Chapter Three: The Brush Fire Wars

[Akirapryde]

Siege of Origin (Part Two)
Clash of heroes and Villain
Lejár Az Idő Kerület
Eredet
Date: 2921 AOK
 
“The battle of Origin is far from over,” Lysire said calmly as she stood next to Duncan. She motioned high in the sky, “behold, my Champion!”
 
“You came all this way, Rose!” Abeloth turned in the direction of the statement and saw floating in midair Urias.
 
Duncan knew that Urias was standing on the ramp of a cloaked ship. It was an infamous ship called the Star Adder. Duncan scanned the threads that linked these two together. Urias and Rose had been close friends at one time. They had saved each other’s lives many times. Trained against and fought the darkness together. In that moment, Duncan could see their lives play out. The threads that link them were as strong as the ones that linked him and his own brother.
 
“It is something that Abeloth and her twisted children often pray upon,” Lysire said, speaking of the close bonds between the two. Duncan only nodded as he continued to observe the battle.
 
Urias continued speaking in his normal matter of fact tone. “That shall be the last life you ever take,” he said drawing his lightsaber and the Sword of Raven. He added, “I swear it!”
 
It promised to be a very impressive battle as both knew each other’s secrets, strengths and weaknesses. Urias was the only person in the entire galaxy that had the skill to face off with Abeloth and defeat her. This was a battle that had been orchestrated over three thousand years ago. Duncan turned to Lysire as she watched the past play its self out.
 
He gazed through the threads of time and space to see how much she had guided these events to reach this moment. It was a gamble that she was making in Urias. If Urias failed, then Abeloth would have the Sword of Raven and the corruption of Origin. Nothing would be able to stop her from ruling over the entire galaxy. Duncan watched Urias leap down from the cloaked ship and in to legends.
 
Even before he landed, Abeloth reached out through the force and hurled several rocks at Urias. His blue lightsaber spun with a quickness. Each of the rocks turned in to bits of dust and harmless pebbles after being deflected by his lightsaber. Urias landed next to her at the same time he unleashed a series of attacks that forced her to yield ground. There was a reason why Urias was one of the best Weapon Masters in the Order. His attacks were relentless and powerful. Each was focused on a precise moment and place where she was forced to defend.
 
Despite his skill and power, Abeloth was more than a match for him. The two exchanged attacks for almost five intensive minutes before withdrawing. Duncan was both impressed and terrified at the power on display. It was the power of Raven on display. The power of one of the strongest Force Users to ever live. Duncan knew that this power flowed through him and his sister as well.
 
In Urias’ eyes, only rage glared back, “I swear your evil ends today,” he pledged as he renewed his attacks forcing her to yield more ground. “Even if I must drag you to hell, myself. I swear it, Rose.” He seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful side kick in to her chest. The blow sent her backwards nearly two meters as she landed on her back.
 
Knowing how dangerous she was, he shifted in to a defensive posture. A new force made its presence known across Origin. High above the battle a bright blue flash of lighting filled the sky as the thunder clapped. At the same time, lighting flashed in Urias' eyes. The sound filled the area with such a booming sound that it caused others to draw their attention to the battle that raged in the village center.
 
Abeloth recovered far quicker than Duncan would have guessed. She kicked her feet in to the air and flipped herself back on to her feet even before Urias had shifted his stance. Duncan realized that had Urias followed through with the attack, he would be in a disadvantaged position.  At the base of the large Pyramid Temple, two combatants sized each other up as the battle for Origin’s soul continued.
 
Abeloth charged him, then fainted. Urias could see through the faint and blocked her attack with the Sword of Raven. His counter attack was blocked as he spun to the left and used the sword to remove her right arm. He knew better then to be distracted by the wound. He didn't watch it turn to a black mist and reform on her body. Instead, he spun to the opposite direction and used his blade to block her kick. Abeloth attempted a leap kick which was blocked. This forced her back to plot out the battle.
 
They glared in to each other's eyes for a moment. It was then that a smile crawled across Urias’ face, “looks like you’re off your game, Rose.” he taunted her. “What’s the matter? Spreading yourself thin as you attempt to corrupt this world.” He glanced from left to right, “Rose, this world isn’t like the others you have corrupted.”
 
