Lightside Sith 008

After a peaceful sleep, today was the day of the peace summit. Set to kick off around 4pm, Kaine once again found himself with some free time on his hands. Instead of going out to farm LP, he decided to chillout in the expansive suite for the time being. 

For one, he didn't want to cause too much trouble, and get kicked out of the venue before he could even attend the event. Part of his goal this time-besides not getting electrocuted by Dooku for failing to assassinate Padmé-was to become a recognized face. As a nameless nobody, no one would treat him seriously, but if he could raise his prestige amongst both the Republic, and CIS, then perhaps just maybe he'd have the capital necessary to survive. 

Although politics were nasty, it was much better to be a player in the game, than to be a witless npc constantly reacting to the changes made by the people in charge. 

So for the moment, he was quite happy to remain in his room, and have breakfast/lunch delivered to him. Ignoring the outside world, he spent most of his time honing his skills. 

At the moment, he had the holonet playing some music in the background whilst he was practicing Form II. Sweat dripped down his neck onto his shirtless, muscular torso as he constantly thrust, parried, and slashed at imaginary enemies. Maintaining a central line, he acted like a fencer, and was careful to manage his footwork. 

Makashi was a very reactive style of combat, and whilst it wasn't as famous as Soresu for defense, it was actually really good at things like parries, and counters. Like a viper regarding its prey, Makashi excelled at quick, straight line thrusts. When wielding a lightsaber, one only needed to graze the opponent to achieve a victory. Form II was particularly efficient in maintaining stamina, and finding those openings. 

As he only had memories of fighting-and his recent promotion had directly elevated his understanding of the fighting style from Acolyte (low) to Acolyte (mid)-Kaine had been familiarizing himself with his lightsaber from 8am to 11pm. Like a student familiar with theory, he was currently working on the practical side of things. 

Breathing heavily, and muscles straining due to the constant exertion, a grin spread across his face. Stabbing forward with a [Speed] enhanced lunge, he simultaneously curled a finger at the carpet, making it move towards him. 

Although this was an extremely simple move, manipulating another object midswing had proved to be…challenging to say the least. Already, he had eaten shit several dozen times, face planting onto the hard marble floors as his focus had been split. As a Force Sensitive, Kaine didn't want to lock himself solely into lightsaber combat, and had been working to incorporate both melee & ‘magic’ into his moves at the same time. 

Satisfied with himself, Kaine plopped down into a nearby chair, and floated a glass of water over his head, dousing himself with the refreshing liquid, he leaned back, and sighed in satisfied, tired exhaustion. 

“Not bad. With this, you have begun your journey to practicing Niman.” Qui-Gon's ghost manifested, and sat down on the chair next to him. 

“You've. Been absent. For a while. Scared I'd go tattling to. Obi-Wan?” Kaine said between heavy breaths, his speech coming out haltingly. 

“I'm afraid he'd take you for a madman. Unfortunately, my student isn't prepared to open himself up to me.” Qui-Gon said calmly, yet Kaine felt a sense of forlorn melancholy from the man. 

Kaine imagined what it would be like to be a wandering ghost, to be unable to touch, taste, or interact with the tangible world. To surround your closest ones, yet unable to interact with them. After Obi-Wan joined the Force, would Qui-Gon Jinn be cursed to remain a Force Ghost, unable to join those he loved?

“Do not pity me. I have chosen this fate.” Qui-Gon said resolutely, seemingly ‘reading’ Kaine's mind once again. “But enough about me. What do you intend to do, confiding in Obi-Wan like that? I hope you don't think this will make me reveal to you Jedi secrets.” 

Kaine rolled his eyes. Here he was, sympathizing for the poor bastard, yet the damned Jedi saw through part of his plan. Whilst obtaining the training droid was important to him, having an invisible ghost acting as his spy/confidant was equally as important. If he could rope Qui-Gon into Team Lightside Sith, then all the better. 

“Your secrets are your own. Besides, I doubt there is much to learn from a Jedi who lost to Maul of all people.” Kaine crossed his arms, and replied with a dismissive smirk. 

