The Chosen One

CHAPTER 8

The ship finally went into hyperspace. I was very bored, but each passing second I grew more and more nervous. I didn't have any way to contact the Jedi Order or send a distress signal out. I didn't even know if I'd make it out alive.

I tried to push my feelings away and only focus on the battle. I would use every skill I needed to fight Count Dooku. Maybe if I won, Master Windu would change his thoughts on me becoming a Jedi Master.

I felt the ship come to a halt. I look out of the sliver of a window and all I can see is red. We had arrived - Mustafar was one of the planets I'd never been to. We entered the atmosphere. There was lava everywhere, stone and rock formed from the crucible of magma. The planet was hellish. The ship hovered above a landing pad. From the loud thump, I knew we'd landed. I gulped. Now was the time. I walk from the room. The door is already open. Dooku was looking at a huge river of lava below the landing pad. The air was scorching hot. Every time I took a breath I felt the warm air in my lungs. It was an odd feeling. I grab my lightsaber and stop behind him.

"Why don't we go to a different spot - we wouldn't want to ruin the landing pad," Count Dooku said, turning around to face me. He made a face that was a mix of a sneer and a smile. I don't reply.

We made our way off of the landing pad. We walked in silence for a while. I almost fell a couple of times because of the slippery ground.

In the distance, I saw a large mountain and tall buildings. I didn't know what they were for. I saw Dooku stop walking. I did the same, taking a few steps back. I saw him reach for his lightsaber. He flicked it to his side, igniting the red blade. I ignited my lightsaber and moved it above my head, holding on with both hands.

Dooku striked first. I blocked him. He spinned his lightsaber and it connected with mine, the buzzing sound ear-piercing. We clashed our lightsabers together for a while. I could tell Count Dooku was impressed with my skills. I decided I had to do something to weaken him. I gritted my teeth and pushed my lightsaber as hard against his as I could, trying to throw him off guard. Then I get an idea.

I spun around, crouching down. Right before Dooku attempted to stab me in the back, I cut a deep gash in his leg. I crawl out of the way just in time. He stumbled back, glaring at me. He used the force to free my lightsaber of my grasp. He turned both of our lightsabers off. He ran towards me, his hands reaching for my neck. It happened too fast for me to register. Dooku could've used force choke, but he was using his hands out of pure rage.

I quickly lose my breath. I tried prying his hands off of my neck - it didn't work. The Sith's eyebrows were furrowed.

"You messed us little girl... you... messed.. up!" He yelled. I could feel my neck start to break. I could taste blood in my mouth. If he didn't choke me first, the blood would. I force myself to open my mouth, the blood starting to pour out. My eyes started to roll back, but I didn't let them. I looked back down, seeing the blood dripping. I see Dooku's eyebrows unfurrow. He looked in my eyes. He let go of me and I dropped to the ground with a thud. I sucked in a huge breath of air - even the warmth was refreshing. Dooku fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands that were stained with my blood.

"No, no, no!" He screamed. I didn't have a clue on what was going on. Dooku didn't notice me grab my lightsaber. I sit up on my knees, touching my neck. It was horribly bruised and probably fractured. I could still move, which was a sign that it might not be fatal. My vision was affected for some reason - my eyes could barely focus.

"Meeka!" He screamed, his voice filled with somber. "You - you're just like her..."

I stayed silent.

"She was my old friend - killed right in front of me," Dooku continued. "I didn't realize how similar you two are - your eyes, mostly,"

I looked down. Was he trying to distract me?

"I'm sorry," I say. I really wasn't, but maybe he'd just leave if he was too sad. He looked up at me, but realized my lightsaber was in my hand. He used the force to grab his, immediately igniting it. I ignited mine, standing up. He jumped up and flipped above me. I turned around but it was too late. His saber made contact with my left leg, completely removing it. I fell to the ground and cried out with pain. I peeked at my leg - I shuddered at the sight of it. Blood flowed out of it and I know if I didn't stop looking I'd get nauseous. Tears flooded out of my eyes. The pain was unbearable. I was so shocked at what happened I couldn't even think. I close my eyes, trying not to focus on my pain. How would I get out of here now? Could my leg get infected? Would I die?

I open my eyes and see Dooku starting to turn around, but doesn't realize I still have my lightsaber. I rolled over, trying to get closer to him. Somehow, he didn't hear me. I reached up as far as my arm went and stabbed Dooku towards the right of his abdomen.

"Ah!" He cried out. He craned his neck to see the wound I made. He held his hand over the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. His cape was stained red. Without treatment, he'd die soon. He sneered at me.

"You brat! I will kill you!" Dooku yelled. He staggered back to the landing pad and I saw the ship take off. I turn to lay on my back, looking up at the dark red sky. The ship was gone.

I tried to take in everything that just happened. I was so close to killing him. So, so close. The Jedi Council would be furious that I let him go. I closed my eyes and sighed out. In a few hours, I might not be alive. The thought of death stung as bad as my wounds did. I didn't know how long I'd be able to survive in Mustafar without any food or water. Again, I cried. I may not ever see Plo-Koon and Obi-Wan ever again.