The Clone Wars

by Lou Anders

  I thought to ask Savage but guessed he would not know, either, since he had been gone, traveling the galaxy looking for me.

  “I have missed so much,” I said, thinking not just of my home planet but the larger galaxy. Now that my sanity was restored, my Sith sensibilities were coming back. “The Force feels out of balance.”

  “Yes,” Savage agreed. “There is conflict: the Clone Wars.”

  Ah, the Clone Wars. “So it began without me?”

  Savage stepped to my side. “You can begin again, Brother,” he said, his voice ever encouraging. He held out his hand, palm up. He held something there, something familiar. My old weapon. My lightsaber.

  I reached toward it, holding my hand just above it. I let the Force move through me and for a moment I feared it would not work, but then the lightsaber rose on its own and came to my hand. The familiar sound of metal smacking against my flesh felt like another piece of my life being restored.

  I looked at the lightsaber in my hand, remembering. “I had once been meant for greatness, set on a path to a glorious destiny. But I was robbed of that destiny by the Jedi, by Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

  “Then you must have your revenge, my brother,” Savage said.

  “Yes,” I growled, eyes narrowing as I looked across the plains, across my planet, and toward the place in the future where I would find Kenobi. “We shall start with revenge.”

  Savage looked to me, a lopsided grin on his face. I returned his smile. We understood each other, and I had a plan.

  “Brother?” Savage asked. “What are we doing here?”

  “Here” was a planet on the Outer Rim called Raydonia. As I guided our ship across its surface, I admired the landscape. Green and pink blossoms from some flowering plant swayed in the breeze, glowing in the morning light. Footpaths cut through the fields where men and women worked. There was a village below us. It looked peaceful, full of innocents who were living their lives in blissful ignorance. That was why I had chosen it.

  I landed our ship, the same one my brother had stolen to get to Lotho Minor, in a clearing. The ship had been a supply ship, and I could see from the eager faces of the children running down the road to greet us that they still thought it was—which made my plan even easier.

  “In a galaxy at war,” I explained to my brother as we walked to the door, “there is only one way to get the attention of the Jedi: the slaughter of innocents, mercilessly and without compromise.”

  I pressed the button that slid the door open. The landing ramp descended. There before us were a dozen children, maybe more. They giggled and smiled, excited to see what we had brought them. But we had brought only death.

  I ignited my lightsaber and stepped forward, my brother at my side.

  Now, I know this part of my story must be difficult for you to hear, my friend. Death is never easy, but sometimes it is necessary for the innocent to be sacrificed.

  I will not lie to you like the Jedi would. Many died by my hand that day. Many children among them, just like yourself.

  Does that scare you? Disturb you? I understand. But do not blame me! This was all Kenobi’s fault. It was he who put me on this path, he who made me do it, and he whom I hoped would receive my message loud and clear.

  Once we had raided the village, I had Savage line up some farmers. They were terrified and did as he commanded.

  “Set the hologram to record,” I instructed him.

  He did, and I began my message to Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council.

  “There will be more innocent blood on your hands, Kenobi,” I said as I stalked menacingly back and forth in front of the frightened farmers. “Unless you come here. Face me. Come alone. And if you do not”—I ignited my lightsaber and struck the farmers down—“this world will burn.”

  I imagine what it must have been like for Kenobi and the rest of the Jedi to receive my message. Before the moment when they saw my face, recognized my cruelty, they thought I was dead. Oh, how their expressions must have fallen, their eyes widened in shock. I would not be surprised if some of them wept.

  I did wonder if I had been too obvious and they could see that my plan was clearly a trap. Even a Jedi would know that if he came alone, I would have the advantage. But trust a Jedi to try to do the right thing. Whatever was said in that meeting, it worked. Obi-Wan Kenobi came to Raydonia alone to try to stop the slaughter of innocents, and I was there waiting for him.

  I watched Kenobi approach. He walked down the streets of the town that Savage and I had burned, past ruined droids and dead bodies. Smoke hung in the air from the fires we had set, and the city center was ablaze with red and yellow flames.

