Beyond - Legends Dark Currents: AU, OC's, 400 ABY Now at Chapter 28 - COMPLETED

Thank You both earlybird-obi-wan and The_Zeltron for reading.

I'm glad you like them but every story needs its villains...

Chapter Six: ShadowLands, Kashyyyk 385 ABY

The Shadow Lands were always cloaked in darkness even in the middle of the day. The wroshyr trees and wild life seemed larger down there as well. The massive amount of life made the Force very strong there, especially the Dark Side. The Shadow Lands harboured many scars from battles waged long ago. From Darth Krayt’s cold war, a blockade of Kashyyyk where the Wookiees were not allowed to leave the planet, to Darth Caedus raining fire from his Star Destroyer centuries ago. Yet farther into the past it saw many Force users come and go for various reasons. Those who wielded the Dark Side were usually there to hide or store away caches of artefacts, weapons, or tomes. Jedi rarely treaded here unless they had Wookiee guides. Then there were those wishing not to be found, the Shadow Lands provided a more than suitable place to hide.

Cyrax was one of those people that did want to be found by anyone. He had hid in Kashyyyk’s Shadow Lands for many years now. He had murdered his former Jedi Master Zaa Pana and discovered the relics of a long dead Sith Lord from during the time of the New Sith Wars. These relics had expanded Cyrax’s knowledge of the Dark Side of the Force and more importantly the genetic make-up of a monstrous noxious virus that could wipe out populations in mere months if it had ever gotten airborne. This would be Cyrax’s weapon to bring down the tyranny of the Emperor, his Galactic Empire, and the persecution of beings that could wield the Force. He sought revenge on all of it, the system was broken and now he had the key to fix it. This all required more than just a plan and plotting in the darkness of Kashyyyk, it required credits and knowledge.

Cyrax would go off planet with the ship that he originally came to Kashyyyk on for supplies and information. After Cyrax murdered his former Jedi Master he stole the ship and hid it in a private docking bay held by a corporation that bought and sold wroshyr lumber. Cyrax used the corporation by posing as a food supply ship for that company so he could get past planetary security. They were very happy with the monthly payments that Cyrax paid them. Included with the hanger bay was the use of their offices which Cyrax used in the dead of night to keep up to date on news from all over the galaxy, and the assets that he had held after he sold his slave master’s lands. Stock in various companies made him quite a bit of credits after Cyrax had tortured a Banking Clan member that gave him the edge on an insider trading deal that he had heard about through his information network. No one knew who they were working for as Cyrax had all his spies simply upload their information to a central server that a slicer set up for him. The security measures kept out any authorities that tried to look into it, but Cyrax had the advantage of anonymity. No one knew to look for him or his small but effective network.

Cyrax’s crowning achievement though had come ten years earlier, as if it was fate helping his cause. He had come across a boy with an untapped and substantial connection to the Force; Cyrax had found a powerful apprentice. Darius Baron had become a potent Force wielder and an even better swordsman with a lightsabre. There was still more that Darius needed to learn in terms of harnessing all his Force potential, but Cyrax had held him back a little as to make sure that Darius still needed him. Darius was more advanced than Cyrax was at this stage of his training but he still lacked the killer instinct that came naturally to Cyrax. He was not a boy anymore, as Darius’ advanced age helped him unlock his abilities quicker, it helped him study longer and harder than a younger student. An example of this was in Darius’ lightsabre construction. The boy knew how to use tools already from his previous life. This was crucial for the intricate workings of the lightsabre’s hilt and crystal placement. Cyrax still maintained that they were not Sith to Darius, but that they would never reject the Dark Side’s teachings. This deception kept Darius motivated to help Cyrax’s cause and it also maintained his anger towards everything that he felt was wrong with the galaxy.

The death of Darius’ uncle almost drove him to madness. At first Darius wanted to go home to Fondor and back to his father. Cyrax took advantage of a holo transmission from Fondor that showed that Darius’ father had a funeral service for both Rolf and Darius. The realization that his father had not even bothered to look for him and written him off for dead was an indication that Claude Baron had no desire to be a father to Darius anymore. Without a body to bury, Claude moved on anyway and buried the memory of his son. Darius was consigned to the idea of staying where he was wanted and saw that being with Cyrax was a haven. As a teenager his fear of being alone had dissipated quickly. That fear quickly turned into anger towards his father, towards the raiders that killed his uncle; and towards the cruelness of beings in general. Hate consumed had Darius because of this and his journey towards the Dark Side in Cyrax’s eyes was complete.

Darius differed from Cyrax in that he did not hate indiscriminately, he hated those that he felt wronged him. It was not the ideal scenario for Cyrax but it was a foundation that he could build on. During all of their training sessions Cyrax would antagonise Darius to the point of rage numerous times resulting in vicious assaults with the Force and with his lightsabre. Cyrax would always be in control but there were certain times especially recently where the student had almost defeated the master. Darius’ raw ability, peak physical condition, and maturity were already paying dividends in his training. The lessons came easily to Darius because he could handle the stress of Cyrax’s critical training tactics because he knew they were a means to an end. The final result was a young man with an enormous debt to pay to those that hurt, neglected, and disagreed with his politics.

***

Cyrax’s training was the beginning of Darius journey, but Cyrax needed to make sure that Darius continued down the path. His mental state would sometimes go between the place that Cyrax needed Darius to be and then to a state of uncertainty. Darius needed the right stimuli and Cyrax had provided it through his information network. He had found the raiders that tortured and killed Darius’ uncle. The team that had attacked the construction site that Rolf had started were gone but the head of that group was located on Onderon. Cyrax saw this as a perfect opportunity to unleash Darius upon them. He thought his apprentice was a caged beast that needed to be unleashed upon this nest of scum. Cyrax had uncovered that these raiders were connected to a slaver’s ring from Trandoshan. Cyrax had a particular hatred for slavers since he was a slave in his youth. All of them would feel Cyrax’s brand of justice and Darius would be the executioner.

There was no hesitation from Darius when Cyrax informed him of his findings. Cyrax had distorted Darius’ sense of justice and so the idea of killing the slavers and their Trandoshan masters was true justice. The raider’s jungle base on Onderon was not an actual building structure; it was their ship, a cruiser based in the jungles hundreds of kilometres from Iziz. They had hid for years but could leave at any time they needed to if threatened. Cyrax had discovered the local government of that region was well compensated for letting the raiders stay there without harassment from the local authorities.

Darius had set the ship down just a few kilometres away from the raider base. As he made his way towards his target, through the Force, he felt multiple beings not far from him along with a lot of wild life. The Onderon jungle reminded him of the Shadow Lands, only with much more sun light. Darius closed the gap between himself and the beings with Force enhanced speed. He was pleased to see that the beings were part of the raiders. Two humans and a Bith were working a piece of machinery that looked like a sensor array that looked damaged. The Bith was the technical operator while the humans were the guards. Darius used the Force to pull the much larger humans towards him and as soon as they hit the ground he took his lightsabre and stabbed one of the humans in the chest and as the other got to his feet Darius sliced him across the chest with a quick swipe from his red blade. The Bith had attempted to get into his speeder but Darius caught him with the Force and lifted him off the ground. The Bith choked while suspended in the air as Darius walked towards him. The dark apprentice dropped the Bith to the ground and asked, “Is there more of you out here?”

The Bith quickly replied by shaking his head side to side, and said “No” with laboured breath. As he looked up he got a good look at the assailant. He was a large man with a black hooded robe and a dark brown tunic under the robe.
Darius replaced his lightsabre on his belt while he climbed into the Bith technician’s speeder and gave him an expecting look. “Get in and get me on your ship or your death will be much more painful than theirs”
The Bith rubbed his neck and was about to mumble something under his breath but thought better of it. “Very well human, do you promise to let me go? I’ll forget I saw a Jedi.”
Darius looked the Bith over, “I am no Jedi. Now move faster.”
“What do you want?” The Bith asked. “You understand that these people are assassins, slavers, and killers. They have no regard for anyone.”
“Then why are you working for them?” Darius asked sensing the fear in the Bith.
“I don’t have a choice. They’ve threatened to kill my family back on my home planet, Clak’dor VII.”
“You’re a long way from home Bith. What brought you to the other side of the galaxy?” Darius questioned.
“I was apart of a science and research team that was on Dxun, a moon of Onderon.” The Bith explained. “We were studying forest life comparisons on Dxun, Onderon, and Kashyyyk. This study would help steady the recovering echo system of our planet. We were ambushed by these raiders and my team mates were killed when they tried to fight back.”
“Why did they spare you?” Darius asked and then was answered when he felt the Bith’s shame in the Force. “You hid. You cowered while your friends died fighting. You’re pathetic.”
“They found me and spared me when I talked them into letting me live because I said I would be their technician.”

Darius sensed the Bith’s shame and regret but could not help but feel some sympathy for him. It was almost the same story as his uncle. He was sure that the barbarism of these raiders had destroyed numerous families and now he was about to stop them permanently. This Bith was spared out of fear, yet his uncle was tortured and killed because he had stood up to them. Darius had quickly decided that there would be no mercy, no quarter, only punishment.

“Take me to the base.” Darius snarled.

The Bith got in the speeder and said nothing else to the man. He was very concerned as he had never met a Force user before. The man revealing that he was not a Jedi was even more concerning because he knew that any Force user that was not a Jedi was basically marked for death. The red lightsabre meant that the stranger was a Dark Side user. They had not been seen in decades since the reign of Darth Krayt. There was little that he could do but comply and hope that this human would let him live. When they arrived at the raider’s stronghold the Bith took out a remote control which opened the hanger bay door of the ship. Darius put out his hand to stop the Bith from continuing on towards the base.

“Leave. They will no longer require your services.” Darius said to him while looking into the hanger.
“Thank You.” The Bith said watching the large man get off the speeder and taking his lightsabre off his belt again.

The Bith left quickly as Darius proceeded quickly to the entrance of the hanger. He sensed numerous beings that were all projecting feelings of curiosity and surprise. He stood at the entrance and scanned the area. Men were on the over hanging catwalks, hidden behind smaller transports, and all were armed. Darius wasted no time using the Force to pull down two of the men on the catwalks and watching them fall to their deaths as he enhanced the speed of their descent. The remaining two on the other side of the upper level started firing at him with their blaster rifles. Darius deflected them all away and a few back to their point of origin and both men suffered the same fate as the returned blaster shots killed them.

Darius sensed three more men hiding behind a ship that he promptly tipped over with a powerful Force push. He watched as they realized and scattered when the ship was about to fall on them. When they came into view Darius threw his lightsabre in an arc that struck down two of three and then returned to his hand. The third raider started shooting but missed every time so Darius threw his lightsabre again but this time like a spear. The thrown lightsabre impaled the Rodian in the stomach dropping him to the ground. Darius called back his blade while he made his way up a series of ramps where he was met by more raiders that he cut down with vicious strikes. He showed no remorse or mercy for even those raiders that pleaded for their lives, or even those that did not draw a weapon against him in fear.

Darius reached the command deck where the bridge of the ship that was located. The bridge was closed off by large blast doors. On the other side he sensed numerous beings that were afraid. They no doubt saw what Darius did to their crew mates and now they feared for their own lives. He could feel their fear and it fed the Dark Side of the Force which in turn drove Darius. He raised his hands and focused with the Force to pull apart the massive blast doors but they would not budge. He heard gears whining as the pilots were trying to keep the doors closed off. Darius then took his lightsabre and stabbed it into the wall beside the door to destroy the motor which powered the doors. Now he tried again pulling the doors apart and they peeled away easily. When the doors dropped to the ground he walked in and deflected the blaster bolts from a brave pilot that was killed when he was shot by his own round.

Darius reached out and could feel that none of these pilots were malicious like the other raiders he had killed. He simply moved aside and motioned with his hand for them to leave. They all took advantage of Darius’ gesture but he stopped the last pilot that was a human female. She could not look at the hooded figure out of fear but she did turn when he asked her, “Who is in command of this ship, this group?”
“A Quarren, his name is Suresh.” She said terrified.
“Where is he?” Darius asked now annoyed.
“He went to Iziz with his men. They’re due back anytime now.” The woman revealed. “Look on the scanner, that’s them on their way back.”
Darius suddenly had a plan. “Go.”

Darius let the woman go and walked towards the controls of the ship. He looked around to familiarize himself with the numerous buttons and levers. Darius started the launch sequence hearing the engines firing up. When they were sufficiently warmed up Darius pulled back the control handle and engaged the vertical thrusters. The ship started to rise off the ground and the primitive wood structures outside the ship that doubled as watch towers and sniper nests were destroyed. Darius used his wrist mounted remote to call his ship to the area. Darius saw that he got Suresh’s attention through the window. He felt that he had enough height off the ground and his ship was close so he cut off the engines. The control room alarm system blared and red lights flashed everywhere. The ship started to drop to the ground and Darius jumped out of the window. He began to free fall with supreme confidence that his ship would be there. At the perfect moment Darius’ ship came under him and he landed on it with a thud. With the assistance of the Force Darius was holding on frantically to his ship because in the next moment the raider ship crashed causing a massive cloud of dust.

Darius landed his ship with the remote watching the wreckage of the raider’s cruiser. When the dust calmed down somewhat Darius could see the Quarren and his men surveying the damage. Surprisingly this Suresh was speaking basic well enough for Darius to understand the curse words. He wasted no time in walking towards the group of raiders who saw the dark hooded figure moving towards them slowly. They all watched and prepared their weapons in anticipation of an attack but the Quarren raised his arm to signal them to lower their weapons. He studied Darius for a moment as if looking to see who he was. Darius’ face was covered by his hood so Suresh could only guess as to whom not only destroyed his operations but also his ship. Through the Force Suresh did not emit fear but curiosity. His men on the other hand were a mix of fearful and nervous.

“I require an explanation as to why you did this Jedi, or perhaps you are something more than a Jedi, aren’t you?” Suresh deduced.
“What I am is angry Suresh.” Darius said letting the Quarren know that he knew who he was. “Your people have destroyed too many lives and I am here to make sure that never happens again.”
Suresh laughed at the notion of being shut down by a lone Jedi. “You think I made all the orders Jedi? I take my cues from others as well. My superiors are the ones you want.”
“No Quarren. It is you I want. Your Trandoshan masters are slavers and not petty thugs, thieves, or reckless murderers. You are all of those things and above all you’re arrogant.” Darius fired back with his voice enraged. “You killed my uncle for his construction supplies and tools. You spared no one and tortured those that resisted. I am here to set it right, with your deaths."
Suresh raised his voice now, “I have no idea who your uncle is human, but I’m sure his death was necessary for the survival of our group. We have far reaching ties into the Galactic Core; the Jedi will be persecuted for this outrage after we kill you.”
Darius had heard enough. “I am no Jedi Quarren. I’ve heard enough talk from you. Whoever attempts to come after me will share the same fate as you.”

Darius leaped towards the group and ignited his lightsabre in mid air. When he came down he Force pushed four raiders and saw that they had lost their weapons in the process. Darius spun around and cut down two more. He instinctively ducked down to evade blaster bolts that might have gotten through. While Darius was crouched over he threw his lightsabre in a short arc taking down one of the pushed men. More blaster bolts came his way so he dropped to the ground and rolled over to evade them. He quickly recalled his lightsabre and deflected away the next volley of blasts at their origin which finished off two more men. Darius counted three more raiders left but he could not see where Suresh had gone. He stood in front of the three raiders and through the Force felt fear. Now he understood Cyrax’s meaning when he said he and Darius were gods among these fools. He only wished that he had these abilities when Rolf was taken away from him.

Darius pulled their weapons away with the Force and watched as each man turned to run away. He thought about using one of their blasters to kill all three as they ran but Darius felt no honour in killing those that surrendered. He looked around for Suresh but not find him in the area. Darius reached out with the Force to look for the Quarren and found him in the forest not far. He started to track Suresh with enhanced speed until he found him. Darius passed him making his way in front of Suresh. He must have made noise while he passed the Quarren because Suresh started firing his blaster at him. Suresh stopped and knelled behind a large fallen tree with his blaster pointed the wrong way. Darius noticed and stood behind in the cover of foliage watching the Quarren looking for him. The dark apprentice walked in behind Suresh and with the Force pulled away his enemies’ blaster sending it into the forest. Suresh to his credit spun around and tried punching the larger man but Darius caught the punch in his hand and squeezed the Quarren’s hand until he heard bones breaking.

“Please spare me human!” Suresh yelled while dropping to one knee. “I did not kill your uncle. I don’t even know who he is.”
Darius studied the Quarren for a moment and then said, “Rolf Baron of Fondor. Brother of construction mogul Claude Baron. Ten years ago my uncle and I were working on Kashyyyk when your raiders attacked. ” Darius saw a light in the Quarren’s eyes as he realized something.
“Yes I remember that day.” Suresh said quietly. “That team did not return and when we sent a party to look for them all we found were bodies. You did that?”
Just as Darius was about to answer he felt an all too familiar presence coming towards them. “No, he did.” Darius said while pointing to the left. Cyrax emerged from the tree line, his lightsabre drawn.
“Two Force users that aren’t Jedi, you are Sith then, aren’t you?” Suresh guessed.
“There are no Sith.” Cyrax replied. “We simply follow our own path. This galaxy will soon understand our politics. They will see that unbalancing the Force has grave consequences.”

Cyrax took his lightsabre and stabbed Suresh in the thigh of his left leg. He then did the same to the right leg. The Quarren screamed out in pain and then watched as Cyrax cut off one of Suresh’s face tentacles. Agony set in for the Quarren as Cyrax stood over him with Darius watching silently. Cyrax then put his lightsabre blade beside Suresh’s neck and held it there so the heat started to singe the Quarren’s flesh.

“Kill me you sadistic animal.” Suresh managed to say while Blood gurgled in his mouth.
“Oh I will vermin, slowly.” Cyrax threatened.
“Cyrax!” Darius interrupted.
“You Dare?” Cyrax shot back.
“Finish him Master.” Darius tried to reason. “There is no need for torture. We would be just like them if we continued on this path.”
Cyrax then slammed Suresh against a tree with a Force push. The Quarren’s body slouched and groans of pain could be heard from him. “Fine Darius, you finish it.”

