Of Foxes and Toilets

[Rugs]

Where's that fox?! Thought a very aggravated Locke Nemsee. He was storming through the halls of the Temple, and a certain Ekerin Tavres was going to pay for his grievous crimes. That fox is going to suffer when I find him!

It had all started earlier in the day, during Locke's lunch break in the cafeteria. Locke had been going through the line, getting his food, when he came to the the dessert section. Today was the day that they were serving Locke's favorite desert: Stennos pie. But the greedy, uncaring fox-thing had done the unforgivable. He had taken the last piece. Oh, how that had burned. There was no surer way to enrage Locke than to take the last piece of Stennes pie from right underneath his nose.

So now, he was out, prowling the halls of the Temple, looking for payback. He passed by a corner, and then backed up. There he is! The fox was making his way down the hall, right toward Locke. "Ho! Youngling Tavre! I would like to speak to you for a moment!" He smiled warmly, so as to not scare the young one away. And Jedi Code be damned if your head isn't going to end up in a toilet, he thought sinisterly.

[Twysper]

Ekerin cheerfully walked down one of the numerous hallways in the Jedi Temple, tail lazily trailing behind him as his claws lightly clicked on the polished floor of the hallway. Absently, he brushed small crumbs from his snack out of the fur around his muzzle. Stennos pie. He didn't even particularly like the pie, he had just felt like eating something. In complete honesty, he had gotten sick of the taste quickly and disposed of a good portion of the desert. Suddenly, the lithe Amaran realized he had simply zoned out while walking, and had been wandering the temple ever since he had eaten.

Where am I going?

Before he could answer that question though, his ears unconsciously pivoted towards the voice directly in front of him, calling his name. His eyes soon followed the direction his ears had taken and then he was looking up at a much taller human Jedi with a warm smile. Ekerin instinctively made his pointed ears stand up straight, adding another few inches to his slightly diminutive height. The Amaran couldn't recall if he knew this particular Jedi, and he racked his mind for a name, and a reason he had been suddenly pulled aside, tail irritably sweeping the floor behind him.

Doesn't look like he's looking for a padawan... It's probably just another errand to the library, for some boring scrap of information...

Ekerin forced a toothy smile at the prospect, bright blue-eyes looking up dubiously at Locke even as he maintained a respectful tone of voice.

"Can I help you?"

[Rugs]

Locke felt his teeth grinding as he forced himself to smile, and his hands twitched as he resisted from reaching out and grabbing the youngling by the throat and throttling him. Oh, by the Force! All I'd have to do is reach out and grab him!

"Hello, Ekerin. I don't think we've met before, so you probably don't know who I am. but I assure you that I know who you are."And that he did. Shortly after watching the unforgivable crime, Locke had cornered another youngling out in one of the hallways in the Temple.


Locke towered over the young boy, his face like a thundercloud on the storm-ravaged world of Kamino. The boy cowered before his rage, but Locke didn't care. "Alright, Kiddo," Locke said, brushing his cloak open so that the blaster pistol and lightsaber that hung on his belt were clearly visible. "Who was that damn fox that was in front of me that got the last piece of the Stennes pie?"

"I don't know what you're talking abo-"

"DON'T LIE TO ME, KID!!!" Locke roared as he picked the young one up and slammed his back against the wall. "This is a very serious matter, do you understand me? This is almost as dire as the Sith that our burning our lands and taking our women on the outskirts of the galaxy, so you're going to tell me who he is. Now."

"He's Ekerin Tavres," the child sobbed. "Just leave me alone! You're crazy!"

Damn straight I am, Locke had thought as he turned to go, leaving the youngling a sobbing mess on the floor.


And now, here Locke was, mere feet away from his prey. But he could not act, not yet. He'd have to hear the confessions from the fox's own foul mouth. Look at him, Locke thought darkly. Just standing there, smiling. I bet he pees on homeless people for fun. Locke's smile started to fade. But no longer. Today we will have justice!.

"Walk with me,"he said as he turned, and he knew that Ekerin would follow. "So," he said, after a moment, "how has your day been today? Have a good lunch?" And though the fox couldn't see it, as he spoke, the look of a crazed man came over Locke's face; the look of a crazed man that was on the clock for Justice.