  He had come alone, just as I instructed him to. Fool! But that would make my revenge all the more satisfying.

  Once he was close enough, I revealed myself, stepping from the shadows to be framed by the blazing fire at my back.

  “Jedi!” I called, my voice hoarse with rage. “I have been waiting for you.”

  He looked up to the roof where I was standing, his eyes narrowing.

  “I’m not sure I’ve made your acquaintance,” he said, and my heart almost burst. He was so calm, so glib—whereas I had been obsessed with him for years. I even knew his name when I did not know my own. But I kept my outrage hidden, for now.

  “I am surprised you could have forgotten me so easily,” I said, some of my anger showing in my voice despite my effort to conceal it, “after I killed your master and you left me for dead on Naboo.” Surely he would remember that!

  His mouth turned down in a frown and his blue eyes grew hard. “It is you,” he whispered, but I heard him.

  “You may have forgotten me,” I growled, “but I will never forget you.” And then all the fury I had been trying to hold back came pouring out in my words.

  “You cannot imagine the depths I would go to to stay alive, fueled by my singular hatred for you!” I exclaimed.

  “That may be so,” Kenobi said. He pulled his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. The blue light glowed brightly. “But I defeated you before and can defeat you again.”

  Oh, the arrogance of the Jedi! Dear child, when I tell you they have no humility, believe me. He who had caused me so much pain stood before me and told me that he would do it all over again.

  I laughed, a bitter sound even to my own ears. “Don’t be so certain,” I warned him.

  That was the signal for my brother to drop from his hiding place and take his position behind Kenobi. Savage landed lightly on his feet, drawing his lightsaber, ready to join me in battling the treacherous Jedi.

  Kenobi turned to face Savage, and I watched them battle. Kenobi slashed at my brother, but Savage countered his attack easily. They clashed again, lightsabers sizzling where they engaged, but the Jedi was no match for my brother. Savage saw an opening and moved forward. Spinning, he struck Kenobi with a vicious forearm across the face Kenobi went down with a grunt, lightsaber flying from his hand. He lay stunned for a moment.

  I reached out my hand and called on the Force. Kenobi’s lightsaber came to me obediently. I held it up in victory, and then I used the Force to toss Kenobi into the air. He sailed toward Savage, who landed him a blow across the cheek. And down the Jedi went with an “Oof!”

  But he would not give up. I must say I admire this about the Jedi. They are not easy to defeat. Kenobi stumbled to his feet, ready to continue the battle, but Savage was waiting. He punched him square in the jaw and, finally, the Jedi fell to the ground senseless.

  I stood over Kenobi, happy to see him so easily beaten, but I was not done. There was no satisfaction in defeating him so quickly. I wanted him to suffer as I had suffered. It was only fair.

  I nodded to Savage. He knew what to do. He picked up Kenobi like a bag of grain and, carrying him over one shoulder, hauled him back to our cargo ship. There we would have the privacy and the means to exact my painful revenge. Oh, yes, I was just getting started.

  What I did not know, child, was that already outside forces were mov
ing against me. Kenobi was not without allies. In fact, someone who should have been on my side, who should have been happy to see a Jedi fail, was at that very moment speeding toward us, about to ruin all my plans.

  Back on our ship, I watched as Savage threw Kenobi across the cargo bay. He landed in a pile of boxes that crashed to pieces on impact. Savage dragged the Jedi to his feet to make him face me. I drew back my hand and slapped Kenobi across the cheek, disgusted.

  “Still as weak as ever,” I said, taunting him. “And they call you ‘Master.’” With a growl, Savage tossed him away, and Kenobi went skidding across the deck.

  Once again, the Jedi pulled himself to his feet, out of breath and bruised from all the blows my brother and I had dealt him. “You know,” he said, hands resting on his knees, “when I cut you in half, I should have aimed for your neck instead.”

  Insolence! What did I tell you about these Jedi? No remorse for what he had done to me.