Cyrax watched Darius walk over to the Suresh while taking his lightsabre and igniting it. He looked down at the Quarren whose presence in the Force was fading. He was suffering and for a moment Darius thought that Suresh deserved it. The Dark Side was pulsating within him but Darius shied away from it. He wanted to finish what he started and end Suresh’s life the honourable way. He swept his lightsabre across Suresh’s neck and beheaded the Quarren to end his suffering. Darius extinguished the lightsabre and looked back at Cyrax. He could feel his master’s disappointment in him. Darius thought it was important to maintain a self imposed code of conduct for himself. He knew Cyrax did not approve but the staying on the edge of justice and pure evil was important. Cyrax more often than not gave into his dark feelings and many times encouraged Darius to do the same. Darius would not, he could not give in. Righteousness had to prevail over wickedness.

“You are failing to do what is necessary Darius. You must have no remorse, no mercy, ever.” Cyrax said darkly.
“I did what was needed to be done. They are all dead Master, every last one of these raiders paid for my uncle’s murder with their lives.” Darius said trying to remain calm.
“You spared so many of their colleagues. All remnants of this organization needed to be destroyed. Don’t you think that they will report us to the Trandoshans?” Cyrax explained.

Darius sensed in the Force that his master had a hidden meaning in what he was saying. Then he realized what Cyrax meant. “You did it for me, didn’t you Master? You killed the technician in the speeder, the pilots, and those three beings that ran and surrendered to me.” Darius finished saying not asking anymore as he knew the answer.

“Our anonymity is the most important weapon we have. If we are discovered the Jedi will come after us in force.” Cyrax said making some sense to Darius. “We will reveal ourselves when the time is right, when we decide, no one else.”
“Yes Master.” Darius conceded.
“Do you understand?!” Cyrax yelled.
“Yes I understand.” Darius said angered.
“Good. Now head back to Kashyyyk I will meet you there.” Cyrax said while walking into the forest and disappearing into the trees.

***

Darius practiced various moves in his familiar Ataru, Niman, and Soresu lightsabre forms. Cyrax wanted him to learn the more aggressive Vaapad form but Darius thought it was better to be a master at a few things, than good at many. The practice calmed Darius’ mind as he and Cyrax were still not on the best of terms after the events on Onderon. Darius knew he had disappointed his master but he was not about to betray his own code. He did not like that his master had followed him to Onderon and killed the people that Darius thought to be innocent. The images of the beings he killed, the scared female pilot and the Bith technician had haunted his dreams the next few nights. Darius remembered the fear in the pilot’s eyes, he remembered the Bith telling him about the fear of never seeing his family again. At the time this all helped feed the Dark Side of the Force. It had fed Darius in the heat of the battle, it empowered him in those moments and thinking about it gave him sleepless nights. He could feel the conflict within him rise by the day.

As Darius’ devotion to the a Dark Side crumbled under his guilt, Cyrax’s ruthlessness had evolved more and more over the years as he claimed that his plans were all coming to fruition. Their crude encampment was made up of four structures. Two as private rooms, another for training purposes, and the other was Cyrax’s laboratory. He had studied sciences tirelessly, performed chemical experiments, biological experiments, and even posed as a chemist at a university in CoronetCity on Corellia to speak with a professor there that had taken an interest in Cyrax’s independent studies. Cyrax lied about what he was doing to the professor, but the knowledge and experience he acquired was invaluable.

After Darius finished his exercises he went to his room to change. When he entered his comm link was blinking with an encrypted message from Cyrax. He was off planet on another research mission so Darius guessed he we was about to be sent on another errand run.

“Yes Master?” Darius responded.
“I have a supply shipment that needs to be picked up from Telos. It is basic lab supplies and samples from the planet. You will be going to a docking bay on the out skirts of Thani and meeting with a Rodian named Tolono.”
“Will there be credits exchanged?” Darius asked.
“No, I will pay them when you have departed the system and you are on your way back. This is important to us Darius; those samples are a key to my research.”
“Yes Master, I will not fail.” Darius replied.

Darius cleaned himself up and started to think about the possibility that Cyrax was trying to betray him for his disobedience. This simple pickup could be a set-up and Darius was about to get caught. He then thought better of it because he knew Cyrax could not achieve all his goals without Darius’ help. He knew Cyrax had begun to suspect that his faith in their purpose and mission was shaken but did his master’s confidence in him sink as low as removing Darius all together? He knew he had to cautious on this mission, be mindful of any surprises. History had too many examples of Sith treachery.

***

Cyrax closed the comm-link down and replaced it on his belt. He continued down the hallway of the CoronetCityUniversity science building to Dr. Sila’s laboratory. Dr. Silas was a professor at the university who was known for his work with potent chemicals and biological agents. Cyrax had found him researching the holonet. Dr. Silas believed that Cyrax was a chemist that worked for a laboratory that made cleaning products. The deception worked as Dr. Silas believed he was aiding a fellow scientist who needed the perspective of a more experienced mind. Cyrax had only introduced certain parts of his research to Dr. Silas as to avoid any suspicion about the true nature of his work.

“Well, Dr. Silas did I come up with the right balance for the agent?” Cyrax said while giving Dr. Silas the most fake smile possible.
“Yes Mr. Cyrus. That would work for mining guild project. Please make certain the final product is tested on an organic life.” Dr. Silas advised.
“You mean on beings Doctor, wouldn’t that be unethical?” Cyrax said mockingly.
“Not beings, small animals.” Dr. Silas replied sounding insulted. “I mean smaller organisms that have similar biological traits as some of the dominant species in the galaxy. I could give you some recommendations if you wish.”
“Of course Dr Silas, I understand. That will be my next course of action.” Cyrax said as he packed his equipment up. “Thank you again. I will keep you informed of my progress.”

Cyrax smiled and walked out with his equipment case under his arm. He had finally come close enough to the final stage of the virus. Cyrax would finish his virus back on Kashyyyk as the agents he was about to use were the most noxious and dangerous to handle. Cyrax had not spoken about this stage of the virus to Dr. Silas for obvious reasons. The doctor’s belief that Cyrax was working on an industrial cleaner easily masked the first stage chemicals. The final stage chemicals would almost certainly give away the Sith’s true intentions.

Cyrax was so close to the realization of this critical cog in his plan being complete. The recent failure by Darius on Onderon left Cyrax with the impression that he may have to do the most crucial parts of his plan on his own until Darius could be turned completely. Cyrax had various ideas on how to achieve this but in the end; Darius would obey or be destroyed. He had not come this far to be foiled by an idealistic apprentice. The ways of the Sith were brutal in most cases but Cyrax agreed that the strongest had to lead. Darth Bane’s Rule of Two, may have been an ancient tradition, but it had let the Sith prosper for more than a thousand years. It was one tradition that Cyrax would gladly continue.

Cyrax went to the docking bay where his ship was docked. When he sat down to start the launch sequence there was a current in the Force that he picked up. It was dark, but illusive. As if it was close but becoming stronger. Cyrax was surprised that any Dark Side activity would be recognizable because there were so few practitioners of it. If the origin of the dark current was centered on an individual then it was worthy of investigation. Another non Jedi Force sensitive could prove useful, especially with the recent revelation of Darius’ faith being shaken. Cyrax vowed to return to CoronetCity and see the origin of this presence. It was distinctive, raw and untrained so it would not be hard to find it again. The situation actually reminded him of when he sensed Darius’ arrival in Kashyyyk ten years before. Power that radiated like that was worth harnessing, it was worth training another apprentice. This could be someone who would share Cyrax’s vision of taking the Empire for himself.

***

Darius arrived to Telos’ capital city Thani which was still considered one of the greatest cities in the galaxy. It had massive buildings but still maintained green spaces in the form of inner city agricultural parks. The planet itself was a tourist attraction with amazing natural landscapes that brought millions of tourists each year. A massive landing terminal was built to accommodate the planetary traffic that featured passenger liners bringing beings to Telos IV. Approximately four thousand years before Darth Revan attacked the planet on a rumour that the Jedi had built an enclave there during the Jedi Civil War. Luckily for the Jedi, Revan’s attack missed the enclave and it survived the orbital bombardment. The lush countryside was devastated planet wide, but a group of Ithorians were commissioned by the Republic at that time, to start a restoration project which eventually brought Telos back to its former glory.

Cyrax had sent Darius to a smaller docking bay used by a warehouse consortium on the outskirts of Thani. Darius had arrived early and landed a rented speeder a few blocks away so that he could observe the area before he went into the warehouse. He saw nothing out of the ordinary but he did feel a presence in the Force that was very different from any being he had ever encountered, even Cyrax. Darius sensed calm, patience, and confidence. It was not an arrogant confidence as this being was secure in their abilities. The Force was different in that it was not like Cyrax’s presence or even his own. Darius could only guess that he was sensing a Jedi in the area. He had never encountered one because Cyrax was paranoid about being discovered and hunted by the Jedi Knights. Anytime he even thought he sensed the presence of a Jedi he would retreat and leave.

Darius was curious about an encounter with a Jedi if only so he could test his own skills and see how he measured up with one. He then realized that the Jedi most likely had sensed him as well while he was looking on. Darius wondered what a Jedi was doing at the very place he was going to be. His mind started racing as he began to think that Cyrax had set him up like he had originally feared. Darius was not surprised, treachery amongst their own was the way of the Sith.

Surprisingly Darius saw his contact enter the warehouse at the pre arranged time. Could Cyrax have set-up his contact as well? Darius doubted it because Cyrax had used this Rodian multiple times for products that he used during his experiments. Darius was not even sure the Jedi was in the building he was going in to. He started to think about abandoning the exchange but Darius knew that if he had retrieved the items with a Jedi present, he would get back in good favour with Cyrax.

Darius started to make his way to the warehouse and realized that the building was massive, so there was a chance the Jedi was in another part of the site. Through the Force he found the Rodian contact inside. The Rodian was not nervous and was waiting patiently for Darius to appear. Darius made him wait for a few minutes until he was sure that the Jedi was not in the vicinity. He then revealed himself from the shadows and approached the Rodian who was surprised to see Darius and not Cyrax.

“You must work for Dr. Cyrus?” The Rodian began.
Darius knew ‘Cyrus’ was an alias that Cyrax used when he was out in the galaxy. “Yes. Do you have the materials?”
“Yes of course human.” The Rodian said. “Do have my credits?”

Darius handed him the datapad with the credit transfer and the Rodian gave him the package. They nodded to each other and the Rodian vanished behind a door and Darius started to do the same until he heard the snap hiss of a lightsabre. Quickly reaching out with the Force, Darius could now feel the intruder’s presence behind him. He turned slowly coming face to face with a slender woman in traditional Jedi robes and pointing a yellow lightsabre right at him. Her hair was white and she had eyes that were violet in a certain light. The Jedi was not elderly by any means, but she had experience in her eyes. Darius recognized the Ataru stance she was standing in and her lightsabre’s hilt was shorter in relation to his own. This meant that she could perform many strikes quickly and with little effort.

“I don’t know who you are or where you came from, but you will come with me or I will be forced to make you.” The Jedi said firmly.
Darius wanted to prove himself to his master and now was the perfect opportunity. “You have no idea who I am Jedi; you jump into a battle even before seeing who I am. I was under the impression you Jedi were peace keepers.”
“That is more of a motto used in the core worlds. I sense a great connection to the Force in you young man, but it’s tainted. Your presence is not yet totally immersed in darkness though, you’re confused it seems.” The Jedi said while looking Darius up and down.
“You see that much in a short glance? Trust me Jedi, there is no confusion.” Darius retorted.

Darius pulled out his own lightsabre and ignited the red blade while dropping into his own Ataru stance. He leapt at his opponent bringing his lightsabre straight down hard against the Jedi’s now horizontal lightsabre. After she parried his blow she pushed him back with their blades still entangled. Darius could feel she was using the Force to reinforce her strength against his superior physicality. He knew he may be physically stronger than the Jedi but her connection to the Force was substantial. The Force was always the ultimate equalizer. The Jedi pulled back quickly looking from Darius’ red blade to his face again.

“You have a red lightsabre?” She examined. “I haven’t seen one of those in decades. Do you claim to be a Sith, or a simple user of the Dark Side?”
“What I am is none of your concern. I do not stray away from any teachings, be it Jedi or Sith. I do not have a narrow minded view of the Force like you Jedi.” Darius fired back while starting to circle the Jedi.
“I truly enjoy when the Jedi are accused of being narrow minded when it was the populace of the galaxy that decided to continue the rule of the Empire” The Jedi started to lecture, “Then all Force users are deemed responsible for the actions of Darth Krayt’s One Sith from almost three centuries ago! Truly the galaxy is lost.”

Darius agreed with the Jedi but what was he to do? She was his enemy, an enemy defined by generations of conflict between the Light and Dark sides, with the fragile balance of the Force always at stake.

“I could not agree more, but my training tells me that you are my enemy and you must be destroyed.” Darius said
“Your training does not tell you who your enemies are young one, your trainer, or master does.” The Jedi responded. “Who is feeding you these lies?”
“The only lie here is the idea that the Jedi can provide protection from beings like my master.” Darius spat back.

Darius attacked again with a powerful Force push that caught the Jedi. She braced herself with the Force trying to roll on the floor but was unable to do the roll quickly enough, so the Jedi’s body skipped off the floor and into a wall. Darius wasted no time in launching plasteel crates at her that she deflected away harmlessly with the Force. The Jedi realized that the young man had ability to go with the potential. She sensed that he was confused though, that he had not selected his path yet. The apprentice’s master had not succeeded in driving him down the dark path fully. The fact that this so called dark warrior had agreed with her assessment of the galaxy and the treatment of Force users meant that perhaps she could turn him back to the path of light, if nothing else, to save his life from the persecution of the Jedi-Imperial Act.

“Your thoughts deceive you young one.” The Jedi said reaffirming her stance. “You are saying the words your master taught you but you don’t fully believe them. I sense that there is good in you.”

Darius threw his lightsabre at the Jedi like a spear with Force enhanced speed. She threw up her own lightsabre and destroyed the hilt of Darius’ blade in a desperate attempt to stop it. The Jedi was surprised that she had caught the blade and now looked at Darius who had was obviously at a loss on what to do next.

The Jedi lowered her guard for a moment. “Surrender, you don’t have any weapons to carry this on.”

Darius did no such thing as he threw up his hands and fired forks of Force lightning at the Jedi who did not expect it. “You above all else should have known that a Force user is never without a weapon.”

Darius walked towards the Jedi’s who was curled up on the floor. He sensed her low life signs but the Jedi swiftly kicked out her leg and hit Darius’ knee causing him to drop. She then punched him square in the jaw knocking him out.

***

Darius awoke face down, binders on his wrists, and he had a massive headache. His right knee was in pain as he tried to stretch is out. Darius’ surroundings were not familiar to him as he was in a dark grey room with walls made of durasteel. The only thing he remembered was fighting the Jedi, making her fall, his knee getting hyper extended, and then his world going black. He tried pulling apart the binders but as he struggled Darius noticed that they were getting tighter around his wrists. He tried using the Force to break free but the pain with each tug was getting too much to bear. Darius reached out with the Force to see if he could sense any beings in the area but there was no one. He noticed that he was only wearing his tunic and that his lightsabre, along with his utility belt were missing. Darius began to struggle with his anger and with the Force he tried one more time to pull apart the binders. Just when he started to make some progress a door slid open and the Jedi woman he fought walked in.

“Release me.” Darius barked.
“I’m afraid that will not be happening young man.” The Jedi said with some sarcasm in her voice. “Do yourself a favour and calm down. Those binders will only get tighter with your struggling.”
“Where are we? Why have you have you brought me here?” Darius asked while trying to calm himself down.
“You are at the JediTemple on Coruscant, detention level.” She said seeing the surprise in Darius’ eyes and feeling it in the Force. “My name is Sella Jenner. I am a Jedi Master and I’m the only thing between you being shipped off to the Imperial Military to be executed and freedom.”

“Are you threatening me Jedi? You would do well to mind your tongue, lest I ripe it out.” Darius threatened knowing full well that he was in no position to threaten anyone. He still did not want to show any weakness.

“Why do you hate me young one?” Master Jenner asked him. “I can feel so much anger and confusion coming from you.”
“There is no confusion Jedi. My anger is not misplaced and undisciplined the way you think it is.” Darius responded. “I don’t hate you, I pity you. You want to classify me as a user of the Dark Side? I use the full spectrum of the Force, I l do not limit myself. I have no title.”
“Spoken like a truly confused little boy.” Master Jenner shot back.
“Let me go and I will show you how I have grown.” Darius said with scorn.
“You forget, you were free and I put you in here. Perhaps you need time to think about that. Your anger will do you no good here. The Jedi have done nothing to you…”
“Exactly,” Darius interrupted. “You have been persecuted for almost three hundred years and yet the Jedi do nothing.”
“We have maintained peace and kept the Dark Side in check with our sacrifice.” She replied. “That is doing much young one.”

Master Jenner left the detention room leaving Darius alone in silence. He thought about what the Jedi said and realized that she made a valid point. There had been almost three hundred years of peace in the galaxy. There were no major conflicts during the reign of this line of Emperors. Most systems had thrived under this regime and healed from the scars of many wars past. Military’s were even scaled back across the galaxy. It was hard to admit that the Jedi was right, but Darius had to concede that the galaxy had the peace it deserved. Force users were a major part of galactic history and there was no doubt they would be a big part its future. Darius still thought that arresting and detaining everyone who was suspected of using the Dark Side of the Force was wrong.

Master Jenner returned to the room days later and Darius quickly said, “I will ask you again Master Jenner, why have you kept me here?”
When he turned around Jenner was followed by another Jedi from the look of his robes. He was an older man with blond hair and grey hairs coming in at his temples. He did not say anything as he examined Darius with a blank expression.
Master Jenner began, “This is Jedi Master Brun Sarro. He is apart of the Jedi Council he is here to judge if you deserve to be executed.”
Darius stood up as Master Sarro said to Master Jenner, “I believe you are correct Sella. I can sense he has a powerful connection to the Force but he is holding on to his anger. If he cannot control it then he will be taken to the Imperial Prison.”
“Yes Master.” Sella replied.
Master Brun Sarro gave one last look to Darius and said to him, “The Jedi Grand Master and I still believe in second chances even if you don’t young man.” He left the room and left Darius and Master Jenner.
“I can feel the good in you. What is your name child?” The Jedi said while raising her hand and making a motion that suddenly caused the binders to come off.

Darius could feel through the Force a calming influence coming from this Jedi. He was at a loss because she was everything that Cyrax was not. Somehow Darius knew he could trust this woman. He could sense that there was no deception in the Force coming from her, for now.

