sᴀᴠᴀɢᴇ ᴏᴘʀᴇss
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"Who the hell are you?"

In front of me stood a strange figure: he was enormous, imposing, with yellow and black skin that accentuated his sharp features. His horns protruded from his head like demonic claws, and his piercing yellow eyes stared at me with distrust, dark and empty. He had formidable, well-defined muscles, built for combat, and his presence was so oppressive that I could almost feel the air around him grow heavier.

A Zabrak.

He watched me cautiously and his eyes sliding down to my lightsaber, still in my hand. For a few seconds, my entire body was entranced, paralyzed by the aura that seemed to emanate from him. It was just a moment, but long enough for my mind to snap back.

Quickly, I ignited my lightsaber, and the violet glow illuminated the area around us as I took a defensive stance.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to stay calm.

The Zabrak raised an eyebrow, his was voice rough and deep. "I asked first."

His dismissive tone and the fact that he didn’t give me an answer irritated me, but I tried to hide it. I couldn’t afford to let myself become vulnerable to the Dark Side on this planet.

"I’m... a tourist from Alderaan," I lied, trying not to falter. "I came to explore."

The Zabrak raised both eyebrows this time, almost mockingly.

"And do all tourists from Alderaan jump into a lagoon with a lightsaber in hand to grab a pendant? Or are you special?"

I ignored his words, and my gaze shifted to the ground, discreetly searching for the Sith relic among the rocks and mud, but there was no trace of it. My heart began to beat faster as a small wave of panic washed over me at not finding it. Then, I quickly looked up, and there it was: the Zabrak, spinning the pendant between his fingers indifferently, as if it were a mere toy.

A wave of desperation mixed with anger surged through me, but I tried to keep my composure as he continued to watch me intently.

"Give me the pendant," I demanded without wasting any more time, "and in return, I’ll let you leave here unharmed.”

The Zabrak’s smile widened, clearly amused. "Is that how you thank your rescuer?"

A shiver ran down my spine as I remembered what had happened in the water, but I couldn’t get distracted. So, I sighed and raised my hand, palm open. "Fine, have it your way."

I felt the familiar pull of the Force as the relic slipped from his grip and began moving toward me, but halfway through, it stopped abruptly. My gaze froze as I watched the pendant retreat slightly, as if something were pushing it back.

He was pushing it back.

My breathing quickened, and I watched in disbelief as the Zabrak manipulated the Force with the same skill as I did. My eyes widened as the realization hit me like a crushing weight. Those yellow eyes... the power of the Force... Only one thing explained it.

I swallowed hard.

"A Sith."

The Zabrak, taking advantage of my confusion, fully reclaimed the pendant. He examined it for a moment before looking up at me with a cynical, disdainful expression.

"It’s not very considerate for tourists to steal things that don’t belong to them," he paused and flashed a colder, more dangerous smile, "especially things that could cause them serious harm."

But despite my shock, I didn’t let him intimidate me.

I growled, adopting a more aggressive stance, reigniting my lightsaber and preparing for whatever was necessary. I knew I couldn’t lose control—the Dark Side was practically breathing down my neck, and I couldn’t afford to fall over a damn pendant.

"My name is Helene Shield," I introduced myself coldly. "And in the name of the Jedi Order, I demand you hand over that fucking pendant willingly, or you’ll end up swallowing it."

I stared him down, trying to intimidate him. But he didn’t even flinch. In fact, he let out a sarcastic laugh before responding with contempt.

"Oh, thanks for the clarification. I was starting to think you were a Hutt slug."

I frowned, feeling a sting of offense. The Jedi didn’t seem to scare him at all. I tightened my grip on my lightsaber, taking a deep breath before demanding again.

"Give me the pendant."

The Zabrak shook his head, as if he were enjoying every second.

"Sorry, but as the president of the Intergalactic Anti-Jedi Council..." he began with a mocking smile, "...I refuse to be generous."

I raised my eyebrows, mocking him this time.

"Intergalactic Anti-Jedi Council? Seriously? Do we have that many haters?" I laughed. "How many members does it have? Can I join? I really hate one in particular."

