Untitled #1 (Michael Cline)

[Sudoku]

He wiped the blood from her mouth, licking it from his thumb. The pink twileks’ body slumped against the wall, staring blankly at her former master, a look of fear permanently frozen on her beautiful features. The cloaked figure rose. He hated Coruscant, and frankly, was surprised that his apprentice would choose this planet, of all the worlds in the galaxy, to reside on. Unfortunately, his apprentices all seemed to congregate here…

<I><center>One year prior…</center>
"Yeah... yeah I do." he said quietly, pulling himself a bit closer to Ky. The moment was quiet, until that silence was torn away by the deafening sound of a blaster bolt.

His crying stopped sharply. "I just want you to know, Ky. I forgive you, and I think I understand what you kept trying to teach me." He leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "But I made a promise, to myself, and to you when you met me Ky... to kill whoever took my family from me. Today, that promise is fulfilled." With that he released him from his grip, pulling the still smoldering blaster away from the stomach of the other boy.

He was so groggy. He felt himself being lifted, carried to some kind of craft. Imperials surrounded him, concerned looks on their faces. Their mouths moved, in slow motion, their voices sounding like they were underwater. His eyes closed, and he sunk into a deep sleep. He would never tell anyone what he saw while he was in the bacta-tank – visions of Leiko, his father, his mother, all goading him. Telling him how much of a failure he was as an adept, being felled by a neonate like Cline. He felt his anger growing, festering in a knotted pit in his stomach.

Once he’d been released from the tank, he remained in Imperial custody. It was disturbingly simple to manipulate them, with or without the Forces’ aid. He’d convinced them he had amnesia, was this poor young man who had no idea where or who he was. Eventually, they allowed him to leave, even going so far as to provide an Imperial escort to Coruscant.</I>

Now here he was, in a cheap hotel room with Gaebel. Well, her corpse. She’d put up a fight, but she couldn’t keep her internal organs from being crushed by the Force. He felt rusty; he took his time in killing her, trying to get back in touch with the Darkside. He could barely sense <I>him</I>, and it would take some digging to find Michael Cline.

[Michael Cline]

*CRACK* The power behind the fist wasn't much, but powered by the force, even with someone with as little training as Michael - it could break bone after a good hit or two. He took a small white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped a bit of blood off of his hands.

"I won't ask too many more times, Mr. Vestril. Where's the money?"

The short, squat Toydarian waved his hands in front of his face.

"I don't have it yet! Just a few more days and I will..." Michael cut him off there, striking him across the face again, and watching him go sprawling over his small shop floor.

"You've had a few days, and a few days more after that, Mr. Vestril! My employer tires of your excuses - and you should know better than to take loans you can't pay back." He stepped towards him with a glare, fists balled, sleeves rolled up. Tock stood at the door of the shop, making sure no one came in, holding Michael's tailored jacket.

"We'll have our pound of flesh, Mr. Vestril - one way or another - for your sake I recommend you find that cash." Cline locked eyes on the small Toydarian and watched the look of fear wash over him, "I... uh... I have some of it! I can give you some, a payment towards what I owe!"

Cline smirked, "Oh, so now you do have some? Alright then, lets see it." Nodding enthusiastically the Toydarian flopped his way to a hidden safe and entered the combination, pulling out a credit chit - and tossed it at Michael. He caught it and examined it. "It'll do for now. I recommend you have the rest the next time I come, or I won't be so nice." he pointed at him, and walked out of the shop, behind Tock.

Once outside he put his jacket back on and walked for the speeder. "Not perfect... but it should at least put a smile on Ms. Sasseeri's face." He looked at the chit with a smirk. Cline had been more deeply involved in the Black Sun aspect of his employment for a short while now - and was learning all the ropes. He had to admit, he rather enjoyed the shake down part of the job.

[Sudoku]

He'd woken up hungry. Sudoku leaned over Gaebel in the bed, squinting hard to read the bedside crono. It was just early enough for him to slip out of the room without anyone noticing him. Not that it mattered -- Gaebels' death would appear as just another twilek whore killed by a john.

