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| “Yes ma'am I do,” Coop took a deep breath as he explained the incident that took place and all the details of what happened. | | “Yes ma'am I do,” Coop took a deep breath as he explained the incident that took place and all the details of what happened. |
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| === Homecoming === | | === Hunting Asajj === |
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| | Coop entered the briefing room where Prelate L’eonheart stood. Coop sat before the Prelate, whom seemed to be deep in thought as he looked over Coops briefing. Prelate L’eonheart ran his hand through his long brown braids before addressing Coop. |
| | “Do you know who Asajj Ventress is?” Prelate L’eonheart inquired. |
| | “I recognize the name from the clone war records but I can not recall the specifics sir.” Coop began searching his mind for any info associated with his name. |
| | “I also remember something about one of her followers,” Coop continued on the Prelates nod, “He was called Savage Opress, during his assault on the temple of Eedit he killed two jedi, a master Halsey and his apprentice Knox. He ended up being the long lost brother of Darth Maul and a considerable pain in Ventress’ plans in the end, but I don’t know much beyond that she trained him and trained with him.” |
| | “You are correct but you lack all the details, after a fight between her master Dooku and a pair of jedi she was mortally wounded and thought to be dead.” Mirado paused as he sat down, “She was loaded on a medical ship called Bright Flight, which just showed up on Pieralos. Your records indicate you grew up just south of there. Is that True?” |
| | “Yes sir.” Coops thought began to race. His home world was not a place where outsiders would find it easy. Coop knew his contacts would have good intel on his targets location. |
| | “We need you to engage Assajj Ventress in Pieralos and find out her motives,” Mirado looked at the datapad with concern, “and if she is not acting in our best interests you are to engage and detain her or terminate her only if necessary, remember she is a master in the Niman style.” |
| | “Yes sir,” Coop rose and began to leave. |
| | “Guardian,” Coop paused and looked over his shoulder at the Prelate, “Be very cautious Assajj is a very,” Mirado paused, “unique adversary, remember your training and you should be fine.” |
| | “Yes sir,” Coop exited the briefing room and made his way to the shuttle bay where he boarded the Naga Sadow shuttle. After a few hours Coop stepped off the shuttle onto Glee Anselm. |
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| | The Pieralos shuttle Port was unusually busy that afternoon as Coop made his way to the Customs officer. |
| | “Do ya have any off world plants or livestock?” |
| | “Do I look like I am dragging a banth along where ever I go.” |
| | The customs officer looked up from his screen and recognized the dark jedi brotherhood battle garments. He clicked a few buttons before continuing. |
| | “Do ya have any weapons on you?” |
| | Coop pulled his robe to the side revealing his and his twin brothers lightsaber. |
| | “That would be a no.” The Nautolan pressed a few more buttons before he spoke again, “you are cleared to move everywhere on Glee Anselm, welcome home Coop.” |
| | Coop smiled and nodded as he moved past the customs officer. Coop entered the atrium of the Shuttle port and looked around for any of his contacts. Coop saw one he could count on so he slowly made his way over until he came up to the Kiosk and began to browse. The white skinned nautolan did not look up from what he was doing as he began to talk. |
| | “So ‘you’ are back in town,” the man shot Coop a gaze over his datapad, “must be some big game in town.” |
| | “Don’t play games with me,” Coops stated as he put down a datapad, “have you seen a Dathomiri woman? I am not sure if she was alone or with another but she would be bald or she could have any length of brown hair.” |
| | The white skinned nautolan looked across the atrium at two cloaked figures standing at another kiosk. |
| | “There is a nightsister and possibly a nightbrother with her but she is definitely dathomiri.” |
| | Coop fished in his pocket for a few credits and laid them on the counter of the kiosk and nodded at the contact before he made his way to the two cloaked figures. Coop stayed out of direct contact before he could get a visual on the shorter of the two whom he presumed to be his target. One of the cloaked figures stood at approximately coops size and the other being significantly shorter at approximately a foot shorter around five foot. |
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| | The shorter of the two looked up at the taller one and said something. Suddenly both of the cloaked figures looked Coop dead in the eyes. He suddenly realized that he was looking the target in the eyes. The taller figure was Assajj but the shorter one looked like a younger more youthful version of Assajj. Assajj had let her hair grow out in a deep auburn brown. Coop was struck by her sheer beauty but he did not waiver in this stare off. |
| | “Ma’am, could I possibly speak with you in private,” Assajj’s smirk cut like a blade as she nodded. |
| | “It seems the powers at play would have words with me.” Assajj moved towards a nearby alleyway. As they entered the alley she moved to a defensive spot near a door she positioned the young woman behind her. |
| | “So who may I ask is irritating me?” Assajj’s rage and irritation was evident in her tone. |
| | “I am Guardian Coop Ter’An of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood,” Coop paused as he produced a datapad, “My leadership would like to talk with you.” |
| | “You mean they want to know her motives and if they benefit your group?” |