[Twysper]

"Hello, Ekerin. I don't think we've met before, so you probably don't know who I am. but I assure you that I know who you are."

Something about the way Locke had stressed the word 'assure' gave Ekerin a bad feeling in the pit of his slightly pie-filled stomach, but he dismissed it as paranoia. Paranoia was the path to the dark side.

Maybe he is looking for a padawan. He knows who I am, after all. Ekerin brightened considerably at the thought, before giving Locke another once-over and a more sincere smile. The Amaran still sensed something was out of place, but didn't care so much anymore. For all he knew, he could even be out fighting the Sith relatively soon, preventing them from razing planets, protecting innocent people...

Ekerin resolved to be as nice as possible to Locke. He followed the knight's turn, falling into step beside him cheerfully. Perhaps, if he knew the knight's warped train of thought, he would've been more hesitant. But that degree of telepathy was still far beyond him as a youngling.

I knew today was going to be a good day. Ekerin thought happily, allowing a small smirk of pleasure cross his features. One second, I'm wandering around, and then suddenly, I have a master.


The thought solidified in the youngling's mind until he was sure there wasn't any other explanation for being pulled aside so suddenly.

Remember, don't overdo it.

"Just the usual classes, a lesson on Shii-cho from Sage Master Ackbar, some telekinetic exercises." He paused for a moment before accelerating his pace to lope past Locke. With a quick spin, Ekerin was facing Locke again, and backpedaling. "Lunch was good." Ekerin's nose wrinkled slightly as he acutely remembered dumping most of the pie in a durasteel trash bin, and then washing his mouth out with a glass of juice. "Except desert. Tasted like the cafeteria needs new cooks."

[Rugs]

Why is he in front of me?! Locke thought in irritation. So he can make himself easier to grab! Yes, that's what it is...

And then, Ekerin said the unthinkable. The desert was bad? The cafeteria needs new cooks?! Locke could feel his teeth grinding again. Not yet, not yet. I have to know one thing before I decide if I'm going to simply strangle him or kill him.

Locke abruptly turned a corner, so that his face would be hidden from the fox for a moment again. While it was hidden, the deepest scowl he had ever made passed over his face, and he could feel a vein in his temople bulging out. He cleared that off quickly enough though. "That is, uh very... unfortunate, Ekerin. Very, very unfortunate." The turn Locke had taken would lead the two past one of the bathrooms in the Temple, something that would seem harmless enough to one who didn't know Locke's crazed thought process.

He turned his head to look at the youngling as they continued on. "You at least finished it, right? I mean, a lot of work probably went into making the Stennes pie, and it would just be rude to chunk it away." Locke turned around again, that crazed look coming on to his face once more. He better have eaten all of it. If he didn't, then I'm gonna have a fox-fur cloak in a little while. He resisted the urge to laugh deviously at that, and kept walking.

[Twysper]

Since Ekerin was backpedaling in front of Locke, he didn't have any warning when the knight suddenly changed directions to walk down another hallway. The Amaran quickly reversed directions himself to chase after Locke though, catching a small glimpse of the knight's face as he did so. Locke didn't look too happy. In fact, he looked downright scary... More like a Sith.

Ekerin's clawed hand unconsciously went to where he usually had his training lightsaber on his belt, looking for a small bit of reassurance in this now completely bizarre situation. Unfortunately, whatever reassurance the lightsaber might have given him was stolen before it could ever be given, seeing as the green blade was sitting in one of the sparring rooms. He sighed softly.

And then Locke was talking again. For some reason unfathomable to Ekerin, the knight seemed stuck on his lunch of all things.

"You at least finished it, right? I mean, a lot of work probably went into making the Stennes pie, and it would just be rude to chunk it away."

Ekerin tried to reason his way through this conundrum of a conversation.

So, apparently, he's not fond of wasting food, so it might be better to just lie about it and keep him happy... But lying's not good either, and he might already know I threw the pie out, and this is just a test... Eck...

Eventually, after a long period of silence and a bit more internal debating, Ekerin looked up at Locke as they walked, tail ashamedly dragging on the floor.