He didn't bother to wash up, pulling on his clothes and hooded cloak before grabbing what few things of value he had found in the room. He shut the door quietly, a slight smile on his face, then desended to the empty streets of the lower levels. It was nice, he thought, to walk the streets, not having to push and shove your way to your destination. Coruscant could do with a good murder spree; something to clear the waste from the streets, but he was on a mission.


Several hours of wandering lead him to a small shop. From the window, he could see a small alien nursing a few cuts and bruises. The feeling surrounding this place made him seeth - Cline had been here. The bell above the door jangled as he entered. The alien turned towards him with a scowl.

"We're closed today, buddy, can't you --" his voice squeaked, gurgling from his throat. Sudoku let go, just a little, smiling as sweetly as humanly possible.

"Michael Cline. Where is he?"

A gasp of air. "I don't know...! Honest! I've never even heard of 'im!"

"I'm sorry, that's the <i>wrong</i> answer." Sudoku shook his head, the smile replaced with a look of mock disappointment. His force-grip tightened, taking the breath from the shopkeeper. He didn't have time for games, and he felt his annoyance and anger rising. The aliens' eyes lolled back in its' head, his body going limp.

"Oops." He was genuinely embarassed - his lack of control was unintentional. But luckily, he was certain he'd have more opportunities to practice his skills in his search for Cline.

[Michael Cline]

The speeder pulled to a stop outside of the small restaurant and Michael got out, cracking his back. Tock was right behind him, as they walked inside. The owner of the restaurant was the server as well, it appeared. The restaurant had maybe 3 or 4 people in it tops.

"Afternoon gentlemen, welcome to Ritgerroz - 2 in your party today?"

Michael just smirked and leaned in a bit, "Actually we're here for a pick-up... on your loan." The man's face went white. "Oh... I... I didn't realize that was due already..." Michael sighed, another straggler.

"Well it is, and I'm sure you don't want to suffer... fees... on your investment, right?" the man nodded, glancing towards the kitchen. From his view Michael could see a woman at the door of the kitchen, the cook - and most likely the wife. Places like this were small, family owned after all.

Michael turned his attention back to the older gentleman and sighed a bit, "Well?" He nodded, "I don't have all of it, we're still struggling to get off the ground... but I'll pay you what I have..." Michael smiled and nodded, finally someone who understood the his situation. "That'd be great - my employer is sure to appreciate your prompt payment." the man went into the kitchen, and Michael waited up front.

A few minutes passed, and Michael frowned - walking to the kitchen door and opening it. The man was still back there at least, holding the woman before, who was hysterically in tears. "What's the hold up?" Michael said non-chalantly, as the woman buried her face in his shoulder. "It'll... just be a moment, sir."

Pulling free of his crying wife he handed a credit chit to Michael. "Here... I'll get the rest... somehow." Michael checked the numbers and nodded, "I'm sure you will." He started to turn to leave, and then rubbed his chin a bit, glancing at Tock who was again perched at the doorway, "Uh... hey - before we go..." The owner looked back at him with worry in his eyes. "Can I get something to go, I haven't eaten today."

He glared hatefully, and started to sneer. "I plan on paying for it." Michael insisted, with a roll of his eyes. "We're both business men after all." After a moment he finally nodded, "Alright..." Michael grabbed a menu and flipped through it, still standing at the entrance of the kitchen, well at this point more leaning against the door frame. "I'll just have a burger - gotta eat on the run, you know?" He left the kitchen doorway and went back to wait by Tock. "You want anything big guy?" The imposing male twi'lek just looked at him curiously for a moment. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that..." Michael said with a chuckle.

[Sudoku]

Ritgerroz was small, with only a handful of patrons quietly enjoying their meals. A cloaked figure sat in the corner booth, a half-empty plate in front of him. He watched the scene with the red-head and twilek with a smirk, keeping his force signature hidden. Untill now.

He lazily stretched out, sending a thought into Clines' head. It purred in his ear, leaving a tingle that ran down his spine.

"<i>Hello, Mikey.</i>"

[Michael Cline]

He had a perfect life now, nothing to fear - everything to gain. And two words had brought that all shattering down within his own mind. The dark sunglasses he'd been fiddling with in his hand, as he waited on his order slid free and clattered to the ground. He was sure he looked white as a ghost.

