Fury blazed like fire through my body. The stone floor cracked with a loud snap and began to crumble beneath my feet. I was practically growling with pure rage. My entire plan was collapsing because of some petty thief! I'll find the creature who stole my property and snap its neck!
I must have spoken the words aloud, or perhaps my intentions were easily read on my face. "I ask you to calm yourself, dear client," the broker addressed me, his voice anxious yet firm. "Yes, this situation is unpleasant, but entirely resolvable. Isn't that right, Mister Mank?"
"Quite so. Our city guarantees security to its clients. Sentients should feel maximally comfortable when they visit here. What has occurred is a direct insult to our administration and to me personally, as one of the city's governors. Such a thing is not forgiven. However, if you begin to incite unrest, our forces will be compelled to detain you."
"Let them try." Though I said it, there was a kernel of truth in his words. The first wave of anger was slowly subsiding. "If your proposal satisfies me, we will proceed according to your plan."
"As you wish." It was clear he couldn't care less what I thought or what would satisfy me. Activating a holoprojector, the organizer addressed the figure that appeared. "Lot thirty-seven is missing, orange priority level. Review the path of my visitors and locate the thief. I expect results in seven minutes. Also, relay the order to delay the departure of all transport. They can fabricate their own pretext. They're good at it."
"It will be done, Master."
The connection cut off, and the apparent proprietor of the local business leaned back into a soft chair.
"I suggest we discuss the terms of the deal in the meantime. Do you object?"
The energy inside me demanded I find the scoundrel, but I had to restrain myself. This was not the place, nor were these the people, to lose control with, here and now.
"If there is no result in thirty minutes, I will take care of it myself."
"There will be no need. Our people will handle this without issue. Now, I suggest we move on to business."
"With pleasure, my dear Mank. So, ten percent for you, and the rest is ours."
"Ronan, we found the client willing to offer twice the expected sum, we are hosting the event, and we are searching for your blade. I cannot accept your terms."
"Fine, and what do you propose?"
"Sixty-forty."
"Eighty-five-fifteen."
Through the course of the negotiation, we settled on a seventy-thirty split, plus they would provide me with a decent starship. They apparently had an entire warehouse full of them here. Some gamblers get so carried away that they'll wager their own trousers, let alone ships.
Just as our dispute concluded, the holoprojector sprang to life again.
"Mister Mank, permit me to report the results."
"Please, my dear fellow, gladden us with the news. I'm certain your much-vaunted security service has already found everything and..."
"Shut up, Ronan. These are my subordinates. Just listen."
"As you command, my old friend."
"Report, Officer."
"The blade was stolen not far from here. A boy collided with a client and, we hypothesize, extracted the item. After that, he vanished in the direction of the commercial platforms and boarded one of the ships."
"You merely hypothesize?" The governor's face was unreadable, but at that moment, the threat radiating from him was palpable. "That is the only suspicious point, considering the child passed unnoticed by the esteemed Ronan's bodyguards."
"That's true enough," the broker mused, scratching his forehead. "Their baseline programming explicitly forbids anyone not on the 'Green List' from getting close to me."
"Precisely. Yet the suspect managed not only to bypass them but also to almost completely disappear. He skillfully avoided most of the cameras. If it hadn't been for new precautions related to the Imp..." He cut himself off, meeting the governor's gaze. "Simply put, if not for updated security protocols, he would have succeeded in escaping."
"Do you know where he is now?"
"Affirmative. We have identified the vessel where the suspect is hiding. Combat teams have already been deployed to the location."
"Excellent. As agreed, I am going as well."
"I still don't believe that's necessary. Our fighters are more than equipped for operations of this nature."
"I do not need your permission to retrieve what is still my property." The Force swirled around me once more. "Give me the precise rendezvous coordinates."
"Do not be insolent with me, boy." His eyes dangerously narrowed, but his face remained otherwise impassive. "I tolerate you only because your lot is a fine addition to tonight's program. Though, if you died, it would be easier for us. Officer, send us the detailed route."
Copying the data, I strode quickly out of the room.
"Owner, is everything alright?"
"The blade was stolen. Stay here and keep an eye on our broker. If I don't return within two hours, or if you are in danger, act according to your judgment. You can kill everyone."
