681. Earning Their Title - Trychon and Raezyr

When they arrived at the bridge, they raised the ship only a few more meters before maneuvering it to the edge of the oasis to tractor their speeders into the bay.  As they moved over the various buildings, they felt the natives become agitated and frightened again.  Their repulsors and thrusters would be wreaking havoc on duracrete buildings at this height, the structures below them now couldn't be faring well.

After the speeders were on board, Trychon rose the Stalker up enough that they didn't have to worry about the various hills and opened up the thrusters, blasting them towards the horizon.

"Do you want to go back to the medbay and patch up a bit?"  The older Sith asked.

"Not enough time."  Raezyr responded, staring out through the viewport as his brother made minor adjustments to their course, insuring that each village they had visited got an earful or more as they passed.  "I'll be fine in the speeder."

"Wasn't doubting it."

The journey that had taken them a week on the sauren only took them a fraction of an hour as they tested the limits of the atmospheric capabilities of their ship.  It had likely been centuries if not more since this planet had witnessed anything similar to the roar that their engines produced along the way.

They 'parked' the ship just outside the capitol city where their cake-walk journey had gone south.  Without a word, they headed back to the speeders, Raezyr leaning on his brother's shoulder for some support.  After a quick check, it was obvious that Reed and Schyrt had loaded plenty of munitions for them into the vehicles.

After dropping to the surface, Trychon tapped on his datapad, sending their ship on a high-speed low-altitude loop over and around the city, finally coming to rest, hovering over its center. Beyond the structural damage the ship's repulsors had caused, the Sith brothers could feel the panic and fear among the inhabitants.

"Let's go," Raezyr said, hanging onto the mini turbo-laser rifle which either Reed or Schyrt had mounted on the speeder. Trychon hit the accelerator and the land-speeder shot forward into the city.

The two raced down the city streets, both main avenues and side alleys without any heed to pedestrians. Raezyr fired randomly into crowds of aliens not caring whether he hit anyone or not while his brother piloted the vehicle and lobbed thermal detonators into open doors and windows of buildings. An added bonus of the attack was that the sauren had gotten loose and at several points the brothers could see a reptile which had turned on it's master, eating a Meisosian right out in the streets. The combined effect everything was utter fear and sheer panic amongst the Sith's enemies, and the two Sith drank it in like a fine ale.

Finally they made it to the city center, just outside the arena where the gathering had taken place and where Seiress had been assassinated. There, hanging from two freshly erected poles, was all the evidence they needed. Reed and Schyrt's crimson tunics hung, tattered and bloody, from the very top. On the wall behind the posts in huge letters was some sort of graffiti written in the alien's lanuage. The lettering was bright red and the brothers needed only one guess as to what medium the message was scrawled in.

Their mission had switched from one of hopeful rescue, to one of definitive revenge.

Trychon and Raezyr surveyed the scene. All around the capital city, fires raged out of control and rubble lay strewn about. Smoke drifted about them occasionally obscuring parts of their view when a dense patch rolled in. Screaming, shouting and wailing could be heard all around. They could sense many of the natives gathering around, blanketed in a sense of fear and panic, but a undercurrent of curiosity was also present. Neither sibling felt the slightest bit of pity for the mass destruction they had caused. These being had brought it upon themselves when they chose to jump to conclusions. Now they'd pay for what they did to Schyrt and Reed.

At the same moment, the two Sith warriors peered into a nearby building, having sensed a familiar presence. Trychon punched a few commands into his data pad, then tossed a comlink to Raezyr.

The big man was still standing behind the mounted turbo-laser. He took the com and shouted into it. "Gavrik!" he yelled, his voice booming over the external audio system on the Stalker still hovering several meters above. Aliens who had gathered the nerve to show themselves scurried for cover like vermin.

"Gavrik!" Raezyr yelled again. "Show yourself... NOW!"

A few moments passed and finally Rodas' assistant emerged, bowing low as he came. His actions belied his demeanor, though. With him came nearly one hundred Meisosian warriors, all armed to the teeth. The Sith could sense their fear, but one would never know by looking at them.

"What more do you wish of us, Wahnri Rahz?" Gavrik asked above the dull roar of the ship's repulsors. "Have you not brought enough pain and suffering to us?"

Raezyr chuckled as he looked at the incredulous expression on his brother's face. "Does this ben tiansheng de yi dui rou actually think they are the victims here?" Raezyr said just loud enough for Trychon to hear.

"Apparently," Trychon replied.

Raezyr spoke into the comlink again. "You murdered Seirrus. You blamed us for it, murdered our friends and tried your damnedest to murder us as well; all of it was according to Vathka Rodas' design."

A murmur went through the warriors behind Gavrik. Apparently some of them spoke Basic and were now not only translating for their comrades, but beginning to glare at Gavrik. The situation was not lost on Gavrik as he began to squirm uncomfortably.

Raezyr let his words sink in a few moments more before he continued. "Everything we have done since the moment we slew Rodas up until now was nothing but payback for the two of us. Now you will pay in blood for what you did to Schyrt and Reed."

He grabbed the stock of the turbo-laser rifle to open up on all standing in front of him when suddenly a warrior stepped forward. "Wait!," he called. "Mighty Wahnri Rahz, wait!"

Suddenly he drew his sword and swung it, not at the Sith, but at Gavrik, cutting his legs from under him. Gavrik screamed in shock and pain, dropping onto his face, clawing at the dirt. The warrior swung his sword again and removed Gavrik's head, ending the screams.

He turned to face the Sith again. "Please! I have removed the villain who wronged you! Please, go now! We humbly apologize for wronging you!"

Raezyr looked at his brother for a moment, then back to the warriors standing in front of the speeder; He then opened fire. In seconds, the proud alien warriors which had once stood before them were reduced to smoking corpses.

"Apology accepted," Raezyr stated flatly.

680. Earning Their Title - Trychon

There was a pause as Trychon held his lighsaber out as an open challenge to the entire village.  Then the silence dissipated and murmurs began to emerge as a growing buzz throughout the crowd.  Then, without directly addressing the Sith, the crowd dispersed.

A few of the native Meisosian warriors took a minute longer to turn away, clearly unsure if they should throw their lives away in a mad attempt to revenge their fallen master.  When the first of Rodas' guards looked away and then walked presumably towards his home, the others followed.

The Sith stood over his battered brother for several moments waiting for him to stir.  His life Force did not wane, meaning that his body was fighting for consciousness, but was not in terminal danger.

After a few gentle mental nudges through their brotherly bond, Raezyr's eyelids finally began to quiver. 

He gently repositioned his body so he could be sitting up but without putting pressure on his knee or his shoulder.  Reaching down into his emotions of anger, which were not hard to come by, he did what he could for his physical condition.

While Trychon watched him recuperate, he tried to clear the fog from his own mind.  He found that while he was able to make some small difference, concentrating on clearing up a jostled brain was harder than it sounded, especially while still keeping an eye on his surroundings.

His caution was rewarded though, as one of the natives did finally approach them, albeit very slowly, and with fear emanating from every pore of his being.  He did not have the build, nor did he carry himself properly, to have been a soldier of any sort.  His body was trembling ever so slightly, including his lips which began to let out some very broken basic.

"Please.  We hear what you do.  We know of Seiress, and we see of Rodas.  We know don't want you here.  We not fight though.  Take and go."  The man emphasized the last phrase, allowing some of his anger to mix in with his fear.

Trychon waved the villager off and he was quick to turn and sprint away.

Raezyr pulled himself up with the help of the elder Sith's outstretched hand.  He did not put any weight on his destroyed knee.  "You feel that?"

"Yeah."  Trychon responded as he allowed his brother to rest some of his weight on his shoulder.  "Rodas must have been hiding the crystal's signature in the Force.  It's obviously buried in there now."  Together, they began to move around to the side of the rubble that gave them the closest access to the artifact that now shone brightly in their Force vision.

"20 creds says the bu huihen de pofu stored our belongings with his other treasures down there."  Raezyr noted as he was sat down on a level rock near their target.

After a few hours of moving rubble at a pace that fit their conditions, they found that they were right.  Underneath the small mountain of walls, pillars, and ceiling, they found sacks that contained all of the weapons they had surrendered as well as Trychon's datapad.

