlord]

The inside of the Wise Dancer had seen better days. The ship was well maintained, but it had known hard days. Certain smells had sunk into the furnishings, the walls and decking were scuffed, a few light strips flickered. Still, everything on the tramp freighter seemed to work.

Vann walked into the cockpit to find Captain Retan double checking his status indicators. "Captain."

He didn't bother moving his head. "Thanks for sending the kid around."

"You're welcome. I would appreciate it if you would not refer to Sithe as 'the kid'."

"I'll keep that in mind," said Retan as he craned his neck and flicked several ceiling switches.

"How much longer until lift off?"

"Just a few more minutes. All systems are reading green."

"Good."

Retan moved forward and slid into the pilot's chair, flipping switches to bring main power online. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead," Vann replied.

"What do you Jedi do? Besides train more Jedi? It's not like there's Sith or Mandalorian armies around to fight anymore? And the Hutts or the Tion Hegemony aren't exactly up to tangling with the Republic? Do you just go around making sure everyone obeys Coruscant's latest edics?"

"Is that what you think of us?"

"I don't really think of you at all," he said flipping a few switches. The engines began to hum.

"It is a very good question," she replied. "We Jedi have defended the Republic for a thousand generations but we now live in an era where the Republic has no rivals. The Sith are gone or in hiding and even if they were to emerge they would have no means with which to challenge the Republic. So what should be the role of the Jedi Order?"

"That's not an answer sister. And prepare for take off."

Vann sat down at the navigator station. "It is an answer. The Jedi Order is debating even now what role it should play. It has been generations since the Republic needed Jedi warriors and generals. The broad military powers of senior Jedi have no place in this time. So the Jedi Masters debate on how they should shape the future of the Jedi Knights."

"What's your opinion?"

"Unpopular enough that I am sent on an investigation to a world on the Expansion Rim while my colleagues decide on the future of the order."

"Ouch," he replied. He entered a series of commands. The roof over the docking bay began to retract. "Nice to know what your colleagues think of you."

"Indeed."

"And the kid?"

"Sithe? Yes, he's a part of that as well. They acknowledge my right to train him, they just don't think I should have done so."

Sulos touched a control and the Wise Dancer began to rise on repulsors. The ship rose out of the pit and began to climb above a roubled strewn, cratered plain. Winds kicked up dust and buffeted the craft. "You know this was all a mountain once. They gutted it and tore it down."

"Yes I know."

The engines fo the Wise Dancer drew more power and the ship shot into the sky. The ground fell away rapidly as they climbed through the upper atmosphere. "Fast huh."

"Impressive."

"We'll really move once we clear the glue."

"You were a starfighter pilot?"

"Once." Sulos changed the subject. "She's pretty maneuverable as well and she's fast in hyper as well."

"That must be quite an asset in your line of work."

"Yea. So what's the problem with the kid?"

"He can think for himself," she replied. "And the Force responds to him."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"That's what I think. My detractors beg to differ." The Wise Dancer cleared atmosphere and sped through the void. Retan got up and headed to the nav computer.

"Really? I thought being strong in the Force was a good thing? I mean, for a Jedi."

"It is. He isn't precisely abnormally strong, he instead has intuitive grasp of it. A natural talent for Force use, you might say. A quick learner."

"So? I still don't get it."

"It means that if he decides to defy the Jedi Order he could quickly learn all sorts of way of abusing the Force. And since he was raised outside the Order, he has been ideas and experiences beyond that which the Order prescribes as proper."

"That's crazy. You just described just about anyone in the galaxy with any kind of talent."

"I agree. Many of my colleagues do not. They think the greatest remaining danger to the Jedi Order is rogue Jedi and the best way to prevent that is controlling every aspect of their students lives so they are not exposed to any corrupting influences."

"You're not inspiring any confidence in your Order you know. I think I liked it better when I thought they were the Senate's goon squad."