"Understood, Master."
Shoving aside a concierge droid that tried to stop me, I mounted one of the speeder bikes parked near the hotel and roared away.
The flight took about ten minutes. The city, situated inside an asteroid, was probably forty kilometers in diameter. But that was no problem for the local transport. The Force guided me, suggesting the correct route, allowing me to avoid every collision. Once, I passed another speeder pilot barely a centimeter away. But I didn't care. The anger, at myself for relaxing and losing the blade, at the near-collapse of my entire plan, all of it forced me to surge forward even faster.
I arrived at the rendezvous point simultaneously with the city's security, or whoever they were. Perhaps every large establishment here had its own guards, I couldn't be sure. Their protective masks made it impossible to read their emotions, but the Force told me what they felt. Extreme displeasure at being saddled with dead weight like me. Well, the feeling was entirely mutual.
Waiting for a few more fighters to arrive, the commander reviewed the plan one more time. "Two minutes from here to the objective. Seven men remain outside and secure the exits. Fifteen fighters will search the vessel; engagement is possible. We are boarding a Consular-class frigate, so the search will take time. Be ready for a firefight. Everyone recheck your weapons and deploy the shields."
Only then did I notice the metallic plates lying on the speeder's trailer; those were the shields. Original.
As the commander had said, we reached the destination in a couple of minutes. People scattered before the squad of two dozen men, encased in armor. Their solid helmets and impressive blasters slung on their backs discouraged even the boldest visitors from getting in our way.
The target of our mission was hard to miss. The enormous ship, over a hundred meters long, stood out against the backdrop of the other transports. Several droids were bustling around it, loading containers onto gravitational platforms. A few crew members were lounging lazily by the ramp, engrossed in conversation. Another stood by the lowered ramp, slowly taking a drag from some wretched substance.
Noticing us, he choked on the smoke and scurried inside the ship. A few seconds later, a presentable sentient, clad in expensive attire, emerged to greet us. Orange skin, white facial markings, coupled with the presence of montrals where hair should have been, all betrayed him as a member of the Togruta species.
"To what do I owe your presence near my vessel?"
"A thief is hiding aboard your ship. By order, we are obliged to search your vessel."
"May I ask who this person is?"
"A child or a short adult, who boarded your ship half an hour ago and has not been seen leaving."
"Ah yes, I believe I understand who you mean. We do indeed have a child in our crew. If he has broken the law, he must face the consequences. Cooperation with your superiors is beneficial to us. Allow me to escort you to his cabin."
"First squad remains here. Second squad, follow me."
The crew members, who had been loudly conversing moments ago, fell silent and began casting what they clearly thought were subtle glances at those who remained below.
The sense of danger grew with every step. Something was wrong, but what? A trap? Most likely, but where? Should I take down the captain right now and beat the answers out of him?
"Commander, you realize..."
"That we are being lured in? Of course, I realize it, but it's not a problem. So, I will ask you to be silent and stay out of the way."
We were led into a spacious room that resembled a storage bay more than a living quarter. Several piles of crates and something grayish in the far corner. That was all that was here.
"He lives here; all the cabins are occupied, but it's warm and comfortable here. See that hammock strung up over there? That's his. Look around here while you..."
"Take him!"
Two fighters instantly broke ranks and slammed the Togruta to the floor.
"Squads Two, Three, and Four, search the ship. Turn everything over, but find me the boy." Bending over the squirming prisoner, the commander looked intently at him. "Now, you will answer me again: where is the thief?"
"I don't know." He was visibly shaking with fear. "He was here, honestly..."
A blow to the ribs cut him short.
"I ask again, where is he?"
"I don't know!"
And again, the sound of a strike. Something on the periphery of my vision caught my attention. Leaning down, I stared intently at the gap between two crates; something had glinted there. Nothing, seemingly... Kriff!
The Force struck me with a jolt of danger. Leaping sideways, I barely avoided a pair of bright crimson energy bolts that sizzled past me. The crate walls slid open, and blaster barrels jutted out from them.
"Everyone take cover! Raise shields!"
