The Bad Batch: Unlikely Ally, Unlikely Love

Approximately two years since the Clone Wars have ended
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Somewhere in the Outer Rim
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"Again."

A crimson lightsaber rose and clashed agaisnt the matching one of the opponent. Red sparks flew and lit up their black uniforms and helmets. The opponents parted, one looking tired and the other as if they haven't been training for the past hour.

"You're still slacking. Again."

Shadow sighed and repeated the exercise with the Seventh Sister. There was sparring and blocking, as the usual training routine ensued. You have to be quick, fast, and mean. Shadow had what it took- or at least she liked to think so. She's lasted this long. You don't surivive here unless you're good enough in their eyes.

Again she was blown back by the Seventh Sister. It was hard to have footing on sleek metal floors but she was trying her hardest. Falling meant loss, and that meant death. This wasn't just an exercise- it was a preparation for survival.

Shadow found her mask being fogged up by how hard she was breathing. "Sister, may we take a break ple-" She gasped and quickly blocked a sudden blow coming for her head. The other lightsaber kept coming in a relentless flurry of blows, leaving Shadow on constant defense. She kept raising and blocking and eventaully used to Force to push the other Inquisitor away so she could collect herself.

The Seventh Sister regained her footing with ease and scoffed. "You need to learn what it actually means to fight to the death. If you're not prepared to lie down your life for our Master, then you're useless to us."

"I am always ready to fight and die for the cause!" Shadow yelled back, gripping her lightsaber tighter. Forget rest, she had work to do. Such as make sure it was known how deadly she should be.

The Seventh Sister extended her lightsaber to ignite a second blade. "Come and get it, weakling."

Shadow growled back at the sight. "That's hardly fair! You won't let me fight with a twin blade yet!" Her lightsaber hilt was ready and equipped for a second kyber  crystal. Hell, she even had the crystal! Why did she have to wait so long to train with it?

"Life isn't fair and you have to be ready to face the unpredictable," she hummed, seeming to find this amusing due to her sarcastic tone. Oh that made Shadow see red. "Now let's go again."

Shadow rushed at her once more with a war cry that echoed off the walls. Sabers clashed once more in a heated training battle. The Inquistor knew she had to push Shadow to her limit. Tomorrow would be the test to see if she would be granted access to the Inquistor "family". Once the trainees reached eighteen, they would have to prove their worth and be inducted into the clan. Shadow would get her own number and title, then be granted to wield the rotating double-bladed lightsaber properly. But if the test was failed, by her or any of the others in training, then they would be discarded as the other failures of the past have been.

Shadow had barely passed the Force wielding test yesterday with the Fifth Brother. His power had pushed her to extreme, causing her to reach down inside her and find a new source of rage to live off on. It left her rendered useless for the rest of the day, but she seemed able to survive if pushed that far. Sooner or later she'd have to adjust and act like that on a daily basis if needed without getting so tired. She needed to rely on the dark side or she'd pass out often. Only the unlimited power she could tap into would fuel her.

Only time would tell what would be left for Shadow. She was a good fighter, but was it good enough?

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