“So it is my company you desire.” Qui-Gon said in a knowing tone. “Very well, then I suppose I shall lend my wisdom to you.” 

Kaine rolled his eyes, he was regretting the Sith ritual the longer this haunting went on!

“And what wisdom could you possibly offer me?” Kaine sarcastically remarked. “You don't even know who started the Clone Wars, whilst a lowly Sith Acolyte such as myself just might~”

“You have company.” Qui-Gon said with a smirk, and pointed out the window at the same time, the old man waved his hand, and unbeknownst to Kaine, the latch to his door came unlocked. 

Staring out the window, he squinted his eyes, and saw Anakin-kriffing-Skywalker with a pair of macrobinoculars staring right at him! At the same time, the door to his room was knocked on, but due to the force-and unlatched handle-opened on its own. 

Kaine, drenching with sweat, and shirtless, felt his muscles twitch due to the sudden influx of cool air. Turning his head, he saw none other than Padmé Amidala enter the room. 

+10LP +10LP +10LP +10LP +10LP

A rapidfire amount of Lightside Points floated at the edge of Kaine's vision, and he felt an increasingly cold sensation coming from outside the window. The glass to his room vibrated, and he almost feared that the Chosen One was about to unleash a [Force Push] so great, that Kaine would turn into a pancake. 

“Is this an inconvenient time to talk? If I knew you wanted to exercise, you could have joined me in the gym this morning.” Padmé asked, standing at the threshold to the room as if she didn't want to intrude, yet was still curious enough to hang around. 

Dressed in an exercise outfit, and yoga pants, the young Senator cut an attractive pose. The corner of Kaine's lip twitched. This woman was trying to get him killed! 

Noticing the awkward silence, Padmé had the decency to appear somewhat embarrassed. 

“Sorry for intruding. It's just that Anakin thought you were ‘up to no good’ and I came to dispel such thoughts. You are attending this evening's peace summit, correct?” She said in a hopeful tone. 

“Sorry for delaying my response, Senator, of course I'll be present for the peace summit. You can faithfully report to Skywalker that I was not up to anything untoward.” Kaine hastily replied. 

Just because farming Anakin for LP was a rapid way to advancing a tier, didn't mean he was suicidal! That was a man who could massacre children because he worried about his wife! 

“Glad to hear it. Peace knows no boundaries, I hope the Confederacy learns something tonight.” Padmé beamed a smile at him, and after glancing at his exposed abs, departed in a cheerful mood. 

As soon as the door closed, Kaine turned to glare at Qui-Gon, only to see that the ghost had disappeared. Then, hearing an argument between Padmé & Anakin in the hallway, he felt like an asswhooping was drawing near. Putting on some clothes, he opened the window, and after doing some parkour, climbed to the roof of the palace to do some cooling off. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

(Anakin POV) 

Sitting atop a wall since early in the morning, fog & dew coated Anakin's form. Staring through a pair of macrobinoculars, he watched as the scoundrel nerf herding Sith practiced with his lightsaber. 

The other night he was convinced that Kaine Renstar was trying to take his wife's life. That, that smiling, debonair persona was nothing more than a fraud taking advantage of his angel's kindness. Her smile belonged to him, and for some two-bit dandy to be acting like this was nothing more than one of those boring plays Palpatine was always dragging him out to. 

Anakin was convinced that Renstar was after Padmé’s life. When the ‘Sith specialty’ had arrived, he had tossed it out the window. Even if Padmé was angry with him, it was a price he was willing to pay for her safety. Once he had finally coaxed her, and they had gone to the balcony, Renstar was conveniently below them in the river. The Sith must have been lying in wait, because as soon as he arrived with his wife, a giant fish came slamming down on top of them! 

He had never before wanted to kill someone so bad! It was clear as day that this was an assassination attempt! That sick bastard wanted to murder the love of his life with a fish! He had been prepared to leap into the river right then and there, if not for Padmé holding him back. She explained that when Jar Jar was involved, it wasn't so surprising that oddities occurred. That if he wanted to act, he had to find proof…what more proof did she want? A fish of that size was like a missile! 