But the trap had been expertly laid; the entire room was open to fire from every direction. The shields held, but the men were knocked back along with them. One misstep, and you were dead.
I barely managed to evade the numerous blaster streaks. Attacking with the Force was out of the question; all my concentration was focused on predicting the next volley. Several men were already on the floor, screaming in pain.
In all the chaos, the prisoner threw off the fighter holding him and rolled toward the wall. Pressing a barely visible irregularity, he vanished behind the smooth metal surface, which momentarily slid open. I registered this only with the barest edge of my awareness. All my energy was spent on ensuring I didn't acquire any superfluous holes in my body.
Catching the rhythm, I twisted in a jump and used the Force to pull a blaster lying next to a corpse, firing several shots at the nearest turret. No effect. Absolutely nothing. I might as well have been throwing peas at it. The situation changed when one of the fighters successfully tossed a grenade directly under the barrel of one of the turrets. The explosion deafened everyone, but now one sector of the room was not as heavily targeted.
The surviving fighters grouped against the wall, shields raised, supporting one another. One after another, they momentarily peeked out from behind the makeshift cover, tossing a grenade or firing a few shots. The overall cacophony was deafening, but through the ringing in my ears, the commander's shout cut through:
"Client, those things can destroy each other!"
The hint was taken. Pushing off the ground with the Force, I rose several meters and landed on top of one of the installations. Sliding down slightly, I entered its blind spot, waiting for the moment. The sense of danger immediately told me it was time to move. Red streaks scorched the spot where I had stood a second before and punched through the turret's armor. Another deafening explosion rocked the hangar; the hot air burned my face, making me wince in pain.
The smell of blood, superheated metal, and the feeling of imminent peril. All of it hammered at my mind, yet at the same time, it stirred my blood, just like it did back on my homeworld.
The blast wave threw me back and dragged me across the floor. Several metallic shards scraped my body, miraculously failing to pierce me. The pain gave me renewed strength. As I fell, I stretched out my hand. The Force flooded me, demanding release. Another installation erupted in flames. I was slammed into the floor, the air knocked from my lungs. Thankfully, the situation had ceased to be critical. Gaining space to maneuver, the fighters managed to destroy the remaining weapons. At a certain point, a ringing silence filled the entire room. We were alone, amidst piles of twisted metal, deafened, miraculously surviving, but alive.
"Where is that damned captain!" Kicking the door open, I sprinted down the corridor. A dark figure emerging in the hall jerked its hand, aiming a weapon at me. Slightly tilting my head, I let the red flash pass harmlessly. My opponent was unable to do anything further. His own knife, guided by my Force will, pierced his chest. The doors to the bridge opened of their own accord. The Togruta was alone, frantically trying to contact someone.
"...No, no, no! You can't just abandon me like this. You promised me!"
Hearing my approach, he spun around. His orange skin had turned gray, and his hands trembled slightly.
"Mercy, please. He asked me, a man of the Empire, he said I'd get good money for killing a Jedi. I'll tell you everything. Just don't... kkhh hhah." His pleas for mercy turned into gasping breaths. It was not my way to let go of those who tried to kill me. Slowly, I lifted his body off the floor. His gray fingers clawed at his throat, trying to tear away the invisible hand choking him. The panic fear rolled off him in waves. What a pleasant sensation.
A hand fell upon my shoulder. "You have the right to vengeance, esteemed client, but we need to find the true employers."
The commander's words brought me back to myself.
"You are right."
Setting the nearly dead Togruta on the floor, I heartily kicked him in the face.
"Kha kha... Thank you for sparing my life. I'll tell you everything..." A faint feeling of danger made me sway aside, but it wasn't necessary. A dull rattle from the Togruta's throat indicated I was not the target. A gaping hole sizzled through his chest. A neat, melted hole in the glass clearly showed where the shot had come from.
"Blast it!" I punched the metal bulkhead, which buckled, leaving the imprint of my fist.
"What kind of power does it take to punch through glass rated for vacuum travel?" the commander muttered, somewhat dazed. "Well, looks like the employer eliminated the operative. I'll pass on the orders to search; let's at least find your item. Otherwise, all this was for nothing."
