With every passing second of the battle, I understood one simple truth more clearly: the Force is only a tool. Jedi can humanize it a hundred times over, but right now I felt it, and poured my movements into its flow… And indeed, it was like a flowing river. If you move with the current, you gain "acceleration" — using Force‑sense, letting it "guide" you, you can stand on equal footing even with a master swordsman, as long as your body doesn't fail you. But if you move against the current — using the Dark Side — countless opportunities appear to catch those who drift along with it.
I could immobilize the Jedi in front of me with lightning at any moment, but that would break the fragile balance of the fight. Honestly, if I timed it right, I could even catch Windu and zap him from behind… well, at least try. But if I defeated them… history would change too drastically. Maybe if I captured them, Anakin would rescue them during transport, but that would depend entirely on whether Sidious wanted that or not. On the other hand, I couldn't lose here either.
Ideally, we would drive the Jedi off the planet, but Ventress — may she sneeze for a week — decided to plant explosives on their ship. What a devious woman. Naturally, I took all the credit, pretending I had planned everything in advance… showing off in front of the Jedi. Still, I had to think. The main thing was not to let them escape — if even one ran, I'd have to search the whole planet.
My thoughts were interrupted by the witch's cry. A quick glance at the rear‑view camera in my visor showed that my partner had taken a hit to the leg. Nothing fatal — she could walk — but she was limping, and against someone as experienced as Kit Fisto, that could be dangerous. I hadn't yet reached the healing ability Taales had in SWTOR (no idea how to even approach it), but I could still do something for her.
Throwing my opponent aside with all my strength, I rushed toward the Nautolan, who immediately took advantage of Ventress's weakness and began pressing her. A few powerful strikes forced him back, but that only put him beside my previous opponent, clearly intending to turn the duel into a two‑on‑two. The problem was that Sith traditionally struggled with teamwork, and our "pair" was no exception — especially with Ventress injured.
A few seconds later, Kem stood beside me. The fight with Windu hadn't been easy for him — his massive chest heaved under the armor, and scorch marks from the Jedi's blade were visible across the plates — but he had no wounds that hindered his deadly movements.
Rain lashed my face, turning the plain into a muddy swamp. Water hit my orange‑and‑black blade and evaporated instantly, as if unable to wash away the power hidden within it. Before us stood the Jedi — Kit Fisto with his green blade, Mace Windu with his purple one, and Rissa Mano, whose eyes burned with distrust. Three against three. Though in truth, two and a half against three…
Kem, standing to my left, finally caught his breath and checked his scorched but still deadly sword. No theatrics, no glowing flame — just an unknown alloy hardened in the blood of his enemies. Ventress, clutching her injured leg, cursed under her breath. Her twin sabers were ready, but the limp was obvious.
"So you came to protect the plant harvest on Hissrich. Do you even know that if this continues, the planet will die? Or do you not care?" asked the Jedi girl I had just fought.
"And you think your Republic will act differently if you take this planet back?" Ventress sneered. "You Jedi love talking about morality while your traitors fly away on the last ship…"
I didn't join their argument. Instead, I unconsciously shifted my stance — I felt something strange. During the fight, I had entered a state where the world around me felt sharp and clear, as did all living beings… and not only them. Droids too. And I sensed many of them nearby. It seemed we had company.
At that moment, our old acquaintance burst out of the rain — the droid… or cyborg, I still wasn't sure — the one we had spoken to before the mission. His steel body gleamed in the dim light. In one hand he held a staff crackling with electricity, clearly meant for close combat, and in the other a blaster aimed at Mace, who easily deflected the shots.
"You had no right to interfere!" he roared — or as close as his speakers could manage — directing the droids that had just emerged from the transports behind him. Their barrels shifted between us and the Jedi. The mercenary‑droid continued:
"I told you — I'll handle the Jedi myself! Don't get in my way!"
At least he didn't attack us, and the droids aimed all their weapons at the Jedi.