“Darius, my name is Darius Baron.” He admitted.

“Welcome Darius.” Master Jenner said while bowing. “I can feel you have been through much pain in your life. Is this reason you turned to the Dark Side of the Force?”
“It did not start out that way. My master spoke of using both sides of the Force, that we could make a difference in the galaxy.” Darius said starting to doubt the words of Cyrax. “At first I followed him to pursue my dormant Force abilities. Then I did it to avenge my uncle and destroy those that murdered him. I even did it to prove to my father I was worth something.”
The Jedi considered what Darius had said before saying, “I applaud you for pursuing your abilities but your considerable connection to the Force was what should have proved to you that you are worth something. I am only sorry that it was not the Jedi that discovered you and your talents. Who twisted you like this?”

Darius debated revealing Cyrax’s identity because the fact remained that Cyrax did raise and train him. Only recently, did Darius begin to see Cyrax’s true nature. His lack of compassion on Onderon was disturbing but Darius understood it. Cyrax never told him about what he was doing in his lab either. Darius could only guess what he was producing in there.

“I will not betray my master.” Darius said. “He showed me the Force in more ways than even Jedi can imagine. I will die to protect us.”
“I promise you Darius he will not attempt to save you.” Jenner replied quickly. “He may have trained you but it was not for your benefit, it was for his own, his own plans. You have to see that the Jedi are not the enemy here. We can save you if you want it. The Jedi Order is your only choice if you want to live. Your sacrifice will not benefit anyone.”
“Do what you must Master Jedi, for I will remain loyal to my cause.” Darius said staring off in the distance.
“Your master will be happy to have you rot in here.” Master Jenner said with annoyance. “Search your feelings and realize that holding on to your anger against the Jedi-Imperial Act is pointless when in reality it saved countless lives. You do not have much time, you must make a choice. I pray you choose the path that is right for you Darius.”

As Master Sella Jenner left the room Darius began to think about his past sins, how he would have to pay for them. Pay for the lives he took in the name of revenge. Guilt had finally crept into his mind now that he reflected on the past years as an apprentice of Cyrax. Perhaps Master Jenner was right that letting go of his hate was a path to redemption. Betraying Cyrax was not the honourable act but his master had become far from honourable. Cyrax would often antagonise Darius to keep him angry. For years since Darius was a child, Cyrax filled his head with messages of hate for the Empire and the Jedi. Darius believed it for the most part but finally encountering the Jedi and hearing what they had to say made him see a different point of view, another opinion.

Darius was not sure how many days had passed since he was incarcerated. For some reason the Force did not speak to him here. Darius had lost faith in his master’s ideals. He was shaken but he still refused to surrender his master’s identity to the Jedi. Master Jenner had come to see him numerous times to bring him food and to speak with Darius about the Light Side of the Force. Even though he was a prisoner he felt like the Jedi Master’s student. She told him to quiet his mind and then he would feel the Force again. Master Jenner explained that his confusion was the reason why he could not feel the Force. Darius had to make a decision as she told him that the council was about to turn him over to the Imperials. Darius maintained his loyalty as he knew if he was not a man of his word, he was nothing. Sella did not push him any longer because she knew she could not influence his decision, it had to be his own.

***

Darius Baron walked through a smoke cloud that engulfed the area surrounding him making it hard to breathe. As he walked his foot had hit something lying on the floor. He looked down and saw a body that was scared by a lightsabre strike. Darius continued on and the smoke began to clear somewhat, and he felt a wave of heat smash against him. He moved forward again and came upon an open space that lay in ruin. Buildings were destroyed; fires were ablaze everywhere and there in the middle of it all was a dark cloaked figure wielding a red lightsabre. Darius ran towards him and reached for his own lightsabre and ignited it raising the blade. As Darius drew closer the dark warrior turned and brought forth his own lightsabre and the blades crashed together. Darius looked the dark warrior in the eyes and was taken aback when he saw his own reflection. He then pulled back his lightsabre and his dark self did the same. They stared at each other for a few seconds until Darius tried to say something. Before he could speak a word his dark self struck him down in an instant.

Darius awoke in a cold sweat and breathing heavily. His vision made him shudder as a cold feeling went up his spine. He wondered whether he had just had a vision of the future, or he was having a nightmare. Darius knew for certain that any time he had a vision it was the Force trying to show him something. Whether it was a warning or something to meditate on, Darius could see that this vision needed little explanation. If he continued down the path he was on, perhaps the vision would come true and he would become a Sith Lord. Cyrax would always tell him that being a Sith was not like being a Jedi. The Sith are a belief, a way of life. Cyrax did not consider his life that of a Sith Lord, just someone that could travel between the Light Side and Dark Side, Sith and Jedi. Darius recalled the actions of past Sith Lords, the havoc and chaos they caused the galaxy. He realized that he did not want to follow that path, Darius realized that he wanted to follow a different path, not one of ruin and destruction, the way of peace and justice, the way of the Jedi.

Days past and Darius tried to calm his mind to re-establish his connection to the Force like Master Jenner had explained to him. The fact that he had somehow lost the ability to use the Force bothered him to no end. Darius’ meditations had resulted in a slight whisper from the Force. It was small, but it was something to build a foundation on. Darius looked at the Force with a calm mind and did not draw upon his emotions to harness its power. It was a new way of connecting to the Force but a welcome change for Darius if it worked. When he rested his mind, Darius would work his body to the brink of exhaustion with physical exercises.

Master Jenner entered the room and observed Darius while he was kneeling on the ground meditating. She sensed tranquility about him that she had not felt before. Even the complexion of Darius’ face had warmed. Sella saw that after Darius’ thirty days of incarceration there was a change in his demeanour and through the Force she sensed a renewed mind-set within him.

“You seem calm Darius.” Master Jenner pointed out. “I can sense that the time alone has helped you made a slight re-connection to the Force. That is impressive considering what Master Joy did to you.”

Darius’ curiosity rose, along with a bit of anger. “Who is Master Joy, and what did she do to me?”
“I will not lie to you Darius.” Sella started explaining. “Grand Master Joy Tenor is the leader of the Jedi. She is the most powerful Force user in the galaxy. Master Brun Sarro, who you met before, is her husband. Together, along with the Emperor, they have kept peace in the galaxy and kept control over the Dark Side of the Force. Master Joy examined you initially and made the recommendation that we not send you to the Imperials.
“Isn’t that a violation of the Jedi-Imperial Act?” Darius asked.
“In theory yes, but since you may have information that can lead us to a Dark Jedi, your master, then I supposed she made an exception.” Sella explained. “She sensed the good in you when I did not, when her husband said that we should send you to the Imperials. Master Joy confessed to me that she saw a vision of a dark warrior that came to Coruscant, she saw the Sith resurgent. Your master may be that warrior.”

Darius started to connect his own vision to that of Master Joy’s. He was convinced that it was him that Master Joy saw. “It was not my master she saw, it was me. I had the same vision, but the dark warrior was me.”
“It was not you.” Sella said. “No Darius, she said she saw you fighting him. Master Joy thinks you will save the Jedi Order.”

Darius could not believe what Master Jenner was saying but he sensed no deception within her. If the Jedi Grand Master believed he could find redemption then he had to take a chance to realize such a lofty feat. Darius was not sure if Master Joy’s vision was correct but it was the only way to realize some kind of future.

“His name is Cyrax. We have an encampment on Kashyyyk in the Shadow Lands. He was the former Padawan of Jedi Master Zaa Pana, who he betrayed and murdered in the Shadow Lands.” Darius explained for Master Jenner.
“I’ve heard of Zaa Pana and his apprentice. They were both killed according to the mission records if I remember correctly. Could you lead us to him?” She asked.
Darius seized the opportunity. “I want something in return Master Jenner.”
“You are not exactly in a position of strength Darius. What is it that you want?” She asked already knowing what he wanted.
“I want you to train me in the ways of the Light Side. Train me the right way, the Jedi way.” Darius asked. “I had that dark vision from the Force. I am certain of it. It showed me what I would become if I stayed on the path of the Dark Side. I cannot let that happen, I will not let that happen. Whether I am that dark warrior or I am meant to stop him, I need this. Please.”
“This is not a decision I can make alone Darius, I need to consult the Jedi Council. You may have to face punishment for practicing the Dark Side. Even though Master Joy believes you will save us, she is still accountable to the Jedi Council.” The Jedi replied.
“I have made mistakes in my life that I must atone for. Please give me the opportunity; I know, I know in my heart, I can make a good Jedi Knight.” Darius said almost pleading.
Master Jenner looked into Darius’ eyes and saw truth in them. He would help them. “The Force brought us together for a reason Darius; that much is clear. I will speak with the Council.”

It was hours later when Master Jenner walked into Darius’ room again, but this time she was followed by another woman. This woman had hair white as snow, fair skin, and her robes were white as well. Darius could only assume that this was Grand Master Joy. With a wave of her hand Darius’ powered cell opened and the two women walked into the cell. He then saw Master Brun Sarro standing at the entrance of the door watching. Darius bowed his head to the Jedi Grand Master and looked into her light blue eyes. She gave him a small smile and looked at him for a few seconds.

“The Force is strong with you Darius Baron.” Master Joy began. “I have seen a future with you at its centre Darius. Whether it is for good or evil we will have to wait and see what the Force makes of you.”
“Master Joy, I want to be a Jedi Knight. I want to help you fight the darkness that is coming.” Darius said
“Let me finish.” Master Joy said with a smile. “The Jedi Order will not give you to the Imperial garrisons. You will be trained as a Jedi and Master Jenner will be your teacher. Normally Council members do not have Padawans, but you are a special case. I have foreseen darkness and flames on the horizon and it must be confronted by the full power of the Jedi. Your power will be put next to ours. I will heed what the Force is telling me, and it is telling me that you are a large part of our future.”

Darius bowed his head and watched as Master Joy bowed in return. She walked out leaving Darius with Master Jenner and Master Sarro who walked right up into Darius’ face.

“I also believe in second chances Padawan, this is your second chance. If you falter just a bit, I will personally send you to the Imperials. I do not have the gift of visions that my beloved has, so I will trust her on this. Do not abuse the gifts we have given you today. May the Force be with you both.”
Darius watched Master Sarro walked out the door. He was angry with the threat, but understood the Jedi Master’s concern. Darius then turned to Master Jenner, “I look forward to your teachings, master.”
“I won’t be teaching you for long Darius. You already possess skills and at your age you will be a Jedi Knight in due time. You will only have to attune your mind and you are already on the right path.”
“Will you go after Cyrax?” Darius asked.
“Master Joy has given your training as a top priority. Cyrax will answer for his crimes soon enough.” Master Jenner said. “You must not trouble yourself with these thoughts now Darius. Concentrate on your training.”
“Forgive me Master Jenner,” Darius started. “Do you find it strange that Master Joy trusted me so quickly?”


Sella nodded her head and led Darius outside the room. She led him into a hallway and to a lift. She then said, “No Darius. Master Joy’s connection to the Force, and visions, have not ever been questioned, we will not start now. Your power is considerable and it rivals Master Joy’s. You will be a Jedi, the Sword of the Jedi.”

@Shira A'dola




Rainbow Knight Star

 

Great insightful update with Darius. He is a likeable person

 

earlybird-obi-wan The_Zeltron

Thanks again EOW and Mae. Chapter 7 will be up this week.

 

Thank You for reading.

The_Zeltron

earlybird-obi-wan

Rainbow Knight Star

Chapter Seven: Jedi Training Academy – Dantooine 398 ABY

Vikka made her way to her quarters to find her Master waiting for her. “Yes Master?” Lorn Nyeb stood in the middle of Vikka’s quarters and stared the young girl down with eyes that were impossible to read. He had returned from an assignment on Coruscant that Master Exas had sent him on. What Master Exas did not know was that Lorn was given another special assignment from the Emperor himself. The Emperor’s spies had uncovered a long forgotten cult that was trying to use Sith magic. They were worshipers of the long dead Sith Lord Darth Millennial who had founded the Dark Force religion. The members of this religion would later be known as The Prophets of the Dark Side that were based on the Sith planet Dromund Kaas.

Darth Millennial had lived more than a thousand years ago and was a descendent of the line of Darth Bane who established the Rule of Two. Millennial’s master was an Iktotchi female named Darth Cognus who followed Darth Bane’s apprentice Darth Zannah. Darth Millennial was a three eyed mutant human. He was a powerful Force user with precognitive abilities who was trained as Cognus’ Shadow Hand. While Darth Cognus was a true believer of Darth Bane’s Rule of Two, Darth Millennial was not. He argued that Skere Kaan who founded The Brotherhood of Darkness had it the right way. Millennial believed that the Rule by the Strong where there were many Sith Lords ruled by the strongest, like Kaan, was the way the Sith should proceed.

After numerous arguments between Darth Millennial and his Master, he left Darth Cognus for the planet Dromund Kaas. That was where Millennial studied the Dark Side and Skere Kaan’s ways of leadership. He would later declare himself a prophet chosen by the Force, start the religion Dark Force, and build a temple in the swamps of Dromund Kaas. Millennial would recruit many Force sensitive acolytes, and beings that were obsessed with the Order of the Sith. Those who came were sworn to secrecy, while any beings that left and insulted the religion were cast out and in most cases executed. The religion would make many prophecies and they stayed hidden for centuries until the powerful Sith Lord Darth Sidious discovered them and brought them into his inner circle of advisors.

Darth Millennial’s religion would later be wiped out but prophets always returned in different parts of the galaxy. These splinter groups were always found and destroyed. Lorn and Vikka were now tasked with destroying this particular group that were hidden on the Twi’lek planet of Ryloth which was in the Outer Rim of the galaxy, more specifically they were hidden in one of Ryloth’s many underground cave networks. The entrance was located near the mountainous outskirts of a city named Nabat. Nabat had been a city involved in the Clone Wars as it was saved by the Republic Army’s Ghost Company led by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. This time the city was in no danger but the Emperor wanted these false prophets dealt with quickly.

Lorn looked at his former Padawan in the eyes and responded to Vikka with, “He has a new assignment for us child.” Lorn said grimly. “The danger of this mission will be much greater than the last one as we are dealing with Force users that believe that they are prophets of the Dark Side. They will fight back.”
“Master,” Vikka started to ask already knowing the answer to her question. “Do we have to kill them, how do we know that they have all fallen to the Dark Side?”
Rage entered Lorn’s eyes and he quickly slapped Vikka hard across her face and started to yell, “I told you never to question my orders, I told you to never question me!” Lorn kicked her this time.
“Wait Master, I…” Lorn started to use the Force to choke Vikka who looked helpless to stop her former master’s attack for a moment until she focused her energy and used a Force push on him. It caught Lorn by surprise as he lost the choke hold and was forced backwards but he still landed on his feet. He stood to his full height and laughed as he looked upon Vikka who was breathing heavily while glaring at him with venom in her eyes. When she realized that her master was not attacking again she calmed herself but stayed cautious. Lorn started to move towards Vikka but his demeanour did not seem to be aggressive.

“I am pleased to see you controlled your emotions. You have learned to balance your emotional response.” Lorn observed, “Although I do not care for you questioning my orders Vikka. I told you that we were chosen to carry out the most important missions in the galaxy. There must be no mistakes, no hesitation. Do you understand?” Without waiting for a response Lorn continued, “That will be the last time you question me Vikka, I promise you.”
“Yes Master.” Vikka said with her head bowed down.

***

Trip Vrand walked into Head Master Exas’ office and watched as the older Jedi Master adjusted a few items on his desk and then he motioned him to sit down. Master Exas had been Trip’s master when he was a Padawan and this had brought them into a close friendship where they could both spoke candidly. Master Exas started. “Trip I trust you are well?” He asked. “This is a formal debriefing which should be taking place in front of our Council but since you were my Padawan I will do this myself.” Master Exas took out a datapad and studied the entry by Trip but noticed no entry by Vikka. “Where is Master Vikka’s report? In fact, where is she?”
Trip shifted in his seat as he could not hide anything from his Master and so he started to explain. “Master Exas after we returned from the crystal cave we spoke and then her comm link buzzed and she rushed off, I don’t know where.”

Master Exas studied him for a bit but could feel in the Force that there was more that young Trip was not saying. “Is there anything else you want to say Master Trip? I can feel the conflict.”
“Master Exas,” Trip started. “Vikka and I discovered that we have some sort of bond. We can hear each other’s thoughts and even feel what is happening to each other physically. We wanted to ask you about it and see if it was a normal thing, if you had heard of this kind of connection in the past?”

Master Exas rubbed his chin and thought on what his former Padawan had said and to his recollection he could not think of an instance like this in recent history. Perhaps a look into the past generations of the Jedi Order could reveal something about the existence of Force bonds. In the meantime Exas was concerned with the missing Vikka and why she had run off. Trip obviously did not know where she went but Master Exas knew that Vikka’s former master Lorn Nyeb had returned from Coruscant but requested to leave again to attend to a tip he had received about spice runners on the Twi’lek home world of Ryloth. It was possible that Lorn wanted his former apprentice to accompany him on the mission and Master Exas would not have objected to Vikka’s inclusion but the lack of communication about it from Lorn was a concern.

“Trip, I want you to recover, to collect yourself, and meditate on what you have discovered about this bond.” Master Exas started to rise and head for the door of his quarters. “I will try and discover exactly what is going on with Master Nyeb and Knight Gratua.”
“Master, I’ll come with you.” Trip replied. “It could be dangerous. Besides, I don’t trust Master Nyeb.”

Master Exas looked at his former Padawan with pride. Trip had good instincts and he was good at reading beings. Master Exas could not agree more but he did not want to create tension within his enclave so he did not reveal his own suspicions about Lorn Nyeb. “Regardless what you think Knight Vrand, Master Nyeb is a member of this order and must be respected. I will look into this myself. Go on Trip, don’t worry about me.”
“Very well Master, may the Force be with you.” Trip conceded.

Master Exas said while smiling, “And with you Trip.” He bowed his head to his former Padawan and walked to the hanger bay. Master Exas checked with the dock master where he discovered that Lorn Nyeb had taken a small freighter and Knight Gratua had gone with him. Master Exas took a StealthX and set coordinates for Ryloth. As he ascended into the atmosphere Bail Exas was eager to find out if all his feelings and suspicions about Lorn Nyeb were true. Whatever he discovered he wanted to see about Vikka and make sure she was fine. Master Exas cared about all his students, even if they made mistakes they did not see in front of them.