The Zabrak ignored my questions and instead looked at me with a hint of superiority in his yellow eyes.

"Savage Opress."

"What?"

"That’s my name."

I stared at him for a few seconds, searching my memory, but it didn’t ring any bells.

"They must have really hated you when you were born to give you that name," I remarked disdainfully.

He rolled his eyes, as if he didn’t care at all, and then added, "I’m the son of Mother Talzin."

I frowned.

"Mother Talzin?" I repeated, confused. "Do you have nuns here or something?"

For a second, his face took on a perplexed expression at my ignorance. But he quickly recovered and shook his head in disbelief.

"You have no idea where you are, do you?" he said with a tone full of contempt. "I could sense your presence from miles away. My village is just beyond this swamp, and I can assure you, they won’t be too happy to see outsiders."

I huffed, already fed up with the mess that coming to this cursed planet had turned into.

"Look, I’m only here on a mission," I replied irritably. "And believe me, I want to get out of this place and return to Coruscant as much as you do. Now, give me the pendant."

Savage stared at me for a few seconds as if he were about to deny me in the most frustrating way possible, but then a slow, malicious smile spread across his face.

"I’ll give it to you... on one condition."

I tensed, full of suspicion.

"What is it?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

He paused, letting the suspense hang between us, and then his smile widened even further, his eyes gleaming with a dark, twisted humor that sent a chill down my spine, before he responded:

"Put it on.”

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I stood there, staring at him, feeling a mix of fury and apprehension, knowing exactly what putting on that pendant would entail. I could feel the Dark Side vibrating within the relic, almost as if it were whispering to me from a distance. I immediately shook my head, firmly.

"I’m not doing it."

Savage Opress looked at me with a mocking smile, slowly twirling the pendant between his fingers. "Then no deal."

"Why do you want me to put it on?" I asked, though the tone of my voice made it clear I had no intention of indulging him. But there was something behind his request that I wanted to understand.

He tilted his head to the side, like a predator studying its prey. "I sense something in you..." he said, his voice resonating with dangerous interest. "Something powerful. I want to see if the Dark Side can corrupt you, little Jedi."

A shiver ran down my spine. What bothered me the most wasn’t the insinuation itself, but the certainty in his tone, as if he already knew the answer. As if he weren’t asking, but stating it.

I shook my head again, my hands tightening around the hilt of my lightsaber. "I already told you no."

Savage took a step closer, slowly circling around me. I felt him like a shadow, dark and insistent. His presence enveloped me, and though my instinct was to attack, I knew that if I did so recklessly, I’d be playing right into his hands. The Dark Side brushed against my skin like the claws of a crouching beast, waiting for me to make a mistake.

"You don’t have to resist so much," he whispered, circling me, his voice low and persuasive. "I just want to know what Jedi are made of. What could you possibly lose by trying?"

So, he wanted me to be his experiment...

My thoughts flew to the communicator. I could alert the others, let them know I was facing a potential Sith with the relic we were searching for. But something in me refused to do it. I didn’t want Anakin, Shaak Ti, or Obi-Wan coming to save me. I imagined the Council’s faces when I returned to the Temple with news that I had defeated a Dark Side user and retrieved the pendant myself. I had to do this alone.

I clenched my teeth and my fist around the lightsaber, my mind calculating how to get out of this without stumbling into the darkness.

"Well?"

I took a deep breath, weighing my options. The fear of falling to the Dark Side made me hesitate. If I attacked directly, I risked that shadow I had felt trapping me. But how could I recover the relic without him noticing?

Finally, I made a decision.

I let out a sigh and, resigned, tossed my lightsaber aside. Savage raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. His yellow eyes gleamed with satisfaction, as if he knew he had won. But when I extended my hand toward him, I used the Force to hurl him against a tree behind him.

The Zabrak was thrown violently, and when I tried to pull the pendant toward me, something stopped it halfway again. Savage got up from the ground, his eyes glowing with a dangerous intensity as the pendant remained firmly in his hand.

