“Here Sith, Sith. Where are youuuu?”

A gang of Weequay pirates stalked through the thick underbrush of their hunting grounds. It was a rather sizeable locale, a forest perfect for the small excursions they so enjoyed for sport. Evidently they needed the practice. They’d foregone the position of hunter as soon as Kul had broken free of his restraints. Now, *he* was the hunter. As it should be. These pirates lacked any sort of bond with the flow of nature around them while Kul relished its touch. He could feel the life of the forest as it exhaled around him. The very trap the pirates had fashioned for their victims would become their graves.

The group of Weequay consisted of six pirates, equipped especially for dealing with the Sith. Thick, plated armor protected them from his ryyk blades, the only weapons they'd allowed him once he'd managed to find the cache hidden away. He grinned at their casual confidence in their toys. A Sith did not need physical weapons when their very bodies were forged to destroy. The Zabrak’s tribal upbringing just further ensured his survivability.

Unaware they were the one’s being followed, the pirates began to break off in pairs with a signal from the leading Weequay in the hopes of surrounding where they thought their prey had fled. It had been a simple matter to activate his Force cloak and ply their strategy with his own. Kul began to slightly quicken his pace, cloaking again and heading towards the left flank of the group. This pair were packing some heat with DLT-20a rifles slung in front of each, primed and ready.

“See anything, Squat’ch,” the smaller asked petulantly. His partner, maintaining an air of confidence in front of his inexperienced comrade, gave a huff.

“Nah. Reckon he won’t show face with all of us ag’in em. The Sith caw loud, but are yella-bellied in the real deal.”

The younger gazed back in awe.

“Ya mean you’ve fought a real Sith before?”

“Oh aye, Ric’k. Weren’t much offa bother, really. I even kept his shiny doodad laser sword for proof.”

He patted a silver cylinder swinging at his hip.

“That’s an armory saber. Only an acolyte wields such a blade. Hardly a challenge worth bragging over.”

Both Weequay swung their heads in unison trying to find the origin of the strange voice. It was heavy and gruff, the voice a mountain might possess. It gave an amused chuckle, causing them to turn yet again.

“It's ironic, I suppose. The moment you learn what a true Sith is...and it’s your last.”

Ric’k watched in abstract horror as a figure appeared seemingly out of nothing behind his companion. Before he could even consider placing his shaking finger on his trigger, Squat’ch’s head twisted at an unnatural angle before a sickening pop echoed through their small space of the forest. Both Weequay sunk to the ground, but only one still breathing.

The Zabrak's now visible eyes bored into the young pirate with a serious expression before suddenly breaking into a face so evil, Ric’k nearly lost his mind.

“Run little pirate. Your friends are next.”

Legs shaking, Ric’k pulled himself together enough to break into a sprint towards the other pairs while screaming at the top of his lungs. Kul flinched as the disturbance bothered the local fauna and he felt their shock. He inhaled deeply and raised his arms wide to the forest, imagining the ebb and flow passing through him.

“I feel your concern. Your hate of this desecration of your cycle. As apology, I offer you these as intruders as appeasement. Their flesh shall further sustain you.”

Lowering his arms, Kul reached out into the wilds and probed for whatever would respond. As flickers of life began to light up around him he began to laugh, exploding into joyous cackling. The exhilaration of power was overwhelming. He traced the flickers with his own consciousness.

“I am sorry, my friends, but I must show you the path to self preservation. It is against your natural instinct, but necessary for the cycle to continue unimpeded.”

He broke their will.

Ric’k slowed in his sprint as he caught the others, his chest heaving. They turned, having regrouped at a rally point some minutes ago. The leader, a burly pirate named Aganis, tapped his ear impatiently.

“Ric’k I tried contactin’ ya. Where’s yer ‘eadset? Oi. Where’s Squat’ch?” He grabbed the small Weequay in both hands and pulled him to his face. “Where’s my brother?”

Struggling to breathe correctly, Ric’k told them what had transpired. With eyes burning, Aganis dropped him and tore the scattergun from his back.

“That kriffin’ Sith! This was supposed to be an easy hunt for you newer lads. Looks like I underestimated this one, boys.”

A branch snapped behind them coming from the direction Ric’k had run and Kul emerged from the trees.

“You have no idea, pirate.”

The Weequays shuffled to arm themselves as Aganis lowered his scattergun

“Gimme one good reason why I shouldn't blast yer eyes out right here, Sith.”

Kul cocked his head slightly, genuinely confused.

“Besides the fact that you were here to kill me? I'd have to say that you should because now the forest is angry. And when the forest is angry, I can do my work.”

Aganis was the one confused now, but he waved a hand and the other pirates readied their weapons.

Kul closed his eyes.

Fingers stroked their triggers.

The forest exploded.

All manner of beasts leapt forth from the trees. Tooth, claw, and beak bore down on the pirates and they watched dumbstruck before opening fire. They put down beast after enraged beast, but the forest would inevitably win this battle of attrition. One by one the Weequay fell, Aganis and Ric’k becoming the last standing. Suddenly the host ceased their attack and fell back to sit and watch for Kul’s command.

The Zabrak approached the pair, who had lost all premise of getting out alive. He gripped Aganis by his thin neck and lifted him bodily off the ground.

“You know what your mistake was, pirate? Thinking a mere lot like yourselves could actually take on the Force. A Sith needs no weapon when the creatures of the world will serve me.” With that, he crushed the Weequay’s throat and dropped him before turning to Ric’k.

“Do you wish to live, little pirate?”

Unsure if this was a trick, he cautiously nodded his head. Kul responded in kind.

“Good. With the death of your friend here, the leadership over the rest of your gang will be open. You will step into that vacuum with my patronage.”

A look of hope passed over Ric’k’s face.

“But I warn you. You will instruct your operations as I see fit. For one, this forest shall return to the natural flow. Tear down the fences and other disrupting electronics. After that, contact me through this.”

The Zabrak handed Ric’k a small comlink, etched with what appeared to be a tower or a crown made of sharp curves. Kul began to vanish again, his cloak crawling over him as he slowed its coverage.

“I look forward to seeing your progress, little pirate.”

And with that, he vanished completely the only sound of his retreat the shaking of some branches as he passed under them. The creatures around him disappeared into the forest as well.

Ric’k glanced at the comlink and then at the carnage around him. Grimacing he stared into Aganis’ cold, empty stare.

“I never did like you anyway.”