"No final decision will be made for some time. And as for the Senate, its been virtually deadlocked for the last two years. They can't agree on what time to meet, let alone whether or not to send Jedi anywhere."

[Ford Prefect]

How's the Padawan's name pronounced?

[Imperial Overlord]

How's the Padawan's name pronounced?

Like the agricultural implement.

[Imperial Overlord]

Sithe sat cross legged on the floor of the cabin. The Jedi's eyes were closed, his breath shallow and slow. He had stripped off his robe, revealing dark pants, tunic, and sturdy boots. No lightsaber could be seen.

"Can you feel the living Force?" Vann asked. "Can you hear it? Taste it? See it?"

"Like a warm summer breeze, my master."

"Good. I am pleased you were able to resolve the situation without violence."

"So am I. It is always . . . ready at hand."

"It is for all Jedi. You are just more concious of it than most. You are right to be wary of it. I am pleased with your performance."

"Thank you mas- Vann."

"We will reach Barona soon. They do no like Jedi on Barona."

"We have the 'reports' from the police," said Sithe. "Are we going to talk with them?"

"You doubt the accuracy of the reports?" Vann's voice carried gentle amusement.

'Yes."

"Good. No, I don't think the police will be of much help. We should pick up where Master Hayes left off. It is likely he was killed because of what he discovered."

"If he uncovered a foe that could kill Jedi, then we are in great danger."

"Oh yes indeed, Sithe."

"Is that why the Council sent us?" he asked bitterly.

"Do not dwell on such thoughts. Your thoughts are of anger and suspicion. The Council sent a Jedi whose advice was no longer welcome but whose abilities were not in doubt and a controversial padawan learner who can more than take of themselves. If you had to send someone to investigate this killing, who would you send in our place?"

"Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive. Such feelings are natural, but they must not lead you. Ever."

"I will not disappoint you."

"I have faith in you."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Wise Dancer flew over a green world with a sky streaked with white clouds. Two small moons peaked out from behind the verdant world. "Here we are," said Sulos. "Barona. Where too?"

"Ankada," said Vann.

"Alright," said Retan as he signaled to traffic control his attention to land on the planet's busiest starport. "Ankada is a big place. Easy to get lost in and while most of the city isn't a bad place, there are a few really nasty spots."

"What do you want say, captain?" asked Vann patiently.

Retan hesitated. "I owe you one for back on Lexol. I know people in Ankada and I know other people who know people in Ankada."

"You take your debts seriously captain."

"Yea."

"This matter is quite dangerous. A Jedi Master was murdered. It would not be unreasonable to believe your debt doesn't go that far."

"They were going after my ship. That takes if farther."

"Then I am happy to accept your aid captain."

"First things first," said Retan as he beamed a code signal. "I know a guy who will put us up without logging us in to the main registry."

"Nice. What will he ask in return?"

"Not much." The Wise Dancer dipped through the clouds towards a sprawling sea shore city made up of great obsidian towers. Lights gleamed from windows and roof tops and great spans connected towers and walkways together. Barges brought goods in from the sea and tram lines brought cargo in by land and all of it converged here. "Welcome to the biggest transportation hub in this part of the Expansion Rim."

[Ford Prefect]

But what perfomred the killings? I wonder, and am looking forward to further updates.

[Imperial Overlord]

The Wise Dancer slowly flew over the towering jet buildings. Sulos was talking into comset. "Come on Marenta. I'm not asking for much. Just a few days. You owe me more than that." A pause. "You're a prince."

"Everything alright?" Vann asked.

"Yeah. Marenta just has to pretend I'm interrupting something important. Nothing to be worried about." He set the ship down in the yawning mouth of a docking bay that opened near the top of the tower. Retan flipped a couple of switches. "Ready when you are master Jedi."

Vann nodded. "Very good captain." She rose from her seat and headed towards the exit ramp. Sithe followed in her wake. Sulos waited a moment before leaving.