It's just pie after all, this is probably just going to be a quick lecture... Ekerin reassured himself, straightening up as his claws continued rhythmically clicking on the floor.

"No, I didn't actually, I threw most of it out. Something about the taste didn't agree with me."

[Rugs]

Locke stopped without warning. His face had gone from the face of a crazed man to that of a man who had seen the horrors of the darkest war. There he stood, almost in a catatonic stupor, as the Amaran's unholy words echoed through his head.

"No, I didn't actually, I threw most of it out. Something about the taste didn't agree with me."

Threw most of it out... taste... didn't... agree with me... The halls of the Temple seemed to spin about him, and for a moment he thought he would vomit. Threw most of it out... taste... That was as much as he could take. This fox will have to pay the price for his crimes! Locke narrowed his eyes at Ekerin, as if seeing him for the first time. I must stop him!

He shrugged out of his cloak, leaving on only his robes, and in the process, baring his lightsaber and blaster pistol. "So you threw it out?" He asked quietly with a dangerous look in his eyes. "Not only did you take the last piece, but you threw it out?!" Locke's face started to redden with rage. "I wanted that piece of pie and you THREW IT OUT?! Where do you get the nerve?!" He started to laugh maniacally, and for a moment he couldn't tell if he was laughing or crying, but he didn't care, he just knew that Ekerin was in for it.

Locke started to walk slowly towards Ekerin, each step a threat to the well being to the young Jedi. "You had best be glad I can't skin you with a lightsaber, boy, or I'd make a coat out of you," he growled. "As it stands, I'm thinking there's gonna be a dead fox in a minute."

With that, he leapt toward Ekerin, hands out, wanting nothing more than to wrap them around the fox's throat and throttle him.

[Twysper]

Ekerin knew he had said something horribly wrong when Locke turned to look at him with narrowed eyes. He wasn't looking at him as if he was a person anymore, he was sizing Ekerin up as if he were prey. Instinctively, Ekerin took a step backwards to distance himself from Locke, the sense of warning returning far stronger than before.

"So you threw it out?"

"It was just p--"

"Not only did you take the last piece, but you threw it out?!"

The Amaran's protesting was cut off as the human started to laugh crazily. No longer was Ekerin viewing Locke as a potential master; someone as off-his-rocker as this couldn't possibly teach him anything. The final straw came when Locke shrugged off his cloak, as if in preparation for a fight, allowing the youngling full view of the lightsaber and blaster. Ekerin's paranoia finally slipped through the cracks in his mind, and he tensed, claws held ready for use as the much bigger human started to walk towards him, arms held out menacingly, and still issuing death-threats.

"You had best be glad I can't skin you with a lightsaber, boy, or I'd make a coat out of you." "As it stands, I'm thinking there's gonna be a dead fox in a minute."

Improvise, improvise, improvise... Ekerin thought frenziedly as he backed down the hallway quickly, still facing Locke. His eyes rested on Locke's lightsaber. Without giving the matter anymore of his precious time, Ekerin reached for it, using the force to send it flying into his hand. He ignited the blade immediately as his hand conformed to the slightly curved hilt.

Crap. I hate yellow.

Ekerin wasn't stupid, he had heard the word 'dead' used in relation to him, and his opponent didn't exactly look too sane, Jedi or not. He dropped into the opening stance for Shii-cho, one eye carefully watching Locke's blaster.

Suddenly, he had a flash of foresight.

He was standing in the Jedi council chamber, flanked by two much bigger masters, and he didn't look happy. Maybe it was because his hands were cuffed together.

"Ekerin Tavres, you are hereby exiled from the temple, for the murder of Jedi Knight Locke Nemsee." He saw himself open his muzzle to protest, and he realized what the other him was about to say and groaned mentally. "He tried to kill me! Over pie! He was crazy!" The next thing he saw was one of the council members quickly wave their hand in dismissal. Without another word, he was roughly hauled through the door.

Ekerin shook himself back to reality. He definitely wasn't going to let one deranged, moronic, pie obsessed Jedi wreck the direction of his life. Ekerin deactivated the lightsaber. He could and would out-think this knight."Borrowed" lightsaber still in hand, Ekerin turned and sprinted towards the end of the hall, using the force to accelerate his rapid pace.

