Broken: The Final Chapter (run-on)

General Run-on Rules

1. You might be a Dark Jedi. You might even have your lightsaber. But you are not a god (or goddess). Even Elders are not gods, but they can certainly do a whole lot more than any Equite or Journeyman. In short, godmoding is strictly prohibited and can result in your post being deleted or even death (see rule#2).

2. You are mortal. Death is a viable option for your character. Yeah, you’ve got the Force, but that didn’t really help Qui-Gonn, Darth Maul, Obi-wan, Palpatine, Order 66 casualties, or any other Force user who met an early end, now did it? You put yourself in a hole and you might just end up staying there.

3. Stick to the setting and scenes. As expansive as the Star Wars galaxy is, we’re not running/flying around all over it (unless the story calls for it).

4. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Yes, the Golden Rule applies here as well. Respect other characters and don’t write them doing something stupid or terribly out of character. Consult the wiki, their character history, or better yet, the member themselves.

5. Following rule #4, never kill another member character without their permission. In the event of serious injury, let the other member character either tell you what to do, or let them write it themselves.

6. What happens in this run-on is permanent for your character. Whether you lose an arm, adopt a herd of banthas, or anything in between, you’re stuck with it and must deal with it.

7. The unit is the character in this story and you are a part of the unit. Aim for continuity in the story; get advice from others on where to take your post.

8. Avoid excessive details where you can. The paint job on your own personal ship (that you somehow have) is not a valid subject for the run-on.

9. Once your post is made, do not go back and edit anything except for grammar and spelling. Otherwise, you stand a good chance of screwing the story up. It also helps to proof read your post before you post it.

10. Finally, posts that excessively detract from the storyline or contain large amounts of godmoding will be marked for deletion and ignored. It is not our goal or desire to keep anyone off the playground, but we will if we must.

Rules for this Specific Run-on

1. Some of you will be starting in a particular place in the run-on; for example, some of you will start at Castle Tarentum, while others of you will start on the Doomsday. Some members have not been named in the opening post, but if you have been put in a requested place, you are most likely going to stick with your particular unit for the rest of the RO.

2. Contrary to what you may want, the enemies we are facing in this run-on are powerful. They are not human, and they certainly can knock aside even a high-ranked Equite should he or she try to fight a foe solo. If you put yourself in a vulnerable position against an enemy such as Adamu or a Hunter, you may end up getting killed.

3. Pay close attention to explanation. There's a lot of stuff we need to tie up in this run-on as it is linked to other storylines that the clan has done in the past. We will be using the discussion thread for any and all questions, comments, and suggestions so that we don't end up with any plotholes or confusion.

4. Posts should be of decent length and work towards moving the overall story forward. Only posts that are roughly ¾ of a page (around 500 words) in MS Word (or equivalent program) will be counted towards judging. You must make at least 3 posts of sufficient length to be considered for placement. Anything else will only get you participation credit.

5. You may call the next post. Once this is done, you only have three (3) hours to get your post up. After that, your call can be ignored by others. Do not stack called posts; only one at a time.

6. There should be at least two people between your own posts, though three or more is highly preferred.

“It is as we expected,” said Tel’Ratha, as Talara Fol finished her tirade on her boss. “Andryn Umada is not who he seems.”

The vast chamber that the clan summit of Tarentum had entered into was typically dimly lit, with each of the visitors’ shadows flickering on the carved slate walls. Unlike the previous times that Tarentum’s leaders had been called to the Keepers’ presence, they had not traveled to the Mystics Asylum on Yridia IX. Rather, to make the trip more efficient, they had been called to the Ziggurat, which was the temple of the Keepers, an underwater realm on Yridia II that had once served the original population of the planet before the water levels rose to outrageous heights.

Oberst stood flanked by his Proconsul, Ronovi; and by the esteemed Consul emeritus, Sith Bloodfyre. Ronovi kept an eye on Talara, who knelt on the cold marble floor, exhausted from her explanations. In front of them stood the Keepers, alone and imposing. There were no messengers to be seen, and even no Zero Tarentae, who the Keepers had vaguely claimed was away on “official business.” There were simply Tel’Ratha, Shade, and Talitha, and the Tarenti could see the harsh glint of the Obsidian Blade as Talitha kept it planted by her side.

Ronovi furrowed her brow at the presentation before her and her higher-ups. She remembered Talitha from her initiation into the sect of the Death Dealers, but she certainly didn’t look like this back then. The spirit girl she remembered was meek, her eyes normally downcast, her voice thin and fleeting. Now, however, Talitha seemed taller, even older, her eyes like blazing embers set in her skull, her hair seeming to move without wind. Whether it was due to her growing power or due to the very weapon she was holding, Talitha was a very different entity.

The silence at Tel’Ratha’s news was uncomfortable, and Ronovi was relieved when Oberst broke it. “We know now that he is a Force-sensitive, as well as the prisoner…since she can sense him, and has seen some of his behavior.”

“Merely calling him a Force-sensitive,” replied Shade, “is an understatement. His true identity is all in the name.”

“What do you mean?” asked Ronovi.

“Surely you notice. What does the name ‘Umada’ remind you of?”

There was only a brief pause before the Tarenti knew. It was much simpler than they imagined. All three of the necromancers present had known this ‘man’ in some way during their experiences on the Renegade, around three years ago. He had been able to conquer Anshar’s body, consume a fellow spirit, and was the only one of seven to escape the Renegade unscathed. ‘Umada,’ merely spelled backwards, was ‘Adamu.’

“The bastard,” Ronovi hissed through her teeth, but Oberst shushed her.

“It would make sense, then,” he said, “as to how he was able to work incognito in a human body. And how he was able to attack Yridia IX and seize the Renegade.”

“No necromancy is needed for a façade,” replied Shade. “But we are confident that his next strike will be his most severe. That is where all of you come in.”

“Let me guess,” remarked Bloodfyre. “We must kill Adamu.”

“But Adamu is powerful, even more powerful than he was before,” Talitha finally spoke, and her voice set the hairs on Ronovi’s neck on end. “He now has powerful connections to those who have sought to destroy me in the past. Who sought to destroy the Keepers in total.”

“The Hunters.”

“Yes, the Hunters,” repeated Talitha. “The enemies of my king. Three of them, to counter the three of us. We have reason to believe that the Hunters have assisted Adamu in the many attacks he has led against Tarentum. And with him and them against you, you surely cannot fight alone.”

There was a harsh silence, and Oberst’s voice was low and cold as he finally spoke. The Tarenti were aware of the consequences of facing these enemies; any wrong move could make any attack a suicidal mission. They could lose multiple Tarenti, which was something the clan could not afford especially after the casualties of the Reclamation. But then again, what other option did they have?

“What do you intend us to do?” Oberst asked.

***

“It is time.”

Adamu rose from his sleeping position. He had taken to resting in his cruiser, the Red Star Shipping logo stripped from the hull. A cluster of smaller fighters lay in the small hangar, and he had applauded himself for organizing the move. “One more small assignment for the company,” he had said as Umada to the gleeful corporate workers, “and we can move on from this system.” He had gotten volunteers to pilot the fighters, but due to the orders of his own boss, he had had to wait for several days.

Now he stood to see her standing over him. The hems of her gown gathered around her thin ankles, and Adamu smiled courteously to her.

“Everything is ready, then,” he said.

“Your ‘accomplices’ are already on the move,” she replied. “I have communicated with all three of the Hunters. They have their separate targets.”

“And the Renegade?”

“That is being taken care of. As I said…separate targets.”

Adamu’s smile slowly turned into a cunning smirk. It was about time that he had aimed less at the more raw spots of Tarentum security. Now he was going to go for the bigger targets. He had it all plotted out, could even see the maps of Koros and the Itaana belt. As for the Renegade, well, it would finally be utilized the way he had always wanted it to.

And Castle Tarentum…yes. That monstrosity would be his as well. One of the Hunters would already be heading in that direction, after the Renegade had done its job. But for him, to finally step into those castle walls and claim them for his own…that was the best prize of all.

As she disappeared from view, Adamu whistled loudly, and several tired-looking mechanics and pilots wearing uniforms with the Red Star Shipping logo rose from unorthodox slumber positions to look at their CEO.

“Get ready to go, you lazy bums. We’re returning to the Yridia system, and we’ll be heading to Yridia II.”

***

From the exterior, the Doomsday seemed to hang lazily in Yridia space, but from the interior, it was all excitement and jittery activity. Captain Merlance was busying himself at the control center while various members of the Rapax Squadron and the Habicht Squadron bustled around the long corridors of the Bothan Assault Cruiser. Ji K’awiil, Lt. Commander of the Navy, watched his squadron prepare as Donos briefed Habicht, though the Ethnarc and Quaestor of Cestus was amused at the idea of having to shoot down their worst enemy by means of naval tactics. True, the clan summit's proposal made sense - Adamu could only enter the Yridia system by means of a ship and it would be wise to have a ship prepared to counter any possible fleet of his - but taking him down couldn’t be that easy.

Other members of Tarentum prepared for naval as well as ground combat within the ship; there could be no holes in the clan’s offense. The entire Gladius summit was on board, and Quaestor Scion Altera, Aedile Apollo, and Rollmaster Severon Vercingetorix remained in a small conference room to discuss the conditions of the mission. It was clear that all of them, as members of a house which still distrusted the proceedings of the clan summit and the Keepers, were remaining vigilant, especially now that the Sword’s Sheath was in the hands of Proton and Shardara Bellamorae – the latter, while a devoted member of the house and clan, being only a Journeyman and perhaps poorly prepared for any intense attack on their headquarters. In an adjacent, larger room, Sith Commander Tier-Avis Nami, Hippotis of Cestus’s new order of the Hieros Lokhos ton Taras, was briefing the house’s elite battle team, the Nightwraiths, as they stood with their armor already equipped and their weapons at their sides. Several other Cestians, Gladians, and Tridenians had joined the offensive as well, including Aidyn Wolfwood, who traveled the corridors nonchalantly in hopes of maintaining focus on the mission ahead.

In the midst of such heavy-duty preparations, Ronovi stayed close to the bridge, closing her organic eye as she tried to clear her head of the questions that buzzed around her. She didn’t like this mission at all, and while she was not afraid of the consequences, she was certainly cautious of them. She thought of the many Tarenti who had stayed within their house perimeters in order to protect them. She thought of Vai Azexel watching over the Cestus Complex and Rollmaster Adien Falaut maintaining his captain’s post on the Magnus Kaerner orbiting the Aegis. She thought of the many Tridenians situated in the vast Castle Tarentum, including Cypha, Raiju Kang, and Tridens Aedile Kyra Starfire. Of course, she thought of her Consul, as he remained in his position as Prince over the fiefdom, with Bloodfyre assisting him; the clan could not afford for their rule over the system to crumble.

Finally, and oddly enough, Ronovi thought of Talara Fol. She began to wonder if it had been proper to leave the prisoner in the hands of the Keepers, who had insisted that she knew too much, and that her force-sensitivity could threaten the stability of the clan. But she had been more than willing to assist Tarentum – and come to think of it, she may have served as a potential Tarenti. More and more, the Keepers’ activities, though unchanging, were beginning to unnerve Ronovi, especially when they had refused to even directly assist the clan, claiming that only when a breaking point had been reached in the fighting could they use the Obsidian Blade and vanquish the opponent.

It all seemed to weird and unorthodox, Ronovi thought to herself. The new Proconsul began to move towards the CC just as she heard the XO’s voice crackle into her personal commlink.

“Proconsul, we have just detected entrance into the Yridia system.”

“And?” Ronovi asked.

“Authorized entry, ma’am. Under the approval of Zero Tarentae. Would you still like us to investigate?”

“Of course I want you to investigate. Get Merlance to close in on anything you find on the sensors. Alert me of all suspicious movement.” Ronovi then shut off her commlink and smiled. “This’ll be fun.”

The air was thick with anticipation. Every inch of the ship was infected with this timeless uneasy feeling. Everyone knew a battle was coming, they just didn't know when or where. The feeling in the pit of even the most die hard veterans was as raw as the day the first seen combat. They can just hide it better with each conflict they survive. The younger generation awaiting their glorious debut into battle, while the older generation wonder how many will die this time and secretly wonder if their time and finally come. The same feelings have been shared by billions of soldiers stretching thousands of years. And it is quite certain that it will continue for as long as there is a battle to be fought, and soldiers to fight it.

A small smirk appeared on Apollo's face as Sev, Gladius' new Rollmaster, laid out the plans the House Summit had created for the defense of the Sword's Sheath. The young Gladian was still young enough to feel the effects of anticipation and yet old enough to have seen the horrors of battle unfold before his very eyes. The plan he was going over was more for his benefit, than for either Scion or Apollo. Both men had committed it to memory long before. The Sword's Sheath was being looked after by Sith Battlelord Proton and Guardian Shardara while the Summit was away. The B/CR Coctyus remained close by in case of an attack. The situation was the best they could do in the time the short notice of departure gave them. But the members had been trained properly and the defense was set. With a little luck, maybe nothing will happen. But luck hasn't always been on their side.

"Aedile?"

Apollo snapped back from his thoughts.

"Good work Sev. The Sword's Sheath is in as capable hands as we can muster. You need to focus on your preparation for battle. Now you must also--" Apollo was cut short by two starfighters racing by the viewport just across the conference table from which he sat.

"Interesting." said Apollo as he stood and walked to the viewport, quickly being joined by Scion and Sev.

"Wherever they are going, looks like it's in a hurry." Scion added.

"Indeed. We might have less time than I thought." Apollo turned to Sev.

"Get your gear in order and be ready from here on out. Move." Apollo turned to Scion as Sev trotted out conference room.

"Are you ready for another round pain sponsored this time by the lovely Clan Summit?" The smile on Apollo's face was undeniable.

"Yeah. Let's see what they get us into this time." Scion responded as the two Gladius members made their way towards the bridge."




The bridge was only in a mild chaos as Scion and Apollo stepped off the lift twenty feet to the rear. The two of them catching bits and pieces of information as various crew members raced from one side to another. A few bits jumped out at them both, enough to get the impression something was about to happen. The hum of the ships engines intensified as the Bothan Assault Cruiser began to move forward, soon reaching flank speed.

"Are we late for something, Ronovi?" Apollo asked from just behind her. The young woman looked over her shoulder and shook her head, wondering why Apollo was here in the first place.

Apollo smirked yet again and moved to stand by her with Scion standing on her opposite side. He was about to speak before being cut off by a sensor officer yelling out.

"Contact! One ship, maybe more, bearing 032 degrees from the bow at a range of several thousand kilometers. Sensor indicated a Carrack-Class light cruiser. Still too far out to be sure."

Ronovi took a breath and nodded.

"This is it people. The time has finally arrived." Ronovi turned to the Operations Officer.

"Ops! Order Habicht Squadron to identify the ship! Order them to get close enough see who it is but do NOT engage. If they are engaged, withdraw and report back." the young woman ordered.

Ronovi's eyes were a bit wide as she took everything in. Trying to manage the entire bridge. Knowing Ronovi is used to fighting with a lightsaber and not with a ship, the former Fleet Admiral leaned in close to Ronovi.

Apollo whispered into her ear so no one else could hear. "Have Navigation calculate a micro-jump, just in case things go south. And launch all of your remaining fighters as a Combat Air Patrol just as a precaution."

Ronovi nodded, and gave the orders. She nodded her appreciation back at Apollo as the two older men shared a knowing nod with each other at the young woman. She will get it eventually. Leading so many takes a long time to grasp. And hopefully, she will grasp it soon because this will be her most challenging test to date. And the fate of Hundreds if not thousands of people rest in her hands.

As the last of Habicht Squadron cleared the hangar’s magshield Ji felt the TIE restraints loosen around his fighter, the repulsorlifts kicking in and gently rocking the ship back and forth. “Rapax Squadron, sound off,” trilled the Ubese through the comm unit. A series of eleven clicks staccato’d their way back through his earpiece, indicating the squadron’s machines were operating at full efficiency. “Launch by wing pairs.”

With that order, Ji slammed his own yoke forward, the twin ion engines screaming at full power, lauching the TIE Defender forward like a rocket. At the end of the hangar, just as the fighter was zapping through the magfield, Ji jerked the pilot’s yoke back violently, sending his ship flying out of the hangar at a steep angle and burning a large portion of the normally spotless hangar deck. His wingman matched the maneuver. By the time the entire squadron cleared the bay the Doomsday’s labor crew would have its work cut out for it. It was good to keep workers on their toes after all. Besides, the maneuver made his pilots feel like hotshots.

Screaming out into space, Ji folded his flightpath back across the Doomsday’s bow as his squadron fanned out into a traditional fighter screen. Clicking his comm unit off the squadron channel, the conversation between the Doomsday and Carrack Cruiser filtered through his headset.

“Carrack Cruiser Vesir, you have entered Yridian Space without authorization. Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded for inspection.”

Ji could see the tiny flits of ion trails from Habicht Squadron darting around the distant cruiser, no doubt herding it toward the much larger Bothan Assault Cruiser, itself powering its way through space toward the Vesir. As the two ships neared one another, and the Carrack had grown to the size of his forefinger in the TIE’s viewport Ji’s comm unit crackled to life.

“Lieutenant Commander, form your squadron around the hangar bay and prepare to escort Shuttle Flight Incarnate, which will be commencing boarding operations.”

“Roger, command,” replied the Ubese, lazily dragging his yoke around as he chimed orders to his pilots. “We’ve got tub duty, boys. Keep ‘em clean and don’t take your eyes off those TIE fighters hanging off that cruiser.” A series of groans and complaints (along with some very colorful curses) erupted through the squadron’s private channel.

“There isss no honor in defending the weak. This will displeaze the Ssscorekeeper,” exclaimed Skiivit, a Trandoshan female and leader of 3. Flight Traiana. Ji could feel the displeasure and annoyance of Seith Ornil, Rapax 3 and the squadron’s executive officer, pouring through the force, but to his credit, he kept his mouth shut. Unlike Ornil, Ji’s military career had primarily been blowing up civilians as a terrorist on Ubertica and, as a result, he ran Rapax Squadron with an air of informality, much to the chagrin of his XO and superior officers.

By the time the squadron arrived at the hangar’s entrance, the shuttles of Incarnate Flight were already exiting through the mag field. Just beyond the blue glow Ji could see several mechanics giving him the finger as they tried to scrape up the carbon burns Rapax Squadron’s engine wash had left all over the hangar floor.

~~~~

Calmly strolling through the door into the bridge, Adamu glanced out through the large viewport. “I assume they have taken the bait?”

“Yes sir,” answered the technician at the communications station. “They’re in position now. The Y’toub’s Grace and Arrogant Laugh will come out of hyperspace on their flanks. Shall I issue the order for them to make the microjump?”

“Do it,” answered Adamu. “I will be in my quarters.” He was lying of course, though that would not matter, he thought as he strode out of the bridge toward his private shuttle. It had cost him a fortune to have it installed on the tiny cruiser but would be worth it.

“Yes…,” chuckled Adamu to himself. “It will definitely be worth the cost.”

~~~~

Waving to the angry mechanics as he cruised by, they suddenly scattered as a bright red flash cut violently through the air not 50 meters in front of Ji’s fighter and smashed into one of the shuttles before it had even fully cleared the mag field. The shuttle did not so much explode as disintegrate into a fiery ball, quickly engulfing the other shuttle still in the hangar. The last thing Ji saw was the hangar’s massive metal emergency door closing as atmosphere screamed out through the shorted-out field. However, his attention was on the screaming voices coming through his earpiece.

“Two contacts dropping from hyperspace, heavy cruiser analogs!” shouted Pyrinan, his normally silent wingman as the pair broke into evasive maneuvers. “They’re launching fighters!”

Ji felt a slight static ripple course over his flightsuit as his pilots confirmed their status as alive and unharmed. The Doomsday had just brought up her shields. This was going to be a slugfest.

“Rapax Squadron engage the enemy fighters! By the force protect the shield generators!”

The order was given in a quick and frantic way and Ji wondered to himself if that order came from one of the ship’s officers or a panicked technician. Regardless, it was as sound a plan as any since the majority of the enemy fighters seemed to be heading that way anyway. Ji hated surprises.

“Rapax Squadron, break by pairs and engage. Focus your attacks against bombers.”

As his squadron’s experienced pilots clicked their confirmations Ji tucked in close to the belly of the Doomsday, chasing a trio of Y-Wings heading aft, probably toward the engines. Space was alight with turbolaser fire, spewing from several sources, including the Doomsday.

“Pyrinan, give me a count,” called Ji to his wingmate on a private channel.

“Four squadrons of fighters have launched. Mostly Z-95s and Y-Wings. It looks like a Dreadnaught and a Loronar Strike Cruiser have dropped in flanking the Doomsday.”

“Roger that.” Ji quickly chinned his channel select as he brought the first Y-Wing into his targeting brackets as it broke left and its wingmen scattered. “Stay on the leader, Two.” The two Defenders unleashed a salvo of laser canon fire at the outdated Y-Wing. The bright beams of light burst through the shields and sheared off one of the engine pylons, sending the bomber careening out of control into the Doomsday’s shields, where it exploded unceremoniously.

“Habicht Squadron, report!” shouted Ji over the Fighter Wing’s channel.

Donos’ voice came back through the communication device, clearly in a mild state of panic. “Engaged with the Cruiser’s TIE complement. Only reason we’re still alive is because the beast is firing on the Doomsday and ignoring us.

Ji wasn’t granted time to reply as a lock alarm pierced through the characteristic TIE whine reverberating in his pilot module. Breaking sharply, Ji jerked the pilot yoke to the right, leaning his entire wait forward in the pilot couch to force it forward, sending his TIE Defender into an extremely tight downward spiral. Pyrinan broke left and up, hoping their assailants would choose to follow only one target and allow the other to slip in behind them.

~~~~

The Doomsday’s bridge was alight with activity as techs and officers shouted orders and reports from various stations.

“…bay disabled, vac doors closing.”

“Turbolaser batteries opening…”

“Shields up and holding!”

Merlance knew his crew was top notch and trusted them to operate according to procedure. He strode calmly over to the tactical display as he noticed Ronovi and Apollo bolting out the door of the bridge, no doubt toward the comm suite so they could check on the rest of the fleet and call in reinforcements.

“Bring us around in a 180 degree turn. If that Loronar Cruiser doesn’t move then smash through it!”

“Yes captain!” came a chorus of replies from the ensigns manning the helm.

“Are you sure that’s a wise choice?” asked the executive officer calmly. “Showing our back to the enemy?”

“The shields will hold and if we don’t make an about face they simply cruise right past us and into Yridian space,” answered Merlance.

~~~~

Ji watched—though for the briefest of moments—with grim satisfaction as the Z-95 before him exploded in a breathtaking display of light and fire. The enemy might have been numerous but they were inexperienced pilots. Mercs probably, thought Ji, and while his squadron had racked up an impressive kill score for only being several minutes into the dogfight, still more fighters were dropping out of hyperspace.

The Ubese laughed audibly as Brin Chaser’s TIE Defender screamed past his foreward viewport, recognizable only by what poor condition the exterior paintjob was in. Following him was a full flight of X-Wings, only recently having dropped from hyperspace. “With me, Two,” said Ji over the comm as he jerked his Defender’s yoke around to help the man. He could see Brin’s fighter juking and jinking through space as he attempted to shake his pursuers. His flight pattern was clumsy and, were it not for the almost unbelievable amount of luck Brin seemed to possess, Ji was pretty sure he would have been vaped years ago. However, luck can be as much a valuable asset as skill, Ji supposed.

“I’ve got a rather strange contact here, One. It’s bearing 228, away from the battle toward Yridia IV and it’s small,” called Pyrinan.

“I don’t see it on my scanner, Two. You sure it’s not a ghost reading.”

“Positive, One. Remember, I’ve got the comm array.”