“Don't worry about my prime, old man,” she said coldly. She followed his eyes, “and don’t worry about this world either,” she laughed. Her voice labored, “this world will be corrupted, like all the others.” Abeloth shifted her stance as she once more sized up Urias. “Remember Orchid,” Abeloth said buying time, “She’s here as well, as is her dark apprentice.” She smiled as she pulled out a communicator, “Shall I call them for a reunion?”
 
Urias met her smile with his own. His voice filled with confidence and the hint of laughter exposed his plan, “Oh, I am sure they have their own hands full.” On that, Abeloth became the prey as he added, “I brought the whole gang!” Urias started to pace around her like a predator. “Face it, Rose, you can’t hold your grip over this world and spare enough energy to battle me,” Urias explained with a smile.
 
Without warning a bright red lightning bolt crashed across the sky with a loud thunder. The amber light from the lighting cast a reddish glow over the two combatants as they paced around waiting for that moment to launch their next attack on the other. On a metaphysical plane, as powerful energies clad in blue, red and black clashed for dominance of Origin.
 
From a roof top, Duncan and Lysire watched Orchid and Lotus were sweeping the village far to the north of the village center. They had just linked up with a group of droids and minions as they felt the tide of battle shift from their favor. From the perspectives of Orchid and her followers, Abeloth had just engaged the Queen of Origin. This world had been a place that Abeloth had long searched for. The source of all cosmic energies, would give Abeloth all the power she needs to conquer the universe.
 
Orchid couldn't help but smile as she and her forces just dispatched a larger group of defenders. She had taken such pride in the way she personally killed a group of their warriors. Duncan had watched with great sadness as Orchid stood before one while he begged for his life. Without mercy, Orchid killed the wounded warrior. Now nothing stood between them and the northern part of the village.
 
As they moved on their objective, the storm overhead changed. Orchid stopped and gazed up at the storm as blue lighting flashed overhead. She watched the storm overhead with both a sense of awe and concern. There was more to this storm than met the eye. “I don't like the change in these winds” she said with concern in her voice to Lotus.
 
“You should trust in our Mistress more,” one of their minions said coldly. He frowned at Orchid as he spoke. Duncan knew that many of the minions both fear, envied and hated Orchid. For whatever reason, she had the complete love of their Mistress. Because of this, she was their Mistress' favorite. Orchid enjoyed privileges and received all the most important missions. Despite being bested by Auro and his group time and time again, their Mistress still held Orchid as the favorite. It was this bitterness that was something that Orchid had to face each day. It was a rare glimpse in to Orchid that Duncan had not considered before.
 
 
Orchid didn't reply to the comment as she looked at Lotus who only shrugged her shoulders. Lotus knew that the other minions hated Orchid for her talents and place with their Mistress. Lotus knew that if any of them had a chance, they would betray Orchid and murder them both just to take that place. Lotus was here for Orchid and she would rather die than see anyone harm her. Neither of them cared for the drama that ran among the minions. Instead, Lotus pointed to a building that she sensed held villagers, “take the group and check out that building,” she ordered the minion who had interrupted her conversation with Orchid. She added, “kill all within!”
 
The man’s face twisted with anger as he waved his lightsaber to signal the group forward. The group of minions followed the man with their weapons out. They crossed the large street as they headed for the building. Everyone could feel the fear that consumed the villagers within the building. It promised to be an easy victory, and the minions knew it. For as much as Duncan wanted to intervene, he knew he couldn’t. He stood on that roof top and watched as the minions entered the building.
 
Within moment, the sounds of women and children screaming filled the street. It was nothing short of a slaughter. Within moments, the deed was done. After the last scream faded from memory, the minions started to gather outside the building. Just as they started to make their way back across the street, the center of the street erupted and filled with cloud of dust and dirt. Duncan felt the power of the darkside in motion. He felt that this power was of an ancient bloodline. He watched the new combatant land in the center of the cloud.
 
The angry man leading the minions motioned them towards the new threat. The cloud persisted despite the winds. Lotus and Orchid both sensed the danger as they took a step back. The minions circled the dust cloud as they readied their weapons once more. It was clear that they intended on attacking this new threat. It was just what this new arrival wanted, and Orchid and Lotus knew it. Lotus screamed out, “NO,” but it was too late.
 
The group of minions charged in to the dust cloud and combat was joined. High above, Duncan and Lysire watched the battle unfolded without hindrance. Duncan watched the battle unfolding with ruthless and cruel precision. The battle was fierce and largely one sided. Despite the minions being powerful, they couldn’t stand up to the power of this new arrival.  
 
