Jedi Insurgency 193

Whilst the Executrix was shuddering due to an explosion rocking her shields, Triss was pacing within a chamber like a caged beast.

Her long white hair hung wildly around her shoulders, stark against her pale Echani skin. Each step was restless as she crossed the length of the conference room again and again. In her hands was a small stuffed animal, its seams were worn, but it was the first object she had ever breathed life into. Studying from a holocron that masqueraded as a Jedi artifact, it, in fact, had belonged to Darth Traya. Triss learned so much from her: lightsaber combat, how to manipulate a person, and how to mask her emotions to hide from other Force Sensitives. Of course, her cover for this was to become a Jedi Artisan, this was her most proud achievement. 

Staring into the stuffed animal's dark eyes, Triss recalled the day that Hunter had won it for her on Naboo. Across the many chaotic days of war & death, that was one spent in bliss. Even now, she could hear the fountains, and people enjoying themselves at the marketplace. 

That memory burned more than any [Force Lightning] ever had. 

Stopping in place to look out a window, and watch a TIE fighter explode, the Millennium Falcon did a flyby, forcing her to shudder in fear as she sensed that man. 

Tightening her fingers around the toy, she wished she could crush her stupid emotions into tiny shreds. Revan could command the powers of life & death. She had watched him personally kill tens of thousands of people. His signature in the Force was like a vast void, endless save for a pulsing heart in the center of it all. Like an ancient monster that connected all the veins & arteries in the universe, this heart pumped poison into the blood of all who listened. His words were like candy, sweet to listen to. But when reality hit, and he left your presence, it swiftly became clear to Triss that he was worse than any Sith she had ever come across. 

The acolytes she grew up amongst were brutal in nature, such was their nature. However, Revan was sinister. She had watched him ensorcel Mandalorians, crime bosses, and more. When the army of cultists & assassin droids had pledged their allegiance, that was the straw that broke the Banthas back. It had finally dawned upon her, that maybe she too was a part of the cult…one day, would she willingly die for this cruel, self absorbed man? 

No! She refused! 

The Siege of Eriadu rose unbidden in her thoughts, of firestorms in the sky, cities collapsing under orbital bombardment, and the Force screaming with pain. Her mind had difficulty coping with so many millions dying, and someone had noticed her, communicated with her. It was: 

Darth Vader.

She could still feel it, the crushing gravity of his presence, the way the Dark Side had coiled around her like iron chains and silk promised lies all at once. He had not shouted at her, nor had he demanded her fealty. No, instead, what he had done was far more dangerous, far more tempting. 

Vader had seen her worth. 

He offered: power, stability, direction. A place in the galaxy that was not decided by chance or pity. A spot at his side, if only she turned her back on Revan. 

She had said nothing then, almost pretending that the encounter had never happened. That it was all a dream. 

And yet, the seed had taken root.

Four months had passed since the Siege of Eriadu. Four months of smiling faces and shared meals and gentle encouragements that rang hollow in the Force. Revan, endlessly patient, endlessly distant, he taught philosophy when she wanted strength. Strategy when she wanted to control planets of her own. He spoke of balance while she felt herself becoming an island unto herself, her opinion unwanted, her skills undervalued. 

Jax, with his quiet heroism and wintery personality, had never looked at her the way she wanted. Not truly. There was always something else: duty, training, brotherhood. Every moment spent trying to get his attention was like pulling a hair. Every day, it felt like some future princess or governor’s daughter was waiting beyond the horizon, ready for him to scoop them off their feet. She had stood beside him, fought beside him, bled beside him…and still felt invisible.

Then there was Omega. Her betrayal hurt the most.

The little clone’s laughter, her optimism, her unwavering affection, it all came so easily to her. Whereas for Triss, the act of smiling for more than a minute hurt her atrophied cheek muscles. Omega belonged to everyone, loved by all. She was a burst of sunlight in these trying times. Even Revan put up with her nonsense, just hours ago, when the little girl accused him of being cruel, he ignored Omega, and Jax ran defense! How infuriating! If that was her talking back to Revan, she probably would have found herself slammed into a wall by that brute Yon! No one would have stood up for her! She did not have this so-called brotherhood, no siblings, no students, no power! 

