"My Lord!" A voice cried out from behind me. I slowly turned to see who had called and disturbed my thoughts. It was my padawan, Levik Noveb. "My Lord!" He cried out again. I sighed and waited for him to reach me. "My Lord, I-"

"How many times must I tell you, Levik, not to disturb me while I am strolling through the Valley?!" I said in a quiet but menacing tone. He looked up at me, a frightened look in his eyes. He is a silly child, one who does not know the hardship of battle or death. "I'm sorry my Master, but I had something to discuss with you." I reach out to the Force and feel its strength flow through me, increasing the power of my anger, and I wrap it around his neck. Slowly I squeeze down, causing him to choke. "Havn't I told you before, that patience in the end prevails?! Even a Sith needs to know patience, you should have waitied for me to return to the academy!"

"Yes Master, I'm terribly sorry! Forgive me!" He says through gasps. I release my grip on his neck and let him fall to the ground, panting. His right hand goes up to his throat and he begins to rub it. He is a child, but soon he will learn his lesson. Hopefully he will be able to take the t-i-t-l-e of Dark Lord from me, as my past two apprentices have failed to do. "What is it then, Levik, that you could not wait to tell me?"

"The High Council on Yavin IV has said that we have a new assignment. Apparently some Sith in the Core Worlds have become renegades, and they kill both Jedi and Sith."

"And the Council wishes us to deal with them?"

"Yes, Master Scathe." This is news indeed, it almost makes me forgive him for intruding on my thoughts. However the lesson is still there. I nod. A gust of strong wind blows past us and my cloak billows out from behind me. I hadn't even noticed Levik kneeling before me, I guess I had seen it too many times before so it became ingrained in my sight. "Very well, I will contact the High Council on Yavin and tell them I accept. Go prepare for our departure Levik, and pray that you do not fail me." I say. Levik nods quickly, stands, and rushes towards the flight pads. He is a silly boy, but he is a competant boy as well. I turn to walk towards the academy's cross galaxy comm unit. Hopefully the High Council is still conveining. They will be most anxious to hear that I have accepted the mission.


TBC ... maybe.

P.S.- http://macewindu.ytmnd.com/ .... we were all waiting for this moment, and if you don't admit it, you're lying. May need to refresh.