A hidden panel slid open and a sinister black orb floated out. Two blasters stuck out from the droid's spherical body. The red eye of the droid's sensor cluser regarded him impassively. "Maintain security," Retan ordered before heading down the ramp.

A grizzled man in stained overalls greated them. Behind him was a younger, dark skinned man. "You still getting yourself into trouble Sulos?"
the older man barked.

"Hey, this run is completely legitimate. Just a little low profile." He held his hands wide.

The grizzled man hugged him. "Good." He kissed Retan on the cheek. "You ever decide to give up the tramp life, I can manage to find a place for the third best tech I ever had."

Marenta broke the embrace. "So how long are you going to be here?"

"Few days, maybe more. Depends on my passengers."

"Charter huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I won't ask."

The dark skinned man walked over. "Been a long time." He was broad shouldered with a shaved head and about ten centimeters taller than Sulos.

Sulos nodded. "There's truth in that."

"Will you have time?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Don't be a stranger."

"I won't. By the way, where can I get a good aircar rental around here?"


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sulos touched the controls of the aircar. It was a lean, high powered model, painted grey with a pair of red stripes on the side. The top was retracted. Vann was sitting by the driver's seat, Sithe in back. "So where do you want to go?"

"You appear to know Barona better than you implied," said Vann.

"That's me, master of understatement."

"There seems to be some tension between you and your brother."

"How-never mind. Where do you want to go?"

"Kanja sector."

"What is it with Jedi and rough places." Sulos gunned the engine. "You know, the more I know about this business, the more I can help."

Vann thought for a few moments. "Very well. Master Hayes was here to speak with representatives of the Lyenne Family and the Triaga Combine."

"Triaga wanted the Lyenne's to join up huh?"

"Yes. You sound like you don't approve."

"Its just more big fish squeezing out the little ones. You have the ones in the Core, the Colonies, and the Inner Rim throwing their weight around in the market and in the Senate. So the ones in the Expansion and Mid Rim get together so they will be harder to eat. Both of them eat small fish and I'm small fish. Not to mention Triaga was always run by a bunch of schuttas."

Vann smiled. "Yes, that is the Council's opinion although perhaps more delicately put. Triaga is aggravating the situation and the Lyenne's position is more moderate."

Sulos swooped around a building and around a traffic stream as he headed for the water. "So why Kanja? Not exactly a place to find Triaga or Lyenne."

"Because that's where Master Hayes' body was found."

Sulos dropped down a dozen meters to avoid a bridge. "Could it have been a dump job?"

"Shot in the back with a blaster and still alive when they found him. Considering the severity of his wounds that would have had to been almost immediately. Whatever killed him killed him in Kanja. And he had to be in Kanja for a good reason."

"Okay, but people here won't like to talk." They were now over water. The obsidian towers still jutted up from the sea floor. Broad walkways and bridges connected the various towers. Less solid structures clung to the walkways like barnacles.

"That can be fixed. Put us down there." She cocked her head.

"What is it?" said Sithe.

"A disturbance in the Force. For a moment I felt- I'm not sure what I felt."

"Could it have been Master Hayes' death."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Be wary."

Near the top of a nearby tower a man in a black cloak was sitting crosslegged in the middle of tower. He jerked his head up, his eyes wide open. He reached a hand into his cloak and pulled out a comlink. "Another Jedi is here."

[Imperial Overlord]

Sulos docked the aircar by the side of a bridge. A low lying fog turned everything more than one hundred meters away into indistinct shadows. "Good enough?" he asked.

"Yes Captain Retan," Vann replied. "Thank you."

"Neither Lyenne or Triaga is going to have dealings here," said Retan.

"No legitimate dealings," Vann said.

"Exactly. Let me check a few things out by myself and get back to you."

"Very good." The smuggler turned and walked away, merging into the crowds of beings and vanishing into the fog.

"Vann?" said Sithe as he exited the air car.

"Yes?"

"Hayes must have been close to learning something very important for them to risk killing him."

