Star Wars: Darth Nyx (Book 1)

Ch9: See No Evil

As we dive towards the surface, I try hailing Hadra again and again but fail to get even the slightest bit of a transmission.

Shae: She's strong. She'll be okay.

Me: I hope so.

In the distance, the Sith Academy comes into view but given I don't see her ships at the landing bay I fly over it in hopes that she's in the Valley of the Dark Lords. 

Shae: There!

Shae points below us as we rocket over the top of the Sith Academy and without question, I lower the fighter until we're diving for the ground. As we descend, I'm immediately aware of the battle going on beneath us between what looks like native fauna and sith forces but I don't see anyone that even remotely looks like Hadra. Even more worrying, I still don't feel her presence anywhere.

Me: [Provide air support for our forces.]

Pilots: [Yes, Sir!]

As they break off to carry out my orders, I level out the fighter before landing. Behind us, Shae's clan also lands and after a quick firefight manages to secure the area for us to dismount. My feet are hardly on the ground when I begin asking the commander who comes to greet us about Hadra's location. He informs us that she's gone into one of the tombs and after confirming which one, Shae and I both head in with a handful of Mandolorians. 

Shae: Why'd she enter-

Me: Come now. This is Hadra we're speaking of. She might have loved her office but she loved exploration just as much.

Shae: Yet-

We're cut off by an explosion which would have covered us all with debris if not for my timely use of the force to prevent the cave-in. 

Shae: I can hear the sounds of battle up ahead.

She draws her gun but I push it down towards the ground with my hand before beckoning them forward. They follow, still keeping their guards high but as we step into the clearing it becomes clear that there is little cause for concern.

There, below us on a much lower platform, Darth Hadra battles against a single mechanical entity but it seems less to be a battle to the death and more a friendly spar between old friends.

Shae: Should we-

Me: No. Let them have their fun.

True to my word, I don't interfere, watching her enjoy fighting until eventually she gets serious and strikes the droid down. As she stoops down over it to claim her prize, however, I call out to her.

Me: Lovely of you to scare your child to death over a silly game, Mother!

She freezes as if caught doing something she shouldn't but when she turns to face me, I'm surprised to see genuine surprise on her face.

Hadra: What are you talking about?

Me: Don't play coy! You sent a request calling for aid. Even made it sound serious-

Hadra: As much as I would be happy to see you again, I didn't send any such transmission.

At that, Shae immediately kicks into action telling the others to return to the valley and inform our forces to be on high alert but they barely move an inch when a thunderous laughter echoes through the tomb.

????: HU HU HU! Do you think I'll let you escape?

Hadra grabs the lightsaber crystals she came for before force-jumping up to our location.

Me: Well, it's nice to see you nevertheless.

Hadra: Haha. I'm sure.

Despite her words, she pulls me into a hug before declaring that we need to leave. As if it wasn't obvious already, we all stare at her blankly but she keeps from commenting further.

The minute we take our first step forward, another explosion causes a cave-in that blocks our path. At the same time, more droids fall from the ceiling surrounding us.

Laughing to myself, I tell everyone to work on clearing our path before stepping out to face the army of droids alone. 

????: You dare challenge me alone?

Me: That's cute.

Channelling lightning, I release a burst that instantly fries the circuits of all the droids. For a moment, there's silence before a loud roar reaches my ears. Still laughing, I jump down to the platform to meet the oncoming foe.

Hadra: Nyx! Aim for the back of it's skull!

I barely get time to process what she's saying before a massive behemoth of a beast charges at me. Using the force, I propel myself up and over it's head, landing on its back before driving my lightsaber into its head as Hadra suggested. 

The beast drops to the floor, groaning before falling silent as I step back onto solid ground.

????: Impossible!

Me: The fact that I killed it?

????: No one has ever bested it that quickly! I demand a rematch!

I'm not given time to argue before the same beast I'd just killed revives and attacks me again. This time, it dodges all my attempts to get behind it, turning to ensure that I'm always facing its horns.

Me: Quite smart, aren't you?

It charges again but this time, I use the force to stop it dead in its tracks. It struggles against my hold but my hold is strong and as it remains trapped I gingerly walk over until I'm once again at the back of its head. This time, I use a mixture of slashes and creative uses of the force to cut its head off.

????: I-

Me: I tire of these games. Face me or the next time I'll tear your whole tomb down, Naga Shadow!

Silence abounds once more but is cut short by a most terrifying laughter.

????: You wish to fight death? Then so be it.

The tomb rumbles and shakes but before I can face the encroaching darkness, Hadra pulls me to her.

Hadra: We're leaving.

Me: No-

Hadra: Shae, take her and run-

Naga Shadow: Where are you going?

The dead body of the Ancient Sith Lord appears in the opening created by Hadra, amusement echoing through its empty eye sockets. 

Naga Shadow: Do you not wish to play my game?

Hadra sneers, arming her lightsaber but before she's able to do anything our enemy pushes us apart. No one is hurt by the move but the act puts considerable distance between me and everyone else.

Naga Shadow: Now we can face one another without meddlesome interruptions.