EXTERIOR: VERSAI TECH – TOWER ONE - ROOFTOP

With his chance to pin Gen slowly slipping away at the end of the line of the deck advancement, Skorne tosses his body forward then spins around on his heel unleashing a salvo of purple-blue blaster fire towards Gen. Given space to move, she rolls out of the way along the ground spinning herself back to her feet taking cover behind a turbo lift entrance. The top of the roof is less spacious then the inner hanger, as the flight deck levels itself with the surface of the roof. From the center of the surface towards facing forward, along the lower right is a cylindrical structure where Gen’s yellow striped coat peeks from the corner she is taking over by, while to the far right of the roof, there are three massive looking rocket like structures, also cylindrical in design positioned, lining the furthest corner of the tower.

The equipment is a mixture of radio tower antenna, air conditioning systems, and heat systems as well as moisture vaporators. They stand in the way of Skorne’s escape for the moment and as Skorne’s blaster fire stops to recharge his weapon, a safety measure so his pistol won’t overheat and explode in his hand, Gen dashes out and continues the hand to hand flood of kicks and punches towards Skorne’s armor, her kicks being real with her fists unleash a volley of TK impacts, penetrating Skorne’s armor plating as he struggles to remain focused. Clearly Gen was a blinding fast as Crymson Vachon and it is very clear she also picked up her mastery of a telekinetic punch from her as well.

Skorne knows that at this current state he is still no match for Gen when she is in such close proximity of him, as his armor with her focused barrage is useless. Skorne takes a gamble and points his net launcher towards Gen and fires two bursts of white hot heat. Gen is wise to the nets however, using the force to hurl herself into a force jump as the nets burst from their shells and pass under her feet, careening into the sides of the roof, then wrapping around large, smoothed over rectangular sections of the tower.

Skorne activates his repulsor pack but finds that the device cannot function with the radio antenna in service, interfering with the electromagnetic cells of his equipment. Scowling under his breath, Skorne decides he’s going to have to move out of range of the signal’s beam emitter, having to climb up the tower and jump off it, then hurl down a few feet and kick his pack in to escape, where he knows force users cannot fly and he would be in the clear.

Skorne dashes for the tower of cylinders and begins climbing up the woven patches of wiring and metal with blinding speed like a spider, his gloves providing him maximum grip while Gen isn’t close enough to reach him. She has stopped dead in the center of the flight deck, lifting her hands towards Skorne’s back, letting him get just close enough to the top of the structure’s clearance before a salvo of her signature Force Twirl lighting ripples through the air in dazzling spindles of lavender radiance…though less as threatening as their full potential but enough impact to find their target, sending Skorne toppling down the cylinder configuration like a fly hit by a swatter, as he lands to the ground with a clang of pounded metal. Skorne glances upward, then narrowly evades part of the third of three spires comes crashing down towards him, impacting into the roof, as the metal spike atop it hits the floor, then splinters into deadly metallic fragments and busted pieces of concrete and transparasteel shards.

Gen takes a moment to catch her breath as her lighting ceases a moment, reaching for her lightsaber, successfully getting it unclipped from her belt. Before Gen can activate the button however, the spire turns out to be the piece of equipment that was hindering Skorne’s pack from operating, giving him full access to engage his cells and hurl his body towards Gen, who can only get her eyes up to see her reflection streak off his sleek mask before she feels her ribcage impacted by Skorne’s shoulder, lifted off her feet into the air with Skorne as he spears her body square into the entrance to the turbo lift, denting the doors with her feminine frame, clearly bruising several ribs as the breath is knocked from Gen’s lips.

SKORNE – That should take the spirit out of you for awhile Miss Zeridian.

Skorne smiles wickedly through his mask as he sends a swift kick into Gen’s stomach, while she struggles to gain her bearings at his feet, feeling her body lurch upward, then completely collapse to the ground coughing violently trying to reclaim her wind. Having Gen subdued enough, and the blockage from his escape no longer an issue, Skorne activates a few buttons on his right wrist and speaks into it. Gen reaches for her lightsaber and unclips it, but as she goes to ignite the weapon, Skorne unleashes a barrage of blaster bolts from his pistol, causing Gen to tuck and roll away keeping her weapon securely gripped in her left hand.

Skorne’s barrage sends pieces of white hot steel fragments high into the air, as the bolts slam into the rooftop, each erupting like a geyser hot on Gen’s heels as she continues to whip her body backward, while a perfect aligned path of blaster impacts flare up into her last known positions in a splendid action packed array of fueled destruction. As she rolls backward with quick paced agility, metal fragments shear into her dangling coat, ripped from Skorne’s deadly violet blue fire digging into the steel ground.

SKORNE – (comlink) Red Tiger to Black Serpent…Require transport, ETA three minutes.

Skorne glances over to Gen then begins to walk away, but he hears her scream in utter frustration as he looks over his shoulder. Skorne hears the ignition of a lightsaber then sees Gen’s hands wrapped around her weapon and this time it is very much prepped to deliver some major damage as the purple blade hums, casting Gen’s facial features in a blanket of violet luminescence, while the clouds overhead, swirl and gather during a blood red bathed sunset. Skorne turns around and speaks into his wrist one more time, glancing toward Gen’s defensive Form G stance, complete with her lightsaber blade held almost vertically down in a two handed grip.

SKORNE – (comlink) Better make it five.

Skorne takes one look at Gen’s lightsaber, then grabs his blaster and unloads a salvo of purple-blue hellfire, perhaps wanting to test just how efficient Gen’s skills are or possibly hoping for a lucky break. He soon finds himself on the receiving end of his own blaster fire as he weaves back and forth, while his own inferno ricochets off Gen’s lightsaber blade with lighting quick precision, some of the bolts hurl off in odd diagonal paths but the bulk of them are directed back towards the source.

GEN – Approach me if you wish to taste the ground…

SKORNE – (laughs) Like I haven’t heard those words before…from others more capable then you.

GEN – (narrows her eyes) If I am not a threat then why do you run?

SKORNE – (smiles) I promise you, in a short while “precious” I won’t be the only one running. In the interim I must bid you adue.

Skorne bursts into a sprint and engages his repulsor pack, as he jets off towards the cylinder formations, unable to take off directly into the air until he can gage proper distance as strong winds jeopardize his accent. Powerful winds whip Gen’s hair across her shoulders and down her chest as she uses the force to guide her lightsaber, hurling the weapon from her hand as she channels her concentration to use the momentum of the winds to her advantage, while Skorne is trying to fly against them, Gen is in a position where she is facing into their billowing trajectory from the west. Curling her fingers, she causes her lightsaber to begin spinning on its axis, as Skorne gets closer to the end of the roof, beginning to climb upward. It is now abundantly clear where Val learned this effective technique, making no mistake that Gen Zeridian at the time of the Dark Jedi Academy was his Master.

Gen’s lightsaber spins faster and faster until it becomes a illuminated purple blur, racing towards Skorne’s vulnerable back and in an instant the blade shears through the corner of his repulsor pack, still leaving Quillion’s Sith Sword in place along the right, while the left portion of the pack severs to the ground with a flurry of blinding white and blue sparks, causing Skorne’s balance to be shifted so his body cannot fly level which makes Skorne’s armored body spin around out of control, sending him careening headlong into the tallest of the structures, which does not give him the benefit of bending under stress, making him fall backward and plummet down to the rooftop, landing with a crash into a pile of twisted metal and broken bits of machinery from the spire top that fell previously.

