Savage-Time Chapter 33

[Boz Pity, Somewhere in the Arid Canyons]

Rham Kota

Rham Kota was a man deeply entrenched in his ideals, to him, there were clear sides to every issue and even when things were in shades of grey the answer to a problem could be easily seen, some had called him overly harsh and judgmental but he held himself to the same standard he had for everyone else.

A perfect example was that if a being stole to feed his family he should be punished, reasons don’t matter, actions do. One can spout a number of reasons for every act of cruelty in the galaxy but words were a cold comfort to those who paid the price, you could defend a man that stole to feed his family but who defended the person whose livelihood had been taken advantage of, that being’s family would suffer for the choice of the thief.

Quinlan Vos was falling into the same trap many did when confronted with a thief that stole to feed their families, he emphasized with the thief or the Sith Lord in this case, Quinlan was looking at things as if he was in the position of their enemy but he wasn’t and he never could.

No Jedi would ever turn into a Sith, just as no Sith could become a Jedi and if Quinlan thought that if he had been in Maul’s place he would have done the same then Quinlan was a weaker man than Kota and if he strayed from the path then as a Jedi Kota would strike him down.

The Jedi were guardians of the galaxy, protectors of peace, and Maul was the enemy threatening the last thousand years of guardianship.

Rahm Kota would not allow it.

Rham Kota had doubted for a moment, but he would doubt no more. The Sith were a plague that needed to be wiped out in its entirety if there was ever to be peace in the galaxy.

Kota launched forward with some help from the Force, achieving speeds as he moved that was comparable to that of a speeder in full throttle but it wasn’t enough Maul—the Sith, Kota corrected in his mind, as no Sith deserved a name, was raising his lightsaber to block him.

Kota attacked with a downward strike that carried all of the momentum he accumulated pushing Maul back into the crevice, the Sith was using a modified form of  Juyo and it would be for the best if Kota managed to immobilize him, Kota struck again and again, relentlessly pushing forward but something was wrong. Despite the apparent advantage he had over the Sith, Kota had noticed that his enemy was easily able to block and with his speed, he should also be able to counterattack but for reason, he wasn’t and that put the Jedi Master on edge.

The fact that Quinlan hadn’t joined in on his attack was bad, Kota looked over his shoulder at his fellow Jedi, Quinlan noticed but avoided his eyes as he continued to do nothing and Kota feared that Quinlan was lost to the light now. Kota wouldn’t allow a Jedi to fall on his watch, he would defeat the Sith and dispel the doubts that had blossomed inside Quinlan’s heart.

A dark sinister laugh that ended in a chuckle made him pay attention to reality instead of his own thoughts, there was an evil smile on the Sith’s face, the creature had a plan! Kota could sense it but it wasn’t until the Sith opened his mouth that Kota felt a warning of danger.

“You’re angry master Kota, more than that you’re afraid,” the low tone that the Sith used was reminiscent of someone who was talking just loud enough for an insult to carry over and Kota had no doubt that Quinlan could hear, he was the real target of the words “but what could you be afraid about, you have your enemy with his back against the wall and a friend to reinforce you”

Kota twitched at the words and his enemy didn’t waste any time before pouncing on Kota’s apparent hesitation.

“Is it perhaps the fear that you’re in between two enemies rather than just facing one” the innocent tone that the Sith used was sickening and worst of all, through the Force Kota could sense how Quinlan was reacting to the words.

Kota turned to his fellow Jedi and shouted “Don’t listen to his words, he is trying to divide us! help me end him and then we can talk about your doubts!”

From the corner of his eye, Kota saw a red blade approaching but instead of retreating he pushed forward into the opened guard of his opponent, the little victory was short-lived as a second lightsaber came to life blocking Kota’s attack.

“I can’t help but notice that you decided to advance rather than to retreat to friendly territory, a risky maneuver, unless you are between enemies” The Sith continued his taunt and Kota was quickly losing his patience.

“Quinlan! What are you waiting for attack him!”

“Don’t listen to him, once you’re done with me he intends to pass judgment on you and I doubt it will be any different than what he plans for me”

“Shut up!” Kota targeted the Sith’s cybernetic legs as he once more went on the offensive, two low strikes followed by a leg swipe and even a force push did nothing to hinder the Sith who continued his corruption of Quinlan with his words.

“See how he doesn’t deny it, he wants to use you and then discard you” the shamelessness and sheer hypocrisy of the Sith made Kota angrier than any other thing he could’ve said.

“Stop doubting Quinlan and help me put an end to his schemes” the Sith only laughed again before advancing.

"You are nothing but a weak, old man," Maul taunted, his lightsaber flashing as he launched a series of quick and precise strikes at Kota “Too afraid to admit that the light you worship is nothing more than an illusion”

"Discipline, control, and compassion aren’t illusions. Neither is my strength" Kota countered, his green lightsaber flashing as he parried each of Maul's blows “Old I may be but there is nothing weak in my body”

Their blades danced as they circled each other, Kota’s plans to limit his enemy’s movement had failed and now they were circling each other as rival predators do, attacking when the opportunity presented itself but never committing to the exchange of strikes.