"Yes, that's likely." The Jedi Master started walking towards the other end of the bridge. Tesltan had good instincts and was sensitive to the more subtle changes in the Force. It made him a good peacemaker and a good investigator."

"So he either found something that brought him here or they lured him out here to kill him."

"If it was Triaga or Leyenne that killed him."

"Who else could it be?"

"Many. Someone who would profit from a disruption to Triaga or further trouble on the Rim. Or perhaps someone with a desire to kill Jedi." They exited the bridge and began moving through a ramshackle market of shabbily constructed building clinging to the sides of a tower walkway. Dozens of sentients browsed and haggled through the bazaar.

"Sith?"

"If they still exist, yes. But there are others who do not love Jedi, especially on the Rim. Your homeworld, for example."

"They merely hate peace," he said. "And each other. They would rather die than change."

"Not all of them."

"I do not think the peace will last."

"Perhaps it will not, but they have been shown a way of living other than bloodfeud and while the peace lasts, blood is not being shed. Lives are not being lost. There is value in that. Besides, nothing is forever. Not even the Jedi or even this galaxy."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Kalresh, there is no honour in forgoing the kill."

The robed man turned towards the zhutak. The young man was powerful, but impuslive. "We are to find the Jedi and stalk them. That is all. That is the agreement."

"He will not know or care how they die. There is no honour in leaving this kill to others."

"He does not keep our honour. We do. Do not forget that. You disgrace yourself with your glory lust. You will never achieve the greatness you desire without discipline. Leave me cannock."

The zhutak bowed and left. The impulsive fool was partially right, of course. They should be killing the Jedi personally and taking the immortal glory for themselves. Alas, that was not to be. A warrior needed to learn that lesson and keep it in his heart. Algrez Dale had yet to do so.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Vann stopped and turned.

"What is it?"

"The disturbance in the Force. I felt it again. That way," she pointed.

"That's not the direction where Master Hayes was killed."

"I know. But he lived briefly after his wounds. He might have left a clue there."

"Or perhaps his killer left a trace." Sithe's voice was grim.

The two Jedi turned to a less populated throughfare with swift strides. Piles of rubbish and crude housing lined the walkway. Only a few pedestrians, mostly three eyed Gand, were around. A bridge was ahead. A trio of durasteel grey protocal droids were crossing.

Sithe's eyes narrowed. He had seen only a few droids around this area and none of them were in as good shape as these three units. Why would three protocal droids be wandering this area in a group.

He felt Vann's hand seize his collar as she called upon the Force and lept to the side. A rocket streaked from the sky and struck the ground they had occupied a moment pefore in a tremendous explosion. An eight meter diameter crater was blasted in the walkway and deadly shrapnel killed or injured a score of nearby beings.

The two Jedi were protected by a cocoon of the Force. "Assassin droids!" said Vann. She pulled her padawan along as the ran, using some of the shacks as cover from the rocket's point of origin. "They have no concern for innocent life. Move quickly, don't expose yourself, and avoid crowds!"

"Master how-"

"Later!"

The three assassin droids skirted the crater as they pursued the Jedi with swift, loping strides. Panels on their thighs slip open revealing compact blaster pistols. The one on the left spoke. "Gleeful anticipation: I look foreward to killing these Jedi meatbags."

The one in the middle replied. "Regret: There are only two meatbag targets."

The one on the right spoke. "Joyful consideration: The chances of collateral meatbag casualties is quite high." They were closing on their targets. They raised their blaster pistols to fire.

[Ford Prefect]

Yay! HK-50s are always, always fun.

[GeneralTacticus]

I like it.

Some of the punctuation is a bit wonky, though. Not a huge issue, but it can be a bit jarring at times.

EDIT: And yes, HK-50s rock.

[Imperial Overlord]

The Jedi spun to meet the attack, their movements smooth and precise. A green blade flared into existend in Vann's hand as the the assassin droids fired. Sithe's blade ignited a split second before the first blaster bolt struck him. He spun the curved hilt rapidly, deflecting streams of incoming blaster fire beside his master.

