Twisted Fates

[Rasu Gan]

Echidna

Rasu did not know what drew her to the planet, but she followed the call without hesitation. A world brought up by the Yuuzhan Vong; the history of the world, much like the Vong culture remained a mystery to the Shi'ido. However as she set foot upon the surface, she noticed the absence of the Vong people. Having expected some form of welcome, Rasu felt uneasy as she abandoned her shuttle and entered the set of ruins that encompassed her temporary landing site.

Alone but not helpless, the Jedi Master continued her exploration, opening herself to the flow of the Force as she attempted to discover the reason for her abrupt visit. She had abandoned the Coalition's efforts to explore the ruined world of Korriban, favouring her summons through the Force rather than her obligation to the Silver Jedi.

On this world, she too could make a difference, bringing with her a probe from Sasori Research as well as a small concealed holocam that would record her travels as she continued her exploration. While her comrades did their best to colonise the ancient Sith homeworld, she would do her best to gather data on the Vong-formed world and their alien culture.

Admiring the runes and glyphs that adorned a isolated pillar, Rasu pulled out her datapad, making notes as she allowed herself to finally enjoy the peace and quiet that existed on Echidna. Continuing with her work, Rasu would be unaware of another presence on the planet, one that would reignite a fractured bond that she had thought extinct.

The Supreme Overlord had returned.

[member="Dredge"]

 

[Dredge]

Crawling your way out of a collapsed tomb wasn't easy, nor was surviving getting hit by the ethereal version of a freight train by [member="Connor Harrison"] and his BFF. These things were generally painful and were damaging not only to your pride, but your body as well. However due to a good flight home inside of a bacta tank with Yuuzhan Vong shapers aiding you one could recover from such things rather quickly. Some would say in time for another thread, but that wasn't important.

The sound of a ship breaking atmosphere sounded above [member="Rasu Gan"] and if she looked up she would be able to spot a decent sized cruiser that was pulling into the ruined city. Horns began to sound and soon what seemed like an abandoned city began to stir and bustle with movement. Sticking their heads out of their homes and underground tunnels, Yuuzhan Vong, Graug, and a few other mixed species looked up at their returning overlord. It seemed that Dredge had them on some sort of lockdown when he was away, it was odd but perhaps it was for a good reason. The cruiser landed not far from Rasu and she would be able to feel a sick and evil aura washing over the city.

"I sense her Dredge, a presence from your former self's memory. There is reason why I issued the lock down I have foreseen this, so you can take your revenge. She killed your men, cut your hand off, and made you look like a weakling before your men. Kill her." The voice said to Dredge within his mind.

Deep within the bacta tank a single grey eye opened and focused in narrowing with the hatred felt by his previous incarnation. Power surged and the bacta tank he was in exploded violently sending glass in various directions. This was one of the few times Dredge could be seen without his armor, and without it he looked rather sad. He was far from his previous self, a man built like a tank with tattoos and sigils carved into his skin, a cocky aura of confidence around him, no the Dredge that Rasu knew was dead, and in his place was something much worse.

Small, frail, malnourished, pale, covered in scars from head to toe with half his face ripped off was this incarnation. Loose black dreadlocks bound together by filth hung from his face as he slowly limped his way towards the armor. He had spent over half his life in the sewers of the Mirrorverse capital, feeding on rats and dead bodies, he was sickly and gaunt and his weakness could be seen.

"Come to me." He whispered and extended his hand.

The loose pieces of Darth Vulcanus' armor flew towards him and began to wrap around his small frame dressing him in head to toe with an armor that couldn't possibly fit him. But then there was silence before the Yuuzhan Vong began to scream. Bones popped, snapped, muscle tore and expanded as the dark side of the force twisted and mutated his body until there was a hulking figure of muscle and pain within its depths. The shroud of blackness covered the openings in the face soon a single red eye opened and shined in the darkness.

"Rasu Gan."

 

[Rasu Gan]

Knowing that peace could never last, Rasu remained still as the cruiser burst into the clearing, making its landing on the far side of the ruins. Bringing a hand up to her face, she shielded her eyes so to get a better view of the space craft. An invisible bubble had seemed to wrap itself around the cruiser, making the ship impossible to envision through the lens of the Force. Rasu had seen this occurrence many a time, much more so with Yuuzhan Vong bio-technology. She wasn't surprised to see technology on the planet, knowing of the worlds history with the Yuuzhan Vong. However all thought was lost when the ground beneath her began to shake.

Within seconds, what once was a deserted crumbling ruin, became a bustling hive of activity. Vong sprawled across stone as they approached the cruiser. Rasu joined them, not sensing any hostility as of yet from the community. However she was wary to unhook her lightsaber from her belt, grasping it lightly. Better to be safe rather than sorry.

Eerie darkness leaked from the cruiser, finding its way towards the Shi'ido. The aura dug into her like a knife, setting off alarm bells in her mind. Rasu tensed at its touch, gasping as if she had struck. While alien, the aura held a few recognizable qualities, qualities that the Jedi had not sensed in a long time. As the crowd fell silent, the Shi'ido could make out the screams and howls of an unknown being. Filling the clearing, the agonising shrieks echoed louder as the crowd separated, allowing the woman to approach the parked vessel. Cautiously Rasu made her way down the aisle, ignoring the toothy grins and malicious chuckles from passerby's.