The search didn't take long. The blade was in the captain's cabin, stashed in the top drawer. Apparently, he hadn't expected us to survive. Although the Togruta wouldn't have escaped the city anyway. Questions would have been asked about the missing squad, cameras would have confirmed everything. And the ship couldn't have left without clearance. Surprisingly foolish. Unless the Empire was involved...
I needed to sell the item and get out of here as quickly as possible—the farther away, the better. Taking the captured crew members, we hurried back. This time, the blade was secured in a reliable, locking container, which I gripped until my knuckles were white. I definitely didn't want to go through something like that again.
We were a sight that severely jarred with the city's general tone. Battered, dirty, leading prisoners; in short, we did not fit the atmosphere. Higher authorities must have thought so too, as an enclosed transport was waiting for us at the exit of the starport. They dropped me off near the hotel.
"I see you were successful." Ronan met me near the entrance. I wondered if he had been waiting, if it was coincidence, or if he'd bribed someone. "I'm delighted you're unharmed. Losing clients is a very bad omen. You've been assigned room three-four-one, on the third floor. There will be a change of clothes there. I anticipated this kind of outcome, and I must ask you, for the sake of my nerves, to recall your droid. That ghost is following me everywhere. We meet again in one hour, at the same location." He then leaned in and whispered into my ear, "I managed to find out what happened on the ship. My operative has already reported everything. I think I can use this hour to squeeze better terms out of old Mank. Don't worry about a thing, dear client, everything will be handled flawlessly. Ah, yes, please hand over your valuable cargo to me. Believe me, it will be completely safe here..."
I spent most of the time lying in the luxurious bath, which looked more like a small pool. I was definitely beginning to enjoy the modest pleasures of the bourgeoisie; I had forgotten what this felt like... I emerged feeling refreshed and revitalized. In the closet, I found an identical set of clothes and several bacta patches, which would accelerate the healing of my wounds. Just what the doctor ordered. Now I was ready to go back for aggressive negotiations.
They were already waiting for me in the room. Ronan and Mank presented a surprising contrast. One was beaming like a star, and the other was darker than a storm cloud.
"Our dear client, new circumstances have arisen concerning our deal. The Kyber crystal at the heart of this weapon has proven to be extremely rare and valuable. I contacted a potential buyer who agreed to double the sum again. And since this is entirely the merit of your humble advisor, the organization will take its percentage only from the old amount."
"Yes, that's correct. Also, as an expression of gratitude for your assistance, without which our fighters would likely have perished, our share will be reduced to twenty-five percent. Thus..."
"Thus, my dear client. The blade will go for a minimum of one million five hundred thousand credits. Based on that figure, three hundred seventy-five thousand will go to the organization, and one hundred fifty thousand to me, according to our private agreement. I should point out that this is the absolute minimum you can expect!"
"Do you have any requests, complaints, or new proposals regarding our contract? You need not worry about the auction itself. Even if the Empire is involved in this affair, it will not be able to stop the proceedings. Rest assured of that."
I stood there, stunned by the sheer good fortune that had dropped into my lap. This was twice what I had originally planned! Where should I spend this money? Where should I invest it? I don't know. I suppose it's best to decide that after the deal is closed.
Calm, calm. Inhale. Exhale. The main thing was to keep my voice from shaking. "When will the auction be held?"
"This evening. It's in our mutual interest to conclude everything as quickly as possible. Until then, you may use the services of our organization without limit." Setting a datapad on the table, Mank continued, "Show this card anywhere, and the service will be provided free of charge. This is another thank you from our side. Except for the casino, regrettably. Your abilities... could impact the fairness of the game. So I regret to inform you, you won't be able to gamble."
"I understand. When and where do I need to be?"
"I ask that you return here in five hours. You will be escorted to a special location from which you can observe the auction. Or would you like to participate?"
"I'm afraid I don't have enough credits at the moment."
"Oh, dear client, don't worry. The organization has already assessed your credit-worthiness. We are prepared to extend you roughly a million credits at this time. Is that correct, Ronan?"
"You are correct. If you're interested, I can provide you with a catalog. This time, our auction theme is Jedi and Sith artifacts. Your item will be the star of tonight's program."