***

Lorn landed the small freighter on the out skirts of Nabat so no one could see the ship land and cause suspicion. Vikka said nothing during the trip which Lorn preferred because he did not like the way she had started to question his orders again. After their first mission where Vikka had assassinated an arms dealer that did not want to cooperate with the Emperor, she had not said much of anything on the next few assignments. Vikka was compliant, ruthless, and efficient. Of course there were no more children involved which is what Lorn had suspected triggered her rebellious streak. The timing of Master Radii’s death along with the deaths of the Padawan Younglings could not have come at a worse time for Lorn’s training of Vikka. She was conflicted and her love for humanity had returned. Lorn would have to beat that out of her again he suspected. He would have done it sooner but this mission needed to be completed and Lorn needed Vikka’s help because of the involvement of other Force users.

The loading ramp dropped the two Jedi to the planet surface which was a small opening in what looked like a vast mountain range. According to the dossier the Emperor had given Lorn, the cultists had a mobile base that moved around every time they were discovered. Until their discovery by the Empire, the Prophet’s security was supposed to be very tight as the cultists had not been discovered in many years. Their information indicated that the mobile base was some how incorporated into the dark mountains and hills. Ryloth had one side that was in perpetual darkness and cold which produced low valleys, mist covered mountain peaks, and snow laden wastes. The one side was in continuous sunlight which made up deserts and barren waste lands where gale force winds kicked up and at the hottest areas the temperature reached inhabitable levels. Lorn had wished that the cultists had just hid in the lower levels of Ryloth’s major cities as they were all located inside and under the mountains in the terminator region of Ryloth. The terminator region was a lush temperate band of land where Ryloth’s major cities were mostly located.

Lorn looked over at Vikka who was scanning the terrain and asked, “What do you see Vikka?”

Vikka kept looking forward and replied with, “The perimeter seems clear Master and I feel nothing that would indicate Force users around us.” She examined, “There are plenty of life forms though, and the mountain is heavily populated with smaller creatures.”
Lorn nodded with approval, “Good instincts Vikka I sense the same as well. Be mindful though as these mystics may have ways of hiding themselves in the Force.”
“Yes Master.” Vikka answered.

Moving through the open space was easy enough but the light was significantly reduced when they entered a dip in a series of hills. Lorn had a device that tracked most kinds of power signatures and hoped that this would lead to some kind of clue as to the location of the cultist’s base. Finding an entrance into the underground caves in the darkness would be difficult in this area as it was neither night nor day at the moment. The Force would be their best tool, but Lorn wanted to give his technology a chance. There was little on Lorn’s scanner as no major sources of energy were present. He figured that a generator, some kind of power source would have to be in the area. The winds started to kick up dust into their faces and forced Lorn and Vikka to put on breather masks. The air was colder which made the search start to get uncomfortable for the two of them.

Lorn and Vikka both turned their heads to the east as they sensed a presence possibly watching them. Lorn only had to nod to Vikka to follow it as he stayed on the path to remain as bait. Vikka used the Force to increase her speed and hopped up the side of the unsteady hillside. At the same time Vikka took her lightsabre from her belt but did not ignite it so she did not give her position away. Her prey was gone and possibly moving at the same rate of speed as she was which confirmed that these beings were Force users. Vikka stopped so she could look around the area and suddenly she felt danger approaching as Vikka noticed three or four rocks double the size of her head flying at her. She quickly ducked out of the way and again looked for her attacker who sent more rocks at her. Vikka had to use the Force herself to stop the rocks in mid flight and send them back to where she thought they came from. She could only hope that they found her target.

Soon after Vikka had countered her assailant’s attack she heard sounds that could only be rock hitting rock which meant that she missed, but at least now she had an idea what she was dealing with. Vikka quickly closed the distance as the closer she got the more she could feel through the Force the signature of her opponent. Vikka noticed that the Force signature was not considerable by any means; it was not as prevalent as her fellow Jedi. This made her feel better as Vikka knew that it was only a matter of time before she caught them. Vikka could now feel another Force signature coming in closer to them which she knew all to well. As she came down hill looking onto the path the unmistakable snap hiss of a lightsabre igniting could be heard and then a scream echoed into the dark chasm. As Vikka got closer she saw her former master shut down his violet blade and a dead Iktotchi lying at his feet with a deep gash across his chest.

The cultist was wearing a black robe with dark purple trim and a logo on the chest depicting three eyes in a circled triangle. The three eyes of course referred to their founding father Darth Millennial’s mutation of an eye in his forehead. Lorn looked down at his fallen adversary and then looked around stopping his gaze on Vikka. “They are close now Vikka, I can feel them in the Force, I can feel their fear.” Lorn started to walk, “I can sense them cowering in their lair as they must know about their fallen comrade.”
“Yes Master.” Vikka said acknowledging how content Lorn was with himself.

Lorn wasted no time tracking the cultist base now that he had a recognizable signature to follow. The Force was difficult to master to even the most experienced users, and when a being revealed too much it was all to easy to track that person in the Force. The Jedi seemed to have it right when they at one time preached no attachments, no emotions, and to unlearn what they had learned before they came into contact with the Force. Even Vikka felt a number of beings that were nervous and frightened not to far away from their location. The two Jedi came across three beings in similar hoods guarding a large blast door that was on an angle downward which suggested that it was the entrance to the underground base they were looking for. A human was standing in the middle of two Twi’leks and stepped forward to speak. “What business do the Jedi have on Ryloth? We have done nothing illegal here.” His anger grew. “There are families that live here that have nothing to do with our beliefs.”

Lorn gave him a wry smile and responded. “You are all under arrest and have been sentenced to death by order of the Emperor under the Jedi Imperial Act. As for the families you just mentioned, you sealed their fate when you brought them here.”
The human cultist seemed surprised. “The order of the Emperor? I did not know the Jedi were at the Emperor’s beck and call for beings such as us. We have been non violent for decades and have lived here in peace without anyone knowing. What is our crime Master Jedi?”

Vikka could feel the tension in the three guardians but she also felt a darkness and anger in them. They wanted to protect their closed society but they did not seem to be the ruthless Dark Side users that Master Lorn had made them out to be. She did not dare question her master again as she feared the consequences. She was angry and defiant the last time Master Lorn attacked her, Vikka vowed not to let him intimidate her again. If she retaliated Vikka knew she might not live through the encounter but she had to take a stand in what she believed in.

Lorn finally replied, “Your crimes are against the Empire and are punishable by death. The use of the Dark Side of the Force is prohibited; the worship of the Dark Lords of the Sith is outlawed. You are guilty of all of this.”
“We have lived in peace and you are misinformed Master Jedi.” The guardian replied. “Darth Millennial’s legacy was survival, and we have done that peacefully. Why are we such a threat to the mighty Emperor? Aren't you a little curious about his genocide of Force users? The Jedi are in danger, we have seen that another Jedi purge is upon us”
Lorn paused for an instant thinking on what the guardian was saying. “It’s fortunate for me that I do not consider myself a Jedi.”

This caught them all by surprise including Vikka who was just about to say something to her master but Lorn Nyeb had already ignited his lightsabre and had slashed down with quick, efficient strikes on two of the guardians. Nyeb left the human for last and tried to use a Force push against the guardian but he was prepared and used the Force absorb technique to counter Nyeb’s attack. The guardian produced a blade from a wrist gauntlet that parried Nyeb’s next lightsabre strike which surprised Vikka as she knew only cortosis and beskar, a metal from her home planet of Mandalore, could sometimes fend off a lightsabre blade. Vikka instinctively was about to help her master but Nyeb yelled, “No, he is mine.”

Nyeb quickly discovered that the guardian had two of the gauntlets with the same type of blade. Vikka liked the gauntlets as she was a fan of metal blades and had learned to use them well. Nyeb began to increase the pressure on his opponent who inevitably started to fade with the increase of aggression by the seasoned Jedi. The guardian attempted a Force push but Nyeb pushed right back and through it. He kicked the guardian in the stomach dropping him to his knees and with the butt end of his lightsabre hilt Nyeb smashed his adversary’s nose filling his face with blood. With limited vision the guardian was defenceless against Nyeb’s next lightsabre strike which slashed the guardian’s thigh. He was beaten and they both knew it. Nyeb pointed his lightsabre at the man’s throat.

“Before I end your life tell me about your visions and I will spare your families.” Nyeb threatened.
The guardian knew he had no choice in the matter as he wanted to protect the others in his group. “Very well I will comply as long as I have your word.”
Nyeb quickly replied with impatience, “You have it, now speak.”
“The Force has told us of a harbinger of darkness that will come to make the galaxy suffer. It is not clear who but I feel that it is the Emperor himself who will allow it to happen.” The guardian’s eyes started to glaze over. “He will be fury incarnate; the embodiment of rage, and he will bring death to countless beings. May the Force help us all.”
“Thank you prophet, your usefulness to me has ended. Before you die, know that I will complete my mission.”
Horror came across the prophet’s face and Vikka said silently “No master.” Lorn stabbed him in the chest.
“Come Vikka, let us finish this.” Lorn demanded.
Vikka could not help herself and had to question her former master. “Master, you gave the guardian your word. You said you would spare the families.”
Vikka expected a violent reaction from him but instead Lorn only turned back and asked her, “What if he was lying? What if that is a lair of warriors under here? We can not take that chance Vikka.”
“I sensed no deception Master.” Vikka said answering his questions.
“I will complete this mission with or without you.” Lorn said with the rage that Vikka had expected. “I can see now that training you was a mistake that I will remedy soon enough but I sense these cultists mobilizing.”

Nyeb fired a powerful Force push at Vikka that caught her by surprise lifting her off her feet and slamming Vikka against a wall of stone. She fell to the ground heavily and then tried to get up but as she tried to focus her eyes she could not keep them open and the darkness took her. Nyeb had already opened the blast doors with the Force by ripping them off their hinges. When he entered he was quickly meet by more prophets who had started firing various types of projectiles at him with the Force but Lorn blasted his own Force push that sent the projectiles back at the attackers. Lorn activated his lightsabre once again and was merciless as he chopped down the prophets one by one as there was little they could do to stop him.

Two more prophets dressed a little differently from the others stepped to him wielding vibro swords and they quickly attacked him. Lorn fended them off with his lightsabre parrying their blows as one went low and the other high. Lorn’s Ataru technique was flawless as he gave himself more and more into the Force, letting it guide his movements and finally with a quick strike he severed the weapon arm of one of the prophets with a cho sun strike, cho sun being one of many marks of contact in lightsabre combat. The other prophet was caught by his throat and Lorn choked the life from him.

***

Jedi Master Bail Exas had tracked Lorn Nyeb to Ryloth with a tracking device that he had installed on all the ships that his Jedi used at the enclave on Dantooine. Master Exas was worried that his worst fears had been realized and that Master Lorn was in fact defying him and the Jedi Council. The nature of Lorn’s deception was not known but Exas was determined to find out the extent of it. Master Exas had already found Lorn’s freighter and only had the Force as his guide to locate Master Lorn and Knight Gratua. He started to question his own logic when he declined the aid of his former Padawan Knight Vrand who was more than willing to come. Knight Vrand’s relationship with Knight Gratua may have come in handy on this voyage but it was too late now to second guess that decision. If Knight Vrand was right then Knight Gratua may have not come here of her own free will. Master Exas was looking forward to Lorn’s excuse but either way this all had to stop.

The Holonet had not revealed anything significant about the planet or this area in particular that would attract Jedi attention. Master Exas was curious what business did Lorn have here on Ryloth especially in the wastes. Through the Force Master Exas felt a familiar but faint Force signature close to his location. He quickened his pace and made his way to the signature which Master Exas could now recognize as Knight Gratua. Exas found Knight Gratua unconscious and face down against a wall. He saw some blood on the back of her head that had matted her hair and with a Force healing technique he felt that she was alive and stable. Master Exas woke her and helped Vikka up to her feet where she started to rub her head feeling the small gash that had caused the blood. Vikka was dazed and appeared to be trying to understand where she was and why Master Exas was there.

Just as Master Exas was going to say something he saw that Vikka looked as if she remembered something. He waited for a moment to see if she would initiate conversation but Master Exas could see that Vikka was looking for the right words to say. “Master Exas I just wanted to say that…” Vikka started but stalled.
“What are you and Master Nyeb doing here on Ryloth child?” Exas said in a demanding voice.
Vikka realized that no lies would work here especially with the Head Master of a Jedi enclave. She could hold off by saying nothing for now until Master Lorn returned but Vikka would not lie or cover for her former master anymore. “I came here to help Master Nyeb kill a group of cultists that call themselves The Prophets of the Dark Side.” Vikka explained. “They follow and worship the teachings of a Former Dark Lord of the Sith named Darth Millennial.”
“I am aware of the group and had no idea they still had a presence in the galaxy, this is very disturbing.” Master Exas began to say. “Since when do Jedi carry out executions Knight Gratua and who gave Master Nyeb these orders?” Exas asked himself as much as he was asking her.

Vikka though only knew that Lorn had received his orders from the highest levels of the Jedi Council. Yet she never knew about which specific Jedi Councillor was giving those orders. She was about to explain that to Master Exas but he started to walk away, “Master Exas please wait.” Vikka called after him. “I don’t know who Master Lorn reports to or who he gets his orders from. He only says that it is from the Jedi Council.”

Exas knew that the Jedi Council on Coruscant could be secretive and elusive when asked direct questions but carrying out executions was not something they would order or condone. Exas still maintained relationships on the Council that would have told him about such operations if they existed at all. He was more determined now than ever to find the truth about Lorn Nyeb’s personal operations and who gave this now fallen Jedi his instructions. “Stay close to me Vikka, we will find your former Master together.”
Vikka saw the determination in the Head Master’s expression and decided to be as helpful as possible. “Master Exas, the entrance to the cultist’s lair in over there.”

She pointed them into the right direction and Exas discovered the blast doors ripped off their hinges and entered the base cautiously. Vikka saw the bodies of the fallen original guardian cultists and remembered the cortosis gauntlets. She hated the idea of taking them but they would be great additions to her arsenal of weapons. She followed Master Exas down the passage and as they walked they discovered the bodies of cultists that were killed by lightsabre strikes or by obvious Force techniques from chokes to projectiles being thrown at them. Through the Force, Master Exas felt a surge of fear from multiple presences and the signature of Lorn Nyeb close by. Exas quickened his pace and drew his lightsabre without igniting it. Vikka realized that Exas started moving quicker and so she upped her own pace to keep up and then she saw the drawn lightsabre.

***

Lorn Nyeb always fulfilled his promises and always completed his missions for the Emperor. At that moment he was about to complete this mission as well with the deaths of these remaining cultists. They consisted of the remaining women and children of the all the male protectors that he had just eliminated. He did not feel any remorse as he knew they were only apart of the mission and that it was not he who wanted them dead, it was the Emperor, he was only the weapon. A woman used the Force and attempted a feeble push that Nyeb walked through with minimum effort. He used his own Force push and smashed her against the wall just as he had with his former apprentice. Vikka had become a disappointment to him as her questioning of his tactics and the missions became way too much to deal with, he would have to cut his losses with her and finish her when he was done here.

Just as he raised his ignited lightsabre against the remaining cultists he was interrupted by a presence that he knew well and never imagined to feel here on Ryloth. Nyeb extinguished his blade and turned around to the intruders. “Master Exas, I suppose it was only a matter of time before you discovered my deception.”
“Master Lorn, I cannot even begin to express how disappointed I am in all of this.” Exas started to explain.
“Save your disappointment for someone who cares what you think Exas.” Nyeb snarled. “I have served the Council for far too long with little to no results.”
“Results?” Master Exas asked. “You are a Jedi Battle Master; you have trained countless Padawans including Vikka. Those are wonderful results Lorn.”

“Only in a corrupted galaxy such as this would you call all of which you just described as results Bail. You have been blinded by the Council’s non action.” Nyeb started to pace, “You were once slighted by them and you left because of it, now you are just like them.”

“What does this accomplish Lorn, what have you been doing all these years, how many have you destroyed, and who for?” Exas demanded. “You have chosen a path of darkness and lies that cannot be allowed to continue Lorn, you are under arrest. Surrender and I will bring you to the Jedi Council for judgement.”
Nyeb gave a sinister smile, “Just know that the galaxy is a better place because of my actions, and my employer will continue to cleanse it with me as his sword. As for being under arrest, I welcome you to try Master Exas”
“What has made you fall so far Lorn, why have you chosen the Dark Side of the Force?” Exas asked without trying to sound like pleading. The Head Master knew that Lorn’s combat ability was superior to his own skills.
“Again Bail you classify things as black and white, Light Side and Dark Side. I use the Force as a whole, the complete spectrum, all the Force’s power is mine to control.” Lorn shot back.
“I classify you as a criminal Lorn and you will come with me one way or another.” Master Exas said while he ignited his yellow lightsabre.

Master Exas dropped into his Form VI Niman lightsabre form which was a form that gave the user no distinct advantages but did not expose them to any disadvantages in their defences. It was the form of moderation and temperance which Exas had mastered. Lorn on the other hand launched himself at Exas with some wild swings that Exas identified as a very sloppy version of Juyo, Form VII. Master Exas parried each blow but realized that Lorn Nyeb was in vastly superior physical form than he was. The blows that Exas parried shook his arms and it was the heavy use of the Force that evened things out for a time. Nyeb used a massive Force push that Exas absorbed and sent back which surprised Nyeb as it drove him back. Exas went into an offensive mode as he threw multiple projectiles at Nyeb who after he got up went at Exas again. To his surprise Nyeb was drawn in closer to Exas’ blade with the Force to which he just barely deflected away the Head Master’s lightsabre strike.