"..."

He glanced through the restaurant, was this a halucination... a nightmare or...

There. He was there in the corner booth. He'd know that feeling anywhere - and now he didn't know what to do. Tell Tock they had to go then and there, run back to Ms. Sasseeri, or confront his old 'friend' then and there... finally he decided and narrowed his eyes. He was different now, stronger - better. "Hey Tock..." he said turning to the large Twi'lek, "I'll be right back, alright?" The enforcer looked confused but didn't try to stop him as he walked towards the booth - slipping his hand down to the ground as he walked to scoop up his expensive sunglasses.

Ms. Sasseeri had given them to him as a gift, and he wasn't about to just leave them there. He sat down across from the cloaked figure, and just stared forward at him, eyes fixated on the few features showing under the hood.

"Didn't I kill you?" He wanted it to sound tough, intimidating - instead it came off confused, and a little too quick. He winced, not the impression he wanted to give, especially to Kyashi...

[Sudoku]

"Maybe."

He grinned. "Maybe I'm just a ghost, Mikey. Maybe not. You tell me."

Sudoku kept one eye on the twilek by the door, folding his hands in front of him on the table. The boy before him hadn't changed much - his clothes were more expensive, and he put up a tough-guy front when he was intimidating the owner. Underneath it, he was the same scared child Kyashi had found on the street; his voice had quivered, he winced.

"Did you really think someone like you could kill me?"

[Michael Cline]

"I wouldn't see why not, Sudoku." he growled low in his throat, and then cleared it slowly, "You're no ghost... I just wasn't thorough enough." He had still been holding the sunglasses in his hand, and folding them slid them into his top pocket.

"What do you want, Ky? I'm a busy man, now." He never took his eyes off of him. Kyashi Hatake, Sudoku. His master, his friend, his family's murderer and now a 'ghost.'

[Sudoku]

Michaels' throat tightened, gripped by an unseen force. His chair pulled back and Kyashi released him.

"Oh, I can tell. Is that your twilek, or the person who bought you all those fancy new things? You've gone from riding my coat-tails to riding someone elses."

[Michael Cline]

He rubbed his throat with a low growl, his other fist clenched. "Careful brother" The word was spat indignantly, "you have no idea what's happened while you were napping... and the Twi'lek is a co-worker."

Tock watched the scene with growing frustration, things at the table had taken a turn towards the aggressive, but Cline hadn't motioned him over yet, and he could have sworn he heard the word brother tossed out in the conversation. Cline had better wrap his talk up, too much longer and he was just going to go ahead and alert Ms. Reeouurra to the situation.

"So you show up to just harass me? Tell me how worthless I am?" he'd had this dream, Ky holding him against a wall, whispering hatred into his ear - telling him how he'd never amount to anything. "Cause if so, I'm gone. I've got a few more stops to make before I head home, and I don't need crap from some two-bit, know-nothing, wannabe king!"

He was tired of cow-towing to Ky, tired of feeling so weak around him, and even behind all that bluster and show, he still couldn't help but feel like he did a year ago. Nothing more than Darth Sudoku's puppet.

[Sudoku]

"No, I came to kill you."

Cline went flying backwards, his chair tipping over and sending him sprawling on the floor. The table flipped up, the china and silverware smashing on the floor. There were gasps from the other patrons, the large albino twilek started towards them only to be pushed roughly out the doors. Furniture groaned, shuffling in front of the door as the remaining customers ran into the kitchen.

The lights flickered as Sudoku moved to stand over Cline. It was just the two of them now, no distractions and no interference. "So, Mikey, are you going to show me what you've learned while I was "napping"?"

[Michael Cline]

He pushed himself off the floor, and glared towards Kyashi.

"Turnabout, fairplay... all that crap, huh?" He clenched his fists, "Fine."

Kyashi wanted to see what had changed, how HE'D changed. He'd be happy to oblige him - after all he didn't have to beat the arogant young Sith, he just had to survive until Tock contacted Ms. Sasseeri and Hell itself fell down upon this shamble of a building.