Rodas had likely been lying about having several of the crystals that they'd been sent after.  They found the one very easily due to its strong aura, and they felt nothing similar anywhere within several klicks.

Trychon wasted no time in dusting off his datapad and calling the Stalker down to pick them up, right in the middle of the village.  He disabled normal safety protocols and had the ship hover at five meters above ground.

679. Sith Hunt III: Revenge of the Fish - Raezyr

"Please, don't do it, Nal," came the calm voice of the Chiss Jedi Knight Val. He spoke just loud enough to be heard over the sound of the crashing waterfall. "Our orders were to bring them in."

"Not dis one, Val!" the green-skinned Nautolan female replied, holding her lightsaber inches from the neck of the blond Sith woman. "Mastah Taisun only said it was important dat da others were captured alive."

"We were to bring them all in if possible... and right now that's still possible," the big blue Jedi replied calmingly. He lowered the unconscious body of the Sith male from his shoulder to the ground and walked slowly and carefully across the small clearing. "We're supposed to be bringing all four of them to justice."

"No!" Nal raged."Dis one will be brought to justice here and now. She's murdered hundreds dat we know about and probably more. She murdered Nylan!"

"If Nylan were here, she'd be the first to tell you that she wouldn't want this," Val reminded her. "Search your feelings... you know this to be true."

"Nylan isn't here. Dat's da whole point," the Nautolan said, tears beginning to flow. "Dis one murdered her before my eyes, and I was helpless to stop it!"

The Chiss put his hand on Nal Talla's shoulder and looked down on the pitiful human. Anya Tachi was curled up, holding the stumps where her fingers used to be, wimpering as tears flowed down her face. "It's not justice for Nylan you seek, it's revenge for yourself.

"Killing her may be what she deserves, but that is not for us to decide," Val said, continuing. "But if you do, you'll have started down the path of the Dark Side. And the Dark Side will be the only thing you have to fill the empty hole left by your revenge."

He waited several heartbeats before he continued. "She isn't worth it, Val. Your soul is to valuable to be sacrificed for the likes of her."

Several more moments went by before Nal looked away from the cowering Sith and down at the object touching her arm. Val was handing her a set of energy binders. Finally, she switched off her lightsaber and clipped it to her belt. She reached down and roughly snapped the binders on her prisoner, then yanked Anya to her feet.

"Tanks," Nal said.

Val smiled. "I knew you'd do the right thing... Come, the shuttle should be waiting for us at the mouth of the canyon by now," he told her, picking Tyr up once more and slinging him over his shoulder.

She looked at him as she shoved the Sith prisoner in front of her. "You're not going to tell Mastah Taisun, are you?"

"I won't need to."

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

A few hours later on the Republic Hammerhead-class star cruiser Unity, the two Jedi sat in Captain Wash Moklam's ready room just off of the bridge along with the Captain and his First Officer. "Captain, I know the crew is elated to have captured these two Sith, but shouldn't we put an end to the celebration? There are still two more out there that we're looking for, and they're the more elusive of the four."

"Let them have their momentary victory, Lieutenant," Moklam replied. "It may only be a small victory, but it's still a victory, and we haven't had many of those lately."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, Jedi Nal, Jedi Val, I think we owe you two a big thanks as well," the Captain continued. "Without you two, we may never have been able to capture these two alive so they can stand trial for their crimes."

Nal and Val glanced at each other, hesitating before Val spoke up. "I'm afraid we have some bad news in that regard, Captain."

Moklam raised his eyebrow. He had a bad feeling about where this was going, but he kept silent and allowed the big Chiss Jedi to continue.

"Our orders are to bring these two to the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine," Val informed him. "Once you check in with your superiors, you'll find that your orders will coincide."

Moklam closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Typical Jedi nerf goh-se is what this was turning into. Instead of standing trial in a Republic court of law for their murders, thefts and crimes against not only the Republic, but against Moklam and the Unity itself, these two villains were going to be cubby-holed away by the gorram Jedi. Instead of the reply he wanted to give, he suppressed his anger, burying it deeply. "I don't suppose you'll be able to tell me why, can you?"

Nal and Val had anticipated this reaction from the Moklam. They knew he was a good man, but like most non-Jedi, he didn't understand the ways of the Order. Nal did her best to explain. "We have come to suspect dat dese two are merely decoys, pawns to keep us running around instead of looking for da other two," she explained.

"We also suspect that they know where the other two are hiding," Val continued. "No Republic interrogation is going to break a Sith. At least they never have before."

"I guess that makes sense," Moklam agreed. "But Republic Intelligence is relatively positive the other two have teamed up with Diana Kingsdoom and her pirates. She was with them when we unknowingly captured them some time ago, and during the hijacking of the aurodium shipment, several ships matched the description of those known to belong to the Kingsdoom Pirates."

"Except dat da Republic doesn't know where her base of operations are," Nal pointed out.

"Worst case scenario, Captain, is that we don't break the Sith and they are turned over to the Republic to stand trial," Val explained. "The best case scenario is that we break them. Then not only will we have the other two Sith responsible for the Coruscant Massacre, but we put Diana Kingsdoom behind bars as well."

Moklam smiled. Maybe this wasn't bad news after all.

678. Earning Their Title - Trychon

Trychon managed to make it out of the building just as the structure gave way seconds later, despite having to haul his brother.

Raezyr had managed to roll out of the way of the pillar and instant before it crashed to the ground, but Rodas had not been quick enough to avoid being trapped under it.  The ceiling was very quick to follow, so the older Sith didn't even bother to look at the shouting alien on their way out.

He looked around now that he had time and saw that the entire building was now complete rubble, collapsed on the 'real Sith' and not moving.  He then noticed aliens still lined up in the street, just standing and staring at them.

He laid his younger brother down, who was currently grumbling about how he was fine and didn't need or appreciate the help.  It took some insisting, but Trychon was able to get his sibling to hold still long enough for a quick inspection.

There was no real structural damage that he could feel by touching it.  Raezyr didn't flinch or say a word when Trychon squeezed it, but the reaction was plain through their Force bond.  The shoulder was likely fractured, but not a complete break.  Painful, but manageable.

"Yep."  Trychon nodded with a wink.  "That's going to have to come off."

He stood up and ignited his weapon with a sharp snap-hiss.


Behind him, the sound was echoed by another snap-hiss. He spun around to see Rodas standing there holding an ancient looking lightsaber emitting a bright crimson blade.

"You try my patience, imbeciles," the red-skinned being said. His face was twisted in anger and he had a bloody gash across his forehead.

Trychon chose to respond with action rather than words and sprang to the attack. His hope was that the old alien would be at a disadvantage from attempting to wield a weapon he was unfamiliar with. He briefly wondered where the old Sith had acquired it and his thoughts flashed back to the body in the cave.

He focused on the present, and soon his previous hopes were dashed. Not only was Rodas not at a disadvantage, he was actually quite good with at lightsaber combat, better even than Raezyr. They exchanged a flurry of blows when an unnoticed kick connected with Trychon's jaw, launching him backwards several meters as stars exploded inside his head.

By that time, Raezyr had rolled to his feet and ignited his remaining lightsaber. He held it with both hands and stood his ground as the ancient alien approached. Gone was his hunched and frail appearance from when they had first met him. Now all Raezyr saw was a powerful Dark Sider and ferocious warrior. He flooded his body with the Force to block the pain in his shoulder.

The blades crashed and hummed as the melee ensued, Rodas driving the young Sith backward. He tried the same kick with which he had struck Trychon but Raezyr ducked and sidestepped. Rodas gave a Force push which sent the big Sith sailing into the pile of rubble which had been the alien's home. As he landed, Raezyr felt and heard his ribs crack.

Trychon struggled to his feet and re-ignited his weapon; standing wobbly on his feet. He made a clumsy slash at the alien, but despite drawing heavily on the Force it was really hard for him to focus. Rodas swatted aside the attack and punched the elder brother in the face, sending him staggering backward with the sheer power.

The alien quickly closed the gap and kicked him the stomach. Through the fog in his mind he wondered why Rodas hadn't cut him down instead. Seemingly from a great distance, he realized the alien was smiling and laughing once more. Oh, he's having fun again, Trychon thought as he took another punch which sent him sprawling back into the dirt.