He smiled, with a satisfaction I hadn’t expected.

"Well," he said, his voice darker than before, "...so be it, then."

Savage ignited his lightsaber with a roar that echoed through the air, and my eyes widened in surprise. A double-bladed lightsaber. The red glow illuminated his face, intensifying the threat in his yellow eyes.

I pouted. Why was I never offered a double-bladed lightsaber?

I didn’t have time to lament when Savage was already charging at me like a wild beast, wielding both blades with a force that made me tense up immediately.

With a quick gesture, I summoned my lightsaber back to my hand using the Force and ignited it in a violet flash just in time to block his first strike. The impact shook my body, forcing me to clench my teeth. I had no other choice. I had to fight, but with as little anger as possible.

Savage attacked with relentless ferocity, each movement of his lightsaber a visual whirlwind. I retreated, using Form IV, Ataru, making agile leaps to dodge the blows that seemed destined to split me in two. Each strike reverberated through my arms, but I managed to hold my ground. Savage’s fighting style was different from Anakin’s. He didn’t have Anakin’s calculated precision—just pure brute force.

Anakin…

My mind wandered for a moment toward Skywalker. I remembered how he stayed calm at the beginning of our duels, letting me attack while he dodged with almost irritating precision until I tired myself out, and then he’d take the offensive with his aggressive style. That gave me an idea.

I began to focus more on defense, blocking his attacks, jumping back, or deflecting his strikes with the Force, letting him tire himself out over time. Frustration began to radiate from his gaze as he realized he wasn’t getting what he wanted.

"You’re not even trying, Jedi!" he growled, irritated, launching an attack at me with even more violence.

I smirked maliciously.

"Just warming up."

The rage in his eyes grew, and he charged at me with renewed fury, but now I was the one in control. Savage charged again, but this time, I noticed he was more careless, more tired. And when I saw the opportunity, I decided to change the game. I began to attack, each strike more precise and forceful. With a quick move, I disarmed him using the Force, sending his weapon flying from his hands. Before he could react, I pushed him with a wave of energy, slamming him to the ground violently.

His body, off balance, hit the dirt. I didn’t waste a second. I pinned him with the Force, crushing him against the earth, and lunged on top of him, my knees pressing against his chest, keeping him immobilized.

We were both panting from the effort. My face was dangerously close to his, close enough to see the rage burning in his eyes. But I smiled, victorious.

"Do you still want to test what Jedi are made of?" I asked, between ragged breaths.

Savage looked at me, his chest rising and falling rapidly under the weight of my body. For a second, I thought I had won, that this duel was over. But then something in him made me hesitate.

"Was it so hard to be grateful to your savior?" he spat, with a twisted smile.

And before I could respond, I felt a tug at my neck.

My concentration broke. By the time I realized it, it was too late. Savage, with a speed I didn’t expect from someone so exhausted, had taken advantage of my distraction. In the blink of an eye, I felt the cold metal of the pendant around my neck.

I looked at him in horror as he smiled with satisfaction.

"Now, little Jedi," he said with a victorious grin, "...let’s see how the Dark Side suits you.”

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Fatigue overwhelmed me as I felt the crushing weight enveloping me like a shroud.

It was impossible not to feel the hatred bubbling inside me, demanding an outlet, seeking to destroy something or someone. When I regained my composure, I tried to take it out on Savage, but to my surprise, he was gone. He had disappeared like a coward, and I couldn’t help but mock his escape.

I looked at my hands, knowing I had to take off the damn pendant, but I couldn’t. Desperation choked every corner of my being, while the power vibrated through me, making me feel stronger than ever. It was addictive. And for a moment, the temptation to keep feeling invincible was almost unbearable.

But it all faded when I heard an agonizing scream. My heart stopped.

Anakin.

Alarmed, I felt his presence filling the air. It wasn’t just a scream—it was a desperate cry for help.

Fear gripped me. Without a second thought, I ignited my lightsaber and began to push forward, cutting through anything in my way. With every swing of my saber, the desire for revenge against Savage mixed with the need to find Anakin. His screams grew louder, and my desperation increased with every step I took.