  I nodded to Savage to go to the cockpit and start the engines. Savage did as I asked, and soon enough, I could hear the grumble of the engines firing. The ship began to lift.

  I approached Kenobi.

  “Anything more to say?” I asked.

  “I like your new legs,” he said. “They make you look taller.”

  Oh, how I wished to crush him then and there. But I had waited too long for my revenge to let his cruel words push me into action before I was ready.

  I used the Force to pull him toward me, my fingers wrapping around his neck. He choked, and I leaned in close, igniting my lightsaber and holding it to his throat.

  “I will make sure you stay awake long enough to feel every single cut,” I whispered, my face centimeters from his. I could see his eyes clearly now. Defiant, hard. Well, I would break that defiance before I was done. “Your death will be beyond excruciating. You will suffer as I have suffered.”

  The sound of doors opening drew my attention away, but it was only my brother returning from the cockpit. I relaxed, and then a voice came out of the darkness.

  “What a surprise.”

  I turned, startled. Someone else was on the ship! I peered into the shadows near the ceiling where the voice had come from. I couldn’t see very much. A pale face, dark clothing. But I knew it was a woman, and she greeted Savage.

  “My former servant,” she said to him, “still an animal.” Her eyes turned to me. “And you have a friend now.”

  “My brother,” Savage grunted.

  “A brother?” the woman said, her voice high with false delight. Her dark eyes took me in. “Looks like he’s half the man you are, Savage,” she taunted. “How unfortunate. I was looking for a challenge. Not some wretched castoffs from the Nightbrothers clan. What a disappointment.” She laughed and sank back into the shadows.

  “Who is this, Brother?” I asked. I let Kenobi fall senseless to the ground and moved closer to Savage, my eyes scanning the darkness to see where the woman had gone.

  “A Dathomir witch named Ventress,” he explained, voice low with anger. “She betrayed me.”

  “She knows too much,” I said. I couldn’t see her anywhere, but I knew she had to still be on the ship. She should not be too difficult to find.

  “Destroy her.”

  We split up to search for the witch. I sent Savage up to the rafters where we had seen her, and I searched the rest of the ship. Finding nothing, I circled back around to hide among the boxes and cargo in the hold. Soon enough I heard voices. I returned quietly to see what could be seen.

  The Dathomir witch was there with Kenobi, helping him to his feet. I ignited my lightsaber and moved closer, listening to their conversation. It sounded like they had once been enemies, were enemies still, and yet she was going to help him. Oh, the betrayal. I did not know this Ventress, it is true, but she was from Dathomir, same as I, and she served the dark side, same as I. And yet here she was, helping my mortal enemy.

  Savage’s voice echoed down from above us.

  “The witch and the Jedi!” he exclaimed, sounding as disgusted as I felt.

  “Here for our taking,” I said, stepping from the shadows and making myself known.

  The witch Ventress had two lightsabers, and she handed one to Kenobi. They took fighting stances, back to back. Savage dropped to the ground to face Ventress, and I faced Kenobi. And we fought.

  The battle was swift and violent. Saber against saber. Thrust and counter. Each of us a warrior, gaining the advantage and then losing it, only to gain it again. But as the battle went on, it became clear that I needed to do something to force the Jedi to make a mistake.

  Finally, I cornered Kenobi. He looked around, eyes desperate. There was only one way to go. He leapt straight up into the air and landed on the balcony above us. I followed, and we engaged again, pitting lightsaber against lightsaber. I knew I needed an advantage, just the tiniest crack in Kenobi’s defense, so I thought of what I could say that would provoke him the most.

  “Your master, Qui-Gon Jinn,” I growled as we crossed sabers. “I gutted him while you stood helpless and watched. How did that make you feel, Obi-Wan?”

  I knew I had him when his eyes narrowed in anger and he shoved me away, screaming. He attacked me furiously, saber flying. At first, I fell back under his powerful onslaught. His strokes were wild and uncontrolled. He struck the sides of the ship around us, sending sparks raining down everywhere. I parried and pushed back, and when I saw an opening, I kicked out, landing a solid blow to his chest. He went hurtling back with a cry to collapse on the floor. He looked up at me, his eyes lost and desperate. I almost felt pity for him. Almost.