“Roger that, Two.” Ji checked his scanner to see who was closest to the blip he still could not see. “Five, Four, prepare to pick up an unidentified contact. Unlikely that it’s friendly. Shoot it down. Two, pipe the information into their computers.”

“Affirmative One,” came the dreary and depressed voice of Windos Helkin Tarentae. He had spent most of the battle carving through an undertrained squadron of Y-Wings, using the force to toy with the minds of the pilots inside before sending them to a fiery death. “Four, you’re my wing.”

Giving one last glance toward Brin’s Defender as it sped away in the distance, the X-Wings still on his tail, firing intermittently, Ji swung his fighter around to follow the mysterious blip.

“Where are we going, One?” inquired Pyrinan.

“Somewhere important, Two. Trust me.”

“The Force?”

“The Force,” answered Ji. “Seith, you’ve got command. And, damnit, will somebody help Brin?”

~~~~

Breaking through a heavy cloud cover into near zero visibility Adamu willed the shuttle to remain under his control, using the force to physically hold the ship from being buffeted by the horrendous winds. He cruised confidently through the heavy blizzard as he turned in a lazy arc away from the settlement—his eventual destination. He would handle these Tarenti following him first. After all, his shuttle was hardly helpless and now he would finally have a chance to test just how well those credits were spent.

~~~~

“Steady!” shouted Ji over the comm as he and Pyrinan broke through the cloud cover into the roiling snowstorm.

“One.”

“What is it, Two?”

“I’ve lost the signal in the sto-.” Pyrinan’s report was cut off as a flurry of bright red laser fire erupted from behind the pair. Pyrinan’s defender, it’s shields shunted fully forward, thankfully did not explode as the blast tore through the solar wing array, sending it careening in the opposite direction from the TIE, which was now plummeting toward the planet below.

Slamming his yoke to the side, Ji deftly dodged as the flurry of blasterbolts cut across the sky toward him. The winds buffeted the light fighter as the Ubese struggled to maintain control in the storm, relying entirely on his sensors and the force. Cutting in a tight arc to the left he tried to sideslip back behind the shuttle, but the stream of fire kept coming as, what was now obviously a turret, tracked the defender, pouring fire into the storm.

“Five, report immediately!” When no answer came from Windos, Ji opened himself to the force, breathing a sigh of relief as he could feel the closed off spirit of Windos' somewhere below on the planet. Fury radiated from it, probably because the old goat was ambushed in the same way, thought Ji, but his force aura did not seem to signify that he was hurt. Probably feeling the brush from Ji, Windos sent him a nudge and an image of Four, indicating that she was also unharmed and with him below.

The lock alarm began to scream in his cockpit once again, barely audible over the deafening winds and Ji pulled his ship the other direction, away from whatever had shot at them, practically tearing the yoke out of its socket as he fought the storm. However, the lock didn’t go away and the tiniest blip appeared on his scanner where previously there was none.