As the minions were being cut down with such speed and anger, Lotus and Orchid looked at each other with fear in their eyes. Orchid started to step away from the cloud of death that had consumed her forces. As the sounds of death finally faded, the two darksiders turned their focus back to the cloud of death and dust. Within moments a figure stepped forward through the dust. It was large and menacing, and Orchid let out a sigh of relief when she identified the being as being Crayl. Crayl, a Feeorin, and former follower of the Sith Queen Arial, was now a loyal minion of Abeloth’s. He stepped from the cloud then stumbled and fell to the ground.
 
Duncan watched with great expectation as a long figure slowly rose up to a standing position. The cloud slowly started to be blown away by the hot arid winds of Origin. The figure had reddish hair that hung fall below her shoulders. A large floppy bright red hat, with a long yellow feather adorned her head. She wore a matching red long coat, who’s tails were blown by the wind. Her bright red saber hummed and casted a demonic glow over her face. Duncan knew that this woman was Arial, a powerful and well known darksider. He also knew that it was only because of Abeloth’s corruption of Origin, that allowed her to have access to all her powers here.
 
Once more, red lighting flashed overhead as more thunder clapped. “What’s the matter Orchid? You look like you have seen a ghost.” Aral said coldly and methodically.
 
Orchid shifted back in her stance as she glanced at Lotus. Alone, Orchid knew she was no match for Aral. They had crossed blades many times before. But everything was different now. Now she had access to Mother’s power and the corrupted energies of Origin. “Ghost,” Orchid questioned, “no…..not yet” she laughed. “But I am not finished yet.”
 
Arial smiled, “we will see about that,” and in a daring almost insulting move, she lowered her lightsabers and deactivated it. “I still remember how you sold my sisters in to slavery,” Arial said speaking of Anastasia. Duncan could feel the rage and anger flowing through Arial as she gathered her strength. It was clear that these two powerful beings had a history filled with deep emotional feeling. Yet there was more than just hate and anger. Duncan sensed her control over these powerful emotions. She had truly become a powerful Sith Lord. “I told you, I would have my vengeance.”
 
Duncan found it surprising that Orchid failed to sense the control that Arial was employing. They both were relaying on the fact that Arial was well known for her lack of control. Something had changed, and these two minions of Abeloth failed to detect it. Duncan turned to Lysire, “was this you’re doing,” he asked speaking of the control Arial had. Lysire shook her head, “No, this is a product of her own doing. She had fulfilled her strongest desire, to become the True Queen of the Sith.”
 
Duncan had little else to do but nod his understanding. He turned back to the two minions and watched them during this face off. Their inability to sense the change in Arial would be their own undoing. Orchid didn’t look at Lotus as she sent a telepathic message, ‘lighting.’ Instead, her gaze was fixed on Arial. “Really Arial,” Orchid said joking, “Annie made such a good slave.” It was clear that Orchid was trying to provoke Arial’s anger. “I heard that she was so good that she was passed around the Bounty Hunters.”
 
For her part, Arial bluffed her emotions to fool Orchid. A trap that both Lotus and Orchid were walking in to. Arial gripped her hands as if she had allowed her anger to consume her. Her eyes narrowed as she focused in on Orchid, “I am going to kill you and your little slut,” she promised.
 
Orchid mistakenly sensed the time was right, as she smiled. “Didn't she get knocked up. What ever happened to her bastard child. Sold as a slave I bet?” Orchid watched as Arial’s face continue to twist in anger. It was a masterful bluff, and Duncan sensed the danger that Orchid and Lotus were walking in to. Orchid didn’t look at Lotus as she raised her hands towards Arial and yelled, “Lotus, NOW!” The pair unleashed their full power of darkside energies in the form of a pair of bluish lighting. The powerful bolts reached out towards Arial. Duncan noted that the two minions drew their powers from Abeloth as they poured as much energy as they could in to the twin bolts. The sounds crackling energy filled the area as the twin lightings converged on Aral.
 
Arial stepped back and drew in a deep long breath as she focused her anger and rage in to her action. She raised her hands as she prepared for the coming attack. As the twin bolts converged on her, Arial summoned up the darkside of the Force. Arial drew in the bolts of energy in to her hands as she allowed the darkside to wash over her. She drew upon the energy to heal her wounds that she suffered from battling the other minions, the rest she allowed to pass in to her over her without harm.
 