Raezyr summoned all his strength. He tried desperately to channel the pain into energy from the Dark Side, but despite his training, it was too much. Still he knew he had to get to his brother soon, or Rodas would kill him. He lurched forward and, ignoring the pain in his shoulder and swinging with all his energy, attempted to slay the Meisosian.

Vathka Rodas easily caught Raezyr's wrist in his off-hand and wrenched the young Sith's injured arm backward. Despite himself, he grunted in pain through clenched teeth as his weapon fell from his numb fingers. The alien then landed a vicious kick to Raezyr's injured knee eliciting another sharp grunt as the ligaments in the joint finally finished tearing apart, rendering the limb completely useless.

He nearly crumpled to the ground, with one leg folding in on itself from his weight, and too off-balance for the other to compensate, but Rodas pulled him upward.

Holding him by the arm, the old alien slammed his fist into Raezyr's face several times. Blood spurted from his broken nose and ran freely from his lips and mouth. Still holding Raezyr by the wrist, he turned to the other aliens in the street. "These two Wahnri Rahz walked on you like the desert sands. See how easily I defeated them, and remember!" he yelled.

"It ain't over until I say it is," came Trychon's voice from behind Rodas.

Rodas tossed Raezyr's unconscious body aside like a doll and slowly turned. Trychon stood there blade in hand. "Oh, but it is over," the alien replied.

In a flash, the ancient Sith Lord crossed the distance. Still in a fog, Trychon tried to bring his blade to bear, but to little avail. Rodas slapped the lightsaber from his hand and seized the human warrior by the throat, lifting him easily off his feet.

Trychon hung there, choking and gurgling, struggling for breath as Rodas slowly tightened his grip around the human's neck, cutting off his air. The Sith tried in vain to pry open the alien's hand and quickly gave up. He looked over to the crumpled form of his half-brother and although he wasn't even sure if Raezyr was alive, he desperately hoped his brother would rouse before it was too late. As a final, desperation move, Trychon raised his arm and, pointing his fist at Vathka Rodas' face began to draw on the Dark Side.

The elderly alien began laughing when he felt the Force well up inside the smaller being. "My knowledge of the Weave far exceeds your own. As your breath gives out, just what do you hope to accomplish with a paltry Force trick?"

Trychon's sleeve suddenly slid aside, revealing the ancient Sith lanvarok still attached to his wrist, it's muzzle mere inches from the red-skinned alien's face. Rodas' brow crinkled in confusion, then his eyes widened. The Sith Warrior could only assume it was because the alien recognized the device. Trychon activated the triggering mechanism with the Force, and hoped to the ancient Sith Lords that the device still functioned.


For a moment, nothing happened. Then the gash across Rodas' forehead began bleeding excessively. The alien's eyes went blank as his body crumpled to the ground. The disc had caught the ancient Meisosian in the head and passed completely through.

Trychon had fallen to the ground with Rodas, and now he got to his knees, then to his feet. He rubbed his neck, swallowing a few times and breathing deeply. "Now it's over."

He looked up and around the street at the Meisosians still standing and watching. There was no guessing how they might react. He reached out and his lightsaber sprang to his hand from where it had come to rest several meters away.

The fog in his head was finally beginning to clear as he walked over to where his brother lay and stood over his body protectively, igniting his weapon once again. Trychon raised his weapon as he looked around at the aliens again. Still they hadn't moved, but he wasn't taking any chances.

"Alright people... line up or bunch up. I don't care... just come get some."

677. Sith Hunt III: Revenge of the Fish - Raezyr

Anya Tachi augmented her sprint with the Force and covered as much ground as she could. A myriad of questions was running through her mind: Where would she go? If she got away, how would she get off the planet? If should couldn't leave, how would she survive? She'd spent most of her life in cities. She wasn't prepared to rough it in the wild. And one of the biggest questions of all... why in the name of the Ancient Sith Lords would Tyr sacrifice himself, especially if he had shaken her influence? No matter, she decided. The important thing at the moment was to get away. She could figure the rest out later.

She traveled along the base of the mountains looking for any kind of break in the steep rise. After several kilometers, she came across a stream flowing out of a small canyon. The stream had cut deeply into the bed and the banks were sheer on each side, dropping straight down almost two meters from the edge of the banks to the water's surface.The stream was wide, fast and violent. With a strenuous jump she might be able to make it across, but she was more concerned with the canyon. It's walls were sheer but it led up into the mountains. Tyr had seemed confident that the mountains somehow held the key to their escape, either in a cave or elsewhere, and she had no better plan.

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

Nal Talla came across the stream less than ten minutes later. She nearly leaped across to continue on, but something made her pull up and look around. Had the Sith murderer jumped into the stream? The Nautolan female surveyed the swift and rocky stream. It would be certain suicide for anyone. They'd be bashed against the rocks and would have no way to climb out due to the sheer banks.

Nal began to panic, afraid she'd lose the trail. Refocusing, she sensed her quarry's presence somewhere up the canyon. She calmed down and a moment later she noticed a footprint heading in the same direction, confirming what she already knew.

She sprinted up the canyon as quickly as she could for nearly two kilometers when Nal noticed she was rapidly gaining on her prey. The Jedi could sense her prey standing still just up around the bend in the canyon so she slowed to a walk.

As she came around the corner she saw why the blond human had quit running. There in a clearing stood the Sith staring at the sheer wall which marked the end of the canyon. From a deep cut in the wall issued a twenty meter waterfall which landed in a deep pool almost twenty-five meters across. Just as the rest of the stream, the surface of the pool was nearly two meters straight down from the banks around.

Nal smiled. Now she would see justice done. Justice for her dear friend Nylan whom this monster had murdered and justice for the hundreds of innocents this Sith had injured and murdered before and since. The only escape was through the Jedi Knight and her blade.

The tell-tale snap-hiss wasn't audible over the roar of the waterfall and stream, but the Sith's head snapped around anyway. The blond girl slowly grinned and drew her own weapon, flicking the switch and igniting the crimson blade. "Just as well, Fishy. I was tired of running anyway."

"I will give you one chance to surrendah, Sith," Nal told her as she walked forward, closing the distance.

"A powerful Sith such as I would never surrender to a lesser being," Anya sneered.

"I was so hoping you'd say dat," the Jedi replied and launched herself forward into a run, her green blade arcing through the air.

Anya met the attack and the blades crackled as they clashed several times in quick succession. She spun to one side and made a clumsy swipe at the Nautolan's legs forcing the Jedi to leap into a back-flip. Deep down Anya could see the Jedi was a better swordswoman but her pride would never let her admit it. Taking advantage of her initial momentum and charged her opponent.

Nal had chosen to flip back out of range of the attack, rather than parry and thrust. The girl had left herself too wide open and the Jedi had assumed it must be a trap. She had time on her side and chose to play it safe, especially knowing how devious and cunning the Sith were. Chances were, the blond would continue to bait Nal by leaving herself open. The trick was going to be figuring deciding if it was a trap, or if it was to take advantage. Nal easily parried the incoming attack on her blade and tried a Force push, hoping the tactic would take the Sith off guard. She was shocked when it actually worked.

Anya flew backward several meters and slammed into the rock wall of the box canyon. She felt her breath leave her as she hit, but scrambled to her feet, struggling for breath. The Jedi bitch had hurt her, but she couldn't let on. The good thing was that it allowed her to slide her vibro-dagger from her boot and conceal it with the Dark Side.

The Jedi Knight was sure something was going on. She could feel the Sith Warrior channeling the Dark Side, permeating the area like a foul odor. The problem was Nal couldn't discern any changes other than the sudden sly grin which had appeared on the visage of her opponent.

Wary of the inevitable trick Nal circled to her left as did her enemy. Just as her back was to the pool below the waterfall, the Sith flicked her wrist. At first there was nothing but the triumphant gleam in the blond girl's eye. Suddenly Nal knew. She threw herself backward to avoid whatever object had been thrown and heard it pass mere centimeters from her head.

On the edge of the pool, the Jedi looked at the water below and flailed her arms as she struggled to keep her balance. Nal felt a hand on her chest and then she was falling. The last thing she saw as she hit the water was the hideous grin of that Sith standing on the bank, watching.