The assassin droids continued to fill the air with blaster fire, favoring volume over accuracy. Misses and deflected bolts blasted small holes in the walkways and buildings while sending chips of hot metal flew through the air. Several deflected bolts struck the assassin droids' chassis, leaving scorch marks on the metal.

The Jedi retreated under the withering fire of the assassin droids. The right hand droid spoke as the assassin's advanced. "Smug conviction: It is the nature of meatbags to be unable to match droid precision or endurance. Your defence will inevitably fail."

Vann swept her left hand out in front of her and the droids tumbled over as if struck by a charging bantha. "Run!" she yelled.

The Jedi were unnaturally fast. They were almost blurs as they sprinted around the corner and out of line of sight with the murderous droids. "Master-"

"Keep running! We have to get out of the ambush zone!"

There was more truth to these words than the Sithe might suspect. A kilometer away the HK-55 assassin droid had finished reloading his MRZ-3 Missle launcher. "Mounting irritation: Target meatbags are not within view. Please flush them out so I may spread their body parts over a wide radius."

The other HK-55 models, clearly made with inferior components, hadn't managed to send it accurate target data for nearly a minute. The HK swept the area with its scanners, as it was looking as if its compatriots had managed to lose the Jedi meatbags.

There. They were crossing a span two hundred and seven meters in the air. The Jedi must have ascended via one of the outer lifts after evading the inferiors. The Jedi were moving quite swiftly for meatbags. Probability approaching unity that they were calling upon the phenomena known as "The Force."

With only moments to generate a firing solution, the HK-55 lead its targets and fired at the far end of the span. The missle struck the bridge and blew apart the span in a flash of blue-white light. Debris tumbled down, including one that appeared to be a body. "Attention sibling units. Proceed to transmited coordinates and confirm kill." The fall would kill most meatbags even if they managed to survive the explosion, but the ones designated as Jedi were often particularily troublesome to terminate.

A reply came back. "Chiding admonition: considering the accuracy of your previous shot, probability of kill is low. Consider updating targeting software and a thourough physical check of your sensor linkages."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Algrez Dale dismounted from his swoop. The Jedi were coming this way, he could feel that. Let the old man hide in his chamber, he would face the Jedi. He had trained long in the arts of shadow and in the arts of war and the One Power flowed through and around him. He had achieved the rank of zhutak. What did he have to fear from Jedi Knights who feared their own anger?

He strode down the bridge. Yes, one was coming closer. He had no skill at disguising his presence. He shown like a beacon to one who could follow the Tide of the One Power. The Jedi ran along the walkway surrounding the building at this level and onto the bridge. He was young, barely a man, barely more than a boy.

Algrez let go the veil of stealth and stepped on the bridge. The boy's eyes widened when he saw Dale. Good. Let the Jedi know fear. He would feed upon it and grow stronger as he reaped the glory of the kill. A pity it was just the learner, not the master before him.

Algrez flung aside his cloak, revealing his warsuit with its armoured plates protecting his torso, shoulders, thighs, and forearms. The plates included a small amount of Phrik alloy, allowing them to resist even light saber strikes. Algrez's own face was marked with lightning strike tattoos that did much to hide his scars and his mane of dark hair was bound in gold rings. He was half a head taller than the Jedi and more powerfully built. The Jedi continued foreward. Not completely a eunech then. Good.

Algrez touched his left vambrace. The shield generator emitted a hum as it enveloped him in blue light. His lightsaber jumped into his hand and ignited. He held the purple blade before him in an enzahi stance.

Sithe let his robe fall away revealing the curved hilts of his lightsabers. His hands rested on them for a moment. This came easily, naturally to him. Far too easy. He drew his sabers and ignited their blades, humming shafts of blue lights projecting from his hands, his left lower and leading, the right high and in reserve. "You've already lost."