Like a great battery, Arial channeled the energies through her body. By sheer force of will she commanded the power within her to her bidding. She felt the energies pulsating through her like a great nova waiting for the moment to explode. Arial drew upon all of her will as she continued to exert her control over the energies being pumped in to her. After a long moment, finally the twin bolts of energy stopped. Orchid and Lotus were both drained from their attack.
 
Arial smiled as she felt their lighting attack come to an end. Her eyes glowed reddish yellow as she glared at Orchid. “Now, let me show you the true power of a Sith Lord!” she said as she raised her hands in the direction of the two minions. With no further warning, she unleashed her own dark energies. The two attempted to deflect the incoming attack, but failed. Not only did Arial catch both Orchid and Lotus in the attack, she also caught the droid behind them. She allowed the energies that she had captured from the first attack to flow through her now.
 
Arial smiled as she lifted them all in to the air with her lighting. She never felt in so much control before. Her hatred for Orchid powered the lighting even more than normal as she continued to draw on the powers of the dark side. Aral could feel the power of the dark side surging through her. This place gave her such a connection that she never experienced before. She watched as droids popped and explode from the massive amounts of energy she was pumping in to the lighting effect. Duncan watched the show, knowing that the flow of power was as much Arial as it was the effect of this place. It was a troubling revelation that benefited the cause in this moment.
 
Both Orchid and Lotus screamed out in pain as they were hovering in midair from the lighting. Arial didn't know Orchid’s new little slut but she knew Orchid all too well and this was pay back for everything she had done to her and her sister. Her senses were keen as she felt the presence of minions nearby. Arial took a step forward as she shrugged her shoulders forward sending the group flying.
 
It wasn’t out of pity, Aral needed her focus on dealing with the attacker rushing up behind her. Without further hesitation, she dropped forward and rolled. The blue lightsaber passed by, right where she was standing. The fallen Jedi had swung wide and overestimated his attack. As Arial, completed her roll, she flipped her lightsaber from her belt and activated it pointed behind her. The red blade of the saber pierced through her coat and burned in to her would be attacker. She heard a male voice grunt as she knew she got him. And like that, former Jedi Master Kelave Mernerd was no more.
 
Without any pause, she ripped the saber for the dying Jedi Master as she rolled to the side. The maneuver allowed her to dodge a second saber attack from a Twi’lek dressed like a Sith. The Twi’lek brought his saber down with all his might. Arial completed her roll and flipped to her feet. She smiled, “Virlic!” Arial laughed. The Twi’lek didn’t respond as he tried to kill her. Arial sidestepped the attack and brought up her own saber. The attack split him up the middle.
 
Searching the scene of burned and smoking droids, Arial scanned for Orchid. “Oh, don’t make me come looking for you, Orchid” Arial screamed
 
Stepping over a chared droid she heard the lightsaber before she saw it. Aral spun using her own lightsaber to block the attack from Lotus. She was surprised that the little slut didn't run away. Aral moved rapidly swinging her blade blocking the second attack from Lotus. “Too bad you must die, you would have made a great apprentice,” Arial said blocking another attack.
 
Lotus laughed, “You don’t say” as she parried Arial’s attack as she pressed her attacks.
 
“Oh yeah, I find I am in the market for a new one.” Aral said as she continued to block the rapid attacks from Lotus.
 
Lotus continued to attack with her lightsaber but to her surprise Aral wasn’t giving any ground. From over Lotus' shoulder, Aral saw a large volume of fire coming from the other side of the city. She knew that was where Annie and her droids were dropped. She couldn’t help but to smile as she knew that their plan was working.
 
Duncan and Lysire turned and walked towards the battle across the river. They watched as a group of droids were working their way across a nearby river. Just as the droids were reaching the far side of the bridge three objects fell from the sky. The lighting fleshed over head in a range of colors. Before them, the droids saw a cowboy dressed droid that looked allot like a Bothan. It wore a cowboy hat, leather duster and chaps. In its hands it carried multi-barreled weapon. On its back was a light repeater and a pair of heavy blasters on its hip.
 
Beside him stood two heavily modified destroyer droids. As the three droids readied for battle, all three of them activated their shields. Behind them a lengthy red headed female landed with the use of a jetpack. She carried a blaster rifle, but the goggles on her head indicated her tech background. As she landed, she activated her own personal shield. She smiled, “you know Steven, I really believe we can win this war!”
 