The water was icy cold as was to be expected from a mountain stream, but her amphibious physiology compensated. She struck out for the bank, but when she reached it, there were no hand-holds. She continued to swim along the edge, looking for hand-holds, anything to allow her to climb out. She couldn't drown as she could breath in the water as well as the air, but this water was colder than her body was used to. Eventually it would shut down. When it did, she'd either die of hypothermia, or her body would be swept downstream to be dashed to pieces on the rocks.

The laughter from above wasn't helping. "Oh, how ironic! The fishy is going to die in the water! Here fishy, fishy, fishy!"

Nal could feel her blood boiling. She dove deep down below the surface, partly to escape the taunting, but also to think. She was fast in the water, but not nearly fast enough to propel herself high enough to reach the edge of the bank. She could use the Force to shove off from the bottom, but the water was so deep that her momentum would be slowed by the time she reached the surface.

She looked down at her legs, wishing they could swim faster, when it dawned on her: Her prosthetic leg! They had installed a jet propulsion into the cybernetic limb, and she had only ever used it one time. It had been so long since she had been in any kind of deep water she had nearly forgotten about it.

She kicked it on with a thought and shot to the bottom of the pool, then shoved off, putting the water jet into high gear. She rocketed toward the surface and beyond. The shocked look on that girl's face was priceless as she watched the Nautolan Jedi soar overhead.

Nal flipped and landed in a crouch, re-igniting her lightsaber. It was her turn to grin sardonically. "And now you pay for your crimes wit your life, Sith."

The Jedi rushed at Anya, and it was all the Sith could do to block the incoming blows. She could feel the hate burning inside the Sith and she knew this was it. She also knew her only way out. "Yes!" She cried backpedaling, struggling to stay alive. "Use your hate and strike me down! We aren't so dissimilar, Jedi!"

"I'm nutting like you, Sith worm!" Nal screamed.

"Oh, but you could be a powerful Sith Lord!" Anya pleaded. "Feel how powerful your anger has made you! You could use that power to fight the injustice in the Galaxy... Please Jedi, forsake the Order and I will swear loyalty to you and be your apprentice! Together we could right the wrongs of the Galaxy!"

For a moment, Nal hesitated. The offer was tempting. But in the end, she decided that killing this Sith villain was enough. She thrust her blade at the face of her enemy. The parry came, and as expected it was sloppy. This time the look of fear in the face of the Sith told her it was no trick. She countered and cut the lightsaber hilt in two, removing the fingers from the right hand of the human at the same time.

Anya dropped to the ground, sobbing. "Please... you're a Jedi... you... you can't kill me when I'm unarmed."

Nal held the emerald blade inches from the vile Sith's neck. Her teeth were clenched in a snarl. "Go to Hell, bitch."

676. Earning Their Titles - Trychon

Raezyr tracked Rodas' flip through the air and reared his arm back before releasing his short lightsaber slicing through the air at the old man.  He gripped it in the Force as it flew, and guided it through a gentle curve to give it a better angle of attack.

To his dismay, Rodas snatched the lightsaber out of his Force grip and pulled it into his own hand, cackling once more.  "Simple fools with your simple attacks." With his augmented strength, he flexed his hands, and crushed the hilt, causing a small audible explosion and the blade to flicker and die.  "You have no idea how easy you are to read.  I have defeated warriors who..."

He was interrupted by a downward slash from Trychon's blade.  He had cut the distance between them as quickly as he could, trying to take advantage of the man's ramblings.  To his dismay, Rodas was as quick as he was powerful, and he was deftly dodging every attack.

Raezyr moved in to try and trap their skilled prey between their blades.  As he added his own attacks to his brother's, Rodas simply began dodging them both equally.  If it wasn't annoying and potentially very dangerous to be matching with such a skilled foe, Raezyr would have been very impressed.  As it was, he found it very annoying and potentially dangerous.

After maneuvering between and around dozens of attacks in a matter of seconds, the old man was starting to lose ground and was facing the possibility of being cornered.  He lashed out with a lighting quick kick to Raezyr's chest, before flipping over another of Trychon's futile swings.  He pounced immediately after landing from his last acrobatic maneuver and flipped again, this time over the head of the older brother.  A solid foot to the head of the Sith as he passed gave him time to continue to deride the offworlders.

Raezyr tracked Rodas' flip through the air and reared his arm back before releasing his short lightsaber slicing through the air at the old man.  He gripped it in the Force as it flew, and guided it through a gentle curve to give it a better angle of attack.

To his dismay, Rodas snatched the lightsaber out of his Force grip and pulled it into his own hand, cackling once more.  "Simple fools with your simple attacks." With his augmented strength, he flexed his hands, and crushed the hilt, causing a small audible explosion and the blade to flicker and die.  "You have no idea how easy you are to read.  I have defeated warriors who..."

He was interrupted by a downward slash from Trychon's blade.  He had cut the distance between them as quickly as he could, trying to take advantage of the man's ramblings.  To his dismay, Rodas was as quick as he was powerful, and he was deftly dodging every attack.

Raezyr moved in to try and trap their skilled prey between their blades.  As he added his own attacks to his brother's, Rodas simply began dodging them both equally.  If it wasn't annoying and potentially very dangerous to be matching with such a skilled foe, Raezyr would have been very impressed.  As it was, he found it very annoying and potentially dangerous.

After maneuvering between and around dozens of attacks in a matter of seconds, the old man was starting to lose ground and was facing the possibility of being cornered.  He lashed out with a lighting quick kick to Raezyr's chest, before flipping over another of Trychon's futile swings.  He pounced immediately after landing from his last acrobatic maneuver and flipped again, this time over the head of the older brother.  A solid foot to the head of the Sith as he passed gave him time to continue to deride the offworlders.

He hopped into the air and attached himself though the Force halfway up one of the large pillars that littered the room.  He landed his feet flat against the rock material and then bent his knees so he could lean back against the upright.  "I'm so sorry.  I don't know where my manners are.  I'm not being a gracious host... how would you like your pitiful lives to end?"


With that line, he extended his hands towards the Sith again and tilted his head back in stilted laughter as he unleashed lightning again.


Raezyr knew they were out of position to execute the same maneuver they had the last time the energy had been directed at them.  Thinking quickly, he pushed through the initial impact of blocking the attack, advancing several steps quickly.  He lowered his blade from the blocking position it was in, opening himself to the ferocity of the electricity, which immediately began ripping through his body.

He tried to channel what energy he could for his own use, and to use the pain to draw more strength for his own use.  He was only partially successful, as he knew he had to keep his concentration on his impulsive plan. 

He squinted as the energy coursed over his face, a nearly blinding light.  Gently turning a knob on his lightsaber, he extended the blade.  It was probably unnecessary, but he wanted to make sure it would suffice for the task he was set out to do.

The old alien seemed to be reveling too much in his attack, and could probably sense Raezyr's pain.  He didn't see what was about to take place.With one hefty swing, Raezyr sliced through the pillar Rodas was clinging to, and was relieved to see it wasn't resistant to his blade.

He lowered his shoulder, and reinforced his own strength as much as he could through the Force, and he launched himself at the pillar.  Just as he was making contact, he felt additional strength and protection reinforce him through his bond with his brother.

There was a deafening crack from the pillar and his shoulder as the support broke free and his body pushed it forward.

Then the ceiling began to rumble.

675. Earning Their Title - Raezyr and Trychon

Trychon was instantly on his feet and moving despite the pain and grogginess. He scooped up his fallen lightsaber and flicked the switch. Instantly the blades hummed back to life. He didn't need to look to know his brother was moving in the opposite direction to flank the old Meisosian. Both of them were doing their best to keep out of sight, using bushes and columns as cover until they could get into position. When they did, they'd cut Rodas down and take the crystal that was owed them.

"Big mistake, old man," he heard his brother say from across the courtyard.

It elicited a cackle from Vathka Rodas. "The only mistake was you two coming here. Now you'll die here as well," he said, the contempt thick in his voice.

Simultaneously the brothers charged from their cover. Aided by the Force they covered ground quickly. Their Force bond and time spent together made them acutely aware of what the other was doing and wordlessly they could coordinate their attack, already knowing what the other was planning.