| | Coop paused as he looked at the young woman who had poked her head out from under Assajj’s elbow. Then it hit Coop. This was her daughter. |
| | “How old is she?” Coop directed the question at Assajj. |
| | “I do not believe that is any of your business,” Assajj snapped back as her hands went to her hips where her lightsabers rested. Coop could feel her irritation welling up. |
| | “I am fifteen mister,” the girl squeaked as Assajj shot her a look. |
| | “Fifteen, eh?” Coop smiled as he crouched down to look up at the teenage girl, “You must be a natural with a light…” |
| | “Mister Ter’An I will ask you not to continue that statement,” the look that Assajj shot at Coop was more of a threat than a caution, “My daughter is not and will never be versed in such things.” The tone of Assajj’s voice warned Coop not to continue but Coop didn’t take threats or warnings very well. |
| | “Is that your choice young one?” |
| | “Mister Ter’An I will not ask you again.” |
| | “Assajj Ventress I don’t think you want to attack a local on this planet.” Coop threatened. Assajj’s glare could have melted ice. “You were once the peak of Niman but you are no longer a piece on the board with any weight behind it. You are not an allied or enemy Queen, just a rogue pawn whom needs to decide where her allegiances lay. |
| | “If you must know I am teaching my daughter the ways of your people,” She paused as a smile spread across her face, “And you should not threaten someone who has powerful and influential friends.” |
| | Coop could hear [HER] the men as they entered the alley. The smile on Coops face was almost one of joy as he removed the fastener just below his neck. The dark green cloak fell to the floor as Coop produced his neon green lightsaber in his left hand. With a smirk to Assajj and a flick of his wrist coop spun around to meet the two men who were both wielding red lightsabers. Coop produced his other lightsaber that he had taken from his older twin brother. Coop flipped his wrist and produced the sapphire blade of his brothers saber in his right hand. Coop smiled as the two rogue sith looked at each other. |
| | “Well boys shall we tango?” Coop waded into the two sith with one saber held high and the other at hip level as he spun. The Sith easily defended the simple attack. Coop had privately been training with a few masters of Niman so he had a rudimentary knowledge of the fighting style. Coop held his own against the two sith soldiers. Coops parried one high and the other low and struck out when he could but he was at a disadvantage with the two sabers. His fighting was clumsy but effective for defense. Coop force jumped [JMP] back and away from the sith and deactivated his brothers sapphire lightsaber before he replaced it on his hip and fell into his more comfortable banlanth form. |
| | “This is way more fun,” Coops smile could have been seen from orbit, “I like these odds, two on one seems fair enough.” |
| | “Don’t get too over confident Jedi scum,” one of the sith soldiers bellowed before he made a sprinting charge in at Coop. |
| | “Wait,” Coops upraised hand stopped the sith short, “you think I am a Jedi?” |
| | “You carry two weapons of the Jedi.” |
| | “No I just don’t like the color red,” Coops statement caused both sith to look at each other, “I am a guardian in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood you idiots.” |
| | “Well which house are you with?” |
| | “Well that is none of your dang business.” |
| | “Then you are lying!” The other sith exclaimed. |
| | “I don’t have time to argue semantics with either of you idiots.” Coop waded back into the fray with the two sith. The sith on his left was a zabrak and the one on the right looked human. Coop brought an arcing slash across his chest from his right to his left knocking the zabraks downward slash into the ground. Coop then spun to his left and brought his saber in an upward slash between himself and the human sith. The move brought his saber in behind the humans head level slash. Coop ducked under the blow and redirected the saber as he turned his hips to the left. The Zabrak turned right into his partners attack. As the human realized what had happened Coop close in on his undefended back and plunged the green lightsaber through his back and out his chest. Coop deactivated his lightsaber and turned to Assajj. |
| | “Now that is over with may we continue with our inane posturing or will you talk with my leadership.” |
| | “I would not be as easy as them to take down. You have a solid ability with banlanth form which you combine with your creativity making watching your simple fighting fun. But you lack the pure ability to take me down.” Coop’s smirk never left his face as he spun his lightsaber, “Yet you don’t stand down from the challenge. I don’t know if that is arrogance or confidence, but you clearly do not fear me.” |
| | “So will you speak with my leadership?” Coop asked again. |
| | “I have one condition.” Assajj took a less violent stance. |
| | “Sure why not.” |
| | “You do not mention to your masters who she is.” The love in Assajj Ventress’ eyes was unexpected and caught Coop off guard. He had read all the mission data on her and how she was cruel and violent, yet in front of him he saw a loving mother, not the assassin turned sith lord.” |
| | “If she is seen they will know you two are almost clones.” |
| | “Where will we be going for this meeting?” |
| | “I will have to contact my leadership in a moment.” |
| | “Then if you don’t mind I would like to take my daughter shopping she needs some new cloths.” |
| | “That is fine I will be close by, I will contact you when they are ready for you ma’am.” |
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| | Coop kept tight surveillance on Assajj as he contacted his superiors. |
| | “Master L’eonheart I have made contact with the target.” |
| | “I copy Guardian Ter’An was she any trouble?” |