Begrudgingly returning to their room, Anakin was angered by her refusal to see reason! When he went to his Master, to seek his understanding…Obi-Wan betrayed him! Claiming that the Sith-spit had disclosed classified CIS secrets, and had the potential to become a mole for the Republic! He too cautioned calm, and to look for evidence! 

Evidence, evidence! Fine, I'll find your evidence! 

It was with such heavy thoughts that Anakin had camped out across from Renstar's room since before dawn. Watching the pathetic deadman practice with his lightsaber, Anakin knew he could trounce this amateur in less than a minute. Slow, uncoordinated, amateurish, the Sith was easy pickings. 

Clearly this training was in preparation for tonight's peace summit. Renstar was bound to try something. Recording all of this, Anakin was prepared to turn the evidence over to both Obi-Wan & Padmé, when he saw Renstar seemingly talking to air. Although he couldn't record any audio from this distance, and he was terrible at reading lips, upon further focus, he read a line of dialogue that sent a shiver up his spine. 

“And what wisdom could you possibly offer me?” Kaine sarcastically remarked. “You don't even know who started the Clone Wars, whilst a lowly Sith Acolyte such as myself just might~”

Anakin's eyes widened. 

This was it. 

The council had speculated that there might be some other Sith Lord besides Dooku. Could Renstar be the lead they were looking for?! Just as he was about to put down his macrobinoculars, and confront Obi-Wan with the evidence, the door slammed open, and Padmé was stopped at the door. 

Seeing her gaze momentarily freeze on Renstar's exposed chest, Anakin forgot to breathe. His mechanical fist clenched, and he began to run towards the palace so fast, he felt like he was flying. 

Dodging past palace maids & manservants, he came up to that bastard's door, only to be confronted by both Padmé & his Master. 

“Move out of my way. I have evidence that Renstar is not only plotting your death, Padmé, but that he is aware of the identity of the secret Sith that Dooku was alluding to.” Anakin said brusquely, trying to force his way through. 

“Anakin, what is this all about? Dooku was trying to deceive me into joining his side. We've discussed this. There is no secret Sith hiding in the Senate. Master Yoda would have sensed him long ago.” Obi-Wan held out a hand, and said in a soothing voice. 

“Anakin, were you spying upon my guest?” Padmé asked with a frown, and looked upon him dangerously. 

“What? No, why are you two defending a Sith?! You both wanted evidence, well here it is!” Anakin raised both hands defensively, then seeing that neither of his companions was being convinced, shoved the holorecording forward. 

“...Anakin, Kaine is only exercising. I've seen you do something just like this countless times before.” Padmé softly stated, and looked at him in concern, as if she were a loved one pitying a family member who had gone slightly mad or deranged. 

“I say, Anakin, are you alright?” Obi-Wan asked in concern. 

“I'm fine!” Anakin harshly replied, brushing off his Master's good intentions. “You'll see, look at what he said!” 

Fast forwarding to the end of the footage, Anakin realized in his haste, he had stopped recording before Renstar began talking to himself, and the only footage he had captured was of the Sith working out. 

“Well, I can see you require some rest. Come along Anakin, let us meditate on this.” Obi-Wan forcefully dragged him by the shoulder. 

“Padmé, you have to believe me.” Anakin said with a broken look. 

Padmé turned away, biting her lower lip. “Please don't ruin the peace summit tonight, Annie…it means a lot to me.” 

Then without another word, his angel strolled off. Anakin hung his head, and morosely allowed Obi-Wan to drag him into their shared room. 

Obi-Wan, Padmé…they were always doubting him. Tonight, the only person he could rely on was the Chancellor. 

Palpatine would believe him.

~~~~~~~~

AN: So my current schedule is: 

Week 1: Jedi Insurgency + Artisan

Week 2: Jedi Insurgency + Light Sith

Week 3: Jedi Insurgency + Light Sith

Week 4: Jedi Insurgency 

If we can get 20+ likes on every Lightside Sith chapter this week…I'll (temporarily) add LS to this month's week four roster!