[Rugs]

{I'll have you know that Locke's lightsaber is yellow-orange, thank you very much. Y'know, this color as opposed to this color. XDDDDDD}

Locke's eyes twitched as the evil hell-fox took his lightsaber away from him. And then, the thing took off, down the hall. Locke was after him almost immediately. He was naturally quick on his feet, and he had much more experience using the Force to run faster than the padawan would. But even so, he took out his blaster pistol and took a few quick shots at the back of Ekerin's head. "Don't make things harder on yourself, boy," he screamed, which was immediately followed by another round of crazed laughter.

The two ran, Locke slowly gaining on the Amaran, until they passed by another Knight. Locke suddenly stopped, and as the knight came with a questioning look on his face, he clubbed him over the head with his pistol, sending the Knight to the ground. Locke took the lightsaber from the Knight's belt, and ignited it. Green. It would have to do.

He looked around, and realized that Ekerin had passed out of sight. It made no matter, though. He could feel the Amaran. Locke started to run around a corner, down a path that would bring him to cross paths with the youngling, and reached out in the Force. He quested around, and when he found Ekerin's presence, he sent a message to him through the Force.

Don't think you can run, boy. I will find you no matter where you run, and I will end you. Then there was a moment of silence. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have one of your limbs cut off? Or to have your head down a toilet? Hehehehehehehehe.....

They would sing of his deeds for centuries to come. Locke Nemsee, the Preserver of Pie, that's what they'd call him! They'd build a statue of him on the Processional Way. It would dwarf the others, both in size and majesty! And upheld in his hand, reaching for the sky, would be a piece of Stennes pie. And under his boot, the head of the slain Ekerin Tavres.

Suddenly he came to an intersection, and there was Ekerin. The Knight pulled with the Force, snapping his own blade out of the Amaran's hand back to his own, and throwing the green one to the Youngling. "If you're going to fight me, use someone else's blade," he yelled. "Now, have at you, foul fox!" He screamed as he stuck out towards Ekerin's head, using the precision and grace of a Makashi user. Today would see the death of an enemy to pie lovers everywhere.

[Twysper]

Don't think you can run, boy. I will find you no matter where you run, and I will end you. Then there was a moment of silence. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have one of your limbs cut off? Or to have your head down a toilet? Hehehehehehehehe.....

Ekerin actually stopped at a deserted intersection of hallways in order to blink, and make sure he had actually heard that last part.

Did a knight really just say that? And how the heck did this lunatic get into the temple anyways!?

And before he could think of a decent answer, or figure out which direction the council chambers were in, Locke was upon him, and his borrowed lightsaber was flying out of his hand. With a savage growl, Ekerin spun to face his psychotic stalker, teeth bared. He barely caught the lightsaber that Locke had throw towards him, igniting it quickly as he readjusted his grip, noting the green blade with a hint of satisfaction. Ekerin parried Locke's first strike with some effort, and then quickly slid out of immediate range and down another hallway.

Don't die. His conscience chimed in as the Amaran tried to collect his thoughts. There was still a chance he could reason with this Jedi. But what did he have as leverage?

This train of thought was cut off as Ekerin barely defended another flurry of attacks from Locke, flattening his ears against his head as the yellow-orange lightsaber flashed through the air they had occupied a moment before. Again, the Amaran tried to disengage by backing up, tried to buy some precious time to think.

Suddenly, Ekerin had it. His leverage. At least, he hoped he did. It didn't look like he was going to receive any outside help with this fight.

"Hold it, hold it!"

[Rugs]

The little demon fox suddenly stopped, yelling for Locke to do the same. He halted his assault and backed up out of the reach of the little Amaran and watched with narrow eyes. What are you up to, hellspawn? I'm watching you...

His blade stayed on, though he lowered it down to his side. He was still tense, and ready to defend himself at a moment's notice. The Force flooded through him, both to keep him aware and to let Ekerin know that he was outclassed. "What is it you want, Fox?" he snarled. "You think some apology can atone for the crimes that you have committed this day?" Locke snorted to let Ekerin know what he thought about that. "You will perish this day, Fox, and the enjoyers of Stennes pie across the galaxy will celebrate this day for centuries to come!" His body language became more passionate, and his eyes glazed over with a zealous furor as he spoke. For a moment, he could see the statue, rising almost as tall as the Temple itself, glittering in the afternoon sun! "I will be remembered forever, and you will fall into the gates of hell, young fox! Know that! Now.." he made a grand gesture as he returned his attention to Ekerin. "Speak whatever drivel it is you wish to pour into my ears, and meet your fate!"

