23. The Hunt

they were chasing me. I knew they were there, and that I could not allow myself to be caught. I found myself idly wondering who it was that was chasing me. One of these Jedi felt something akin to a gale force wind, strong and unending. the one that hunted me by its side was calm, yet its power roared like a waterfall, constant and never changing.

'My Lord.'

Damn those drones. can't they tell I'm busy?!? I snapped at them. 'What?!?'

'There is a small green creature approaching Ravager, My Lord. Based on what we know of them, it appears to be wearing Jedi robes.'

I immediately knew who they meant, and began to panic.

'Its Yoda! Do not engage, I repeat: DO NOT ENGAGE!!! if he wishes to search the ship, let him. Do not interfere. there is no information regarding the Queen or Her home in the computers, and we have no sith relics on board. we have a trade license for the minerals as well, courtesy of Morning Mist. we are here completely legally, and he will find nothing incriminating onboard. Do not engage, do not interfere. when he is finished, then search the ship top to bottom for any form of tracking device.'

I kept running, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, hoping to wear my pursuers down. they may be Master class Jedi, but they were still restricted by their base physiology where as I had been altered and enhanced by the Queen. I was superior to them in every way: Training, M-Count, endurance, strength, stamina...

Were it not for my Queens command, I would have killed them by now. She gave me explicit orders not to engage unless my life were in danger, or I were in danger of being captured. My Queen has instructed me to kill them, if a fight is inevitable.

Several hours later, they were still after me.

'Drones. Has Yoda left the ship yet?'

'He has, My Lord, though we sense him nearby. He seems to be waiting for your return.'

'See if you can chase him away. I will need him away from my ship for my plan to succeed. Set weapons to stun.'

'At once, My Lord.'

Good. Now I just have to wait for Yoda of all people to realize that they know where he is. in the meantime, ill confront these two.

I leap upon the next rooftop and run to the edge, then spin around to face my pursuers. I have my voice modulator on, and knowing they won't be able to track me by my using my voice print, speak.

"Jedi. Why do you continue to chase me? I have done no wrong, nor committed any crimes."

They had their lightsabers out and lit, I had mine ready too.

"You are a Sith! A being of evil! You will be destroyed!"

Typical. I responded with:

"You intend to kill me? Most unfortunate, my Queen will not be pleased, and last I checked, it was illegal to persecute an individual based solely on their religion." I removed my cloak, showing my cloth armor, and proceeded to ignite my own black and crimson blade. "It would seem we are at an impass. It is unfortunate that I will not be able to spare you. My Queen had so hoped to avoid conflict with the Jedi of Coruscant."

'My lord, the green jedi left, he seems to have sensed the two you are fighting are in mortal danger.'

Good, now Yoda would be away from the ship.

'Get the prisoners on-board and place them in pods. We need them loyal to the Queen.'

'At once, My Lord!'

Wanting to waste no more time, I lunged at the two, leaping up in a spiraling downwards stab, aimed at the one with the green blade. he met my strike, and our blades locked, until his companion quite literally tried to stab me in the back. I leapt over Jin, whom I now recognized, and proceeded to try and slash at Windu as I did so.

It didn't work, and he managed to peirce my armor and leave a good gash in my side.

"RAHHHHHH!"

Goddess, that hurts! I had had enough. I stopped holding back. my anger seemed to trigger some hidden change, as my wound began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye, and it kept getting faster. My hatred and pain fueled my power, and I attacked Jin. I knew I had to end this fight quickly, I could sense Yoda drawing near, and the other masters leaving the Temple to join in their little 'Sith Hunt'

By the time the rage faded and I could see straight, I had cut off blinded Jin with a slash across his eyes. The pain that caused seemed to have made him blackout, as he was just lying there unconscious. Windu had lost both hands and a foot.

I extinguished my lightsaber, and turned around, to see Yoda standing there behind me his emerald green blade lit, seemingly shocked into disbelief at how quickly I was able to take out the two of them.

"Yoda. these two forced my hand. My Queens orders were to not engage the Jedi if at all possible. they refused to stand down, and without treatment the poison will kill them. I am leaving. You may save them or kill me, but not both. make your decision, Jedi, and make it quick,"

He seemed to digest my words, and simply lowered his weapon, letting it go out.

"It would seem I was wrong. Not all Jedi are mindless killers, some can be reasoned with. The Hive Queen will remember this kindness, Grandmaster Yoda."

My ship, Ravager came to hover on the rooftop, and I simply turned, retrieved my cloak, and walked away. We then took off for Endor. Yoda did not need to know that the 'poison' was already inside Windu for two years, or that it was actually a sliver of the Queens awareness that was slowly corrupting his mind. The deviousnous and cunning of my new Master pleased and intrigued me.