"Deliver the catalog to my room. I don't know about you, but I am absolutely starving. May I leave?"
"Of course, dear client. You are as free as a bird in the sky."
Taking the card and nodding goodbye, I walked quickly toward the restaurant. The mere thought of food sent an unpleasant cramping sensation through my stomach. Well, now to see what the local cuisine had to offer. It turned out to be not as good as I'd thought. Decent meat with some kind of side dish, but nothing extraordinary. The desserts, however... Mmm. Though they cost far less than the main courses, they were mind-blowingly delicious. When I tasted something like ice cream, a literal fireworks display of flavors exploded in my mouth. It was probably the best sweet thing I had eaten in these two lives.
Sitting in the restaurant and depleting the local supply of sweets, I was simultaneously able to shop for new gear: formal wear, new weapons, armor, medical supplies, spare parts for the droid and the ship. Right now, I was adhering to the motto, "Excessive modesty is harmful," and casually racking up everything I needed. I estimated the total to be seventy-five thousand credits at local rates. In the wider galaxy, it would have barely cost twenty, but prestige inflates the price.
At a certain point, I got tired of sitting, and I couldn't eat any more ice cream. What else was there to do? I couldn't go to the casino, and I didn't want to just wander the city. Well, if I was tired of sitting, I might as well lie down. Moving to another table that had a comfortable couch, I stretched out, propping my feet on the backrest. I caught a few disapproving glances out of the corner of my eye, but who cared? Stopping a waiter, I asked him to bring the catalog from my room. A few minutes later, he returned, holding in his hands... A glossy, karking catalog, exactly like those in my home world. Barely suppressing a laugh, I handed the waiter a couple of credit chips and dove into the study.
Well, personally, most of the items looked like rare garbage. What value could there be in a "Fragment from a Sith Temple"? Maybe it has some inherent value, but what is its purpose? I don't understand. Or take "Personal Pendant of Jedi Master Reppo Ginza"—who is that, where did it come from, why is it here? Questions without answers. And the starting prices were outrageous. One hundred thousand for a fragment. The catalog writers were likely not idiots, which meant this kind of junk was in demand.
Against the backdrop of all that blatant junk, my blade did indeed look majestic and exceedingly rare. Still, besides my item, there were a couple of other interesting artifacts. For example, a star chart. If the description was accurate, it marked a lost Jedi Temple somewhere in the Unknown Regions. It looked promising, provided it wasn't a fake.
Another item that caught my attention was the "Ancient Jedi Blade," a long sword without a hilt guard. According to the catalog, this sword was over twenty thousand years old, yet still razor-sharp. With sufficient skill, it could slice through stone and certain metals. It sounded intriguing, but the starting price of four hundred thousand seemed inflated to me. Especially in the age of modern weaponry.
The final item that interested me was a "Jedi Holocron." As I understood it, this was a kind of instructional device where a Master could record information for his or her Padawan. It sounded interesting; if the price didn't exceed seven hundred thousand credits during the auction, I would try to acquire the artifact. It certainly wouldn't hurt.
Now, more than ever, I felt the shortcomings of my training. I lacked a Master who could see all my mistakes. I was sure I could find the correct solutions myself, but why spend years on it when I could spend a few months? It was decided: I would make every effort to acquire that holocron.
Just like that, time flew by while reviewing the catalog. After examining the last page, I looked up at the clock. Less than half an hour remained. It was good that I had finished before the auction began.
The closer the time got, the more my anxiety grew. At first, I thought it was due to the upcoming event, but no. It was the Force itself that was agitated; something was about to happen, but what, I couldn't tell. The threat was still distant and spectral. Well, I still had time to work out escape routes.
Going up to the room, I found King standing with a datapad in his hands, studying something.
"What is it this time?"
"I am reviewing the new amendments the government is introducing regarding mechanical sentients."
"And what are they?"
"None."
"And what does that mean for us?"
"Absolutely nothing."
"Now listen. I have an urgent matter."
"Matters! It's always matters with you!" Feigning indignation, he even turned around and stomped his foot. "Why not come over and ask how I'm feeling, what my mood is like? All you organics are the same!"
"Are you finished?"