| | “No sir, she actually never drew her lightsaber, she did agree to meet with you can you get that set up?” |
| | “Yes I just arrived at Pieralos Space Port. I will have our men stationed here set up a secure location for us to meet. I will send you the coordinates.” |
| | “Yes sir I will reestablish contact with Ventress and we will make our way to the coordinates.” |
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| | Coop made his way to Assajj through the crowd. |
| | “Ma’am, I made contact with my superiors, one of them is on world and is securing a location to meet.” |
| | “I sense him when he set foot on the planet.” |
| | “It should only take a short time to secure a meeting location,” as Coop spoke his datapad on his wrist lit up with the coordinates, “Assajj it is time to meet them. Do you want to leave your daughter somewhere?” |
| | “No, she might as well come,” Assajj turned to Coop, “ I want your word that you will not let anything happen to her if this goes bad.” |
| | “Why would you want me to do that?” |
| | “Because you don’t seem that big of a fool to anger me or the people I am affiliated with.” |
| | “I don’t think this meeting will go that bad,” Coop paused and looked at the teenager, “Why don’t you commit her to training she seems like she would do very well.” |
| | “I have given it some serious thought,” Assajj paused and looked at her daughter, “And I never was able to convince myself, she is my princess.” |
| | “Well if you ever do, the Brotherhood has some great trainers.” Coop paused as he looked at his datapad. |
| | The three set out from the space port and met up with the Prelates security detail who escorted them to the facility. |
| | As Assajj entered the meeting room Coop took up a position in the corner with Assajj’s daughter. Coop leaned down and whispered into Assajj’s daughters ear. |
| | “Not a word.” Coop stood back up and nodded to Prelate L’eonheart as he entered the room. The Prelate made his way to the seat across from the table from Assajj. He sat and began flipping through the file on the datapad infront of him. |
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| | “So you were supposed to be dead.” Mirado looked up from his datapad into the pale blue eyes of Assajj, “How have you stayed off the radar up until now?” |
| | “Smart movement, and elimination of problems with quick decisive action.” Assajj’s answers were quick and to the point. Coop didn’t know if Mirado was impressed or irritated. After three hours of questioning the big one came up. |
| | “So who is the young lady traveling with you?” Assajj looked into Mirado’s eyes and took a deep breath. |
| | “She is my daughter.” |
| | Silence fell in the room. Looks were shot in the direction of the girl and Coop placed his right hand on the young girl’s shoulder. As the initial shock wore off and Mirado continued Coop leaned in and whispered something into the girl’s ear who then whispered something back into his. |
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| | “What is your name young one?” Coop had asked. |
| | “My name is Talia, Talia Ventruss.” |
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- "He who has not learned to obey, cannot be a good leader"
- ―Coop Ter'An
Coop Ter'An is a blue skinned nautolan from Glee Anselm. He was born into a clan that had a reputation for a large population of blue skinned nautolans.
Character History
Coop Ter'An grew up in a small village just south of the Pieralos. The capital city of the Nautolan race. He grew up in a small village not worrying about many cares of life. Coop had rarely ever seen a human and most of them where friendly fishers. Coop had two brothers and three sisters. He was the only blue Nautolan in his family and the tribe they lived with.
Bad happenings
28 ABY
Coop's childhood was spent swimming around in the deep underwater caverns with his two brothers. One day when he was young his two older brothers left him behind at the village. He was busy talking to some human so they decided to leave without him. Coop didn't realize they had left until they where already in the water and out of sight. Coop knew the region well so he went into the water. After about an hour of searching for his two brother he found a small dagger just floating in the water. Coop moved in and instantly recognized it as his oldest brothers hunting dagger. He looked around to see if they where trying to sneak up on him. Something just didn't feel right about it. He moved to the surface where he saw a ship move up and off the water. Coop hurried back home to find no one had even noticed the boy's disappearance. He talked to his parents, who petitioned their chieftain to send out a search party. The Chieftain denied the families pleas. Coop could feel the rage building in his chest as he picked up a nearby warrior's axe and let it fly at the chieftain. He never saw his brothers since that day. His family has presumed them dead.
Drunken Disaster
31 ABY
Coop was cleaning a fish with his brothers knife when he heard the commotion coming from outside. Coop exited the hut to see his fathers human friend beating him to a bloody pulp. Coop ran at the two and barreled into his father's assailant. Coop spun up with his brother's knife in a reverse grip ready for the drunken mans attack. The man didn't let Coop down. He came forward with a tree branch in one hand and a bottle of Whiskey in the other. Coop didn't even think twice. He brought the blade of the knife across the mans throat and watched him bleed out at his feet. The local law enforcement arrested him on murder charges but the charges where completely dropped after a holocron containing the video of the fight surfaced in the evidence. When Coop got home he barricaded himself in his room and stayed there for two weeks before emerging with his pack on his back and his brothers dagger on his waist. He never said a thing to his parents. He just left.
