Vision Dark

Turning on his bed, Mal's head swam in images of pain and anger. He was standing in the desert, the great sandstorm whirling all around him.  Zan, Kael, and Catri all being tossed about in the swirling sands that surrounded him. Each of them held firmly by massive tentacles, the sound of a tremendous roar piercing his ears.  He tried to move but was seemingly fixed in place as the sand engulfed his feet, reaching up almost as if it were alive. He roared in frustration as he watched another tentacle slither around Kael's legs and rip him in two, tossing the two halves in different directions. His anger burned within him as Zan and Catri both met similar fates before his eyes. He roared ... hatred for the creature building within him.

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Having made his way from the stairwell to his target's door he moved his fingers over the data pad built into his gauntlet, quickly entering the appropriated key code and bypassing the lock.  Moments later a soft 'click' could be heard as the lock released and the door opened.  "All too easy." he thought to himself, pushing the door open.

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Unable to sleep due to an uneasiness that had crept over him, Arvis rolled out of bed and made his way to the kitchen.  Perhaps a bite to eat would help calm him.  Entering the kitchen he opened the refrigerator and stared at the contents just then the hairs on his neck stood up as his acute hearing picked up a clicking noise from the hallway, outside his quarters.  He moved to the door and looked at the visitor display screen just in time to see the door to Mal's quarters close. 

"That's odd." he thought to himself. Opening his door he stepped into the hallway and stood staring at the Major's door.  Turning to go back into his room he waved to the guards at the end of the hallway and stopped cold.  "Where were the guards?"  He reached for his sc'rath hanging on a hook just inside his quarters.

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The sandstorm intensified and from the center of the storm emerged a face ... a face he'd seen before in his dreams.  "Wake up, Maligaant! Death has come for you tonight.  WAKE UP!"

Filled with rage he opened his eyes, wide awake now, and sat up straight.  There in the doorway to his bedroom stood an armored intruder, with blades drawn. Rolling from his bed and grabbing his sc'raths in the process he stood up to his full height, dwarfing the intruder in the doorway, as he hissed.

"Good. I'd prefer you were awake for this anyway." the intruder spoke.

A human. He could smell it. Mal's eyes narrowed as he lept for the man.  The stranger dove below and struck upwards, attempting to gut him but Mal was too quick and countered his blades with his sc'raths.  Landing he immediately turned and charged.  The stranger had rolled and stood up facing him in one very smooth action.  Their blades met, parrying each other, but Mal kicked the man across the room, slamming him into the wall with a thud. Immediately he lept for his assailant again but the man had recovered and dove to safety.  

Stepping toward the intruder he growled, "You have skill human! But I will still tear you apart."

Lunging toward Mal, the man's blades twisted and twirled around Mal's sc'raths, sending the togorian blades flying, "That would be an impressive feat, considering you have no blades." he replied calmly.  Standing between the Togorian and the only means of escape, the hallway behind him, "It has been an honor cat, but I'm afraid I have no more time to humor you."

"Sir!" Arvis' familiar voice rang out from the bedroom doorway.  Arvis swept his already moving blade down toward the intruder.

Turning and side-stepping the incoming blade, as if he knew it was coming, the intruder quickly embedded both blades into Arvis' torso.  Without stopping he withdrew the blades and swiveled in place to bring his attention back to his primary target but it was too late.   

Maligaant had immediately used the distraction to close the distance and, with his massive claws fully extended, ran them through the man's armor.  Lifting the man off his feet, even while he struggled and grunted in pain, with a low growl he slammed his head into the man's helmet visor, shattering it. Leaning in he growled "I don't need blades to tear you apart," and then threw the man across the room and watched the body slam into the wall and drop to the floor motionless and exhaling its last breath.