[Twysper]

Ekerin waited patiently for Locke to finish his frenzied rant, tail swishing behind him slowly. The Amaran even had the nerve to roll his eyes as Locke mentioned pie for the umpteenth time. Perhaps, if he lived through this incident, he would have a story to tell the rest of his classmates later. Of course, he'd have to leave out his slightly naive thoughts about thinking the Jedi might've decided to be his master.

Couldn't have that getting around. Ekerin thought wryly, just as Locke finally finished his inane drivel about council-knows-what. He put on his best negotiating face as he managed a slightly nervous smile.

At least he's listening...

"I think we got off on the wrong foot here,"

Understatement of the year.

"So, um, how about we go to the cafeteria and see if I can find you some more pie?"

Ekerin had a terrible thought just then, and he saw his plan start to unravel like a hastily constructed rug.

Oi... This psychopath probably already asked if there was anymore pie left. But psychopath's aren't supposed to think straight are they?

Ekerin wondered if it was still worth apologizing. Maybe Zoro the pie vigilante here would let him off easier. He ruefully realized he was really running out of options. He proffered his best crossbreed of an innocent, mournful and pleading face (read: puppydog eyes), much easier for him with his apparent relation to canines.

"I am sincerely sorry about your desert. But you know, you could have just asked for the pie, I would've given it to you, and--"

Ekerin took a moment to skim his mind for the least permanently scarring outcome, absently wondering if whatever Locke did would count for his trial of flesh.

"-- you wouldn't be trying to stick my head in a toilet."

[Rugs]

Locke's face softened, as the young Amaran made his apology. "Look... Ekerin..." He deactivated his lightsaber, and the yellow-orange blade seemed to slide back into the hilt. Locke sighed heavily, as if he had come to realize the terrible impression he may have left on the youngling. "I would never do such a thing to you."

That's right, Fox, you get on your knees and grovel. But it won't save you. Nothing will save you.

"It's just that... well, Stennes pie is very special to me, and..." Locke had to focus on making himself come across as very shaken, but he did. His voice quivered, and he even felt a tear in his eye. "You see, when you took the last piece, it wounded me. Figuratively, of course. And then, when I found out that you didn't even finish it..."

I'm going to rip off your head and make a goblet from your skull, hehehehehehehe.....

"Well, it just upset me, so much." He nodded sadly, and looked into Ekerin's eyes. "So, I want to know if you can forgive me.." he put his lightsaber back onto his belt. "For.... well..."

Suddenly, he struck out with the Force, sending a wave of it at Ekerin, to knock the Amaran over. "For drowning you in a toilet!!" And with another wave of mad cackling, he leapt at Ekerin again, aiming to grab the youngling by his throat and throttle him.

And then it'd be off to the bathroom.

[Twysper]

To say Ekerin was completely fooled would be a disservice to his sense of paranoia. Because, despite Locke's mournful facial expressions, Ekerin kept seeing him twitch after every sentence, like his thoughts were moving in a radically different direction from his words... He conferred with his common sense about the matter.

Maaaaybe... It's a health problem?

Being obsessed with pie would definitely count as having a health problem. He'd have to be anorexic to maintain how thin he is now.

Naw silly, I meant the twitching. Asides, what kind of Jedi lacks the control to stop twitching?

One that tries to murder people over pie.

But he is apologi-

With a small yelp of surprise Ekerin found himself suddenly thrown to the ground like a rag doll by the Force, lightsaber skittering out of his grip and across the polished floor of the hallway. Dormant adrenaline rapidly coursed through the youngling's veins, his blue eyes flared up in defiance, and he pulled his clawed feet back in defense as Locke rushed him, aiming to kick him in the chest. Too slowly though, the knight already had him by the throat!

Oh. Maybe he is crazy?