One fateful Afternoon
32 ABY
Coop received a holocron with some directions on it. He followed them to the site where a small shuttle was waiting there for him. He paused once to look back over his shoulder before climbing aboard.
Faithful Clash
Coop looked around him as his haze of intoxication finally wore off. Coop Looked around at the windowless room. 'Where am I?' Coop thought to himself as he rubbed his eyes and took account of all of his equipment. Once Coop took a full account of himself and his surroundings he realized the only thing he was missing was a very large sum of credits.
Coop scratched his face as he knelt down to assess the extent of the damage on the Twi'Lek's body. Coop could tell this man was viciously assaulted with a lightsaber and the deep burn in his upper right arm coincided with damage created by a standard issue military sniper rifle system. Coop was surprised the Twi'Lek wasn't missing that arm entirely.
Coop investigated the Twi'Lek's pockets and discovered a substantial amount of credits on him. 'Hmm, this will almost double the losses for the night,' Coop thought to himself as he counted it. Coop remembered seeing this armor around. 'I know this armor,' Coop dug through his memories before it came back to him. Coop felt dumb for not recognizing the armor at first.
“A merc,” Coop said aloud as he rose and made his way to the door where the distant sound of speeders humming through the atmosphere could be heard. As Coop reached down he realized the door did not have any form of handle or access pad. Coop could feel his annoyance and rage begin to boil.
Coop thought maybe the pad was hidden for some form of sleekness. Coop reached out with the force to see if he could detect anything in the walls or on the other side of the wall. Coop fell a sudden wall in the force around him. 'What in the...' Coop thought to himself. He had never been stopped so abruptly and suddenly. “Well door,” Coop said with a smile, “you have elected to open by the way of pain.”
With a flip of his wrist coop produced his emerald lightsaber and gave it a violent spin before he plunged it hilt deep into the metal door with a wry smirk. Coop was surprised to find that the door was not that think and that it cut easily. Coop had a medium sized doorway cut out before he stepped back and deactivated his emerald blade with a whiz and a light pop from the release of the arc. Coop gave the mercenary one last glance over his shoulder before he made his way through the door.
Coop exited the doorway only to find four men with brandishing lightsabers and in the attire of a jedi. Coop's wry smirk returned as he reached out with the force to assess the power of the four men standing before him. Coop recognized one of the men as a Nautolan from his childhood. 'Small galaxy,' Coop thought to himself as he reignited the saber and took a standard banlanth stance before the men. Coop couldn't feel much control of the force or emotion from any of the men so they couldn't be more than padawan learners or newly appointed Jedi knights.
Coop knew which one was going to attack him first just by reading the force that emanated off him. Coop's constant training of his precognitive abilities was finally paying off. Coop deflected the novice downward slash with a slight flick of the wrist bringing his lightsaber from his right to his left in front of him. After bating the mans attack aside Coop stepped to his right and spun back to his left bringing his lightsaber across the mans shoulders. The man's face was still a look of bewilderment as his head rolled across the floor to a stop at the Nautolan Jedi's Feet.
“Quick, if you don't scurry back to your master,” Coop's smirk reemerged, “You may end up like your friend here, lacking in the head department, and I hear they are an important appendage to keep attached.” The three remaining men tossed glances back and forth before they all nodded. The one to Coop's far right charged in for a stab that a blind Wookie could have seen a mile off. With one movement Coop smacked the mans charge to the right with a downward slash from across his body.
With a quick turn of his wrist, the man that charged in at Coop, didn't even realized the Sith's lightsaber was buried hilt deep in his chest until he fell slain at Coop's feet.
“Next.”
Coop smiled as the last two showed signs of a wavering confidence. Coop changed his tactics and charged the two. As he charged Coop hit the Nautolan Jedi in the chest with a force push that sent the man flying into the wall behind him. Coop could sense the remaining Jedi's swing and easily dodged to his left. The man's swing flew wildly past Coop which caused him to stumble past the Sith. Coop came in fast behind the man, grappling him to the ground and stabbing him in the throat.
The Jedi's passing was not quick nor was it painless as he laid on the ground gasping in agony as his life faded from existence. Coop squared off with the final combatant. The Nautolan was named Glik Ter'An. He was one of Coop's classmates from childhood. Coop was not impressed with the Nautolan's ability. His rudimentary knowledge of banlanth was a joke. The Nautolan didn't even have a strong connection with the force. This fight wouldn't even provide Coop with a smidgen of entertainment, let alone a test of skill.
Coop spun to his left with his saber out wide, smacking the Nautolan's lightsaber out wide to his left. Coop just spun his saber in circles as he waited for Glik to attack. Glik stood there looking from his fallen comrades to his old classmate who stood there shrouded in black standing over their corpses.