Breathing heavily to herself, she clenched her stuffed animal tightly as she imagined Omega's face. 

Love shared was love diluted.

The realization had been slow, ugly, and tore at her heart. Triss had never been part of their family. She had been a symbol. Proof that even a former Sith could be redeemed. A mascot trotted out to reassure them that the Light always won.

They had never asked her what she wanted, where she wanted to go, or what she wanted to learn! 

Triss resumed her pacing now, each step striking the deck with quiet fury. She hated herself for how envious she had become. Hated the hunger desperate for approval clawing at her chest. Hated the feeling that her life was nothing more than a symbol for that manipulative Sith-spit. 

To control her own destiny, she needed power. To obtain what she wanted, to possess that what she lacked, she would go to any lengths! 

She wanted Jax’s devotion, unshared and unquestioned. His gaze must be fixed upon her alone. Every rival would be reduced to ash, begging for mercy. She wanted Omega by her side, always smiling for her, needing no one else. She wanted Revan to look at her with fear, that stupid mask ripped off his face, and his silver tongue burned at the root!  

To realize these dreams, she had made the call enroute to Nar Shaddaa, informing Vader of Revan's next move. By this point, there was still time to warn her so-called friends. But once she had seen the Infinite Engine, heard those whispers…her heart had firmed. Triss would own Jax's body, take Omega's smile, and bathe in Revan's fear, she deserved it, these things were hers to take. 

Now that the Imperial fleet filled the skies above Nar Shaddaa, confidence had finally entered her system. 

For the first time in her life, the path ahead was hers to command. She feared nothing. Even if Jax & Yon were assaulting the Executrix this very moment, or if Revan himself came, Triss believed in the power she had cultivated, in the power of Lord Vader. 

As soon as she had this thought, she sensed danger in the Force, and stared up at the ceiling incredulously. 

‘I thought for sure they'd have come in through the front door.’ Triss frowned to herself, and glanced at the heavily boobytrapped mechanism. 

Seconds later, a hole was carved up above, and the metal disc was shoved downward. Igniting a trio of purple lightsabers, Triss protectively floated them around herself, and commanded them forward, intent on striking an invisible foe. 

And then a thermal detonator dropped down. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After releasing the grenade, Yon had peaked his head inside for a fraction of a second, and saw the trio of lightsabers heading his way, then swiftly retreated. During that brief scouting maneuver, he had glimpsed Triss, and saw that the only entrance was rigged with all sorts of nasty surprises. 

Frowning to himself, Yon repeatedly stroked his chin-in an effort to copy his Master's actions-and began to brainstorm. 

‘What would Master do? What would a Jedi Shadow do? Hmmm.’ He repeatedly thought those first two sentences, and then a look of happiness glowed in his eyes. 

If she was trapped in there due to the jammed door…then he'd be more than happy to make that her grave! 

Igniting his lightsaber, the green, red-tinted blade roared to life. The red was eager for violence, whilst the green core was happy to have rendered wisdom to its user. 

Reversing his grip, and pointing down, he began to cut away at the edges of the floor beneath him. 

Triss, evidently, saw where this was going, and tried to sneakily stab him through the floor several times. One purple blade emerged inches from the sole of his foot, another one tried to cut a hole where he was, forcefully bringing him down into the chamber below. However, with his nimble reflexes, and superior speed, Yon sidestepped each attempt at his life. Eventually, he cut an outline of the room down below, and the durasteel hallway suddenly collapsed! 

Jumping to the side, he took a deep breath, briefly closed his eyes, then channeled his power, unleashing a devastating [Force Push]. The slab of metal crushed downward with all the force of a free falling elevator from a fifty-storey tall building. 

“Uah!” An animalistic roar shook the nearby decks of the ship, and unbelievably, the metal sheet was slammed to the side. 

Emerging from the debris, a hulking, 10ft tall stuffed animal leapt up, and lunged directly for Yon. 

‘!!!’ 

The short, black haired teen was hanging off the side of the wall, currently invisible. Since this Force Construct could sense him, it took Yon by surprise. A massive white-stitched hand whooshed through the air, and headed for his chest. 

Awkwardly kicking off the strut he was on, Yon flipped over the fist, and extended his lightsaber to cut into the construct's head. However, a trio of purple lightsabers rushed towards his position, forcing him to redirect his decapitation strike. 

