Center 4 CM

Sith Lite

Khryon Hellstar came in, anxious for vengeance from our last encounter when I'd bested him. He jumped the gun, and before I had a chance en guarde, he got some really good hits on me. Sort of. He kept throwing me into walls with the Force. Then he threw me out of the rafters. I landed hard on a table, shattering it into pieces. At last I managed to call upon the Force and threw him down; then I placed a firm Force grip over his heart. I left him alive, at least; only this time he was very much damaged. I was kneeling down to catch my breath, when Exar attacked.

He backed off after the first lunge, giving me a chance to activate my saber; I barely managed to deflect his counterattack. My friends Korbin, Dallas, Jethro, and Chino all leapt forward at him. I was still exhausted from my fight with Hellstar, but called them all back nonetheless. I stood and faced Exar - blade ready. We fought. For a while it was a stalemate, him blocking my attacks and mine dodging his. He finally managed to graze my left rib cage. I recovered and countered like a tigress: slashed at his leg with the saber, kneed him in the groin, backhanded him in the face, elbowed him in the back of the neck, then jumped to the rafters.

Leaning against a wall in the shadows, I wait either for my strength to return or my death. It didn't much matter to me which one. Looking down, I saw Exar, showing every blow I had dealt him; he's looking around for me. Marshalling my resolve, I close my eyes and slide down the wall slightly; planning to finish what I'd begun. It was then when I saw the figure of my old master, Yemovich. My eyes shot open in recognition! Sizing up the situation, I glared down at Exar. Hellstar was there, too. Instinctively, I realized Hellstar was spent and Yemovitch was no problem; so, I somersaulted forward and landed silently behind Exar. I roundhouse kicked him in the small of his back and placed a Force grip over his lungs. I quickly jerked my hand to one side, causing Exar's lungs to jerk aside.

He fought against it but I kept my grip, tight. He managed to get in enough breath and placed a Force grip in my lungs. As I tightened so did his. I almost went down to one knee but quickly gave him another swift jerk to the lungs. Exar released his grip on me and quickly knocked me back into a wall. I slide down; my energy, now, almost gone. My friends all leapt forward to help again. I stood slowly and again called them back. This was my fight, and I'd finish it. Exar challenged me across the room: gonna be my last day living, he yelled. I told him, "Maybe so, but I'm Cassius LaFe'. The last of Rainidrillians. I'll go down ... but it won't be by your weak blade."

I was slowly approaching him, and gathering a bright pulsating ball of energy in my free hand. Thrusting the ball lighting ahead - Exar dropped to the ground, shouting many Sith obscenities. I front flipped forward and kicked him in the throat. Again, I placed a Force grip in him, only this time over his heart. He dropped to one knee. I side kicked him in the head and tightened my grip. Then Hellstar started to help me crush Exar's heart. I looked at him briefly, and he nodded to me. *shakes her head* Now is where I ... made a mistake.

I was concentrating on the Force grip so much that I didn't even sense Exar's attack. He held his saber up to my leg and activated the blade. I watched helplessly as he carved up my leg like a Christmas turkey.

Closing my eyes, too tired even to scream; my grip over his heart loosening - allowing him to, quite literally, crawl away - coward - back into his spaceship, and he was gone. I dropped to the ground, a lifeless rag doll. My leg was a horrible mess, I noticed absently. Surprised at the blood loss, I snapped back; and shoved my fist into the open wound to staunch the bleeding. Chino et all rushed over. I waved them all back, still accepting no help from any one. Then Hellstar came over. He looked me in the eyes and asked me if I trusted him. I nodded.

I watched as Hellstar pulled my fist from the open leg wound and placed his hands on either side of my leg. He motioned Dallas to hold me down. Then he sent a bolt of ragged energy pulsating through my leg. I roiled in agony, and watched in a purple haze as he stepped back and, rolling down his sleeves, glanced at me with a grim smile and said, "till next time, Jedi," and left. Slowly, everyone else left as well.

Lord Adu Kee picks up the thread

Just as she was about to have Lawrence beam her up, a heavy step happened on the Cantina floor. The ominous sound echoed throughout the empty cafe, and Cass felt a shiver course down her spine. A quiet voice reached her from the shadows.

"I wouldn't let a man like Hellstar heal my leg if I were you," he said, face still in shadow. "Slick lady like you - doncha have natural healing skills yourself?" with a hint of a challenge in his voice.

"How the scuz would YOU know," she said angrily. "Besides, what's it to you?" And she tensed for a fight, angry that this macho creep would attack a hurt Jedi.

The steps came closer, and she tensed - then, let up a little, realizing that he was unarmed. Her grip stayed firm on the light sabre anyway,though. Suddenly, with blinding speed, the cowboy streaked clear across the Cantina and jammed his boot into her wound. She screamed in agony, and blood poured from the gruesome mess.

Cass was absolutely terrified now, and marshalling all her resources, she got up on her haunches as best she could, and activated her light saber. The cowboy didn't move an inch. Nor did he reach for a hidden light sword as she expected. Recognizing her advantage, Cass pounced with her best move and slashed at the figure. He ducked, but as he straightened up her back stroke caught him unawares. Cass swung the sword with all her might, sensing victory in her grasp.

My god, the cowboy was blocking her stroke with his bare hand! A dull glow emanated up his arm from the hand grasping her blade - but the flesh was unaffected. . . Cass sawed and thrust and tried to break her blade free, but to no avail. They struggled, each trying to get the upper hand. At one point his hand grasped her bad leg, and she looked down to see an enormous energy discharge from his hand into her wounded leg.

Then the stranger backed away, and Cass dashed after him. Now he avoided her parries with dizzying speed and agility. They circled the room maybe a dozen times, Cass in furious pursuit. Then she had him cornered, and was angling for the kill. Suddenly he was behind her, though; and his hands darted our and grasped her sword arm with an iron grip.

She was totally immobilized now, and felt panic creeping into her psyche again. Then a quiet voice spoke to her, "How's your leg?" he asked so quietly she could barely hear him.

Totally subdued, she'd little choice but to glance down, and became aware that her leg was well. The pain was gone! It was such a startling realization, she dropped her guard. But no harm, because the stranger had backed away cautiously.

"Your leg will work better now," he said. Then Cass realized he had staged the whole scene! He only wanted to capture some of her own energy from the sword blade, to short circuit it back to her wound. Then it could heal strong and natural, especially if it was in active use while healing….. Silently, she disabled the light sword. This man was not her enemy.

"Who - no WHAT are you?" she gasped in consternation.

"I am Adu Kee," he said a few pounding heartbeats later. "I am the Sith Lord."

She was speechless, as an avalanche of emotions clouded her consciousness. The Sith were evil - the darkest of the Dark. How could he be one of them? She sensed no evil in this man, however; only a strong confidence and of tremendous power held in exquisite repose.

"I will leave you now," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "You need to think for a little bit."

"We'll talk more," he said when the Jedi named Cass could find nothing to say in response; "when you're ready, ok?" Then with a little smile and a gleam in his eyes, "Maybe teach you a thing or two, will I?" Then, with a careful bow, he paced carefully out of the Cantina, and into her life.

© 2002 bill h. clark ii
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