laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Slowly rising from the incense holder, thin wisps of smoke filled the air with a fragrant, sweet smell as Agata sat, crosslegged on the large carpet and meditated. Facing the wide transparisteel doors, sunlight spilled through and highlighted her smooth face. Hungrily taking in all she could grab from the Force, energy filled her very being with power. Opening, her blue eyes peered out across the rooftops and long wispy clouds slowly hovering above.

"You know in time you will become a full-fledged witch, taking my place in this galaxy," Maelona's quiet voice cut into the silence from her left. Agata turned to see her master sitting on the long, blue velvet couch and staring into her eyes coldly. She knew that was the normal order of things but, was in no hurry to assume that place. "I won't be giving that mantle to a weak plaything for them to corrupt and manipulate. If you can't fill this role then I won't hesitate to find someone that will."

She nodded.

"What does that mean?"

"I understand, mother."

"Which part," Maelona leaned forward, dark eyes glaring. "That you will try to take it from me one day or that I won't hesitate to kill you if you prove useless to my goals?"

"Both."

The thin line arced upwards into her pale cheek. "Good. I'll hold you to your word. This is the only reason that I've poured so much time and effort into you all these years. You still have a long way to go before any of the sisters will call you their equal but, if you hold to all that you've been taught, you'll take the robes of an elder one day."

Agata spun, facing her master more squarely. "Why are you bringing this up now, master?"

Maelona straightened, then stood. "The Force will free us."

Staring at her master in interest, she watched as the older witch turned and headed towards the front door. "Get our things. It's time that we leave here."

"Yes, ma'am."

Rushing, she gathered their packs and jogged down the long, empty hallway to the turbolift and inside. Oddly quiet, her mother stared ahead as if watching unseen events play out, obscured by sight and thought. Agata remained calm knowing that she would react to whatever needed to be done, still curious about their conversation. A war had been brewing in the galaxy and came to a head when the dark lord announced his intentions on Coruscant, killing many in the senate building. His brazen act sparked battles across their empire and she had no idea of all the politics involved. It really didn't matter.

Opening, the large doors parted to allow the two females to exit and head out to the awaiting speeder, now without a driver. Once Maelona was in, her student hopped into the driver's seat and started the vehicle. Humming, she hit the gear into 'D'rive and sped around the circle drive, passing tall manicured trees and flowers to enter the main street. "Where are we headed, mother?" she asked, gazing up into the rear view mirror.

"The starport."

Nodding, she soon realized why as fiery lines creased the blue sky, exploding into buildings around the city. Many ran from their temporary homes, fighting over vehicles while others looked upward to the battle now engaged in the ionosphere. Dodging pedestrian and repulsorlift alike, Agata sped to the wide entrance of the starport, cruising through the narrow, covered tunnel that led to the tarmac beyond, passing the empty security station as shuttles landed. Hitting the brakes at the low wall, she jumped out and grabbed their gear as Maelona calmly strode through the growing crowd towards troops in blue uniforms as they leveled their weapons and began firing into the growing crowd of Sith. Lightsabers erupted, deflecting bolts as chaos ensued around them. Explosions of fire and black smoke engulfed many as others flew backwards and disappeared into their comrades. Agata drew her sword as Maelona grabbed her arm.

"Head to that shuttle, now. Remember all that I've taught you," dark eyes now softened, then glowed with determination as the young face gazed back into her mother's face.

"If you're staying..."

"You'll do what I told you to do! Move!" Maelona stressed as she drew her sword and turned to face another woman in brown robes who strode confidently to them, igniting her lightsaber. Agata stood for what seemed like hours as they began fighting, surprising the young acolyte with the speed of their combat. Sighing, she sprinted to the nearest craft, protected by a flanking unit of troops in blue and black, firing into dark jedi and trainee alike, dropping many as fighters thundered overhead, strafing escaping ships who fired in return. The cacophony of blasterfire, screams of they dying and defiant, she charged the crowd around the awaiting shuttle until an explosion erupted, showering her with debris and remains as she ducked reflexively, then jumped back up and kept running through the thinning smoke until reaching the open rampway. Hitting the button, she ran down the main hallway to the cockpit, passing a fallen pilot until entering the cockpit. In the pilot's seat, a frightened, uniformed man sat, turning to her.

"I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't know what else to do."

Pointing her sword at him, she sat in the copilot seat. "I don't want to hear it. Get us out of here."

Brown eyes just stared dumbly at the point of her sword, tapping his neck.

"Now!"

"Yes, ma'am." Spurred into action, he hit several buttons and drew back on the trio of levers. Rising into the sky, she turned back and down to the growing crowd around the lone figure in black, cutting and blocking as the enemy swarmed the witch. She should've disobeyed and stayed with her, Agata thought as the scene disappeared as the shuttle sped through the combat and out into space where the maelstrom of green and red bolts lit up the darkness of space around them. She sat quietly, sighing and regretting leaving her master alone as moments passed until they soon docked within a large, rectangular hangar alongside three other shuttles. As it set down, she noted groups disembarking and being met by soldiers in chrome-like armor who held their rifles warily. Standing, she grabbed the two large packs and shouldered them as she walked back towards the gangway, hitting the button to lower the ramp as the pilot quietly waited.

Cool air assaulted her face as she walked down the ramp and out towards the growing crowd of displaced and confused masters, dark jedi and their students. Several grouped those wounded and laid them on the cold grey, metal floor as they began diagnosing treatments and wrapped burns.

"Everyone form a line," the metallic, muffled voice stated from their left as she turned to notice the blank, shiny faceplate reflecting the myriad of faces eyeing him. "We need to confirm everyone's identity so be patient."

She watched as they interviewed each new arrival quickly, noting answers in their pocket computers and slowly moved towards them, wondering why they were so curious about their own allies. The guards kept everyone in sight as the sergeant gazed up to a quartet as they stepped up. Suddenly, lightsabers erupted from their hands as the three men and woman began cutting the guards down. Instinctively, she drew her sword and dropped the bags and attacked. Feinting, she blocked the blue blade as it swung backwards. Parrying, she waited for the right moment, then struck stabbing then cutting as she ran passed the first to attack the second. Within moments, all four lay on the hangar floor, victims of the crowd of dark jedi, red blades humming in victory. Turning, she headed back to her gear and gathered it and turned back to a new group of soldiers as the first five were dragged away.

"Who is your master," the sergeant asked.

"Maelona, a Sith witch of the Pachmari," she informed unemotionally, still feeling the adrenaline from her first combat with real jedi and angrily wishing there were more to take out her frustrations on. She waited until he nodded and motioned to his right where another group of acolytes waited. Moving to them, she set her gear down and sat. Drawing out her dagger and mirror, she made her first two marks on her forehead. Lines perpindicular to her nose, she quietly endured the pain as blood flowed down and from the corners of both eyes. Career begun.