19 Through Passion I gain strength 5 (1/2)
CIS Frigate Midnight Solace
Near Rodia
Outer Rim
The direct way to our objective was blocked by a solid wall of Super Battle droids which had a group of four droidekas with deployed shields in front of them. Between the silver combat robots and the leading destroyers stood a lithe figure who was mostly hidden by a heavy black cloak. Her face was disguised with shadows cast by the hood of her mantle.
The clones following me took what little cover they could find and aimed their weapons at the enemies.
”Asajj Ventress. I wondered when I would run into you.” I whispered barely restraining my irritation.
She was an obstacle that I did not need right now. Securing the reactors was paramount and the short platoon behind me would be unable to deal with that many droids fast. It was time for improvisation.
'I want a missile and combination of frag and Ion grenades all over them on my signal. I'll make sure that Ventress won't sent them our way.' I sent a mental message to the clones who turned their heads towards me in surprise. I gave them a small nod.
”So you are the man who has my master worried. I expected you to be taller.”
I snorted. The idle banter could wait for later when we no longer had audience. I raised my left hand and smirked. Sparks of electricity appeared and started dancing around my palm. Ventress stiffened and took a step back.
The so called Force lightning, more commonly known as Sith Lightning. It was created by the ancestors of my kind a long time ago. Despite some misconceptions and the way it was often used, it was not strictly speaking an offensive power. It was crafted as a way to torture people. Using it as a weapon was inefficient – the lightning needed much more power than the various other offensive techniques Sith had at their disposal in order to make it practical. However if you had the power to burn it was a useful trick to have on your disposal.
I was never interested in senseless torture, the bastards who engineered my wife's death being notable exceptions. Vael's wife damn it!
That's why I modified that technique for my own use. Instead of a wave of 'electricity' which was aimed at creating superficial burns and lighting all your nerves on fire, my variant was more condensed. It was carefully crafted to disable or kill as fast as possible with no power lost to theatrics or unnecessary sadism. Unlike some Sith I knew and had to work with, I knew that war and combat were no games played for one's amusement.
Thin concentrated lighting arched from my outstretched palm. It struck the droideka's shields and staggered the droids. A light tap of my telekinesis was enough to activate my shield. I reversed the grip of my saber to a backhand one and thrust my right hand forward.
”Now!” I shouted.
The Clones were already acting. Grenades were thrown at the wall of robots followed by the distinct sound of missile engine igniting.
Despite its ferocity my lightning attack was little more than distraction. It scrambled the sensors of the destroyer droids and effected at least a bit the targeting capabilities of the SBs behind them. Their return fire was not accurate and my shields absorbed the blaster bolts that hit me. The four clones in the vanguard were not so lucky and fell after enemy shots carved up their armor and seared the flesh within. But it was too late for the droids. I accelerated the missile and grenades with a telekinetic push. What's more I was concentrating on enveloping the ordinance in spheres of Force energy which prevented Ventress attempt to throw the explosives back in our faces. I could feel her shock when she understood that her attempt had failed and death was sailing towards her.
=RK=