Slamming his ship back and forth, Ji tried his best to dodge the incoming concussion missile. However, in the storm the slender missile definitely had the advantage… both in speed and maneuverability and soon Ji felt the jolt as his fighter was struck from behind. Suddenly the yoke was no longer responding, all power having gone out, and the sound of his engines had quieted completely, which either meant they were dead, Ji turned around staring over his shoulder at the massive hole blown in the stern of his cockpit, or that they were gone entirely.
Snow flittered in and out of the cockpit violently as Ji careened toward, what he thought was the ground. The snow came down so hard on all sides that, without sensors, he was blind. He could only guess what his altitude was. Suddenly, just as things had seemed to enter a calm state of limbo, wherein Ji was not entirely sure he was falling as much as hanging in midair, the ground appeared, only hanging in the viewport for a split second before the ship hit.

~~~~

Yawning, Adamu did not see the last of the fighters crash so much as feel the concussion through the Force. With an arrogant little smile at how well his ship had performed, he slowly and lazily pulled the shuttle’s stick around, using the Force to steady the craft and headed toward the northernmost settlement on the planet, only 30 km away.

Aidyn continued down the hallway of the Doomsday and quickly spotted Ronovi and Apollo as they strode into the comm suite. He pondered for a moment and then followed in behind them. As he entered, Apollo brought up a holographic field of the area around the planet.

As the field came up; several notices appeared near the planet.

“The battle is quickly turning in our favor as expected. Numerous enemy casualties...however several of our fighters have been confirmed down along with several who went down on the planet...ships confirmed as being from the Rapax Squadron, including Rapax Leader...status unknown” Apollo spoke. “And one unknown ship has penetrated through as well.”

Ronovi slammed her fist down onto the panel in anger. “God damn it Adamu…”

Aidyn slowly approached behind them, his arms crossed. “We should get a ground force down there to assess the situation and find them.”

Apollo turned around and looked down at Aidyn, just as Ronovi did.

“I agree. We can regroup after that and begin our search for that son of a bitch.” Ronovi said in a rather angry tone.

As he leaned against the console, Apollo looked at Ronovi. “You sure about this?”

“That son of a bitch took down several of our own. He’s going to get what is coming to him real soon…”

"Very well." Apollo replied. "Aidyn, meet us down in the secondary bays; we will be leaving shortly."

"Yes sir."

"I'll go and get the Nightwraiths, Apollo. Inform Severon, Scion, and Tier-Avis Nami that we are leaving immediately." Ronovi said just as she walked out of the comm suite. He turned and followed her out.

"Very good."

Castle Tarentum

"She is becoming unstable."

Oberst shifted in his comfortable position at his desk, his war-battered hands folded across the glassy surface of the table as he looked at Bloodfyre. "Who?"

"You know who," Bloodfyre replied, with a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Talitha. Ever since we gave her the Obsidian Blade."

Oberst was silent to that remark. He had been busied with the many transmissions he had received from the Doomsday, including the most recent news that ground forces would be making their way to Yridia IV where Adamu had apparently escaped to. The Keepers themselves were in the back of his mind, but due to his leadership over the Death Dealers and Bloodfyre's leadership over the Watchers, both could not quite let go of what they had both perceived when meeting with their necromantic sovereigns.

"It's more than just a physical imbalance," Bloodfyre continued, as he paced the office and the hems of his robes brushed the floor. "Even Anshar knew that Talitha was fragile. Such a powerful artifact can only mentally bend her, and who knows, she may end up losing control."

"For a man well attuned to the necromantic forces," remarked Oberst, leaning back in his chair, "I'd expect you to have a bit more confidence in Talitha's power."

"Perhaps. But perhaps not. There were too many questions that I had after the meeting. Like where Zero had gone. Why the Keepers could not immediately assist us in such a strenuous mission. ...And what they did to that Lorrdian."

"That girl is not something for us to worry about."

"Maybe so...but the other concerns?"

Oberst left the conversation hovering at that, for the door to his office had slid open with a hiss as Kyra Starfire appeared, noticeably out of breath and her face flushed. Beside her stood Raiju Kang, his arms folded across his chest and his eyes dim.

"Consul, we've received word from Captain Falaut on the Magnus Kaerner," the Tridens Aedile gasped. Oberst rose slowly to his feet at the news.

"And?" he asked.

"...It appears that something is moving toward the Aegis. Something big."

"A ship?"

"More than just a ship," Raiju interrupted, his voice thin and full of concern. "I believe the MK has primarily identified it as the Renegade."

Oberst could feel his jaw tighten and his throat constrict. The bastard was going to hit the clan with their own prize.

***

BAC Doomsday

"We have coordinates toward the fighters' main crash site. Shuttles, prepare for take-off to Yridia IV atmosphere." came the tinned voice of Merlance.

The volunteers shuffled into their designated vessels, back-up shuttles located in the secondary bays as the Incarnate Flights had been destroyed in the naval battle and the main hangar bay shut down. Ronovi strapped herself in alongside Apollo, Scion, and Severon, a former Gladian among Gladians, and gave them a smug but reassuring grin. She had seen Tier-Avis Nami and the Nightwraiths off as they boarded another transport, while Aidyn Wolfwood scampered over to an empty seat beside Ronovi.

"You seem eager, Wolfwood," she said as the Guardian settled into his seat.

"Do I? I'm just ready to help."

Ronovi grinned at the small man's tolerable assertiveness as the roar of the shuttle's engines rattled the floor beneath her boots. The bay doors opened slowly as the shuttles zipped by the torrents of naval warfare alongside them. With the ship having rotated a 180 degree angle to block off enemy ships from approaching, the shuttles had a mostly clear path toward the planet. As the ozone closed in around the vessels while they dipped into the planet atmosphere, a sudden bout of snow brushed against the transparasteel windows as the vessels closed in on the targeted terrain. Ronovi could only hope that her fellow clanmates below had survived whatever impact they may have made on the earth's crust.

***

Yridian space

The Hunters were on the move. They took their time in their approach, penetrating the darkness of space as they made their way through the boundaries of Oblivion and Life to reach their targets. Both the VSD Corsair and the Sword's Sheath lay open in their wake, vulnerable. They would have their fun.

From their peripheral senses, two of the Hunters could see the progress of the Renegade as the vessel snailed its way toward the clan's XQ4 platform, brushing aside cosmic dust as it moved. Adamu's little stunt would distract Tarentum long enough for the Renegade to do its job. They would leave the clan to pick up the pieces and give them little time to focus on their own safety. But for now...the defending waited to be slaughtered.

Each of the two Hunters not piloting the Renegade could see their opponents. Vai Azexel, along with various Akolyths and Hippoti of the Lokhos, patrolled the corridors of their complex cautiously. On the other side, in the Itaana belt, Proton stood with Journeymen, including Shardara, in Paradus Avium where the Sword Sheath's emergency bunkers lay. But all these precautions, alas, would not do much good.

The time had come. The bell tolled for those fools. The Hunters turned their twisted faces toward each other, nodded slowly, and rushed toward their targets with the speed of beasts - with "fangs" to tear flesh apart.

***

Yridia IV

The doors of the shuttle opened with a loud exhalation as Adamu stepped out into the cold tundra air, his suit uncreased from his escape and his face clean of any sweat or grime. He welcomed the rush of snow and wind, powdering him with white, as the silhouettes of houses and buildings greeted him from the tormented gusts of the blizzard. The large settlement was stirring, as the shadows of colonists bundled up in coats combatting the cold emerged from their frosted abodes to stare at the new visitor. Many of them held blaster rifles or knives, as if to fight some intruder in their midst.

The sight of a young, dapper looking man in business attire seemed to startle the armed civlians, even more so than the growing hum that seemed to hover about the atmosphere, its cause hidden in the sleets of white. Adamu was unfazed by this, however, and as he could sense the Tarenti approaching to pick up the scraps of their allies so many kilometers away, he figured that this would be the best time to act.

As the hum of the shuttles above grew slightly louder in the distance, Adamu stepped toward the stunned people with his arms outstretched, a large smile barely seen on his face due to the rush of snow. His influence began to seep in with each syllable he pronounced.

"Good afternoon, citizens of Yridia IV," he said in a smooth, formal voice. "May I present to you all a business offer?"

The Magnus Kaerner
After reporting the sighting of the MC-80 to the clan summit, Adien turned his attention to readying the crew of the Kaerner for the battle that was coming and bellowed, “I want to know where that Mon Cal is at all times; any variations in speed or course I want to know about as is! Drop fighters, bombers, and interceptors; set up a screen that vessel is not to make it to its target. Bring all weapons to power and raise shields we’ve got a fight coming and the Kaerner will be ready! Fire warning shots across their bow; not that it will deter them out of Yridian space. Send word to get everyone off aegis now their headed right for it.”

Turning and looking back out the forward view port of the bridge after his string of orders, Adien felt the anticipation rise higher and higher as each second clicked away and the Renegade came closer. Watching squadrons of TIE fighters speed past the view port, he knew that they were ready for anything. The port side Octuple batteries opened up and turbolaser fire streaked out into space toward the Mon Calamari vessel.

A crew member blurted out, “They're not stopping!’

Seconds afterward, the MC-80 opened fire on the Aegis, ripping and tearing though it. Adien’s eyes turned yellow with hate as he saw the damage that was being inflicted. He screamed out, “All batteries and fighters direct all fire on that cruiser; Now!”

Another crew member stated, “Sir, the station has taken too much damage. It could blow at any moment.”

Adien hesitated but replied, “Agreed, move the ship far enough away that we won’t hit caught in the explosion; However, do not stop firing on that ship!”

Moments after the Kaerner began to move out of the way, the platform exploded in a brilliant shower of debris and fire. Soon after the MC80’s shields collapsed under the constant volleys of turbolaser fire directed against it by the Kaerner.

Adien smiled and said, “It won’t be long men, Intensify fire and rip her hull apart!”

The Kaerner continued to pound on the Renagade, and the fighter and bomber complement of the ISD hit and faded back and forth swarming around the 1200 meter Mon Calamari designed ship. Chatter over the comm from the pilots clicked back and forth with the Kaerner, and Adien smiled when he heard that the bridge was out. Moments later, the ship buckled in a brilllant explosion that even rivaled the detionation of Aegis minutes before.

After the MC-80 exploded, Adien stared at the vacant space it left behind. Solemnly looking on at the clan's loss, he said, "Pick up the escape pods from the Aegis and open a channel to the Castle in my state room. I need to report on this...now."

As the shuttle flew closer towards the targeted location of where the last signals from the Rapax Squadron had been detected, the once calm snow suddenly turned fierce as a full out snowstorm shook the shuttle.

"Hang on guys, we're in for some chop!" yelled the pilot as he took the shuttle straight into the storm.

"Reminds me of home..." Aidyn murmured under his breath. Ronovi looked curiously at him, and noticed that the snow seemed to affect him a little. She did not ask about it however; her mind was set at the moment on making sure Ji, Windos, and the others were still alive.

"How much further until we arrive?" asked Apollo. The pilot turned his head slightly back towards them; but kept his eyes on the path ahead which was filled with snow.

"No more than 2 minutes tops, we are still receiving the signals quite well despite this storm."

Apollo nodded as the shuttle turned a little and began a slow downwards descent.

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

Ji sighed a little bit, sitting inside of his damaged fighter; now partially filled with snow. "Great..." Windos leaned in through the giant hole in the side of the Tie Fighter; a mask shielding his face from the powerful snow. "...aside from the distress signal, there's not much left. Batteries are just about spent."

"It's alright. I'm sure Ronovi and the others are on their way, especially if Adamu is here." Windos replied. "Make sure you have everything you need ready to take with you"

Ji nodded as he grabbed the few things he had with him. For his first time crash landing, at least it was not as bad as it could have been. He climbed from his fighter and noticed Pyrinan leaning against the side of it along with Nalan'rha.

"Good to see we're all still alive" Pyrinan said quietly as he stood up from the side of the fighter. The other three nodded in agreement.

Several moments later, a soft roar echoes in the distance not far from them as the figure of a shuttle appears from the storm; beginning to land beside them. The four of them approached near where the shuttle was landing as the door slid open. Ronovi, Apollo, and Aidyn walked from the shuttle out into the snow; all wearing protective gear except Aidyn.

"Aren't you getting cold Wolfwood?" Asked Windos, suprised to see the newcomer out in this cold air like he was. Aidyn shook his head negatively.

"It's not that bad actually. Arkania was much colder and frigid than this, so this is nothing."

Ronovi smiled in relief as all four of them were there. "Thank god you all are still alive, we feared the worst."

"We did as well. But, the force is definitely with us on this one. Our force shielding withstood just about all of the impact and damage which kept us alive." Ji replied in return as the seven of them moved back to the shuttle and climbed on board to get out of the storm. As they all took their seats, the shuttle slowly took off from where it was and started to move northward.

Ji looked over at Ronovi, with a slightly worried expression on his face. "So I take it you probably already know about the shuttle that got past us just before we went down."

Apollo nodded and looked over at the four survivors. "Yes; we saw the intel from the comm suite. Because of the shuttle's sudden appearance and origin; it was only clear that it could have been Adamu."

"His signal took him northward from where you guys crashlanded, about 30 kilometers out." Ronovi replied. "We will be going there; and paying that bastard a visit. I'm sure you guys would enjoy that."

"Damn right..." Windos replied, in a sheer happy manner. "I've got something to give back to him in return for what he did."

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

The citizens watched Adamu as stepped towards them, his arms still extended openly. "It is an offer, that none of you will want to miss. It is, truly, a chance of a lifetime."

A young boy cocked his head sideways curiously as he held onto his father's shirt. Adamu continued smiling and patted the boy on the head. "There is a dark force coming this way that intends to destroy you. Their goal...is to control your lands, enslave you, and take what is rightfully yours."

His influence was quickly becoming apparent as the citizens began to gather around him and follow him as he walked deeper into the settlement. "But alas...I, your gracious and kind friend, will help save you from this darkness..."

"You have no reason to give up what is yours to the Tarentum. Listen not to what they say, for everything they do and will want to do will cause in your ultimate loss. All I ask in return...is to protect me, Adamu, and assist me in my endeavors."

As he reached the middle of the settlement, he turned around and faced the massive crowd that had gathered behind him., his arms crossed in front of him. "Now I ask you, citizens of Yridia IV...to whom do you pledge your allegiance to?"

Almost in unison, they all replied "Adamu. We pledge ourselves to the protection of Adamu..."

As they did this; his smile quickly turned to a smirk as he raised his hands high into the sky and the voices of the citizens chanting his name became louder.

"And now...the fun, will truly begin..."

Severon sat in one of the farthest seats from the cockpit of the shuttle. To his left sat Scion and Apollo, on his right was Nalan'rha, while across from him were Aidyn, Ronovi, Ji, Windos and Pyrinan. Severon took the moment to look at Aidyn. While the Guardian looked calm, anticipation shone like a light in the Force. Severon knew the feeling, it was the same as he had felt during the Ninth Great Jedi War. That was before the carnage, before seeing a fellow Dark Jedi’s body flying through the air encased in fire…
But he couldn’t focus on those things. Not now.

Scion noticed Severon’s sudden tension. As an old soldier, he knew what one could feel when headed into combat. He leaned over and asked: “Hey Sev, you alright?”

“Yeah, just remembering.”

“Be careful what you remember. And always note that it happened in the past and you cannot change it.”

“I will.”

Scion left the Jedi Hunter alone and sat back. After a few hours, a transmission came from DJK Tier-Avis Nami and the Nightwraiths. Tier calmly stated that they had traveled ahead and found a signal that they wished to follow. After a few minutes of conversing, Ronovi gave the go ahead and Tier left the com.

A few minutes later, as Severon had just closed his eyes to catch a small break, his comlink beeped. He swept it up and answered, “ Severon here.”

“Hey Sev, it’s Shardara.”

“Go ahead.”

“Um… everyone is fine it’s just…”

“It’s just what! This is not a time for idleness.”

“Sorry, I was just appraising the situation. There is something on the radar… faint but it’s there.”

“Be careful Shardara.”

“Oh don’t worry. Everything’s fine but that. I’m sure it will be…”

The comlink went dead.

Yridia IV

Tier-Avis Nami was the first out of the door of the shuttle, his eyes instinctively closing to slits as he was buffeted by the stinging windborne snow blowing from the frozen landscape of Yridia IV. The insulated battle armor of the Nightwraiths kept him completely warm even from the mighty storm. He hit the ground in a puff of white, flanked quickly by Frey Gallandro. Vai would normally be with them, but he was defending Cestus’ home of the VSD Corsair. The Nightwraiths would miss his presence.

The Nightwraith’s shuttle had crossed a signal from a large settlement, unnamed on any chart, and they had followed that vector in to about two kilometers south of the contact. The Nightwraiths were to scout ahead to the settlement and report their findings to Ronovi and her crew on the trailing shuttle. Ronovi suspected Adamu may be hiding there. Hidden in the snow, the team would be on the settlement almost before they knew it.

As Frey set up a scouting position ahead of the rest of the team, Nami turned to face the Nightwraiths as they exited the shuttle behind him. His polished armor glowed in contrast to the whiteout around him as he snapped his helmet into place. He switched the com to the private battle team channel and addressed his soldiers.

“Welsh, take your team up on the right of mine,” Nami commanded. “Report any sighting of personnel or the settlement immediately and stand down. We are not here to get into a scuffle with local militia with itchy trigger fingers. Teia, lead your team in reserve but be ready to support either Welsh or myself.”

“With this visibility we must communicate better than ever. Adamu may be out there hiding in this, and he is very dangerous. Be aware. Be alert. Good luck,” he finished as Welshman, in his battered armor, disappeared with his team into the snowstorm to Frey’s right. Nami nodded as his newest Lieutenant, Teia Coran, quickly ordered her group in a line behind both Nami’s and Welsh’s groups.

Nami switched his com to the shuttle just now coming to rest next to the one his team had just left. “Ronovi, we are moving out. Holler if you need anything,” he said.

“Good luck, Nami. And for gods’ sake, be careful,” his friend and former Quaestor replied.

****

Castle Tarentum

Oberst’s eyes had narrowed to slits by the time Adien had finished his report. The Marshal was not pleased to lose anything in battle, especially something as valuable as the Aegis, even though as a soldier he knew casualties were inevitable.

He turned quickly to the radar operator, his boots thudding heavily on the floor. He meant business. “Get me positions on anything that escaped the Renegade five minutes ago,” he commanded. He returned to the command display with Bloodfyre, Starfire, and King. “I guarantee at least one Hunter was on that ship, and there is no way it died in the explosion,” he said a bit more quietly. “We must be vigilant. It is surely on its way here.” He turned to Kyra and Raiju. “Alert all defensive units. Hostiles incoming.”

Kyra’s face whitened, but she nodded and led Raiju to the com station and began issuing instructions.

Bloodfyre looked at Oberst’s reddened face. “It has begun,” he said.

The castle was getting closer. The Hunter could sense it. He wove in and out of the heavy fog hovering about the mouth of the ocean. Closer, closer...

A transmission suddenly burst to life on Oberst's commlink. As he picked up the device, he heard heavy breathing as Proton tried to gather air into his lungs on the other end of the connection.

"Consul...Consul, do you hear me?"

"Loud and clear," Oberst barked into the link. The others stared wide-eyed as he spoke.

"Sword's Sheath is under attack, sir...all our connections are going down. I don't have much time to talk. It's not like anything I've seen before."

"Do you see the cause of the problems?" Oberst demanded.

"...Not receiving..."

"Do you see the Hunter, damn it?" Oberst growled.

But there was nothing. The last of Gladius's communications had gone down. And as Oberst put down his comm, he could already sense a disturbance in the air around him. All at once, things seemed to dim, as the whole castle seemed to shut down.

"We're not alone," Raiju whispered as the terror struck.

Ah...familiar faces... thought the Hunter. ...And a man who was once my ally. No matter...I have a better bargain now. The master will be pleased...

***

VSD Corsair

The entire Cestus base was in a state of panic. All at once the electricity in the crashed ship seemed to go haywire as communications went awry. Vai Azexel was attempting to keep a group of young Akolyths calm as he darted about the corridors, igniting his lightsaber and sending some of the newcomers into hysterics.

"That won't do much to the enemy," came a raspy voice, and Vai slowly turned his head to see Saitou and Doni Tzu behind him, the latter's face mask glowing in the dimming light.

"What's going on?" Vai demanded.

"Something the clan summit warned us about," Doni replied, before sighing. "And frankly, it didn't do much to stop it." He thought of his former apprentice, most likely fighting in the snow of Yridia IV, before attempting to clear his mind. "Anyway, there's not much time. The Hunter who is targeting us will be here at any minute. We need to act fast."

"Well, what do you propose we do?" Vai cried out. "Our house summit is elsewhere, we have no one giving orders!"

"Then as the highest of the Komturei, we'll give the orders. Get all the Akolyths into one room; get the Hippoti to guard them," replied Saitou. "Then assemble the Phthians in one place. We can't let any fortifications be lowered. If we have to fight, then - "

He suddenly stopped talking as Doni Tzu flung his arm out at a 180 degree angle, as if repelling some sort of hidden force. The dark power that seemed to swarm like smoke around him reacted severely, and several Akolyths seemed physically affected. Some began to cough and wheeze as if by sickness, while others fell to the ground as if stunned. Vai was confused to see he was unaffected, until he noticed the Force shield that Doni had erected around him and Saitou as a thin, wispy laugh came from the attacker.

"That won't last long, necromancer," it hissed as the Hunter began to take his natural form. Vai winced at the sight of the twisted figure, his head hidden under a heavy robe, hands that appeared too human yet at the same time not human as he approached.

"Whatever you do," Saitou commanded, "don't move."

The three Dark Jedi stood frozen, waiting for the Hunter to strike first in the terrible silence.

***

Yridia IV

The smaller group's shuttle had landed safely, but the Tarenti's minds were elsewhere. Even as Ronovi calmly listened to Nami's transmission, Scion was stone-faced as Severon continued to stare at the dead commlink in his hand as Shardara's voice had faded away. It was clear that they all wanted to say something, something of comfort or support or desperation for their allies back at their bases. But no words came, so the team had no choice but to trudge through the snow toward the settlement, moving at a different angle than the Nightwraiths had taken.

As the group walked, Ronovi continually made transmissions to the Cestus battle team, but no one seemed to respond. She did not know whether or not to blame the weather conditions or the progress that the team was making, but they appeared to be nowhere at all. Nami wasn't responding, and neither were Welsh or Teia. The settlement was just becoming visible on the horizon, and still the Nightwraiths had not responded to calls on the commlink.

"This is hopeless. The team was supposed to alert us of their movement," Ji grumbled, and Ronovi couldn't blame him for being disgruntled. Crashing one's ship into the ground and seeing one's house's prime battle team seemingly not doing its job was enough to get any Dark Jedi in a bad mood.

"Don't lose faith yet. They could be still on their way," Ronovi replied, as if attempting to lift the mood, but nothing seemed to work. Especially when the entrance to the settlement was right in front of them.

It all seemed eerily calm. Through the heavy snow, Ronovi could see the silhouettes of civilians shuffling about, but nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Still, she kept a hand at her side, guiding Ji, Windos, Apollo, Scion, Aidyn, Severon, and the other two pilots along as they stepped cautiously into the open-air vicinity.

They were immediately greeted by a man holding a blaster rifle. Specifically, a TAW-8GP combat rifle.

"Hello," said the man casually, brushing the snow from his dark hair only to have it crowned in white again. He stood his ground as other civilians appeared, slowly moving toward the group as the man adjusted the Tarentum-brand weapon onto his shoulder. "To whom do we offer our welcome for this visit?"

Ronovi blinked before she sensed her group react in shock and suspicion. If that man had gotten that blaster from anywhere, it had to have been from a member of the Nightwraiths. And if that was so, the battle team's groups had already made it to the settlement...and were now nowhere to be found. The Proconsul attempted to act courteous, her hand on her belt, her gloved fingers gripping the slim hilt of her lightsaber.

Something, she thought to herself, had gone very wrong.

[Somewhat earlier on Yridia IV...]

I awoke once again to the guttural howl of the wind. It shook the house, every joint groaning like a slumbering beast. I groaned too, thinking of how frigid it would be when I had to venture outside and check them for cracks. Reluctantly, I reached a hand down to the floor and fished for the clothes I had discarded several hours prior. The air was bitter. That didn't really do it justice, but I couldn't think of a better word for it.

After having bundled myself in every warm piece of clothing I owned, "warm" being a wholly inadequate term for my present condition, I ventured out into the storm. The howl of the wind intensified, as did the cold. Trudging into the desolate, crystalline terrain I was forced to lean at a precarious angle to avoid being swept off my feet and hurled bodily into the wall of my simple abode. As I reached the corner of the edifice, my goal came into view.

That blasted generator had not worked properly ever since the first of these storms began, months ago now. It sat there, humbled and defeated by the onslaught of nature. The cover had been sheared off by the force of the wind or perhaps some windblown projectile. As I approached I could see a faint trail of black smoke puffing mere centimeters out of it before being whisked away by the torrential snow.

I poked at the wrecked machine with an increasing sense of hopelessness. The metal was cracked and twisted. Black fluid seeped out, staining my gloves and trousers as I brushed the snow off to get a closer look. Jagged edges like so many teeth threatened to gnaw through my gloves if I got too close. It was beyond repair this time, and a replacement was well beyond my means.

My shoulders sank and my knees felt weak at the prospect of spending the rest of the winter without a generator. I gave serious consideration to simply remaining out there and letting the cold take me. It wouldn't take long. A few hours at most as the heat seeped through the fabric at my knees and into the frozen ground. I had heard that at the end I would feel warm again as my own temperature approached that of the outside.

Just then, a voice pierced the raging wind and made its way to my ear. How was this possible? One would have to bellow with all his might to be heard out here in this storm, but this voice was clear.

"It is an offer that none of you will want to miss. It is truly the chance of a lifetime."

Terrific. One voice pierces the indomitable storm, and it's a sales pitch. This I have got to see. I raised myself slowly off the ground to which I had sunk in my miserable state, and turned to face the road.

Incredibly, a man was walking down it. He was dressed in what appeared to be expensive clothing utterly unsuitable for this kind of weather. A curious glow followed with him. He seemed to radiate warmth. His arms were outstretched, welcoming us all and beckoning us to come to him. He leaned over to pat a small child on the head, then beamed a smile at the boy's father.

As I approached, an unfamiliar feeling brewed in my core. It was warm and pleasant. It reminded me of my mother, and a hot cup of caf. My head was swimming in it and suddenly the bitterness and cold could no longer touch me. This man had somehow taken them away. I was elated.

"Now I ask you, citizens of Yridia IV... to whom do you pledge your allegiance?"

The words welled up inside me. Before I even knew what I was saying, the word had escaped my lips three times: "Adamu."

"Adamu!" I was shouting now. "We pledge ourselves to the protection of Adamu!"

My jacket was too restricting, and I felt sweat beading up on my forehead. I stripped the offending article off, along with my hat and gloves. I knew, somehow, that Adamu would always keep me warm.

The wind and cold seemed distant now. I raced up the street behind Adamu as he greeted the chanting citizens of our village. We followed him to the center of town where he stopped, seeming to stand several inches above the surface of the snow, tall enough for everyone to see easily.

"Bnar Crona," he said. My heart leapt. He knew my name! Adamu was looking directly at me. Speaking directly to me. He was not shouting, or even raising his voice, yet it seemed to pierce through the roaring wind. I could hear him as if the two of us had been sitting together, sharing stories over glasses of wine.

"I have delivered you from this cold. The Tarenti don't look after you. They only want to take what you have. I want to share what I have with you. All I ask in return is your friendship! Don't you want to be warm and peaceful? Don't you want to keep your home? Your family? Your village? The Tarenti are coming to take all of that away from you and leave you with nothing except the cold, the snow and the wind!"

"Adamu! We pledge ourselves to Adamu!" The crowd was worked up into a fervor now. The joy at having been delivered from the unrelenting storm was building into a feverous rage directed at the monsters that had deposited us here and left us to perish. My mind filled with the image of a twisted, black cloaked demon skulking through the wind and snow in the night. He carried a huge hammer, and I hated him. He approached my house while I was asleep, and battered my generator until it broke.

Furiously, I shouted with the crowd. I hoped that Adamu heard me.

As the chanting and shouting gathered intensity, Adamu slowly raised his right hand, pointing down the deserted road. Clouds of blowing snow obscured it, and for a moment nobody could see what he was pointing at. Suddenly, a black shape appeared. Then another. And another.

"Here they come!" There was a hint of urgency in Adamu's voice. "The Tarenti are here to steal your homes and your children! Do not let them! I will help you but I cannot defeat them alone!"