“So,” Glik flinched as Coop broke the silence, “You have three options,” Coop paused to wait for Glik to tear his gaze from his dead friends, “Glik isn't it?” Glik nodded with out looking away from the bodies, “option one is you can flee as fast as you can, you may survive,” Coop paused as Glik looked up at him, “depends if I feel like chasing you across this planet, the second option is you attack like these three idiots and I kill you,” Glik's eyes locked on to Coop's lightsaber, “or you could give in to your grief and hate and join the winning team.” Coop changed his stance with his hands out wide. Coop was goading Glik into attacking him. Any Jedi worth his weight in gold would never fall for this little trick. Glik was not worth his weight in gold.
Glik's stare changed to a smirk. He charged in at Coop with a downward slash. Coop smiled as he burst into motion. He stepped to left as he swiped Glik's attacked to the side. This movement put Coop's emerald saber behind the lavender blade of Glik, and with a light pull from Coop's left to his right Glik fell to his knees as his head bounced across the floor. His face still holding onto the look of puzzlement as Coop deactivated his lightsaber and made his way to a screen. He opened the user logs and searched the names and dates before he came upon something that bothered him immensely. Coop read the info out loud to ensure he was reading it right.
“Log 382, Jedi Knight Coog Ter'An, Capture of Lord Macron Goura Sadow's Apprentice.” Coop felt like he had just been hit by the Grand Master's strongest force push. One of Coop's missing brothers was a Jedi.
Coop took several moments before he gathered his thoughts of his brother and the feeling of elation that welled up inside him.
As Coop exited the corridor he was in, he walked out on to a shuttle landing pad. There was one definitive problem as he look around with irritation. There was no shuttle to steal. Coop's plan was shot to pieces as he stood there looking around. Coop knew he couldn't pull a shuttle down while it moved at top speed, so he would have to improvise. The problem was Coop couldn't concentrate on the task at hand. His thoughts on his brother being a Jedi were to much to concentrate through.
Coop finally decided to sit and meditate to see if he could calm his nerves. Suddenly the steady hum of a shuttle's approach broke his concentration. Coop knew that this was not a shuttle he wanted to have to confront but the fight was inevitable. Coop rose and brandished his emerald lightsaber as he paced back and forth bringing back all the memories of hatred, of anger, and emotion he could use to win this fight.
The shuttle came to a hovering halt as the bay door lowered and a single form descended to the landing pad. The man turned and brandished his blue lightsaber and took a combat stance. Coop still could not see the man's face but he knew it was Coog. As the shuttle ascended to a safe distance Coop's adversary was revealed. The blue skinned Nautolan that stood across from him was his older brother Coog Ter'An. Coop's emotions became resolute. He would either turn his brother to the dark side of the force or he would destroy him.
“Well ain't this an unpleasant surprise,” Coop announced to his brother, “two brothers pitted against one another in a live or die scenario, man this is really going to suck to have to put you down.”
“Coop, it's not too late to change your wa...” Coop's upraised hand silenced his brother.
“No need to even try, I am quite happy where I am Coog,” Coop could not hold his smile in any longer, “See I enjoy destroying things and not being looked down on for it.”
“Coop, if you will not listen to me then listen to our older brother,” Coog relaxed his stance as he looked for some sort of sign of Coop's reaction. Coop just smirked and stood there.
“So where is our older brother Coog?” Coop asked as he began to pace back and forth slowly, “by the way, whats with the dead merc back there?”
“He tried to defend you when we took you into custody.”
“Really,” Coop said with a chuckle, “I have no idea who that merc was but he looks like you guys had a hard time with him.”
“Yes, he fault like one possessed, he kept saying that we would regret the day we tried to cross the dark brotherhood.”
“So where is Caas?” Coop asked as he slowly felt his irritation boiling over.
“He will be here momentarily,” Coog replied with a smirk, “patience little brother.”
“See patience is not,” Coop's voice began to grow a threatening tone as his emotions fine tuned into a solid rage, “one of my strong suits!” Coop cleared the distance between the two nautolans almost instantaneously. Coop lead with a downward swing that his brother easily blocked. Coop turned to his right, putting his back to his brother and spun his emerald blade out wide with his left hand as he ducked down dodging his brother's horizontal slash from Coop's left to his right as he spun around to attack him again. Coop brought his blade up in a diagonal slash that Coog dodged by ducking to his left. Coop could sense his brother's next move as he brought his saber in a full circle to block his brother's horizontal slash. With a push Coop disengaged the two lightsabers which fed into his brother's momentum as he spun around to try the other side. Coop's emerald blade was waiting for him as it collided with Coog's sapphire blue lightsaber. The ensuing sparks from the collision caused Coog to retreat quickly out of range of his brother so that he could reattain his full visual spectrum. Coop didn't waste any time as he erupted with a burst of speed towards his brother and aimed a dual-handed downward slash at his disoriented brother. Coop's emerald blade was stopped just shy of his older brother's head by a lavender blade. Coop looked to his right where a cloaked figure stood holding the lightsabers intricate hilt.