Skorne, dizzy and suffering a form of tunnel vision grabs his blaster and fires blindly towards a sweeping black figure headed for him, weaving back and forth in a zig zag pattern. Grabbing a piece of the machinery through pure adrenaline Skorne hurls a electrical panel towards Gen, successfully able to cause her not to weave away from the object in time, nailed square in the chest and knocked back as her lightsaber topples to the ground and extinguishes.

Suddenly overhead the clouds part mysteriously as the roar of engines echoes on the roof. The distant sound becomes louder and more pronounced until Skorne glances upward and looks for the source, knowing full well that his escourt has come. From what appears to be thin air, two doors shimmer and open a hole in space to reveal a complex formation of pipes and metal flooring inside the bomb bay doors of a cloaked Shadow Serpent lower revealing Skel smiling menacingly from within the craft, his black robe whipping around furiously, clinging to his reptilian form, extending his claws.

SKEL – (grinning) did you successfully capture the itemsss?

SKORNE – (looking upward) I accomplished two objectives…I could not assassinate Versai at this time, as you can see I have unexpected circumstances. JENNER NEVER INFORMED ME HE WOULD HAVE A DARK JEDI WITCH GUARDING HIM!

SKEL – (nods) Massster has a habit of forgetting sssuch details. He won’t be pleasssed Val still lives. Still he should be gratified to have Quillion’s Sword back in his possession.

Skel suddenly slips from view a moment as the Shadow Serpent banks sharply upward, winds rocking the vessel as his clawed hand grasps one of the hydraulic tubes of the bay door lifting mechanisms.

SKEL – (shouting over the wind) HIGHER I MUSSST GO! STAY LOW WE CANNOT RISK! USSSE YOUR EQUIPMENT! LATCH ON AND RETRIEVE WE WILL!

Skorne tips his mask in approval, turning his gaze back towards Gen as the Shadow Serpent disappears high into the sky, above the swell of winds, hovering in wait for their passenger to enter the vessel. This would not prove to be so easy however as Gen has regained her senses, holding her lightsaber and igniting the blade once again, charging at full steam towards Skorne to prevent his escape.

Skorne presses a button on his right arm as another batch of machinery slides around along it, sliding back the rounded oval capping to his gauntlet to reveal a powerful grapping hook device that slides forward and locks into place. Skorne takes aim and fires skyward, looping his hook around one of the hydraulic struts supporting the bay doors. Before Skorne can activate the winch on his wrist, Gen uses the force to wrap several wires that tear from the inactive vaporators, wrapping them around Skorne’s legs like rubberized serpents, coiling him making it impossible for Skorne to escape.

Skorne grabs his blaster pistol and starts ticking off each wire with careful aim severing the cords, but as he releases the last cord, he sees the reflection of Gen’s purple lightsaber come plunging down in a downward arch towards his hand, snapping it back but not before Gen’s deadly blade shears through the middle of his pistol, severing his blaster in two.

Growling in anger, Skorne times his actions just right on Gen’s retrieval movements of her blade, then grabs her saber arm and backhands Gen square in the bridge of her nose, with the instruments affixed to his arm, its effective enough to not only send Gen spiraling backward to the ground, but she tosses her lightsaber to the floor and it extinguishes, rolling and coming to a stop several feet from her position, and completely out of arms reach.

Sensing he has the upper hand and knowing Jenner will be displeased with his failed attempt to assassinate Val, Skorne decides that maybe while he has her at his mercy, Gen will make a worth substitute. He reaches for his disruptor pistol, his only secondary weapon and trains his aim on Gen and her eyes lock onto his. Before he can pull the trigger she uses the force to yank the gun from his grasp by not simply tugging but causing Skorne’s fingers to straighten, then pulls his blaster to her own hand.

GEN – This is the part where you surrender, whom ever you are…

SKORNE – Address me as Skorne, and you…are no match for me girl, not in this time.

GEN – You will discover that the ability to wield a lightsaber transcends time!

SKORNE – And you will learn that technology can outdate any remnant…including your self proclaimed mastery.

Skorne smiles broadly then extends his hands outward, seeming to use the force as Gen finds the pistol ripped from her grasp. Her eyes knitting in shock, lifting her hand towards her own lightsaber, as Skorne fires off one of his disruptor shots of ice blue radiance. With a glow from red, to orange, then to white a portion of the roof vaporizes instantly, leaving a large hole in the surface. Gen’s eyes widen in shock and she desperately makes her way closer to her lightsaber on the ground.

GEN – (trying to stall) You can use the force? But I sense no signature!

SKORNE – I don’t need your mystical powers when I possess electromagnetic gloves and guns.

Gen glances back towards her lightsaber and calls it towards her with the force, but as she begins to draw the weapon to her grip it is suddenly snatched away, heading directly for Skorne’s outstretched palm.

SKORNE – Ironic too isn’t it? Lightsabers are also metallic.

Gen grows angrily and uses the force to counter “technology” as both Skorne and Gen play a tug of war with her weapon. Skorne hears the engines flaring from the Shadow Serpent and knows that by the impatient squeal that he doesn’t have much time to waste on this personal conflict. He decides then to take another approach to the epic struggle and deal a crushing blow not to Gen’s body but her emotions.

Gen grins broadly as she sees her lightsaber hurling towards her outstretched hand. Skorne smiles wickedly as well as he allows her to think she has won the contest so easily, then without mercy or regret he trains his disruptor pistol on Gen’s lightsaber and opens fire, full spread. Each of the blue bursts find their mark as Gen watches their effect in slow motion horror. The energy slams into the hilt of her ancient weapon, then spreads around the base, turning the cool metal into patches of white hot radiance in seconds, there is a momentary burst of red, to orange, to white strobe light effects then all that of the legacy that Gen’s personal lightsaber had given both its maker and its chosen guardian Valaryc Versai…

Was gone…

Gen stares in disbelief as she only had seconds to witness the raw destruction of current technology rob her of her prized weapon, constructed with uncanny skill and a device that had stood against the tests of time, but it appeared Skorne was right and Gen for the first time felt first a wave of fear sweep over her…if a weapon could unleash such mass destruction, if her lightsaber was engaged and she unknowingly tried to deflect the blasts she could have very well vanished with it.

She then re-gathered her thoughts, all in seconds before Skorne’s pistol, set at its maximum setting could recharge. That fear turned to anger…boiling, unbridled rage as Gen’s eyes shifted to a hot pink hue, this never witnessed by anyone who lived to tell of it, her true dark side persona as her hair whips around violently and her hands jut outward, baring her feral neon pink orbs on Skorne’s body as he tries desperately to reload his pistol.

Gen has no fear, no doubt, and no remorse in her actions as she hurls her Force Twirl Lighting at a much higher, intensity...An intensity so passionately filled with rage that the usual purple spindles become bright gleaming magenta tendrils. Skorne is leveled to the ground by the lighting, and sent spiraling hard into the structures behind him. The pink bolts wrap around his body and siphon his strength with agonizing concentration, making his suit almost melt under the intense heat as Gen unleashes her full untapped anger upon Skorne, wanting to make him suffer, bleed, die, and leave nothing left of his remains once her attack was concluded.

The rooftop is ripped upward into two ditches of raging, shattered, bent metal as Gen’s hands hurl her pink “Arcs of Hatred” not spheres like Val, directly into Skorne’s writhing body. His eyes dim and his breath tightens while the heated barrage cooks him from the inside out, having to find a way out and a way out fast, never expecting nor has he ever encountered an attack of such malevolent magnitude. The destruction of her prized historical treasure has caused Gen to completely snap.

Skorne can’t even reach for his disruptor pistol as the bolts shear into his armor plating, forcing his once shiny attire into a carbon scored nightmare. In desperation, he fires his net launcher towards Gen, this time in her unleashed emotional state, Gen doesn’t see the two projectiles separate and unleash their nets towards her, suddenly thrust back into her own senses as the nets ensnare her in their webbing. With the power of her electric bolts, they do nothing more then hinder her mobility, their voltage devices fried upon introduction to Gen’s lighting fury.