He reached out with the force, and grabbed Ky by the leg, throwing him off balance face forward towards the ground, following through he jumped from his crouched position, rocketing his fist towards Ky's quickly falling face. He'd have to rely on a lot of surprise if he was gonna take Kyashi down, or at least survive.

[Sudoku]

There was a sickening crunch as Clines' fist caught him hard in the chin. He hit the ground harder, the force of it knocking the wind out of him. Michael was shoved into a table, with the force, while Kyashi got to his feet. The hood of his cloak had fallen back, and he stared Cline down as several large shards of broken plates rose from the ground and flew towards him.

[Michael Cline]

The crash of his own body into the table disoriented him, leaving him far too open for an attack. Opening his eyes as quickly as he could, he was greeted by bits of shattered plate flying for his face, throat and chest.

He brought his hands up before his face and pushed out with the force, most of the shattered dinnerware stopped short, clattering to the ground as Michael put force as much effort in the force as he could, just to try and slow down the much more well trained boys attack. What he wasn't able to stop sped forward, knicking his face and hands in several places, resulting in thin rivers of blood.

"Damnit Kyashi!" He yelled angrily in pain. He had to survive, had to last long enough for assistance to arrive - he wouldn't die like this... he COULDN'T not at Sudoku's hand.

[Sudoku]

He was leaning over the other boy, grabbing him roughly by the collar and dragging him to his feet. He held Michaels' left hand at his side, and leaned closer. Close enough for Cline to feel his soft breath on his cheek, for Kyashi to gently lick a one thin trail of blood from his neck. He pulled back, enough for Cline to see the smirk on his face.

"We could've had so much <i>fun</i>, Mikey. It's a shame you had to ruin it."

[Michael Cline]

He winced under Ky's grasp, moving his head to one side away from Ky's face which seemed to draw ever closer. Ky was holding him down with the force, using his more impressive mastery of it to keep him from escaping his hold.

"I only fulfilled a promise Ky..." he finally choked out, grinding his teeth together slightly. "You killed my family... I killed..." Or at least he thought he had, "you." he swallowed hard, thinking - time. He had to buy himself more time. "I have nothing more against you, as far as I go we're even and..." maybe he could keep him distracted for a while, "there's always time for fun."

[Sudoku]

"Hrmph."

He kept Cline in place with the Force, his right hand moving around his throat. His thumb brushed Clines' cheek as he squeezed every so slightly. An angelic smile spread over the boys' face as a squeak came from Michael as he gasped for breath.

"I can have "fun" with you when you're dead, Michael Cline. Just like I did with that pretty little twilek of mine. I do think that you'll be far more enjoyable to kill then your family was...I hope you won't beg me to spare you like they did."

[Michael Cline]

He growled at the force being put upon his throat and snarled slightly. He was going to kill him, here and now - kill him and do who knows what to him, he didn't have anymore time, he didn't make it.

"I did it for you..." He gasped out from behind a constricted airway. "To stop..." he growled again, still unable to breath, and now barely talk, "...disappointing you. I'm sorry, Ky, I'm sorry I didn't live up... to what you wanted."

[Sudoku]

Kyashi closed his eyes, biting his lip as his grip tightened; Cline could feel the grip on his arms loosen, moving up to his neck as well. The pressure grew, and the last thing Michael heard as his vision blurred was Kyashi letting out a satisified sigh.

<center>--------</center>

When Michael awoke, he was no longer in the restaraunt. He went to sit up, only to find his wrists and ankles were bound to a bed in some barely lit room. His expensive suit was folded neatly on a nearby plush chair, and he could hear the faint sounds of the fresher turning on in an unseen bathroom.

[Michael Cline]

He pulled against one restraint, the bed rattled slightly at his attempts. He was disoriented, things still a touch blurry around the edges - with some time he'd be able to focus use the force and get himself free of the restraints.

He doubted he had that much time. He knew Ky well enough to know just how sadistic the young Sith could be, and he wasn't precisely looking forward to quality time with the man who had at one time called his brother.

