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FEW things had ever made Araminta feel like she couldn't survive. One was her first time, an awkward nightmare even a teenage assassin could not prepare for. Second when she had been set up and brought in by Anakin and Obi-wan in the first place. And finally, when she had been surrounded in the arena mere minutes before.
But standing before Dooku, a powerful Sith who had easily fell two Jedi that the assassin herself had struggled to bring down, topped all those.
"And so a child has arrived to challenge me?"
Alone. She was completely alone, light with no real weapons or an escape route.
Dooku looked straight at her, calm and calculated, as Araminta fought to keep herself passive. She couldn't break face, no matter how terrified she was, because that would be weak. Even if she knew the odds, she couldn't act like she did. Octavian would've had her head had she showed how afraid she was of him.
Because this was suicide, guaranteed death. She had a better chance of outrunning the Jedi for the rest of her life than standing up to a Sith Lord. But she had no choice. No weapons or escape routes were left. She could only wait it out, and hope her stubbornness could keep her alive long enough for someone stronger to arrive or Dooku got bored and left.
Both were highly unlikely but it was not in her nature to lay down and die.
"I'd hardly be a challenge," Araminta said, voice unwavering despite the knot in her stomach. Obi-wan, face pressed against the ground, watched her, weakly. But she couldn't look at him, not now, eyes focused on more pressing matters for once.
"You demean yourself, girl," Dooku responded, holding his lightsaber low, the presence of the weapon reminding Araminta just how outmatched she was. "You belonged to Octavian. An assassin who runs with Jedi."
"I belong to no one," Araminta replied, firmly but calm.
"You are a slave to survival, are you not?" the Sith questioned, matter-of-factly.
Araminta scoffed. "Aren't we all?"
"Octavian has my respect," Dooku said, slowly. He had begun to advance, closing the distance between them, and Araminta could only swallow thickly and continue.
"You think he's right?" she asked, an edge to her voice.
"I left the Order for a reason. I'm under the impression that Octavian did, too."
Araminta only blinked at him.
"I know that you are stalling, and we both know you cannot win," he said, voice harder now. Araminta stayed quiet. "You are no Jedi. You are not a slave to their ideals and their forthcomings. You do not hold back. Consider surrendering to me and you can find freedom."