Nyeb flipped backwards creating space between him and Master Exas giving them both a chance to regroup. The Headmaster was grateful for the break so he could catch his breath as he had not been in a battle this intense in many years. “Why would betray the Jedi like this Lorn? What gives you the right to be judge, jury, and executioner? Exas asked.
“Master Exas I carry out the will of those more powerful than the Jedi. I used you, the Jedi, all to complete my missions and frankly I’m surprised you did not figure it out sooner. Lorn taunted.
“We will not be used as pawns for you ever again!” Vikka belted out. “I will not be on the wrong side again.”
Lorn smiled, “Oh child, I will control your destiny for as long as you, or shall we say for as long as I let you live.
“You’re a monster.” Vikka spat back.
“Easy Vikka, please mind your emotions.” Exas said to her and then he switched his attention back to Nyeb. “Your time in our order is at an end Lorn, I will see to…” Master Exas started to say before Vikka ignited her lightsabre and leaped recklessly at her former master who leaped at her in counter. Their blades met in the air with a massive clash and when they dropped to the ground they exchanged a flurry of quick strikes with Nyeb pushing Vikka back with his superior physical power. That was the opportunity that Master Exas needed to rejoin the battle and he did with a quick flip and a Force push blast that caught Lorn by surprise. Nyeb had to put his body into a ball and rolled onto the floor where he was met by Vikka who had immediately gone to attack him. Lorn rolled away from Vikka’s relentless attack and he sensed Exas closing in as well on the opposite side. Nyeb sprung to his feet and caught Vikka in a Force choke and quickly threw her at Exas who had to break off his attack and catch Vikka with the Force to soften her fall.

With Vikka gasping for breath and Exas stopping his attack to save her Nyeb took the opportunity to go offensive and attack Exas with hard strikes. They drove Master Exas to the limits of his skill when finally his defences broke and Nyeb caught Exas’ side with a thrust that would have went into his stomach but entered just to the left of it thanks to a last second manoeuvre. The piercing did not catch any vital organs but Exas fell to is knees and dropped his lightsabre. He was defenceless while Nyeb went for the killing blow but Vikka Force pushed Nyeb who did not expect it and was driven into the wall. Nyeb could see Vikka’s skill was considerable and on some level he was proud that she could last this long with him in a battle. It was such a pity that he had to destroy her eventually, but not today, not here. Nyeb knew that he would need her again and that the time he invested in Vikka’s training would need to be repaid regardless of her feelings of disgust with him.

“You have done well Vikka.” Nyeb said as he rose to his feet. “Do not attack again child because I will destroy you if you attempt it.”
Vikka stared defiantly at her former master. “I have no intention of letting you go anywhere Master Nyeb.” She pointed her green lightsabre blade at him and declared, “You are under arrest, don’t move.”
Nyeb started to chuckle. “You think me beaten? You have only begun to understand my power.”

Nyeb began to advance only to be alerted to another fairly strong Force signature approaching the room. This was no doubt a Jedi as the Light Side of the Force brimmed with their presence. Trip Vrand entered the room and surveyed the layout with Vikka standing off with Master Nyeb and Master Exas unconscious on the floor with a wound in his mid section. Vrand was thankful that he decided to disobey Master Exas’ orders and follow him in his own personal star fighter. The woman he loved was dishevelled and bleeding, his Master incapacitated and wounded. Now he could help them both and get to the bottom of all this.

Vrand quickly ignited his own lightsabre at Master Nyeb. “Vikka are you alright?” He asked with concern but never taking his eyes off of Master Nyeb.
“I’m fine Trip. What are you doing here?” Vikka asked with emotions of surprise and anger. She did not want Trip to see this side of her, to know about what she was doing and had done with Lorn Nyeb. Vikka was afraid Trip would judge her solely based on those actions alone instead of how she was with him. Vikka was so ashamed with herself and of the actions that she now reflected upon in those few seconds between her question and Trip’s eventual answer.
“I had to tell Master Exas everything I knew which wasn’t much, and then Master Exas said he was coming after you. He was particularly suspicious of Master Nyeb so I figured he would need help even though he told me not to. It looks like I was right too.” Trip said with pride in his voice.
“You shouldn’t have come here Trip, he’s too dangerous.” Vikka said not knowing how overbearing she sounded.

“And you shouldn’t worry about me so much I can handle…” Trip had started to defend himself verbally when he realized that Nyeb was quickly making his way towards him with his lightsabre raised for a hard overhand strike. Trip raised his own blade in time to parry the blow and the next one which came quickly after.

Vikka sprung into the action parrying Nyeb’s next blow and used all her strength enhanced by the Force to push him back to alleviate the pressure from Trip. Vikka immediately went on the offensive with several quick strikes that Nyeb parried and stepped back giving himself room to accept Trip’s attacks. Nyeb switched between them blocking their assaults and then kicked Trip hard in the stomach taking the wind out of him and dropping him to his knees. Nyeb went back at Vikka with some ferocious swipes that forced her back that she needed all her concentration to fend off his lightsabre. Nyeb realized this and used random objects around the room to fire them at her. Vikka was hit hard behind her head with a metallic object that she did not see coming at all. Nyeb quickly took advantage and smashed the side of her face with the hilt of his lightsabre knocking her out again.

Nyeb stood over her body and used the lightsabre to singe through her robes and when he felt her skin Nyeb started branding her. Before he could finish anything of significance Trip came after him again with a yell but Nyeb caught him in mid air and started to choke him.

“When she wakes you will tell her that I let her live today so that I can come back in the future and take her life when I see fit. There is more for her and I to do because when the dark warrior comes she will be the key to defeating him.” Trip looked confusingly as Nyeb maintained the death grip. “Her compassion will ruin him and I will reap the benefits of his weakness.”

Lorn Nyeb dropped Trip hard while balling his hand into a fist and he started to beat the Jedi Knight into a pulp with repeated blows to the face. Nyeb cleaned his hands on Trip’s robes and looked around at the aftermath seeing Master Exas fallen and skewered by his blade, his former apprentice and her love beaten into the ground with blood covering their faces. Nyeb saw that the women and children of the cult had all runaway from the area. They still needed to be hunted down for the Emperor so that he could complete his mission. He felt little Force power in any of those cultists earlier and decided that his work on Ryloth had been done.

Nyeb went back to his freighter, lowered the loading ramp, and started to the launch sequence. He needed to go back to the Emperor and explain what had happened on Ryloth with Master Exas and the Jedi Knights. Nyeb knew he could never go back to the Jedi and would be banned as soon as Exas told them what he was doing if he survived. Nyeb wondered if they would raise his statue in the Jedi Archives with those of the fallen Jedi in history. If tradition held true they would, but this version of the Jedi was far from the traditional Councils of Master Yoda and Mace Windu from a long time ago. The Emperor had paid him well enough that Nyeb had many places to go to around the core systems and the mid rim. All places that were considered lavish by Jedi standards but to him they were adequate and not flamboyant enough to raise suspicion about who he was. Nyeb would have to change his life totally until the Emperor gave him another assignment to carry out.

He had enjoyed the battle as he put the ship into hyperspace. Nyeb had had enough of the Jedi and their limitations on his life. He wanted to control his own destiny and shape his future without interference. He went to the refresher and took off the ripped clothing he wore and noticed the new bruises and scars he had suffered. Vikka had surprised him; her skill was always growing which bode well for his future plans, he would seek her out later on. Master Exas on the other hand, along with his former Padawan were both disappointments. Other than a few attacks by Master Exas neither of them did much damage. Exas had become an old man and the boy was not that good enough yet, perhaps one day. Nyeb took a sani steam and went to the kitchenette and made himself some food and caf. He found a bunk and tried to fall asleep but all he could think about was the darkness that the prophet had warned him about. Who was it, and what did they want? All questions for another day, tonight Lorn Nyeb would get some sleep.

***

Vikka ran down the hallways of an empty building that had rooms with beds, she was somewhere she did not recognize. She was running towards the outer doors where a source of red and amber light was coming from. When Vikka finally reached the outside she looked in and was horrified as the outside of the building was in flames. The city surrounding the temple was in flames and then Vikka saw beings engulfed in flame, falling to the ground and succumbing to the fire. Vikka looked around the area and saw a black hooded figure standing silently not far from where she was. He wore black robes that looked like Jedi robes but they were not as defined and neat, they were torn and flowing almost creating a black flag. Vikka suspected that he was a Dark Lord of the Sith, who was revelling in causing such despair and agony. She tried to look at the large man’s face but all she saw were two small red dots of flame, there were no facial features to speak of, there was just black.

Vikka was not afraid of this man and she went to him, the temperature got warmer and warmer the closer she got. She leaped up on buildings trying to get to the Sith but she never reached him until finally he was gone and all that was left was a bird’s eye view of the devastation he wrought. Vikka half expected her former master to be the cause of this but it wasn’t his way of doing things, Lorn Nyeb was evil in her opinion but not like this. She leaped back to the ground and tried to help a female Twi’lek but as soon as Vikka touched her the Twi’lek turned to ash. A grave feeling came over her at that moment and Vikka knew she could not do anything to help these people. Vikka was helpless just as she was helpless when the Togruta Padawan fell to her death in the Kinrath cave on Dantooine; she never wanted to feel this way again. Vikka suddenly noticed the sky turning black, it was descending on the scene around her and finally it consumed her.

Vikka awoke amid the cultists destroyed base, the numerous fallen beings, and then she finally saw Trip whose face was beaten and covered in blood. Farther away was Master Exas was lying unconscious as well sporting his own wound. She rose and felt the room spin under her feet and Vikka fell to a knee but fought the fog and rose once again. She took her comm device and activated an automatic distress beacon that would call on any Jedi in the area. First she made her way to Trip and knelled beside him looking for signs of life. Vikka took his head and rested it on her knees feeling his weak signature in the Force which made her worried that he may be dying. She performed a Jedi Healing technique on him and at the same time opened their Force bond trying to see if Trip would respond. Vikka could feel Trip’s breathing normalize which made her feel better but he still had not made contact over their bond. She cleaned his face as much as she could with her stained robes making the effort futile.

Vikka took off her robe and placed it under Trip’s head. She went to Master Exas who seemed be breathing much better than Trip and even her for that matter. Vikka could feel the Force around the Head Master which meant that he had already used some type of healing or stasis technique on himself. Vikka reminded herself to get Master Exas to teach her that one. She examined his wound and saw that it had cauterized because of the searing heat of the lightsabre. She took a small vile of bacta salve from her belt and rubbed it into the wound hoping that it would help with infection. Vikka was startled when Master Exas reacted to the salve instantaneously by moving his body and opening his eyes.

“Master,” Vikka said timidly. “I’m so sorry. Master Nyeb escaped and Trip is hurt badly. I’ve already sent out a distress beacon on my comm, hopefully help is on the way. It’s my fault. I’m sorry Master Exas.”
The Head Master shook his head in disagreement saying quietly, “No child, not your fault. It was the will of the Force, never doubt that.”
Tears started to slowly run down Vikka’s face, “Why would the Force want this for us Master Exas?”
“There’s always a reason child.” Exas explained, “Even though you can’t see it now. Lorn is exposed, can’t do this anymore. We will find him.”
“There’s more Master,” Vikka started to say. “The prophet said there was a darkness coming; I had a dream about it I think.”
Master Exas said nothing but then slowly remarked, “We’ll deal with Lorn, I promise.”

Exas closed his eyes showing Vikka that the conversation was over and leaving her to her own thoughts. She did not want to drive herself mad with the dream and the prophet’s forewarning about the Sith Lord she saw. Through the Force she felt Master Exas resting and thankfully stable. Vikka went back to Trip’s side feeling his forehead which was alarmingly warm and she began to worry. She ran her fingers through his hair and tried to sense something through their bond. Finally Trip’s voice came through the bond, albeit weak, he came through. “Trip, are you ok?” Vikka started.
“Pain Vikka, I feel pain. I have to tell you something Nyeb said. Darkness coming, it is coming.” He said.

Trip’s connection broke and Vikka felt him go back into unconsciousness. She had no idea that her former Master had said anything to him. Vikka realized now that Nyeb told Trip about the prophet’s warning of the coming darkness. Did he mention the Sith Lord, or just darkness in general she wondered? Either way she would have to explain this to Trip as well because she felt Trip’s fear for her life. He really wanted to save her but Vikka knew from her dream that it would not be that simple for any of them. There was the fact that she felt no fear from the Sith Lord which brought about numerous possibilities and too many interpretations of those possibilities at the moment.

Vikka’s thoughts were interrupted by her comm link buzzing. “Is anyone there? This is Jedi rescue unit Halo. We picked up a distress call.”
She answered quickly, “This is Jedi Knight Vikka Gratua, and I need assistance. I have Jedi Master Bail Exas and Jedi Knight Trip Vrand with me. They are both badly hurt and need medical assistance.”

“We have your signal and we are on our way Knight Gratua, hold on. May the Force be with you.” The voice trailed off.

“Hold on?” Vikka said out loud. “Yeah no kidding, the Force be with us all.”

 

Exciting and action packed update. Hope Vikka and Trip will be alright

 

Thanks for reading EOW and Zeltron. I'll have the next chapter up this week.

 

earlybird-obi-wan
The_Zeltron
NightWatcher91
Rainbow Knight Star
Cushing's Admirer

Thanks for reading all. I'm breaking Chapter 8 up into two parts. It's pretty big.

Chapter Eight P1: CoronetCity, Corellia 390 ABY

Marcus had not been back to this place in many years, he had almost forgotten about it. Dusk had set in and the sky was a beautiful amber colour. Arianna’s blue eyes were like sapphires that were a stark contrast to the dusked sky. The fact that she was here made Marcus feel much better about the visit to his mother’s grave. He wanted to show his mother that he found peace and a woman he loved more than anything. Marcus felt she would want to know that his life was progressing in a way she would want. He said to his mother that he wished he had known her and that she was alive to see him become the man before her. Marcus turned and looked at Arianna who was standing in respectful silence.

“Thank you for coming here with me Ari.” Marcus said. “From what I was told about her she would have appreciated this visit.”
“I was happy to come along Marcus. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you.” Arianna said while taking his hand into hers. “Most Jedi in this age have left their families but keep in close contact. I wasn't that fortunate as my family legacy is a little bit of a burden.”
Marcus pulled Arianna close to him and kissed her on the fore head. “Do you remember when I told you about my father? You told me that I shouldn’t let him dictate my destiny. You should take your own advice Ari. You’ve already gotten way past that. Your legacy will be different, our legacy will be different.”
“I know Marcus. I’m worried about our legacy though. I feel like I’m failing as a teacher by letting my emotion for you take over.”
“Do you regret it?” Marcus asked. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I think I’m failing you by not bringing you to the Jedi Order for proper training. My example could set you up for failure.”
“Arianna, there is nothing wrong with falling for someone. The Jedi do not forbid it, you have nothing to worry about. If you’re worried about me falling to the Dark Side you should know that isn’t going to happen as long as I’m with you.”
“Ok Marcus. I’m sorry for bringing this up. It’s not the right time or place.”
“I love you Arianna,” he said while kissing her. “I appreciate your concern but you’re too good a teacher to let me fall.”
“I love you too and I hope you’re right.”

***

Marcus stood just at the edge of the balcony over looking CoronetCity’s sky lanes. He loved looking off into the darkness of the night sky. CoronetCity seemed so eventful but when you were this high up, there was actually some peace and quiet. Marcus was shirtless as he enjoyed the light and refreshing night breeze in his face. The Force was ever present. Marcus loved concentrating, reaching out, and feeling the multitude of beings all around him within the Force. He could feel the range of feelings from fear to happiness. The past four years of training with Arianna had made him powerful in the Force.

Marcus was taking advantage of one of the many hideouts that the Blood Rocks owned all over CoronetCity. This particular one was in the same district where the Coronet City Zoological and Botanical Gardens were. It was on the opposite side of CoronetCity from the warehouse district where the Blood Rocks conducted most of their business.

Arianna Dern walked up behind Marcus and put her arms around his waist and lightly kissed the back of his neck. He spun around quickly taking her from the waist and pulling her into him. Marcus kissed her lips and felt a charge of emotion because she was close to him. Arianna and Marcus’ romantic relationship had blossomed in the months following their initial kiss. Their master and apprentice relationship had progressed as well. Marcus had almost mastered all the techniques that Arianna had taught him. He was becoming powerful enough that Marcus had to master a Force cloaking technique that Arianna was taught by her master. There was no point in even hiding his growing abilities from Tak anymore. The Zabrak knew that his bodyguard was surpassing him in Force abilities but he did not know how.

Tak had other things to worry about since Marcus’ inside information had started to bare results for his Cor-Sec team. Dalporte’s group had made three major arrests in which they had taken into custody many mercenaries that worked for the Blood Rocks. Tak was having problems hiring more mercenaries and was forced to pay extremely high rates to secure their services because of the intense pressure from Cor-Sec and their Jedi. At the same time Tak had become suspicious of Marcus’ activities in that he was taking time away from day to day operations. As business had declined Tak grew angrier because now he was feeling the heat from Targo the Hutt who noticed that one of his biggest areas was producing less and less credits. Unfortunately for Marcus and the Cor-Sec team, Targo was still not revealing his location so they had to be content with slowing down the CoronetCity operations.

More and more, all Marcus cared about was spending times with Arianna. He had started to put credits aside to make a life where they would not need Cor-Sec or the Jedi. They could go to another system and disappear for the rest of their days. All Marcus wanted was to expand his knowledge of the Force and build a life where he and Arianna could be together. Arianna was saying all the right things but deep down Marcus felt that she was a devout Jedi and would prefer to stay with the Order. He still hoped that she would come around to his way of thinking and they could live their own lives.

Marcus looked down into her blue eyes, put another soft kiss on her lips, and stepped back to look at her. She was wearing nothing but a sheer robe that silhouetted her body.
“A credit for your thoughts?” Arianna asked.
Marcus smiled. “That’s about all they’re worth. We’re almost done with the Blood Rocks on Coronet. Once I get Targo out in the open we can end him and the Rocks.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Arianna asked. “I mean, that is what we want, what we set out to do.”
“Yes it is, but…” Marcus paused,
“What is it Marcus, what’s troubling you?” Arianna asked while rubbing his bare shoulders.
“What happens after we’re done Ari? Will you go back to Coruscant, back to the Jedi? Do I go back to Cor-Sec?”
Arianna seemed confused. “Yes Marcus. We go back. I have to return to the Jedi Order, I made an oath to them. You have a promising career here at Cor-Sec. After we finish this Hutt you will get promoted and have a command of your own. This was the life you spoke about, wasn’t it?”
“Things change Ari. I want a life for you and me, together. No conflicts, no fighting, just us.” Marcus said.
“Marcus we are having a wonderful time right now.” Arianna said while taking his hands. “I want to be a Jedi Master. You refused to come to Coruscant and meet the Jedi for training. I understand why you feel this way; the risk is great for you. So stay here and make your career on Corellia. We will visit with each other as much as we can.”
“A long distance relationship won’t work, that won’t be enough for me Arianna.” Marcus said sternly. “Is it enough for you, really?”
“These past four years have been amazing but if that is what the Force wants for us, then how can we…” Arianna started saying before Marcus interrupted her.
“The Force?! What about what you and I want? You control the Force, you wield it Ari.” Marcus said.
“No Marcus. That is where you’re wrong; you always have been on this point. The Force is our guide; we listen to it, work with it, and use it to keep the peace in the galaxy.” Arianna shot back.”
“I only want us to work. That’s all I care about now.” Marcus said quietly.
“I care for you Marcus, but I care for the Jedi Order as well. We are the keepers of the peace in the galaxy. It is an oath that I take seriously.” Arianna took his hands and led him back to the bed. “Lie with me; we’ll deal with the future when it happens. Until then let’s spend as much time together as possible.”