SKORNE – (coughing) I’d love to finish this Miss Zeridian but I am in need of a massage and a long shower…I have other matters to attend to, but mark my words we will meet again…that is if…

Gen frees herself from the nets, after using her force enhanced strength, re-evoked to tear the wire threading like they were yarn.

GEN – (coughs) If what…I am not yet finished with you!

SKORNE – (smiles) Oh I believe my portion of this affair is over; however the home team has a couple substitutes that will be happy to take my place. If you prove strong enough to survive, we may settle this draw at another date.

Skorne smiles broadly as he kneels down and faces his mask towards his prey. With a deeply satisfying breath, he draws his arms inward, still having enough slack to do so from the hook still affixed to the Shadow Serpent hovering above him. As his arms cross, he presses two buttons, one on each arm, along the underside of his wrist gantlets. Gen watches Skorne drop to one knee and hurl his arms out sharply, when his fists come in range of her, two orange energy discs hurl from compartments in his wrists, spinning toward her with a howling sound. Having chucked their metal shells, the two blazing orange discs that decimated the occupants of “sector four” now train their deadly assault on Gen, who can only look back for a second as Skorne cackles then shoots off into the air, activating his wrist winch then disappears into the belly of the massive Shadow Serpent that decloaks and vanishes in a wave of ion blue engine exhaust before VT’s guns can detect its presence and open fire on it.

GEN – No…this cannot be, I cannot believe…

Before Gen can grieve over the loss of her legendary weapon, she sees the discs hurling perilously close, ducking as one zings over her head and shears into the top of the elevator door. Seeing no possible way to confront the deadly discs as they circle around and home in on her heat signature, with Skorne long gone into the horizon, Gen gazes one more second to the smoldering damage of the rooftop then dashes at full speed into the turbo lift. Hitting the buttons for the lowest floor frantically she ducks, while the two deadly discs slice through the doors and exit out the back of the turbo lift, which plummets at full speed down, but not out of their reach as they pass through anything in their path with ease, leaving a bubbling hot trail of molten metal lines as they dominate any material placed before them. The devices themselves would be damaged and broken on their own but the twin lightsaber like energy blades spinning gyroscopically make the discs all but invincible to destruction.
 

INTERIOR: TURBOLIFT – FALLING FLOORS

Gen cranes her eyes upward to the still white hot slits in the upper portion of the turbo lift. Her eyes flushed with anger and tears as her fingers trail along her hip to a weapon no longer there…a part of her past and her legacy gone in a flash of merciless light. Still she could not linger on that anger for she was far out of danger, knowing those discs were programmed to hunt her no matter where she would try to hide, but she had to try to get away…even with the force the discs were far to random and quick to get a fix on them and by the time she could, they would already slice clean through her body.

Gen looked at the numbers skyrocketing down on the lift, she had dropped sixty-five floors now and was vastly approaching sixty as the lift plummeted down the shaft. The echoes of the discs were far gone, and she hoped that possibly she had managed to get herself far enough out of range of their sensors.

Quickly she stopped on the sixtieth floor and dashed down the hallway, knowing that the discs had identified she was in the turbo lift, gambling that if that was the case the discs wouldn’t bother looking for her elsewhere. Gen growled under her breath at the notion of having to run like a scared kitten…her eyes flashing with defiance while Skorne’s sarcastic words rippled through her memory, his boasts of him not being the only one who would be running, very much making good on his promise.

Gen’s purple orbs flash to a sign reading…

STAIRWAY TO LOWER LEVELS

She lets no seconds expire needlessly as she uses the force to guide her movements, hurling her body over the guardrail and down, down the well of darkness as floors pass by her, knowing about five stories would be her limit before she could sustain heavy damage from the impact of her velocity, using her trained skill in the force to whip her body upward, as her hand grasps a safety rail, panting heavily while her coat billows upward and her boots slam into the hard metal floor of the fifth floor.

She closes her eyes and leans against the wall, sinking to her knees trying to catch her breath and absorb the impacts of Skorne’s earlier assault. Every bone in her body ached from the fierce battle, and the realization that in this world…in this time, she was out of place without Val by her side to guide her. It was fate’s funny sense of irony that the Master would need to be re-educated by the student but Val was more then that now, he was her inspiration for staying alive.

Meanwhile as she lies against the wall, slowly beginning to catch her breath tipping her long purple and pink locks against the smooth surface of the partition behind her, she can hear the faith echo of something approaching. It starts out with a small hiss, very distant and very faint…gradually getting louder and louder, followed by the sound of sparks showering as Gen looks upward to see very distanced flecks of light rain down upon her. Still there isn’t any threat in view, but her danger sense tells her otherwise as Gen stands to her feet and adjusts her clothes, directing her gaze from the exit into the fifth floor hallway, then upward to the series of cylindrical pipes leading upward, disappearing below the desks of stairs that accent into infinity.

She heard it again…

Sssssssssssssss……….crackling, sputtering sound, a sizzling echo that gradually begins to get louder and
louder…then she figures it out.
 

INTERIOR: VERSAI TECH – FLOOR 50

Quickly Gen dashes through the door without looking back, her feet running like lighting as she uses the force to enhance her speed to a godlike pace, grabbing people and tossing them out of her way and to the floor, while force pushing others screaming at the top of her lungs…

GEN – EVERYONE TAKE SHELTER! DANGER APPROACHES!

No sooner had Gen spoken the words, did the two deadly discs sheared through fifteen decks to reach her, emerging in a flash of orange brilliance and spinning hellfire through slits carved into the stairway door, ripping through steel like it were paper, careening from the change in velocity into a nearby wall as both split off and zigzag in a deadly game of cat and mouse, homing in on Gen by taking the most direct paths to reach her, propelling their spinning halos of deadly fire through wall dividers.

Most people listen to Gen’s warning as they stay low, letting the deadly hurling discs whiz over their heads where only showers of sparks from the discs impacts into the wall reign upon them. However in the melee as only the back of Gen’s coat can be seen from the hallway’s view, not everyone makes it down in time, as the discs all move with blinding speed through flesh, bone, steel, wood, and glass. Several people are nicked by blades, casting their wide eyes in a look of pure horror and shock, others are even less fortunate as a few of the interns working in Tower One are decapitated in the prime of their youth.

The attack is that of war, innocents are caught in the crossfire as Gen tries her best to rescue as many people as she can from the unmerciful attack, she of course had compassion and emotion but these discs, had no such limitations nor remorse for their programmed choice of action, they were machines programmed for one purpose…to terminate their target.

Gen tries to save people in her way, force pushing them against walls or sending them hurling over desks, as she loses her distanced lead over the deadly orange discs, whipping around a corner and diving through another stairway, dropping another five floors. This time though she has no time to relax as he discs increase their persistence, spinning brighter and hotter homing in as one disc swiftly slices across Gen’s lower calf, not enough to sever her limb but deep enough for her to feel the deep burning laceration as she cries out in pain, but keeps her will to survive strong, using the force to dull the pain receptors in her calf and keep running. The second disc doesn’t show any mercy heading for her arms, slicing cleanly along her left shoulder, sending another blazing hot ripple of pain through Gen’s body.

She quickly stops dead in her tracks rushing down the hallway as the first disc moves inches from her neck, traveling up completely vertical after emerging from the floor, heading into the ceiling, slicing through the floor boards then looping around to slice through the roof and back into the pathway of Gen again, both discs now traveling side by side behind her, then slamming into the floor disappearing several decks down, slaying even more victims in their deadly pursuit.