“That is no way to treat your twin brother Coop,” The man's voice soothingly slipped from beneath the cloak and like tendrils bored their way into his subconscious mind. Coop shook it off as he realized who the man was. Coop spun to his right bringing his lightsaber across the throat of the cloaked man. The man was fast but not fast enough to have the fastener to his hood removed. The cloak laid clumsily over the man's face.
“You show some skill with a lightsaber little brother.”
“And you show none Caas,” as Coop called his oldest brothers name the cloaked figure tossed his shroud to the ground behind him.
“I bet you want some answers,” Coop stopped Caas with an upraised hand.
“How many Jedi do I have to humiliate and kill for you to get the clue, I like where I am at,” Coop reached his hand out and could feal the tendrils of energy course down his arm as he wrenched Coog's lightsaber from his hand, “Oh, and I was wondering, is that your weakness or something, I think I have shut up two of you today with just my upraised palm, are you that weak willed that you would just shut up, is my palm that scary?!?” Coop was using this diversionary tactic as not only a way to gain a little time now that he had caught the attention of some onlookers with speeders, but also a way to build up his rage just in case he had to actually stand and fight both of his brothers. Coop's waste of time paid off as a lone speeder came within his jumping distance. Coop didn't squander the chance.
Coop burst into motion towards the craft. With a flick of his wrist Coop threw a crate toward the incapacitated Coog and leaped the expanse, landing on the civilian craft. Coop lifted the lone driver and plunged his lightsaber through his chest, wounding him mortally and then threw him at his older brother who would have to give up the pursuit to save the man's life.
As Coop sped off towards the safe house Caas helped Coog up to his feet.
“Juliet one, we need emergency personnel at holding area Zulu, one civilian with a lightsaber wound to the chest,” Caas turned to the three dead bodies, “also inform the council that we have four funeral rights to perform, Master Caas out.”
“Master Caas,” Coog approached his older brother, “I am sorry I was not strong enough, he has been lead to far off the path to be brought back to the light.”
“Its sad,” Master Caas replied, “it was our fault for keeping him in the dark about us leaving.”
Coop's mind was racing as he arrived at the safe house and gave them his entrance codes. His brothers were both alive and both Jedi. How did they get to where they were and why did they not contact him or his family. Coop could only think of one reason.
It all came together as he sat down in the interrogation room. His family and clan all knew they had left and that telling him would only make him want to leave and join them. What good that did for them to keep this secret. He had just left anyway. Coop was infuriated at the notion that his entire clan had deceived him. They would meet their reckoning day, Coop would ensure that. Coop looked up at the man before him. A human female with brown hair and blue eyes sat across from him.
“So,” The woman looked into a file before her, “my name is.”
“Teu Pepoi, Rollmaster of Clan Naga Sadow, I know of you,” Coop stared evenly into the womans blue eyes.
“Well, Protector Ter'An you have some explaining to do as to why you disappeared for a week,” Teu stopped for a second and produced Coog's lightsaber that Coop had taken from his brother, “and why you have the weapon of a Jedi on your person.”
“Yes ma'am I do,” Coop took a deep breath as he explained the incident that took place and all the details of what happened.
Hunting Asajj
Coop entered the briefing room where Prelate L’eonheart stood. Coop sat before the Prelate, whom seemed to be deep in thought as he looked over Coops briefing. Prelate L’eonheart ran his hand through his long brown braids before addressing Coop.
“Do you know who Asajj Ventress is?” Prelate L’eonheart inquired.
“I recognize the name from the clone war records but I can not recall the specifics sir.” Coop began searching his mind for any info associated with his name.
“I also remember something about one of her followers,” Coop continued on the Prelates nod, “He was called Savage Opress, during his assault on the temple of Eedit he killed two jedi, a master Halsey and his apprentice Knox. He ended up being the long lost brother of Darth Maul and a considerable pain in Ventress’ plans in the end, but I don’t know much beyond that she trained him and trained with him.”
“You are correct but you lack all the details, after a fight between her master Dooku and a pair of jedi she was mortally wounded and thought to be dead.” Mirado paused as he sat down, “She was loaded on a medical ship called Bright Flight, which just showed up on Pieralos. Your records indicate you grew up just south of there. Is that True?”
“Yes sir.” Coops thought began to race. His home world was not a place where outsiders would find it easy. Coop knew his contacts would have good intel on his targets location.
“We need you to engage Assajj Ventress in Pieralos and find out her motives,” Mirado looked at the datapad with concern, “and if she is not acting in our best interests you are to engage and detain her or terminate her only if necessary, remember she is a master in the Niman style.”
“Yes sir,” Coop rose and began to leave.
“Guardian,” Coop paused and looked over his shoulder at the Prelate, “Be very cautious Assajj is a very,” Mirado paused, “unique adversary, remember your training and you should be fine.”
“Yes sir,” Coop exited the briefing room and made his way to the shuttle bay where he boarded the Naga Sadow shuttle. After a few hours Coop stepped off the shuttle onto Glee Anselm.