Grim-faced, the Jedi Master stood before the extended boarding ramp of the cruiser, awaiting whatever being lurked within the depths. While Rasu remained confident, she did not know that evil incarnate existed within, bringing with it an ample supply of rage and a desire for revenge. Within the shell of the Vong cruiser, existed what remained of Supreme Overlord Dredge.

[member="Dredge"]

 

[Dredge]

[member="Rasu Gan"]

There were no cheers, no shouts of revelry for the cruiser's ramp opening down. Cheers and celebrations were saved for returning heroes, and if there was anything Dredge wasn't it was a hero. There was a soft thud from the distance Rasu was at, it was then followed by another, and another, growing louder until black and red iron boots could be seen descending from the ramp.

"My lord I do not believe it is wise for you to see-gah!" there was another sound of bones crunching and soon being thrown down from the ramp and hitting the ground was the twisted corpse of a Yuuzhan Vong shaper.

There was a rough and gritted exhale and soon walking down from the ramp Dredge could be seen, and from the last time the woman had seen him he looked different. Dressed in the armor of a dead Sith Emperor the man was near eight feet tall and stacked like a tank, he was much bigger, heavier, and spread darkness with his very existence.

Clutched tight in his hand was the inferno, the Sith sword that was a literal dark side nexus that could be felt, a spring of hatred and anger that Rasu could feel across the astral plain of the force. Everything was silent and the crowd of people all bowed down on one knee to dredge in unison leaving only Rasu visibly standing for him to see.

"Hello Rasu, been a while apparently." Dredge spoke in the tongue she was familiar with and paced down the aisle.

"Now you're wondering to yourself, that you thought you killed me? Well you did, and yet here I am. So I'll fill you in, I am not your Dredge, I am something far worse. So shall we commence or would you have words? Because when I'm done with you I must take my leave to go murder your family and friends at the silver sanctum." and that wasn't a threat, that was a promise he intended to keep.

 

[Rasu Gan]

Shrieks continued to echo from within the vessel until finally a crumpled form was thrown down the boarding ramp. Wincing as the body hit the ground, Rasu screwed up her face in disgust, turning away from the horrific sight. While she had learned to appreciate certain aspects of the Vong culture, she knew she could never truly accept the barbaric ways of the people. They lived in a civilised galaxy, if one could call the galactic conflict civilised, yet the species refused to adapt and abandon the old ways. The Yuuzhan Vong were stubborn but she had learned that the fault lay in the hands of their leaders. As the Shi'ido studied the crowd she had no need for her Force prowess to distinguish the fear that was blatantly visible on their faces. Knowing that another Overlord of the Vong could be the only one responsible for such a feat, Rasu turned again facing ther cruiser as she watched a shadowy figure disembark from the vessel.

For the first time since her visit to Lujo, Rasu felt cold fear grip her heart. As the icy voice reached her ears, the Shi'ido felt her body stop functioning. She knew exactly who stood before her however she refused to believe that it was the one and only Dredge. She had struck down the Overlord by her own hand; witnessed his death and his passing into the void. However she could not avoid the truth. Every flaw remained the same, his voice and form were as the once were, however it was his eyes that compelled Rasu to search ever-deeper. Something was off about this creature, something that had not existed within the Dredge she once knew.

Shocked, the words that left the Overlord's mouth fell upon deaf ears. Closed off from the world, Rasu's mind worked in a blur, trying to decipher the reason for the creature's return.

"How?" she exclaimed, unable to project any sound but the blatant question. "How are you still alive?!?! I watched you die."

[member="Dredge"]

 

[Dredge]

[member="Rasu Gan"]

"You killed him, but being the Supreme Overlord of this dimension I imagine I had a contingency plan set for such an occasion. Yammosk tissue created a force sensitive body and I was brought back with the help of Vulcanus. Then I remember Preliat Mantis killing him." Dredge spoke as he began to step forward.

"But let me tell you something, I am Dredge. But we've never formally met, I hail from the capital of what you call the Mirrorverse. However let me assure you that I'm still going to kill or torment you, to not only assert my dominance and gain my previous selfs revenge, but also because I just enjoy watching people suffer."

The Yuuzhan Vong let out a small laugh and gripped the massive blade known as the Inferno, the darkside pumped through his body spreading its corruption and polluting his body and the air around him with the negative aura.

"Return to your homes, or don't. Either way, it makes no difference how many die today." Dredge said with a sick grin.

People began to move away but the power of the dark side did not give him the strength for patience, a roar released itself from his chest and the Warlord lunged forward with the heavy blade in a sweeping motion that was aimed for Rasu, however being over a meter long with some serious weight behind it there was some collateral damage to go along with the strike.