 Gen grabs her shoulder and sees a long narrow hallway leading to a massive door, upon the huge entrance there is a sign reading:

AUTHORIZED PERSONELL ONLY! VERSAI TECH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WING

Grabbing her shoulder, trying to ease the pain, Gen snaps her head backward to see that the discs are no longer behind her. It is her trust in the force alone that tells her to leap back quickly, as the two discs shear through the floor below her and slice through the thickness of the entrance, actually passing through its thick structure and emerging out the top into the deck of the floor above. With the weakening, white hot trails of molten metal, Gen kicks the door in with several well placed blows. Each kick causes the large entranceway to buckle inward, until both halves of the sizzling steel collide to the ground in a shower of sparks. Gen’s eyes peer to the two slices above her where the discs enter, then she sees two trails of heated ice blue sparks rain five feet from her current position as the deadly orange discs hover in place for a moment, obviously reconfiguring their data, scanning Gen’s signature a moment then once again continue the deadly chase.
 

INTERIOR: VERSAI TECH – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LAB

Gen ducks down and drops to one knee as the two discs fly over her head, slicing through the partition of the doorway, leaving two sizzling slices in each side, while they suddenly cleave into the walls and make a u-turn, and emerge once more aligned one in front of the other, hurling back towards Gen as she tears off what remains of her coat and dives into another room, where she spots the control panel to a machine that reads…

INTERIOR: VERSAI TECH - EXPERIMENTAL CHAMBER – ANTI GRAVITY UNIT

Using her force abilities, much like Vader in cloud city with Luke, she waves her outstretched fingers to the control panel and flings her body into a vast empty chamber of solid steel and a clear hexagonal transparasteel structure. She narrows her eyes towards the entrance and times her motions just right, knowing that as the machinery begins to power up with a high pitched electrical squeal that if the blades shear into the door on their own, it will destroy the abilities of this chamber, and she cannot afford to let that happen, using her quick wit to formulate a plan that would place her on even ground with the lightning quick twin assailants.

She counts off the pounding of her heart, keeping her amethyst eyes affixed on the massive doorway, seconds later she sees the two discs locate her and spin forward entering the chamber as she uses the force to slam the door shut and seal off the chamber with herself and the two discs inside as the gravity holding her down, suddenly reaches zero.
 

INTERIOR: VERSAI TECH – ANTI GRAVITY CHAMBER

The machine activates at full pressurized force, allowing Gen to breath through oxygenated tubes, while she floats around in midair like one would, very slow and buoyant as if she were swimming in a pool. With only her propelled motions to guide her she is now on even ground with the two deadly discs that are forced to succumb to the anti-gravity effects, making them spin slowly through the vast open space of the chamber, still very much trying to terminate their target, but moving at almost a snail’s pace, while Gen also moves at the same velocity, bouncing herself off the sides of the hexagon chamber to evade when the discs come close to her, in some of her efforts she had no choice but to grit her teeth and accept the inevitability of injury, feeling one of the discs slice through another section of her already injured shoulder.

She spins around as best as she can, trying to gaze into the mechanical functions of the deadly blades. Then she begins to notice how these discs operate spotting the vital hockey puck like machinery that hovers within the deadly orange halo of dual energy blades. She also can determine that the discs are propelled by their momentum and their impacts. Seeing this pattern, and remembering how both discs can act either simultaneously or singular horizontal and vertical, she deduces her only chance to survive knowing that her body will eventually give out before the deadly energy blades will and if she did not hurry eventually the discs would shear into a wall and thus, disable the machine.

Taking a deep breath and channeling all of her strength and endurance for pain, Gen spins her body around and presents her back to one of the blades that moves up vertically towards her in slow motion while the other seeks to box her in, spinning gradually along a horizontal axis. Gen knows she must time this maneuver carefully or her pain will be in vain and so would her efforts to survive its damaging effects.

She closes her eyes and pictures Val, wishing she could speak to him, she could send him her thoughts of peril and reach him in his deep comatose state. Her eyes narrowing as a single tear escapes them, praying the guardians of the force for one wish…one act of kindness…one supreme desire.

It is then that they answer her call, but demand a heavy toll as Gen feels the vertical spinning disc pass beyond her safety zone and rake its spinning blade deep along the middle of her back, but not on target to reach her spinal chord, causing her to scream in complete agony
 

GEN – (screaming in pain) VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
 

EXTERIOR:  DREAMSCAPE – KATHRYN’S BLUFF

Gen screams is unbridled anguish as her back is sheared into by the unforgiving fire of the vertical disc. The pain is so intense and her will so strong that she manages to accomplish the impossible as her screaming words thunder through the peaceful cascading waterfalls of the Dreamscape.

Val is the first to hear the echo ricocheting off the Cliffside. His brown eyes snap open, knowing the sound too well having heard it only one time…when she was being burned alive by Master Crystarr in the Jedi Camp that was the moment Val became the Jedi Slayer, the moment that he acted without reason or hesitation. That moment was the point of no return until his goals were met, such was that moment now. Val shoots his glance towards Obi Wan who stands up, startled by the sound of a woman in distress, his eyes looking to Val as he dashes towards the cliff.

OBI – NO! VAL NO! IT’S TOO RISKY!

Val stops in his tracks and overlooks the abyss of the waterfall, seeing nothing but darkness below him as the sound of the crashing water fades from his ears…drowned out by the cry of his lover in peril and desperate need. For Val enough was enough, if there was a chance to escape there would never be a more appropriate time then now to take it, even if he still wondered about what Obi Wan fully saw in his vision it was the breaking point, even Obi Wan’s warnings were not going to stop him this time as he backed up against a tree several feet from the edge of the cliff and took in a deep breath, bracing himself to accept the consequences of his actions.

VAL – (gazing forward) I can’t stay here anymore Obi Wan, Gen is in danger! I need to help her!

Obi Wan swiftly paces up to Val’s side laying his hand upon his shoulder, trying to calm Val’s emotion filled state. Obi had seen this look in a man’s eyes before…he had seen the same determination in Luke Skywalker’s eyes when Yoda informed him of his friend’s peril on Cloud City. Obi didn’t know how deeply personal Gen was to Val, but he did see within his vision that Gen would play a pivotal role in Val’s destiny between walking the path of the virtuous and reverting back to the darkness trapped inside his soul.

Obi knew he couldn’t stop Val. It was Luke all over again. Even as a spirit Obi Wan watched helplessly as Luke’s X-Wing speeded off the murky surface of Degaboth, and even now Val was prepping himself to dive into the depths of his mental prison and test the limitations of its boundaries. But what would happen if Val jumped off the cliff and he simply emerged into another place from his past? Would the tie between him and Obi Wan then vanish because Obi did not follow him into the next destination? Would Val die when his brain processed that the fall would kill him? No! Obi Wan couldn’t bare to see such a noble man perish in such an unmerciful manner.

OBI WAN – Are you sure this is what you need to do? Is she worth the risk?

VAL – (narrows his eyes slowly) Whatever the price…whatever the sacrifice…

Val swallows hard and begins to dash towards the cliff as he sprints towards the cliff’s edge.

VAL- If I cannot be with my friends, my family, or my lover…

OBI WAN – (shouting as Val runs) IF YOU GO BACK, YOU MUST ACCEPT YOUR DESTINY! YOU MUST HEED MY WARNING! NO MATTER THE COST!

Val stops dead in his tracks once more, slowly gazing down into the waterfall, as he looks back towards Obi Wan, turning his back to the cliff and stepping away from it, keeping his eyes trained on Obi Wan as he does so, choosing his words and his actions carefully.