MAYBE?!

Fortunately for the Amaran, he had a bit of a scruff around his neck, causing Locke to have to adjust his grip in order to grab onto something of substance instead of fluff and fur. Namely, Ekerin's windpipe.

The Amaran gagged as he was violently shaken, claws instinctively coming up to grab at his attacker's forearms, digging through cloth, skin, and muscle as he felt his own feet slowly leave the embrace of the floor. He had to bite his tongue to stop himself from yelling that age-old phrase invented by ridiculously hopeful victims in the same situation, "Put me down!" Him being put down without a fight was about as likely as every star in the universe suddenly going supernova at that very moment, or as likely as Locke suddenly having a pie-induced heart attack.

[Rugs]

Locke yelled out in pain as the Fox's sharp talons dug into his forearms, cutting through flesh in a rather painful way. He released Ekerin, and grabbed his bleeding arms. Locke's glare was venomous as he looked at the youngling, and hatred seemed to radiate from the core of his being. He put his hand over each wounded arm in turn, using what healing abilities he could; healing was not at all a strong point for him, but he did what he could, and was at least able to get the bleeding to stop, though the wounds still hurt.

Then he turned his eyes back to Ekerin, who, despite having cut up Locke's arms, was looking a bit rough himself. A list of terrible things to do to the fox rolled through his head, and Locke's glare turned into a sadistic smile-the kind of smile that says a man is getting a bit too much pleasure from thinking of causing harm to another. "Oh, that was a bad move, Fox. Not only am I going to drown you in a toilet, I'm going to turn you into a pie yourself." Locke giggled inapproprately at that, almost childishly. "Yes, and then I'll bake you, and the I'll cut you up into little pieces, and then I'll eat you. And it will be marvelous."

His little giggle turned into a mad cackle then, and the skies outside the Temple instantly turned dark and dreary, and were split with lightning(don't ask me how, it just did, okay?). "Run, run, run, little Fox, because Locke is on the hunt for you!" With that, he lunged at Ekerin again.

[Twysper]

By the time Locke finally let go of Ekerin's throat, the Amaran was experiencing a nasty case of tunnel vision, and crumpled to the ground limply as Locke released his hold. Panting and rubbing at his sore throat with blood-streaked hands, Ekerin scooted backwards until he felt his back against the wall, using it as leverage to stagger to his feet.

I just almost died... The twelve-year old thought in shock, coughing violently into his arm as usually innocent ocean blue eyes focused to glare at Locke again. Using the wall for support again, Ekerin managed a toothy grin, opening his mouth to make a snide remark, only to be cut off by a god-almighty crash of lightning that seemed to originate directly behind him.

With an alarmed yelp, Ekerin found the ability to galvanize his muscles into action, stumbling away from the source of the deafening noise and tripping tiredly to go sprawling on the floor. The Amaran considered his current position, and decided he just wanted a nap.

Mreh, what the heck...

He laid his head down tiredly just as he felt a sharp kick in the ribs. He cringed and curled up in preparation for another blow, but it never came. Instead, the Amaran heard a padded thump as Locke crashed into the ground behind him. Ears piqued with interest, the Amaran rolled over to get a better view of Locke, who had lunged just as Ekerin had tripped, sending himself flying over the lazy fox.

In spite of the situation, Ekerin started snickering even as Locke got back to his feet, unable to bite back a verbal jab.

"You've gotta be the biggest klutz of a knight ever."

[Rugs]

{Sorry this is so short. Just woke up, creavity's not at its best, but I won't hold the thread up any longer}

"And you are going to be the deadest padawan ever, Fox," Locke growled in response Ekerin's little insult. He dusted off his robes as he stood and glared at Ekerin again. "Tell me this, Fox: would you rather have me hang your skin from my wall, or use it as a bed cover?" The same cackle that Ekerin should have been quite used to burst from his lips, and he could hear the soft patter of rain on the windows of the Temple.

Locke started advancing forward slowly, menacingly toward Ekerin. "Or maybe I'll make some Fox-fur boots, or gloves. I've heard Rhen Var can be pretty cold this time of year.... Hehehehehehehe." He reached his hands out, grabbing for Ekerin's neck. "Now, wouldn't you like to have nice, relaxing walk to the bathroom? Heh, I know you probably have to go, so why not just go with your buddy Locke?" He laughed again, and lightning lit up the sky outside.

