Joining Young Justice

Chapter Eleven: The Inquisitor

I had been standing in the gently swaying grass for several minutes when the TIE first appeared on the horizon. There was a tug in the pit of my stomach that started to grow as the black spaceship dipped lower and lower, eventually touching down across the field from me. I sucked in a huge breath, preparing for what was going to happen next.

The cockpit opened and I swallowed, fearing the creature that was about to step out.

It was a Blood Carver. The golden skin alone was a dead give away, but I recognized the triple jointed limbs. She wore black and gray, an outfit that was not traditional for a Blood Carver. My eyes, however, were drawn to the weapon that hung at her waist.

I knew it was a lightsaber, but I didn't like the look of the circular weapon.

What was she?

"Chessa Connal Contal," the woman said. I couldn't help but cringe at the sound of my full name. I had tried so hard to forget it.

I slipped into a language I hadn't spoken since I left home with Ned. Despite that, the words came back to me naturally.

"Lady," I replied calmly.

A sneer spread across her beakish lips.

"We've always wondered what happened to Zalz a-Bara's Padawan," the Blood Carver said. "Unfortunately for you, escape seems to have only prolonged the inevitable. You will die at the hands of the Inquisitors like the rest of them."

What is she saying? Batman demanded over the mind link, but I pushed him away.

"Cut the chatter."

I bent my right arm back, extending the laser sword behind me as I bent my knees, extending my left leg out to the side.

What are you doing? Nightwing demanded. You're left handed!

Trust me, please, I begged. This Blood Carver seems to know quite a bit about the Order and me. I'm trying to throw her off. Now get out of my head so I can focus!

The Blood Carver had called herself an Inquisitor but I didn't have much time to think through that. She grabbed the circular weapon from her belt, holding the cross piece. Two red blades expanded outward and I knew I was in for the fight of my life. I extended my left hand outward, taking up a fighting stance I wasn't used to but well versed in. Anything to throw her off.

"Interesting stance," the Inquisitor said. "According to our records, you prefer something a little more...Form V."

She knew too much for my liking but I didn't let it show. The whole point of this taunting was to throw me off.

I took a determined step forward and the Blood Carver mirrored it. When we were just a few meters apart, she took up her fighting stance. Just by the way she planted her feet and held her weapon I knew she was an expert in the art of double-bladed combat.

The Inquisitor made the first move, jumping forward and twisting in a smooth motion. My blade, still in my right hand, circled around behind me and to the right, coming up to block the red blade. There was a flash of light and a buzz as our blades collided.

A cruel grin split across the Inquisitor's face as she spun her blade, binging the other half of her sword toward me. I ducked and twisted, wary of the fact that I had exposed my back to her. It was going to be difficult to defend.

As the Inquisitor's blade continued to move, slashing and stabbing, I gave ground until I could take it no longer. I feinted a block and collapsed my blade. The Inquisitor, expecting to meet the resistance of my sword, was thrown completely off balance as I rolled through the long grass behind her, switching my lightsaber to my left hand.