The crowd scattered in all directions. Adamu slipped away into the snow, but I could still feel him with me in my heart. His warmth stayed with me. I turned towards the repugnant black shapes and thought of my devastated generator. With Adamu's help, I would make them pay for their crimes.

"Yes..." Ronovi asked courteously. "We are looking for someone that we believe came through here. And...if you don't mind me asking...where did you get that weapon?"

"These were given to us by a group who called themselves Nightwraiths. And yes, we know of the man you speak of. Adamu or something..." the man replied. Shockingly enough, his thoughts and ambitions pointed exactly to what he said...not a single trace of a lie or anything hinting otherwise. "The storm has taken our power system offline again, and your friends are deeper inside the town searching for him and preventing his escape. We agreed to help cover the main exits of the town. Tier-Avis Nami requested us to inform you when you arrived to investigate the central area of the town while they continue on the outer areas."

Ronovi looked at Windos, who nodded in return. If they were to find out what was really going on; they had no choice but to advance onward. "Very well then. We will make our way into the center of the town. About how far is it?"

"Walking distance? Eh...no more than 10 minutes. Do you need a guide to show you through due to the storm?"

"No, that's fine. We will be fine." Ronovi quickly said as she moved forward; her hand still firmly placed on her lightsaber. The man nodded and the citizens went back to what they were doing. Several were examining some buildings, others were searching alleyways and corridors. It seemed so normal...

"Aidyn."

Aidyn looked over at Ronovi curiously and quickly moved to Ronovi's side and walked along with her. "Ma'am?"

"You can see in darkness, correct?"

"That's right."

"As we get into the town itself...watch the buildings and alleys. Something is very wrong here..." Ronovi requested in a soft tone so as not to be heard. Once they were off in the distance the man they were speaking to dimmed his eyes and proceeded to walk away from his post; as did the other citizens.

"Understood." Aidyn moved back a little bit and removed his hood as Apollo stepped up beside Ronovi now. Sections of Aidyn's hair was missing and scar marks were on his head and neck. Overall however; it looked normal from the way it was cut due to his old age. Ronovi glanced behind her for a moment and then looked back forward. Now she was even more so curious.

"I can't detect the Nightwraiths anywhere...not a single trace of them." Apollo said. The snowfall continued to increase as they trudged forward into the town; almost no one to be seen now. It was like a ghost town. The only sounds that could be heard as well; was that of the wind, and their footsteps as they moved forward.

"Neither can I."

"Plan to spring the trap?"

Ronovi gave a smirk and nodded. "Adamu would expect nothing less; and it will give us a chance to figure out what happened to the Nightwraiths. Make sure everyone is prepared; I have a feeling we will find out in just a few minutes."

Apollo turned and glanced at the group and stared momentarily. They all immediately knew for sure something was about to come.

As the group arrived at the center of town; a huge platform could be seen in the middle of it. Black fence surrounded it; though most of it was caked in the ice and show. Several areas however; were dried and the pure black metal could be seen.

Aidyn walked behind them backwards some and examined every window around them that he could see into. It was quiet...not a single sign of life anywhere.

Ronovi, Apollo, Scion, and Windos all moved onto the platform and looked around quickly followed by Pyrinian and Ji. Aidyn stayed down below and continued to survey the area while Severon examined the bars where they were not frozen.

"Strange..." he murmured. "...it's warm."

Scion pondered for a moment as he watched the others. Not a single patrol the entire way in aside from the people at the entrance, and not a single trace of the Nightwraiths. On top of that; there was little to secure since...well, there was nothing here.

"I would have thought we would have seen some opposition about now..." Scion wondered.

While they stood there, the middle of the platform creaked a little bit when Windos stepped across it. He looked back at it, a little surprised. As he leaned down to examine it; a blaster could be heard as a signpost just feet from them gets hit.

Within a moments notice, Ronovi grasps her lightsaber from it's hilt and ignited it and everyone else grabbed their weapons as well. Aidyn glared towards where the shot came from, and widened his eyes as he spotted someone in a window far above them.

"Sniper, over there!" he yelled and pointed just as a shot was fired at him. Aidyn dived to the side, rolling in the snow as the shot struck the spot right where he was not even moments later. Aidyn knelt down and aimed at the window he saw the sniper, and fired off a single shot from a blaster he had under his robes.

The sniper screamed in pain as he fell forward into the window, and spiraled down to the ground. What happened next was very much unexpected; as they watched the sniper come down they had failed to notice the sudden crowd that had begun to encircle the center of town. Severon looked around and noticed that every road out of the area was blocked by dozens of people.

"Um...guys?" Severon quietly asked as he backed up towards the others onto the platform. The snowfall had begun to slow to almost a crawl now; and the citizens began to move inwards at them; weapons armed and at the ready. Through the crowd, clapping could be heard as the man who had greeted them at the entrance stepped through and took point in front of the now grown mob.

"Y'know...normally, we don't care about visitors to our town..." the man boasted as he took a step forward but stopped. He glared downward and raised his shoe; to notice some animal crap on it. He looked around and wiped it off on the snow as quickly and inconspicuously as he could. Windos and Apollo snickered some, while Aidyn barely held back from laughing as he shook his staff in front of him. "...but when those visitors plan to destroy our way of life, we can't exactly allow that."

"...I wouldn't be able to do much either if I was standing in [Expletive Deleted]..." quietly commented Windos, which put a soft smile on Ronovi's face.

"What makes you think we are here to go against you?" Ronovi demanded as she stepped to the edge of the platform; facing the man. The platform was surrounded entirely now with well over 100 people; chances of running almost impossible. She knew there was a trap...but this, was definitely not expected.

"Our friend and benefactor told us exactly what you plan to do, Tarentum scum." the man scowled back. He looked downward and shook his head as he turned sideways. "And now; it's time to put an end to you just as we did your Nightwraith friends."

He raised his weapon in a sideways manner; and pointed it directly at Ronovi. "...for Adamu."

"Wait."

The rifle was lowered as quickly as it had been raised, the sleek black barrel disappearing into the leftover mist of the slowing snowfall. Ronovi could see much more clearly now, flanked by her allies who wobbled unmercilessly on the poorly set up platform. In the shadows of white, a lone figure strolled up to the growing mob, swinging his arm across his chest as he snapped his fingers and whistled as if carrying on leisurely. With each snap, something different seemed to happen - a blaster was cocked, a blade unsheathed, a growl or a snort from a civilian. One by one, Ronovi identified each Tarentum-brand blaster, each specially designed weapon for the Nightwraiths - all being raised as if on command.

The young woman stared at the approaching man, his other hand tucked in the pocket of his slacks. And then she knew.

"Adamu," she snarled.

Adamu stopped in his tracks, still a good ways away from the crowd, but smirking as if he were a witness to a grand execution. "Oh, my dear Tarenti," he muttered, chuckling. "You really think I'd be gone for long?"

"We'd hoped you'd have a longer vacation," Scion replied smoothly, his brows furrowed deeply as he stared at his opponent. The platform shook dramatically beneath the Dark Jedi again. Several civilians in the crowd laughed.

"What do you think of the show so far?" Adamu asked. "I worked very much on the spectacle of it. It's quite charming. And these wonderful people were able to set up the stage so nicely."

"You bastard!" Ronovi yelled. "You killed my parents on Yridia IX! You killed my clanmates!"

"Clanmates?" repeated Adamu, raising an eyebrow. And then he seemed to understand. "Oh, those 'Nightwraith' people. Oh, they'll be taken care of eventually. I've been preparing them, say...for a meal."

"More like you're seasoning them," Apollo snapped.

Apollo had heard of Adamu's disgusting eating habits, especially after the man had apparently consumed a fellow spirit, Saryana, on the Renegade. The Aedile had not seen it himself, but he had heard plenty of details about it from the clan summit while he was still Quaestor of his house. Still, Adamu seemed to take the barb all in stride, as he snapped his fingers again. The crowd parted like waves, forming a fluid-like aisle for Adamu to walk across. The snow seemed to melt beneath his shoes, the wind bending away from him instead of rushing toward him. Worst of all, he kept that hideous grin on his face, all the way until he approached the man with the TAW-8GP rifle and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Step down, good man," he said. "I get the first taste."

The man seemed reluctant to do so, but he merged back into the faceless mass as Adamu stepped onto the platform. Any other time, the Dark Jedi he was facing would have ripped their lightsabers from their belts, activated them and impaled the man with seven blades all of different colors. But no one moved. Ji's face was deadpan, his fists clenched. Windos's young Yridian face was contorted as if he were being mentally tormented. Aidyn was stoic, Severon nervous. Scion and Apollo, both contemplative. The spare pilots, almost apathetic. But no one moved.

Ronovi suddenly felt like she was the only one facing Adamu, but her muscles tightened and her hand soon fell uselessly at her side, away from the hilt of her weapon. The man seemed pleased at this, raising his hand and using it to peruse the Proconsul's face. Despite Ronovi being quite tall, Adamu was taller.

"Look at you," he teased. "So stone-faced. Why are you so surprised? You knew I'd get another body...and I've grown quite comfortable with it, too. Andryn, a seemingly run-of-the-mill man...but the best body I've ever inhabited. Better than your damn Consul's."

"Shut up," Ronovi muttered.

Adamu laughed at this. "Ooh, snappy, eh? Fine. I'll consume you first."

It all sounded so ridiculous, but no one said a word as Adamu pinched Ronovi's chin between his thumb and forefinger and raised her head so that that her eyes stared directly into his. Ji took a step forward, but the whole ugly spectacle still held him back, as if Adamu himself were pushing the Dark Jedi into a confined space. If he had been powerful before in his influence, he was certainly more powerful now. Perhaps with a little help from the Hunters.

"Shame that you only have one eye to eat. I think I'll start with that," Adamu said in a coarse voice to Ronovi.

For the first time in years, Ronovi winced...just before a loud crash could be heard from their right. Adamu spun around in fury, as if to rebuke someone in the audience for reacting too soon or firing a rifle out of sheer trigger happiness. But the noise was coming from a small building, tucked away in a blanket of snow, looking absolutely bolted shut. But something was moving in there. Something alive.

"You fools," Adamu spoke softly to the civilians before his voice began to rise in pitch and volume. "I told you to put down all of them!"

"What is he talking about?" Aidyn demanded, just as the door of the building gave in and his question was answered.

Dusty, bloody, battered, but very much alive, the scattered members of the Nightwraiths emerged from the confinements of the building. Teia, Sephiroth, Set'na, Welshman, Frey...all had temples crowned with blood, as if brutally beaten into submission. Their armor was dented as if bashed in, and none of them bore the heavy-duty rifles or the helmets that they had been equipped with. But they all had their lightsabers, and they all had their back-up blasters, having been hidden in the deep crevasses of their armor.

Tier-Avis was the last to emerge from the makeshift prison, and it was clear that all of the Nightwraiths had used their Force powers to break down the walls. The Sith Commander seemed to be the most pummeled out of the others, his face swollen with bruises and gashes - but the anger in his eyes was clear to see as he stepped forward, his armor rattling as if to counter his temper. He held his saber in one hand and a blaster in the other.

The crowd was silent, staring at the now free prisoners, though they kept their rifles and weapons raised. Tier-Avis sneered maliciously. "You really think these people were going to be able to keep us shut in that easily?" he asked Adamu directly. "Because if so, they didn't do a very good job."

Adamu's face was turning red, his fists clenching. "You idiots," he mumbled, as civilians shrank away from him as he stood on the platform. "You idiots!"

"Soldiers!" Tier-Avis ordered. "Aim for the sole target. I will not have him escape alive."

"Nami, wait," Ji ordered loudly, as he and Ronovi and the other Dark Jedi instinctively inched back, leaving Adamu standing alone as the platform creaked beneath them. "Nami, he's tricking you."

Adamu was already grinning at the battle team leader's commands, his bad mood passed, as he stood with his arms outstretched.

"Go on, then," he teased, pushing Tier-Avis on. "Shoot me."

"Nami, no!" Ronovi screamed.

"Fire!" Tier-Avis roared, and Ronovi swore under her breath, knowing she was too late. Along with her other group members, she seized her lightsaber, igniting the blade and bracing herself for any stray blaster bolts in her direction. Adamu stood where he was as the Nightwraiths used their spare blasters to fire upon him, precise but sluggish shots moving too slowly in the tundra air.

They all missed, as if Adamu had deflected them all. And then what he had pre-meditated happened. He moved off the platform with a graceful leap, disappearing into the crowd as the last of the blaster bolts struck the already unstable beams that held the platform upright. Ronovi and the others knew that they, too, should have jumped from their set-up stage, for the blaster shot was enough to throw off the balance as the beams toppled and the platform gave way beneath their feet, sending them to the center of the ring of civilians in a large cloud of dust and snow.

Magnus Kaerner

Archean rushed to the bridge as the sound of turbolasers echoed through the ship.

“Commander, sitrep NOW” Archean bellowed as his robe flicked through the air before circling around a console.

“Sir, we just destroyed the Renegade.”

“Our renegade?” Archean looked puzzled.

“Yes sir, it was under enemy control”

Archean paused, gathering his throughts.

“Understood. Deploy Avenger fighters to scan the area. Man the radars, If there is a blip, I want to know about it. Any other problems, I'll be in my quarters.

“Yes sir” The officer spun on his heel and moved back to his desk, issuing the order he was just given.

“The Renegade under enemy control? This is very bad.” He thought to himself.

The Commander of the Air Guard shuffled through the blast doors. Looking at his datapad he could see a message sent by Oberst. He stopped on the spot, turned around and began walking.

* * *

knock knock

The door swung open as the Sith walked through.

“It's been a while, Adien.”

Distracted from looking over the documents sprawled on his desk, the young Sith's head moved up slowly.

“Arch, good to see you.” Adien voice had a hint of surprise in it. He moved from behind his desk and greeted his old friend. “How did you get on my ship without me knowing?” He smiled

“You know I don't like to draw attention to myself.” Archean laughed, pointing to his blindfold.

“On a serious note, You know Adamu is back, right?” Archean asked.

“I had a feeling he was going to be involved in this.”

“Well, to cut a long story short, it's gotten a whole lot worse. Oberst sent me this report.” Archean flicked his datapad open and handed it to the Commander.”

“That bastard. We have to take him down now!” Adien moved his hand behind him, his lightsaber whizzed into it before he buckled it on his belt.

“I'm going to set a course for Yridia IV.”

“Wait” Archean paused for a moment before dropping to one knee, his head hanging. His thoughts racing at a hundred miles an hour, moving in an out of view, making the Sith dizzy and disorientated. As the sensation subsided he gingerly got back to his feet

“It's begun.”

The lights of the console in front of the man slowly blinked out as each people in the room held their breath and waited for the emergency systems to kick in. After a brief pause, as the room completely fell into darkness, an aura of discomfort seemed to fill the room along with a sense of terror amongst the two youngest members. Clearing his throat with a forced cough, Templar Raiju Kang stood from his seat in front of the console and turned in the direction he had last seen Oberst and than spoke into the darkness with a surprisingly calm voice.

“Consul, as you are aware with all emergency systems down we have little chance to coordinate all of our defences as they stand. What are your orders?”

A few brief moments seemed to turn into an eternity for Raiju has he waited for Oberst to reply. Finally, the familiar sound of a lightsaber hissing to life echoed throughout the room and its crimson glow lit the figure holding it and the floor surrounding it. Bathing in the glow of his lightsaber, Oberst spoke plainly without releasing the anger that boiled beneath him.

“It’s apparent that these unholy creatures are set on obtaining the information they need to lead them to the Keepers, but we will protect that information as if we were protecting the Sith King himself. Bloodfyre and I will head immediately to the Grand chambers to coordinate our stand there with as many as our fellow Tarenti as possible.” Oberst stated with a nod from Sith as he agreed before the Consul gave his attention to Kyra. “You will take Raiju with you and head immediately to the nearest defensive group and send out runners from them to pull as many defenders as possible to the Grand Chamber, it is there that we will face this threat together. Once runners are set, you will make your way immediately to there.”

A quick nod was given by the Tridens Aedile, acknowledging the orders she had been given, before she motioned with her head to Raiju to follow her. Without a pause, Raiju had his lightsaber ignited in front of him and followed in step behind Kyra as they quickly left Oberst’s office. Once through the doors, leaving the two elders behind them, the two Tridenians burst into a run towards their objective.

The platform collapsed, and the mob of people surrounding it surged inward toward the Dark Jedi in its center. Seven lightsaber blades shone in the middle of the mass, but the Dark Jedi were completely outnumbered, and the crazed mob were armed with Tarentum weapons – even Teia’s own blaster. The Jedi in the center wouldn’t last long.

Damnit, Teia thought, lowering her autopistol. The Nightwraiths had fired on the enemy, but somehow he slipped away right as the platform fell. The escape of the target quickly fell to the back of Teia’s mind; a riot was commencing in front of her, with prominent members of her clan trapped in the center.

The mob was far too large for the ten Nightwraiths to take care of quickly, especially with the Dark Jedi in the middle. If there was one thing Teia hated, it was friendly fire, and if they fired any more, it would be impossible to avoid.

Suddenly, an idea came into Teia’s mind. She felt in her armor with her free hand. Her one luma grenade, standard issue to every Nightwraith, was in its compartment. She removed it, pulling at a slightly different angle than normal due to the damage to her armor.

But how to not blind her own people with it?

Time was running short. The roar of the mob rose in volume as Teia lost sight of the glow of the lightsaber blades in the middle of the riot, their brilliance smothered by the sheer number of civilians.

Teia looked to her commander, Tier-Avis Nami. The anger radiating from his person was almost as visible as the blasts from his autopistol. Nami hadn’t taken kindly to capture or the seizing of his battleteam’s blasters, and she could tell the escape of their target goaded the Dark Jedi Knight even more.

“Nami!” Teia cried, trying to get his attention. He gave no sign he had heard her. Time was running out.

Teia held the luma grenade in her right hand and armed it. If she was disciplined for this later, so be it. She closed her eyes.

Concentrating with all her might and cursing her inexperience in the Force, she reached out toward the Jedi in the center of the mob, trying to press forth the same message she yelled at the battleteam with her voice:

“Shield your eyes!”

Teia opened her eyes briefly and threw the luma grenade in a high arc, into the mob, turning away and covering her face the moment it left her hand. The grenade detonated. Though it made no sound, Teia could see the blinding glow through her eyelids and the arm thrown over her eyes.

The roar of the mob quieted for a moment. As the glow faded, the sound quickly rose to a crescendo. But its tone was different. Where aggression was raw in the sound before, now panic began to rise. Most of the civilians were clearly blinded – temporarily or permanently, Teia didn’t know.

Lightsaber blades rose in the center of the mob and began to cut a path through the mass of people, the Dark Jedi forcing their way through. Teia looked to her commander.

Nami’s eyes shifted from side to side, looking for the source of the luma grenade. He turned his head to the right. Teia could see his pupils were constricted into pinpricks, the green irises dominating his eyes. Had he not heard her warning? Was he blinded?

Nami’s eyes focused on Teia after a split second, meeting her dark brown ones. He was still angry. His face settled into an expression Teia couldn’t read.

Though he frightened her, Teia held Nami’s gaze. If she was to be punished for acting without command, it couldn’t be changed now, but she intended to reserve that issue for later. Hopefully he would reserve it also.

“Nami!” Ronovi ran the last few meters to him, blue cybernetic eye and yellow lightsaber blade shining. The crowd had split, the rest of the Dark Jedi trailing behind Ronovi, climbing over a path dismembered bodies lying in the snow. Teia and Nami broke eye contact at the same moment, looking at Ronovi.

“Nami! Take care of the civilians! We’ll get Adamu!”

Nami quickly nodded and Ronovi gestured for her group to follow. Teia followed Nami’s nonverbal command, holding her lightsaber in the guard position, waiting for the cue to charge forward into the crowd.

VSD Corsair

The Hunter struck viciously, and pre-emptively, as the three Cestians had suspected. However, the shield that had been erected around them did not do much to protect them against the effects. Doni Tzu and Saitou were quick to dodge the attack, but Vai was struck dead on by what Doni Tzu recognized as the Ray of Sickness. As Vai struggled to stand, he found himself completely nauseated, spewing vomit onto the floor of the ship as the Hunter hissed with laughter.

"Saitou, get Vai out of his sight!" Doni Tzu ordered. "That way, it will break the concentration on him." Then he lifted his head as the sound of footsteps emerged from behind the Hunter, as several Phthians, mostly non-Force sensitives, clustered in bulk in the ship's corridor ready to get a strike at the Hunter.

As Saitou pulled a vomiting Vai away from the scene, Doni Tzu could only shake his head in despair as each Phthian charged uselessly at the Hunter. The Hunter was able to send most to the ground by a paralysis move, many of which felt the effects of a rigor mortis-like state. One young-looking Phthian, his face ruddy and his teeth gritted, wore out the charge on his blaster rifle before swinging the butt of the weapon at the enemy's head. In the next minute, he screamed in agony as his entrails seemed to burst out of him, his cardiovascular tissues and bodily fluids erupting from all parts of his body.

Doni Tzu recognized the attack immediately, and he looked on almost stoically as other surviving Phthians howled in terror as their comrade expanded into a mass of blood and gore, stretching over the walls of the corridor and sealing tightly over the durasteel. The Hunter was performing an art of the Inner Order, the Avascular Mass, as his victim continued to shriek in utmost pain and misery as the expelling gore became a disgusting but deathly web. Those who could escape did so, disappearing through the corridors and away from the cries of their tortured fellow warrior.

This Hunter, Doni Tzu thought to himself, was a strong necromancer, far stronger than many he knew. And yet, as he grinned and faced the enemy as he stood by the quivering, still screaming web of blood and tissue, how dull it seemed that the Dark Adept seemed to be a fairly even match for what was meant to be a terror of Oblivion.

***

Yridia IV

Adamu cursed his ill luck as he disappeared into the white of the tundra, tracing along the outlines of the mountains that rose in hazy silhouettes around him. The settlement was only a blur in the drizzle of snow behind him, and while he knew that the civilians would not be all powerful, he figured they'd be a bit more useful than they turned out to be.

Still, he grinned at the idea of the Dark Jedi still in the settlement, how they had cut down civilians as if they did not care for their reputation. Sure, they would justify it, as both Jedi and Dark Jedi always did - "It was to save our own necks," "It was for the greater good," "It was for the greater evil," and so on. It never changed. But Adamu was not foolish enough to make excuses. Besides, the more deaths, the better for him. And for his masters.

He had not received word from her in some time, so now all he could do was find a reclusive area to contact her, even if only temporarily. He would call out to her through the Force, speak to her and ask for the next move. He would not fall that easily.

Finally, Adamu remembered his last defense if all went awry, and he would do wonders with it. His hand brushed the hem of his tailored jacket, the cold hilt of his weapon resting at his hip, strapped into his belt. He could already sense the advancing group from a distance, sense those Dark Jedi and their foolish young leader. That girl was open to him. Ronovi's anxiety to him was delicious, almost tangible in his mouth, as he licked his lips. He loved the tension.

And in that distance, Ronovi led the other Tarentum leaders and volunteers through the snow, lightsabers still activated, still hot from touching cauterized wounds. All they could sense was the rush of Adamu's movement, as he rushed into the shadows of the tundra, where the mountains hung over him like the tips of spears ready to pierce the flesh. The Proconsul knew, though shaking her head wistfully at it, that "the chase was on."

Castle Tarentum


The quick, sharp clicks of leather boots on the metallic surface echoed out into the nearly emptied halls as the two members of Tridens dashed through the complex to their target. Almost equal in terms of speed, the man and the women kept an almost equal pace as the rushed through the corridors to the nearest security team with Kyra a little further ahead of the Templar as they arrived in front of the six armoured men, who all snapped to attention at the sight of the two.

“Aedile Kyra, is there an issue?” The leader of the team quickly asked while throwing his salute.

“Of course there’s a f*cking issue, you moron.” Raiju interrupted with a choked snap. “The damn power systems are all down, and you think we’re here to ask you what you want for lunch?”

“We need you to break into pairs and run through each of the towers, gather as many defenders as possible and send them to the Grand Chamber to protect the Consul.” Kyra breathed out heavily as she ignored Raiju’s words. “Send out additional runners that can be spared, but we need the bulk to make their way to there.”

“Yes, ma’am!” The soldier said with another salute as he glared at Raiju before turning back to his men. Within moments, the man had the group divided into pairs and each was sent to one of the towers of the Castle.

As Kyra turned her attention back to Raiju, the two Obelisks exchanged a quick nod of satisfaction before they burst into a run back the way they came; towards one of the stairwells that would lead them down to the Grand Chamber. Rounding the first corner however, Raiju felt a familiar sense in the air as his force sense alerted him to a growing uneasiness around him. Stopping to get a better read on it, Raiju could hear Kyra stop ahead of him and look back towards him in wonder but as he focused on it, Raiju realized that it was the similar feeling he got when he was last in the presence of Zero when he was Quaestor of Tridens the first time.

“What is it, Raiju?!” Kyra shouted as she trotted back to the Templar and ignited her own golden blade and looked around the corridor.

“It feels like death is in the air…” Raiju slowly stated as he cast his eyes to the floor, while focusing on his force sense. “I can no longer feel the pair that were sent to clear this tower, yet they shouldn’t be that far from my range yet.”

“We must go, then!” Kyra ordered as she took off towards the stairwell again. “Before the hunter gets to Ober-”

As the Dark Jedi Knight barely finished her sentence, Raiju watched as a shadowy figure passed through the ceiling in front of Kyra. Surrounded in a smoky-mist that swirled into a solid form as the creature touched down onto the ground before them, Raiju noticed the terrifying axe form in the creature’s hands, as the last of the dark cloud surrounding the figure formed into a hooded head that stared right past the young Aedile straight to the Templar.

Sprinting forward to the side of Kyra, Raiju fell into a defensive stance along with the Tridens Aedile as the two appeared to be ready to defend their ground. However, before the Templar could summon the courage to challenge the unholy creature in front of them, the shadowy figure burst into a haunting laughter as he let his axe head fall to the ground in a lazy stance.

“Interesting are the members of your sect of Dark Jedi.” The haunting figure laughed without a fibre moving upon its figure. “Devoting yourself to the pursuit of mastering warfare and the tools and resources that can serve it, its not a wonder why neither of you have been tainted by the necromancy that your elders beg to know about from those I seek.”

“Yeah, well I’d be happy to share with you our devotion to the protection of this Castle and the people within it!” Raiju challenged, with a sudden surge of courage.

“As I was sure you would, human.” The creature responded without a pause, “But I wish for you to do something else for me.”

Yridia IV

The frigid wind of Yridia howled and whipped violently through the canyons and crevasses laid out before the Tarenti like a maze. Even through the thick, woolen scarves worn by the pursuers each exhale of breath sent a puff of frost into the air, crystallizing almost immediately and falling back to the frozen earth. Behind Ronovi and her entourage lay the vast, snowy plain they had just crossed occasionally visible through the powerful, snow-carrying gusts of wind. The settlement where the Nightwraiths were handling the civilians was a black and brown mar on an otherwise perfectly white landscape. Ahead lay only frozen death; a wide canyon with twisted, brown vegetation and the air… staler than a catacomb and a lone set of footprints disappearing within.

Turning to her coterie Ronovi deactivated her glowing lightsaber, though her grip tightened around the steel shaft and she kept it off her belt. The other members of the group, arrayed before her in a semi-circle of black cloth and snow goggles, followed suit. Ronovi could feel the intense hate permeating the pallid air and contributing to the general foreboding atmosphere of this damned place.

“There’s no choice, Apollo,” said Ronovi calmly, answering a previously asked question from the Gladius Aedile. “We’re not wasting hours hiking around or up these cliffs. We’re going through the canyon and that’s that.” The expected grumbles of disapproval did not come. Most of these soldiers were from the Hieros Lokhos ton Taras, Ronovi reminded herself, and would probably rather die for her during this mission than not.

“Ji, you’re on point,” ordered the Epicanthix nonchalantly. As the Ubese saluted and darted off into the canyon she addressed the rest of her party. “Everyone else advance twenty meters behind him and stay spaced out across the canyon floor. You two,” said Ronovi addressing the non-Jedi pilots Nalan’rha and Pyrinan, “keep your eyes on the walls and ledges. Shoot anything you don’t trust.”

Turning her back to her soldiers Ronovi could just make out the lithe, agile Ubese through the snow, as he darted from cover to cover and stared for long, drawn out seconds at nooks and crannies in canyon walls with the paranoia only a former insurgent could muster before he moved on.

“Move,” ordered the Proconsul.

Her entourage fanned out and advanced past her into the canyon at a steady jog, stopping only behind various pieces of cover to survey the area before continuing their advance, following the occasional glimpse of the Cestian Quaester as well as the beacon of fury he let pour into the force.