Kota may have said that there was no weakness in his body, but it wasn’t true, fatigue was a real thing and Kota was getting slower as time passed, soon he would struggle to keep up with the relentless assault of the Sith Lord.

The Jedi Master sensed a warning through the Force but he was too late to move so he braced himself for an attack, when nothing happened he was confused but glad then the beeping started, on his belt, Rham Kota had a handful of things but the most dangerous were the grenades his men had given him. Kota wasted no time in taking off the belt but a sudden heaviness on his arms stopped him from doing so.

“It would be a shame to deny you your…dazzling end”

Before Kota could retort to the Sith’s taunts Quinlan finally acted and he was relieved that his fellow Jedi moved to assist him, the grenades were sent flying and just in time as just as they started to fall into one of the many holes that dotted the arid landscape they exploded.

“You have chosen poorly Quinlan Vos, it’s time to show you what I can really do” with those words the Sith moved, the earth cracked beneath his feet as every step he took was filled with power, and the wind whipped Kota’s face as the Sith sent waves of power their way.

One of the telekinetic waves crashed against a rock blowing it into little pieces that rained down on all of them, distracted as he was Kota could barely react when the Sith’s blade came for his head and only Quinlan’s quick response stopped it fron taking his head.

The stalemate was quickly broken as Quinlan’s feet were dragged with the Force, Kota tried to use the momentary distraction to land a blow but he was quickly blocked by the other side of the double-bladed lightsaber.

With a jump, Kota dodged a strike coming for his midsection and he retaliated from the air with a kick to the Sith’s face driving him back and giving Quinlan enough time to get back on his feet. Together they pushed on the attack coming at the Sith from different angles, if Kota attacked the upper body Quinlan moved for his legs, if Kota went for his right Quinlan moved left. The synchronic fighting gave them a chance against the surprising strength of their enemy, it wasn’t enough to defeat him but they could keep him at bay long enough for the other to survive.

Things turned for the worst however when it became clear that Kota was starting to tire, already he had been flagging behind while fighting alone, and had Quinlan helped him before, Kota might have been capable of holding on until they overwhelmed the Sith but his fellow Jedi had taken too long to act and now they were in trouble.

With a single-minded focus befitting his lesser nature, the Sith advanced on Kota and drove back Quinlan with the Force, with one arm stretched out holding back his reinforcements and too tired from before Rahm Kota started making his peace with the Force as it looked like he would soon be joining it.

The crimson blade that was coming for his life stopped an inch off his face and much to his horror he could feel why, the previously bright presence of Quinlan Vos was now marred by a shadow.

“NO! You won’t kill him!” Kota should have been grateful for the help but all he felt was disgust as his fellow Jedi tangled with the Dark side of the Force to save his life, it would have been better if Quinlan had let Kota die instead of letting himself be touched by that revolting thing.

The Sith laughed and he turned off his lightsaber, as he did he twisted Kota’s legs with the Force, making him cry out in pain but his purpose became clear to the now injured Jedi Master as Quinlan angrily attacked the Sith.

The ferocity of Quinlan Vos was worrying as was his continued use of the Dark side of the Force.

“All your life you’ve been in a cage, Jedi.” There was a single moment where Quinlan faltered in his attack and it was his undoing, as a wall of the Force slammed into his body sending him tumbling back into a rock formation.

Rocks and rubble from ancient buildings fell atop Quinlan who used all of his strength to keep them from crushing him, the Sith walked over to his fallen comrade and with nonchalance took Quinlan’s lightsaber from his belt.

“When you’re ready come and find me. I will set you free”

The Sith turned from Quinlan and for a moment his eyes settled onto Kota’s broken legs, he smiled before donning his hood and walking off in the direction of his acolytes.

The warrior in him was affronted at the fact that an enemy, a Sith even, would find him unworthy of meeting his end at his hands but there were more worrying things to take care of, his broken legs, Quinlan’s breach of the code and if he wasn’t quick his former padawan’s life.

This Sith was too strong to be fought alone and his old padawan would be no match for him, he would deal with Quinlan’s failure later or he would let the Council deal with it but he had to send a warning to Fallon before it was too late.

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Author note: it's me again, late again as my computer decided to have a rebellion of its own but I have dealt with it. now onto the chapter, Rahm Kota is a rigid individual that wouldn't truly find his place until after order 66, I've tried to make his portrayal as faithful to that part of his character as i can but i'm not perfect so some parts are a little weird.

His refusal to see Maul as an individual is 'normal' as far as i can see, extremists of any kind tend to dehumanize their enemies and by not even calling him by name Kota reveals what he thinks of Maul.

It's kind of how he called Starkiller boy the whole time and how he talked about him as an extension of Vader and not his own person in the novelization of the game. Before he went blind had a crisis of faith and recovered his faith in the Force and became a true Jedi again.