Lightside Sith 035

Stealing a transport meant to move captured slaves from the remnant of the Red Eclipse, Kaine found it ironic that this tool of oppression was now being used for an act of good. 

Holding good to his promise of escorting Dormé-one of Padmé's body doubles-and the other would-be slaves to the Naboo embassy on Nar Shaddaa, this was the best idea he could come up with on such short notice. After all, who would think to look for sheep in the wolf's lair? Anyone who scanned this ship would think it was just business as usual! 

As the ship departed, they left behind the burnt out shell of a once top of the line casino & auction house. 

One entire wing had collapsed into the district below, and emergency klaxons wailed through the poisoned Nar Shaddaa night, mixing with the distant thump of secondary explosions and the considerably nearer sound of Durge's laughter. 

Kaine glanced over his shoulder at the big man, and clucked his tongue. “You’re enjoying this entirely too much.”

Durge lounged against the rear bulkhead, somehow managing to make a large cabin meant in a giant transport look cramped. Black blaster marks covered his armor, and a vibroblade was still buried through one shoulder plate, apparently unworthy of his time. 

“I liked the part where you beat the auctioneer with his own gavel. There was a sort of poetic justice to that.” Kaine complimented. 

“Just wait until we get started, little Sithling. This is but our first day on Nar Shaddaa together.” Durge smirked, his voice almost wistful in anticipation for what was to come. 

Ferus Olin sat across from them with his arms folded, glaring at the big armored man. 

“Ya've got a problem, Jedi?” Durge asked, letting loose with a heavy, stench laden breath. 

“Our resident Padawan means no harm, Durge. He's simply overwhelmed by how many people Krrsantan could bench at once. I must confess, even I did not expect him to lift four Trandoshans at once.” Kaine gossiped. 

“That's not what I-” 

Durge's laughter became a low mechanical rumble, and Krrsantan rumbled in agreement, shaking his big shaggy head. 

Although somewhat despondent, the Jedi didn't mope for long, as the fact of the matter was, Kaine had been right. About everything. The hypocrisy of the Jedi, the unwillingness to do good even if it meant turning on the very law of the Republic…it was beginning to rankle him. No matter how extreme his methods, Ferus had never once seen Renstar kill someone who wasn't the lowest scum in the galaxy. 

Across the passenger compartment sat nearly forty escaped slaves. Humans, Rodians, Twi'leks, Nikto, a pair of frightened Togruta children, several species Ferus didn't recognize. That was what they were fighting for. Was everything told about the Sith a lie? 

Whilst everyone else were lost in their thoughts, Kaine turned towards the body double of Padmé Amidala, Dormé. A young, attractive woman, she was highly intelligent, and could wield a blaster as good as anyone else. 

She carried herself with the same elegant posture, and same quiet poise cultivated among Naboo's royal attendants. Even dressed in clothing stolen from one of the auction house overseers, she somehow managed to look as though the garments were regal. 

Kaine had given her his cloak-not as some act of flirtation-but to build rapport, and of course, to send as a picture to Skywalker later down the line when he got the chance. 

“Are you comfortable?” He asked with his mask off, revealing a handsome, debonair face. 

Dormé glanced toward him, and arched an eyebrow. “I've been chained to a wall for the better part of a week.”

Kaine considered that, and tilted his head to the side. 

“So the seating here is an improvement. Good to know. I don't think I'll be chaining myself up anytime soon to replicate the experience, thank you very much.” 

Meeting his nonsensical response with a furrowed brow, Dormé couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth daintily. 

Ferus opened one eye from the passenger compartment, sensing something he had seen plenty of times in others. He knew that look. 

“With Renstar, truly?” Ferus sighed to himself. 

Dormé glanced backward. “What?”

“Nothing.” Ferus was quick to shake his head, yet when he glanced at Renstar, he rolled his eyes. 

Kaine gestured toward him. “You see what I endure? Constant suspicion. I've rescued the man several times, and still he gives me lip!” 

“You manipulated me into accompanying you.” Ferus huffed. 

“He becomes irrational when he's tired.” Kaine lowered his voice conspiratorially toward Dormé.

“I can hear you.” Ferus grumbled. 

Kaine merely smirked at Dormé, to which she barely hid a smile. 

Adjusting the transport's course through the endless sprawl that was Nar Shaddaa, he kept his eyes on the ‘highway.’ Traffic streamed around them in every direction. Cargo haulers crawled between giant towers, and neon advertisements painted the cockpit crimson and violet. Somewhere below, firefights flashed in alleys, and a pickpocket met his end. 

The planet smelled corrupt even through the ship's filtration systems. Kaine hated it, and yet, he also found it fascinating.

“So.”  Dormé asked quietly. “You truly intend to take us to the Naboo embassy?”

“But of course, a gentleman always keeps his word.” Kain inclined his head. 

“You understand that they'll almost certainly detain you.” Dormé said in a pensive tone. “The sort that can survive on a planet like Nar Shaddaa are…a little more extreme than your average citizen of Naboo. After your stunt with the failed kidnapping, many ordinary citizens who do not know of your true character see you as a stain on our society.” 

“They can try.” Kaine smirked. 

“That wasn't particularly reassuring.” Dormé replied with furrowed brows. 

“My apologies. What I meant to say was that I shall graciously permit them to attempt to detain me.” Kaine said in an overly formal tone. 

Dormé stared at him for a moment, and shook her head with a bemused smile crossing her face. “You are a most curious man, Lord Renstar. I truly do not know what to think of you.” She then turned back to Ferus. “Does he always behave like this?”

“No.” Ferus answered before Kaine could.