~~~

Cold… shadows everywhere… thought Ji as he ducked and darted through the thick, grotesque vegetation of the canyon floor.

What was that?! … wait … wait … an animal? My imagination? The enemy? Stillness… silence… continue. The shadows… the shadows…

After less than an hour of staccato, stop and start trekking through the canyon Ji emerged into a pristine winter valley. Gentle, rolling hills covered in vast forests of evergreens flanked either side of the valley, increasing in steepness until they turned into craggy, barren peaks far above. In the center of the valley was, strangely devoid of the seven or eight inches of snow, a large pond, capped with what appeared to be several feet of ice.

Hearing the others jogging up behind him Ji began his descent into the calm valley. Though the air still smelled of stale musk the peacefulness of the place easily overshadowed the uncomfortable feelings percolating the various force users.

~~~

Looking at her chrono Ronovi clenched her teeth in frustration. Early afternoon, she thought. Only a four more hours of daylight… max. Steeling herself she set off down into the sloping valley, several meters behind the echelon of Dark Jedi and pilots.

Before they were halfway down a low rumble began to permeate the valley, shaking the snow in a way Ronovi had never seen before. The shockwave that followed was powerful enough to send the pilots to the snowy ground as the Jedi held themselves in place with the Force. Almost one hundred yards ahead of her, by the pond’s edge Ji stood crouched low in a combat stance, his silvery blue lightsaber glowing in the dim, steam rising from the blade as the large snowflakes came into contact with it.

The earthly shock was quickly succeeded by a loud roar of fury as a fat, corpulent tendril burst through the thick ice of the pond, sending deadly chunks of ice flying in every direction and forcing Ji to dive for cover.

The monstrous beast was a pale flesh color, jutting a good 15 meters from the surface of the pond. Its nearly translucent skin was criss-crossed with human-torso sized red veins, pumping various fluids throughout its heaving and pulsing body. Along the belly were stitched two parallel rows of flailing and squirming tentacles, thick like fleshy stalagmites. Its mouth was ringed by earth-worm looking tentacles, each as long as a man and thrashing in fury. Inside, the maw was ringed by huge, jagged teeth, colored a sickly yellow and caked with gore and rot.

“Go!” shouted Ronovi to her team as they rushed to their scout’s aid without any thought of self-preservation. Ji was one of her most valuable tools and she would be damned if she lost him in this wasteland.

As she bounded down the hill into the valley a dark figure caught Ronovi’s eye on the far side of the pond, a dozen or so meters behind the monster. Clad in only the most chic business suit Ronovi had ever seen and with beautifully chiseled features she immediately recognized Adamu, forcing herself to suppress the intense ball of hatred which threatened to explode within her breast.

Adamu was waving his arms wildly, like a mad conductor. His bony fingers were trained on the furious monster and his intense stare never left the beast as the ice worm swayed and thrashed in accordance with its master’s graceful, though intense movements, each of Adamu’s arms flailing through the air like a razorblade.

Castle Tarentum


He stalked the halls with a clear purpose. The emergency lighting cast long shadows as he and his companion strode by at a fast clip. Troops ran past in the opposite direction, armed and ready for either patrols or to set up defensive encampments. Oberst’s hand shot out as a group of Engineers ran past carrying general purpose arms and other squad level weapons. Grabbing one of them by their collar and forcing the young man to march in the opposite direction of where he was going, Oberst asked, “Where is the Chief of Engineering?”

The young man struggled to keep up with the near fast pace and hand against his throat. His mind raced and he stammered, “He is at the Generator Level attempting to get power back online.”

Oberst stopped suddenly, “Get down there, and tell him I want power restored within five minutes, and he is to report directly to the Great Hall. Divert whatever personnel you need to get power back online.” Oberst shoved the NCO back and continued on his way.


* * * * *

ISDII Magnus Kaerner

They had lost communications with the Castle. The bridge was a hive of activity as orders were barked out and repeated, sitreps recited in clear military cadence and communications were established between the capital city of Taras and the rest of the fleet.

From the Combat Information Center that was at the heart of the bridge, two sets of orders were barked out by two different men. Adien directed his men to re-establish contact with the Castle. Archean directed his fighters to continue their screens and shouted out changes in course and vectors with the help of his aides.

From his position, Adien was getting the same questions posed to him by the other ships of the fleet, “Sir, what are our orders?” “Where is the Combat Commander?” “Who is in charge?”

Archean swore to himself as he his pilots reported in with the same information, no contact with the enemy. Unable to raise the Castle from short range communications.

Both men looked across at each other from opposite ends of the CIC. Both men swore as they had no answers for anyone else, and no one had answers for them.


* * * * *

Castle Tarentum

“Can we raise no one?” Oberst bellowed at everyone, no one, in the Grand Hall. “I want communications back up, and I want power back online.”

Troops rushed back and forth in an attempt to secure the Castle against whatever intruder had happened in. Already reports were coming in of patrols being lost, missing their check in times. No bodies had been found, but the unease and edge was slowly getting to the entire Castle.

“My Lord,” the Engineer began, “We’re working as fas - ” his words were cut off as Oberst drew his side arm and fired at the man’s leg. He screamed in agony as he collapsed onto the ground.

“Your job is to keep this Castle running,” Oberst snarled, “how do we lose both sets of generators and contact with the outside?” The large man was nearly frothing at the mouth as he demanded answers.

“We don’t know, both sets of generators were at optimal – No!” the Engineer threw his hands up as Oberst raised his pistol again. He stopped as the sounds of blaster fire came from beyond the doors of the Great Hall. Screaming followed, and everything went silent again.

Castle Tarentum

“Neither of us will aid you, demon!” Kyra shouted back at the shadowy figure, as if drawing on the strength of the other Obelisk present. “You mistake ourselves for krath or sith, but we are not willing to play games with you just to survive!”

“Oh, I am well aware of your kind; young assassin.” The hunter chuckled slowly as it twisted the staff of its axe, bringing the axe head up beside its own hooded head and planted the base into the ground. “You would be amazed at the knowledge you could possess with the talents I have, like the true knowledge I have about those you protect.”

“Then why don’t you be so kind to share that with us now?” Raiju growled as his eyes darted around the corridor scanning for an exit before returning to the unholy being in front of him.

“No…” The hunter whispered back, “You are not the one I need to inform, but you could bring me to him.”

“I’d rather have my guts displayed before me.” Raiju snapped back quickly.

“That can be arranged…”The creature chuckled as its body began to slowly disintegrate before the two Obelisks’ eyes into a dark cloud that fell to the floor. Once the hunter had completely phased, the shadowy cloud before Raiju and Kyra seemed to be pushed forward as if picked up by the wind and was being tossed at them; however, as it approached the two Obelisks it swirled to the left of Raiju and began to circle around the two Tarenti as if forming a bubble around them.

Spinning around, Raiju planted himself to Kyra’s back in a defensive stance as he watched in terror as the dark cloud completely surround the two and began to push inwards towards them. Looking over his shoulder towards the Aedile, Raiju forced his thought into the mind of Kyra and communicated the need for her to call on the force to hold her breath. [Force Communicate] Doing the same, Raiju inhaled deeply just slight moments before the cloud touched his face and summoned the force to numb the mechanics in his body to the need for oxygen. [Breath Control]

Booming around the two Obelisks, the haunting laughter of the hunter echoed around them as the dark cloud continued to swirl around them. Knowing the pair would be no match together for the creature, Raiju quickly abandoned his last thoughts for an escape route and decided to make his own. Plunging his saber downwards towards the floor, he quickly began craving a hole large enough for the two to fit through. Feeling a sudden surge of excitement as he finished his circle, the Templar grabbed the Knight by her clothing and pulled her into the centre of the still glowing circle.

“Jump!” Raiju thought, sending his message telepathically to the Aedile as the Templar threw himself up in the air with the addition of her weight. [Force Communicate] While at first the idea didn’t come to fruition, a second jump by the pair dropped the circle by an inch before it began sliding through to the next floor. Finally, as the small platform slid through and fell into the room below, Raiju felt himself in free flight has the pair descended with it. However, a sudden jerk stopped Raiju’s motion and he felt a cold grasp on his left wrist. Looking up, Raiju stared directly into the hood of the shadow being as it clutched onto the Templar and held him in the air.

“Raiju!” Kyra cried from below, before she leapt up to grab his dangling feet in an attempt to pull him from the creature’s grip but it proven unsuccessful

“You will take me to the Watcher.” The creature demanded forcefully, and Raiju felt his eyes widen as he watched his left arm quickly grey from the fingertips down to his elbow as a chilling numb passed through his flesh and the joints in his fingers begin to lock up.

“I’d rather put Vader’s charred balls in my mouth.” Raiju spat with frustration as he quickly reached for his lightsaber once more. However, before he could even ignite it, Raiju felt his body suddenly free into the air below him and watched above him as the dark figure pulled itself back through the hole.

Tightening his grip on his lightsaber, Raiju braced himself for the pain of the fall as he collapsed to the ground below but was surprised to feel the comfort Kyra below him break his fall as he tumbled down into the room below. A painful grown was given off by Kyra as she took the weight of Raiju on, and the pair lied on the floor for a movement as Raiju attempted to roll off of Kyra onto his stomach.

Looking over his shoulder to see his saviour while giving a sigh, Raiju watched as Kyra slowly rose to her feet as the pain of the large man falling on her surge through her body. Hopping over to the door, she smacked the button for it to open and returned to help Raiju up. Hobbling out of the room together, the pair leaned on each other as they made their way out and towards the Great Hall.

* * *

The scuffed sound of leather on the metallic floor echoed out before them as the pair of Obelisks rounded the last corner of the corridor before the Great Hall. Tucking his left arm into his stomach, Raiju was bent over and hobbling along with the assistance of Kyra as the pair approached an armed security team before them that all had their twelve rifles pointed onto the two as they approached.

As the leader of the team waved down the guards, recognizing the two Tarenti , and the soldier clad in Tarentum security armour quickly trotted forward to help the injured Tarenti. However, just as the man knelt in front of the Templar and began to ask what he could do to assist; a cry of the target being sight echoed from the other side of the small security post that stood in front of the doorway to the Great Hall.

In no time, the same shadowy cloud that had circle around Raiju and Kyra before passed through the hallway as if on a breeze towards the security team. Blaster fire echoed out around them as the cloud swept over all the members of the security team and circled around Raiju and Kyra again. As the blaster fire ended, and the screams of the soldiers ended; Raiju and Kyra stood back to back once again huffing with exhaustion as the cloud seemed to phase through the floor around them and left them as the only standing individuals in the hallway.

Looking around the scene around him, Raiju noticed all the blood, flesh and guts that had been dumped on the floor around them and realized he couldn’t identify any members of the security team anymore. Looking up to the Tridens Aedile with a sense of defeat washing over him, Raiju was impressed to see the Aedile take charge and immediately step up to bang on the doors to the Great Hall.

“Open the damn doors!” She shouted, with her voice echoing down the corridor on either side of the Obelisks. “Code word is Sirrus!”

The Sword's Sheath

Proton and Shardara led a frightened cluster of Gladians deeper into the headquarters' dark stone corridors as they both could sense the Hunter close behind them. The enemy had wasted no time in an introduction, instead choosing to hastily paralyze several Journeymen before basic Force powers alone were enough to disorient it temporarily. Proton smirked at that as he ran, wondering how such an evil entity could be disoriented, even if only temporary, by a few Force Shoves and a half-assed Force Crush. Sure, the crush had not pulverized him - but it had done enough to give them an escape.

"What's our next plan?" Dralin Talismarr hollered as he caught up with the others, running at Proton's right. The Battlelord thought hard at this, his breaths rattling in his throat.

"If Paradus Avium of all places is not safe, we'll go for the summit's throneroom. Lead the Hunter there, if we must."

"And those who are injured?"

"That will be taken care of," Proton replied, before muttering, "If only I could have a moment to breathe first."

***

Grand Hall, Castle Tarentum

Oberst stood rigidly, his side arm still raised, aiming it at the trembling engineer's head executioner-style. Reluctantly probing the Force, he allowed the doors of the hall to be unbolted, as Raiju and Kyra stumbled in, wheezing and clutching their battle wounds. The Consul rolled his eyes at this - seeing two of his prime defenders already crippled disappointed him.

"If you're not here to give me news on the generators or the power grid," he said, bitterly with a trace of sarcasm, "then I'm not interested."

Raiju limped over to Oberst, who kicked the engineer sharply in the mouth as the victim whimpered through a mouthful of blood. The Tridenian Templar kept his breaths sharp and deep, trying to ignore the pain that still throbbed in his injured arm. In the next moment, the doors of the hall slammed shut again, and locked tight.

"That won't hold," Raiju growled through clenched teeth. "The Hunter can't just be locked out, you know. And I bet the monster's responsible for the power grid shutting down, too."

"But the generators -"

"Well, we aren't suffocating from the carbon monoxide yet, are we?" Raiju interrupted, which incited a glare of warning from Oberst but not any verbal or physical response. "After all, if that Hunter's as attuned in the Force and necromancy as others are..."

"Either way, I am interested in some communication outside," Oberst retorted. "If you can get that..."

"Consul, wait," Kyra interjected, and Oberst's shoulders slackened before glaring at the injured engineer.

"Knock him out," he ordered.

The engineer protested through incoherent bloody words, but Kyra took the hilt of her saber and swiped it at the back of the man's head, leaving him crumpled on the floor. She placed her saber back at her side nonchalantly, clearing her throat.

"The Hunter spoke of seeing 'the Watcher.' He wants to see Bloodfyre."

"I have not seen Bloodfyre since I gave you your orders," Oberst replied.

"I thought he was going to go with you!" Raiju exclaimed.

"I thought so as well. And I don't suspect him to still be idle in my office." Oberst turned and stared at the high arched black walls of the Grand Hall, perusing its aging fortification. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's already attempted to confront the Hunter himself."

There was silence at that remark, as Raiju and Kyra exchanged looks. The Hunter, indeed, had disappeared from the confrontation as quickly as he had emerged, and it would be almost certain that the Hunter would find Bloodfyre himself if others would not submit to his orders. Oberst began to walk slowly toward the doors of the hall's entrance, where he could already sense the dead and dying beyond the vicinity as the Tridenians flanked him.

"What are your orders, Consul?" Raiju asked as the doors slowly parted for them and the blood-stained floor lit up beneath their feet.

***

Yridia IV

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Ronovi screamed as the ice worm thrashed in its watery shelter. Aidyn, Windos, Apollo, and Scion all broke into a fierce run, approaching Ji rapidly before the ice was ripped up from beneath their feet. They maneuvered quickly before they could plummet into the depths of the snow, and Ronovi watched them, almost frozen, with her lightsaber at a downward angle by her side.

Distracted from its first prey, the worm made its first strike deftly, albeit a bit sloppily, snapping its crusted teeth at Windos's torso. The Cestian used his youthful body's agility to jump back just in time, though he flung his arm out to keep his balance and the worm was able to rip a decent-sized chunk of flesh from below the wrist. Windos almost snarled in pain, ignoring the stream of blood pumping from the wound as he pointed his saber at the beast.

"Ji's still over there!" he called out to Ronovi, and so the Quaestor was, looking a bit relieved that the ice worm's attention was no longer on him. The Ubese sprung from the snow in a Force Jump, spinning his lightsaber as he dodged a swipe from the beast, as Aidyn, Scion, and Apollo rushed from below toward the worm.

The Dark Jedi could not get too close - the ice around the pond was thin, and the ice worm was aggressive and moved chaotically enough to cause some confusion. The pond was not much bigger than the worm itself, instead more of a porous tunnel which better suited the newfound "inhabitant." The worm struck again at Ji as the Ubese landed, but the three men below were able to jab at the worm's gaping mouth, like needles poking into a poorly stitched fabric. Aidyn and Scion were both able to cut a tentacle from the worm's mouth, as Apollo left another hanging by a thread.

The ice worm roared in agony as the large tentacle fell into the snow, steam collecting from the cooling cauterized gash that had been made. Ronovi gestured at the pilots, who stood beside Severon as the Gladius Rollmaster seemed to be trying to pry into his basic Force powers to see if he could attack from a farther distance. Both pilots nodded and removed DL-44s from their holsters, raising them in a pair with pistols as they aimed for the fleshier parts of the beast.

If this is the best we can do, then damn it, we'll do it, Ronovi thought frantically, as the amber blade of her saber blurred and she began to run toward the worm at full speed, with Severon attempting to catch up with her. She watched as Ji made another jump toward the beast as the blaster bolts began to soar and sizzle in the cold air, before speaking to him loudly through the Force.

I don't know if you like dancing, Ji, but we're going to try a little choreography.

***

You called for me?

Adamu smiled as he felt that the worm was energized enough from his powers, as its body seemed to crackle with the energy. He lowered his arms and stepped back, watching the Dark Jedi struggle against the beast as her voice echoed in his head.

I did. I wanted an update.

Everything is going as planned, she relayed to him. The Hunters are busied, and the Tarenti are on their toes.

And the civilians, back at the village? Adamu demanded.

Dead. Many of them, at least.

Good. Adamu sneered. Your masters will be pleased.

My masters are the least of your worries right now, Adamu. Now, I feel you are in need of some help?

What? What are you talking about?

Her voice was cold on the other side of the Force connection, as if she were displeased. You seem to merely be toying with these Dark Jedi. That is foolish. Therefore, in order to keep you in check, I will come down to Yridia IV in a while to help you.

But your cover will be blown! Adamu exclaimed.

No fear of that. We shall kill those fools together. I have been dying to get my hands on those Tarenti since the beginning. Excellent trophies for my masters...you know how much they love death.

She was teasing him, prodding him. Adamu knew he could not say no to her appearance. After all, she was strong, very strong. She could handle those Dark Jedi if he couldn't do it on his own. But oh, how he hated feeling weak...

Very well...m'lady.

Adamu sighed as her voice faded from his mind. He turned slowly, disappearing into a thick sheet of falling snow, letting the Tarenti deal with the beast he had prepared for them. He had been lucky to find it on this forsaken planet, but now he had to rest, to bide his time. He already felt drained, knowing that staying so long in a single body almost made him prone to acting like a human in terms of physical exhaustion.

Ankle-deep in the tundra snow, Adamu began to ascend the valley, toward the mouth of the canyon again. He would find a hidden place to rest, taking pleasure in seeing the Tarenti be ripped apart by greasy fangs down below. That would be where he'd wait for the lady to arrive. And then their next plan would be set in motion.

Yridia IV


The freezing air’s temperature had started falling rapidly as the day turned towards night, and each breath stung Tier-Avis Nami’s lungs as he led his team in the wake of Ronovi’s group. Their actions in the village could be described as nothing less than a massacre. If anything was left alive in the village center, now stacked knee-high in dead and dying bodies, it was by mistake. The Nightwraiths had been thorough.

Now, as he stood in the wide, rocky opening of the pathway leading into the canyon that his Proconsul had raced into not long before, Nami regretted taking the time to have his soldiers recover their weapons and armor from their now deceased would-be captors. Something below him was going terribly wrong. Distress from his comrades flowed thick in the Force.

Nami ordered Teia and her team of two, Bachatta and Kazarelth Talismarr, to take the point and lead the Nightwraiths into the canyon. She had earned that much with her quick thinking back in the village. She had probably saved all of their hides. With Welshman, Sephiroth, and Set’na taking up the rear, Nami and Frey followed Teia on the trail left by Ronovi’s group.

The going was quicker than Ronovi had found it. Nami could tell from the quickly refilling tracks in the snow that her trek through the canyon had been stop and go, as if they were hunting something. He could sense they had found it. Or him. He urged greater speed from his already fatigued troops.

Daylight had begun fading to twilight, the canyon filling with an ethereal light that, coupled with the wispy snows blown into the canyon from the tops of the surrounding cliffs, made visibility dangerously low. Nami could sense the tension in his soldiers. Making the mistake of focusing on his subordinates instead of his surroundings almost cost him his team. Only a quick shout from Teia up ahead made Nami fully aware of a new presence, coming closer up the canyon.

Nami called a halt, not knowing if this new person was friend or foe. Frey shot him a questioning look, and Nami went up to confer with Teia. As they talked, the blowing snow began to strike an unseen boundary, and slide off in a curve as if hitting a barrier. They turned to look down the canyon in their new snow less bubble, and glimpsed a lone man walking casually towards them. A man dressed only in a resplendent business suit, wearing a grin that was vicious and snide at the same time. Nami heard blasters being leveled and lightsabers snapping into life behind him as his battle team assumed a defensive position, knowing who this man was and what he had come for.

Nami broke the silence. “Stop, Adamu,” he ordered, “of we will be forced to shoot.”

Adamu answered with a laugh. “Little good that did you last time, Kiffar. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to waste with you and your little band of merry men,” he paused. “And women,” he finished with a toothy smile at Teia, who blushed against what Nami was sure was her better judgment. “I already have a date.”

Adamu came to within just a couple meters of the Nightwraiths, and Nami raised his hand to order an open fire when a great wall of snow, three meters high, suddenly appeared in front of them, tight to the walls on each side of the canyon, like an ocean wave. Nami’s troops ducked under the onslaught of the avalanche, those that had been standing now knee-deep in snow pack, those that had been kneeling now waist deep. As the last light flakes of snow settled, Adamu was nowhere to be seen.

“Our focus is not on him, Nightwraiths!” Nami exclaimed. “We must get to our clanmates!” He began pulling his legs from the snow, freeing them quickly and running to help those stuck deeper than he had been. Soon they were all free and sprinting as fast as they could towards the terminus of the canyon. They broke into the wide, hilly valley, seemingly bright after the relative dimness of the canyon.

In the middle of the valley squirmed a giant ice worm, surrounded by the tiny figures of Ronovi, Ji, Severon, Aidyn, Apollo, and Scion, who seemed to be dancing a deadly step in time with the array of colors their lightsabers splashed on the ice around them and the blaster bolts sizzling through the air. Windos stood apart, the snow at his feet stained crimson.

Nami turned to the Nightwraiths. “Lay fire on that beast, but be very careful of your aim. Teia and Welsh, grab your frag grenades and follow me. I have the idea to feed this worm some hot metal, if Ronovi doesn’t cut it in half before we get there. Go,” he finished as he turned and led the charge.

Yridia IV

Severon dodged another thrust from the worm and rose with his blade ready. He, Ronovi, Ji, Apollo, Windos, Scion, and Aidyn had been fighting the ice worm for quite some time, longer than they all had expected. With the cold air and the exertion, Severon was tiring out. He hadn’t fought this hard in…weeks…months.

The wind blew around the Tarenti as their sabers flashed, then suddenly blaster fire came out of nowhere, striking the worm in the side and causing it to retch and squirm. Ronovi, sensing the presence of the Nightwraiths, began to slowly ease up her attacks and begin to move out of range. She communicated to the others through their minds and together, they began to pull back.

Out of the snow, Tier rushed in with Teia and Welsh and released their grenades. They struck true and the worm was torn in half by the ensuing explosion. Ronovi hurried in to finish the worm off with a thrust to its massive head.

Severon hurried to where Windos stood and was soon joined by his comrades. "Windos..." he said quietly.

"We have to get Adamu." Windos said. "We cannot give up."

"No," Ronovi agreed. "We cannot give up until he is gone."

The Force Jumps that I had initiated were making me dizzy, the blood rushing from my head into my forearms and thighs as they constricted in the air like taut steel springs. I always thought that the implementation of Force powers was supposed to liberate you, free up your mind and muscles to do great things. But as of now, it felt more like I was a jukebox with coins being stuffed into a slot to make me rattle out Force abilities like canned ballads.

Ji continued to counter my movement, always in a different direction, always in a different mode of strategic strike. The ice worm was having trouble choosing which one of us to snap up in its jaws first, and the other attackers weren't helping. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the sizzling blaster bolts cascading on the beast's flesh, ripping into the veins and allowing ooze and fluids to pour from the wounds like we were popping a giant pimple. Roars of pain never sounded as loud in my ears. I stuck my saber into the ice worm's mouth as it descended on me to keep it quiet.

Choke on that, you son of a bitch.

And then the reinforcements. At long last. Tier-Avis Nami took up the front, flanking Severon on one side while Teia flanked another. They, too, had a certain choreography, a more rough sort of dance, like a tango compared to a ballet. My group was noticeably beginning to wear out, as we hacked at the exposed body of the worm as it stretched out from its icy tunnel to chew us up. We could only do so much now, sawing off tentacles and pseudopods from its body, the remaining blaster bolts in the air causing pores to erupt with gooey entrails.

I told my team to fall back, nursing our wounds and our psyches. Then the Nightwraiths took the charge. They threw their explosives. They fired their side arms. The air around us was turning darker with bits of earthy-toned flesh and not-so natural looking blood. The worm was snapping its teeth uselessly, blinded by the strikes, squirming and screaming out its lamentations as if somewhere, something had forsaken it. That was when the grenades that the team had thrown tore it apart, almost split it down the middle, separating segments of its torso. It lay in a pool of its own innards.

Something told me to take the final blow. And I did, raising my saber to jab just above its frozen mouth. The blade sank in simply, like a toothpick in a prepared meal. But it didn't make much difference. The thing was dead.

There was some deja vu to to this experience, as my group and the Nightwraiths gathered together, reunited - bleeding, but reunited. Something about the way the worm had resisted, though beast-like as it was, seemed forced, and of course I blamed Adamu. Yet at the same time, staring at that massive, bloodied head reminded me of something, and it almost amused me. An execution, just the same as on Yridia IX a year ago, when it was not a worm's head but the head of my sister as I gave her too quick a death...

"Ronovi, what's wrong?"

Tier-Avis didn't have to ask, for Ronovi's Force senses were simultaneously overloaded as she broke from her long, yet not so uncharacteristic spiel of thought. The others had felt it, too, as Apollo and Scion both moved ahead of the gathered Tarenti, gesturing toward the edge of the canyon.

"We sense some form of presence. Adamu can't be too far away," Apollo said as Ronovi caught up with them. Ji and Windos soon followed, with the former using Force healing to reduce the pain of Windos's wound.

"If that's so, it should be easy to take him with all this man power," Aidyn replied.

Ronovi cast a look at the small Arkanian. "I wouldn't be too confident. If Adamu has been able to pull off these parlor tricks, who knows what the final treat he has in store for us could be."