[Sudoku]

Through the sound of the fresher, Michael could hear three distinct voices - one male, two female. Giggles, laughing, moans and groans echoed into the bedroom, then quieted down once the fresher stopped. A young green skinned woman, a falleen, and a bright pink zeltron came out of the bathroom, stopping to plant pecks on Sudokus' cheeks before giggling their way out of the room.

Kyashi ruffled his hair with a soft-looking white towel, dressed in a hotel robe. He flashed Cline a grin, much like one he'd given the boy on the day they first met. "I hope you don't mind that I invited some friends to the party. I figured you'd want to have some fun before the end -- too bad you were too out of it to fully enjoy it."

[Michael Cline]

"Yeah, a real shame, Ky." He tugged at his restraint again, he didn't particularly care if Sudoku saw him do it. Kyashi had made it clear he planned on killing the youth, so why should he go out quietly? To die with dignity? Frell that noise, he wouldn't beg, he wouldn't plead, but he sure as force wasn't going to go down without a word.

"Preciate the kind thoughts..." he said again looking at the restraint, he was starting to get his focus back, a minute or two more and he should be able to loosen the bonds, slip free, and then what? Make another go on Kyashi, try killing his old friend again? He'd tried that, it'd been a year, but he'd just come back again.

"Vengeful, aren't you Ky?" he tried to keep the conversation going, keep him talking until he could free himself. "But I gotta know, since this is the end, as you've told me - what are you vengeful over, the fact that I shot you... or the fact that you didn't see it coming?" And all he could do was smirk.

"He smirked in the face of death." It'd look good on his tombstone.

[Sudoku]

"Neither."

He tossed the towel onto the end of the bed, letting it drape over Clines' leg. The boy sat down on the bed beside him, crossing one leg over the other, resting his ankle on his knee.

"I'm more...disappointed that the Force would lead me to such a dead-end. I had high expectations for you, for myself, and they've yet to pass. I may have to spare you in order to get what I want, but," he smirked back. "That doesn't mean I can't have some fun tormenting you first."

[Michael Cline]

He would have smiled there, at the news that his life may not be over just yet after all. However, the look Kyashi gave him, he knew that look. He'd seen that look - he remembered how Ky looked at the girl he'd gotten his blaster from, how he'd grinned as they'd tried to force her into the trunk of the speeder.

Part of him wanted to get free, strangle Ky and go back to his life. A quieter part wanted to go back to how it had been, Kyashi was back now - and he still needed training, training that he was planning on doing himself and realized was going to very difficult.

"You sure that's smart, Ky? I mean if you have to 'spare me' to get what you want, you sure it's a great idea to put us at even greater odds apart...?"

[Sudoku]

"I don't know," he shrugged lightly, and sighed. He really had no idea WHAT he'd do with Cline now that he had him. Keep him for a while untill he had his fill, then leave for dead somewhere? Or let him go with the knowledge that Sudoku was still out there and could kill him at anytime? Maybe he'd have to flip a coin and leave Michaels' fate up to the Force.

He laid down next to the other boy, sort of snuggling into his shoulder. Sudoku looked up at the red-head through a few strands of dark wet hair.

"Part of me would like to keep you, in spite of your...mistake on Naalol. But I know things can't go back to how they were."

[Michael Cline]

His mind was clear enough to get free if he wanted to. He glanced at Ky, who had curled up next to him - he was good. By now he probably realized the restraints wouldn't hold Michael for that much longer, and was playing into old feelings of loyalty.

"Part of me would like to keep you, in spite of your...mistake on Naalol. But I know things can't go back to how they were."

He shook his head, "No, they can't." He didn't bother with the restraints, not yet at least. He wouldn't be able to stay like this for long though, Ms. Sasseeri was probably pitching a fit over his disappearance, and he'd hate to see Ky killed, again, now that he wasn't threatening him anymore.

He had been seriuos about what he said, he'd 'killed' Ky, and had gotten over that part of his life. If anything, he owed Kyashi. If he hadn't become entangled in his life, he would never have gotten to this point, or met Ms. Sasseeri.

