Lightside Sith 020

Departing Ord Mantell aboard the Odachi, Kaine took about 6 days this time to return to Serreno instead of 5. 

Hyperlane travel was always variable like that. Unlike a highway on Earth, which was a fixed location, in the Star Wars universe, the Hyperlanes were permeable, and moved around quite a bit. This was why navicomputers were so important. Otherwise, if you took a bad jump, you would be spit out somewhere else entirely, such as in the middle of nowhere low on fuel, or right into a planet's crust! 

Entering into the upper atmosphere of Serreno, Kaine saw many weapons defense platforms, and a ‘small’ patrol fleet of about 8 capital ships, and about a dozen support cruisers. Perhaps 50 or so freighters had formed a line, awaiting inspection before they were either seized, or given the green light to pass. In times of war, this was the standard ‘customs & border’ operation that any CIS or Republic aligned planet would conduct. 

This time, Kaine didn't engage the stealth drive, and only had to provide a clearance code to bypass the line. 

“The trivialities of war, how depressing. When I signed up with you, Sith, you made it sound as if we were going straight to the battlefield.” Durge-the hulking brute crammed in a seat too tiny for his frame-complained to Kaine's right. 

Kaine felt the corner of his lip twitch. The big guy had done nothing but complain these past few days. To an outsider, Durge was so big and intimidating, no one would dare engage with this dude covered in weapons so casually. It appeared that this long lived dude had 2,000+ years worth of monologues stored inside that noggin, and was secretly a chatterbox. At least with Qui-Gon, the damned ghost would go invisible for long stretches at a time! 

“Yes, yes, a soldier's life is to hurry up and wait. That is the droll reality of war. Have no fear, my friend, I am certain Count Dooku will find some fun for us.” Kaine sarcastically remarked. 

With Durge breathing down his shoulder, Kaine had barely gotten any studying done, and was in a somewhat foul mood. However, he had received a short text message from Obi-Wan during his trip, letting him know that the training droid had been delivered to the warehouse on Serenno that Kaine had specified. 

Although he hadn't learned any new sorceries, he was about to raise each and every lightsaber form up to Tier III (Acolyte high). Although the Odachi didn't have much space to practice, it turned out, his lightsaber did have a training mode. Only, it was a slightly less lethal option. Whereas a Jedi's lightsaber could be powered down to cause minor numbing/paralysis, Kaine's weapon was crafted for Sith. Its training mode left minor burns, and if one was not careful, they might even be scarred. 

Entering the atmosphere, Kaine did a quick stop at the warehouse, and loaded it up into the Odachi's storage, before making his way to Dooku's palace. 

Landing in a luxurious garage, once he stepped down the ramp, he was met with a protocol droid. 

“This way, master Renstar. The Lord is expecting you.” The droid greeted him in a cheerful tone, then began to walk away, his gears making all sorts of loud sounds. 

Following after the droid, Kaine and Durge eventually arrived at a balcony. 

Standing tall, the cloaked Count of Serenno didn't even look back at them or greet them, his attention focused entirely on something else. 

“Count Dooku.” Kaine bowed. “I have slain the Jedi, Pablo-Jill, per your instructions. Furthermore, I have recruited the bounty hunter Durge, he now follows my banner.” 

“I believe my precise wording was ‘recruit him to our cause’ young Renstar. Commander Durge is a well regarded warrior. A critical piece on the board as you will. You wouldn't be harboring thoughts of rebellion, now, would you?” As he spoke, Dooku's melodious voice carried the edge of a threat. 

Kaine rolled his eyes, knowing if he answered half assedly, he'd get a shock to the face. Qui-Gon or no Qui-Gon, Dooku couldn't suffer idiots. Yet he felt like he was beginning to get a decent grasp of the old man's personality, and…he was pretty sure that while this was yet another test, the old man was lowkey trolling him. Spending weeks at a time with Qui-Gon had clued him into this kind of behavior. 

“I am your sword, my Lord.” Kaine steadily claimed, taking a knee like a knight swearing his allegiance. “A weapon is only as powerful as the one who wields it. But if one neglects his weapons, they rust.”

“Are you teaching me how to maintain my weapons, boy?” Dooku muttered in a deep, dangerous tone. 

Kaine's heart rate skyrocketed, and he felt a shiver of fear spread down his spine. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he saw Durge with his arms crossed, silently enjoying the show. And to the side, Qui-Gon was stroking his beard with the hint of a smile on his face. 

Oh fuck you t-

“Renstar? Do you take my time lightly?” 

“No, of course not, my Lord.” Kaine hurriedly replied. “I am merely concerned over the size of your host. The Techno Union, Trade Federation, Commerce Guild, etc, all these forces heed your call, but do not belong to you. Should the illustrious warrior who has pledged himself to me be sent to the battlefield, his prowess would become diluted under their command. Your sword-whether be covered in rust, dust, or held a position of honored trust-remains your sword.” 

“Haha. Indeed. A weapon must be put to good use. What then, is your opinion of her?” Dooku lightly laughed, and jutted his chin outward. 

Kaine withheld a sigh of relief, and slowly rose to stand next to the Count. Looking down from the balcony, he saw a giant maze. The top was coated in a type of clear plastic, and the maze was made up of modular boxes. Each new room was fraught with puzzles, and dangers that tested skill, intelligence, reflexes, and lethality. One room hosted a swarm of killer insects, another a floor full of pitfalls, and pressure traps that shot blaster bolts & poisoned darts. Various tribal aliens, mercenaries, and droids were waiting to do battle in all sorts of environments, like swamps, tundras, cities, etc. 

This entire apparatus was modular as well. Once one section of the maze was completed, and the participant moved on to the next room, some gears would shift, and replace one section of the maze with a new box containing more challenges. 