At her command, the group's pace slowed, and they scattered their numbers across the canyon as they ascended the snowy slopes. Ahead of them, they could see rocky fortifications growing, which, though not mountains, most likely could house some hiding places. Pyrinan and Nalan'rha took up the rear of the group, holding out their fire arms to shoot at anything that could attack from behind, while the Dark Jedi kept their lightsabers activated, humming and fizzling as each snow flake burned out against the blades.

When the group had finally reached the rocky outcropping that seemed to rise like a stony keep, the non-Jedi pilots were instructed to guard the perimeters, while the Dark Jedi approached where Adamu had presumably run off to. Ronovi searched for some sort of entrance. She probed her Force senses, shaking her head when she could not feel any presence. But Ji, Windos, and Tier-Avis took the offensive, with Set'na and Frey sidling up to them as they approached the snowy set-up cautiously.

Suddenly, there was a ripple of energy as it seemed like the air itself was attacking the group, for a sudden wind picked up and with a loud crashing noise slammed straight to the five Dark Jedi that had started walking first. They flew in different directions, some dropping their lightsabers, as they toppled to the snowy banks and lay in a state of shock and pain.

"What the Hell?!" Ronovi could hear Ji growl as the Epicanthix prepared herself in a typical Shii-Cho offensive stance. She now could see where the wind had come, and the snow seemed to fall slower. Deep within the outcropping, a small entrance could be seen, leading int what looked like a darkened chamber. She heard a soft, gentlemanly laugh, as if the cause were simply humored by the team's attempts.

"My, you all are easy to anger," Adamu spoke, his voice rising from his hiding place as if separated from his body. "One simple Force move, and I can scatter you like dust."

"Are you going to fight fair or not, Adamu?" Scion demanded, pointing his iightsaber at the stony mouth of the cavern.

"Fair? Out of all the enemies I've had, Dark Jedi want to know if I'm going to be fair." Adamu laughed again, and Ronovi could feel the hairs on her hair bristle with a static fury. The other Tarenti also seemed effective, Aidyn Wolfwood most of all.

"Fools, all of you. With your traumas and your vengeance and your urge for victory." He was lecturing them now. How charming. "None of which can embody what I have felt throughout the years. What are your troubles to me but little pricks of a needle, little jabs at the chest? I have had my flesh torn from me, my spirit sealed in a forsaken piece of glass, and you wish to kill me for my retribution."

"You're no better than us, Adamu," Ronovi declared loudly, and the silence that followed pleased her, as if her enemy still had no choice but to listen. "You are a Dark Jedi yourself, and an arrogant one. How high and mighty can you be when you yourself have wanted your own vengeance?"

"Vengeance is different than justice," Adamu replied. "I would think you, of all people, would understand that."

Ronovi froze. He knew all too well what was going on in her head. He was pulling freeze frames out of her mind, looking at them like a scrapbook visual. Her parents, her sister, laid out for him to peruse. And with this, Adamu was taunting her. He was egging her on. He was trying to make her charge. She wouldn't let that happen. But someone else would.

"Want me to take care of him?" Aidyn's voice piped up from next to her, and she stared down in horror as the Guardian seemed ready to charge, as if all Adamu's words had electrified him.

"Oh?" Adamu interjected before anyone could react. "A challenge? How cute. And who will the first fighter be?"

"Aidyn, we take him together," Apollo urged Aidyn, but the Arkanian seemed too riled up now to listen. That was when Ronovi knew that Adamu was toying with all of them, opening up their traumas and bringing their pasts back to the light. And that was affecting Aidyn the most.

"If no one else does anything, I'll stop him myself!" Aidyn uncharacteristically snapped, and he brandished his lightsaber.

"Aidyn, as your Proconsul, I order you to stay put!" Ronovi barked.

"Go on, little man," Adamu's voice taunted. "Kill me."

"AIDYN!" Ronovi bellowed, but it was too late. Aidyn was disappearing into the cavern, the only light being the color of his saber, his father's lightsaber. Ronovi began to hurry after him, but soon she heard the sizzle of another lightsaber from down below, as a Force barrier seemed to block the entrance like a Force field. All of the Tarenti in the group tried to break through it, but all they could do was watch the battle within the cavern, as Adamu, holding a finely crafted duelist's lightsaber, parried Aidyn's aggressive blows as if he were not even trying. Only the hues of the blades served as lighting, and Ronovi swore very loudly when she saw the taunting begin from deep in the confines of stone.

VSD Corsair

The Iktotchi’s head was pounding as if someone had slammed it against a hard durasteel wall as Saitou carried the Knight away from the Hunter’s reach. His face tensed up as he continued to involuntary vomit all over dark floor of Cestus home. Screaming out from the pain, Vai felt as if an invisible force had invaded through his intestines and he hurled again.

“What the hell” queried the former Aedile in a nauseous tone. Not pausing to explain what had happened, Saitou exhaled “It’s the Hunter.”

Saitou, carrying the Ikotchi over his shoulder, ran down the hall as fast as the force allowed him. He knew that alone Vai would end up with his innards sprayed across the walls of the Corsair. He had taken a liking the Knight and wasn’t about to let that happen.

Through a combination of sheer willpower, distance from the Hunter and his powers, Vai began to recover from the vile attack the necromancer had dealt upon him. He was still very weak, what he had for lunch and breakfast was now sitting in steaming piles upon the floor. The Iktotchi knew he needed to get back to the battle, no matter how powerful the Adept was, Doni was still in trouble with the sheer power that Hunter possessed. As Vai began to rise, Saitou pushed him back down against the wall.

****

The Hunter looked upon the Tarenti that stood before him, its glowing eyes piercing through Doni Tzu’s mask and into the Adepts soul. Raising its hands, the Hunter called upon the darkest of necromancy and reached out towards the souls of the Akolyths and began to rip at them. Moments later the Akolyths were dead; their souls now in the hands of the Hunter. With a grin on his face the Hunter began to conjure one of the darkest necromantic powers: Kingdom of the Dead.

With a sinister grin upon its face the Hunter outstretched its hands towards the Adept sending its undead minions. With an evil laugh the Hunter watched as its minions engaged Doni Tzu who was forced to destroy those who had swore allegiance to Tarentum.

His eyes glowing bright yellow, Doni Tzu did not pause to consider those whom his hands just perished, nor did he have time to as the Hunter aggressively launched another attack upon him. Erecting another wall of force, the Adept was able to deflect most of the attack however he was knocked back by the sheer power the Hunter possessed. This necromancer was very strong and it would take the efforts of Saitou, Vai and himself to defeat him.

****

Through Saitou’s necromancy, Vai’s strength had returned to him and he was ready to fight this battle. Once thing was certain, if they were to fail, the entire clan would have to suffer the powers of the Hunter. Returning to his feet, Vai gripped his lightsaber tightly, the power radiating within it gave the Krath strength. Saitou and Vai raced back towards the battle vengeance coursing through their viens.

The Hunter called upon his necromancy again and screamed loudly casting a power known as Wail of Doom. Those still alive from the Hunters prior attacks shrieked in terror as the dark power made their entire body feel as if a force was crushing their very bones. Doni Tzu was also affected by this; his head throbbed, even with his skill in the darkside attempting to block the power. The Wail echoed down the hall as Saitou & Vai approached. The Pontifex’s training spared him as he immediately used the force to block the attack; however Iktotchi wasn’t as lucky as he collapsed on the ground grabbing his ribs.

With a boney finger the Hunter pointed at the Adept and said in a wispy voice “you cannot hope to defeat me. I will destroy you all and fulfill my promise to my master.

No matter how strong Doni Tzu was with the darkside, Vai could feel him slowly losing some of his strength. The battle against this Hunter was pulling along of strain on the Adept and if he were to collapse death would soon come to all within the VSD Corsair. Ignoring the pain in his body Vai force ran to Doni Tzu side along with Saitou and prepared for the battle of dark powers against the Hunter.

Yridia IV

Severon stood gaping at Aidyn as the young warrior fought Adamu. The young Guardian didn’t have a chance against him. The only thing keeping Aidyn alive was the fact that Adamu was playing with him. Severon’s hands shook as he watched the battle, fearing that the battle would result in the death of the valiant Guardian.

Ronovi’s bellow startled Severon out of his state, and he hastily drew his lightsaber. He knew it would do no good as a Force barrier appeared out of nowhere, blocking them access to the cavern. It was then that Adamu began his attack of words.

“Come on tiny, hit me.” He said as he blocked another one of Aidyn’s attacks. “It’s like your not even trying.”

The Guardian continued to send blow after blow towards Adamu, and they kept getting deflected. Everytime Aidyn struck, Adamu's blade was there instantly.

"Your a fool. You cannot even touch me." Adamu sneered.

The taunts only sparked the rage of Aidyn as his blows became harder and faster with help of the Force. Yet, no matter how hard the Guardian fought, he couldn’t even touch Adamu.

As the battle progressed, the rest of the Tarenti began to form a plan to reach Aidyn. Severon volunteered his plan first. “Why don’t we just blast our way in from the side. Let’s go around the barrier.”

“No.” Ronovi countered quickly. “We can’t risk harming Aidyn. If we blast through, it could cause him to lose his edge and then….” She shuddered. They turned back to the battle, each one desperately trying to come up with a plan.

***

The Sword’s Sheath

Proton and Shardara hurried down the corridor toward the massive throne room. They, along with Dralin and Guardian Nichos Rhade, were trying to lure the Hunter into the massive chamber, hoping that they could either kill the thing or at least bottle it up.

“Faster, it’s gaining.” Shardara said, boosting her speed with the Force.

The four of them had moved the injured and the rest of the Gladians into the living quarters and had blocked off that section of the Sword’s Sheath. Proton had then taunted the Hunter into following them and they had been running ever since.

“Almost there.” Proton muttered under his breath. “Keep following us and we’ll show you that you don’t mess with Gladius.”

Aidyn slowly moved around Adamu; holding his lightsaber up in front of him. Though the battle had just started, Adamu quickly caught onto his advantage.

“Interesting...You can see in darkness."

"It's not the only thing I can do, you son of a sith..." Aidyn hissed as he jumped back from one of Adamu's kicks.

"Well, we truly see how skilled you really are then. Now; show me what you can do!” yelled Adamu as he slashed outwards at Aidyn. He quickly ducked downward under it and flung his foot outward towards Adamu only for him to leap to the edge of the cavern away from it.

Aidyn brought his light saber up beside his face and charged full force at him with a thrusting motion straight outward. Adamu brought his light saber up and knocked it aside. He continued to throw a barrage and flurry of attacks at Adamu; each and every one of them easily blocked.

The same could be said however for Adamu as Aidyn successfully blocked each and every counter attack and offensive.

"He's not going to play around much longer...” Ronovi replied just as Adamu used Aidyn’s head as a stepping stool and slammed his foot into it; flooring him to the ground. “Aidyn’s giving it his all now. We have to figure something out...”

Aidyn pulled himself back up, breathing heavily as he looked downward. He closed his eyes momentarily and small cracks could be heard as he pulled down sections of the cavern and hurled them at Adamu

Adamu batted away the small sections that were being thrown at him with ease; taking small steps backwards as they started moving deeper into the cavern. Ronovi and the others gradually lost sight of them until they were gone in the darkness completely.

As they pushed deeper into the cavern; Aidyn twirled his lightsaber at his side and brought it down diaganally just as Adamu backflipped into the air; smashing a piece of rock that sped towards him. Adamu brought his lightsaber up to block it; but at the last moment realized it was a feint attack. Aidyn's foot slammed into his face and he flew backwards down into a large open area of the cavern and landed gracefully in the middle of it. He felt his face where he had kicked him, and growled angrily.

Aidyn looked up and noticed a small glimmer of light as his expression changed into that of pure anger and evil. He raised his hands into the air and concentrated as he felt a grasp as if he was holding on to that little hole. The cavern itself began to shake, and the others outside quickly noticed as they burrowed away at the rock around the shield with their weapons.

"...What the?" Windos asked as he looked around. Suddenly everything shook considerably and the shield began to flash and hiss before it finally went down. "The shield!"

"Quickly, lets move!" Ronovi commanded as the entire group took off into the mouth of the cavern after the two of them. "This is not a good sign!"

Adamu looked up as the entire top of the cavern began to come down at him. He clenched his teeth in anger as he raised his lightsaber parallel to himself and crouched downward.

He leaped into the air and pushed his lightsaber back further before he yelled and slashed it upwards straight into the falling rock; adding some of his own power into it as the giant ceiling was broken into pieces; fragments flying everywhere as it landed all around where he once stood. Adamu landed on top of the pile and looked up at Aidyn, who stood above with a cold expression of death but obviously drained from his last attack.

"I must say...you are skilled indeed, Aidyn." Adamu praised.

"Save it. For far too long have I let people like you control my life...control the lives of others..." Aidyn quickly interrupted as he shot himself downward like an arrow using the finesse style of Telekinesis straight at Adamu.

Adamu leaped right at him in reply and together they slammed their lightsabers together with tremendous force. He forced Aidyn back however with a quick burst of force energy which threw his training saber down into the depths of the cavern below. Immediately Adamu knew the advantage was his once again since now he only had to concentrate on one attack versus the wildness he faced earlier.

"It's people like you that cost me my father! My wife!" Aidyn screamed as he landed in the back of the arena and trailed the edge of his lightsaber along the floor as he ran straight at Adamu. He plunged it into the rock itself and slashed upwards as he reached him. Adamu quickly parried his attack; however rock from the cavern floor continued to fly past; a piece of it slicing his cheek.

Aidyn pushed against his lightsaber and thrusted straight towards his chest with incredible speed. "MY DAUGHTER!"

Adamu brought his light saber up and connected it with his as he spun around and pushed him away with a kick to his chest.

"And now, Adamu! I will kill you and protect Ronovi! Windos! Tarentum!" Aidyn growled as he coldly stared at him; slowly approaching him with his lightsaber at his side. Adamu slid down into a counter stance, awaiting his attack.

"...I will protect them all."

"Then show me, little man!" Adamu teased. He knew it was what got him before, and could once again be his downfall. He knew reinforcements were not far behind since he dropped the shield. "KILL ME AIDYN WOLFWOOD!"

Aidyn took off at a dead run as he yelled in anger. Adamu smirked gracefully as he did the same. This was it. This next move would decide it all...

Both of them continued at each other and leaped towards each other as they brought their lightsabers forward and slammed them together once more; pushing against each other with all of their might.

“You boast much...yet you still failed to do anything. You are rather weak old man...” Adamu teased as he let him lean closer to him; their faces mere inches apart. “I must say though, this is quite fun…”

“I may be weak…but I will not allow you to harm my clansmen.” Aidyn growled angrily at Adamu. “I would give my life if it meant their survival."

“Give your life for them, hm? Very well…I can accept that.“ Then, in the blink of an instant Adamu shoved Aidyn away and with barely a visible motion; his light saber pierced through Aidyn’s upper chest. He dimmed his eyes and ripped it upwards through his shoulder; Aidyn’s entire right arm flying from his body.

As Aidyn screamed in pain; Adamu placed his foot onto the left side of his chest and pushed him down to the ground. Just as he attempted to get up; Adamu’s foot put him right back down. “God…damn you.”

“Really now…did you think you honestly had a chance? I must commend you in your resolve, however insignificant that may be at this point.” Adamu coldly replied as he flicked his light saber around and placed it near his skin. “It was a fun game...too bad I had to end it."

He reached up and wiped off a trickle of blood from his cheek where the rock fragment caught him earlier. "But, for giving me some fun...I will reward you...with a slow...painful death."

He lowered his lightsaber down towards Aidyn and smirked a bit as he moved it around; sizzling sounds beginning to come out as sections of his clothes burned. "Yes...a reward is definitely in order. And then, you will be reunited with those you love..."

He began to wince and barely could keep from screaming as the light saber’s heat tore through his clothing and started to burn his skin. Adamu slowly moved the light saber around his body and across his face. Ronovi and the others came into the chamber and looked down below in shock.

“Stop this now!” demanded Ronovi as she stared at Adamu. “You are going to suffer for what you’ve done!”

“Come now my dear, it’s all business.” he replied as he dropped the light saber for a mere second; which severely wounded Aidyn’s face and caused him to cry in agony. He started to cackle as he looked down at Aidyn with a grin. “...now we finish this.”

Yridia IV

Ronovi had to bite her lip to keep from roaring at the sight before her. The dusty, somewhat battered Adamu defiantly stood over the mutilated Aidyn, the latter groaning in agony as smoke still rose in thin curls from the cauterized stump where his right arm used to be. Out of the corner of her eye, the Proconsul could see the lopped off appendage, kicked to the side and left to lie pathetically on the stone of the cavern, the hand still gripping the hilt of the Arkanian's lightsaber. The large group of Dark Jedi behind her stood rigidly, not reacting, as if waiting for orders to attack.

They didn't get orders. As Adamu raised his lightsaber to deliver an executioner-style blow to the Arkanian's exposed neck, Ronovi acted fast and maliciously. A strangled cry erupted from her constricted throat as she leapt from the higher precipice, landing loudly beside Adamu and jabbing her lightsaber forward. It caught Adamu's blade mid-swing, just in time, barely holding it up from Aidyn's head.

Adamu, of course, looked incredibly amused. He teasingly lifted a hand from his hilt and brushed fragments of stone from his slightly tattered jacket. Even when he held the saber in only one hand, Ronovi could not budge the weapon from where she had hindered it from striking Aidyn.

"I always knew you were a bit of an idiot, girl," Adamu uttered, his breath hissing as he strengthened his grip on his saber and attempted to push it down against Ronovi's. "But I never thought you were to this extent."

Ronovi gritted her teeth at the remark. Her knuckles were beginning to ache, her wrists strained from the pressure of Adamu's strength. "Tell me, Adamu...was your ego this swollen before Trevarus put you down like a dog?"

The Epicanthix grinned at the crimson rushing into Adamu's face, the veins in his forehead bulging in fury. In a large, sweeping movement, he lifted his saber from Ronovi's, catching her off guard as she stumbled. However, Ronovi was able to dodge the next slice of the blade, as it only made contact with the flowing fabric of her dark coat as the hem burnt off in the cold air of the cavern. She landed with a harsh thud on her stomach, the wind knocked out of her, as Adamu approached her with heavy steps, his saber blurred as he swung it over his head.

Ronovi barely had time to recover when she heard a cry from above her. "Ronovi!" the voice of Apollo barked, before she sensed several bodies surging forward to intercept Adamu.

Adamu brushed many of the Tarenti off with a simple Force move. Most of the Nightwraiths, as well as Severon and the two non-Force sensitive pilots, were sent backwards, back toward the entrance of the stony chamber where they landed with an audible thump and clatter of their armor and scattered weaponry. However, Apollo, Scion, Windos, and Ji were all able to dodge the overwhelming Force push, landing in a semi-circle around Adamu as the man stepped back as if to survey his surroundings. Ji immediately rushed to Ronovi's side, offering a hand to her, as Scion directed his attention to moving the crippled Aidyn aside.

"You okay?" Ji grumbled as Ronovi took his hand and the Ubese pulled her to her feet.

"No thanks to him," Ronovi replied with a smirk, directing her words at Adamu while gathering her breath in sharp inhalations.

The Cestus Quaestor and Proconsul turned to face their opponent, who was already staring down the Gladius Quaestor and Aedile as well as Windos before him. All five of the Equites' lightsabers were activated and at the ready, each brandished with a similar zeal and determination. In the confinements of the now open-aired chamber, the dust of stone scattered about their feet, the various Tarenti leaders circled Adamu, perusing his glances and movements, waiting for him to lapse into attack mode again.

Adamu simply stood there, as the snow began to drop through the opening where the ceiling used to be. Cold air rushed in zephyrs among the challengers, and a low chuckle could be heard.

"So be it, Tarentum scum," Adamu snarled, his teeth bared in a truly hideous grin. "Let's see how much you can offer me compared to your pathetic friends."

"We're right behind you, guys!" the voice of Tier-Avis could be heard as the rush of footsteps echoed across the walls of the chamber, as Ronovi nodded to Ji and the five rushed in on their opponent from all sides, lightsabers sizzling in the cold of their improvised arena.

***

Castle Tarentum

Oberst, Raiju, and Kyra hurried through the castle corridors silently and resolutely. Everywhere, they could see the gore and massacre of the patrols that had been set out - lingering soldiers stumbled to the floor, entrails pooling in crimson rivulets around their feet and torsos. It was enough to make any newcomer to the clan around the vicinity become nauseated, but the three Tarenti did not take the time to look on as they moved. They could all sense the Hunter's presence, though it was disorienting and seemed to come from all around them.

"What do you think the Hunter wants from Bloodfyre?" Kyra asked, interrupting the tense silence among her and her allies.

"It all depends," Oberst answered, his voice reduced to a low growl. "The two have a history, you see. Remember when you both were on the Renegade, and Bloodfyre disappeared from the rest of the clan for a while?"

Kyra and Raiju shook their heads; they had been part of the team inspecting the Renegade, but as Tridenians, they had patrolled a different part of the ship than many others. Oberst exhaled deeply.

"For a brief moment," he explained, "The Hunter and Bloodfyre were allies, fighting against the spirit of the Dark Jedi Saryana. Bloodfyre informed me that while the Hunter was not too enthusiastic about helping, he was certainly not reluctant. Now, however..."

"He fights against us," finished Raiju. "Instead of for us."

"Which concerns me the most," Oberst muttered. "Even if the Hunters beforehand had no alliance with anyone, they still seemed to fight alongside us, and subsequently the Keepers. Now, however, they seem to have a new master."

"And that master is...?"

"Well, that we'll have to discover for ourselves," replied the Consul before he suddenly picked up his already rapid stride. Raiju and Kyra hurried to keep up with him, for they both knew why he had started walking faster. All three could sense a tense energy erupting from the deeper chambers of the castle - and that could only mean that two powers were at a confrontation.

The Hunter had caught up with Bloodfyre.

Yridia IV

As Severon ran back into the cavern with Tier and the Nightwraiths, sight that awaited him was… chaotic. The four equites were all attacking Adamu, every time one would be brushed off, another was there. Severon already saw Tier and some of the Nightwraiths getting into a good position, so he activated his saber and moved to help his Quaestor, Aedile and Proconsul. Nothing made him more proud than seeing Scion and Apollo, grim and determined and Ronovi and Ji equally as determined.

As Severon watched the battle, he saw Tier and the Nightwraiths moving around looking for an opening. But everywhere they turned it seemed as if something blocked them. Severon paused for a moment, thinking. “I got it!” he shouted and then looked for Tier, finally spotting him on a ledge a little ways off.

Severon hurried up to Tier’s position and then paused in front of the Nightwraiths’ leader to catch his breath. “What is it Severon?” Tier asked, none to calmly.

“I’ve thought of a plan. You’re welcome to change it as you please but it is just a simple idea.”

“Ok let’s hear it.”

“I think that we should blast through one of the outer walls, you know, like a flank attack.”

“I see. I’ve got it. Here’s what we’ll do. Teia, you and half the Battleteam will plant explosives on the east wall. Welsh, you take the other half and rush in as soon as the explosives go off. Sev, you’re with me. Got it?”

“Sir yes sir.” responded all of the Dark Jedi in unison.

“Then let’s move out.” Tier said, and they hightailed it outside.

***

The Sword’s Sheath

Shardara breathed a sigh of relief as the Gladius Throne room came into view. “Almost there
guys.” She said jubilantly.

“Just keep running.” Proton grumbled. “We don’t want that thing to catch us before we’re ready.”

“Hey, Proton,” Nichos said. “What‘s the plan again?”

“Alright Nichos I’ll repeat it again just for your benefit,” Proton rumbled gruffly. “Our ‘courageous’ House Summit installed explosives in the doors to the Throne Room just before leaving. They had wanted it used in case the Sword’s Sheath were breached so that the secrets of Gladius could be preserved.”

“OK.” Nichos said.

“We’re going to blow the explosives, and trap the Hunter in the Throne Room.”

“Pure genius.” Nichos said.

“No,” Proton countered. “Just improvisation.”

The four Gladians entered the wide throneroom and the journeymen, save Dralin, were awestruck
by the size of the space. Proton, however, hurried to initiate his plan. “Dralin!’ he barked.

“Yes,” the DJK called.

“Get the explosives ready!”

“Alright. Just one question though, will this really work?”

Proton paused for a moment. “No, but it should delay the thing until we’ve got enough strength or powered communications back up to get help.”

“I see.” Dralin pondered. He then set to work priming the explosives.

Random hallways of the Castle were now a mess of bodies and gore, the passing of the Hunter marked only by the spider-webbing beings that had become avasculated masses. The reasoning behind the Hunter's random uses of power were not apparent, but it seemed as though the being either wanted the rest of the Clan to know where he had gone, or he wanted his intended target to have a harder time to avoid him.

The Shaevalian and Sith Master had parted ways with his Consul at a purely random point, and most likely not of his own choosing. In the past, the Force had taken hold of the Watcher at random points and led him where he was supposed to be, which was very rarely where he wanted to be. But along the path of power, sometimes the steps you took were not of your choosing.

The tower that now echoed the footsteps of the Shaevalian was one that the Sith Master had rarely, if ever, set foot in. Within the Castle home of the great Clan, this tower was reserved solely for the great and venerable Master Zero. Those who walked within his halls did so at his invitation only; even the Consuls of the Clan respected the privacy and power of Master Zero to the extent that they never intruded upon his sanctuary without prior invite.

Whatever the reason for the Dark Side bringing the Shaevalian to the abode of the great one, the Hunter had not been far behind. The one-time ally of the Sith Master felt the Shaevalian's presence everywhere within the Castle. It seemed to resonate with his life and essence, but it was as a current in a river, leading the Hunter on until it found the Watcher, the reason for its being here. And within the Force, as the two drew near to each other, sparks and great gouts of power began to erupt.

One of the lower floors of Master Zero's tower held a waiting room of sorts, one that was quite comfortable and would allow any guests of the revered Master to be quite comfortable until such a time as they were greeted by their host. Within the rather large and opulent room were several chairs and couches, book shelves and desks, carafes of liquid, and, when the Master was expecting guests, there were likely to be trays of appetizers laid out. The Master was not at home, nor were guests expected, and as such, the room was as bare as it ever would be. Which was to say, it just wasn't stocked to the brim.

"A strange place to find you, Watcher," a voice said at the doorway. Bloodfyre turned and found his company to be a shrouded personage bearing a rather large, vicious-looking axe. Mists or smoke, or some ethereal essence swirled about the feet of the person, and wafted its way up to no higher than what would be mid-calf on any normal-sized being. The being was clothed in black. Or, if it were possible, the being would have been cloaked in the night itself, as specks that could be conceived of as stars swirled in the blackness of its cloak and robes.

"I felt myself called here," the Shaevalian answered, "though I know not why. I thought it might have been you. I had sensed your presence. I thought it odd that you would call me to Master Zero's tower."

"Ahh, but I was not the one who made the call," the Hunter answered, laying his hands out wide in a gesture followed by what might have been a shrug. Somehow, Bloodfyre had a hard time believing this being would ever shrug. It simply didn't suit the... man, creature, or whatever else he truly was.