Before they could reach him, however, Rodas flipped into the air and landed on the back of his stone chair, crouching there on all fours as if he were a spider. The Sith warriors were stunned at the nimbleness of the old man. The red-skinned alien stretched his hand out and once again lightning shot forth from his fingers.

This time Trychon and Raezyr were ready for it and dove opposite directions, hitting the ground and rolling to their feet. Rodas sent another burst of lightning toward  Raezyr who flicked his blades up at the last second. Despite his lightsabers being able to absorb the electricity, tremendous pressure still surged, threatening to toss the big warrior backward. Crossing his blades, Raezyr set his feet and strained against it, holding his ground.

Rodas had to desist quickly as Trychon charged. Rodas launched himself into the air once again, coming down ten meters away while Trychon's blade sliced off a corner of the stone chair where Rodas had been just an instant before.

The two brothers quickly flanked the old man again. "Jump around all you like, but you're unarmed. Pretty soon we'll catch you and cut you to pieces," Raezyr said. "You're no match for the Sith."

"'Sith?'" Rodas asked mockingly. "You call yourselves, 'Sith?'" He let out a long laugh. "I'm the only Sith here... a true Sith. Not like the rest of the peons on this planet with watered down blood. I am the last remaining descendant of the real Sith in the entire quadrant.  Whatever dirty moo'blah weaklings thought to 'teach' you and tell you that you could call yourselves Sith were as deluded as you are.  Even more deluded than my forefathers who thought to settle some slave planet and mix blood with them."

The red-skinned Sith vaulted over Trychon and his overhead strike, and with a Force shove, created plenty of  room for himself.  "But no matter... You'll soon join my mislead relatives in the red sands of the desert, or as fodder for my pets.  I have not decided."  Which he followed by more cackling as he launched continued lightning strikes at the columns the brothers used for cover.

In union, they stepped out into the streams of electricity, with their weapons the only barrier between them and the wrath of the self-proclaimed 'True Sith'.  With both of them trying to advance, there was a slight drop in the physical exertion the attack put on them, so they were able to hold their ground.  They were still unable to advance more than small portions of a step at a time.

Then Rodas began to spread the Force tendrils out from their main targets.  It wasn't clear to Raezyr what he was doing at first, as it was only weakening his attack.  He realized too late what was happening.

As the lightning spread out beyond the grasp of their blades, it began ricocheting off the stone floors and columns next to the two Sith.  Within seconds, they were being bombarded by superheated shrapnel from multiple directions.

It wasn't so much Force abilities or heightened reflexes that drove them behind cover as it was natural reaction.

It also wasn't enough.  The lightning strikes continued, and the hailfire was relentless.  Time slowed for the brothers as they silently communicated and formulated a rough plan.  They acted in mere seconds, though it felt like minutes.

Raezyr jumped forward from his momentary cover, over what burning rocks he could, and cutting the distance between himself and the source of their onslaught.  He imposed his blades into the stream of Force energy and rooted himself in the Force.

Trychon sprinted behind him and into the small window of safety his brother was temporarily affording him.  Closing his eyes, he extended his arms.  He did not have to dig deep to draw on the Dark Side, grabbing hold of the miniature missiles and redirecting them at Vathka Rodas.

The elderly alien folded over slightly, but made no scream of pain as he was pelted with the burning shards.  He flipped backwards and away quickly, but the red borders surrounding the smoldering holes in his robe confirmed that he was not unscathed.

674. Sith Hunt III: Revenge of the Fish - Raezyr

Sweat dripped from Tyr's nose as he watched the Nautolan Jedi slip away from the fight, and there was nothing he could do about it this time. When the fight had first joined, she had tried to back out and get around him. He could only assume she was wanting to pursue Anya. Tyr had nearly lost a leg when he had leaped into her path, forcing her to engage him.

Quickly it had become apparent that he was far outmatched in this fight. His objective had gone from winning the fight, to buying Anya enough time to get away. Now as his orange blade clashed with the double-bladed lightsaber of the blue Jedi, he could only hope the extra fifteen minutes was enough for Anya to escape. Unless the Spirits of the Ancient Sith Lords intervened, she was on her own now.

He launched himself at the hulking form of the Jedi once again. He tried to read the Chiss to get a hint as to where his weakness may lay, but it was like trying to read a chunk of duracrete. The Jedi was as cool as the other side of the pillow.

Tyr disengaged and stood back, panting. It dawned on him that the Jedi had yet to attack. So far he'd done nothing but defend, yet he wasn't tired. Every one of Tyr's strokes had been easily countered. Several times Tyr had left himself open to a counter attack, a counter attack which, had it been Raezyr he was fighting, would have cost him his life, or at least an excruciating shock from a practice saber. Yet this Jedi had not taken those opportunities.

Early in the fight, Tyr had tried taunting the Jedi, telling the Chiss how he'd enjoy watching him die, telling the Nautolan how he was going to remove her other leg, but the female had ignored him, intent on pursuing Anya, and the male had only responded with, "Will you yield to me?"

Suddenly, the Jedi attacked. Apparently Tyr's break was over. And in that, the Sith thought he saw a strategy. The Jedi was clearly not going to let him get away, so instead of attacking and wearing himself down, Tyr decided to let the blue-skinned alien come to him. He fended off the attack, and dodged sideways, backing away from his opponent.

For a moment the Jedi let him rest, but then came at him again once it was clear Tyr was not going to attack. The blade movements were quick and it took everything he had to parry the strokes and back away again.

He was glad he had gotten the chance to spar with Trychon so that the experience of going up against someone wielding a double-bladed lightsaber was not new. The problem was this guy was a lot more experienced that Trychon was. In fact, he was pretty sure this guy was at least as good with a blade as Raezyr was, if not better. But he had bested Raezyr a time or two.

Another attack brought Tyr out of his thoughts and he barely had time to duck under the attack, parrying as he moved sideways. He expected the Jedi to let him back away again, but it didn't happen. The alien anticipated the sidestep and moved with him.

For the briefest of moments, he thought he saw the Jedi's shoulders slump a bit, and new energy flooded through Tyr. His strategy was beginning to pay off! The big Jedi was quickly wearing down now that he was forced to move the hulking body of his.

Tyr knew he had him now. He continued his game of defend then disengage, and as he did so, his opponent's attacks became sloppier and more sluggish. The Sith warrior continued forcing the Jedi to come after him and watching the big grow weary.

Finally Tyr decided the time was right. He abandoned any defense, and poured every ounce of his reserve energy into one last blazing onslaught. This time the high and mighty Jedi was on the back pedal, trying to disengage as Tyr's orange blade seemed to be everywhere at once.

And there it was. Finally, the opening the Sith had been waiting for. Tyr lunged forward, a triumphant grin on his face as he watched in slow motion as the blade of his lightsaber drove toward the torso of the blue Jedi.

Still in slow motion, the Jedi's blade appeared. Anticipating a death blow, Tyr had given nothing to his own defense and watched helplessly as his enemy's weapon knicked the Sith's own hand, removing the thumb.

The orange-bladed energy weapon tumbled helplessly from his grasp, and shut down immediately as it did so.

A boot landed against Tyr's chest, taking his wind and sending him backward several feet, and things went back into real-time as he slammed into the trunk of a tree. Stars went super-nova inside his head and he shook it against the blackness creeping in and threatening unconsciousness.

The Chiss was in front of him, the business end of his lightsaber pointed at the Sith's face. "Now will you yield to me?" the Knight said calmly.

Tyr noticed the Jedi wasn't even breathing hard, and the realization set in that the Jedi had played him. It had been a ruse to force Tyr to expend his energy reserves. He held tightly to the cauterized spot were his right thumb had once been, ignoring the pain. The hate smoldered in his eyes as he looked up at his enemy. "I'll never yield to you while I'm still alive."

Tyr rolled to the side, trying to get away, but a huge fist caught him in the temple. Once again lights exploded, but this time the darkness swept over him like a tidal wave.

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

The Chiss Jedi Knight known as Val clamped the energy binders on the wrists of the crumpled Sith. He hated knocking people out like that. It always seemed so unnecessarily violent, but his only other option would have been to kill the Sith as the human was clearly not going to surrender.