VAL – If the force will not allow me to return to who I need to be Obi Wan then it is simply…

Val steps backward perilously close to the cliff’s end, still having his back turned to the sky, spreading out his arms to both of his sides, staring to bring them upward.

VAL – The end of all things.

Val whips his arms out to his sides then leaps backward, not looking to the danger behind him, boldly keeping his eyes focused on Obi Wan as his body begins to fall backward and tumble off of the massive, towering height of Kathryn’s Bluff. Gravity, or what would be his mind’s notion of gravity completely turns Val’s falling body around so his arms now face forward as he dives headlong into the darkness, where water nor ground comes into focus. Then suddenly there is a tear in the deep pitch black pool of nothingness in his view, another shearing tear of bright light erupts from the ground, streaming in a blinding white radiance, as Val hurls closer and closer, falling down into this light with alarming speed until then all of a sudden everything goes black…

The echo of the EKG monitor that is affixed to Val’s motionless body...

Flatlines……

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep…
 

INTERIOR: VERSAI TECH R&D – ANTI-GRAVITY CHAMBER

Val’s fate is undetermined as the flatlined EKG alarms various groups of medical staff that rush towards Medical Bay 227. Meanwhile inside the chamber, Gen feels the blade pass beyond her, having cleanly sheared through the fabric of her top and several layers of her smooth skin, leaving a hellish pulsating trench of burned flesh in its wake. The pain is so intensely mind numbing that Gen can barely keep focused, as her eyes blur in and out of clarity. She remains vigilant in her goals as she sees the horizontal disc glide to sever her head from her shoulders, quickly hurling her body away as it approaches, hoping that the searing pain to her back is worth the price while her body slams into the side of the glass chamber, pressing the cool surface of the transparasteel into her inflamed backside.

Gen narrows her eyes and hopes for the best, staring a possible death in the face as she watches the orange horizontal disc come screaming, even in slow paces towards her neck, then suddenly the vertical disc that had sliced into her lumbar region pierces clean through the top of the chamber, then shifts course causing the anti-gravity field to weaken, increasing its speed fast enough that the disc hurls headlong, in a downward streak of orange fury right down into the center of its partner, inside the ring of fire, shearing straight through the vital components of its body in a “T” formation, shorting out the orange ring in seconds as sparks erupt from the core.

The fragments from the devastated device then slice into the unit of the second disc, jamming through its outer shell and severing several wires and microchip boards, exploding the second disc in a hurl of twisted metal and flickering debris. Gen pants heavily as she’s breathless from the high paced destruction, pressing her body against the inner cavity of the chamber, viewing out of the corner of her eye, the controls to the entire chamber short out and erupt in a outbreak of electronic flames and short-circuiting bursts completely shutting down the chamber’s anti-gravity function for the remainder of her presence there.

Gen suddenly hears her comlink beep; she slowly and very languidly activates the speaker.

GEN – (drawn out, exhausted) G…..Ge……Gen here…speak...

The voice on the other end is Michael Angilis and his tone is rather somber as Gen feels his concern through the powers of the force and the simple manner of his words voiced into his device.

MICHAEL – (worried) Gen are you…you ok? I heard about the discs and I…well I wanted to make sure.

GEN – (panting) Just….just send medical aid to…(thinks) research and…devel…devel…(winces)

MICHAEL – You’re hurt aren’t you? Is it bad? Are you going to be ok?

GEN – (panting heavily) I’ll be…be…ok…send…aid to R&D…now.

MICHEAL – Gen I hate to bring you bad news but it’s Val….he’s well.

GEN – (heart drops) HE’S WHAT???

MICHEAL – Well he’s flatlined and I don’t know how to tell you this but he’s gone.

Gen closes her eyes and screams in anger, trying to make sense of all that has occurred, but she composes herself and takes in a deep breath reaching out to the force and hoping…praying that Michael is wrong. What Gen isn’t aware of is that Michael is very much correct, Val is gone but not in the way she is thinking and it is only moments before Gen understands from what “point of view” Michael is approaching the subject from.

GEN – I cannot accept that he would perish so easily…I know Val, I know he’s too stubborn to die.

Suddenly the entranceway to the gravity chamber is ripped off its hinges in a shower of heated fragments, as smoke billows upward and fire bursts, shortly before several gas canisters in the ceiling explode and smother the flames as fire retardant chemicals secure the area from further damage. Gen’s eyes try to peer through the billowing clouds of gas as she reaches out to the force to feel that Val’s signature is not only present but very near to her current location, then she recognizes a figure through the veil of gas moisture dragging itself against a far wall, with his long brown hair cascading downward, and several wires affixed to his body dragging along the floor…even a IV still stuck in his arm, where the line has been severed.

GEN – (blinking) Have you come home? Is this a dream?

VOICE – (breathing labouredly) I’ve had enough of dreams Gen…enough to last a lifetime.

Gen channels the force into every pore of her body as she tries to maintain consciousness long enough to embrace her most deepest desire, hobbling on her bad leg out of the chamber and through the clouds of gas until her lover comes into view, barely awake himself and strewn in various medical bindings and wires which he obviously no longer cared to remain attached to.

They don’t even need words…only the one thing that a dream cannot deny them, physical touch as Gen’s arms wrap around Val and kiss his lips tight and passionate, grinding his body against her ample curves, wanting to feel him wrapped around her sensual frame like a glove. Her eyes gazing deep into his half slit brown depths while her delicate fingers, some of which blood stained delve into his long brown locks of hair.  Heated lips upon tired rims, the echo of Gen and Val’s reunited kiss suffocates the room in its intensity, as his hands grab her body powerfully, holding her possessively against his bare chest, letting the wires from various equipment dangle towards the floor, wanting to see her with his eyes once again…not having woken up on another place of his venturing but where his future was just beginning to take shape once more, breaking the kiss to let his voice ripple in Gen’s eager ears.

VAL – (purrs) Heya love, did you miss me?

GEN – How’s this for an answer?

Gen grabs Val and slams him against the nearest wall planting her lips hard upon his, grabbing him by both sides of his face, driving her tongue into his mouth, letting her kiss answer his question, moaning softly from the heat of his embrace, adjusting herself so Val can firmly grasp her tight rear, knowing full well his desire for it. Val of course having his breath taken from his body is quick to notice the shift of Gen’s curvaceous hips and lets nothing stop him from wrapping his long, slender fingers around each of Gen’s firmly toned globes, grasping her rear hungrily as his lips kiss Gen again and again, letting one of his hands run through her purple and pink locks, having dreamed of this moment for over twenty-five years, and having been denied this sensation of reunion with his passionate Master and true love for another six months…this was the moment they had both bled and suffered for, the one single moment in time where time had allowed them a second chance and this proved only one thing…

Val and Gen’s journey… has just begun.
 

INTERIOR:  KILLIAN STRONGHOLD– JENNER’S THRONE ROOM

The location shifts back into darkness as Val and Gen literally collapse into each other’s arms back into the still uncompleted shell of skeletal machinery and polished, half completed floors, looming through a few torches lit in a very “Citadel” fashion, revealing Jenner sitting upon his throne. His eyes are narrowed in boredom as he supports his head upon his hand, flesh meeting flesh while the left side of his body remains still, legs slightly spread apart, with his mechanical hand resting through his robes covering him on the opposing armrest.

Suddenly his interest is piqued as his red synthetic eye flares to life while his natural eye focuses upon the footsteps of approaching company. Jenner smiles menacingly knowing what this could mean by the sheer tempo of each step paced with such refined confidence. It was the moment Jenner was preparing for.