"Yes, Owner."
"Then heed my will. Go to our new ship right now and keep it in a launch-ready state."
"A...?"
"I'll upload advanced piloting algorithms into you now."
"Maybe..."
"No. You stand there and wait for me. If I don't signal within an hour, you take off. And you operate according to the 'M.M.M.M.' directive."
"Order understood, to act according to the protocol, 'Money, money, and more money.'"
"Correct. You currently have a total of twenty, twenty-five thousand credits. I can probably get another fifty thousand in cash; they're unlikely to give me more before the deal closes. As soon as you accumulate enough, you acquire a station for extracting valuable minerals from asteroids. And you start operations somewhere deep in the Outer Rim. You'll have to figure the rest out yourself there. I'll make contact as soon as I can; this might be a false alarm entirely."
"Master." The droid's voice seemed to carry a mix of tension and sadness, but I probably imagined it. "I request permission for Protocol 'V' if you do not establish contact within five years."
"Well, that sounds like a plan. And vengeance is generally a magnificent thing. Good luck, and I hope everything turns out fine."
Nodding to each other, we went our separate ways. It was time for me to go back down to the room. On the way, a young lad from the hotel staff intercepted me.
We passed through a room marked "Personnel Only." Ah, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. Corridors lit by subdued light, a dark tunnel, how familiar all of this was. The passage led us into a large, circular hall, illuminated by burgundy lamps. Comfortable couches surrounded tables, on which cocktails had already been prepared for the guests.
"This way, please."
They opened an unassuming door for me, behind which the broker, the organizer, and a couple of other people I didn't know were already waiting.
"Ah, dear client, good evening. You are perfectly on time. The hall will soon be completely full. A very entertaining spectacle awaits you."
Half an hour later, the hall was packed. Ladies in luxurious gowns, men in expensive clothes, and a multitude of species. However, the roar of voices barely penetrated our privacy glass. Given that no one even looked in our direction, I figured this must be some kind of extra-VIP box. What incredible luck I was having today.
Once everyone was seated, an announcer walked onto the stage and began lecturing about the might of the Jedi and the Sith. How powerfully they had influenced the fate of our galaxy, and on and on and on. Deadly boredom, to be honest. But the hall listened with bated breath. They showed a couple of video clips filmed during the Clone Wars. They featured Jedi systematically destroying countless droids. For a few minutes, Skywalker was highlighted, battling some bald woman with a pair of red blades. Yoda, commanding an offensive on some planet, and other footage in the same vein. It all looked grand and did an excellent job of firing up the audience.
But now the bidding finally began. The frenzy was intense. The temple fragment went for two hundred fifty thousand credits. A chunk of rock, kark it, for money that could outfit a small fleet of cargo ships.
Time passed, and the auction gained momentum. The thrill of the hunt was palpable in the room. Collectors of all stripes were trying to snatch a piece of this galaxy's history for themselves.
But it held no particular interest for me. Rich people waste their money on junk, so what? The only time I tried to participate in the bidding was for lot thirty-five—the Jedi Holocron. But some gray-haired old man immediately raised the price to a million, and I gave up. I'd rather find one myself somehow. The broker seemed to be of the same mind, quietly slipping out, citing a new order. Mank tried to stop him, but they whispered something to each other and separated. Ronan disappeared behind the heavy, burgundy curtain that concealed the emergency exit.
But now, the long-awaited event finally began. "Ladies and gentlemen. Allow us to present a special lot. We sacrificed much to bring it to you. We are sincerely proud to present... The Blade of the Jedi Order!"
The hall fell silent, everyone gazing expectantly at the stage. With a wave of a hand, a stout man began to ascend the stairs, carefully carrying my blade on a velvet cushion. In rhythm with his steps, a golden chain, dangling from his breast pocket, swung back and forth...
You mother... It's him...!
I didn't get to finish the thought. A second of silence, the world seeming to freeze for a moment, and then...
A terrible crash sounded as the blast doors were blown into the hall. Soldiers in white armor flooded through the resulting opening. Clones! They took positions around the hall's perimeter, holding everyone present at blaster point.