Marcus did not want to leave the conversation that way but he could see that Arianna just wanted to be together rather than face their uncertain future. So Marcus gave in, taking her into his arms and rolling her on the bed while saying to her, “I love you Ari.”

“Kiss me.” She said back.

***

The sun beamed into the room as Marcus woke up to the smell of caf. He looked around the apartment for Arianna but saw that she was gone. On the bedside table Marcus found his datapad with a message from Arianna thanking him for a wonderful night and to call her when he could. She had gone back to the Cor-Sec barracks early to meet with Commander Dalporte and also to avoid suspicion by arriving separately from him. Marcus kept their relationship a secret but he did not try as hard as Arianna did. He loved her and he did not care who knew it anymore. Marcus had made up his mind; he was going to ask Arianna to marry him. Wonderful nights were not enough anymore, he wanted a wonderful life.

Marcus took a sani-steam, got dressed, and had broken his fast with the caf that Arianna made and a nerf steak. Marcus sat in reflection and wanted to call Arianna because he couldn’t feel her in the Force like he usually did. Suddenly he heard the door to the apartment open. Marcus quickly went for his blaster and hid behind a wall. As he heard the foot steps coming closer Marcus knew that the intruder was just around the corner. Marcus rolled out and ended up on his knees with his blaster ready to fire but quickly realized that it was Tak.

“Marcus is this how you treat your guests?” Tak said with a smile.
“What are you doing here? Marcus asked.
“Believe it or not I came to check on my bodyguard.” Tak started to walk towards him. “When I saw you with a woman I was happy for you. Then…”
“You've been watching me?” Marcus interrupted and started to get angry. “What kind of pervert are you?”
‘The perversion is in your actions my friend. Now don’t interrupt me again.” Tak took a thermal detonator from behind his back. “As I was saying, I was happy to see you with a woman, but this morning when I saw the Jedi leave here, I realized just how deep your betrayal had gone. I am very annoyed with you Marcus.

Marcus knew that Arianna was wearing casual clothes when she arrived at the apartment so he knew that was his only card to play. “That was no Jedi; she was one of the girls from our brothels in the district.”
“Don’t lie to me Marcus, I felt the Force radiate off of her. To make sure, I followed her to a Cor-Sec safe house that we actually discovered a few days ago. You would know that if you were around the base more.” Tak walked even closer with the armed grenade in his hand. “So you see how I put this all together then? I have sensed your powers grow and now I know why. You are a Cor-Sec agent and you’re a Jedi Knight.”
“Tak, you’re under arrest.” Marcus said. “You’re coming with me.”

Tak laughed at Marcus. “I have the thermal detonator here, and you’re threatening me?”
Marcus quickly reached out and with an extended hand he used the Force to pull the grenade from Tak. With the other hand he Force pushed Tak into a wall. Marcus deactivated the thermal detonator and left it on a chair while he approached Tak who was just getting up. Tak then used a Force push of his own but Marcus used an absorption technique and stopped the Zabrak’s feeble assault. Marcus grabbed Tak pulling him up with his left hand and then with his right hand he punched him right in the face sending him falling back into the wall again. Marcus then grabbed Tak by the throat and held him up against the wall.

“You’re coming with me.” Marcus snarled.
“Where will you take me Marcus, your hideout?” Tak said while laughing. “I sent my whole team plus three squads of mercenaries there. My men brought a special delivery too, a mobile turbo laser battery. They’re all dead Marcus, even your precious little Jedi schutta”
“Liar,” Marcus roared. “I would have felt…” Marcus’ thoughts trailed off as he remembered he could not feel Arianna in the Force when he had woken up. “No, I would have felt it.” Marcus said again as he tightened his grip on Tak’s throat.
“They are all dead Marcus. I promise you.” Tak managed to say.

Marcus’ anger took control as he roared in Tak’s face and started to squeeze harder and harder. His fingers started to penetrate Tak’s skin and so Marcus threw him down on the floor. Marcus slammed his foot with Force enhanced speed and strength on the Zabrak’s knee smashing the bones inside. Tak screaming in agony only fuelled Marcus’ fury even more. Marcus then started to choke Tak with the Force but he stopped before the Zabrak could pass out. Marcus took Tak’s arms and started to snap the bones inside of them with the Force. Finally he took the thermal detonator and armed it with a delayed detonation of two minutes. Marcus placed the grenade in Tak’s mouth and pushed it down. He looked the Zabrak in the eyes and said, “Before you get vaporized know this, I will hunt down and kill every member of your group. Then I will hunt down your family, even if they are civilians. Everything and everyone you ever held dear is about to be destroyed.”

Marcus took Tak’s comm-link and raced out to his air speeder. He turned on the controls and took off just at the moment that the thermal detonator exploded. Marcus could see that the blast destroyed the whole floor his apartment was on. He did not care about the civilian casualties at that moment; all he cared about was getting to Arianna.

True to his word the destruction that Tak described was correct down to the last detail. Marcus’ Cor-Sec team’s headquarters was destroyed. Plumes of black smoke could be seen for at least two kilometres away. CoronetCity emergency services had already arrived taking care of the raging fire and setup a mobile medical building for the wounded. The turbo laser blasts had injured several bystanders either from ricochets or because of stray blasts. Marcus landed about a block away from the scene and made his way to the smoking building. He had little regard for anything in his path as Marcus pushed aside Cor-Sec agents and medical staff to get to the mobile medical centre. Marcus did not notice the beings that were getting treatment right there on the ground.

When Marcus entered the tent he was stopped by a medical worker who told him that he had to wear a “clean suit” as to not pass on any contamination from the outside. Marcus tried to push his way in but another medical agent and a Cor-Sec officer that was guarding the door restrained him. Marcus then showed one of the guards his Cor-Sec credentials but the guard still remained in front of Marcus. He then grabbed the Cor-Sec officer and pulled him aside and asked him, “Where are Commander Dalporte and the rest of his team?”

“Sir, I don’t have a clue where Commander Dalporte and his team are.” The guard said.
The Medical agent then came forward and took Marcus by the arm and pulled him aside. “Lieutenant Commander, that information is classified but I will tell you that the team was decimated. Commander Dalporte is in critical condition and his life is hanging by a thread. The rest of the team was killed I’m afraid. The details of the attack that I know about suggest that numerous transports full of mercenaries descended upon the team after the initial barrage of turbo laser fire.”

“What of the Jedi, where is she?” Marcus pleaded suddenly realizing that as he scanned the room he could not see Arianna.
“She was no where to be found Lieutenant Commander. Cor-Sec agents are searching for her and the Jedi Council has been notified. They are sending a representative to assist in the search.” Marcus started to turn and run to his speeder but the medical agent grabbed him one more time, “Where are you going Lt. Commander, do you know where she is?”
“Maybe,” Marcus said. “Send a team to my location. Tell them to lock onto my signal, I’ll keep it activated.”

Marcus broke free of the Medical agent and ran to his speeder with Force enhanced speed. When he got into it he knew exactly where to go. The Blood Rocks had a particular warehouse where they brought prisoners for interrogation and torture. There was even a different location that Tak used for giving out payments to his hired help. Tak was paranoid that way, the more locations there were the harder it was to find him. Marcus did not understand how Arianna had gotten herself captured. She must have been incapacitated somehow during the initial attack; Arianna was too powerful to let the mercenaries seize her. Marcus put the coordinates into the speeders autopilot and tried to reach out into the Force to feel for Arianna. He could feel only the faintest of currents from her but he was happy to feel that much, at least she was alive.

Marcus knew he had to fight every inclination to slaughter every mercenary in the building but he knew he would not get far with that strategy. He also needed to know if Tak had warned these men of him being an undercover Cor-Sec agent. If Tak had done so, then they would most likely kill him on sight. Marcus would take that chance though because he was already in a fighting mood. He parked the speeder a block away and made his way to the entrance that they used on the side of the building. Marcus approached the warehouse and saw that two men were guarding the doors. When they noticed Marcus approaching them they did not point their weapons at him so Marcus assumed Tak had not mentioned anything about his defection.

One of the guards started walking up to Marcus and said, “Marcus! Where were you, where is Tak? He said he was going to find you and fill you in on the mission today.”
Marcus could only assume that Tak did was not certain if he was a traitor or not and that he followed him last night to see what he was doing.
“I was with Tak discussing the attack plans but we were ambushed by Cor-Sec agents at my apartment.” Marcus lied. “I destroyed my apartment to assist my getaway but Tak and I were separated. Didn't Tak check in?”
“No he didn't but we heard about the apartment blast. The Holo news said that they recovered the body of a Zabrak.” The Weequay shook his head realizing that his leader was dead. “How did they know where you two were Marcus? Tak told us that the task force assigned to us were all in their base.”
“Obviously not or we would not have been attacked.” Marcus could not wait to ask about Arianna. “Where is the Jedi, is she secured inside? She was not mentioned in the holo news reports.”

The Weequay looked at his Gran partner and then back at Marcus. “How do you know we have the Jedi here? Tak told us to kill her, but we thought she was way too beautiful to waste…”

Marcus’ rage spilled over just thinking about what this fool was talking about. He lashed out with a punch augmented by the Force into the Weequay’s face, caving it in. Bones could be heard snapping from the strike. The Gran tried to attack him but he had no chance at stopping Marcus’ hand which ripped off his upper eye appendage sending him to the ground in pain. Marcus then stepped on the Gran’s throat which quickly killed it.

Marcus went inside and took the vibro-sword off his back as his weapon of choice. Marcus did not care about keeping a low profile anymore; he would kill them all to get to Arianna out. He knew some of these men as honourable beings that served him well. Unfortunately for them Marcus’ rage was dictating his actions. He could have let many of them go but in Marcus’ mind they were just as guilty as Tak.

Two humans approached him asking him what had happened outside as they heard noises but Marcus said nothing as he threw his blade across the throat of one and stabbed the other in the stomach. Three mercenaries that he did not know, came at him when they realized Marcus was attacking everyone. The mercenaries brought up their blaster rifles but before they could fire on him, Marcus Force pushed them all into the metal boxes and plasteel containers that were stacked behind them. When they cleared the debris they found their assailant right in front of them and Marcus wasted no time striking down two of them with his sword while grabbing the third by the throat with his hand and crushing the Rodian’s trachea.

The Rodian took out a stun baton and hit Marcus in the stomach causing him to drop his prey. The shock went through Marcus’ body leaving him vulnerable to the Rodian who took advantage by throwing a combination of punches that connected with the larger man’s face. Marcus realized the blows were weak and when the Rodian tried to stun him again Marcus moved out of the way taking the stun baton out of his enemy’s hand. With the weapon Marcus drove it into the Rodian’s eye causing the mercenary to go limp. Marcus finished him quickly with a quick twist of the Rodian’s neck.

With every death Marcus noticed the symptoms that Arianna described when someone was using the Dark Side of the Force. He could sense the darkness creeping in on him and he welcomed it because he needed it to save Arianna. Marcus noticed the power he was wielding, feeling the fear of those that were opposing him when they realized they were about to die. This, along with the combination of Marcus’ rage fueled the Dark Side and in turn made him powerful. He knew he should not be basking in it but it was the only option he had. Marcus was exhausted because he had not drawn from the Force this much before. He became angry with himself that these few attacks took so much out of him. Marcus realized that more study and practice of his Force abilities was an absolute must now. Arianna had taught him to catch his breath and control himself which did not seem to work at that moment. So Marcus let the Dark Side infuse him and push him farther than he had ever been.

Marcus raised his head and was quickly met with blaster fire. He realized he was pinned down so he went around the fallen metal boxes and containers to a space with stolen speeder bikes. Marcus quickly activated a speeder bike and hit the accelerator sending it towards the group of mercenaries firing at him. The impact created a cloud of smoke within the warehouse making it almost impossible to see anything. Marcus had created a perfect opportunity to take out the mercenaries one by one. He found them in the smoke cloud with the assistance of the Force and Marcus began the slaughter.

When he reached the rear of the large space, Marcus found the door into the warehouse offices. Arianna’s faint presence was behind there so he moved inside and was quickly met by two human mercenaries in the cramped corridor. Marcus unleashed a Force push that threw back the leading mercenary into the other one. The leading mercenary fell to the ground with what appeared to be a broken neck, the second rose and attacked Marcus catching him from behind. With a series of blows the mercenary managed to hurt Marcus’ ribs causing him to bend right into the mercenary’s upper cut.

The blow dropped Marcus to a knee and before he could turn to rise and face his opponent, the mercenary attempted to drive a dagger into the back of his neck. Marcus noticed at the last possible moment and moved only to be struck in his left shoulder. Luckily for Marcus the strike only pierced flesh and did not hit any vital nerves or tendons. When the mercenary realized he missed his kill strike he tried for another but this time Marcus drove his right fist into the mercenary’s inner thigh with the Force behind the punch. It had the desired effect as the punch broke the mercenary’s leg dropping him to the ground where he was now at eye level with Marcus. In a desperate move Marcus grabbed the man by the throat and squeezed as hard as he could. The clench was good enough that Marcus watched as the man’s life was drained from his body.

Marcus was exhausted by his extended use of the Force. He had to fuel the Dark Side with his emotions, which was not hard with the desperation to help Arianna, but fighting numerous enemies was draining him emotionally and physically. Now he also had to contend with his left arm being virtually useless with the deep stab wound in his back left shoulder. Marcus knew he could not take much more punishment but he pressed forward. The last room had Arianna’s presence in it along with another familiar presence but Marcus was not sure who it was. When he broke down the door he saw Arianna hanging in chains from her wrists. Her robes were torn revealing some of her body. Blood covered her body in so many places that Marcus was not sure where the wounds were. A blade was held at her neck by a Trandoshan who Marcus recognized as Doran the mercenary that he and Arianna had fought during their first Cor-Sec raid.

“I told you no prison could hold me human.” Doran hissed. “When Tak learned that I had escaped he contacted me to find out what happened during our so called transaction. It did not take much to make him suspicious of you. When Tak offered me the opportunity to take revenge on this Jedi schutta I jumped at the opportunity.”
“Tak told them to kill her,” Marcus replied remembering what the guards at the door said. “Why are they all now listening to your orders?”
“Some men knew what their leader told them. The others know I am their new leader now.” The Trandoshan said with what resembled a smile. “When I inform Targo of this coup he will have no choice but to put me in charge of his CoronetCity operations. Killing you for your treachery and torturing this Jedi is a bonus.”

Doran pierced Arianna’s side with his blade and then ripped it out to attack Marcus, who saw the blood running down Arianna’s body and it made him roar in anger. Marcus caught Doran with a Force push as the Trandoshan tried to cut him down with his sword and knocked him into the wall. Marcus quickly kneeled beside the Trandoshan and with his right hand he furiously punched Doran’s face until it was a bloody pulp.

“Where is the Hutt, where is Targo?” Marcus screamed. “Give me that slug’s location!”

The Dark Side of the Force raged inside of Marcus once again as he beat on Doran who was not responding. Marcus stood beside the Trandoshan who managed to look up at him just in time to see Marcus swing his vibro sword at his neck and decapitate him.

Marcus turned to Arianna and saw she was not moving. He activated the emergency beacon on his comm link to summon help. Marcus gently lowered her body from the chains holding her up. He held her in his arms trying to feel for signs of life on her neck and Marcus felt a faint pulse so he gently brought her head closer into his chest.

“Ari,” Marcus whispered. “Ari please don’t leave me, help is coming.”

Suddenly she lifted her hand to Marcus’ face and she cleared away a tear running down his cheek. “Do not mourn me Marcus. I am going to be one with the Force.” Arianna said,
“No Ari, there’s still too much for us to do. You can’t leave me now, I need you and I love you.” Marcus pleaded.
“Marcus,” Arianna started to say. “I can feel the Dark Side within you. Please, please don’t fall from the light.”
“There is no light without you Ari. Please don’t go.” Marcus said quietly in her ear.

Marcus tried to feel for a pulse but this time there was nothing, no sign of life. He reached out through the Force and found nothing there. The warmth, the love, and the power that Arianna Dern had showed in life was gone. Marcus continued to sob and call Arianna’s name. His heart was broken as he felt that all was lost. He pleaded to the heavens but did not get any answers. Arianna had a hair on her nose and Marcus removed it with his bloodied fingers as he tried to keep her beautiful face as neat as possible. He whispered more proclamations of his love into her ear hoping that something would awaken her but Arianna did not move.

Marcus held her body tighter and he suddenly remembered the pain in his left shoulder. He was so tired that all he wanted to do was lie down beside Arianna’s warm body. Marcus’ anger began to well up inside of him. He roared into air, he filled the Force with his pain. His chest heaved up and down as he breathed violently. Marcus suddenly wanted vengeance, he wanted to kill. He became consumed with rage again and then he looked down at Arianna’s face waiting for her to calm him down but again she made no movements. Images of Arianna’s face and the wonderful moments they shared together flooded his mind. He pictured their intimate moments and the battles they fought together. Finally he stopped and looked at her face again.


Marcus squeezed his eyes closed as the burning tears finally stopped. He then started to look around the room and as much as he wanted to lay blame somewhere, all he could do was blame himself. Marcus turned his ire to the Blood Rocks but he realized that he had already decimated this cell, there was no one left. His Cor-Sec team had all died in the line of duty because of his short-sightedness. Again, all Marcus was left with was his anger and his rage. Someone had to pay and he promised someone would. He tried to quiet his mind but instead of calm taking over it was exhaustion. Marcus finally collapsed beside his love and the world went dark.

 

Poor Marcus.

Excellent action packed chapter

 

I'm always a fan of the action chapters when they show up. Doesn't seem to be going well for Marcus but trust the force haha.

