Standing in an ancient throne room, the Gray Sith Master was motionless, twin sabers in hand and wrapped in black armor. The darkness that made it's home in the room was so intense and powerful that the very lights that danced from his sabers were hushed until they were mere candles in the expanse. There was a throne in the middle of the room with two large braziers bearing dark blue flames in front of it on each side. In the throne with her legs crossed, the golden masked woman, Darth Scurus, sat as she used the force to hold a lithe woman-that Zen recognized as Nyrette-in a force choke. Though she too bore a golden mask upon her face. She struggled for breath as Darth Scurus had her life in the palm of her hand.

Zen stepped forward and two more figures stepped from the darkness. Both with golden masks who's brilliance pierced the darkness. The Gray Sith twirled his sabers in anticipation of battle with the two, but as they drew close, Zen recognized them. One was a woman, a heavy repeating blaster in hand and a grenade launcher on her belt. Quin. The other was robed like him with a bright white saber. Iisska. Zen hesitated as he saw his pupil and friend before him approaching to do their master's bidding.

A sickening snap made Zen's stomach turn upside down as Scurus crushed Nyrette's throat and stood, descending down the steps to join her thrall. Black lightning around her feet made the floor crack and bubble as she built her energy, approaching with a dark intent. Zen shuffled his feet a little and prepared to die.

[i]They, too, will fall to her will.[/i]

____________

Shrugging off the shadows that played at the edges of his mind, Zen refocused on the problem before him. He could feel it and he had no doubt that Iisska did too. A very powerful being was here. One that was building his power like Zen was and could very well match him. His knuckles were white as he gripped onto his sabers. He turned towards the rest of the group, Cheshik, Quin, Nyrette, Iisska, and Marquis, and approached them for a moment. 

"Pik'ire. Take the others back to the ship and prep it for immediate departure."

The fuck?! would be her response as she held her blaster close. She refused to leave after just getting here. They had come here to fight and win money, not run away. But Zen stopped her and she would feel an incredible force push against her skin that left her mind reeling. "Do not contest with my judgement today, Pik'ire. There is a threat that can crush you without a thought. He...is a hunter." He said, crossing his arms. "I can feel him, building his power to challenge my own. He is here for somebody...an alien to our galaxy. I am not sure whom, but his power is...very familiar. A remnant of an old faction of warriors that left their mark on Korriban."

When Zen said Korriban, Nyrette went pale. She remembered that place, an ancient home for the sith and the empire of the past. She had to learn of it in the Imperial Agency. It was one of the places of power and a capital for the ancient empire, and it was one of Darth Scurus' target planets from which to rule. She gripped onto Quin's shoulder and spoke. "It's insane and peculiar, but I think we should listen. Look around." Having been prompted, the party took a glance around the room to see that every contestant was uneasy and nervous. The raw force power that permeated the area from Zen and the Hunter's meditations was leaving an impact on the minds of the people. "She is correct." Marquis said. "Even I can feel it. There is something else at play here that is making me uneasy. Come on. I am not going to risk taking on some ancient warrior for a few more credits when we have enough to live comfortably for another fifty cycles." He grabbed his rifle and motioned for the others to head out. It took Quin a few more moments to accept it, but she nodded and followed Nyrette and the others out. Iisska was just grabbing his things to go with them when Zen stopped him.

"No, Iisska. Not you. You're staying here to fight with me." 

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o19CaOSuD8]Iisska's response was swift and appropriate.[/url] He tried to turn and walk out, but Zen's grip told him that he was genuinely worried. "This hunter will not stop until he has what he has come for. My intuition, and yours no doubt, say that it has to deal with us, so naturally we have to deal with him instead. Here." He handed his white light saber to him, keeping Naga Sadow's for himself. "Whether you like it or not, it will serve you until you finish yours." He sighed. "Doesn't mean you can't punch things though...and it doesn't mean that I still won't punch something bigger than you either." He smiled as they turned. It was then that they noticed that several others in the crowd around them had left as well, taking the cue from Marquis that leaving would probably save their lives.

They were right about that. Leaving will save them a long, agonizing death.