Parrying aside one saber mid air, he found himself in an awkward, undodgeable position! Concentrating his breath, he exhaled a sharp jet of wind, and pushed himself at a different angle, avoiding the oncoming attack! 

Somersaulting to his feet, Yon didn't hesitate, and ran away. Stand and fight that behemoth whilst flanked by three floating sabers?! He wasn't some stupid saber monkey! Besides, he had a plan! 

The giant stuffed animal ran after him, barely able to fit through some of the corridors as the ship narrowed. Several navy servicemen, and clones were caught up in the chase, and collapsed one after another. 

‘I swear, I'm killing that bitch!’ Yon thought to himself as he dodge rolled out of a fist that was about to grip his ankle, and sliced a saber's handle in half that almost pierced his back. 

Diving forward, he swiped a finger, opening the door to the ISD's armory. Standing in place, he parried a purple blade that slashed at his neck, and hopped over another one that threatened his knees. 

The white furred stuffed animal finally caught up, and roared at him. 

“Idiot.” Yon grinned in triumph, and dodged to the side. 

Unable to stop in time, the beast crashed into the armory. Tossing a thermal detonator inside, he swiped his hand once more, activating the emergency control switch, instantly closing the armory's blast doors. 

At the far end of the hallway, Triss glanced in his direction with shock. 

‘Heh.’ Yon secretly taunted, and then began to run at her with everything he had. 

Seconds later, a magnificent explosion rocked the ISD, and the heat and flames from all those munitions spread inside like a roaring river. Heat caressed his neck, yet Yon trusted in [Energy Resistance] to protect him. Nothing would stop him from claiming the traitor's head. 

Parrying aside saber after saber, he was within striking distance, when both him & Triss felt a gut wrenching coldness in their hearts. 

Jax. Was. Dead. 

“You stupid!” Yon snarled, and for the first time, found the hatred in himself to cast [Force Lightning]. 

Blue bolts of electricity snaked around the traitor's limbs, forcing her to her knees. 

“Auugh!” Triss screamed in anger, pain, and sorrow. 

Pausing for a second to let her suffer, Yon raised one green glowing hand, [Healing] her wounds, only to resume the torture. 

“Master gave you everything. And this is how you repay him?! I saw how you looked at Jax! He didn't dislike it! Every Princess, every Governor's daughter, he turned them away! But you, you were a project worth investing in! Now look at you!” Yon howled, anger and tears coloring his face as he shouted. 

“Lies. All. Lies.” Triss groaned, and squeezed her fist. 

The twin lightsabers shuddered, and then flew towards Yon's back. Having tanked the explosive flames earlier, his [Energy Resistance] shield was on the verge of cracking, and since he was so caught up in his emotions, Yon had left his back open! 

One of the lightsabers collided with the shield, shattering it in one strike, yet was forced back due to the rebound. By the time Yon realized what was happening, the second saber was inches from his heart! 

At that last second, the sound of a singular, high powered round rang in the hallway. 

The blue bolt had, in fact, been fired 0.1 seconds before the shield had broken, and had only now arrived. 

Yon was surprised to see a bolt fly from down the hall, and strike Triss at the top of her head, exploding it like a watermelon. At the same time, that amethyst blade became disabled upon her death. Carrying its momentum forward, the powerless saber hilt clattered harmlessly against Yon's back, before falling to the floor. 

“A pity, I would've liked to have watched more.” Crosshair said, emerging from his camo cloak. 

Yon glanced at the bald man, and then diced Triss's body-and brain-to bits, making sure no sorcery or super science could bring her back. 

“They've gotten Jax.” Yon rasped, anger burning in his veins. 

“Go. Save your brother.” Crosshair raised his chin, and gestured back the way he came. 

Yon pursed his lips, and halted in place after taking a step away. 

“Thanks.” 

Then, without waiting for anything else, he ran with all his might. All thoughts of Triss were forgotten. 

He had a brother to bring back. 

~~~~~~

AN: Ahh, jealousy, the downfall of many a great man. If only everyone was ride or die, like evil blueberry. Yeah, Tann's evil, but she's my kind of evil, dammit!