| Argyyle sat in the �practice� area of his fathers ship. It was a great deal more cramped than he was used to, but it would do. He ordered Tin Can to gradually increase the difficulty as time passed, then knelt on the floor. Talon and Retribution were on the floor to either side of him, shorter blade on the left, longer to the right. Argyyle breathed slowly in, filling his lungs and below with air. He didn�t close his eyes; rather he had Tin Can deactivate the lights. In�. Out�. In�. Out. Argyyle metered his breathing carefully, descending into himself. He wrapped himself in the force, tasting the Dark Side. It had been far too long since he had touched his core. Caressing the Force, Seducing it, Argyyle began to unlock his secret hatred. He saw the crumbled ruins of his father and Ulic. Argyyle flared with power, a vortex surrounding him as his mistress showed him her secrets. Yes� he saw it now. Tin can activated the probe droids, sending them circling around Argyyle. He loved shooting at his master. It was fun. Continuing his courtship of the Dark Side, He let himself fill with the force. In return, She warned him of the attack, letting him lift his blades to parry the weak blasts. He did not feel faster, but the bolts were as feathers falling. Slow. Languid. Easy to see in his mind. His left hand activated the recently modified ATB (the data pad Dan had given him had instructed him on how to modify the blade�s activation switches. There was now one inset button to activate both functions.) and came across Argyles stomach, sending the bolt spattering into the wall. His right hand came up and across to his left, sending that bolt into the ceiling. Argyyle seemed to flow from his kneeling position to a combat ready stance, Retribution held in a reverse grip, her point towards his elbow. His left arm tucked across his body. His right arm crossed over his left, Talon held in a one handed grip, hand flush with the end of the grip closest to the blade. Argyyle began to dance with his Mistress, deflecting the ever-increasing number of blaster bolts with Her guidance. Tin Can beeped and blurped in frustration; unable to hit the one he called Master. Without warning, in a single movement, all six of the probe droids dropped to the ground spitting sparks. Argyyle, breathing heavily, knelt on his left knee, both blades held out. His spin had shredded all of the droids in a single movement so fast even Tin Can�s sensitive sensors had not been able to track it. Slowly, the Dark Side relinquished her hold on him. Argyyle�s body, a fragile vessel at best, was barely large enough to contain his rage. He spun both blades, deactivating the ATB, and slammed them into the floor, burying them there. He exited the room trembling. Standing in the shower unit, sonic waves sluicing the grime from his body, Argyyle chanted his mantra. There is no peace, there is anger There is no fear, there is power There is no death, there is immortality There is no weakness, there is the Dark Side I am the Heart of Darkness. Over and over he chanted, and slowly the trembling ceased. Exhausted and barely able to move, Argyyle made his way to his bed. As he collapsed the image that filled his mind was that of his sister as he had first seen her upon his return from the wilderness. |
| Dance With Me, Oh Mistress Mine |