While Skel was away aiding Skorne in his retrieval, Jenner had helped himself to Skel’s cherished relics, selecting a truly iconic representation of power, although it needed several hours of personal attention and polishing and repair to meet Jenner’s approval as the second half of Darth Maul’s lightsaber, the very same unit that had been recovered from the recesses of Naboo hung along his belt, where the covertec clip had snapped off. Jenner had screwed in a new “D” ring design, holding the long silver and black “O” ring device against his hip, loving the power the weapon gave to him.

Wielded by the most vile Sith Warrior alive, truly a Master of the dark side to fend off and successfully defeat one of the most venerable Jedi in history, Qui Gon Jinn. The sensation of possessing and succeeding Darth Maul as owner of this particular piece of republic history fueled Jenner’s ego and he had prepared himself to reveal some of the thoughts he had awaiting Skorne’s return, and the delivery of his prized symbolic possession, Quillion’s Sith Sword.

Skorne stood side by side with the hunched over intelligent reptilian Ssi Ruuk companion. Both Skel and Skorne had conducted a long discussion over the trustworthy nature of Jenner’s mission. Skorne had informed Skel that he did not trust his leader’s tendencies and knew all too well the deceptive prowess a Master can  pass down to his apprentice. What Skorne did not tell Skel is that he had intended to do whatever it took to placate Jenner long enough for Skorne to make his exit from The Killian. Skorne already could see that these rogue assassins were not to be trusted under the guidance of such an ego driven dictator and eventually he could predict what the outcome of the friction would be, but he had no idea just how incredibly deceitful Jenner could become as Skorne paced into the throne room and approached the dais.

JENNER – (peering from his throne) I see you have returned…excellent and what of your mission? Was it successful?

Skorne glared towards Jenner through his damaged mandalorian helmet, still suffering the very effective attack Gen had given him previously, trying to work up enough strength and boldness to answer and shield his true intentions until the moment was just right. He knew Jenner was a force user, but with his devices in place Jenner could not read Skorne’s thoughts so it was then he decided to do the one act that would placate Jenner’s expectations…lie.

SKORNE – (nods slowly) I have completed the mission, Versai is dead.

Jenner quirks a brow a moment, stretching from his throne glaring down towards Skorne, taking in the details of his armor’s severe damage from the combination of being thrown into solid metal objects and baked by Gen’s fierce lightning, not to mention several blows to the plating. Shifting his course of action, Jenner begins to descend the steps of his throne, causing the few Ssi Ruuk to shrink back into the darkness, avoiding confrontation or direct contact with Jenner’s menacing appearance, while his red eye glares with a blood red intensity.

JENNER – You had no problems then? Where is your proof that your mission was not a failure?

Skorne looks towards Skel, then steps back a bit, getting his distance from those around him, grabbing the end of Quillion’s Sith Sword, then in one swift motion, and the grinding of steel against steel, he pulls the sword from the magnetic sheath along what remained of his repulsor pack. Holding the sword in his red gloved hand, Jenner greedily snatches it away from Skorne’s grasp, running his fingers along the edge, walking over to a nearby tower like structure of metal, and swiftly slicing clean through the solid steel as if it were a veil of water, proving the blade’s authenticity.

SKORNE – There is your proof. As for your inquiry of a problem, yes I had a big problem with your lack of foresight. You told me Versai would be alone.

Jenner swings the sword around in the air a bit, arrogantly ignoring Skorne’s complaint as he drives the sword blade first into the ground as metal grinds loudly, echoing throughout the throne room in a thundering clang. His eyes shifting upward towards Skorne circling him but doesn’t make eye contact with the hunter.

JENNER – (circling) Oh I must apologize…that detail must have slipped my mind. Why if you were to become injured or (gasp) killed on the mission, who would have returned my sword? You are valuable you know…a cherished commodity don’t you think?

Skorne growls under his helmet knowing full well that Jenner is mocking him, but he bites his tongue and continues to feed Jenner exactly what he wants to hear. All the while Skorne shifts his eyes around the room, then looks up to see the ceiling is still exposed. From the moment the Shadow Serpent touched down on a hidden platform, Skorne had the image of a high speed “specter” fighter docked on a platform that need only be raised to the surface for departure. Tapping a few buttons on his arm, making it appear as if he were itching himself, inside Skorne’s mask he ran a diagnostic on his weaponry status, noting that while most of his equipment was heavily damaged or short circuited thanks to Gen, his grappling hook was still fully functional.

SKORNE – No one owns my services, as long as they continue to meet the parameters of a bargain, then and only then do I remain but I hold allegiance to no man.

Jenner grins wickedly as he paces around Skorne, looking over his dented, damaged armor trying to picture exactly what kind of battle Skorne had put himself through to return in such a poor condition. Jenner really didn’t care about Skorne’s well being; he had what he wanted…at least one of the items.

JENNER – Ah yes and we still have our bargain remember? I believe there were three objectives; I’ve only seen evidence of one of them.

SKORNE – (growls) You know Lord Jenner, I would expect this treatment from a high ranking Imperial but to see you instill such ingratitude from my actions, questions the stability of this business relationship.

JENNER – (smiles) Rest assured Skorne that if you have completed all that I asked, I will let you walk out of here with no further obligations.

SKORNE – How can I be sure you will keep your word?

JENNER – I give you my word as a gentlemen and a leader, I will allow you to walk out of these premises and complete the original stipulations of our agreement. With Valaryc Versai dead and these two valuable objects in my possession, I will no longer require your services.

Skorne scanned Jenner through his mask, testing for levels of imbalanced heat signatures and elevated levels of perspiration, a clear indication if he too was lying. The readout wasn’t entirely clear so Skorne deduced that Jenner must have assumed Skorne would try to perform such an action and had properly taken measures to keep his motives hidden from detection. Knowing that whichever way this meeting was heading, Skorne had to keep his end of the bargain. Stepping away from Jenner, Skorne reaches into the pouches around his waist producing the ingots of “Lumatanium”, handing them over to Jenner who quickly extends out his hand and once again, snatches away the items from Skorne’s hand.

JENNER – Excellent! Very good rare hunter…I’m sure you had to go through quite a bit to attain these samples. I will have them sent down to our research lab for analysis immediately.  These little plates of metal shall restore the power of The Killian.

SKORNE – I am pleased you are satisfied. Now…about our deal.

Jenner spins around on his heel and begins to head back up to his throne grabbing Quillion’s Sith Sword from the floor, making his way back up the stairs where he reaches his chair and sits down, sliding the sword into a sheath bolted into the floor. The sword stands completely vertical as the blade sinks into a magnetic device, letting the handle stay close to Jenner’s reach, while keeping the sword symbolically placed where the shadow of its crafted crescent moon handle stretches along the floor, illuminated from two torches resting behind Jenner’s seat.

JENNER – Are you sure you don’t want to stay for the celebration? It’s going to be a wonderful party you know. I have invited a guest you might find of interest in your Bounty Hunting circle.

Skorne shifts his eyes over to his left, then his right only moving his helmet as he once again looks skyward, knowing Jenner has started exhibiting odd behavior for a grand leader of a evil order. Skorne has seen these tactics before, they were nothing new to him and he knew time to escape was getting shorter and shorter. It was obvious in his tone and his body language that Jenner had other plans and Skorne wanted no part in them.

SKORNE – (calm) I have no interest in associating with competitors. I have business to attend to on Coruscant.

JENNER – I am grieved truly that you feel you must be on your way so suddenly. However you did meet ALL of the parameters of our agreement. So I am bound by my good form to release you from your service to me. I wish you well in your endeavors rare hunter.