As for me? Naturally, I smirked and gestured for Kem to carry Ventress aside. I folded my arms and watched the battle unfold without interfering. I had a plan, but first Kem needed to patch Ventress up — at least bandage her wound (despite both of them protesting loudly) — and the Jedi needed to tire themselves out fighting the tin cans. So I simply waited for the right moment to strike. I doubted I could capture them all otherwise.
Originally, the plan was to wait until they boarded their ship, blow the engines, and then capture them. But I decided it was better to deliver the Jedi to our ship already restrained — otherwise they might pull a "bridge takeover" on the Munificent after docking, and then we'd be doomed.
Meanwhile, the rain intensified. Lightning flashed across the sky, and in that instant everything began.
"Jedi, you're nothing more than common killers. And your end will be the same as the other mercenaries I've slain," rasped the mercenary‑droid, his voice distorted by the synthesizer.
Kit Fisto charged first, his green blade slicing through the head of the nearest B1. More droids emerged from the foliage, surrounding the Jedi. His movements were fluid as water — dodging blaster fire, deflecting shots, crashing into their ranks like a tsunami. Droids fell in pieces, replaced by new ones.
Mace Windu stayed in place, his purple blade flashing in rhythm with the shots he deflected. He didn't move like the others, but each motion was precise, like a hammer strike. Vaapad turned him into an unstoppable engine of death — every bolt reflected, every droid foolish enough to approach cut down instantly. I had expected him to move aggressively across the field. Apparently he was staying put to guard against a trick from me… and he was right to.
"Rissa, cover!" he called, glancing at the woman "dancing" between the B2s to his left. Her short hair clung to her face in the rain, and her bright eyes burned with resolve.
She nodded. Her dark‑blue blade ignited. Raising her hand, she sent the Force into the ground. The earth beneath the droids trembled, and an entire squad of B1s collapsed into a pit she had created. There must have been a natural cavity beneath the soil — otherwise she wouldn't have had the strength to make a real hole.
"Let's finish this," she muttered, charging forward.
Kit dodged a rocket, his blade flashing as he deflected plasma bolts mid‑air and cut down more droids. He leapt onto a B2's shoulders, sliced it diagonally, and landed beside Rissa.
Realizing ranged attacks were useless, the mercenary closed in on Windu, activating his stun‑staff — lightning crackled along it as he parried Kit's attempted strike from behind with inhuman speed.
"Credit for effort. But I'm not some pathetic Confederacy droid," he growled, knocking the Nautolan aside. Kit landed gracefully, decapitating two distracted B1s on the way.
Mace charged him, but the mercenary reacted instantly. Their weapons clashed — purple blade against crackling staff — sparks flying. The droid had the advantage in raw strength.
"I can see it, Master Windu — you enjoy this. Fighting. Being… a weapon. Giving your anger an outlet," the mercenary taunted, pressing harder. Windu didn't answer — he simply blasted him with a Force push. Unlike Kem, this opponent flew back easily, unable to resist Jedi tricks.
Still airborne, the droid fired his blaster. Mace deflected the bolt, but the droid was already lunging at Rissa, staff aimed at her head.
She managed to block. The impact threw her several meters back.
"Shame the fourth Jedi fled, but I'll be paid well enough for you three," the mercenary rasped. His threat had no effect.
Damn it, why are they taking so long? Hurry up and scrap that tin can so I can begin…
"You're too confident," Rissa said, wiping blood from her lip. "Do you think your staff will save you?"
The cyborg made a sound like laughter and lunged — but Kit, having cleared the field, leapt in from the side. His blade slid toward the droid's neck. The mercenary parried, but Rissa was already behind him — her blade stabbed into his back. Feeling his body fail, he instantly detached his head and launched it away — but before I could react, Windu clenched his fist, and the head exploded.
Alright. Time.
The annoying tin can was gone — nothing would interfere now.
Not long ago, I discovered an interesting function in my focus device. Its standard ability was to fire Force lightning at a chosen point — but it also had a detachable transmitter, allowing me to strike from unexpected angles.
For example, if I placed it above the Jedi and the remaining droids (who cares about them), and unleashed lightning…
A rain of energy crashed down on the Jedi. Only Mace, with some uncanny instinct, managed to raise his blade in time, absorbing the lightning like a lightning rod.