He checked his opponent's wound and then slapped a bacta patch on it to ensure it didn't get infected. He thought about leaving the man here and moving on. Republic commandos could be on the ground inside thirty minutes, but Val thought better of it. Too many things could go wrong if the Sith warrior woke up before they could get him into a holding cell aboard the Unity.

After clipping his opponents lightsaber to his belt, he hoisted the human onto his shoulder, then took off at a trot. The extra weight would slow him down a bit, but not so much that he shouldn't catch up shortly.

He could sense Nal Talla a few kilometers ahead, as well as the growing stress his partner was feeling. Undoubtedly that meant she had caught up to the blonde Sith girl.

Hold on, Nal, Val thought to himself. I'll be there shortly.

673. Earning Their Title - Raezyr

It took what they assumed was half of a day to get back into the unilluminated parts of the cave system and were forced to use their weapons once again as a source of light.

They soon found that going back up wasn't nearly as easy as their descent had been. Over and over again they came to dead ends, passageways which were either to small or narrow to fit through, or had been blocked off long ago by falling rocks. Each time they were forced to turn around and retrace their steps, and in the dim light provided by the energy blades, nothing seemed to look the same going the other direction.

At one point, they accidentally back tracked too far, having missed the other passageway and it cost them nearly another hour before they realized it.

As close as they could estimate, it took them nearly two full days, and when they finally reached the exit to the caves, they found it was choked with fallen debris.

Trychon climbed the loose talus to the narrow hole. He could just get a glimpse of the sky and smell the warm air, but couldn't get any closer. Suddenly he heard a low rumble from somewhere behind him.

He paused to listen, but it was gone. "Raez... you hear that?"

"Yeah."

"What do you think that was?"

"That was some sort of internal communications," the younger brother replied.

Trychon slid back down the debris and looked at his brother, then back down the passage they had just come. "Then we better get to digging before whatever was communicating shows up."

"I don't think we have to worry about it," Raezyr said and reached out with the Force and began levitating rocks and tossing them back behind them.

"How do you know that?" Trychon asked as he began assisting in the excavation.

"Because it was my stomach complaining. It thinks my throat has been cut."

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

Indeed it had been several days now since they had last eaten, and they were out of water as well... despite having used it sparingly. Neither of them talked about it, but they both knew it was an altogether too real possibility that it might be quite some time before they could get to water.

Fortunately that proved not to be the case. It was night time when they emerged onto a hillside over looking a medium sized village which sat in a lush, tropical river valley. A few lights were shining down below in the village which surrounded a larger, columned structure which resembled one of those from the bigger city where the conference had taken place.

"At least we should be able to get to water without having to fight a whole village," Raezyr remarked. "The only problem we have now is figuring out just where exactly we are. We could be 50 miles or more off course."

Trychon turned and grinned at his brother. "You probably don't recognize it from this side, but look again at the structure with the columns... that's Rodas' pavilion."

"Great," Raezyr remarked sourly. "So much for not fighting a whole village."

They cautiously approached the village, taking the long way around to reach the river first, hoping that they could at least get some water before being attacked.... though they remembered their welcoming committee from their first arrival and weren't taking any chances.

They were pleasantly surprised to find that they were not challenged at all as they walked up to the river at the edge of the forestry and grabbed themselves some water.  It was strangely calm, and there wasn't even any signs of the local natives watching them. Even the local wildlife seemed to be in hiding.

They sat at the water's edge for several minutes and pondered the feeling.

Trychon stood up and looked at their surroundings one last time.  "Well, then.  Do you want to get a short rest in?"

"I do."  Raezyr stood up.  "On our ship.  Let's go get this over with."

They both extended their senses, wary for a trap.  Feeling nothing, but still on edge, they slowly moved through the foliage and followed the river into the village.  As they neared, they did see or hear the occasional wildlife, but the level of activity was still alarming.  Even the lack of a breeze put them on edge.

They got to the edge of the village before they saw their first Meisosian.  There was several warriors at the gate.  They had their various spears and swords, but they held them to the side, in a passive position.  They watched the Sith approach without saying a word or even flinching, though their eyes were open wide with either anticipation or awe.

As they crossed through the main gate and into the city, they found that the walkways were lined at the edges almost in a similar manner to the festival they'd been at.  They all had the same expression as they walked towards the pavilion.

Trychon tried getting a response by making faces at a few of the small groups, but he failed to get any response, outside of a small child who stuck out its tongue at him before its mother could drag it away.

They entered the pavilion, still keeping a close eye on their backs as 'outnumbered' didn't begin to describe their situation.  The town's population seemed to have grown or been augmented, and they were nearly all glaring at them now from their rear.

The door to Rodas' audience chamber was cracked open, but they couldn't see into the chamber at all.

Raezyr gave it a quick Force shove and it slammed open, making a large cracking noise as it slammed into the wall.

Vathka Rodas was waiting for them from his throne at the far side of the chamber.

After the echo dissipated from the chamber, they could hear him softly clapping.

"Yes....."  The elder hissed.  "I knew you would make it back.  I foresaw it and I could still feel you.  They left you for dead, but I knew you would come."

They approached without word and ignited their lightsabers.

"You kriffing pile of go-se!"  Raezyr growled.  "You set us up, for some twisted power grab."

The old man chuckled.  "Don't be foolish.  I could have arranged that without your help.  It was merely a bit more amusing this way."

"We've come for our belongings and our crystals!"  Trychon yelled, now pointing with his free hand at Rodas.  "How painful this is for you is up to yo..."

Neither Sith could have anticipated the speed with which things unfolded.  Rodas struck them both with a Force lightning attack that put Lord Vikon's to shame.  He relented his attack only long enough to blast them both across the room in separate directions and each into the very sturdy columns, cracking their heads against the stone.

They fell to the ground, stunned in several different ways.

"Oh Wahnri Rahz...." The old man croaked, nearly singing the words. "Come out and play....."

672. Earning their Titles - Trychon and Raezyr

They dove down into the clear, illuminated depths of the subterranean pond which was not nearly as cold as they had expected. Apparently there were enough hot springs flowing into the underground reservoir to keep hypothermia from setting in.

The crab they were following continued to dive. Raezyr was about to call it quits and head back to the surface when the crab suddenly disappeared behind a small outcrop of rocks. Immediately Trychon followed the creature. Doubtful that this course of action was going to have any desirable outcome, Raezyr followed anyway.

The outcrop concealed a tunnel that, while narrow, still allowed for easy passage for not only the two humans, but their crustacean guide as well. The brothers could feel a current of sorts sweeping them along through the passageway. It was strong enough, and the tunnel was long enough to worry them. Already their lungs were starting to ache as the oxygen in their chests was used up. They'd never be able to fight the current if they had to go back.

Just as Trychon began to look upward inside the tunnel for an air pocket to breath from, they went around a bend and shot out into another large pond-like area. Neither Sith waited for their guide before stroking hard for the surface. They splashed out into the air, gasping, trying to catch their breath as they tread water. As they began to catch their breath, they noticed the spidac crawling onto the sandy shore. It beckoned to them once more and the two struck out for the water's edge, reaching it in a few easy strokes.

The spidac skittered toward a rocky tunnel entrance and the brothers followed it's lead, doing their best to wring out their tattered clothes as they walked. A few hundred meters down the passageway their alien guide stopped, peering behind a large rock, and then stood back, almost reverently.

Behind the rock Trychon and Raezyr found the remains of what appeared to be a human, dead for many years. All that remained were bones, tattered clothes and bits of equipment.  There was some score marks on the cave walls, remnants of some long forgotten battle, and the air was stale and rotten.

Raezyr looked to their creature guide, and noted only half jokingly.  "What an incredible smell you've discovered!"

Trychon walked over to the remains, while the spidac clicked its feet against the rocks almost hesitantly.  He bent over and examined what was there.  There was very little left beyond bones and a few metal pieces from the clothing.  "Hey, Raez... check this out."  He pointed to some metal device that was still on the arm of the skeleton.  "There's some markings on here, that seem to be Sith in origin.  I don't recognize most of them... but I think this one here in the center means 'seeker'.  Or... something along those lines."

