Star Wars - Galactic Legacy: Rise Of Darth Nox

Chapter 7 - The Fall of the Twins

Hi, everyone! I'm sorry for taking so long and coming back with a not-so-exciting chapter. I will admit straight away I wanted to put the last part aka the meeting with Harkun in it, but it just didn't fit so I've left it for the next chapter. Now, another thing that bothers me about the SI story on Koribban was how you just kill Balek and Wydr and BAM! You're done. I just found that not realistic and not fitting for Noli so I changed that a bit. I hope you can forgive me. Also a certain reviewer made an interesting comment on the last chapter about Nyx searching for people who wished his Master harm and here is what I did with it. I do hope that reviewer doesn't mind, I merely loved his/her idea. Well, anyway, Enjoy! I hope you like this chapter although in my mind it's not up to par with the others.

=====GL: RDN=====

Chapter 7 - The Fall of the Twins

Nyx remained still long enough to make sure his master was asleep before slowly and cautiously shifting out of her grasp. It was a bit strange how she liked to fall asleep with him beside her, but he couldn't deny that he enjoyed the attention and the fact that she was so warm and smelled so nice. Still, right now he had to prioritise who was set on causing her harm rather than sleep. He knew that his Master was strong and that she was powerful, but in her sleep she was far too vulnerable and it was the same when she was caught off guard. He would protect her in any measure he could, no matter how big or small.
  Nyx easily jumped down from the top bunk and with a soft thump he landed on the cold floor. Sheathing his claws so they didn't click against the floor, Nyx padded across the dorm room, slipping in between the bunk beds and stopping every once in a while to make sure the acolyte in the bed was asleep. As he searched for those who he instinctively felt wanted to cause his master harm, Nyx made sure to keep an eye on the steady flickering of Noli's Force presence just in case. He wouldn't put it past one of these acolytes to try and murder her in her sleep - none of them had the sense of honour Noli did. Nyx paused when his perceptive ears picked up the barely audible noise that he recognised as whispering. As soon as he identified those two awake presences that belonged to those that were whispering Nyx swiftly changed course. Keeping low to the ground, Nyx stalked over to them, like a predator sneaking up to his prey. His small size worked in his favour, they didn't notice him - sometimes being a runt could be useful. It was the two nearly identical men that were in his master's group. In a flash, Nyx rushed over and climbed under the bed silently. They didn't notice him. Lying down, Nyx lifted up his ears and proceeded to eavesdrop on their conversation. They appeared to be speaking in dialect that came from some different world, it wasn't Sith or Basic either, but Nyx understood them. He didn't know how he did, but maybe it had something to do with him being a tuk'ata that hadn't gone insane. In any case, the one that his master had once addressed as Balek was whispering:
-But, brother, she isn't a typical acolyte...
-Yes, well, do you have another plan?
The other voice was the one Nyx recognised well - Wydr, he had been the one that claimed he wouldn't live long because he was a runt. Nyx bristled internally, but remained silent. Balek shook his head:
-No. But she has a tuk'ata with her now, I doubt he's a pushover...
-He's a runt. Don't worry about him. We need to corner her and get her once she's alone, no witnesses - the runt doesn't count. He can't speak yet.
Nyx growled internally, but resisted the urge to bite him. He was right on the fact that he couldn't speak yet and while that made communication with his master difficult that didn't mean it was impossible. Nyx would not go down without a fight. Balek sighed, evidently he had strong doubts about whatever they were planning:
-Wydr, I don't like this. Harkun knows we can't beat her - this is just going to end up with us dead. Look at all Nolianna has accomplished and it's been less than a week since we came here. She got approval from Spindrall, she successfully interrogated an acolyte, she retrieved the texts and came back unharmed, she killed Niloc who had an artefact from Ffon and then she brought back a holocron that no one has been able to retrieve in a thousand years. There's also been rumours about a redhead acolyte who nearly beat Lord Samus in a sparring match yesterday. Let's face it - we're dead if we attack her. Maybe if we keep going through the trials--
-Do you want to end up like Kory and Gerr?!
The older twin's voice was harsh and even Nyx flinched at the words. He had heard his master mention Kory to Gerr and he had met the latter himself so he knew what Wydr was referring to. Still, they were the ones plotting to hurt his master so they deserved what was coming. He wouldn't let them get away with it. Balek ran a hand down his face as he lay on his back:
-I see your point. Fine, so that's it. We take Harkun up on his deal. We kill Nolianna and we go home. Alright, let's do it tomorrow when she goes to the training hall. So where-
-Hush, Balek! We have an eavesdropper.
Suddenly Nyx was pulled out from beneath the bed by the scruff of his neck and lifted up. The small cub unsheathed his claws and scratched Wydr across his face, drawing blood. As Balek looked down from the top bunk, Wydr grabbed Nyx by the neck, slowly applying more and more pressure as he held the creature at arm's length. Clearly angry, Wydr hissed:
-What are you doing, runt? Eavesdropping?
Nyx snapped his teeth at him, his blue eyes full of untamed fury. Balek looked around worriedly: he wasn't sure how Noli would react if he saw Wydr holding her pet like that. He didn't have to wonder long as a quiet, but stern female voice sounded:
-Wydr, let Nyx go. I'm sorry he woke the two of you, but he's with me and unless you want to cross me right now I seriously suggest you listen.
All three males turned to see Noli standing there, her body posture relaxed, but her deep blue eyes were alert. Huffing, Wydr dropped Nyx and after headbutting the man with his horns in the kneecap, Nyx scampered back to sit at Noli's side. Noli leaned down and easily scooped the tuk'ata cub back into her arms, before looking back at the boys. She looked half-asleep, but for some reason that look that she cast the twins as she wished them good night was enough to send chills up their spines.
  Climbing back into her own bed, Noli waited for Nyx to snuggle up next to her before she whispered:
-Nyx, what were you doing over there?
She knew Nyx could give her no verbal answer, but the look in the tuk'ata' eyes held no regret. So he had been aware of what he was doing. Noli sighed:
-Okay, so did they say something to you before we went to bed?
The tuk'ata shook his head before carefully pressing his nose against her cheek. Noli smiled gently and placed a finger in between his two tiny horns, rubbing that spot as she whispered:
-So it was for me?
Nyx nodded his head, enjoying the head rubs even though he was frustrated with the fact that he couldn't relay everything he had heard. Noli looked at the cub again to see him looking at her worriedly. It was like he was trying to warn her to be careful. Of who? Balek and Wydr? Noli wasn't sure. She sighed and before she even managed to form another thought she found herself drifting back off to sleep. Nyx huffed, but snuggled into her side, all the while keeping his head turned in the direction of the twins. He would be ready for them if they even dared to try and hurt Noli.