Finally, my world gave way to something I hadn’t expected, and I stopped dead in my tracks at the edge of a cliff. When had I left the swamp behind?

But there was no time for doubts, not when I heard his scream again, closer, more desperate.

"Helene!" his voice pierced the air.

I ran to the edge of the cliff, noticing how the rocky terrain of the planet shifted from reddish to a darker tone that made me doubt my visual reality. Finally, I reached the edge and saw him down below, lying on the shore of a river of... blood? Lava? The surface of the water glowed with a crimson hue, like Dathomir’s gloomy sky.

Anakin was there, hunched over, his body twisted in pain. Tears stained red streamed down his face, and my heart leapt when his left hand rose toward me, trembling, reaching out as if begging for me to save him.

"Help me..." The plea in his voice tore at me.

The Dark Side vibrated within me, pushing me toward a decision. I could let him die here. Let him suffer, sink into that river of death, and return to the Temple victorious. No one could question my achievements, my power. I could destroy them all if they tried.

But another part of me... screamed at me to help him, because Anakin had, in one way or another, become someone important in my life. He was the one who pushed me to be better, who brought out my true potential. How could I let him die?

I would go down.

I had to save him. The Dark Side roared possessively as I looked at Anakin, and I quickly began to scan the cliffside for a way to descend without killing myself in the process.

But before I could act, a firm hand grabbed me abruptly, yanking my arm back. I spun around, ready to fight, but found myself face-to-face with a figure I despised with every fiber of my being. Savage.

His presence was a mix of brute strength and pure malice. Hatred bubbled inside me, fueled by the desire for revenge and desperation. The Force roared through me, urging me to attack, to end him once and for all, and I didn’t hesitate to lunge at him with a cry of rage. Our sabers clashed with a sharp, piercing sound, pressing harder to burn each other’s faces.

"What made you think you could play with me like that?" I shouted, my voice dripping with disdain.

Savage’s expression was completely serious, but he smiled without a hint of amusement. "If you want to save your boy, you’d better obey."

His threat made me turn quickly, remembering that Anakin was in agony, and I was about to jump into the river from where I stood to where I thought he was. But my impulse stopped abruptly when I realized he was no longer there.

I looked around, bewildered, and searched for answers in Savage’s mocking face.

"He managed to escape," Savage said with a cruel, satisfied smile, "but he won’t be safe for long."

A shiver ran down my spine, mixing with the fury growing inside me. Desperation consumed me, and my violet saber pointed directly at Savage’s chest. My breathing became more and more erratic, and hatred was taking over my mind.

"What’s going on?" I demanded, my voice filled with anxiety and rage.

Savage Opress stepped closer, his smile widening into a malicious grin.

"Anakin is being hunted by someone who wants him dead," he said, his voice laced with venom before hissing, "His name is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

The words hit me like a slap, and disbelief paralyzed me for a moment.

Master Kenobi? It couldn’t be true. He was his mentor—why the hell would he want to harm him?

"You’re lying!" I screamed, my voice trembling with fury. "Why would he do that?"

"Kenobi wants to get rid of anyone he considers a threat to him," Savage growled. "Anakin is too powerful to let live."

My thoughts tangled in a whirlwind of confusion. The idea that Obi-Wan, someone I had respected, would want to kill Anakin was unbearable. My mind filled with questions and a growing anger. Anakin wasn’t just another Jedi; he was my source, my energy, my power... I couldn’t let him be killed.

Noticing my rage, Savage made an offer that seemed tempting.

"If you take me to Kenobi, we can defeat him together," he assured me, with conviction. "And that boy will be safe."

The proposal was seductive, and my mind began to consider the idea. The possibility of saving Anakin while also getting revenge on Obi-Wan was too attractive. I also promised myself that once I was done with Kenobi, I wouldn’t let Savage live to enjoy his victory. He would pay for his crimes too. No one played with me like that.

I nodded, meeting the gleam in his eyes. "So there is no time to lose..."

I would punish Obi-Wan Kenobi for this.

I would punish him for touching what is mine.