The Pieralos shuttle Port was unusually busy that afternoon as Coop made his way to the Customs officer.
“Do ya have any off world plants or livestock?”
“Do I look like I am dragging a banth along where ever I go.”
The customs officer looked up from his screen and recognized the dark jedi brotherhood battle garments. He clicked a few buttons before continuing.
“Do ya have any weapons on you?”
Coop pulled his robe to the side revealing his and his twin brothers lightsaber.
“That would be a no.” The Nautolan pressed a few more buttons before he spoke again, “you are cleared to move everywhere on Glee Anselm, welcome home Coop.”
Coop smiled and nodded as he moved past the customs officer. Coop entered the atrium of the Shuttle port and looked around for any of his contacts. Coop saw one he could count on so he slowly made his way over until he came up to the Kiosk and began to browse. The white skinned nautolan did not look up from what he was doing as he began to talk.
“So ‘you’ are back in town,” the man shot Coop a gaze over his datapad, “must be some big game in town.”
“Don’t play games with me,” Coops stated as he put down a datapad, “have you seen a Dathomiri woman? I am not sure if she was alone or with another but she would be bald or she could have any length of brown hair.”
The white skinned nautolan looked across the atrium at two cloaked figures standing at another kiosk.
“There is a nightsister and possibly a nightbrother with her but she is definitely dathomiri.”
Coop fished in his pocket for a few credits and laid them on the counter of the kiosk and nodded at the contact before he made his way to the two cloaked figures. Coop stayed out of direct contact before he could get a visual on the shorter of the two whom he presumed to be his target. One of the cloaked figures stood at approximately coops size and the other being significantly shorter at approximately a foot shorter around five foot.
The shorter of the two looked up at the taller one and said something. Suddenly both of the cloaked figures looked Coop dead in the eyes. He suddenly realized that he was looking the target in the eyes. The taller figure was Assajj but the shorter one looked like a younger more youthful version of Assajj. Assajj had let her hair grow out in a deep auburn brown. Coop was struck by her sheer beauty but he did not waiver in this stare off.
“Ma’am, could I possibly speak with you in private,” Assajj’s smirk cut like a blade as she nodded.
“It seems the powers at play would have words with me.” Assajj moved towards a nearby alleyway. As they entered the alley she moved to a defensive spot near a door she positioned the young woman behind her.
“So who may I ask is irritating me?” Assajj’s rage and irritation was evident in her tone.
“I am Guardian Coop Ter’An of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood,” Coop paused as he produced a datapad, “My leadership would like to talk with you.”
“You mean they want to know her motives and if they benefit your group?”
Coop paused as he looked at the young woman who had poked her head out from under Assajj’s elbow. Then it hit Coop. This was her daughter.
“How old is she?” Coop directed the question at Assajj.
“I do not believe that is any of your business,” Assajj snapped back as her hands went to her hips where her lightsabers rested. Coop could feel her irritation welling up.
“I am fifteen mister,” the girl squeaked as Assajj shot her a look.
“Fifteen, eh?” Coop smiled as he crouched down to look up at the teenage girl, “You must be a natural with a light…”
“Mister Ter’An I will ask you not to continue that statement,” the look that Assajj shot at Coop was more of a threat than a caution, “My daughter is not and will never be versed in such things.” The tone of Assajj’s voice warned Coop not to continue but Coop didn’t take threats or warnings very well.
“Is that your choice young one?”
“Mister Ter’An I will not ask you again.”
“Assajj Ventress I don’t think you want to attack a local on this planet.” Coop threatened. Assajj’s glare could have melted ice. “You were once the peak of Niman but you are no longer a piece on the board with any weight behind it. You are not an allied or enemy Queen, just a rogue pawn whom needs to decide where her allegiances lay.
“If you must know I am teaching my daughter the ways of your people,” She paused as a smile spread across her face, “And you should not threaten someone who has powerful and influential friends.”
Coop could hear [HER] the men as they entered the alley. The smile on Coops face was almost one of joy as he removed the fastener just below his neck. The dark green cloak fell to the floor as Coop produced his neon green lightsaber in his left hand. With a smirk to Assajj and a flick of his wrist coop spun around to meet the two men who were both wielding red lightsabers. Coop produced his other lightsaber that he had taken from his older twin brother. Coop flipped his wrist and produced the sapphire blade of his brothers saber in his right hand. Coop smiled as the two rogue sith looked at each other.
“Well boys shall we tango?” Coop waded into the two sith with one saber held high and the other at hip level as he spun. The Sith easily defended the simple attack. Coop had privately been training with a few masters of Niman so he had a rudimentary knowledge of the fighting style. Coop held his own against the two sith soldiers. Coops parried one high and the other low and struck out when he could but he was at a disadvantage with the two sabers. His fighting was clumsy but effective for defense. Coop force jumped [JMP] back and away from the sith and deactivated his brothers sapphire lightsaber before he replaced it on his hip and fell into his more comfortable banlanth form.