  “Your rage has unbalanced you,” I told him. I did not tell him that had been my plan all along. “That is not the Jedi way, is it?” My voice was silky smooth, mocking. I wanted to see what he would do.

  He climbed to his feet and we continued our battle. But I was right; he was unbalanced now. I quickly had him on the ground again, but he got up and fought back. He swung wildly at me and missed. His momentum sent him stumbling toward the balcony’s ledge. His back was toward me, so I kicked him over the edge. He dropped to the ground below, frustratingly graceful, even managing to land on his feet next to Ventress.

  I had not seen my brother’s battle with the witch, but clearly they had fought to a standstill, as well. Savage stood a handful of paces away, saber ready, watching.

  “We’re outmatched,” I heard Kenobi say. I allowed myself a small smile of satisfaction. I couldn’t hear Ventress’s response and what Kenobi said after that, but then I heard the witch say one word loud and clear: “Cockpit?”

  I knew the cockpit served as an escape shuttle for emergencies.

  They were going to run! The cowards!

  With a growl I launched myself from the balcony, somersaulting down, my lightsaber at the ready to cut off their escape. Ventress attacked, and I countered. We traded blows, and while I was stronger, she was swifter and able to avoid my powerful strikes. She was good, this Dathomir witch. Whoever had trained her had done well.

  I heard a shout. Kenobi had outmaneuvered Savage and had the cockpit doors open.

  “Come on!” he shouted to Ventress. She leapt in the air and kicked me in the face as she launched herself across the cargo hold. I stumbled back. She did a backflip across the room toward Kenobi. Savage tried to hit her, but she was out of reach and moving too quickly. He missed.

  Ventress landed next to Kenobi. She flung her hands forward, striking out with the Force. Power hit Savage in the chest and he was hurled across the room. But I had anticipated her move. I leapt over Savage’s body, somersaulting forward, but she had already retreated into the cockpit and slammed the door shut.

  I thrust my lightsaber through the door. It pierced the metal and I dragged it down, melting the barrier as I went.

  “Hurry, Kenobi,” I heard her urge the Jedi.

  Savage joined me, sinking his lightsaber into the opposite side of the door. We carved through the metal, slowly but surely. Only a fe
w more moments and we’d be inside, and our enemies would have nowhere to run.

  The ship shuddered as the cockpit capsule disengaged from the front of the ship. No! We had been too slow.

  Space rushed into the suddenly empty area, creating a vacuum. Cargo boxes flew at us, missing by centimeters to hurl into the icy darkness beyond the door. I hit the emergency energy barrier to shut off the opening and return atmosphere to what was left of the ship.

  Savage bent over, hands on his knees, heaving for air. Once he had recovered we both looked out across the energy field, tracking the cockpit escape capsule as it disappeared into the distance.

  It would be a lie to say that I did not feel a degree of disappointment. It was like the raw gnawing in my belly when I could find nothing but trash and the smallest of rats to eat for weeks and weeks when I was on Lotho Minor. But even that sour feeling was not enough to discourage me.

  “What now, Brother?” Savage asked. “Do we go after them?”

  “No,” I said calmly. “We will be patient, Savage.” I knew he likely did not understand my reluctance to give chase to my enemy, so I tried to explain. “I’ve waited so many years for my revenge. I can wait a little longer.”

  “But the Jedi will know that you have survived,” he protested. “They will be coming for us.”

  And this is where my brother and I differ. I allowed myself a crooked smile, let my golden eyes shine bright with anticipation. The Jedi would come for us because they were foolish and predictable, and inevitably, they and Kenobi would fall into my trap. Let them come…and let them all die.

  “I am counting on it,” I said to Savage.

  Ah, dear child, you probably have questions. Perhaps you, too, wonder why I let Kenobi go. Why I did not pursue him and the traitor Ventress. Why, if I was so obsessed with my revenge, I did not strike him down at the first opportunity.