The Bothan style droid looked up at them, “This kind of war, you've gotta believe in what you're fighting for.” It was one of Steven's favorite sayings and Annie loved it. She made sure that her prized droid had all of Steven's logs entered in to his memory banks. It helped him be more like Steven.
 
Just after his statement, the four unleash a heavy volume of fire that cut the droids down by the dozens. The four started to move forward pushing the invading droids back across the bridge. The sustained fire from the three droids was intense and more powerful than those of the invaders. Annie let out a joyful yell, “we got them Steven!” Thanks to the massive cover fire, Annie could pick off prime targets. Together the three droids pushed the invading droids back across the river.
 
With the bridge was finally secured, Annie moved from her cover on the near side of the bridge. She leaped in to the air, using her jetpack to reach the other side of the bridge. Her light armor looked used and run down, but that was far from the case. Her highly modified armor and helm worked to bring out her strong advantages while giving her a good level of defense. A Bothan minion leaped from the shadows with his green lightsaber. He swung it at Annie with hopes of ending the tech’s life. His weapon impacted her armor and the blade crackled, popped and deactivated.
 
Annie smiled as she turned to the fallen Jedi. His stunned expression was enough to tell Annie that she had his complete attention. On her visor, her eyes glanced over a command to her hounds. Within seconds, a pair of heavily modified attack dog droids attacked the Bothan from behind. Using their combined power, the two droids dragged the Bothan to the ground as they continued their attack on him. This freed Annie up to continue the battle for the bridge and the village beyond. Annie motioned to her droids, “We got them on the run! Let’s keep up the pressure!”
 
Just as Annie was marshalling her droids forward, she heard an urgent call for help. “Annie, I need some help,” Falynn's frantic voice filled Annie’s ear piece. Annie turned to her hounds as the sounds of screaming faded. She smiled to them and nodded. “Annie!” Falynn’s voice came back over the commlink. Annie turned as she scanned her battle area. The droids advance was broken, but they would regroup. More pressing was the group of minions that were advancing on her location.
 
Annie activated her commlink, “Fa, I am really tied up right now. I will try to get to you in a few moments,” Annie said as she considered her opinions.
 
Duncan and Lysire shifted over to where Falynn had landed. Her location was just outside of the village on a nearby ridge line. Falynn had landed with many Annie’s modified destroyer droids. From this ridge, they could lay down massive amounts of heavy fire at the invader’s rear units. Those heavy artillery pieces were prime targets to Falynn and her forces. The droids would do all the work, all Falynn had to do was help protect the droids from a counter attack.
 
With her droid were making short work of Abeloth’s support units, that was when Falynn got in to trouble. A group of invaders supported by their own droids plotted a counter attack. Falynn’s lines held long enough for her unit to do their job, but they did break. It wasn’t long before the droids destroyed each other leaving only Falynn and two darksiders. Duncan and Lysire watched as Falynn fought off her attackers. She was forced to face off with a pair of darksiders. Former Sith to Arial, these two had made it their mission to kill Falynn for her attack on their position.
 
She called upon the force to aide her in the battle. However, her blade skill simply wasn’t on par with theirs. She fought desperately, and got lucky to kill one of them. But the last remaining Sith was going to drive her to exhaustion. His attacks were relentless and powerful. Each time they he attacked, the blow was so powerful that it nearly knocked her off her feet. She fought hard to bring her weapon back up so to regain her defense. It wouldn’t happen, as he spun a kicked her in the chest. The kick knocked her off her feet. He pressed his advantage as he kicked her weapon from her hand.
 
Duncan felt the sadness in Falynn’s heart as she looked up at the man who was about to claim her life. Duncan knew that that sadness was for her own death. But for the child that she was leaving behind. It was a moment of weakness that allowed her to reach deep in to the darkside. But she refused to accept its temptation. She knew that her child would be safe with her sisters.

Duncan saw in that moment, a flash of Falynn’s history. She had asked Arial and Annie to raise her son, should she fall in battle. She trusted her sisters with his life, and in that she could let go and accept her fate. Duncan felt her sadness fade as she closed her eyes and accepted the death, as he read her mind. ‘My son….my joy……’ The sound of the lightsaber hummed as it was brought down towards her.