"You have attacked this Clan and our holdings," Bloodfyre began, "where once we thought of you as a possible ally. There are reports... were reports, before the communications blackout, of possibly others of your kind running rampant across our strongholds. Ripples in the Force that speak only of you and yours have reached us all. Explain yourself."

"All in good time, Watcher," the being strode forth slowly, and made its way over to a chair, though it did not sit. It simply stood beside the chair, as though waiting for an offer to seat himself. However, as the Sith Master was not lord of this abode, and a guest himself, he would not make such an offer. "For now, you and I must speak. And it is good that we are alone, for I would not wish to defile others without cause to protect our privacy."

"I noted your handiwork, if you are referring to the avasculated masses that would serve to detour others making their way here," Sith stated flatly. "I take offense to you demeaning the powers we bear by using them so flagrantly, and so without purpose. For your sake, I hope we can repair them to their rightful state without much effort. Or I will make you pay for their torment."

"Idle threats do not become us, Watcher," the Hunter answered, "and you have as little hope of destroying me as I would of you. It should be easy for the both of us to pay honor to each others' power. And, I suppose I simply wished to leave you a calling card, in case I could not find you."

"That makes no sense."

"Neither does what is happening," the Hunter seemed almost annoyed. "But where before, I sought you out for a specific purpose, in this instance, I have more to bargain with. Your powers are not merely displays of prominence and mild gifts of force. You have within you something great, and I am called upon to bring you closer into the Order."

Sith stayed silent for many moments, as did the Hunter. While there was, perhaps, a sense of power just beyond reach that may have been called upon to entice the Shaevalian, its true source and the purpose behind it was not evident. And until everything about this being was known, there was no way that any reasonable being of true intelligence and power could ever ally themselves with it.

"I'm listening..."

Adamu continued fighting virtually non-stop, defending himself from one opponent after another; attacking and throwing one after another from his position just as another takes their place to fight against him.

Nothing Windos, Ronovi, or the others did could penetrate his defenses no matter how hard they pushed, but at the same time Adamu could not find a chance in the onslaught to land a definitive finishing blow to any of them without leaving himself open.

Tier-Avis, Teia, Sev, and the Nightwraiths quickly raced back down the corridors of the cavern towards the outside. They knew they would have to hurry, otherwise, the battle could quickly take a negative turn if they took too long. They needed a distraction, and that's what they were going to do no matter the cost.

Adamu growled angrily with his teeth clenched as Ronovi charged at him just after Windos was thrown back by a powerful Force Push and immediately started striking at him with everything she had; which Adamu continued to block against. He threw his left foot down as he hurled both of his arms forward just after parrying one of her attacks, and struck her with a closeup attack straight into her chest that hurled her backwards onto the ground.

"You bastard!" screamed Windos as he threw himself into the fray and quickly struck downward at Adamu with an aerial attack. Adamu turned his head and quickly parried his attack once more.

"Do you fools honestly think you can win? None of you are stronger than I, as has already been proven!" Adamu curred as he spun around and turned to an offensive against Windos as he threw strike after strike on all sides one after another. Windos valiantly parried, blocked, and countered every attack he could as Adamu pushed against his position as hard as he could; pushing him back. Just as he went to attempt a deathblow attack; he heard Ji's yell from behind him.

"Nothing's been proven, and we are going to kick your sorry ass!" Ji hissed under his breath as he struck towards Adamu with a jabbing attack. Adamu spun around in a circle and batted it away as he lept back towards the center of the arena. Ronovi stepped up to where Windos and Ji were, as did Apollo, and Scion

"At the same time...all of us." Ronovi quietly said as she stepped around the side a little bit around Adamu. The others nodded in agreement as all of them charged Adamu at the exact same time with different stances and attacks from the same direction.

"You fools!" Adamu taunted as his lightsaber slowly floated upwards away from him slightly. He raised his arms and pointed his fingers at the group and without much warning; a massive force lighting storm flew outwards at the group. Quickly; everyone stopped in their tracks and raised their lightsabers up in front of them to absorb the blunt of the attack. Some of them deflected the energy which shot out at the cavern walls with miniature explosions as tiny pieces of the cavern walls crumbled to the ground as the lighting struck it.

Giving a soft groan, Aidyn slowly shook his head as he began to recover from Adamu's initial assault against him. He glanced over towards Adamu and saw the relentless assault he was pushing against them with little success. He knew he was doing nothing more than biding his time to let some of his physical energy return. As he looked around, he noticed his arm no more than 10 feet away from him still holding his lightsaber. He closed his eyes and reached out with his left arm towards it as it slowly make scoots and motions towards him; the arm as well since it held onto the lightsaber for dear life.

Everyone continued to hold their ground against the massive force storm; Adamu pushing more energy into it. "Why wont you all just die!? Die, die, DIE!"

Aidyn's arm continued to slither towards him just a few feet away now. Teia and the other Nightwraiths made it outside the cavern into the snow as they all lept up onto the top of the snowy rift above the cavern entrance and took off at a dead run towards where the battle was. Within not even a minute they saw the massive hole that was made when the celing was pulled down. They jumped down into a small snowy enbankment as they dusted snow off of the side towards the arena until the reached the rock. "Here, quickly. We have to hurry." Teia commented as they started to set the explosives.

Adamu held his attack firmly in place; holding the entire group at bay. Anytime someone tried to push closer; the fierce storm struck inwards at their sides and put them at risk. The battle itself was held at a stalemate. This further began to piss Adamu off.

Aidyn's arm reached him just as he pulled the lightsaber from it's grip and held it firmly in his left arm. He struggled to lift his right side upwards first; pushing up with his arm as he sat up. He was perfectly behind Adamu; outside the reach of the storm for the moment. He knew unless something changed; even if the wall came down, the storm would hold them all back.

He pulled himself on to one knee and slowly up onto his feet. Ronovi and the others noticed this, their eyes widening at the sight but did not give much else so that Adamu would not notice him. Ronovi knew what was about to happen...she knew she wanted to make sure he did not do it...she knew. But she also knew his resolve and his pride, and that even if she did; he would not stop.

Aidyn took a deep breath and lept at Adamu; igniting his lightsaber in his left arm as he came down towards him. Adamu took a brief look around his shoulder and was quite shocked. He turned one of his arms towards him and directed the power of the force storm right at him. He held himself in place with the last of his force energy as the lightning tore into him. Adamu turned his attention back to the others as he continued to hold them back; but with less energy against them they began to push against it and move in towards him.

As Aidyn landed on the ground, he barely held back from screaming in agony as he was continuously struck with the storm. He slowly dragged himself forward through the storm, the lightning lashing wound after wound into him; his skeleton flashing through his skin intermittently as he came closer and closer to Adamu. He glared up at him as the lighting coursed through him, his energy quickly fading. All he wanted to do now was collapse onto the ground, but he knew he couldn't.

"A few more seconds..." quietly said Teia as they armed the explosives and moved away. Tier-Avis and the others took their positions and waited to move in.

"Get ready everyone. This is going to be quick and subtle." Tier-Avis spoke as Severon glanced over.

"Subtle? What's subtle about an explosion?" he quickly replied.

"You'll see."

Aidyn, with all the fiber in his being and the final breaths of energy knew what had to be done. He looked over towards Ronovi who watched painfully as he was brought closer and closer to his death. "Don't do it..." she softly spoke.

Adamu kept his attention on the group; and not on Aidyn. Using that chance; Aidyn raised his lightsaber up to conduit the energy off from him and he climbed to his feet as he lept at Adamu once more. He knew he only had one chance, though not much of one.

"What!?" Adamu snarled as he dropped the entire force storm and brought his lightsaber back to him. Just as Aidyn went to strike; his energy started to give out and he turned his lightsaber away from Adamu's. Adamu struck Aidyn straight through his chest and impaled him onto this lightsaber.

"AIDYN!" screamed Ronovi and the others as they all charged in once the storm was down.

Aidyn gave a soft smile as he stood there, the lightsaber inside his chest. Adamu forcefully pulled it from him and slashed upwards then across for a deathblow. The lightsaber went without hindrance straight through him at an angle, his left arm now gone and his entire upper half ripped apart from him. The second strike severed his upper half from the lower stub that was there; his body now in multiple pieces as it crashed to the ground.

Adamu stood triumphantly and began to laugh hystericly. Suddenly, the entire eastern wall of the cavern came down as an explosion tore into the arena. Adamu looked straight at the smoke where the eastern wall was, caught off guard. "What in the..?"

Unknown Location

"Master Zero?"

He did not reply to the tall warrior standing behind him, arms folded across the burnt armor that enfolded his muscular chest. Lord Khyven waited patiently for the initiated Keeper's response, but Zero seemed to be lost in his own thoughts again. So shortly after his departure from the Yridia system, and he was already thinking of returning.

In his mind's eye, he could see the scene at the castle. He had seen such extents of gore before, but never in this sort of fashion, and certainly not in the heart of his clan. His eyes narrowed underneath his dark hood as he surveyed the visuals, the somewhat blurry image of Bloodfyre facing the Hunter, that thing holding the axe like it was a toy, its fingers extended as if to probe the Watcher's mind. It was clear through the Force that the tension was high, and the disturbances between the Hunter and the former Consul seemed like long shuddering ripples across the Keeper's spine.

If Bloodfyre only knew the circumstances. That was why Zero had to return. He looked at Khyven briefly before turning away again.

"You will go to Yridia IV. I already sense that she is making her way there, to give Adamu her support. She may be too late, though."

"Yes, master," Khyven curtly replied.

"As for me," Zero said, "I must make my way to Castle Tarentum. Already Oberst and the others are growing close to catching up with the Hunter who has infiltrated the castle. I may as well break up the fight before it gets any worse."

"Master?" Khyven prompted, and Zero sighed deeply.

"Yes, I'll have to break up a smaller fight in exchange for the larger one ahead. Now go."

Khyven nodded once before turning and disappearing from the vicinity, one hand placed on the giant Sith sword at his side. Zero set his focus back on the scene in his mind, as the silhouettes of Raiju, Kyra, and Oberst appeared in the small room that he could sense deep in his psyche.

"I'll be there soon."

***

Yridia IV

A shower of broken stone signaled the charge as Welsh led the Nightwraiths into the chamber, lightsabers alight and blasters elevated on shoulders that released shots into the air. Teia's team soon moved in as well, flanking Welsh's group, as Tier-Avis and Severon almost nonchalantly stepped in, slipping past the bigger parts of the battle team to move in with the Equites. Physically, Adamu was completely surrounded, and the way he responded was tremendous.

In a mad flurry of energy, Adamu channeled another volley of Force lightning, the bolts flashing in all directions as blaster bolts fizzled out around him. His entire suit seemed to grow static from the attack, as Nightwraiths attempted to shield themselves from the pressure of the electricity. Those who could dodge, however, did so, moving around the open parts of the cavern with their sabers up in front of their faces to take the lightning full force.

There was only so much Adamu could do now, Ronovi thought, tearing her mind away from Aidyn's destroyed body for a moment as the Force storm began to dissipate. It was clear that their enemy was only tiring himself out, and he lowered his hand, the fingers still appearing to spark from the powers of the Force. Those Tarenti who were not on the ground approached him slowly, cautiously, as if charging him was only going to aggravate him.

"So this is how it is," Adamu said, chuckling weakly. "You think an ambush can take me out?"

"You bastard," Ronovi snarled again. "It's over. Don't you get it? It's over."

"Maybe for you," Adamu said. "But not for me."

In a sudden burst of energy, Adamu leapt into the air, launching into a Force jump. However, a peculiar thing happened, something unexpected and perhaps completely garnered by luck. From the side, the Nightwraiths all raised whatever blasters they had that were still intact, and in a brilliant execution of marksmanship, they aimed and fired at the man in air.

He dropped like a stone. Blaster bolts struck him soundly in the legs, crippling him as he landed back on the cavern floor, a cry of pain erupting from his lips for perhaps the first time throughout the whole fight. Adamu struggled to stand, brandishing his lightsaber as if it were the only defense left.

"You fools!" he bellowed. "You've ruined my body! You've ruined my perfect body!"

He raised his weapon as Scion and Apollo swooped in on him, the colors of their lightsabers dancing in the still falling snow. While still propped on one knee, Adamu still could deflect the attacks, channeling Force pushes to those Nightwraiths who attempted to strike from the side. However, as Ronovi wove in and out of the clusters of fellow Tarenti, she understood one thing - they had found Adamu's weak point. And that was in the simple art of overwhelming distraction.

As Adamu scooted around the rocky floor, Severon and Tier-Avis joined in the battering of sabers, swinging their weapons methodically as Adamu attempted to block each one. He was no longer graceful or confident in his moves, his strikes more defensive than offensive now. His lightsaber style was sparked by a sense of panic, and the sense of that emotion pleased the Tarentum Proconsul to no end.

Sidestepping in a Makashi move, Ronovi rounded herself toward Adamu's backside, moving with him as he moved. Windos and Ji seemed to get the choreography, as they circled Adamu and the Nightwraiths stood at the ready. In this almost ritualistic attack, firing blasters would be too dangerous, but they were there for the back-up. Adamu finally used a large Force push as a last resort, scooting Scion and Apollo back a few feet while Tier-Avis and Severon, Journeymen as they were, were thrown into the air and landed ungracefully on their sides.

"I will not be defeated!" Adamu snarled, with all his attention on Apollo and Scion now. He finally was able to stand, his knees noticeably shaking from the effort. "I will not be - "

And his words shut off like an electric switch as Ronovi completed the circle, turned in a sharp 360 degrees to align with the back of Adamu's head, and dug her lightsaber into his back, the blade bursting from his stomach in a brilliant sheen of yellow light.

The rest of the movement seemed to happen in only a fraction of a second. Ronovi remembered that Adamu began to choke, to cough, dropping his lightsaber as Teia instinctively sent a volley of blaster bolts to destroy its emitter. Ronovi remembered that Teia was not the only one to act, however, for in an act that was of both vengeance for the fallen and simply satisfaction of the strike, Ji took one step forward and impaled Adamu straight in the chest with his own saber. Ronovi remembered that Tier-Avis and Severon stumbled over to bore into Adamu as well, their lightsabers flashing as they sank into Adamu's sides. She remembered that Apollo took the left side, driving his lightsaber through Adamu's shoulder and out through the ribcage, disintegrating the bone. She remembered that Scion took the right side, bringing his saber in an uppercut as it protruded from the shoulderblade where it had struck the breast. She remembered Windos making the final decoration, his weapon almost like an ornament as he stabbed straight into the back as Ronovi had done, as each blade squealed from clashing with each other.

All of those moments Ronovi remembered as freeze frames in her mind. It was when they all stepped back, leaving their lightsabers still ignited in Adamu's abdomen and torso, that time slowed down again. The entire chamber went quiet, the only sounds being the hum of lightsabers and the rush of the cold tundra wind. In that harsh, harsh silence, they waited for something to happen, for Adamu's spirit to burst from the flesh, to rise in an angry fury, to rattle them all and perhaps let the cavern walls collapse on them.

But everything was frozen.

***

I thought of my father, as I stood there with all the colors of the world digging deep into my flesh. I thought of him pensively, deeply, as I clung to the mortal earth with all my might. My body remained alive, but barely, only moments for it to live while my spirit lingered. I didn't have much time. I thought of my father. He had very dark eyes. He had never smiled.

I thought of my mother. She had raised me mostly by herself. I was her only child. I made her happy until the day she died. That was when I first became a dark one. A Dark Jedi. My father may have been pleased if he had stuck around.

I thought of Saryana. I still remember how she tasted on the Renegade. She was beautiful when she didn't revolt me with her ambitions. It was enough to even make a Sith question the dark side. But she was beautiful. Not a bad meal, either.

I remembered my child...a sacrifice at the altar. Before I was sealed in that crystal. I cannot attempt that fate again.

They are all watching me. Dark Jedi, watching me. Waiting for me to do something. How much time has passed? A minute? Two minutes? Less? How mortality moves. It is beautiful. It was all I wanted. To have a body again. To live again...

Now, back to the drawing board...

I thought of my whole life, my days of wielding a blade. My days running across cities. My days cutting down the enemy with deep, succulent strikes, digging into tender flesh. My days within the Crystal of Tears.

Never again.

Never again will I turn to that. Damn it, is it worth it to linger? Is it worth it to carry out my vengeance? The lady...to Hell with her. To Hell with Tarentum and to the Keepers and to them all. I will embrace Oblivion.

Yes...I will finally embrace Oblivion. It's been fun. Very, very fun. But now...I feel as if this body has grown on me. I'd hate to live without Andryn. I experienced the best with him.

Yes...I will finally embrace Oblivion.

***

Adamu simply remained standing, his arms outstretched as if to catch the snowflakes falling on his fingertips. His bright blue eyes were damp, brimming, as he raised them to the opened skies, opened like a dark jaw. The sun had finally started to dip into the mountains, the hours of the day dwindling at last. Dark was coming. It was appropriate.

"You..." he was able to utter, casting simple glances at each Dark Jedi, never focusing on one too intently. Ronovi, however, kept her eyes locked on the spectacle. "You have done well...Tarenti."

Ronovi and the others raised their hands, and in an uncomfortable unison, they used the Force to deactivate their lightsabers. The colors receded, the blades hissing in synchronization, as each carved hilt seemed suspended in the air before they all dropped with a resounding clatter onto the stone below, a shower of silver and brass and steel cascading from the cauterized flesh.

Then, to all of the clan's shock, Adamu closed his eyes and smiled. His fall took two steps. His legs folded beneath him, flattening against the cavern floor, before he landed facedown onto the rock, arms still out from his sides, lying spread-eagled as his jaw cracked from the fall. Hair fluttered, eyes fluttered, snow fell atop him and covered him in white. Then...silence.

He let go, Ronovi thought to herself. He didn't stick around this time. He just let go.

The Dark Jedi stood silently for only a moment before each one retrieved their lightsabers, either audaciously stepping over to Adamu's body to fetch them or snatching them up using Force pulls. Ronovi used the Force pull, then moved to Aidyn's dismembered body after she tucked her lightsaber away. She lifted the broken torso, saw the stony look on Aidyn's graying face and bit her lip to keep from shouting. She raised her head to look at the others. Ji had his head lowered. The Nightwraiths saluted as if commemorating their fallen, as well as their killed. Aidyn and Adamu had both put up a good fight.

And then, someone cleared her throat. The Tarenti all turned in unison, the snap of blasters being cocked resounding on the still standing cavern walls as the others seized the hilts of their lightsabers once more. Behind them stood a tall, slender woman, a white gown brushing her slim ankles, as her hair bunched up around her neck and her pale white fingers dancing about the slim razor-like blades at her side. Those in the group who were necromancers recognized this messenger, her albino skin brighter than the snow above, as she parted her lips in a small smile.

"Well done, Clan Tarentum," Lady Nilani said. "Very, very well done."

The sharp, hurried clicks of the trio’s boots on the ground, as they quickly moved into the room Oberst led them to, echoed before them and described their slowed pace as they abruptly came to a stop inside. Spreading themselves out from the entrance of the room, Oberst entered first and remained centred with the door as he was flanked by the two Tridens members as Raiju stepped to his right and Kyra to his left; with each of their slowed footsteps illustrating their caution towards the scenery before them. Inside the room, as they each came to notice, was the threat they sought; hovering before the far wall from the trio and still holding the oversized axe before itself. Between the creature and the trio but off to the left side of the side from his fellow Tarenti, stood Bloodfyre who had quickly turned to acknowledge them with a concerned stare as if they had interrupted something.

“You have invaded our piracy, Death Dealer.” The unholy being across from the trio hissed. “I wish to enlighten the Watcher, and him alone.”

“I have no desire to give you your wishes, asshole!” Oberst spat as he quickly produced his lightsabers into his hand. “You have assaulted this clan’s holdings and processions, and earned your right to be declared an enemy of Tarentum-”

As Sith Bloodfyre took a lone step and seemed to motion he wanted to speak to defend the creature’s position, any objection he could have offered was quickly cut short by the snap-hiss of Oberst’s crimson blades as each ignited to display his fiery. Immediately following, the two yellow blades of the Tridens members ignited in sync as they prepared to support their Consul in the fight. Opposite to them, the creature hovered slowly forward from its position by the wall and grasped its weapon in both of its hand, acknowledging the challenge before it formed its own shadowy feet on the ground and leapt forward towards the trio as Sith backed off to his own wall.

Almost immediately, it was Raiju who reacted first to the threat. Shooting out before the Templar, the man’s right hand displayed itself before the man; spread wide while leaving his still injured and greyed hand to awkwardly hold his weapon on its own. Focusing on the air surrounding the creature as it leapt forward, Raiju quickly manipulated the specs he could few in the force to extend and playfully dance around the individual as if he were wrapping it with a ribbon. Once the Templar could feel the material completely surrounding the physical form of the Hunter, Raiju quickly jerked it tight and clutched his hand into a fist displaying his physical effort to control the trap. [Dark Side Snare] Successful, his attack stopped the creature dead in its tracks as it remained held in the center of the room by the invisible force. But the victory was short lived as the creature howled with laughter, and the Templar felt his rope around the creature suddenly loosen as his eyes watched the Hunter dissipate into its cloud form again.

A gasp of shock and shame for his foolish quickly escaped the Templar’s lips, followed by a curse, as the cloud fell to the ground and swirled before the trio. Clutching his saber in both hands again, Raiju heard the roar of the angered Consul as Oberst challenged the creature with a verbal storm of abuse. But the cloud failed to materialize to meet the Consul’s challenge, and instead leapt towards the trio as if caught in a breeze and danced playfully around the slashes and other attacks the trio made with their lightsabers as it surrounded them. Recognizing the attack, Raiju and Kyra quickly were able to inhaled a lungful of air and hold onto it to feed off of as each watched the dark cloud swarm around them. [Control Breath] Suddenly, however, a red glow pierced the cloud and felt warm to Raiju’s skin as the unholy being quickly pulled back as the roar of Oberst intensified. [Destruction]

Giving out a quick sigh of relief, which abandoned the lungful of air Raiju had inhaled, the Templar watched as the cloud quickly floated back to its previous position and slowly re-materialized into the shadowy physical form of the Hunter. However, instead of counterattack or even a sign of being damaged from the attack from Oberst; the Hunter reformed with a hollowed laughter as if the attack had been nothing more than a strike from a pillow.

“I can see now, why your group has chosen to follow their teachings.” The hunter choked out, “The ways of the non-necromancer are ineffective in comparison. However, you still remain as pawns to all of them; resources to bring forth the destruction they wish to unleash on this realm.”

“Is it any different than the destruction you unleashed on us?” Sith barked out from his position.

“It certainly is.” Whispered a voice from behind the trio, pass the door they had entered through. As the Trio advanced further into the room to allow space for the individual to enter, Raiju felt his eyes widen as he realized who had suddenly joined them; as if they had materialized just as the Hunter could. “And that is why I’ve returned to assist all of you, including your supposed enemy.”

“Master Zero…” Both Oberst and Sith let whisper from their lips, as the four Tarenti welcomed the elder with a quick bow of their heads.

“It seems the Keepers have betrayed the trust of our Sith King.” Zero stated as he looked between the elder Tarenti in the room.

Even through the various filtration systems embedded within Ji’s mask he could detect the stale, stank atmosphere of the place. It smelled like death and he could taste the sour moisture of the place distilling upon his tongue. How the humans of this colony lived in such rank conditions Ji would never understand. Even with his colorful past he never suffered filth and mess borne out of laziness which judging from the barkeep was exactly this place’s problem. The corpulent man still twitched and elicited an occasional groan though whether his condition was a result of recovering from Adamu’s hold over him or was just his typical demeanor Ji did not know.

Ronovi and the Ubese sat across from Nilani in a murky corner of the local cantina, only reopened after the riot at Proconsul’s order (and threat). Putting down her glass of Corellian whiskey--the real reason she ordered the cantina to be opened, Ji assumed--she began answering a question from the diminutive, albino woman which Ji had not heard.

“For the last time, Nilani, I am sure,” answered Ronovi. “For whatever reason his spirit followed his body and he’s gone.”

The slender woman leaned back in her creaky, old chair as she watched Ronovi down the last of her drink. “If you’re finished perhaps we could await the shuttle outside. The oppressive stench of this place is more than I care to bear at the moment.”

Due to damage sustained during the space battle overhead the Doomsday only had two viable shuttles for the moment and while one was busy recovering the four downed fighters the other was ferrying the various members of the strike team (including the downed pilots) back to the Assault Cruiser overhead. All who remained were Ji, Nilani and Ronovi who, upon reaching the small colony, immediately expressed her need for a strong drink.

Giving the empty glass a final glance before standing Ronovi started for the door with Ji and Nilani in tow. She flipped a cred-chip toward the bartender who muttered an unconvincing “thanks” as the trio exited the otherwise empty bar.

Staring up at the dark night sky Ji instantly thought of the farflung shuttle and the body it transported as he absentmindedly followed the Proconsul toward the landing platform. He understood keeping Aidyn’s body. Though the man was not of rank proper rituals would need to be performed. But Adamu’s… why would they keep that? A smile spread across his face as he entertained notions of Oberst mounting the head on a wall of Castle Tarentum or having the corpse stuf-…

His thoughts were violently cut short as a long, silver blade, the end dripping with crimson erupted through his upper abdomen. His hands clenched into fists and his eyes rolled back into his head as the blade was slowly withdrawn through his back. His clan on Uba IV would be proud, he thought to himself. A possibly fatal wound and he had barely uttered a sound. That was appropriate.

Small puffs of steam rose from his mask up into the frigid night sky as his knees buckled and he fell to the snowy ground, still stained with blood and ash from the fight earlier in the day. Ronovi hadn’t heard the attack as much as felt it in the force. Before Nilani had withdrawn her blade Ronovi’s lightsaber had already sprung to her hand and ignited, a deep yellow blade cutting through the oppressive darkness of the night. The few colonists remaining outdoors stared wide-eyed at the women, in disbelief that such happenings could befall their village twice in a single day, before running away as fast as their legs could carry them, presumably to their houses and families.