 

Hi there! Thanks for the heads-up PM. Terrific threads you have here Furio, Jedi, CorSec agents, Sithly villains. Even though this happens way after EU legends that most fans are familiar with, it has the good SW feel!

Master Joy!

I can believe she would see the good in Darius when no one else did.

So sad! about Arianna. Now what could have been an influence for joy and light for Marcus is something altogether different.
I'll be watching this.

 

Thank You all for reading. I really appreciate the comments and support from everyone. I'll have part 2 of chapter 8 up on Friday or Saturday.

 

earlybird-obi-wan The_Zeltron Nyota's Heart NightWatcher91 Rainbow Knight Star

Thanks again everyone. Here's Part 2 of Chapter 8

The air was sterile, warm, and the smell of bacta was over powering. Marcus’ eyes would not open as they were heavy from sleep and his throat was too parched to speak. The images of Arianna dying in his arms flooded his mind making the pain in his shoulder irrelevant. Finally his eyes opened and he understood that he was in a medical facility surrounded by equipment and medical droids. Marcus tried to get up but he felt the tugging of numerous wires and tubes that caused even more pain as they came out one by one. Blood started to spew from his wrist and rage started to build in Marcus’ mind, he started to touch the Dark Side again. Two droids came after him but Marcus pushed one away and just as he was about to plant his fist into the other someone grabbed him from behind. Marcus was about to punish whoever was behind him but when he turned around he saw Commander Dalporte.

“Marcus, stop this.” Dalporte said. “What has come over you?”
“You, of all of them you survived.” Marcus snarled.
“Marcus I am sorry for the loss of the team, especially Knight Dern. I realize now she was special to you.” Dalporte admitted. “I have been here with you for two days now. I was also admitted to this facility after I sustained my injuries. When I recovered I investigated the scene of our base and the mess you left at the Blood Rock base.”
“Mess, have you lost your mind?” Marcus’ anger was apparent. “No one did anything to avenge our men and women. No one did anything to avenge her. We have to destroy Targo’s organization once and for all Dalporte.”
“You killed more than ten beings on your path of destruction. They may have been criminals but they were to be tried and judged, not slaughtered like animals.” Dalporte responded. “You’re hurting and I understand that but you should have controlled your emotions. Targo’s time will come; you have bigger problems right now. A Jedi Council member is here to investigate Knight Dern’s death and he wants to talk to you. It’s Brun Sarro Marcus; he is the second highest ranking member in the Order.”

The repercussions of the Jedi being there to question him made Marcus even more annoyed at the whole situation. He knew that his secret would be in jeopardy unless he could hide his Force abilities like Arianna had taught him. The Jedi could expose him and would most likely hand him over to the Empire considering his track record of violence. Arianna had made him practice it often during their year of training because she knew that Marcus would have to one day make use of it to protect himself from the Jedi or whoever else might be able to sense his Force powers.

“I’m not worried about the Jedi, Commander. I want the Hutt, Targo.” Marcus said. “So should the Jedi. Won’t they go after the organization that murdered their fallen colleague?”
“I don’t know what the Jedi will do,” Responded Dalporte. “All I know is we lost many friends, I will mourn them.”
“I will not mourn them, I will avenge them.” Marcus declared. “I don’t care what the Jedi say Comma…”

Marcus was interrupted by a Cor-Sec general and a Jedi that walked into the room. Commander Dalporte saluted but Marcus did not move an inch. The general was a human male that had a serious look about him and he saluted back at Dalporte. The Jedi bowed at Marcus’ commander but when he turned to him, he simply regarded him for a moment and said nothing. Marcus in the mean time tried to activate the Force stealth technique that hid his abilities hoping that he could maintain it over the length of the impending conversation or interrogation. Marcus tried to close his mind down as to not let out any emotion to the Jedi. By hiding his alignment Marcus hoped to be left alone so that he could pursue Targo and destroy his organization.

“You seemed angry a moment ago Lieutenant Commander.” The Jedi said.
Marcus trying to be composed replied with, “We lost many men Master Jedi. It was not easy to learn about their deaths. Surely the Jedi are upset with the loss of one of their knights, what do you plan to do about it, will you help Cor-Sec take down Targo the Hutt?”
“Jedi are trained to let go of what they are afraid to lose. Even though we have made attachments in this day and age of the Jedi Order we must not let the eventual deaths of the ones we love cloud our judgement. It is the will of the Force” The Jedi Master replied. “I am Jedi Master Sarro Brun. I understand that you are upset about your team but you cannot take it upon yourself to destroy the organization that committed these atrocities. That is vengeance.”

“Master Jedi, with all due respect, someone is going to have to explain to me the will of the Force when its will takes away good beings like Arianna and our men.” Marcus replied instantly regretting saying her first name.
“Arianna,” Master Sarro questioned. “Mr. Dal Colle what was the nature of your relationship with her?”

For a moment Marcus started looking for excuses but he knew he had revealed too much to the Jedi Master. It was all he could do to hide his true intentions and anger towards the Jedi and Cor-Sec for abandoning him after he did his job. Marcus had no intention if lying anymore to anyone. Damn them all.

“I loved that woman with every fibre of my being. I couldn’t stand to be two paces away from her.” Marcus declared. “She died in my arms and told me not to fall into the darkness, not to fall from the light. I’m beginning to see there is no light, it died in her eyes.”
“Heed her words Marcus,” Master Sarro said as he now noticed a massive shift in the Force around him. The disturbance made the Jedi Master wince because of his proximity to Marcus. He realized that Marcus Dal Colle was tapping into the Dark Side with an amazing amount of power. Sarro had never felt such raw power before, not even from his beloved Joy who was the most powerful Force user he knew.
“She started to train you didn’t she?” Brun guessed.
“Yes she did and I learned my lessons well Master Jedi. If you presume to arrest me and send me to the Imperials you are sadly mistaken.” Marcus snarled.
“Stand down Lieutenant, you will be court marshaled and stripped of your rank for your crimes.” The general finally said. “Commander Dalporte, arrest this man.”
“The arrogance,” Marcus roared. “I will have my vengeance, with or without your help.”

From the pit of his stomach Marcus unleashed a powerful Force push that cleared a circle around him driving everything away. The Cor-Sec general and Commander Dalporte rammed into each other. Their collision ended up into a bacta tank which smashed the glass. Master Sarro was caught by surprise and had no chance to defend himself. He ended up in a wall behind him, hitting his forehead, cutting it open, and falling unconscious. Marcus was quickly on top of him making sure the Jedi was out. A metallic object was buried in Master Sarro’s robes; it was the hilt of Arianna’s lightsabre. Along the belt was also the Jedi Master’s lightsabre. Marcus took Arianna’s blade with him, leaving the Jedi’s own blade. From the corner of his eye he saw the Cor-Sec general waking up. Marcus walked up to him seeing that Dalporte was still knocked out but the older man looked up at Marcus with scorn.

“You are a disgrace to the uniform Dal Colle; I hope you burn in whatever place you consider hell.” Then he spat at Marcus’ feet.
“I spent the last year of my life undercover, I brought you hundreds of arrests, destroyed their operations, and I’m going to do you a massive favour when I kill Targo.” Marcus said. “You should thank me old man.”
“You murdered those men and you’re off to murder more of them. You’ve desecrated everything Cor-Sec stands for. Get on with it.” The general said.
“With pleasure sir.” Marcus replied.

Marcus levitated some pieces of glass from the broken bacta tank and threw them at the general, which pierced him at various points of his body. The older man screamed in pain and Marcus pushed the glass shards deeper into the newly made wounds. The general’s pain was evident and Marcus enjoyed the laments. He enjoyed the fear that was materializing within the old man’s eyes. The feelings reverberated in the Dark Side making it hard for Marcus to resist it. The draw of it was strong enough that he could see and feel the power that he wielded. Marcus took Arianna’s lightsabre and looked at it for a moment knowing that she would never condone what he was doing. She would never approve of his actions but she was not aware of the treachery that was going on now between Cor-Sec and the Jedi. They were setting him up to be the fool and Marcus was no fool. He ignited the blue lightsabre and made a swift swipe at the general’s neck instantly killing him. Within the Force Marcus could feel another presence and when he turned the Jedi Master was awakening.

Marcus had no intention of getting into a battle with a Jedi Master as he knew he’d be outmatched. He ran out of the room taking a lab coat to cover his upper torso. Master Sarro shook his head to clear away the dizziness and he noticed Marcus running away. The Jedi Master stumbled to his feet looking around seeing the Cor-Sec general’s throat slit by a lightsabre and also seeing Commander Dalporte still unconscious but unharmed. Brun started to chase down Marcus who had just broken through a line of security guards. He checked on the guards who seemed fine so he continued his pursuit. Brun saw Marcus take a lift and from the access panel he saw that his quarry was heading up either to the roof of the building or the landing pad level. He hoped that Marcus would not injure anyone else.

Brun took the lift knowing that he would not have a problem finding Marcus as his signature in the Force was ever present. The young man had delved into the Dark Side and had to be stopped. Brun was concerned with Marcus’ raw Force powers and the way he was using them. The young man was a danger to the public. Brun did not like the Jedi-Imperial Act but it had kept the peace for hundreds of years and kept any Dark Side users in check. He knew that some beings could be turned away from the Dark Side and be brought back to the Light Side like Darius Baron who had not fallen as far as Marcus had. Brun started to make the connection that if Marcus was not stopped that he may turn into the Darkness that Joy had foretold him about. Only a person with Marcus’ connection to the Force and anger could manifest into the type of dark creature that Joy was describing.

Master Sarro sensed that Marcus had gotten off the lift on the landing pad level. He stopped at the same level and exited to see Marcus quickly making his way to a speeder parking area. With Force enhanced speed the Jedi Master had almost caught Marcus until he saw Marcus look back and suddenly throw speeder cars at him with the Force. Brun ducked beneath one, leaped over the next car and ignited his lightsabre. Marcus had already taken a speeder car and left the medical centre. Brun took his own speeder and resumed the chase. Marcus was flying erratically and making unpredictable moves which were endangering the other Coronet City sky lane travellers. Brun tried to keep up but found it difficult as he was not an expert in flying anything in space, never mind speeders in sky lanes with traffic all around him.

Brun used the Force to guide his actions and increase his speed to gain ground on Marcus. The Jedi Master realized that Marcus had gone into a transfer tunnel and he quickly followed trying not to cause a head on collision. When Brun entered the tunnel he saw Marcus performing manoeuvres that made him ill to his stomach. The young man was clearly a talented pilot with amazing instincts most likely enhanced by the Force, but Brun could see that this chase could end badly. Moments after that exact thought Brun could see Marcus start to swerve and then sparks flying up in the air as Marcus’ speeder collided with another speeder. The collision caused a chain reaction of accidents causing a pile up. To the Jedi Master’s horror an explosion rang through the tunnel and a fireball rose from the accident. Beings screamed and Brun could feel panic started to grip the area through the Force.

Master Sarro landed his speeder and went to the wreckage to see if there were any beings alive. Brun was thankful that emergency service vehicles could be heard in the distance coming towards them. He looked at the piled up speeders and small transports that numbered more than ten. Bodies were scattered around the area burnt, unrecognizable and Brun could not sense Marcus’ presence in the Force. Brun decided to help the live victims by pulling them out of their mangled vehicles. Others he had to extract buy cutting their speeders up with his lightsabre.

The Coronet City emergency services arrived and started to take the live victims away to the medical centre, while another team collected the dead. With emergency services taking over Brun started to look for Marcus’ body in the wreckage. He found a corpse that had a similar body type to Marcus’ but still the Jedi was not certain. He then saw a metallic object on the ground beside the corpse. It was Knight Dern’s lightsabre. The hilt was crushed and Brun took it into his hand to examine it. Brun had started to find some peace as the threat that Marcus could have become had been averted.

Satisfied with his findings Brun returned to the medical centre to check on his surviving liaison Commander Dalporte who was lying in a bed and according to a medical droid, had suffered a concussion along with broken ribs. He was being kept in a medically induced coma and under observation. Brun then found an unused room and took out his comm link with a holo imager. He contacted the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and Grand Master Joy. The image of Joy illuminated to life and she looked at her husband who had a concerned look on his face.

“Brun, what is the matter?” Joy asked him.
“Hello Love. I have recovered Knight Dern’s body and have prepared it for transport back to Coruscant. I will be coming home soon.” Brun said.
“I don’t need the Force to feel that something else is troubling you Brun, what is it?” Joy said.
“I encountered a young man with the most powerful connection to the Force I have ever sensed before. It was even more powerful than yours Joy. He was hiding in plain sight as a Cor-Sec agent here.” Brun explained.
“I sensed a shift in the Force and not for the better. Brun, did you capture him? The Imperials will want him.” Joy said with a heavy heart. “We can’t have someone like that in the galaxy, especially if they are using the Dark Side of the Force.”
“Joy, he was so angry with everyone.” Brun said. “He and Knight Dern had formed a romantic relationship in the year she was stationed here, he loved her very much. When he saw that Cor-Sec and I were investigating and not acting in vengeance he went after the group he had infiltrated for the past year and killed them all in retribution. It was a slaughter; he had used the Dark Side of the Force. When I tried to detain him at the medical centre he surprised me with a Force push that knocked me out momentarily.”
“Brun, I’m surprised. You can usually sense danger from a mile away.” Joy said.
“It was a wild attack, very powerful. Knight Dern must have sensed his power and took it upon her self to train him, evolve his powers. I knew her well Joy, I assigned her this mission; she probably wanted to make him a Jedi.” Brun said while looking at floor. “Then he escaped, took Knight Dern’s lightsabre, and killed my Cor-Sec contact. Interestingly enough he spared my life and that of his own superior officer.”
“Thank the Force for that. What happened after?” Joy asked.
“He ran to the landing pads and stole a speeder. I chased him around Coronet City. Then he caused an accident killing numerous civilians. I found his scorched body and Knight Dern’s broken lightsabre to prove it. It’s such a waste Joy. I felt he may have been the dark warrior in your visions, if that is the case we may have spared the galaxy from great pain.” Brun said.
“Sometimes I wonder whether the old masters did the right thing in not allowing Jedi to have relationships. I know we can not do anything about it now because that would be hypocritical of us especially, but these attachments bring out such emotions that bring us closer to the Dark Side when we can not control them.” Joy admitted.
“Joy, I would never argue that point because I can’t imagine my life without you.” Brun answered her quickly. “I felt sad for this boy. That’s all he was, a boy in love who felt betrayed by the system he swore to protect. Did we fail him?”
“No Brun, he gave in to his hate and made his choice. Action without reflection is not the Jedi way. Knight Dern should have not tried to train him alone; she should have sought out our council.” Joy said with authority. “Not all beings can be like Darius Baron. He has excelled in his training and will be knighted soon enough. We saved one soul; we can’t save them all my love. Come home there is much to do still.”
“Very well Joy, I will finish with Cor-Sec first and return home. I love you.” Brun replied.
“Safe travels and may the Force be with you my love.” Joy ended the transmission.

***

Even under the tunnel the smell of burnt flesh and metal was unmistakable. Marcus was thankful that his deception had worked on the Jedi Master. His use of the Force stealth technique was necessary to hide his presence. Marcus’ regretted having to give up Arianna’s lightsabre but it was crucial to maintain the ruse. Standing and fighting a Jedi Master was a risky proposition at best in his current state. Marcus’ shoulder wound had reopened and started to bleed while the accident he caused had broken two if his ribs. Marcus was sure the Jedi would have beaten him. The thought of failure and being weak was the genesis of his new purpose in life. He would remake himself into a powerful Force user. Marcus had reached out in the Force when he faced the Jedi Master and revealed his true nature at the medical centre. He had sensed fear in the Jedi and if a master feared his power, then Marcus knew he had the potential to be fearsome.

Marcus’ previous studies in the Force only lead him to Jedi records and nothing about those that opposed them. If Marcus was to exact his vengeance on the Jedi then there was one man that had the knowledge he sought and Marcus believed that he would reveal himself soon enough. Perhaps Marcus’ signalling of his true self through the Force to the Jedi Master was what the Archivist was waiting for. Now that he had sent out the dark ripple the Archivist had to respond. The only question was how and where would he do so?

Marcus followed the tunnel to another access hatch and came out of it just less than two kilometres from the accident scene. He made his way to an access door to the building that the tunnel was situated through. It was a transfer hub and vehicle storage pad for Coronet City maintenance crews. In a large area with numerous transports, speeders, and building supplies, Marcus tried to stay hidden and find transportation that he could steal. A small personnel transport flew in with only one occupant. When the Sullustan landed Marcus walked up to him and with a mind trick he forced the driver to give him the access code to the vehicle. Marcus happily took the transport and made his way to a Blood Rock safe house that he assumed would be disserted considering he had destroyed the local faction. Cor-Sec would not be looking for him there either.

Marcus parked two blocks away and went on to the apartment building where his refuge was located. It was in the entertainment district which was good for him because there was so much activity going on that no one would notice him. Each safe house had medical supplies which Marcus took advantage of as he washed up, addressed his wounds, and wrapped his ribs. Marcus ate some food rations that were not very appetizing but at least gave him some nourishment. He felt like he should sleep but Marcus was restless and remembered Arianna showing him how to meditate and calm his mind when he felt that way.

Marcus sat on the floor and slowly drew in a deep breath. He could feel his breath start to slow and his heart rate dropping. Marcus continued to breathe lightly and started to replay everything that had happened to him. At that moment he realized that he had not had a lot of time to reflect upon what was happening to him. The past two days had gone by too quickly to take stock. The first thing that crossed Marcus’ mind was Arianna’s death. It brought about feelings of sadness which quickly turned into feelings of rage and anger. He realized that he had played a large part in her death when he thought about Tak tracking them to the Blood Rock apartment and that he was too slow to save her that day. Marcus thought about his team and how they died serving their system, only to be cut down and murdered.

Marcus’ anger extended to the leadership of Cor-Sec and especially the Jedi. They did nothing about avenging their fallen, and worse of all, they condemned him for finishing off the Blood Rock cell. Marcus felt betrayed after he risked his life to infiltrate and destroy the organization from within only to be chastised by the Cor-Sec leadership for the end result. The Jedi of course followed suit and had the audacity to try and arrest him because he used the Dark Side of the Force. For a moment he felt guilt for basically ignoring everything that Arianna had taught him, but the Dark Side would be his best tool to bring down the corruption of these two organizations. The Jedi were basically betraying their own kind in assisting the Empire round up Force users, even if they used the Dark Side of the Force.

