Sandstorm

Author: Pilgrim
Title: Sandstorm
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Star Wars characters or movies (unfortunately) and am not making any money from this (even bigger unfortunately)
Feedback: Please! First time fan fiction writer and desperate for tips, tricks, advice, stuff me full of info please! I want to improve and take over the world with my genius mwhahaha! Lol, only kidding but feedback would be fantastic, send it to raukarwen_deomene@yahoo.com!

Chapter 17

“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to come.” Arsha accused poisonously as Ferlo stepped into the cell area. He shot her a glare before typing in the code and tossing her lightsaber hilt towards her. She caught it easily.

“You should have been more careful. It is lucky for you that your allies are in high places and willing to pay any price for your safe return. I’m risking my position here to spare your miserable existence,” Ferlo sniped, scowling as she stretched lazily and slipped out of the cell. “There’s a transport waiting for you at the Jedi port, disguised as a delivery ship. Hurry while the area is quiet and at least try to avoid detection this time.” Ferlo sniped cruelly. Arsha glowered at him, ducked through the door, and entered once again into the minefields of the Jedi Temple corridors.

After several wary minutes of trekking and back-trekking through the corridors the tempting glow of the outdoors appeared at the end of the marathon. She slowed her steps and approached the open area with caution, there was only one Jedi between her and her freedom and the stance was all too familiar. Raudo watched as she stepped free from the shadows and into the open courtyard, a cruel smile on her face. She stalked forwards with a stride identical to a predator intent on nothing but destroying its’ prey. “I knew you would escape, just as I knew the Council would be too slow in their extermination of you. You’re nothing more than vermin, a scourge on life itself.” Arsha preened as if it was a compliment and drew her lightsaber hilt. She tossed the metal sheath between her palms lightly, her eyes lazily following the glinting metal.

“We both know that the only way this debt would be settled would be with the death of one or the other.” Arsha chided almost gleefully, her eyes trailing up to meet his and a smirk resting on her lips. A united hum echoed around the hall as they ignited their lightsabers simultaneously.

:/

Obi-Wan paced his rooms, furious enough in his stride that Anakin was beginning to fear he would wear through the floor itself. “Master, no one was to know,”

“I should have known though. It should have been obvious to me right from the beginning with the murder of that man. I should have realised, should have trusted my instincts. All for a sob story and belief in people being good and just, no one knows her true reason for being here. Force knows who she was working for and what damage she could have inflicted. She has no remorse Anakin because she sees herself as justified.” Obi-Wan proclaimed, becoming more and more irate as he berated his entire existence. Anakin sighed wearily and adopted a more serious attitude.

“Master, she came here and there has been no obvious destruction of any kind,” Anakin began only to be interrupted as Obi-Wan stormed out of the room. He swiftly followed, already knowing where Obi-Wan was heading and determined to hear for himself any answers he got out of Arsha. The panic that set in when they discovered the empty cell soon spread throughout the entire Temple.

:/

Raudo stumbled and almost fell, catching himself at the last instance and blocking a vicious downwards swing. He failed to block it completely as his strength began to fail him and the stench of burning flesh rose heavily between them as the tip of her lightsaber sliced into his upper thigh. Arsha pulled away rapidly and paused; she had failed to break a sweat throughout as the Jedi lay on the floor before her. His chest was heaving with exertion and exhaustion. They had been duelling for almost fifteen minutes and he had not even managed to produce a single attack sequence.

“Come on Raudo, this is truly pathetic. You’re almost as bad as your Master. Don’t you remember? How I came in and took his life in one swing, you silent and wide-eyed. Such a good Padawan weren’t you. You didn’t even attempt to defend or help him; you just sat there silent and disbelieving as I left. You were pathetic then and even more so now.” Arsha cruelly intoned, a mocking grimace on her face as she stared down at him. Raudo shook his head but there was no fight left in him physically or mentally. He had failed, he could not avenge his Master’s death against this foul creature. If he could not then his life was not worth living.

“Arsha!” The sharp cry startled her and she glanced back at Obi-Wan.

“Come for the show? I was wondering when you would pop up... and look! You brought your Padawan! Aren’t you sweet, letting him see how a duel should really be fought.” Arsha sneered, her eyes flicking between the pair.

“Arsha leave him. There is no glory in destroying him.” Obi-Wan pleaded, she turned her penetrating emerald gaze back to Raudo.

“Who said this had anything to do with glory?” She whispered before spinning her lightsaber and sinking it into the fallen Jedi’s spine. “Who said any of this had anything to do with glory!” Her voice raised as she rounded on Obi-Wan.

“I just assumed…” Obi-Wan stuttered.