Skorne arches a curious brow inside the helmet then begins to walk towards the exit of the throne room, walking backwards, glancing over his shoulder not trusting Jenner enough to turn his back to him. As Skorne begins to reach the entryway to the chamber, Jenner holds up a hand and stops him from the throne.

JENNER – Oh I forgot to mention one stipulation to my promise. I need to know one thing.

Skorne scowls under his breath, but decides to play Jenner’s game as he smiles within the darkness of his headgear, tapping a button as he approaches, keeping his right hand behind his back, while the mechanics of his gantlet slide back as before on the rooftop, popping Skorne’s grappling hook into place.

SKORNE – (nods, shielding his motives) Speak.

Jenner adjusts himself on his throne, tapping a series of buttons where Skorne cannot detect them. From the walls surrounding the lower level, pieces of metal slide into place as hidden dome like manifolds slide forward, all without a sound, stealth and undetectable.

JENNER – I desire to know the details of Valaryc’s death.

SKORNE – I shot him and he vaporized.

Jenner grins and continues to tap in commands on a data pad, sunken within the mechanical structure of his armrest, seeming to give Skorne little respect, casting one occasional glance to the hunter. As Jenner hears a few confirmation beeps and an illuminated screen shifts from green to red. He prepares to reveal his true intentions to the bold bounty hunter.

JENNER – I see, so there is no evidence of his survival correct?

Skorne knows that it is now or never as his mask begins to warn him of malicious machinery becoming heated, surrounding him. Still if Skorne acts a moment too soon, Jenner could easily stop him from escape, as he swallows hard in his throat, knowing he only has one weapon and it’s far from offensive.

SKORNE – Disruptors leave no trace but ashes if you want to count those.

Jenner suddenly leaps from his throne and points angrily to Skorne, hitting the last button his throne as he sees Skorne hurl his grappling hook up into the ceiling and recoil upward, only to find that the open expanse of the roof is a holographic projection, as Skorne slams head first into the completed ceiling, then plummets back to the floor in complete shock, trying to get back up, as he manages to erect himself to one knee.

JENNER – YOU LIE! NOT ONLY CAN I FEEL VALARYC’S FORCE SIGNATURE BUT IT IS NOW BEEN ACTIVATED MORE SO THEN EVER! HE’S NOT DEAD YOU FOOL HE’S WOKEN UP!

Jenner growls as he slams his fist into his armrest. Suddenly Skorne widens his eyes as the malicious machinery he had detected was hidden blaster emplacements surrounding the room. Each weapon unleashes a salvo of heated orange and red fury into Skorne’s location, firing all at once causing the ground to erupt in a flood of heated debris and blazing sparks. Skorne is rocked in several locations as the blasters slam into his protective armor, or what remained of it causing bone jarring impacts, finding himself literally plastered to the floor with only his armor to protect him from the blaster’s hellfire. The shots continue to roar in high pitched squeals throughout the throne room as Jenner watches his actions with carnal glee, clasping his hands before him, letting the unmerciful barrage of blaster execution continue, then with a wave of his fingers, the blasters cease and cool, leaving a smoking sinkhole in the floor with Skorne, sputtering sparks, and sizzling with heated, disfigured metal in the center of it.

JENNER – (cold and calm) Did you honestly think you could lie to me Skorne? Did you believe your intelligence could compare with my intellect? I knew you imbecile, I have foreseen the outcome of the battle before you even stepped one foot in Tuulab airspace. That is why I tolerated your outrageous demands and gave you everything you wanted. You were never in any position of power rare hunter; you were my pawn from the very start of our “arrangement.”

Skorne coughs heavily from internal injures as blood trickles down his lips, trying to find a way to escape even still, but knowing his best chance would be to run out of the doors and make his way to the ship but there was one problem at the moment…he couldn’t move. Skorne’s body had sustained significant injury and he swore he had some fractured bones from the unrelenting blaster assault. If that was the worst of his injuries he could live through it, but something told him as Jenner started walking back down the stairs to his dais, his endurance would be pushed even further.

SKORNE – (coughs) I knew I should never had trusted scum like you. You’re all the same.

JENNER – (smiles) Why Skorne didn’t you read your Bounty Hunter Guidebook? You being an Entrepreneur should realize the golden rule. Let the buyer beware. I did not give a rancor’s claw about you personally; all I wanted was a patsy to bring back to me, what others could not.

Jenner cackles as he steps onto the bottom floor, reaching for the handle to Darth Maul’s lightsaber, briskly unclipping it from his belt with a jerk, running his mechanical thumb over the ignition switch but not yet activating the menacing device.

JENNER – You’ve acted just as I predicted you would. You brought me the items I need to progress and secure my status as leader of this organization…allow me to show you an extension of my gratitude!

Jenner flicks on the Maul’s lightsaber and extends the blood red blade with a blazing hum, then without mercy or without cause; Jenner whips the weapon across Skorne’s left leg. In a flash of burning embers and white-hot plating, Jenner sweeps Maul’s blade in a flash of crimson severing through Skorne’s left leg with the snap of his wrist. Skorne’s limb topples to the ground as he yells in agony. Jenner closes his eyes, and listens to the symphony of pain and suffering from Skorne’s torment, basking in the misery but then Jenner hears another shrill shriek come from across the room as Skel stares wide eyed to Jenner’s actions.

SKEL – WHAT HASSS MASTER DONE! HUNTER RETURNED WITH YOUR REQUESTS! GAVE YOUR WORD YOU DID! WHAT RIGHT HAS MASSSTER TO PUNISH??? SKEL NOT UNDERSTAND!

Jenner growls towards Skel, then looks down to Skorne writhing in pain below him, kicking him in the ribs a few times with his boot, knowing that there is already internal injury there. Making his way to Skel, Jenner keeps Maul’s lightsaber ignited, getting closer as Skel shrinks away, and lowering his head in submission.

JENNER – I am the ruler of this sect, my authority is unequaled by you or anyone else in this establishment. This is MY kingdom, and I will rule as I please! IF YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THAT, THEN YOU WILL SHARE HIS FATE!

Skel nods slowly glancing to Skorne. Upon the trip back in the Shadow Serpent, and shortly before leaving the grounds in the first place, Skel had spoken to Skorne and tried to understand how it was such a powerful man would reserve so much hatred for Valaryc. Although Skorne did not give Skel any details beyond what he allowed Jenner to know, Skorne found Skel much more trustworthy then Jenner. Skorne admired Skel’s ability to remain loyal to a tyrant who left him and his race to die, when the new Killian Citadel was completed.

Skel was intelligent and unquestionably loyal to his superiors, but he was also given the gift of discernment. That gift was what allowed Skorne to in some ways bond with the reptilian creature as they discussed the items and their significance in Skel’s extensive collection of republic artifacts. At first Skorne had considered asking the creature about his articles with intentions to steal them the moment Skel turned his back on him, since Skorne had free reign of the grounds, and would not be disturbed with plenty of opportunity to escape before his actions were discovered.

However it seemed now that Skorne’s gamble to trust the scaled acquaintance was not in vein as Skel diverted his eyes from Jenner, who stared a hole straight into the creature’s soul. Skorne was spared further inflictions of Jenner’s wrath by Skel’s interference, if not for Skel’s shriek Skorne could have very well been decapitated and forgotten in a blink of an eye. The pain was numbing now, Skorne tried to remain focused but the rest of his body was still inflamed in torturous ripples of pain every time he moved any portion of his body, save for his severed leg but he was in fact, still alive.

SKEL – (diverting his eyes) Skel sorry! Skel just curiousss, Skel knows Master is ruler, you have sword of ownership. Skel made mistake, forgive Skel’s actions…loyal I am to you Lord Jenner.