Dormé raised an eyebrow.

Ferus sighed, looking away in consternation. “Sometimes he's worse.”

Durge barked another laugh, the force of which knocked the vibroblade stuck in his shoulder out of his flesh, and onto the deck. 

Kaine placed one hand against his chest, and responded in a faux offended tone. 

“I am surrounded by ingrates.”

A deep growl came from the rear, and the Wookiee bared his teeth.

“He says you talk too much.” Durge lazily translated. 

“At last, constructive criticism.” Kaine drily responded. 

The Wookiee made another rumbling sound.

This time Durge tilted his helmet as if having trouble understanding. “He says he hasn't decided whether he owes you a life debt or wants to tear your arms off.”

“Excellent. I value independent thought.” Kaine clapped along. 

Krrsantan snorted, and turned away. 

“You don't seem like a Sith.”

“I assure you, I have all the appropriate qualifications.” Kaine said, gesturing towards his very red skin. 

“You know what I mean.” Dormé huffed. 

“Indulge me, Miss Dormé. What ever do you mean?” Kaine asked right back. 

“You freed those people. You could have escaped after rescuing me. Instead you went back. And you destroyed the entire syndicate.”

“What can I say? They annoyed me.” Kaine shrugged. 

Whilst Dormé stared at Kaine in awe, Ferus had seen the calculation underneath the charm. The arrogance. The frightening ease with which Kaine could turn violence on and off. But he had also seen Kaine accept surrender, and other cases of mercy. Witnessing him protect civilians when doing so offered absolutely no strategic benefit. Ferus still seemed unable to reconcile those things.

“The Republic says the Separatists are controlled by corporations like the ones operating that auction.” Dormé stated, fishing for something. 

“And the Confederacy says the Republic is controlled by corrupt senators and bankers.” Kaine noncommittally replied. 

“Hm?” She paused, wondering what he would say next. 

“The galaxy has developed the unfortunate habit of insisting that two terrible things cannot be true simultaneously.” Kaine tsked. “The Republic tolerates slavery when abolishing it becomes inconvenient. The Confederacy condemns corruption while accepting the patronage of organizations that would sell their own mothers if the margin was favorable. Each side screams about the other's sins whilst ignoring its own.”

Dormé studied him silently, then asked him a poignant question. “And Count Dooku?”

“My master believes the Republic is beyond reform.”

“Do you?”

Kaine was silent for a moment. 

“Perhaps.” 

“Then why fight? Why not become a spokesman at the senate, they would love to hear-” 

“Senator Amidala has tried, and I am but one red-skinned man from a race that the Jedi have condemned for millenia. I appreciate the sentiment, my lady, truly I do, but unfortunately, our discussion must end here. We have arrived.” Kaine said, cutting her off, and then gesturing towards a platform down below as the transport began its descent. 

Dormé had already sent a message ahead of time explaining what had taken place, and a group of security personnel were assembled outside, waiting for their arrival 

Standing from his seat, Kaine removed his lightsaber from his belt, and then held it out towards Ferus. 

“To you.”

“What?” Ferus asked, blinking his eyes in disbelief. 

“Take it.” Kaine said, dangling it like car keys at an idiot kid. 

“Why?” 

“Because we're entering a Republic-aligned embassy filled with frightened civilians, diplomatic guards, and people who have probably been informed since childhood that Sith eat infants.”

One of the Togruta children nearby stared at him after he said that, to which Kaine hissed, scaring her away into someone else's hug. 

“We don't, incidentally.” Kaine said, waving at the little orange girl. 

The child nodded solemnly back, and held out a fist. Kaine chuckled, giving her a fist bump. 

As the ramp to the transport lowered, Naboo security officers waited below with blasters ready, alongside medics and embassy personnel.

Kaine offered Dormé his arm, to which she hesitated only briefly before taking it.

Ferus looked at their linked arms.

Then at Kaine.

Then skyward, as though petitioning the Force for patience.

Durge descended behind them.

Krrsantan followed, carrying one exhausted Twi'lek child in each arm. Both had fallen asleep against his enormous shoulders.

The sight made several security officers lower their weapons almost immediately.

Kaine walked Dormé down the ramp.

“Lady Dormé.”

She looked toward him.

“I suspect this is where our paths temporarily diverge.”

“Temporarily?”

“One should remain optimistic.”

She smiled.

“You're not what I expected.”

“I hear that often.”

“I'll tell Senator Amidala what you did here.”

“That would be appreciated.”

Dormé started toward the embassy, leaving his embrace. 

“Oh, and Dormé? If Skywalker happens to be present when you speak with Senator Amidala…do tell him I send my warmest regards.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” Dormé nodded along. 

“And mention that I found his military record fascinating. Particularly the part where as a nine-year-old, he killed those Nimrod-ian's from the Trade Federation. I'm Sith, and not even I'm that metal!” 

Dormé disappeared into the embassy laughing. 

Kaine watched her go with a smile. 

“You are a horrible person.” Ferus sighed, placing a hand on his brow.

“Yet she seemed to like me. Besides, you were Skywalker's rival in the Order, you tell me that man doesn't have a few screws loose?” Kaine replied, raising an eyebrow. 

“...” Ferus choked on his own saliva, unable to retort. 

Kaine, meanwhile soaked in the LP as the dozens of captives were now good and truly free. 

(+200LP).

It was good to be the King. 

~~~~~

AN: I'm publishing this story publicly, so if you could, pls leave a like or comment on it wherever you found me (webnovel, questionable question, fanfic net, Scribblehub, etc) it'd mean a lot, thank you so very much!!!