Raezyr walked up next to him and took a look.  "Maybe something like 'Treasure hunter?'"

"Yeah... definitely could be."

Raezyr nodded.  "That would make sense, given what Rodas told us.  Not a surprise, really."  He bent over and carefully removed the object, while glancing at their native host, hoping it wouldn't object.  It didn't, it simply continued to click its legs and claws as it watched them patiently.

"Hmmm."  The younger Sith pondered as he looked it over.  "It's a Sith lanvarok.  I've never seen one, myself... but that's definitely what it is."  After seeing the lack of recognition from his brother, he continued.  "It's a rather brutal weapon favored by some Sith.  It launches a series of razor discs.  This one seems to have an internal Force-trigger, as I don't see an external one."

"Nifty.  I want it."  Trychon reached out for the weapon and placed it on his arm.  "Hey, perfect fit!"

"Yeah, it'll be a great trinket to put on our walls or something.  I doubt it works anymore.  Just don't try it, to be safe."  Raezyr pointed out a few bent discs on the ground.  It looked as though they had been fired in this part of the cave, but had ricocheted more than once.

"Well... it's loaded."  Trychon smiled as he peered into the gap at the end of the lanvarok.

"Then you'd better not point it at me."  Raezyr grumbled.  "Not even as a joke.  Anything else worth looking at?"

"I don't think so..."  The older Sith glanced around.  "Hey... think about this though... this guy was almost definitely here 'seeking' these crystals, right?"  He waited for his brother to nod in agreement before making his conclusion. "The craftsmanship on this must be pretty good to have lasted... however long... and it was engraved with this marking about their journey..."

"I see where you're going with this."  Raezyr scoffed.  "You may be right... maybe it was an important group or mission... but for all we know, this was the last time they even bothered looking for them at all.  I don't know what Eiron's got planned for them, but everything I've ever seen or read about the Sith seems to say that they wouldn't be inclined to give much credence to mythos and lore like the locals have here."

"Nah.  You're right."  Trychon shrugged.  "It's just fun to imagine."

"If nothing else, you've got a pretty souvenir for when we get home," Raezyr said. "If we get home," he added, the reality of the situation overcoming the excitement of their find. They were silent for a few minutes, looking over the scene of the ancient carnage.

Finally, satisfied there wasn't really anything else to see, Trychon spoke. "Why do you think the spidac brought us here?"

They both turned to look at the crustacean. Trychon sent the feeling of confused to the creature. The spidac began a rhythmic clicking of it's pincers which the brothers had now assumed must be part of some language or communication, but nothing else.

The two grew frustrated and were about to turn away when the creature sent them two visions, one was of themselves battling the Meisosians, and the other was of the remains of the ancient Sith explorer. The conclusion hit them at the same time.

"Combined with the reverence this thing shows those remains, and the deference it's shown us, I'd say it's fair to assume that they appreciate anyone who fights the natives here," Raezyr concluded.

"I can understand that," Trychon agreed. "We did see tons of tools and jewelry made from the spidac shells. They didn't get it all from shells they found laying around, and I'm pretty sure we were provided more than one meal for which spidac was the main course."

Raezyr felt sick thinking about it. He wondered to himself whether the Meisosians knew the spidacs were sentient. Not every alien race felt the same compunction about eating the flesh of other sentient species, and truly, there were many debates about just what constituted "sentience," but if they did know, it was another reason to hate these aliens.

"I think we're missing the main point here," Trychon said covering his face with his palm. "This dead guy didn't just "beam" himself into these caves with some magic teleportation device."


Raezyr and Trychon both took off down the cave. After several meters, Raezyr took a quick glance over his shoulder, one last look at the strange creature which had inexplicably helped them. He then turned to his brother as they walked. "Call me crazy, but I could have sworn that thing just waved goodbye to us."


Trychon glanced back for himself, then gave his brother a blank look. "Shut up, Raez."

671. Earning Their Title - Raezyr

The Sith stretched out their senses in an attempt to find the source of the noise that had awoken them from their meditations.  Normally they would have kept some of their awareness to their surroundings, but they had opted to get as much rest as quickly as they could and did not expect visitors in what had appeared to be a lifeless cavern.

It had been a rather foolish assumption, they realized.  On the beach directly in front of them was one of the spidacs, or meisos crabs.  It was, for all intentions and purposes, staring right at them.  It was lightly opening and closing its claws and occasionally tapping its feet on the rocks, creating the various clacking they had heard.  It was almost as if it was waiting for them to notice it.

"I... think it wants to... play?"  Trychon mused, suddenly very hungry.  "Can I keep it?"

"I never thought you'd ask that question when the answer would actually be yes.  I've been meaning to perfect my lightsaber-rotisserie technique though..."

The crustacean took several steps away from them, reminding them of the apparent sensitivity of the animals on their previous encounter.  It opened its claws entirely and held them out in front if its body.  There was no indication of aggression though, and it seemed to be a more peaceful gesture.

"I don't like it when my food anthropomorphizes too much though."  Raezyr added.  "It should knock that off."

The meisos crab clacked its claws twice more, and a vision appeared in the mind's eye of both brothers, taking them off guard.  Then several more images quickly followed.

"Ok, maybe sensitive to the Force isn't an accurate description."  Trychon stood, unsure how to react.  Both siblings assumed the other had seen a series of quite vivid images that could not be mistaken.  The images depicted them fighting off the Warriors at the entrance to the cave, then running from the cave-in that followed.

The very last image they had perceived was of the creature watching the whole situation unfold from a dark recess in the cave.

"Dammit," Raezyr said. His stomach still grumbled but he knew he could no longer think of this lifeform as food. Already it had become a "being" in his thought processes. "Should have known these things were sentient."

As if to emphasize the point, a few images of the Sith going underwater were communicated to them, followed by the crab waving its claw in a very distinct motion to indicate that they should follow it.

Trychon merely shrugged as he looked at his younger brother, then he began to follow after the crab.

670. Earning Their Title - Raezyr and Trychon

The two wandered between the stalagmites and rock walls, slowly at first as their eyes adjusted to the dim light of just their weapons, then gradually picking up speed as they continued.  The confines of the cave were constantly changing, with the space opening up long enough to give them false hope of finding what they needed, then closing back up enough to make them fear that they were about to finally hit a dreaded dead-end.

They reveled in the serenity of knowing that they were in no immediate danger of death, and instead simply faced an impending slow death.  The past week of running from an entire world of upset warriors was behind them, and instead they faced a potentially impossible puzzle of escaping from being buried alive.

The calm opened both of them up for idle conversation that they seldom had time for outside of the confines of hyperspace.  In reality though, they spent most of their free time in hyperspace catching up on training or discussing their training.  Now they didn't have that relative luxury, so they simply talked.

Most brothers would share stories, or discuss women and relationships, or perhaps discuss their benign days.  The two Sith brothers instead began discussing plans for what they would do when they escaped.  They came up with outrageous plans for revenge or galactic domination that made them both laugh as they traveled.  Despite the numerous hilarious plans for what to do to the cities and bodies of their enemies from the Meisosians all the way to the Jedi, they both agreed on Trychon's last idea.

"I think maybe I'll just travel to the resort planet Risa, capture it, and then hold it ransom for life-time free passes.  Our enemies will die of jealousy for not coming up with the same plan sooner, or they'll seek us out for council.  Then I'll kill them."

They chuckled about that one for a long time, and as they continued their descent their conversations began to cover wider, more conventional topics as well. As long as they kept moving, and there was some faint hope they might find some other passage to the surface they were content to keep discussing the lighter side of their lives, subconsciously keeping their minds off their impending doom.

Only able to go by their internal clocks, they ignored their hunger, which was mostly annoying at this point, and stopped finally to get some rest. The next morning, or presumably what they thought should be morning, they awoke and continued on their journey.

A few times they came to what they thought were dead ends, only to find some passage upon closer inspection. Once they had to slide on their stomachs to the next part of the cave, and once they had to climb a little ways up part of the cave wall, but each time they we able to continue their journey. 

A few hours into the day they stopped to take a little break. They were in no hurry as they had been on the surface. Shutting their blades off, since it made no sense to keep them on if they didn't need to see where they were going, they noticed the cave didn't become immediately pitch black. Instead a faint bluish glow seemed to linger.