“You assume too much. Tell me Anakin, have you ever seen a man killed just by a single cut to his skin?” Arsha whispered, her gaze latched onto the young man’s and held it tighter than a vice. “I can do that. A single scratch is an opening to the very soul of a person. You send a tendril…”

“Do NOT speak to him!” Obi-Wan shouted fighting down his anger. Arsha flicked her eyes to the older and she smiled faintly at his protectiveness.

“Ever seen a Jedi duel an exiled Jedi. One that isn’t confined to rules and regulations,” Arsha whispered but her eyes were now locked onto Obi-Wan’s. A challenging glitter to them, “It would do me great honour to show you the strength that could be wielded if you would just abandon your scruples.” Arsha murmured studying Obi-Wan’s reaction, enjoying the battle that was raging beneath his beautiful blue eyes. Anger and patience combined and fighting for dominance, “Come on Obi-Wan, you know that you want to. Let it go.” She purred, spreading her arms in an open challenge. A mockery of his control and his patience, of everything that he stood for and everything that he believed in. He drew his lightsaber instantly and lunged forwards.

Arsha side-stepped his attack smartly, a pleased grin on her face. “Finally, some fire and passion! I was beginning to think that you didn’t have it in you.” She chided with amusement. Obi-Wan grasped his lightsaber with both hands and swung for her legs only to find his attack blocked again and again by almost lazy swings of her lightsaber. It seemed to flow with her, more as an extension of her rather than an object which she could utilise. Each blow fizzed and crackled against hers, he leapt from style to style but there was no weakness in her defence, it was flawless. She moved as easily if it was a stroll in the gardens and he was just playing with butterflies. Arsha grew bored of being so pleasant and delicate and swiftly turned the tables. She swung broadly for his left, flicking the light saber at the last instance to graze his right hip. She missed deliberately by millimetres and brought it back up to graze across his shoulder.

Obi-Wan gasped as the lightsaber burned his skin and leapt backwards, but Arsha followed without hesitation clipping his right wrist neatly. He skipped backwards over Raudo’s body and blocked an upward swing only to find himself leaping to another defence as Arsha jumped clear over his head forcing him to roll or lose his head. How she moved so fast Obi-Wan didn’t know but she was battering his lightsaber ruthlessly as he wriggled on the floor and attempted to find enough room to stand once more.

A pair of boots appearing next to his ear startled him as Anakin blocked what would have been a killing blow from Arsha. She paused surprised that the boy had interfered and Anakin took the opportunity striking her thigh forcefully. Arsha yelped and jumped away but there was a broad smile spreading over her lips as she regarded him. “Good boy,” she whispered and launched her counter-attack instantly. Anakin gritted his teeth startled, not only at the ferocity and speed, but the strength behind each blow as it thundered down onto his lightsaber. His eyes flicked back to where Obi-Wan was scrambling to his feet and heading over while attempting to regain his breath.

Obi-Wan leapt towards her only for Arsha to kick Anakin in the stomach and spin catching his lightsaber against her own with a triumphant and delighted smile. She knocked him back and blocked Anakin’s swing before ducking Obi-Wan’s. Anakin swung to where she should have been on the floor only to watch her roll away and rise alongside Obi-Wan. Her lightsaber scratched through his clothing and seared his skin, not close enough to make it heal instantly but to leave an open bleeding wound. She jumped backwards as Obi-Wan and Anakin both attacked her front, united they were challenging but she had one last trick up her sleeve.

Her fingers ran along the hilt of her lightsaber till they rested over a pressure pad, instantly a second blade burst out of the opposite end of the hilt. Master and Padawan paused and watched her suspiciously; Arsha gave an amused chuckle and spun the deadly dual blade with the same arrogance as Darth Maul. “I hope you are not too fond of your Master, Anakin.” Arsha whispered as she sent forth a tendril of the Force, Obi-wan gasped as he felt the presence ricochet through his being. Anakin froze and stared at his Master in fear; he could feel the Force but didn’t know what it was doing. Arsha turned the tendril towards the glimmering source of Obi-Wan’s soul and brushed against it mockingly. The Jedi gasped and seemed to convulse, his lightsaber falling from his fingertips as Arsha closed the Force about his essence and tightened her grip ready to pull it free from his mortal frame.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey all. I no longer have a beta as I have been at odds with the new one for a while. We decided to walk different paths so as not to come to any more disagreements and I wish her the best of luck with her stories and beta'ing.

Ok, I have exams coming up so I won't be updating for a fortnight so you'll have to cope with the cliffhangar till the 18th May roughly. Sorry about that, sure you'll cope though :p

Thanks and hope you continue to enjoy it,

Pilgrim x x x