Jenner paces around Skel, still keeping his weapon ignited, as the hum of the deadly energy blade echoes in Skel’s receptors. The tongues extending from his nostrils slowly slither around, as Skel feels fear setting into his body, remaining silent, watching the red eyed leader circle him like a predator to its prey.

JENNER – You are forgiven for your interruption Skel. You have been quite helpful in your servitude to me. I owe you that much to forgive your transgressions.

Skel nods slowly, standing with his hind legs still shaking together, eyeing the exit himself then glancing to Skorne motionless on the ground, barely keeping himself conscious, where other men would have slipped into the darkness and remained powerless to prevent their deaths. Skorne was very confident, his will to live was uncanny to defeat and or survive all conflicts he was placed within, willing to fight with his last dying breath to die only when he took his opponent with him. Even if Jenner had come to slash with his lightsaber again, Skorne would have found some way to make sure Jenner would not survive in tact at the expense of Skorne’s life. That was the years of military training that Skorne had acquired that aided to his uncanny hand to hand combat techniques and strategic approach to his bounties.

JENNER – Strip this retched filth of his prized possessions and dump him on the surface of Eol Sha. Let him see how deep his survival instincts lie when he must contend with the unstable nature of earthquakes and heated vats of lava on his one good leg with only his instincts to aid him.

Skel nods reluctantly to Jenner, then glances to his loyal minions gesturing for them to approach Skorne and carry out their master’s orders. With a momentary hint of hesitation, three of the creatures approach the fallen hunter and slowly drag him from the room, heading out into the darkness, while his armor and his damaged leg scrap along the floor and slowly fade into silence.

Jenner then turns his attention back to Skel, starting to walk back to his dais, gesturing for Skel to follow him as he does so. Both Skel and Jenner head towards the base of the dais when Jenner stretches out his hand and stops Skel, walking to stand in front of him, lifting his left hand, while Maul’s saber remains extended in his right.

JENNER – You knew my Master did you not? Are you aware of how…this happened to me?

Jenner shows Skel his synthetic hand, implying to the previous damage before his battle in the hanger, and beyond the actions of the creatures at the bottom of the ravine.

SKEL – You were injured in battle with Lance Jade. Lossst your arm in battle yesss?

JENNER – (calm) No…before this evolution of steel and flesh, I possessed a fully functional hand, a natural one. But I was asked to prove my loyalty to Lord Quillion.

Skel looks towards the gleaming chrome plating of Jenner’s hand, and does not see that Jenner’s right hand begins to shift upward, slowly raising the vibrating blade of Maul’s saber higher into the air.

SKEL – What tessst of loyaty wasss asked of you?

JENNER – (grins) One cannot be told of the test, one must EXPERIENCE IT FOR THEMSELVES!

Suddenly Maul’s saber comes screeching down towards Skel’s left hand, severing off the limb at the wrist as Skel’s yellow catlike iris flare open, and his high pitched scream reverberates throughout the throne room, both in shock, disbelief, and horrible agonizing ache. Jenner doesn’t flinch as he coldly snaps off Maul’s lightsaber and leans in whispering into Skel’s ear.

JENNER – (whisper) You have passed this test. Don’t ever question my judgment again.

Skel is in a state of shock as the words enter his ear, not feeling the pain anymore, looking down to the cauterized stump where his left hand attached, gazing downward to see his hand laying at his feet. With his eyes slowly returning to half slits, he remains silent, watching Jenner pace back up the stairs and return to his throne. Skel looks towards the recess in the floor where Skorne was viciously betrayed for his loyalties and now Skel could understand what Skorne was going through. Knowing he had to act quickly, Skel just nodded to Jenner and scuttled from the room, keeping his anger buried deep.

Racing down the dark catacombs of the bowels of the Killian stronghold, Skel entered into a communications kiosk and sent out a secure transmission to Eol Sha. Little did Jenner realize the significance of his chosen destination for Skel had suspected that very soon he would no longer be able to tolerate Jenner’s increasingly egotistical actions and as such, if another might find his loyalty much more appreciated somewhere else? Working his fingers over a few runic control keys, he sent his transmission to another occupant of the doomed province. It was clear Jenner had also invaded Skel’s room and had breached his files on known planets, this was how Jenner came to decide upon Eol Sha for Skorne’s banishment, but Jenner did not realize the significance of this planet’s importance.

SKEL – (comlink) Massster has betrayed us. He cut off my hand! I no longer wisssh to remain here! Pleeease let me leave this charade!

Another voice replies to the transmission, dubbed in a deep unrecognizable tone. The manner of which it speaks is very refined and relaxed.

VOICE – (comlink) When you approached me, you spoke of your concern. I listened where your Master has scolded you for your efforts dearest Skel. You must remember however that your mission there is not yet complete. You know what you must do, if you must sacrifice limbs, so be it. That is the price for MY trust in you.

SKEL – (swallows) Skel understand…Skel rather serve great Leader of Sith, then arrogant overseer.
Loyal I am to those who appreciate me. Much have I to do, grant your requests I shall. Question my allegiance as of this day, you need not.

VOICE – Outstanding my pet. The Sith are not yet strong enough to rise and take what is rightfully ours. Do as I command and you will be amply rewarded. I do not share Jenner’s egotistical views for my desires are not as limited. You will do as instructed and wait for further orders.

SKEL – As you command great Leader of Sith. Aware you must be of another who shall approach soon.

VOICE – (surprised) Another? Of what possible use could I have for Jenner’s discarded refuse?

SKEL – Talented this man is, loyal he will be to you. Betrayed his trust Jenner has, but skilled this hunter is.

VOICE – I will see to it that this male is recovered and given medical attention then. This had better be worth the effort Skel, I need not remind you that my wrath far surpasses Jenner.

SKEL – Worth your attention this man is…help you with your goals he will. Much hatred does he hold for Valaryc Versai but a much greater desire he craves. Use this to your advantage, only you can.

Skel glances down into the speaker as he hears a Shadow Serpent take flight and disappear, obviously containing what remained of Skorne, on route to Eol Sha to meet his intended death upon the troubled surface. Little would Jenner ever allow himself to suspect the severity of his actions. Although Skel had formed a secret partnership with the inhabitants of the doomed planet housing the last remnants of The Sith, Skel could have just as easily broken off his “insurance policy” to keep his living secure. Now that Jenner had crossed the line and harmed Skel directly, there was no longer any conflict in his decision to pledge his loyalty to a worthier successor in time, or rather two of them.

VOICE – We shall see the worth of this man you hold in such high regard…if he is anything less then what I expect, I will promptly execute what remains of him. This conversation has now reached its end.

Before Skel can reply to the voice, the signal is cut off. It was clear that whomever was on the other end of the transmission sent to Eol Sha was the leader of The Sith, but their identity was not yet revealed from the precautions used to mask their voice. The answer of course would come in due time. Skel made his way from the kiosk nursing his severed stub with a patch of bacta he finds several rooms down, opening up a medical crate then reaching for a cloth wrap weaving the fabric over his stub, until his injury is eclipsed.

Skel closes his eyes a moment, flicking his tongue out, while his nostril “tongues” slowly writhe before him, running his claw along his right arm over the fabric shrouding his left, letting his anger then boil to the surface, screaming out in a high pitched shrill from deep inside…his feelings shattered from betrayal to bitter resentment, knowing if he entered Jenner’s throne room in his current state he would needlessly lose his life in a fit of rage and fail his new Master’s orders.

Raking his fingers into the wall, causing lines of metal to shear and curl into bands, Skel takes a deep calming breath, then exits the room, awaiting the right moment to initiate his scheme to correct the mistakes of the past and finally when the moment was just right, unleash his vengeance to his ungrateful leader and take away what was given to him.