"Only a weakling seeks to avoid an inevitable fight." Algrez lunged. The Jedi parried it with his left hand blade and the battle was joined.

[Ford Prefect]

Oooh, a new type of Force User? Also, Sithe is a badass (comes with the name, I guess).

[GeneralTacticus]

Interesting. Nice to finally see a Force-user who goes into battle properly equipped.

Now, the question is: what connection, if any, is there between the HK-55s and these Force-users? Does one work for the other? Do they both work for someone else? Are they completely unconnected?

Looking forward to seeing more of this.

[Imperial Overlord]

Now, the question is: what connection, if any, is there between the HK-55s and these Force-users? Does one work for the other? Do they both work for someone else? Are they completely unconnected?

Well the Force-users detected the Jedi and then communicated that to somebody. Algrez wasn't too happy with orders to wait and watch and let someone else kill the Jedi, so I think I'm not giving anything away in saying that the Force-users informed the HKs or their commanders of the Jedi's presence. Note the Kalresh clearly indicates that they have agreed to merely observe the Jedi's movements, which implies they are working with or for someone else.

[LadyTevar]

Another great chapter

[Imperial Overlord]

Sithe redirected Dale's strike with his left hand blade, sliding it to the left as he sidestepped right. Sithe brought his right hand blade down at Algrez. The zhutak stepped back and parried, forcing his blade away and out of position, leaving him open to a follow up strike. Sithe's left hand blade was slicking for Algrez's head, forcing the warrior to parry rather than follow up his advantage. Sithe brought his right hand blade in low.

Dale leapt back a half dozen meters, but wasn't fast enough to prevent a brief contact. His shield flared along his left as the saber briefly brushed it. The warrior spared a glance for his shield generator before moving back into position. The strike had cost him. Personal shield technology was touchy and power hungry at the best of times. It had already eaten through nearly half its charge. And the Jedi was advancing.

Sithe struck at from both the right and the left with his right saber leading. The blows forced Algraz to parry desperately as the Jedi drove him back. He left that continue, giving dozen meters in ground , before counter attacking. He struck hard at the incoming right saber, batting the blade away. He pivoted on his heel, sweeping the blade across towards the Jedi's exposed body. The left blade would strike, but only briefly and then the Jedi would be dead and he would need a new shield vambrace.

Sithe twisted away while bringing his left hand blade over to parry the strike. Sithe barely managed the parry, but he was off balance, vulnerable. His right hand saber was also slicing across Algraz's arm. There was a flash as the blade hit the shield and skidded over it and then the shield failed. It didn't matter, it had servered its purpose. Algraz struck down at Sithe.

Sithe parried, but was knocked down by the force of the blow. Algraz struck again and Sithe caught his blade with crossed sabers. For a moment, the blades held. Algraz had superior leverage and pushed hard. Sithe went with it, twisting to the left while redirecting Algraz's saber to his right. The Jedi kicked Algraz's leg, costing him his balance. Both warriors rolled away and regained their feet.

Sithe attacked. The rhythm of the early attacks was no where to be found in the blizzard of strikes he sent at Algraz. The zhutak desperately parried. Earlier the Jedi had been getting his measure. Now he had it.

A strike left a blazing gash on his left pauldron and another scarred one of his chest plates. The Jedi would strike him in a vulnerable spot or hard enough to penetrate his armour unless he changed the battle immediately. He leapt back and then launched a powerful diagonal strike as Sithe closed.

The Jedi caught his strike with both is blades and for a moment they held. Then Sithe disengaged his left hand blade and swept it across. Algraz's head toppled and a moment latter his body followed.

[Ford Prefect]

Sithe wins!

[LadyTevar]

Nicely fought! You are fantastic when it comes to battle descriptions!

[Crazedwraith]

Nice fic, I only just read it all. A very nice fight scene too how long was it supposed to last (in universe I mean)

[Imperial Overlord]

Nice fic, I only just read it all. A very nice fight scene too how long was it supposed to last (in universe I mean)

\

Not long. Of course Vann has just taken a long fall into water ala ROTS and has HK units coming to check their work so the Jedi aren't out of the woods yet.