Ronovi stared at the slender, white haired woman in confusion and disbelief as the old Ubese fell to the ground in a heap.

“You look surprised, Tavisaen. I am… disappointed.”

“I… I don’t understand…” answered Ronovi, her mind already racing through various scenarios which would explain the betrayal.

“For all his strengths Adamu lacked the subtlety needed to handle creatures such as yourself, Jedi!” shouted Nilani over the cold wind, emphasizing the final word as she leapt at Ronovi, pushing off of Ji’s fallen body and bringing her cortosis-laced blade into line with the Proconsul’s throat.

Deflecting the blade, still shining with blood, Ronovi quickly went on the offensive, issuing countless thrusts and slashes at the tiny woman who deftly dodged and parried every attack sent her way. Her eyes shone in the moonlight and her stark, white hair swayed gracefully with each subtle movement of the beautiful blade she wielded.

Having not had time to recover from the chase of and fight with Adamu, Ronovi tired quickly. Her trained, precise strikes quickly deteriorated into exhausted and desperate attacks. She could hear her own heart pounding and practically feel the arrogance and pride flowing from Nilani, mere meters away as she toyed with the Proconsul.

“Fight me!” shouted the Epicanthix as she stumbled and fell to her knees in the snow. The freezing wind cut at her skin as she knelt before the assassin. Her lightsaber hung limply in her hand, still activated and melting a deep trench in the snow beneath her.

Nilani stepped toward Ronovi and gently pressed her razor sharp blade against the Proconsul’s throat, the slightest touch drawing a trickle of blood. The albino assassin’s mouth twisted into a cruel smile as pride inflamed her senses. She had succeeded where Adamu had not. She had substituted subtlety for brute strength. She had struck the first blow in the downfall of Tarentum. “Time to die my little Tarenti.”

Just as she was about to push the blade through Ronovi’s neck she was startled out of her reverie by a quick succession of pounding footsteps not ten feet distant. Instinctively twisting to parry the attack she caught a glimpse of her assailant. “Khyven?!” she shouted in disbelief. Not enough time to dodge!

She brought her razorlike blade into position not a second too soon as the full force of Khyven’s massive weight and momentum was directed directly into the blade. Though her weapon was a masterwork Khyven’s own Sith sword was larger and more durable and the featherweight assassin’s blade shattered in her hand, it’s fragments disappearing into the darkness of the night in every direction, as if a diamond had exploded.

However, not one to be caught flat-footed twice Nilani sprung into action with a half improvised, half instinctual riposte. Allowing Khyven to continue his forward motion after the blade had broken she deftly ducked the follow-through swing and drove what was left of the weapon into the weak point in Khyven’s armor, directly between the dual breast plates. She allowed him to run himself onto the jagged, wicked looking piece of durasteel still attached to the hilt and, by the time his weight had crossed that last meter between the knife and herself he had come to a complete stop. She looked up into his eyes. The eyes of a warrior stared back at her.

“Why..?” she asked as she gave the shard buried in his chest a final twist to ensure his imminent death.

Khyven’s breath came ragged as he struggled to answer. After several seconds he managed to choke out one, single word: “Honor…” he answered. As his last breath escaped him he grabbed hold of Nilani by the throat, holding her in place as he brought his massive sword swinging down against her. A look of horror spread across her features as the sword cut into her shoulder and she screamed in pain. The weight of the thick, heavy blade continued through her flesh and bone until her arm was cleaved fully from her body. Both she and Khyven fell to the ground in a heap and, though the old soldier had succumbed to the wound, Nilani was still rolling on the ground in agony.

Smiling, Ronovi stood. She was still unable to catch her breath but she hobbled toward Nilani’s shrieking form, exhausted. She was disturbed by a loud roar overhead and both she and Nilani craned their necks upward, blinded by the running lights of the shuttle, finally returning from dropping off the Nightwraiths and other Dark Jedi on the Doomsday. The pilots, seeing the forms of their cargo sprawled out beneath them ignored the landing pad and set down as close to the Proconsul as the tightly packed houses would allow.

As the ramp descended Ronovi turned once again to Nilani but where she had lay only moments before there was only Khyven’s limp, though bulky, corpse and a still widening pool of blood. Eyes widening in panic Ronovi spun toward the shuttle, some ten meters away, just in time to see Nilani drive a knife through the copilot’s throat, the pilot on the ground clutching the hilt of a throwing knife embedded in his face.

As she sped up the ramp and slammed the close Nilani looked toward Ronovi. “I assure you Tavisaen… this is far from finished!” she exclaimed as the ramp sealed and, within seconds the shuttle lifted out of the snow.

Ronovi followed it through the sky until it was a point of light no larger than one of the many stars. By the time Doomsday realized what had happened it would be too late to do anything about it. But she was right… this fight was far from over.

Within three locations - three distinct locations, locked within a system of turmoil - there was a loud hush over all.

And from that hush there was silence.

Hunters bent from bloodshed, from malice, hunchbacked from persuasion and vengeance - began to feel the effects of a great void.

Within those three distinct locations, the vacuum took effect. The Ferryman was paid. Their kingdom beckoned their return.

And in that silence came the screams as three Hunters, their cloaks pulled at their throats, sucked away like shadows, devoured by gnashing teeth. And perhaps they were going to where there would be "wailing and grinding of teeth..."

And through the screams, three Hunters were pulled away, crushed into Oblivion as if their bones were pressed for a pastry, baked in a flame that was not natural of life...so much for their oh-so-evil bidding.

Within those three distinct locations, confusion reigned over all as the void closed, as the vacuum stopped its pull. For within those locations, the enemy - the Hunters once hunting - were gone.

***

Castle Tarentum

Zero opened his eyes slowly, confidently, letting the silence settle like a fine dust over the scene. Where the Hunter once stood was now empty space, a clean spot on a carpet, as if the enemy were an ugly clod of dirt swept away. The Tarenti stood frozen, startled, their weapons lowering as if a drawbridge was being lowered and relief spilled out like a thin trickle of blood from the vein. Oberst, appropriately enough, was the first to speak.

"I can safely say I've never seen this done before," he said, casting a wary eye at the Tarentae before him. "New trick you've been practicing?"

"You could say that," replied Zero, albeit softly, as if resigned. "And if I can help it, it's something no one will ever have to use again. To open Oblivion like that is...straining, to say the very least."

He turned and gave a thin smile to Bloodfyre as the Watcher stepped toward him, and Kyra and Raiju studied the area where the Hunter had last stood. In the next moment, it seemed as if the entire castle was revived. Lights flickered back on, the hum of heaters growing as the power seemed to return, as if it had been restrained throughout the whole episode. Oberst's commlink burst back to life, as a cascade of voices erupted from multiple transmissions as if the thing were a cheap walkie-talkie.

"Consul, we have just received word from Gladius -"

"It appears that the enemy has simply vanished from the Corsair -"

"What the Hell is happening here?!"

With a simple gesture, Oberst clicked off his comm, just as Zero stepped to one of the vacant chairs lined against the walls of his waiting room. He gazed upon the four Tarenti gently, almost as if he were pitying them for an unknown reason. But it would not be unknown for long.

"You're probably all wondering why I've arrived, aside from doing my party tricks for you," he said. "Sit down. You won't want to be standing for this information."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Raiju demanded.

"It's supposed to mean this isn't just your average report," Zero remarked, grinning at the Templar's audacity. "Now sit."

Raiju complied - even he knew his place in the waiting room of Zero Tarentae. As Kyra and Raiju sat, however, Bloodfyre and Oberst remained standing. Whether it was due to respect for Zero or the fact that they did not feel obligated to obey was up for interpretation. Zero didn't seem to mind, either way.

"I fear this will not go well with most of Tarentum," Zero said, "and it's bound to anger all of you. But I feel it's necessary for our clan's survival...and for our sanity. If I had known sooner...I would've informed you."

"What are you talking about?" Oberst demanded.

"I'm saying," Zero said, letting the words sink in, "that the Keepers are not who they seem. In fact...it could be one of the greatest betrayals in Tarentum history."

"You mean..." Bloodfyre, of all people, trailed off, and soon a certain atmosphere settled among all of the listening. A disturbed, uncomfortable atmosphere, one of utmost understanding.

"The Keepers," Zero declared, his hooded head lowered, "have been against us since the very beginning."

***

Yridia IV

Ronovi remained by Khyven's body. He was already cold, the blood pooling around his armor, his Sith sword at his side. The Proconsul had not been in this agent's presence very often - and now that she was again, it was in the cold, harsh atmosphere of death. She laid his sword across his chest, the burnt armor littered with crimson and white snow, and let his eyes close with a brush of her hand.

She was interrupted from this impromptu memorial by Ji's harsh breaths as he lay in the reddened snow - and by her commlink suddenly buzzing with a transmission. With what little strength she had left, Ronovi raised her commlink to her lips and slowly spoke into it. "Proconsul...reporting."

"Ronovi!" came Nami's voice from the comm. "We're all in the Doomsday! Has the shuttle picked you and Ji up yet?"

"No..." Ronovi breathed harshly, attempting to regain her words. "No."

"You're kidding. What's taking it so long?"

"Explain...later..."

"Ronovi? Are you all right?"

"Send...shuttle...now..."

The commlink slipped from her fingers as exhaustion finally settled in, and Ronovi slid on her side into the snow, her coat growing cold and damp around her as she closed her eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.

***

Castle Tarentum

"The Keepers..." Zero began, standing still as Bloodfyre and Oberst had both begun to pace. "You know their quest. To oversee balance within life and death. Between this plane and the plane of Oblivion. There is...sacrifice to be made to keep that balance."

"And that condones any betrayal you're possibly implying?" Oberst growled. "Just how much did you play into their game, Zero?"

"I didn't know of any 'game' until recently," Zero said. "I've been busy with my own studies, and my own work. The Keepers have always reminded me that the balance must be kept, though...even if Tarentum must suffer because of it."

"Tell me, friend," Bloodfyre said, "how far have they gone to keep that balance?"

"Where do I even begin?" Zero asked. "How can I even start that list? Adamu, the Hunters, the Renegade...it is all their work. You honestly think Tarentum would have to deal with any of these powerful enemies were it not for its affiliation with the Keepers? It is the Keepers who continue the conflict. They were the ones who saw to the destruction of the Cestus Complex. They were the ones who spurred the seven Dark Jedi in their vengeance. They were the ones who riled up the ghosts of the Renegade, knowing that they could awaken Talitha within it. They were the ones who enlisted Adamu into their legions, created the Hunters as inferior beings to create havoc. The Keepers did all of this with a clean mind, for it gave them strength and power...and vengeance upon you in order to cause sacrifice."

There was silence to these remarks, as the whole scope of the betrayal began to fall into place. If everything the Keepers were involved with had been their conspiracy, it meant that everything Tarentum had done for the Keepers had merely strengthened them in their resolve to attack Tarentum. The Obsidian Blade, the necromancers...everything was against them. But the question was...why? Zero seemed to read their minds at this point. And he answered.

"The balance, the Keepers say," Zero said, "is off-kilter. Oblivion must be stronger, and therefore a better kingdom to reign over. And in order for Oblivion to be a greater kingdom...there must be more dead."

"So the Keepers let us die," Kyra whispered.

"Yes," Zero replied. "Your weakest, your Journeymen, and even those involved in your fiefdom. The citizens of Yridia, and the Tarenti...die for the sake of the Keepers' strength. The entire necromantic order, and the wish for King Phalanthus...nothing but fodder for us to feed on, like we're cattle grazing and being fattened for slaughter. And if you think this angers you, then you must know how much it infuriates me."

He fell silent after this remark, and almost seemed shut down. Zero, a loyal necromancer and subsequent Keeper, had seen the secrets of necromancy, only to find that it was being turned against him, used to manipulate him and his clan. How, then, could he not be angered or upset by the news of years spent in necromancy being only for the threats towards his own unit? All of the Tarenti felt the furious fire brewing within them, like they were all pots boiling, their contents threatening to spill from their brims. Oberst stopped pacing, placed a hand on his firearm, and directed his attention toward the exit.

"The immediate threat to our kingdom is gone, thanks to you, Master Zero," he said. "But the threat to the Sith King is not. And my duty, above all, is to Khyron...even above the cursed Keepers."

"What will you have us do, Oberst?" Bloodfyre demanded. "We're hopeless. We're pawns in a silly game. The Keepers have power over us, and they can destroy us if we resist. What can come from this?"

"There is a way to break the Keepers," Zero broke in, stepping between the two leaders of the sects. "Even if it means we have to kill them."

"Kill the Keepers?" Kyra reiterated. "That's a suicide mission!"

"As I said, I have studied their powers as well as their weaknesses," Zero replied. "Why else do you think their species were almost exterminated? They are prone to self-conflict, not just genocide...and the weapon you have granted them..."

"Yes. The Obsidian Blade."

"Powerful," Zero uttered. "In many ways...almost too powerful for the Keepers themselves to wield."

"So then..." And they understood. Oberst and Bloodfyre exchanged glances before they and Zero raced out of the room, leaving Kyra and Raiju sitting in their chairs.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Raiju barked, as he and Kyra attempted to catch up with the necromancers. Oberst turned and held up a hand.

"Follow my orders. Raiju, send a commlink to Anshar. We need him to return to Yridia, if only briefly. Kyra, you are to alert everyone in the necromantic inner order - this includes Telona Murrage."

"And what about you?" Kyra asked. "Where are you going?"

"To the Ziggurat," Oberst replied. "To find the Keepers. And that is all you need to know."

He then turned and disappeared down the corridor, his military uniform glistening with sweat, his boots loud against the slick floors beneath him. And through his mind, as well as Zero's and Bloodfyre's, rang one name loudly as if it were a large bell being struck with a a single note: Talitha.

***

Ziggurat

Footsteps on marble. They were approaching. She would stop them.

Oberst heard the clang of a blade from a distance, at the end of the corridor. He led the way, Zero and Bloodfyre flanking him. No one else could do this assignment with them. This was their business alone. And the Keepers could easily kill any additions to a "team."

They were coming closer. She would kill them.

The energy within the Ziggurat was almost electric, current-like, pulsing as if the entire hallway were a giant blood vessel. Oberst half-expected the walls to cave in from pressure, stony walls that would turn to flesh and squeeze them. He heard a clang again.

She would kill them. For the sake of her king.

"OUT!"

Talitha's scream could easily be heard as she swung the massive Obsidian Blade. It struck the wall viciously, tearing away a large chunk of it as debris flew in all directions. Bloodfyre let the hilt of his double-bladed saber zip into his hand. Oberst removed his sidearm. Zero merely stood open, as if ready to take the barrage.

The Keeper stood there, alone, her breaths deep and shaky like a wooden rattle. Her hair stood out in all directions. Her face was alight, and almost with a greenish hue. The Obsidian Blade dragged across the floor as she stepped forward, as if the weapon were too heavy for her to carry for long periods of time.

Oberst spoke first. "Talitha..."

"I said OUT!" Talitha screeched as she raised the Obsidian Blade over her head. She brought it down sharply, and the marble began to tear up beneath her, fissures growing and threatening to allow water to seep up from underneath. The three Tarentae deftly dodged the attack as it ripped through the stone, and Bloodfyre spoke this time.

"We need to speak to you."

"The others don't want you here," Talitha snarled, her voice high-pitched and strained. "They told me not to let you in."

"You mean Tel'Ratha and Shade?"

"YES!" Talitha shrieked. "You may not enter. Leave now."

"Why don't they want us here?" Zero asked, and at the sound of his voice, Talitha shrank back. She recognized the voice of a fellow Keeper, even if only an initiated one. She lowered the blade in her hands, her knuckles white from grasping the handle so tightly.

"They said...they said that you would only allow the enemy to..."

"The 'enemy' is gone, Talitha," Zero said. "The Hunters have been taken care of."

"But..." Talitha's voice faltered. "But how? How did..."

"You can stop listening to every word Tel'Ratha and Shade tell you," Zero replied as he stepped toward the girl. "They were lying. The Hunters are not equals to you. Adamu is not your enemy. And there is no king."

"No king?"

"Yes...they have been lying to you."

"Lying..." Talitha whispered, "...to me?"

"Every word," Zero said.

Whether he was exaggerating or not, his little speech seemed to affect Talitha. She turned slowly, stepped into the main chamber of the Ziggurat, and seemed to beckon the others to enter as well. The chamber was empty save for them - the thrones of the Keepers were bare, stony representations of their place in Tarentum politics for so long. Talitha moved to one of the thrones, stood beside it, keeping the blade lowered at her side and not loosening her grip. It was clear what the blade was doing to her fragile psyche - Bloodfyre began to fear that she would shatter if touched.

"No," Talitha finally managed to say. "Not every word. My king is good - he has guided me. I cannot believe you. I will not believe you."

"Believe what you want, Talitha," retorted Zero. "It does not make it untrue. The Keepers have toyed with you..."

"THEY WOULD NOT TOY WITH THEIR OWN KIND!" Talitha shrieked. "They are my family! I AM ONE OF THEM!"

"Yes, they want that to be so, if you let them," Zero said. "You've been dragged into their little game, Talitha. I was misled, too. But I've broken free of it. I know the truth. And I know my mission."

"And what," came a voice from behind them, "would that particular mission be?"

Zero barely turned in time to see Oberst and Bloodfyre thrown backward and slammed against the wall, the wind knocked out of them as they were planted into the stone. Though they both regained coordination quickly, they both soon felt the trickle of blood from their heads and shoulders where they had been thrown, as the dark silhouettes of Tel'Ratha and Shade appeared. Tel'Ratha's pale face soon glowered in the dim lighting of the chamber, the skin pulled and mismatched as if sewn, his teeth bared in a painful grin. Shade remained stoic, but it was he who had first struck the Tarentae, as they gathered together again in an offensive stance.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Zero," Tel'Ratha hissed, approaching slowly with his hands raised. "All these years and you grow reckless, like a teenager."

"Stop chastising me, Tel'Ratha," Zero snapped. "I know what you've been doing."

"So you refuse to accept a necessary evil? Very well, then," Tel'Ratha replied. "I pity you. We are doing the clan a great service, sharing our secrets and restoring the balance of life and death...if you can't accept that, you truly are fools."

"Enough!" Bloodfyre roared. "Tel'Ratha, Shade, I had placed my trust in you as a follower of your teachings. I served as leader to the Watchers thinking I was saving your hides. Well, Oberst and I have every right to be angry, and we have every right to punish you!"

"Oh, you want to put us down, like dogs?" Tel'Ratha asked. "Well, good luck with that, dear Tarenti...but don't forget that we are the teachers. Shade?"

Shade nodded slowly before raising his arms, and instantly Oberst, Bloodfyre, and Zero felt the impending effects of a necromantic attack. It was as if Zero were attempting to mold the three's flesh, to craft it into something different for his own uses. Oberst could feel the skin of his arms be pulled, swelling morbidly, and he raised his hand and let the Blackflames shoot from his fingers, the dark fire pouring into Shade's line of vision. While the attack was able to stop the Fleshcraft attack, it was not enough to do damage, as Shade was able to ward off the flames as if he were the wind itself. He stepped forward, approaching Zero, before Zero aggressively raised his arms and delved into the Force as Shade let out a terrible Force Wail.

Bloodfyre and Oberst acted quickly to the sound, as it echoed off the stony walls and seemed to churn up the waters around them, before suddenly it seemed as if a storm were brewing outside. Using the Force, the two Tarentae shut their ears from the Wail, and they moved forward as Zero muttered the incantation for the "Shattering." The sound of breaking bones was sharp and definite, as if a tree were crumpling from a bolt of lightning, and to Oberst and Bloodfyre's amazement, Shade shrieked and fell to his knees, his arms waving uselessly at his sides with the bones jutting from the flesh; his breath constricted as all of his ribs were pulverized.

Zero seemed to revel in every minute of Shade's pain, circling him deftly, cracking his knuckles, pleased that his attack had worked. He waited for Shade to respond, to begin the Force healing so that his bones would piece together, but even for the most powerful of Keepers, it was a slow process - and a fateful one.

"Can't call the Euthanatos now, can you, Shade?" Zero demanded. "Can't summon your undead legions to smite me, can you? I may be only a student, Shade, but I have worked to become a master of your own arts. And I will use them against you!"

Shade seemed to want to respond to these barbs, rising to his feet as the bones were set back together in his ankles and knees, but Oberst and Bloodfyre were soon upon him, Blackflames cascading from their hands, attacking straight into Shade's soul. Zero allowed the Tarentae to do this, standing there silently, smiling, as Shade screamed. He smiled as the tissue of Shade's body began to deteriorate, for each cell to crumble within his body like dust. For Shade was not immortal, and he could be broken.

But he would fight. Shade's face emerged from the flames, distorted, shrieking, as he attempted to unleash his wrath upon Zero. Zero could feel his organs threaten to burst from his body, his bones threaten to rearrange themselves. He felt all the attempts at fear, at living nightmares, at suffering penetrate his being. Even Bloodfyre and Oberst seemed mentally affected, but they pressed on, as Tel'Ratha seemed frozen by the spectacle. The Blackflames continued to swell in a dark, unnatural inferno, engulfing Shade until there was nothing left but a stiff, eaten corpse still standing upright until the kneecaps gave out and it crumpled to the floor.

Oberst and Bloodfyre's energy began to dissipate. Exhaustion set in. And the Blackflames were extinguished, the two's fingers stiff and white from exertion. They stumbled where they stood, moved to the wall to hold themselves upright, to breathe, as they attempted to regain their strength from the strike on Shade. Zero seemed unfazed - his work was done. One step in his revenge had been taken.

And Tel'Ratha laughed.

"Splendid, Zero, splendid! Well done. We have taught you well," he said, approaching Zero and prodding at Shade's body with his foot. "A rather heavy sacrifice, but...one I'm willing to take."

"Interesting," Zero muttered, "how the death of your fellow Keeper does not upset you."

"I have seen the death of my brothers and sisters at the hands of Palpatine, and at their own hands," Tel'Ratha snarled. "You think I would bawl like a baby now? For thousands of years, I have seen my people die...but it's all right. For a long time, there were only two of us...Talitha and I will do just fine bringing you to justice for our fallen brother."

He turned as if for approval from Talitha, only to see his reflection in the stone of the Obsidian Blade, held in front of his face. Talitha stood rigidly before Tel'Ratha, her face looking as if chiseled from igneous rock, her eyes glowing like dark coals. She held the Obsidian Blade at a lofty angle, the hilt shaking in her hands as the weight almost pinned her down.

Tel'Ratha smiled and spoke to Talitha as if she were a mischievous child. "What are you doing?"

"You..." she said. "You let Shade die. You didn't help him."

"And?"

Talitha's teeth were bared. "Would you do the same to me? Would you let me die?"

"Talitha," Tel'Ratha warned. "You are unstable -"

He was cut off as Talitha struck, digging the heavy blade deep under Tel'Ratha's ribcage, tearing away the layers of added skin over the years. Tel'Ratha gurgled, choked for air, his eyes bulging in pain and a slight tinge of surprise at his fellow Keeper's fateful move. From behind him, Oberst, Bloodfyre, and Zero simply stared as the intimidating blade glistened from the gaping wound in Tel'Ratha's back, coated in dark blood.

"You..." Tel'Ratha managed to say. "You kill the balance...you kill us all..."

"YOU TRAITOR!" Talitha screamed. "YOU BASTARD! YOU MURDERER!"

And she yanked the blade from Tel'Ratha's body only to impale him on it again, lifting his still squirming body high into the air as she screamed incoherent words. The Tarentae stepped back, staring at the grotesque image, as Tel'Ratha's lifeless eyes stared upward, as if asking the perhaps never answerable question of why. Talitha kept him raised for some time, as if he were a disturbing type of war trophy, before lowering the Obsidian Blade and letting Tel'Ratha slide off like a slippery piece of raw meat off a shish-ka-bob.

The body of the Keeper slumped in a mangled heap on the floor, the blood mingling with the cloth of Shade's robes where Shade lay as well. The two Keepers were tangled in their own death, eyes wide open, mouths exposing graying tongues and no great last words to give. And as the dust settled on their corpses, Zero dared to step toward the still shivering Talitha, all sanity seemingly gone from her visage, but somehow retaining her former childish look - a look of naivety, and a look of sorrow.

Zero extended hand to the girl, slowly, cautiously. "Talitha..."

"No." Talitha stepped back, raising the Obsidian Blade again. Oberst and Bloodfyre quickly rushed over to flank Zero, hands and weapons raised in case they had to kill again. But Talitha was quicker. She looked at her weapon as if it were foreign and unknown to her, turned the blade toward her, and stuck it deep into her stomach until the tip erupted from her back and sprayed blood and exploded entrails behind her like she was a firework.

The Tarentae were shocked, but they did not dare to move. Talitha gazed up at them with eyes filling with blood, as well as tears.

"I go..." she said, her voice choked and strained as her breath vanished from her lungs, "...to be with my king."

And she fell with a clatter, the Obsidian Blade still stuck within her as if she were a roasted pig - a loud crashing sound on the marble, as the blood began to flow more freely. Zero stepped back before the crimson touched his boots, and he, Oberst, and Bloodfyre looked around at the bloodshed as everything finally began to sink in. Bloodfyre bowed his head as if in mourning. Oberst stared straight at the wall, his lips drawn tightly into a thin, straight line. Zero only could close his eyes, and drift.

Talitha was dead. The Keepers were, after thousands of years, finally extinct.

***

All around Yridia, there were pieces to be picked up as if they were glass from a broken mirror. Reflections of what once was were split apart, shards of faces, of cities, of histories that would disappear and would only be looked at in tomes from now on. Shattered. Broken. Those were proper words to describe the chain of events that had plagued Tarentum for so long.

From Koros, there was blood to be cleaned from the corridor walls, and bodies to be piled up and burned on pyres. Doni Tzu, Vai, Saitou, all the surviving Phthians and Hippoti and Komturei and Akolyths of the Lokhos - all with eyes downcast, mourned their fallen, as well as the Hunter that had held so strong a fight...

From the Sword's Sheath, there was fear to be quenched. Shardara and Proton had Journeymen to comfort, Equites to talk with. They, too, were shaken, especially at how much they had had to run. How much they had had to remember their roles as Gladians and True Gladians of their proud house...

From Castle Tarentum, order was to be restored. The Consul returned to his throne room. Tarentae, necromancers, and Tridenians alike gathered to hear his next commands. Engineers, soldiers that had survived, stifled their shrieks at the masses that had been their allies, within the pinnacle of architecture that Tarentum had to offer, within a massive sea of blood, especially at the bodies carried from deep below the waves...

And from the corridors of the Doomsday, work had to be done, and transportations to be made. Aidyn Wolfwood's body, to the hands of the Dark Council, on Antei...house summit leaders, to their posts at their appropriate home bases...and the few dragged through the ship, an unconscious Ronovi Tavisaen and a bleeding Ji K'awiil, to be brought to the medical bay of the castle, to be treated, so that they, too, would be well enough to know the news...

And those renowned Tarenti returning to Yridian soil for the emergency meetings and conferences knew that Tarentum, as a clan, was broken, but pieces could be mended. A fabric could be resewn. The Necromantic Order of Tarentum was over, to be removed, shunned, banished from lore and from practice. But the new age of Tarentum power was just beginning.