A few Yuuzhan Vong civilians were caught in the path of the blade causing black blood to spew out as it severed them in half, gore flew up in the air and the blade was headed towards Rasu's mid section in an attempt to cut her down. The area was still packed with Graug and Yuuzhan Vong families, and if Dredge knew Rasu then a Jedi wasn't about to cut loose while children were present.

 

[Rasu Gan]

Rasu remained frozen; held within the grip of her own fear and confusion. The creature she had once thought dead stood before, yet he claimed to be another form of the same being. The Jedi's mind worked over this predicament, struggling to cope under the weight of the situation. While Rasu knew that this would no doubt lead to conflict, she wanted to be off a empty and steady mind before confronting her foe.

Searching the dark eyes of the Overlord, Rasu hoped to find her answer. Dredge continued addressing the Shi'ido, explaining his return and destruction, all of which faded into the depths of the Jedi's mind, awaiting a time to be properly processed. Lost in the world of confusion, the Shi'ido sought solace, digging through memories and the hint given by the Yuuzhan Vong to determine exactly how this being before her could be the Dredge of old.

Hot blood drew the Shi'ido from her thoughts. Wincing as the warm liquid splashed across her face, Rasu acted upon the danger sense that tingled down her spine. Dredge would not be able to see the woman's movements, leaping faster than the Vong's eyes could follow. Lingering in the air only meters above him, Rasu watched as more bystanders were caught in the final sweep of the massive blade. Darkness enveloped the weapon, as the Jedi could see it seething in the dark side. How Dredge had come across such a weapon remained a mystery, however the woman could not watch helplessly as innocent blood was spilled.

Landing a distance away from her attacker, Rasu outstretched her palms. Focusing on the fragile stonework of the ruins, the Jedi Master shut out the terror-stricken screams of the fleeing Vong and Graug. Wrenching her hands towards her, she extended the motion through the Force. Stone structures shook as if knocked by an invisible force. Wobbling on aged foundations, great blocks of stone crumbled and collapsed surrounding [member="Dredge"] and isolating the overlord.

Repeating the motion once more, Rasu extended her presence further, watching as greater chunks of rock collapsed forming a circular arena where the pair would inevitably duel. Ensuring that the crowds had escaped unharmed, Rasu turned to face her foe. All traces of doubt and confusion had been erased. The Jedi stood, lightsaber ignited and in hand, as she approached her opponent. While saving the innocent party from further bloodshed, Rasu was sure that defeating the Vong beast would be a completely level of difficulty.

 

[Dredge]

[member="Rasu Gan"]

Rasu moved quickly using the force to guide her and Dredge being the massive hulk in armor that he was couldn't track her quick enough. Black and red blood sprayed against his armor and splashed through the air to land on various pieces of stone or fleeting bystanders. Dredge only laughed internally about their deaths and quickly backed himself up to prepare for Rasu's counter. Using the force the woman began to gather in power and shake the old foundations of towers and ruins.

Lifting his hands up with the bastard sword clutched in one the overlord reached out with the force and let out a roar of anger and power. The force ripped through him like a wave and the various pieces of stone that were sent at him that would cause harm deflected in various directions to crumble and smash on the ground. Dredge then let out another ferocious roar that augmented itself with the force to create not a deafening effect but one loud enough to get the woman's attention and bring challenge to her.

The arena laid itself on the ground and Dredge grabbed his sword tight and began to pace around the Jedi master, the two locked eyes to eye with the other.

"Did I tell you where I came from? I returned from Korriban shortly, here let me show you something." Dredge held out his palm and a video would play of him holding up an SSC scientist. He crushed the woman's neck and the body dropped limply to the valley floor.

"I was there with your little friends Rasu, I killed so many of them like ants beneath my feet. Poor poor little Jedi, their blood was delicious upon my fangs." Dredge lifted his sword and leveled it.

It was time to attack. Taking his massive sword he charged forward with a heavy lunge and shot the blade outwards to attempt to impale Rasu on it.

 

[Rasu Gan]

Rasu watched, emotionless as the woman collapsed, her flickering blue form lay still until the video was cut short. While Rasu had not the time to mourn the lives lost on Korriban, the Shi'ido knew that one way or another, she would avenge the needless deaths. She would strike not with anger or for vengeance but to rid the galaxy of another power-hungry warlord. Many a despot had fallen to the Jedi and this creature of the dark-side would be no different. Swinging her saber in hand, Rasu grimaced as she addressed the armored abomination.

"Do you hope to force a reaction out of me Dredge? Do you wish to tempt me into darkness? I am a Jedi and I have faced far more powerful than you. You may appear fearsome through your exterior but you will turn out exactly like the other warlord that shared your name." As she spoke, Rasu reacted to the tingle down her spine, her connection to the Force alerting her to the danger that approached. Acting in this feeling, Rasu leaped backwards, bringing her second weapon into her hand as the monster of a sword stabbed the space she had only just inhabited.

"I will end you here." she proclaimed, bounding forward as she landed, swinging her weapon at his neck and waist, intending to find an opening in the creatures armor. This would be over before it had even begun.

[member="Dredge"]