Fear, panic, and confusion filled the room. The last to enter was a tall, dark figure with an active red lightsaber. Black armor covered the neck and chest of this being; a dark gray suit made of specialized protective fabric allowed for unhindered movement. It seemed as if this creature was gliding, not walking. A gray, elongated, hairless skull and red facial tattoos gave this being a truly horrifying appearance. But what frightened me most were the eyes filled with a golden gleam.
"In the name of the Empire," the voice was deafening. This being radiated the Force—dark, inevitable. The dark side tightly enveloped this creature, creating an oppressive aura of authority. "All present are arrested on suspicion of harboring a Jedi, as well as for participation in illegal artifact trade."
A few individuals drew blasters, but they were instantly cut down by blue bursts of energy.
I stared unblinkingly at the pale face. The stranger's head dipped, and the eyes, filled with molten gold, fixed upon me.
"I see you, Jedi."
The red blade whizzed as it flew toward the protective glass. Passing through it without meeting any resistance, the saber sliced off the organizer's head and embedded itself in the wall, slowly sliding down. Swaying on its feet for a second, the body dropped to the floor with a dull thud.
Snapping out of their shock, several VIPs rushed toward the emergency exit. One even made it and began frantically pulling the handle, trying to open the door, but failed.
The blade, obeying its master, moved again. Another crimson blade burst from its hilt. Spinning wildly, the weapon returned to the hand of the dark figure, who moved relentlessly toward me, cutting several more sentients in half along the way.
With a monumental effort of will, I fought off the paralyzing fear, pulling rage from the depths of my being.
My lightsaber, lying on the velvet cushion, soared into the air and was in my hand a second later.
"Amusing. The young Jedi wants to fight. Troopers, do not fire! He is mine."
Standing straight, the Sith placed a hand behind his back and swung the saber, tracing some pattern in the air. He's exposed!
I closed the distance with a leap and delivered a sweeping strike. Moving at an unbelievable speed, the red blade shot out to meet mine. Red and blue blades collided.
"It is impolite to attack your opponent without an invitation."
The mouth with sharp teeth stretched into a smile. Suddenly, the blades began to draw toward each other! Distracted for a moment, I received a crushing kick to the stomach.
My flight was extremely fast. I distinctly registered the crunch of breaking ribs and the grating sound of a metal plate buckling.
"It can't be that this is all there is. Were you truly such a useless apprentice that everyone forgot about you?!"
A clear mockery was audible in his voice, but I couldn't focus on it. A crimson fog veiled my eyes, the thumping of my heart echoed loudly in my ears, and my mouth filled with the coppery taste of blood. I'll kill you!
The Darkness almost completely consumed my existence. The monster stirred contentedly, preparing to take my place. No, I will do this myself! I won't allow that creature to take my place again. A mixture of fear, rage, and pain gave me strength.
Short movements of my fingers, and two metal plates flew toward my enemy.
A swing of the saber, and the first plate was sliced in half, causing the enemy no harm. The second stopped mere centimeters from his face.
"Not bad, but you are certainly not a Jedi. I suppose my informant was right." As he spoke, he began to walk toward me unhurriedly. The plate followed him, no matter how much effort I put into it. Cold sweat broke out all over my body, and my head felt ready to split from the throbbing pain. "I feel your fear, your rage. But you try to channel them. Very interesting. I didn't think a self-taught practitioner could achieve this on their own. But it is not enough!"
The piece of metal plunged into the wall next to my head. The shock of everything happening paralyzed me for a second, and my lightsaber was ripped from my grasp.
"I'll hold onto this. Soldiers, seize him! The Emperor needs him alive."
Having said this, he turned away. Don't underestimate me!
A blaster from the hands of the nearest clone flew to me. A series of seven shots to the back is not something anyone can likely deflect... IMPOSSIBLE!
With a smooth, barely perceptible movement, the Sith spun around and activated his lightsaber. From the side, it looked as if a red shield had formed around him, capable of eliminating any threat.
All the shots were deflected. One flew directly into me; my right side exploded with pain. Because of this, I couldn't react to several stun blasts flying my way. The last thing I heard was:
"Take him to the ship and place him in a bacta tank. I need him healthy in twelve hours. Do you..."
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