This device was one of Dooku's most prized possessions, a training simulator dubbed The Box. 

And the protagonist of today's event was a lithe, bald headed, blue eyed Dathomiri girl with chalk-white skin. Wielding twin crimson lightsabers that curved at the hilt, she was a whirlwind of agile death. Seemingly nothing could stand in her way. 

This must be the new ‘sister’ Dooku had been alluding to. It appeared that Ventress had been recently recruited. Kaine watched for a few minutes, and pulling upon both his current analysis of her actions, as well as his meta knowledge, he decided to offer Dooku his heartfelt opinion. 

“Her speed is remarkable, particularly her ability to dodge. I suspect her ability to survive a certain-loss defeat must be quite high.” Kaine said, mimicking Qui-Gon in stroking his chin. However, the effect was somewhat lost due to his lack of beard. 

“A weapon that does not break upon contact with the enemy has its uses.” Dooku nodded along, furrowing his brows. 

Kaine was slightly shocked that the old man was actually considering his words! 

“What else?” Dooku pressed. 

“Impatient. Prone to rage. Although she is cold and calculating, I see that the very moment she does not get her way, she lashes out. Whilst this may be a potent tactic against lesser beings, against a composed duelist or experienced combatant, such actions would easily be seen through.” 

Whilst Kaine was sort of throwing Ventress under the bus, this was his honest opinion. Blind rage could-and in this universe-often did grant a Sith astronomical power. But in a world where merely tapping someone with a lightsaber was practically an insta-win, to become reliant upon this invisible rage meter was the height of folly. 

Privately, however, he was also impressed with her growth. When she joined Dooku, she was but a former Padawan on the cusp of Knighthood. Her skills should be about the same as Anakin's at the moment, not to different from Kaine's. But in the short two years of the Clone Wars, both Ventress & Skywalker would rapidly evolve in skill to become some of the strongest in the current era. Honestly, her growth potential was pretty bonkers. 

“You have put much thought into this, Renstar.” Dooku said with appreciation, and for the first time, he turned away from the action down below, and gave him an appraising look. 

“Each tool has its place, my Lord. I imagine you would be most wroth if every object in your hand only knew how to kill. Linear thinking has its place, but variability is the spice of life.” Kaine said with a smile. 

“Such clever words. Be careful that it doesn't eventually lead to the removal of your tongue, young Renstar.” Dooku warned, although this time, there wasn't a hint of threat, instead the old man seemed to be genuinely imparting sage advice? 

Kaine 404'd for a second, spacing out in disbelief, then decided to be a little cheeky. 

“Only those who anger easily fear the truth, my Lord.” Kaine said, knowing damn well that Dooku had shocked people for less. 

By pushing the boundaries like this, he was testing what he could get away with, and at the same time, was trying to deepen their relationship. Qui-Gon's letter went a long way in establishing some basic rapport, but the closest of friends were those who could trade barbs without ruffling any feathers. 

“Careful, boy. Do not presume to understand all there is to know about the Sith. Your background is special, and permits you certain leniencies. But I am not so easily won over.” Dooku said in a stern tone. 

Kaine bit his tongue, recognizing this for the signal that it was. Dooku was all but telling him: shut the F up. 

“However, your wit, and recently accomplished mission have amused me. Very well, you have my permission to recruit warriors under your banner.” 

“Thank you, my Lord!” Kaine went to bow once more, and caught a smug smile on the old man's face as he dipped his head. 

‘That look is awfully familiar!’ Kaine worried to himself. 

“What was it you said to the Senator?” Dooku asked Kaine, stroking his beard in an overly familiar manner. “Oh yes. Don't scream too loud now.” 

Kaine's eyes widened as [Precognition] wasn't worth a damn compared to the venerable Sith Master's next action. Dooku-using the Force-yeeted him over the balcony railing, sending him tumbling down into the next box that was being placed directly into Ventress's path. 

Flipping so that he landed on his feet, Kaine found himself in a swampy trash heap that suspiciously resembled the Scraplands of Ord Mantell. Although he currently hated Dooku for that sneak attack, he recognized that the old man had placed him in an environment that he was familiar with. 

Did. Did Dooku secretly care about him? What a tsundere. 

“Training blades only, if you would. We wouldn't want to see fratricide between siblings, now would we?” Dooku's sonorous voice called out. 

Kaine changed the setting on his weapon, and looking around himself, found that he was standing on top of some mossy tree, looking down. Emerging from a pneumatic door that hissed open, the bald girl from Dathomir looked up at him, lightsabers already drawn. 

“The old man claimed you were his most prized pupil. That you already claimed the life of a Jedi Knight. Already, you look down upon me, mocking me with those golden eyes of yours. I'll show you what it means to be impatient and prone to rage.” Ventress hissed at him, before charging at him in a blur. 

Kaine wasn't afraid of her, but for a moment, he froze in place, accidentally adopting his now default haughty demeanor. He couldn't help but glance up at the balcony. 

Dooku…

That petty bastard! 

The entire conversation about Ventress had been broadcasted to The Box, and now he had an enraged Dathomiri girl running up a tree to kill his ass! 

“I think she likes you.” Qui-Gon said from the side. 

Kaine rolled his eyes. He worried one day Dooku & Qui-Gon's proclivity for trolling would rub off on him one day. But, wondering if perhaps this was the time to farm LP from Qui-Gon, he decided to play along. 

Facing Ventress before she could reach him, he cleared his throat. 

“Ahem. I have it on good authority that you find me attractive. Unfortunately, I do not make love to bald women.” Kaine stated like a refined gentleman. 

“RENSTAR!!!” 

+5LP +5LP +5LP +5 LP +5LP