[Darth Kalgarath]

That was a REALLY good read. Keep 'em coming!

[Imperial Overlord]

The kalresh felt the shock of his zhutak's death through the Force. He gasped. The fool! He had decided to confront the Jedi, to take a kill to satisfy his hunger for glory and had paid the price for his presumption. In doing so, he had betrayed them all. If they Jedi survived the hunt they would come looking for their attackers and the Brotherhood was much easier to find than the anonymous provider of assassin droids.

The Grandmaster had to be informed so he could take proper steps. The kalresh stalked from the room towards the communications array that was normally used to communicate with the Brotherhood's employer. The Jedi were not to be triffled with, but the Grandmaster was cunning and the Brotherhood embraced war and glory in a way the weakling Jedi would not. The battle had just begun.

------------------------------------------------------


Vann turned her fall into a dive and called upon the Force. She broke through the surface of the water and plunged into the murky depths. She controlled her resperation. She had a little time now.

The assassin droids would come after her to ensure the kill. With Jedi they would be thourough. The archives contained a considerable amount of information on the HK series, they had figured prominently in several important events, but she had never expected to encounter them. They were high performance models with considerable intelligence and an innate bloodthirst.

With powerful strokes she headed for the underside of the nearest walkway. The droids were not living creatures and as such they had little impression on the Force. She extended her senses. She heard the hearbeats and breathing of those above her, members of a dozen different sophont species. She heard the rapid pitter patter of the hearts of scavenger vermin. And she heard the footfalls of beings running away from murderous droids.

"Proposition: We drop concussion grenades into the water to rupture the meat bag's meat sack organs."

"Chiding reply: The meat bag in question is a Jedi. Such measures are insufficient to assure the termination of the meat bag. Proceed."

She drifted in the water towards the sounds of their voices. There. She looked around for a handhold and found a piece of rebar protruding from a pylon. That would do. Vann pulled herself out of the water and held her lightsaber aloft as the HK's fired two salvos of grenades into the water.

Now. She ignited the blade and swept it up. The green blade sliced through the walkway and caught one of the HKs just below the knees. The assassin droid toppled in a spray of sparks.

She didn't have much time. She expanded on her cut, creating a rough triangle about a meter on a side. She gripped the slab with the Force before it could fall and flung it and one of the remaining droids. She heard the impact and heard it fall as she grabbed the side of the hole and pulled herself up, using the Force to dissipate the heat from the freshly cut walkway and keeping her lightsaber between her and the standing HK.

A hail of blaster fire came from the HK's guns. She parried the storm and reached out with the Force, sliding through the droid's chassis to its internal components. She pulled, wrenched, and tore. The HK fell.

The downed one was getting back up. Vann advanced, pairing blaster bolts, and cut the droid in half across its torso and spun in time to block the volley coming from droid with the severed feet. It had turned itself around and retrieved its guns. A flick of the Force and the droid flew off the walkway and into the water.

The droid she had felled with the Force sat upright. Incredibly, despite all the internal damage, it still function. Crimson blaster bolts flashed at her. She deflected them, sending stray bolts to blast out sparks and knock chips out of the walls.

No time for subtlety. She called upon the Force again and tore up the droids circuits and motivators. It stopped shooting. She kept on ripping. Finally, she let go with a sigh of relief. The fight had taken a lot out of her.

She activated her comlink. "Sithe? Are you there?"

"Yes master. Are you alright?"

"Yes. I have disabled the droids tailing us, but not the one with the rockets. Be wary."

"Yes master. I encountered another Force user."

"What?"

"He tried to kill me. I was forced to kill him. He was definitely here to kill."

"I'm on my way," she said.

[Crazedwraith]

Huzzah! Another good fight. Though the poor Assassin Driods were hopelessly outmatched it seems.