HEAD OF THE SNAKE
BLACKFANG - THE (NEW) JEDI vol. II
Issue #4 - Crisis on Cato Neimodia
Dagon Kaze
Halketh
Stood before the looming Palace, Zaka could not deny the sickening feel of the Dark Side pervading the area. It was an unfortunately familiar feeling, hailing back to a day of repeated personal failures at Jedha, even if the day had been won. Looking around him, he could not deny that the Jedi had failed again. The Undead roamed, feasting on those that were not turned. More than likely twisted and transformed on planet than transported to this place.
Wrong or right, it made no difference.
"Come now, heroes, drown yourselves in my madness."
The New Jedi Padawan was already springing forth, violet blades a whirling fury of energy as he cut a path through the hooded figures.
The rancid smell was made even worse as the plasmatic blades carved burning gashes through decayed and dead flesh. Ebony sleeves and fabric collapsed and flew through the air where it was parted from their figures. Frayed edges alight with the passage of his sabers' beams as he cut a straight path to the front door. Springing forwards and dodging through bodies as he entered the Keep.
Inside, he could feel it even more.
The way it twisted the stomach, it was nigh unbearable. The Dark exacerbated the feeling, draining life, light, the very soul of the decor out from it until there was nothing but black. His eyes were open, but he could not see.
But he could sense.
Feel the source of it through the turmoil of the Force's currents.
I am the stone in the storm. The rock that the waves crash upon.
:: Zaka, you hear me? ::
:: Get to Caelitus as soon as you can, I will cover your rear! ::
The Knight's voice brought him back to himself, refocusing him. Steeled, he spared a glance to the open doorway behind him and then stepped further into the Palace, his Senses blossoming around him to plot a path through the Dark, to its
Source.
Forging a path, an upraised hand brought light to his surroundings. The violet blade cast away the darkness for a few metres, coating the dark-skinned Jedi in its warmth. He heard a step and turned to face it. The Dark ensured that he could not see it, but the Force granted him Sight. Allowing him to see the disheveled, warped and pockmarked paleness. Telltale signs of death, and the weaving of the Sith Magickz. His stance shifted, lowering as he prepared to spring forward. The Perished Jedi ignited their hilt, and the sapphire blade burst forth as they charged.
Lopsided and unnatural was the movement. Zaka leapt forwards, tucking into a dive as her somersaulted to quickly close the distance, stabbing forwards with one saber. The Perished Jedi leapt up and over, retaining some form of its previous life's agility as its own blade came toward his back. But Zaka was twisting already, two digits lifting off from a hilt to shove the Perished Jedi into the ceiling. The crisp snap of bones cracked louder than the hum of the blades, and he pivoted mid-slash, carving through the haphazardly swinging wrist of the Undead with one beam before bisecting them with the other as they tumbled back to the ground.
Split at the waist, N'Jazaka's lip curled upwards in disgust at the sight of the corpse before the sharp, critical features softened.
Reaching out towards him was the hand still connected to the torso, attempting to drag itself closer to get a grasp of his ankle.
"
Your life has already been spent, Jedi," he quietly muttered, striking down at the back of the corpse's neck and snapping out the side to decapitate it, ceasing its movements. From its hands, he collected their saber, hanging it on his belt. It'd be returned to Prosperity, he internally swore.
Looking up and around, he knew the Dark Lord had him where they wanted. Could see, hear, probably even anticipate his next move.
"
Cowards... Perverting death," he muttered, shaking his head. "
Face me Caelitus!" His voice echoed against the walls, and he started off again through the warped structure, this time at a light jog. The adrenaline raced through him, his very body on edge, at the ready. "
Your drones will not stop me!"
He could feel himself getting closer.
It was the same feeling when he had faced
Darth Solipsis
in the Jedha Temple. A perverted, freakish world around them, manipulated and twisted in a way that didn't fit its surrounding environment. But instead invaded and reconstructed in the view of its Sorcerer. It felt heavy, like it was the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders.
He couldn't let himself fail
again.