[Twysper]

"Oh don't forget, I'm sure my pelt would make a wonderful interior for a speeder." Ekerin replied dryly, rolling backwards on the polished floor to balance on his feet lightly. "And technically, I'm still a youngling."

Indignantly, his tail thrashed the air behind him, churning like a propeller as the Amaran glared at the knight again. He did not have to go to the bathroom, he just wanted to get away from this probable spice-addict Jedi.

Ekerin growled as Locke's hands came questing for his scruffy neck again, baring a long row of pointed teeth in reply to the insidious laughter. Lightning flashed again, framed by the rain-streaked window pane, jagged lines darting earthward. Ekerin's resolve wavered for a moment, before he steeled himself again.

"Any closer, and I swear you'll be missing a hand when this is over."

Ekerin didn't understand why this knight would try the exact same approach as he had before. It lacked tact and finesse. He'd just claw Locke's hands again. Deeper this time.

Without warning, Ekerin issued a sharp, maniacal laugh of his own.

He'd make this foolish knight bleed.

OoC// *muses* So letting Ecky dig through my Linkin Park and screamo music wasn't exactly the best move...

[Rugs]

Locke sneered at the fox's mad laugh and threats. "Yes, Fox, I think your pelt would make a nice interior for a speeder. I can just see it now..."

And see it he did. He imagined himself riding around the most luxurious speeder ever created, marveling at the statue in his honor outside the Temple. Of course, the speeder would have been presented to him by none other than the Grand Chancellor herself, who was, no doubt, a pie lover herself. Clearly, she and the Galactic Senate would want to show their gratitude to him for his work in stopping the rampage of the mad fox, and what better way could there be to do that than to present him with a speeder lined with Ekerin's skin? It would be such a wondrous speeder...

Locke's mind returned to the present, at he laughed again. "Anymore threats, Fox, and I swear you'll be missing a head when this is done." A twisted grin appeared on his face, destroying any false kindness he might have been displaying only a moment ago. "You should know better than to threaten your betters," he said as he inched closer to the padawan youngling. "It might get you hurt, or worse. I mean, I've seen men die in worse ways than you can imagine, boy." Locke giggled sickly. "It wouldn't take much for me to do the same to you."

Finally, he made it to within striking distance of Ekerin. But he didn't reach out to grab the Amaran by the throat again. No, that wouldn't do at all. He was stronger than the fox was, yes, but he was not in the mood to get his arm clawed up again. Gotta beat his brain out first, and then strangle him, Locke thought. And so he took a hard swing with his fist, aiming for the side of Ekerin's head. As he swung, the thought dawned on him that he was about to beat the daylights out of a twelve year old youngling.

He knew today would be a good day when he woke up.

[Twysper]

Ekerin frowned. Locke's emotions were practically tangible in the air around him, amplified by the knight's force presence. The twin snakes hatred and anger, both entangled to the extent where one was barely discernible from the other, slithered through the adjacent halls of the temple with a sinister air. What was far more alarming to the youngling, he sensed their dark coils slowly tightening around him. Granted, it should have been more alarming, but mesmerized, Ekerin watched them both slowly rear their heads to regard him coldly.

Suddenly, the Amaran's ears stood up straight, snapping him out of his frozen trance. He had heard someone coming down the hall. With any luck, it would be a J-...

"Hello?"

...Today is just not my day...

A silver protocol droid wobbled into view farther down the hallway, assessing first Locke and then Ekerin before pausing. Doubtless, it wasn't programmed to deal with, much less understand, such an encounter.

Ekerin pounced on the opportunity, partially turning his head to face the droid, Locke's approach unseen. Urgency flooded his tone, desperation his eyes.

"Go get help! Go find--"

Ekerin's plea was cut off as he felt something slam into the side of his head, making him stumble onto the marbled floor dazedly. He nearly passed out as he automatically tried to stand back up. His vision swam, and spots danced in front of his eyes as he hit the floor again.

OoC// Sorry in advance for anything confusing. It's late. x)