"Oh? You sensed my attack… Well, what can I say — takes one to know one, right? You see the Dark Side so clearly… already one foot 'on the other side,' aren't you?"
Sadly, my little provocation failed — the Jedi remained unmoved.
Focusing, I tried to break his block, directing all lightning at him alone. The Jedi girl was already unconscious, and Kit Fisto was barely standing. Hopefully Kem, rushing toward him, remembered my instructions and wouldn't kill him. Ventress limped toward us, but seeing the situation, didn't hurry — walking slowly, with a touch of superiority.
"Don't flatter yourself, Sith. I didn't sense your darkness — I foresaw it. Every step you take is predictable. Jedi learn to recognize the Dark Side to protect balance," Windu said through clenched teeth, trying to keep his blade from being forced into his face.
At some point, even the rain stopped reaching him, evaporating in the lightning halfway down. Still, neither of us could overpower the other. I needed a new plan — but there was a problem…
With every second I channeled lightning, my emotions boiled hotter, releasing rage. My mind became crystal clear, but the unclouded fury demanded I do something cruel. I didn't want to kill him — strangely — but to maim him beyond recognition, to run lightning through him again and again…
Barely controlling myself, grinning crookedly, still firing lightning with one hand, I ignited my saber with the other and stepped toward him. To the side, I heard the clash of blades — Kem fighting the Nautolan — but that wasn't my concern. I wanted only one thing: to beat this stubborn Korun into the ground.
He noticed my intent and made his own decision. Taking a risk, he twisted his body, diverting the lightning‑charged blade aside, then released it for a moment — likely infusing it with his Force — maintaining a technique that drew lightning toward it. Then he simply made a Force dash, appearing close to me, pulling his blade back into his hand just outside the lightning's reach.
I couldn't strike immediately — my concentration slipped for a moment. By the time I stopped the lightning, moved the transmitter closer, and raised my blade, he was already armed. Annoyance at my mistake flared, feeding my rage — but with effort, I held still, watching him carefully.
As far as I remembered, Mace was one of the best duelists among the Jedi, with immense experience. But I wasn't going to act to my own disadvantage. He might have thousands of sparring matches behind him — but I wasn't a Jedi, and I had surprises he'd never seen.
As soon as the Korun approached and made his first strike, holding a stance unfamiliar to me, I released all the rage inside me in a single Force burst, throwing him back and leaping after him in attack—
The next moment, agony seared through me. By some reflex I couldn't comprehend, Mace twisted mid‑air and clipped my forward left leg with the very tip of his blade, grazing my right arm as well. I dropped my saber instantly. Despite the pain, my mind was crystal clear. Only one desire burned within me: "Finish this bastard with all the cruelty I can muster!"
But I couldn't fight properly… which only enraged me more. Until suddenly I realized — I was using the Force, and the wounds were slowly stopping their pain. It was like a bodily reflex. I tried to memorize the sensation — this was clearly part of the Sith Inquisitor's abilities from the game, the ones that let him heal himself and allies. The body remembered, and somehow I had triggered it unconsciously.
Realizing it wasn't over, I quickly pulled my saber back to me, but didn't ignite it yet, gripping it in my injured hand.
Windu regained his balance — the acrobatic twist hadn't been easy for him either, as he'd slammed into a rock afterward — but now he looked ready to fight again.
It would be good to stall for time to heal, but his eyes showed he wasn't in the mood for conversation. Still, it was worth trying — talking mid‑battle was practically a Star Wars tradition.
"You know, Jedi… I've always been amazed by your… patience."
I knelt on one knee, unmoving, clutching my wounded arm with my left hand, showing how injured I was — though holding the saber hurt like hell.
"You stand there like a rock, looking at me as if I'm just another wave that will break against you. But aren't you tired? Haven't you ever wanted… to lower that blade and simply see? See what lies beyond your rules?"
Mace stood motionless, blade slightly raised, but at least he didn't attack immediately. It seemed the day had been hard for him too, and he took a small "time‑out." If he knew I was healing, I doubt this would have worked…
"You call this patience? The rules Sith despise aren't chains — they're boundaries beyond which you lose yourself. In the end, your ambition will burn you, leaving only ash," he said, his voice steady and cold.