“This is way more fun,” Coops smile could have been seen from orbit, “I like these odds, two on one seems fair enough.”
“Don’t get too over confident Jedi scum,” one of the sith soldiers bellowed before he made a sprinting charge in at Coop.
“Wait,” Coops upraised hand stopped the sith short, “you think I am a Jedi?”
“You carry two weapons of the Jedi.”
“No I just don’t like the color red,” Coops statement caused both sith to look at each other, “I am a guardian in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood you idiots.”
“Well which house are you with?”
“Well that is none of your dang business.”
“Then you are lying!” The other sith exclaimed.
“I don’t have time to argue semantics with either of you idiots.” Coop waded back into the fray with the two sith. The sith on his left was a zabrak and the one on the right looked human. Coop brought an arcing slash across his chest from his right to his left knocking the zabraks downward slash into the ground. Coop then spun to his left and brought his saber in an upward slash between himself and the human sith. The move brought his saber in behind the humans head level slash. Coop ducked under the blow and redirected the saber as he turned his hips to the left. The Zabrak turned right into his partners attack. As the human realized what had happened Coop close in on his undefended back and plunged the green lightsaber through his back and out his chest. Coop deactivated his lightsaber and turned to Assajj.
“Now that is over with may we continue with our inane posturing or will you talk with my leadership.”
“I would not be as easy as them to take down. You have a solid ability with banlanth form which you combine with your creativity making watching your simple fighting fun. But you lack the pure ability to take me down.” Coop’s smirk never left his face as he spun his lightsaber, “Yet you don’t stand down from the challenge. I don’t know if that is arrogance or confidence, but you clearly do not fear me.”
“So will you speak with my leadership?” Coop asked again.
“I have one condition.” Assajj took a less violent stance.
“Sure why not.”
“You do not mention to your masters who she is.” The love in Assajj Ventress’ eyes was unexpected and caught Coop off guard. He had read all the mission data on her and how she was cruel and violent, yet in front of him he saw a loving mother, not the assassin turned sith lord.”
“If she is seen they will know you two are almost clones.”
“Where will we be going for this meeting?”
“I will have to contact my leadership in a moment.”
“Then if you don’t mind I would like to take my daughter shopping she needs some new cloths.”
“That is fine I will be close by, I will contact you when they are ready for you ma’am.”
Coop kept tight surveillance on Assajj as he contacted his superiors.
“Master L’eonheart I have made contact with the target.”
“I copy Guardian Ter’An was she any trouble?”
“No sir, she actually never drew her lightsaber, she did agree to meet with you can you get that set up?”
“Yes I just arrived at Pieralos Space Port. I will have our men stationed here set up a secure location for us to meet. I will send you the coordinates.”
“Yes sir I will reestablish contact with Ventress and we will make our way to the coordinates.”
Coop made his way to Assajj through the crowd.
“Ma’am, I made contact with my superiors, one of them is on world and is securing a location to meet.”
“I sense him when he set foot on the planet.”
“It should only take a short time to secure a meeting location,” as Coop spoke his datapad on his wrist lit up with the coordinates, “Assajj it is time to meet them. Do you want to leave your daughter somewhere?”
“No, she might as well come,” Assajj turned to Coop, “ I want your word that you will not let anything happen to her if this goes bad.”
“Why would you want me to do that?”
“Because you don’t seem that big of a fool to anger me or the people I am affiliated with.”
“I don’t think this meeting will go that bad,” Coop paused and looked at the teenager, “Why don’t you commit her to training she seems like she would do very well.”
“I have given it some serious thought,” Assajj paused and looked at her daughter, “And I never was able to convince myself, she is my princess.”
“Well if you ever do, the Brotherhood has some great trainers.” Coop paused as he looked at his datapad.
The three set out from the space port and met up with the Prelates security detail who escorted them to the facility.
As Assajj entered the meeting room Coop took up a position in the corner with Assajj’s daughter. Coop leaned down and whispered into Assajj’s daughters ear.
“Not a word.” Coop stood back up and nodded to Prelate L’eonheart as he entered the room. The Prelate made his way to the seat across from the table from Assajj. He sat and began flipping through the file on the datapad infront of him.
“So you were supposed to be dead.” Mirado looked up from his datapad into the pale blue eyes of Assajj, “How have you stayed off the radar up until now?”
“Smart movement, and elimination of problems with quick decisive action.” Assajj’s answers were quick and to the point. Coop didn’t know if Mirado was impressed or irritated. After three hours of questioning the big one came up.
“So who is the young lady traveling with you?” Assajj looked into Mirado’s eyes and took a deep breath.
“She is my daughter.”
Silence fell in the room. Looks were shot in the direction of the girl and Coop placed his right hand on the young girl’s shoulder. As the initial shock wore off and Mirado continued Coop leaned in and whispered something into the girl’s ear who then whispered something back into his.
“What is your name young one?” Coop had asked.
“My name is Talia, Talia Ventruss.”
DJB Facts
Trivia