[Sudoku]

He felt...scared. Confused. He didn't feel this way often; when he'd laid half-dead on the floor of the cabin, when he'd woken up in the bacta tank, surrounded by Imperials, maybe he was a little frightened then, but he always believed the force would guide him. Now he felt lost, like a small child who wandered away for a moment, came back and couldn't find his parents. Since his "death", it had been hard to connect back to the force. It wasn't there as constantly as it had been.

He let out a heavy sigh, and rested his head on Michaels' stomach. "I just...don't know what to do anymore, Michael. I'm adrift, and the force isn't there to anchor me."

[Michael Cline]

And now he was confused. He'd never seen Kyashi like this - Ky was strong, Ky was fierce, a bit insane, but never... like this. It could be a trick, for all he knew, the other boy trying to string him along, play his emotions like he had done before so well. He'd have to see one way or another...

"I don't suppose you'd remove these restraints, would you? Don't worry, I'm not going to run, but maybe we could talk... you know?"

[Sudoku]

He sat up, nodding, reached over and untied him. Kyashi sat back on the bed, pulling his knees towards him, resting his head on them.

"Tell me what you've been doing since you left me."

[Michael Cline]

He rubbed his wrists and blinked. Kyashi had no more than a few hours earlier wanted his death, and had worked rather hard to try and accomplish it. Now he wanted to chat and catch up.

If there was one thing that held true about Kyashi Hataki, it was that he is very... bi-polar. He smiled a bit, it was nice, talking with him again. He wanted to keep doing it, but... he didn't want Ms. Sasseeri upset, or scrounging the town looking for him. He'd need to get ahold of her soon, before she tore Coruscant to the ground to reclaim her 'property'.

"Well, I was on the streets for a bit, that was before I met my employer." He had to be careful with what he said, Ky wasn't stupid, and he couldn't afford to give him any information that could be used against him, or Ms. Sasseeri.

"Now? First class all the way. I... I wish I could tell you everything Kyashi - I do." he shook his head, "But I can't."

[Sudoku]

He quirked a brow at the other boy, and shrugged.

"If you say so."

He stretched out on the bed yet again, his feet resting on one of the pillows, his arms folded behind his head.

"And this, employer, she treats you well? Better than I did?"

[Michael Cline]

"She's pretty good." He sighed, standing up and going to where his clothes had been neatly folded and throwing his pants back on, before sitting across from the dark haired boy.

"As for better than you... she hasn't tried to kill me yet, at any rate." He smirked a bit.

[Sudoku]

"I only tried to kill you once, and that's because you "killed" me first, if you remember correctly."

He laughed, shaking his head. His voice took on a slightly more serious tone, but a smile remained on his lips.

"Have you been in contact with any of the others?"

[Michael Cline]

"Only Gaebel, and I haven't seen her since we got to Coruscant."

He picked at his ear a bit, "I need to contact my employer soon, actually..." he sighed, "You feel like grabbing something to eat before I do that though?"

He was ignoring the questions mostly, though still giving the truth to the young Sith.

[Sudoku]

"Ah. Some food would be nice, actually."

Kyashi rolled off the bed, tossing the robe he was wearing across the end of the bed. He disappeared into the bathroom, returning a few moments later dressed in a black t-shirt, jeans and trainers. He stuffed his room key-card into his front pocket.

"Got any idea where you want to go?"

[Michael Cline]

He finished dressing and reached his hands into his pockets, checking his items. Ky didn't seem to have taken anything - though he had no idea what he'd done while he was out cold. Frankly... he didn't really want to know what all had happened while he was out of it.

"Someplace close - I'm not even sure where we ARE."

[Sudoku]

"A few levels down from the diner." Kyashi was already opening the door and leading the way to the lift.

"There's a resteraunt in the hotel, we can eat there if you like."

[Michael Cline]

"Sounds like as good a place as any." he yawned a bit, stretching and heading to the door - it opened with little difficulty and Sudoku and Cline headed to the lobby level.

A little dinner - smooth things over with his former 'master' and Cline'd get back to his job, and life. All things considered this had turned out better than he had expected, perhaps he could even use Sudoku, he'd make a good ace up his sleeve if he ever needed to fall back on someone. He'd learned many things from both Kyashi and Ms. Sasseeri - the most important one, always be prepared, for ANY possibility.