The edge of the wilderness,
Outreach temperate zone,
Caina, Cocytus System,
Dark Brotherhood Territories

Battlelord Desio Predator stood alone at the edge of the ice pack; his piercing eyesight was startlingly offset by the glowing fish mark on his face. He stood there, evaluating everything, rejecting what was not important and forgetting nothing that was. He wondered yet again why the new Consul, Bracen Kunar, had ordered him out here. Sure, the mission that he was given was important, but honestly others could have handled this mission better than he could. He wasn’t really fond of the cold and the dense snow that surrounded him, but his cold weather gear was quite effective at keeping him warm enough, and he had suffered worse conditions before.

He felt a presence come up behind him. It was the civilian foreman that was nominally in charge of the construction crew making this outpost this far out. Predator waited until the foreman was close enough before speaking.

"Yes?"

The man was obviously awed at the presence of the senior Clan member, and barely worked up the courage to speak to the unimposing figure before him.

"Sir, the first stage is almost complete. We request permission to return back to base for the rest of the equipment. The droids will finish up while we are gone to avoid wasting time."

Predator grunted, knowing that this would leave him alone for the hour that it would take for the modified Gallowfree-class transport Dragon’s Find to return with the mentioned equipment. So be it, he could handle this menial task alone. His orders were explicit in remaining on location until the automated defenses, the second stage of construction, were complete. Until then, he would be the only defense for this outpost.

"Permission granted. I’ll be here when you arrive."

The foreman bowed respectfully, and hurried away. Within ten minutes, the whine of the Dragon’s Finds’ repulsorlift drive was already fading away.

Still at the edge of the ice pack, Predator took one last look and turned away. He could put this wasted time to good use. Walking in towards the center of the outpost, he situated himself within the center of a temporary lean-to, sheltering him from the biting wind. Settling into his preferred Jedi meditation posture, he settled into the Force.

Meditating on the tendrils of the Force around him, he rode them to the waterfall that was the fullness of the Force. Seeking knowledge was a task that never ended, since knowledge was power, and he intended on knowing all that he could. Perhaps this time around he could find that evasive key of knowledge that he was seeking for, a tricky move that he tried to get down for over several months.

It felt like a very short time later when immersed in the Force that he felt... Another presence. It was oddly familiar, and when tried to focus on the presence he found it to be very familiar. He could not put down his finger on the actual person, so he concentrated more.

He was rewarded with a sudden warning through the Force. Leaping to his side, his hand darted down to his belt, where it found the reassuring grip of his steel and velvet lightsabre. Igniting the ruby blade, he affected his characteristic contemptuous Dun Moch stance, ready to take down whatever threat that showed up around him.

Apparently his move was the right one, as the lean-to was sliced neatly in half by a harsh blue lightsabre blade. The attacker turned toward his target, a sloppy grin on his face.

With sudden realization of the identity of his attacker, his stance wavered. Never in the nine hells had he thought that this one would ever be a threat. Before he could say anything, the attacker spoke first.

"They told me you would be good. I like that, it’ll make for a glorious challenge. You must realize, Predator, that I must defeat you. I must purge this outrage from the honor of the Clan. For that outrage, you... must... die."

Disbelief colored his reply. "What the hell are you talking about, RevengeX? I demand that you stand down, or I must defend myself," Predator fairly demanded this, waiting for the reply from the Quaestor of the legendary Acclivis Draco.

Grinning cruelly, RevengeX’s only reply was the toss of several concussion grenades in his general direction. With the both of them leaping away from the range of their explosions, the grenades rocked the general area, buffeting the structures in the area with shockwaves. The only difference was that due to the position of their initial stances, RevengeX’s leap took him towards the inner area of the outpost, while Predators’ leap took him out of the border area of the same. RevengeX did not give Predator a break, throwing more grenades. Predator realized that RevengeX was driving him away from the outpost, although he could not figure out why. Whatever it was, it was not a good thing. Controlling the battle was possibly the first rule of combat, and he was definitely not in control.

Great, he thought to himself, I’m being driven towards something, but what to do to counter that? Possessing no other weapons other than his lightsabre, his options were rather limited. Fine, if RevengeX wanted him to go out there, he would, but on his terms.

Pouring the Force into his leg muscles, he quickly ran away, towards the edge of the ice pack. A plan was starting to form in his mind.

Reaching the area that he first stood contemplating the edge of the ice pack, he almost reached the area where the snow gave way to the ice, but a sudden blur of motion reached out toward him and knocked him off his feet from the sheer impact. He was moving too fast in one direction to properly be able to dodge it, but he had time to at least prepare himself for the blow. Rolling on his side almost twice, he used the momentum to bring himself first to his knees and then onto his feet. He couldn’t figure out how RevengeX had outrun him to reach him here, when a look at his opponent confirmed the powerful build of Pontifex Cuchulain Palpatine. Staring uncomprehendingly at this sudden change in the tactical situation completely threw him off guard, but his mind already raced ahead to deal with this threat. The blue blades of his dual lightsabres flashed into existence, and his words proved to be even more ominous.

"A hideous injustice has been done, and it must be corrected. You must pay for your actions, Predator. The Clan has demanded it." Both of his cybernetic eyes blazed hotly, outlining his demands.

