Part Five

Retribution

The Pinnacle - Level 101

Aliso City

38 ABY

Reg did not expect to spit up a mouthful of blood today. But there he was, sprawled out on a sterile durasteel floor, coughing up clots of his own life force as the reverberations of his superior’s fists still lingered all over his body.

Bruised and beaten, the Bothan gazed, through swollen eyes, at his assailant, who was all knuckles and torn tunic and metal from arm to eyepatch. The Dread Lord has pummeled him within an inch of his life, and now, Reg could barely feel anything below the waist or even in his own jaw. He had been numbed, struck so hard and so diligently that every bone and muscle had gone to sleep. The pain would come later. When she permitted it.

He couldn’t say anything to her. He didn’t want to. He had sworn to stay silent. But right now, his right eye was swollen shut, and he was finding it difficult to breathe.

“Tell me why you let the Killiks into the Aliso system, and maybe I won’t kill you after all,” snarled Ronovi. “Maybe just maim you. A few fingers, some toes, maybe a whole leg…”

“I don’t have any information for you.”

“Liar!” She spat at him before punching him again. The Bothan rolled onto his side. The left half of his face was sticky with blood. “I don’t need to read your mind to know you’re lying. Either someone bought you out, or you succumbed to some kind of pressure. Both of them unacceptable.”

“Tavisaen…”

“You will address me,” growled Ronovi, “as your Dread Lord.”

The door hissed open behind me, and a familiar voice warbled into the space. “Ronovi.”

The Dread Lord swung around to see the form of Arden Karn standing there looking rather displeased. Her attention shifted away from Reg momentarily. “Karn, what the kriff…”

“Making sure you don’t fly off the handle and do something you shouldn’t,” Arden interrupted. “Been a concern we’ve been having lately.”

“We?” Ronovi inquired dismissively. “The di Plagia?”

“While it’s not normally our place to question, yes, we have been concerned that you have been rather aggressive of late,” Arden replied as he glanced over at Reg, who seemed rather oblivious to what was going on.

Ronovi, for her part, simply glared back at the human. “You think I care? I have emboldened our clan. I have strengthened it. What makes you think I’m going to listen to you and spare this stupid Bothan’s - ”

Arden interrupted again. “Do I need to call Selika?”

Ronovi blinked, then scowled. It was no secret these days that she had shared quite a bond with the Herald of the Brotherhood, and to hear her name was equivalent to a harsh sting. She still harbored trust and respect for Roh, despite the growing physical and emotional distance between them. Arden knew exactly where to hurt the Dread Lord, and it was effective.

For now.

“Here’s what matters, you lay another hand on him...” Arden’s eyes glanced over to Reg, “I will be extremely upset. We clear?”

Ronovi nodded, coldly and reluctantly. Reg started to breathe a pained sigh of relief just before Arden whipped out his blaster pistol and pointed it straight between the Bothan’s eyes.

“Just because you’re under my protection doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Start talking before I reconsider my position.”

header

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their patience, as I took longer than anticipated to release this fiction. Having a fire near your home and first quarter grades to manage do wonders to your schedule availability. I love and appreciate all of you for your understanding.

There are still three days left to participate in our clan's latest event! There are still plenty of opportunities to place, be recognized, and enjoy some fun comps.

Special thanks to Arden Karn for contributing to the latest fiction. There's plenty more to come.

Let's see some awesome entries from y'all! Remember, the fiction you submit can directly affect Plagueis's storyline.