As he drew a deep breath, the stink of the city filled his nostrils. The stench brought back a number of memories, many more painful than he liked to dwell on. As much as he disliked the place, his dreams kept bringing him back here for something.
The Sith couldn’t conjure a reason not to investigate these possible visions. Maybe they weren’t visions at all, but the possibility still gave him some dim, possibly misguided hope. There had to be a purpose to it all if he could just discover it.
It was true, he didn’t relish the opportunity to make contact with some of the seedier elements here. He might still find a few people to bolster Naga Sadow’s ranks. Whether they might be Force sensitives, a mercenary or two or just a potential Loyalist, he might be able to strengthen the Clan’s numbers as Kiriyu had when he saved him from this wretched urban sprawl.
When he stopped to think about it, the fight with the Dominion had the potential to turn south more easily than it seemed anybody was willing to admit. Even if he couldn’t accomplish something, the dangers of the city could also hold lessons. The late Atra had shown him that much on their wretched encounter.
As he walked the streets, his eyes actively surveying its inhabitants as they went about their business. The smell of speeder exhaust, sweat, pollution from factories and a smell that he could only identify as desperation served to remind him of how life had been here. Having grown up on a world so rife with beauty, this world seemed so squalid by comparison.
Even so, the Force pulsed in this place unlike Aeotheran. The vibrations were more erratic, more jumbled than the jungle-strewn world that had served as his home since his induction into the Clan. It was by comparison alien and uninviting. Tilting his head up, he took a moment to drink it all in as he attempted to find a calm center.
As he stood there, he heard the footsteps of pedestrians and the screech of speeder’s engines above. It felt like a torrent of noise, and in the Force he could feel a dull pain from the inhabitants, buffeting him like a desert breeze. The Battlemaster shook his head slightly, partially in sorrow of their condition and partially in disgust for their weakness or unwillingness to change their situation. He opened his eyes slightly, and let out a slow breath.
A gentle draft cut through the stifling environment, which acted a cool relief by comparison. The sensation was all too familiar. The Corellian did not bother to turn around, unclipping his larger lightsaber from his right side.
I would say fancy meeting you here, Tasha’vel. He projected his thoughts into the Force. We both know that it isn’t mere coincidence that you are here though, don’t we?
“You could start by telling me why you came back here, Ben. You have told me enough bad things about this city that I doubt this is for pleasure.” The Twi’lek called from behind him. Stahoes turned around slowly, a scowl on his face. His left eye was already glowing red, which Versea knew meant trouble.
“Oh come off, babe.” The word was punctuated by sarcasm. “If you wanted to know that why didn’t you just ask? At what point did you think skulking about would leave you undiscovered? What did you really hope to accomplish in following me? Did you expect me to be here engaging in secretive trysts with Hutts or something?”
His wife’s face was twisted in a mixture of disgust and hurt. “You keep becoming more distant as the days go on. You are always distracted. Is it so wrong if I want to discover why my partner is becoming cold to me?”
Bentre’s shoulders bobbed with silent chuckles at her plaintive inquiry. He ignited the lightsaber in his hand, bathing the street below in cool, blue light. Several of the passerby turned toward the noise, many backing away in anticipation of a fight. Stahoes shook his head left and right as he looked at her, a crooked smile contorting his face further. “Still you don’t answer the question. You avoid it and try to appeal for mercy from your situation. I really hoped you would be stronger than that.”
“Don’t make me use this.” His wife’s expression tightened into a calm visage as she activated her own weapon’s red beam, turning slightly sideways as she shifted her hands on the hilt. She raised the weapon in warning.
“We both know how these little encounters turn out nechaska. Just like in our personal affairs I always turn out on top. Bentre lifted his own weapon up as he clasped it in a tight grip, holding it forward intently. “Deactivate the weapon now.” His gaze turned stony as he spoke the words. “Don’t force me to scar your pretty face up.”
“I want to help my husband.” Her stance was unchanged as she spoke.
“Oh please,” the Sith stepped forward intently as he locked gazes with Tasha’vel, “I have given you an opportunity to help. You never know when to back down.” As he drew closer, the Twi’lek shifted her weight to her front foot. With a grunt, Stahoes swung his lightsaber sideways. The blades intersected as the former Obelisks’ weapons met. The Quaestor extended her open palm, driving the Dakhani Aedile back a step with a sharp impact through the Force. As the Sith planted his foot, surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly being replaced with a sly smile. “At least you still have some fight left in you.”
“I don’t want to have to fight you.”
“You should have thought about that before you ignited your weapon Haoy Versea,” the Ryl world was laced with derision. “You are still an Obelisk below the assertions to the contrary. We both know the call of battle still permeates your veins, your very being. So kindly shut it so we can finish this farce.”
“I am going to have to grind into the dirt then, Kairn’tel? Wasn’t it bad enough when I took a hand? You really aren’t going to back down?”
“*Ka.” He chuckled. “It is time to show you that your little Twi’leki politics have no real place in the galaxy at large. I am going to prove my worth as the true leader of our House.”
As Tasha’vel gawked at her husband, he extended a hand. After a moment, white ringlets arced from his fingers. The Mystic quickly brought her weapon up, catching the energy on her lightsaber, but she did not back down. Several of the onlookers scattered as the weapon flashed upon the impact. This fight was getting serious very quickly.