Even worse, all around him, emerging from the snowdrifts like the mythical ghost bears that Timbal always was blabbing about, opponents slowly stalked forth, their own lightsabre blades blazing to life.

Predator took a moment to catalogue the hideous threat around him. The people around him made no effort to hide their identities, and their identities shocked him. Around him stood Rhaub Palpatine, the Proconsul himself Phoenix Palpatine, Timbal Palpatine, and Dark Jedi Master Niemand Machweg. The short pause enabled RevengeX to bring up the rear, effectively cutting off any easy escape from all the powerful Jedi.

With his arrival, something clicked in Predators’ mind. These were all senior members of the Clan, second to none in quite a few areas. The thought that these members would actively hunt him down was in itself a very dreadful thought, as they collectively expressed the will and soul of Clan. Then something else clicked....

All of these people were named....

"What is it that you want of me?"

Battlelord Phoenix Palpatine spoke up, harshly. "You have been found guilty of your crimes, Predator. For this, you must answer. To us. Submit to our justice, and we shall make it as clean as possible. If not, we must beat it out of you..."

The threat stood clear. Narrowing his eyes, reaching out to the Force, Predator knew that he was in the fight for his life. All of those that stood arrayed against him collectively had decades of combat experience, much of it as full-blown Jedi. Concentrating all of the collective anger and rage that he could conjure up, he knew his only scant advantage was speed. Funneling his feeling through the Force, it flowed through him, and strengthened his muscles. He leaped at the weakest part of this chain, at Archpriest RevengeX.

He, however, was waiting for him. His blue lightsabre neatly blocking the Battlelords’ ruby blade, both then formed an intricate web of parries, blocks, and lunges. Oh, he was able to inflict some cuts, bruises, and the like, but so did they. Predator tried to end the battle as soon as he could, but in an instant he was blocking slashing and thrusting lightsabre blades from the rest of his opponents from all angles all around him. He was using every dirty trick in the book to help him out, but they all collectively either knew the tricks, or he had managed to take them out of the battle for only an instant before they had recovered and attacked again.

He knew that this could not keep up much longer. They apparently were possessed of relentless strength and power, and he was paying for his inattention to his own physical condition. He used the Force as much as he could spare to strengthen himself and refresh him, but every block, every parry slowed down just a fraction. He knew that if he were to have any chance at survival he must do something drastic. With so many lightsabre blades surrounding him, they seemed like a solid wall from which there was no escape.

However, his almost overwhelmed mind did come up with one last desperate move. Concentrating almost the last reserves of his Force power, he pushed down, giving the snow and the ice underneath a telekinetic strike. For just the barest of seconds his opponents slowed, understanding the sudden sharp crack!

Still, they did not give up, and almost worn down to nothing, Predator took the last reserves of his Force strength, and hit the ice under him yet again. This time the ice cracked completely, and Predator fell through.

The shock of the freezing water almost forced what little air there was in his lungs, but he knew that this was going to happen, so he held that air as long as he could, turned somewhat to his right, and started to swim straight ahead. His body burned from the exertion, but he knew that he must move away from the deadly circle of traitorous Jedi and somehow make his escape. The internal clock that beat in his heart knew that by now the transport must have arrived and summoned help when they surely have witnessed the battle a short distance away from the outpost. He clung to his hope, but then his body gave up on him.

The edges of darkness were starting to creep around his vision, when a strong set of arms surrounded him and pulled him up with determination. Although he barely had strength left, he wondered what he could do if his would-be rescuer turned out to be a Palpatine.

Crashing through the ice, Predators’ lungs took an involuntary gasp of air, greedily sucking it down. He did not expect any more to come. Those traitors would very likely like to torture him before he died. He would not give them that chance.

He felt more arms around him, pulling him out of the freezing water. His eyesight now was completely gone, and he suspected that his eyelids had frozen shut. Rather, that was what he had hoped. He still not as yet known the identity of his rescuers, but as soon as he had the thought, he heard the incredibly close whine of repulsorlifts, with the attendant shouts of medical equipment being rushed over to him, and hope soared in his heart.

Then he heard the voice of his rescuers.

"Battlelord Desio Predator, the Palpatines of the Clan welcome your combat prowess, your tenacity, your intellect, and your fierce spirit. The Dragon that is Scholae Palatinae respects and honors this, and we respect and honor you now.

The crime of which you were accused of is actually our doing. You see, you have proven yourself worthy, and now we formally and forever throw away that accusation. You have been redeemed by your actions, and now the blood that has been spilled on your part and ours will forever mix together in our family.

Welcome, Brother Desio Predator. We hereby commission and honor you with the most sacred trust that we could give anyone within the Clan. Welcome, Brother Desio Predator Palpatine!!

Hereby Signed The Sons and Daughter of Palpatine,
Cuchulain Darkblade Palpatine
Phoenix Olkyssagh Palpatine
Rhaub D'ar Aghasett Palpatine
Timbal Palpatine
Niemand Machweg(Arania Lawakiro Palpatine)
RevengeX Palpatine

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Jac Edit: Congrats Pred!

I fixed the text