"Phosphorescence of some sort in the rock, I would imagine," Trychon explained after Raezyr questioned what the cause might be. "Probably set off by the faint light in our blades... should wear off soon." But it didn't. They tried to look around a bit, and the light did seem to be emanating from the rock around them, but there was no apparent cause for it to continue. They didn't worry about it too much, and continued on their way.

They continued to use their lightsabers to light their path until it seemed that Raezyr's blue lightsaber was seemingly giving off a much stronger light than usual. Shutting their blades down again, they found the blue phosphorescence had now become strong enough that they could see fairly well without their weapons to light the way, and as they moved on, the light only seemed to get stronger until by mid-afternoon sometime, the light was bright enough they could make out most of the details around them.

Finally they crawled through a narrow gap and emerged onto what appeared to be a sandy bank along the edge of a small underground lake. It was little more than a decent sized pond. They threw a few rocks across the water to estimate the size, since distance was deceptive in the bluish light that surrounded them. Their best guess was about thirty to forty meters across.

Trychon started to climb the walls around to the other side in case there was a way out over there, but Raezyr grabbed his arm. "Don't bother. We can see well enough to know there isn't anything there."

"Well..." Trychon was rarely lost for words.  "I really wish we'd at least brought along that shell to bring water back with us."

Raezyr snorted.  "It wouldn't have fit through some of those crawlspace sections." 

Trychon sighed, knowing that his younger brother was right.  "Well, I guess we should get our fill of water and some rest, then drink some more water before filling up and heading back.  I don't think we missed any likely forks."

Raezyr sat down, trying not to feel defeated.  If they got out, it wouldn't be easy.  "Not a chance, sadly." 

They had only traveled half a a day since they last camped, but they settled in to meditate and rest before heading back.  It would allow them to get the most out of what water they could store in their watersockets.

Two hours later, the occasional dripping sounds were interrupted by a soft clacking noise.

669. Earning Their Title - Raezyr

The brothers watched the activity below, barely peeking out from the edge of the cave. Their apparent disappearance had seemed to cause some disturbance with the army below, and for a few moments they thought the natives might call off their search, but the Sith weren't that lucky and soon the warriors below resumed their ascent.

It was finally time. Trychon and Raezyr stood up, called deeply upon the Force and bent it to their will, using as a craftsman used his tools. They uprooted large rocks and boulders from their resting place and sent them careening down the steep hillside.

The climb was precarious enough without their Force-induced rock slides, but despite their heavy losses, the army kept making their way upward like a swarm of beetles or insects. The brothers did their best to guide the boulders and rocks in directions that the most damage could be done, but the enemy wasn't deterred.

After thirty minutes or so of this activity, Trychon paused to survey the damage. "Hold up a sec," he asked, peering through the thick clouds of dust below. Soon it began to settle. "I think we're making some real progress," he commented optimistically. "There aren't nearly as many as there were before."

Raezyr shook his head sadly. "It only seems that way, Brother." He pointed off to the either side of the pass, far out of range of their deadly barrage. He noted they were beginning to climb up the hills there and surmised they were going to attempt to circle around and come down onto the cave entrance from above. "At least that's what I'd do in their place."

Trychon was about to point out that a large number were still trying to climb up directly into their rock slide assault, but Raezyr anticipated that and explained. "Cannon fodder. If someone doesn't stay here, then we'd be able to escape back down into the pass. They're not nearly as dumb as we'd like them to be."

For a while, they continued their rain of death on the attackers below. It was less effective in causing mass casualties than it was earlier as many had found nooks and crannies to hide in or ledges to hide below, although it was effective in that the upward progress of the Meisosian army had nearly ground to a halt some five hundred meters below. The brothers used the time to rest, one person at a time.

"Why don't you head back down the tunnel and see if you can refill our water sockets," Trychon suggested. "I just drank the last drop out of mine."

Raezyr agreed. He took both of the water sockets and headed deeper into the cave while Trychon stayed at the entrance to keep the enemy pinned down. They both knew the were just biding their time. Soon the aliens would be in position above them and would come down. After that, the real fighting would begin. They'd have to slaughter hundreds upon hundreds of aliens in this tunnel. The odds were stacked against them for sure and they would probably die anyway, but at least it wouldn't be impossible. Their one real hope was that the Meisosians would get tired of throwing their lives away, give up and go home. Somehow, Raezyr didn't think that was likely. Stupid they might not be, but zealous to the point of insanity they were.

A mere seventy-five meters or so back, the big Sith found some water which had collected in the upturned shell of a long-dead spidac. He filled both of the water sockets and returned and handed the water socket back to his brother, who took a long pull from it.

"That water tastes better than any we've had around here for days," he said. Raezyr chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"It's strange how the little things become so pleasurable when faced with a situation you might not live through," the big man replied. "It also makes me realize that having a cybernetic knee or leg really makes no difference in the end."

Trychon noticed some of the aliens below beginning to get courageous and try to ascend the hill again, so he sent another slide of rocks and boulders bounding down the hillside, taking some small pleasure in watching the natives dive for cover, and not all of them successful.

"So are you saying you'll get that knee replaced if we make it out of this?" Trychon chuckled.

"I suppose that's..." Raezyr began, but was interrupted when several medium sized rocks bounded over the cave entrance from above. He turned and peaked out, looking up the hill.

"Damn... they moved faster than I expected," he said. He surmised there must have been a trail or path on which they made good time, as approximately fifteen hundred Meisosian warriors were descending from the top of the hill about two hundred meters away.

The two Sith took sips of water and hung them back on their belts, drew their lightsaber hilts and backed from the entrance. In moments this tunnel would become a cave filled with the dead and dying as the two Sith fought for their lives, and the brothers began to prepare accordingly, getting themselves focused and ready, and using their anger and frustration as fuel for the Dark Side.

Suddenly an alien appeared in the entrance of the cave, and as quickly as he did, each Sith threw out a hand, releasing a wave of energy. The force of the blow sent the native forty meters out into the open air. He seemed to hang there for a moment before plummeting to his death hundreds of meters in the pass below.

The Sith flicked on their lightsabers, the snap-hiss loud in the quiet cave, waiting for the on-rush of aliens, but it didn't come. Suddenly there was a loud rumbling which seemed to come from all around, vibrating the walls and the floor of the cave. Several giant boulders fell into place at the front of the cave, a dozen meters in front of them.  Dust and dirt and debris began filling the air, so thick it blocked the light coming from the entrance.

Their surroundings continued to rumble and cloud in the next few seconds until they could no longer see, yet they could hear the sounds of stalactites cracking and some small rocks hitting the cave floor.  They had no choice to retreat backward, relying only on their Force awareness to guide them and keep them from being crushed or impaled as they headed deeper for safety.

Then it was over. They coughed and choked in the pitch black for a moment then covered their mouth and nose with the sleeves of their tunics. It took a few minutes for the dim light from their blades to pierce the thick dust, but as it settled, the visibility improved. Finally they could see the aftermath of what had just happened.

"I guess they really aren't as stupid as we had hoped," Raezyr said into the gloom as the two Sith stared at the sixty meters or so of rubble between them and the entrance to the cave, a cave that would now be their tomb. "Smart move to seal us in here rather than expend hundreds of lives and not have a guarantee of success."

"How long do you think it'll take us to dig out?" Trychon asked aloud while at the same time trying to make his own estimate in his head.

Between the two of them, they estimated it would take a week or so for a crew of twenty experienced miners, but since they weren't miners or excavators, accounting for their Force abilities, they estimated a week and a half, assuming they did not cause a greater collapse.

"And we have no food," Raezyr added. He looked over at the spidac shell where he had filled the water sockets. The shell was filled with mud now. "And we're pretty much out of water."

Trychon followed his brother's gaze. He turned and almost violently grabbed the younger Sith's arm. "Raez! Spidacs! Giant Meisos crabs!"

Raezyr stared at him blankly, not following the thought pattern.

"That thing didn't crawl across the desert. It came up from the depths!" the elder Sith said excitedly.

"That doesn't mean there's another way out," Raezyr said doubtfully after finally catching on.

"What other choice do we have?"