"Ash? Haven't you read how Coruscant once burned under the Imperial Army? How your 'boundaries' didn't save millions? We're not playing games, Windu. We want to fix this rotten galaxy. And you… you hide behind words while everything burns," I said, adding a bit of venom, quoting SWTOR lore. The Sacking of Coruscant had indeed happened — the Jedi Temple nearly wiped out.
"The galaxy burns not because of us, but because of people like you. You see fire and think it will warm you. Then it devours everyone — including you. Jedi don't hide. We control and extinguish the flames so they don't become a wildfire," he said, tilting his head slightly as if evaluating me.
"Control… what a beautiful lie. But don't you feel how the Force calls you to unleash its Power? Look at me. I'm not afraid to be myself. And you?" I pretended to be tired of the conversation, checking my condition.
My arm no longer hurt. My leg still did — badly. I needed a little more time…
"I'm only saddened that your weakness might 'infect' those who haven't lost their way. You call this freedom? It's slavery to your own desires. I stand with the Force, not against it," he said, stepping closer. Rain hissed on his blade. The clash between Kem and Kit Fisto echoed somewhere to the right.
"We both know this fight won't decide anything. You didn't come here for justice — you came out of fear. Fear that we might destroy your fragile order. I just want to understand… why you wise Jedi can't see your Order is already dead? The CIS victory and Sith rule — that's the future of the galaxy. Even you, with your 'righteous' fury, can't save what's already rotted," I lied calmly about the CIS winning, smirking as I re‑ignited my saber.
"The future doesn't belong to those who hide behind fear and deception. The Order lives as long as there are those who defend it. And your chatter is just an attempt to buy a few more moments before death. A pity you don't value the time you have left," he said, taking another step — now close enough that a Force dash would guarantee a hit.
But it didn't matter — I was finally ready.
I definitely needed to train healing — in the game it worked much faster — but that was for later. Right now, my task was to capture a member of the Jedi Council.
And I even had a plan. Unfortunately, while Taales was freezing in carbonite, the art of lightsaber combat hadn't stood still. Worse, most of my feints and attacks were outdated and familiar to him, while I only knew some of the newer techniques I'd seen. Despite my reflexes and training with Kem, I was no match for Mace Windu in close combat — as shown by how he injured me in the first minute, though Kem had held him off somehow. But Kem had talent and Force‑resistance — that was different.
Defeating Mace in a duel was impossible, even if I surprised him by healing mid‑fight. And I needed to capture him, not kill him. I could always arrange his escape later. For now… he didn't know I'd recovered. So I'd bait him, provoke an attack, and then—
The Korun made a lightning‑fast dash, aiming his blade at my throat from the side of my injured leg — but unexpectedly for him, I caught his blade in a hard block with my orange‑and‑black saber, now held in my healed hand, and grinned as I struck him with lightning from behind using my transmitter.
The Jedi hadn't expected that and couldn't react in time.
He tried to escape with another Force dash — defending against attacks from behind and my blade in front was impossible — but Ventress stepped into the path he needed, buying me the seconds required to fry him. It wasn't lethal, but it was far from pleasant. Serves him right — maybe next time he'll think twice before poking holes in my precious hide.
Nevertheless, the lightning didn't knock him out — he only dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. With a kick, I disarmed the stunned Jedi, pulled his saber to me, then kicked him a couple more times for good measure, knocking him to the ground. I quickly snapped binders onto his wrists and ankles so he definitely wouldn't be jumping anywhere. Ventress, surprisingly, didn't kill the Jedi girl — she restrained her just as thoroughly. Which meant the fate of the last remaining Jedi, Kit Fisto, was already sealed.
Honestly, I was very impressed by Kem's endurance. First he fought Windu for so long, and then the Nautolan — I would've collapsed from exhaustion ages ago. Especially considering he used only close combat. Yes, his resistance to the Force made things much easier for him, but still — I should reward him somehow. Maybe look for some kind of artifact as a gift, like in the game…