As he dropped more into the Force, Marcus began to see flashes, images of someone dressed in dark brown; or possibly black robes. He did not recognize the face but the large man fought with a deep blue lightsabre. The man was fighting another large man with black robes who was wielding a dark red lightsabre. This man’s face could not be seen except for blood red eyes with black pupils. Marcus believed that this could be the Force telling him he could either follow the Jedi path or the path of the Dark Side. The two men that were engaged in battle were his two fates and his possible future self. Arianna had explained to him that through the Force he would see the past, and the future, which she warned was always in motion. If the Force had a will and it was giving him the choice, Marcus wanted to meet with the Archivist first and see what the old man had to offer him. Through the Force Marcus concentrated on the mysterious stranger and saw old man’s face for a moment. Marcus felt that he was near.

Marcus had opened his eyes to look around the room which was quiet and dark. He reached out with the Force and he felt the presence of another being, the Archivist had already arrived.

“I knew you would return old man.” Marcus said in no particular direction.
“I knew you would seek me out young one.” The mysterious old man said. “The circumstances are the same but recent events have given you the clarity you previously lacked.”
Marcus grew instantly angry with the statement. “I saw the love of my life die before my eyes and in my arms. I saw my team massacred by the Blood Rocks. These events were supposed to give me clarity? I hate you old man, I don’t know why I felt compelled to seek you out.”
“You sought me out because you know that you are special, you are destined to become the next Dark Lord of the Sith.” The Archivist said with a small smile. “I have foreseen that you will become the scourge of the Jedi and the one that brings balance to the Force.”
Marcus clamed himself and responded, “What do you get out of my ascendancy old man?”
“I will be known as the one that trained one of the most powerful Force users since the line of the Skywalkers and Solos.” The Archivist said with a higher pitch in his voice. “There has not been a dominant Dark Lord since Darth Krayt centuries ago, Marcus you will be the one to do so.”
“You speak as if you know I will follow you down this path. Arianna tried to take me away from this path and with her I wanted to forget about the Force all together. I know now it’s not possible, but my fate as a Sith is not set in stone.” Marcus said.
“No it is not Marcus, but what path do you have left?” The Archivist challenged him. “You will either be killed by the Empire, exiled into a meaningless existence, or you can change the fate of the galaxy. The path will be extremely difficult and by no means are you guaranteed to even finish the training for you may die. But the end of that path will lead you to greatness as you exact terrible vengeance on the Jedi and this poor excuse of an empire Marcus.”
“I do not care about your politics.” Marcus shot back. “I only want to provide the truth to the Jedi and their Emperor.”
“What truth is that Marcus?” The Archivist asked.
“That their peace is a lie and that those that have the courage to use the Dark Side should not be stifled by their foolish laws.” Marcus said.
“That is acceptable for now but I know you will see that there is much more that will result from your training Marcus. Trust me.” The Archivist said.
“We shall see old man.” Marcus replied.
The Archivist put out his hand and squeezed his fingers slightly and suddenly Marcus could not breathe as he felt a powerful grip at his throat. He tried to fight it off with a Force push but the Archivist seemed to absorb it. “That will be the last time your address me as such. For now on you will call me Master.”

The grip was gone and Marcus fell to the floor. He rubbed his throat and looked up with an evil stare that the Archivist smiled at. Marcus realized he was in the presence of real power and so he kneeled before his new teacher.
“When do we commence…Master?” Marcus asked.
“Come with me apprentice, we are leaving this system and going to where the Dark Side runs rampant and deep. We are going to the Sith world of Dromund Kaas.”

***

Their ship came out of hyperspace and the rings from the cockpit awoke Marcus from a restless sleep. He could not wait to touch down on Dromund Kaas and begin his training with the Archivist. Marcus got up from his bunk and walked towards the cockpit. He passed by the Archivist’s quarters and saw him sitting on the ground incredibly still with his eyes closed and breathing calmly. Marcus could feel the power of the Dark Side coming from his new master and as they got closer to the planet he could feel everything getting louder around him.

“Come child, sit beside me.” The older man said. “Close your eyes, reach out with the Force, and feel what is going on around you. Extend yourself, your mind, and let the Dark Side energy fill your mind, body, and soul.”

Marcus sat beside him and did as his master asked. The Dark Side raged through him, it was giving him an inexplicable jolt of energy. Everything from the smallest sounds to the hum of the hyperdrive was amplified in his ears. It seemed with Archivist beside him Marcus had a stronger connection to the Force. Although it was laced with Dark Side here, it was nonetheless incredibly powerful.

“Do you feel the currents of the Force here Marcus? Follow them deeper.” The Archivist said. “The Dark Side runs deep here on Dromund Kaas. There have been generations of Dark Side users that have passed through here and learned the dark arts, but few have ever become beings of relevance.”
“How does a world become so saturated with the Dark Side of the Force?” Marcus asked.
“There are thousands of years of history associated with a place such as this and other places like Korriban and Vjun. Thousands of years of Sith have occupied those planets and everyone of their essences has contributed to the nexus’ of power of those places.” The older man explained. “This world was once the home of a great Sith Empire during the times of the Old Republic. Legions of Sith were based here, a war spanning the galaxy was led by the Sith Emperor from here.” The Archivist rose and stood above Marcus. “The longer users of the Dark Side linger in a place the more that place becomes a beacon for them. This place calls to you Marcus because this is where you will be shaped into the Dark Lord of Sith.”
“Where are we headed master?” Marcus asked. “All I saw was swamps on the scanners. Where is this great Sith Empire?”
“The buildings were destroyed long ago, only the taint of the Dark Side remains. There is a small academy here hidden within the swamp lands. You will meet my master, she calls herself Darth Erebus.” The Archivist explained.

“Darth?” Marcus questioned the name. “I thought there has been no Sith for almost two centuries?”
“She calls herself a Darth because she thinks she is the most powerful Force user in the galaxy.” The Archivist said.
“Is she?” Marcus asked.
“No, that title for now belongs to the Jedi Grand Master.” The older man replied. “That is until you are trained. Erebus has power, but it is limited. Her most crucial technique is in mind domination. Learn what you can and discard her Marcus. Remember she is an only a part of your journey.”
“What about you Master?” Marcus asked.
“I am the same; I am only a part of your journey.”

After the ship landed the two men exited the loading ramp onto the roof of a mesa that was in the middle of the swamp lands. A small door opened revealing stairs that led into the building. As they descended they passed through a door way that led into a massive room. Tall statues stood in the corners of the space looking like they were supporting the ceiling. Marcus did not recognize the faces but he was sure they must have been powerful Dark Lords. False idols that this Sith woman worshipped only enraged him further. Marcus thought that she was hiding here from the Jedi with her pathetic army of false Sith. He could not wait to expand his own skills and see where he stood within this group of Force users.

There was a fountain against the opposite wall with two doorways on either side of it. With the Force Marcus felt numerous beings coming towards them through the doors. No faces could be seen in the darkness from the ten or so acolytes that Marcus counted. Their signatures in the Force were underwhelming when Marcus compared them to others he had felt before. Then the Force became darker as the last being walked in. This one, Marcus felt, was formidable, this was Darth Erebus. The hooded figure walked in front of the Archivist and then stopped in front of Marcus where she revealed her face. Her skin was pale white with dark hair that had a purplish hue in it. She had a long face that was tattooed around the eyes and down her checks. Marcus watched as she looked him up and down and not say anything.

“My lady,” The Archivist started to say. “I have returned with the one that caused the tremor in the Force you felt.”
The woman had yellow eyes in the darkness and she quickly went from man to man until she stopped at Marcus. “I can see that Praxis. I can sense the power that radiates from him.” Erebus turned back to the older man. “You bring him before me, why?”
“This boy is our future Mistress. He will be a powerful apprentice to you. I will see to his training myself.” Praxis bowed his head. “Of course that is, with your permission Mistress. With our combined knowledge he can be a powerful asset to our order.”
Darth Erebus looked at Marcus with a look of curiosity and finally said, “His future is clouded to me, strange. Tell me young one do you wish to take our path, do you wish to follow the teachings of the Sith?”

Marcus considered the question but only for a moment because he knew he wanted it, all of it. He needed to bide his time because Marcus knew that he was not strong enough yet to challenge Darth Erebus. “Of course Mistress, I want to be an apprentice of this academy. I have not slept since learning that I was coming here. I will never rest until I become a powerful Sith, the most powerful Sith.”
“Good child, your ambition is admirable but first you must prove you belong amongst us.” Erebus said.
“I will do whatever you wish Mistress.” Marcus replied.
“Good.” Darth Erebus turned to her lines of acolytes and called out, “Krill come here.” A Twi’lek male came before them. He was slender and lanky with what seemed like hollow eyes. “Krill has just arrived here from Ryloth. He is the newest of us and if you are worthy you will kill him.”

Marcus and Krill looked at one another with blank stares but Marcus wasted little time and lashed out with a powerful Force push that sent Krill into the shallow pool of water. Marcus was quickly moving towards the fallen Twi’lek and watched as Krill rose up producing a vibro sword for an attack. Marcus already had his own vibro sword drawn and raised above his head for an overhead chop. The blow was parried by Krill but with Marcus’ brute strength enhanced by the Force, Krill’s arms were rattled to the point that he was almost cut in half by the larger man’s attack. Krill parried another blow from Marcus and then rolled out of the way but because he was half submerged in water his roll was slowed. Marcus tried to stomp on the Twi’lek but Krill caught Marcus’ foot and Force pushed the larger man into the air. Marcus was caught by surprise and while falling back to the ground he made his body into a ball to minimize the damage.

Marcus landed onto his wounded shoulder hard and had probably dislocated it. His roll ended with him standing in a battle ready stance. Krill stepped out of the shallow pool and started to advance on Marcus. Suddenly the Twi’lek whipped three small blades that Marcus leapt out of the way of. Marcus’ was defenceless now as Krill threw three more blades that Marcus tried to roll away from but he was struck in the back twice beside his right shoulder blade. He cried out in pain but had little time to wallow in it as Krill started to advance again. Marcus pulled out the two small blades from his shoulder and whipped them at the Twi’lek but Krill stopped them in the air with the Force. The blades fell harmlessly to the ground as Krill started to follow up with quick slashes that Marcus parried with increasing difficulty.

Marcus did not feel in danger but the mounting injuries were nagging at him and he was concerned that he may make a critical mistake. He could not believe that this Twi’lek was getting the best of him. Marcus pushed back with his own barrage of strikes that Krill parried but Marcus could feel the Twi’lek struggling with his strength. Marcus then noticed Krill give him a small smile and then he attacked again. The smile made Marcus furious, it was disrespectful, and worst of all Krill thought he had a chance. Marcus focused his anger and the Dark Side started to shift and fill and centre him. Krill made a hard swipe that Marcus evaded and left the Twi’lek vulnerable after the miss. Marcus grabbed the forearm that Krill was wielding his sword with and with Force enhanced strength he crushed it with his hand causing the ulna and radius bones to snap. Krill dropped his sword, cried out in horror, and fell to his knees. Marcus quickly took advantage and swiped the Twi’lek’s head clean off, thus ending the battle.

Marcus took note of his injuries now and turned towards Darth Erebus and Praxis. Erebus approached him first. “That was not terribly impressive boy but you killed a promising student.” Erebus turned to her line of acolytes again and this time she called out, “Mila come here.”
A human female emerged and walked in front of Erebus. Mila knelt and asked, “Yes my master, what is thy bidding?”
“Attack, but do not kill him.” Erebus said to her and then she turned to Marcus again. “You defeated my worst student and now you will face my best.”
“Yes Master.” Mila replied.

Mila turned and in the same motion took off her robe. She held a lightsabre hilt that she ignited in the next instant which produced a bright red blade. Marcus was in disbelief as he had to face this woman who had a lightsabre and all he had was his vibro sword. Marcus looked at Praxis who said nothing. Marcus refocused himself and raised his sword towards the student. The apprentice wasted no time in pouncing on the ailing Marcus with a leap that placed her right in front of him. She crouched low and swept the legs from under him, dropping him into the cold stone floor. Mila rose and started stabbing downwards at Marcus who tried to roll himself to safety but the dark apprentice caught his leg. The lightsabre blade singed his thigh giving Marcus another scar to add to his collection. His roll ended against the wall and just as soon Mila was about to take a final blow at him Marcus Force pushed her. The blast of energy sent her back and gave Marcus the time to stand up again.

Mila landed on her feet and came running at Marcus with her lightsabre humming with its every move. She lashed out and Marcus tried to parry the blow but Mila’s lightsabre blade cut right through Marcus’ sword. When he realized he was in trouble again Marcus tried a Force Choke that surprised the apprentice who at first was trapped in the tactic’s grasp but she sent Marcus flying with a Force push of her own. Marcus landed against the wall with a hard thud and the impact left him gasping for air. Mila was also recovering from the choke that Marcus had applied. She was impressed with his raw Force powers, his connection to the Force alone, made him dangerous when he focused on what he was doing. Mila knew that Marcus was faltering because of his injuries and she felt she could move in for the kill. She merely walked up to him and stuck out her hand and sent forks of Force Lightning at Marcus who had caught the initial blast with the Force absorb technique.

Marcus was still overcome by the continued barrage as Mila upped the pressure of her attack. Marcus dropped to his knees as the lightning ravaged his body causing him all kinds of pain. Suddenly Marcus saw flashes of Arianna looking at him. He was overcome with emotions as he remembered his beloved Ari. Marcus’ anger grew when he saw the sight of Arianna’s face as she died in his arms. He roared with the mental pain, and suddenly he could not feel the physical pain. Marcus rose to one knee defiantly to everyone’s surprise. When he was almost standing Mila continued the attack as hard as she could but Marcus’ Force absorb was working now. Blood ran from his mouth because of how hard Marcus was clenching his teeth. His wounds bled as well but the Dark Side was keeping him up and now he was taking steps towards her. With every step Marcus took, Mila’s own confidence eroded. She was in total disbelief; finally she stopped the lightning attack and leaped into air again landing right in front of Marcus. They exchanged hand to hand attacks until Mila used the butt end of the hilt of her lightsabre. She caught Marcus in the eye and then she dropped him with three more well placed punches.

Marcus was spent. He was lying on the floor and tried to get up but Mila stood over him and stomped on his head knocking him unconscious. When she was certain he would not get up again Mila exhaled heavily and kneeled in front of Erebus.

“Formidable wasn’t he?” Erebus asked her. “What are your thoughts apprentices?”
“He is powerful Master.” Mila explained. “His raw ability and determination make him someone worthy of our academy. I look forward to killing him when he reaches his full potential and I mine.”
“Be careful what you wish for apprentice.” Erebus warned. “Return to the line.” Mila replaced her lightsabre on her belt and did as she was told. Erebus approached Praxis and motioned him to follow her. They walked away from the group of students until they could not be heard by anyone.
“Master,” The Archivist began to say. “What is your opinion?”

Darth Erebus turned to her colleague and said, “He will be a powerful Sith Praxis. The young man will be the harbinger of the Jedi’s destruction. I cannot help but fear for us all though.”

 

Marcus is used bij those Sith.
Exciting chapter and actionpacked

 

Sad! about Marcus but not a surprise. Enjoyed the talk with Joy.

 

Vikka, Marcus, Rolf and Darius are all very interesting and complex characters. Their fate keeps you interested. Via their choices one can see that how easily a person can fall for either the light or the dark side of the Force. Thanks for asking me "on-board" this fanfic.

 

I really excited about you veterans of fan fiction reading my story. I'll try to keep the quality up.

 

Marcus......marcus......marcus......

This is getting interesting Furio. Keep it coming!

 

I'll do my best.

 

Hi People, and a special welcome to the new readers. Thank you all so much for reading and your remarks. Chapter 9 will be up soon.

to you all.

 

The_Zeltron
earlybird-obi-wan
Nyota's Heart
AzureAngel2
NightWatcher91
Cushing's Admirer

Chapter Nine: Coruscant 395 ABY

The Red Bank Sector of Coruscant was the financial and yet another political hub of the galactic capital. The area was also home to some of Coruscant’s most expensive real estate. Politicians and financial power brokers were the main tenants of these luxury apartments and lofts. On this particular day though there was an odd sight in the middle of a public square where beings could walk and enjoy some natural elements. The sight was a massive drop ship that was deploying a container that shook the ground when it hit. Bystanders scattered when the container hit and within minutes the Coruscant Security Force and two military garrisons had arrived surrounding the massive storage unit. All their weapons were focused on the target but they had no idea what was about to come out.

The container had been dropped by a disgruntled CSF general named Singard; he had gone rogue and had stolen the container and its contents. The general led a unit of soldiers that shared his cause and that cause was to demonstrate that Coruscant was vulnerable to a multitude of attacks. Singard believed his concerns had fallen on deaf ears and because of his constant protests he was arrested and incarcerated. His unit had broken him free and Singard vowed to be heard by his superior officers one way or another. He was already disgraced in the military community and so Singard chose a direct line of communication.

As the soldiers and Coruscant Security Force units closed in on the container a whining could be heard from within. They realized that a shield generator had been activated and then the sound of depressurization blasts could be heard next. The container’s faces opened up on all sides and created a secure bunker. The container had multiple shelves within it and on each shelf there were multiple metal cubes. Suddenly another two containers were dropped from a freighter’s belly bay. The freighter left the vicinity with blaster fire from the ground units chasing after it. These two new containers opened up the instant they hit the ground. The shelves all expanded and dropped hundreds of the cubes which all transformed simultaneously into armed battle droids. The containers closed with shields energized around them and every droid.

The droids began firing on the beings surrounding them. Dozens were killed with the first barrage of blaster fire from the droids. The Coruscanti forces made a volley of their own blaster shots and then they sought out cover from the droid’s attacks. The retaliation was repelled by the droid’s shields and so the CSF troops had to go in and physical destroy the droids or use heavier weapons. The damage would be considerable and the Coruscanti forces wanted to minimize the civilian casualties. The military commanders had placed snipers in nests all around the square with powerful rifles that shot through the droids shields but their fire rate was limited and by firing they revealed their positions to the droids who quickly attacked their nests. The droids were effective in their counter attacks and either killed the snipers or made them relocate to new positions.

Jedi Master Sella Jenner and her fellow Jedi Knight Darius Baron surveyed the area seeing that the hundreds of battle droids were scattering the Coruscanti response units. They had been dispatched by Grand Master Joy to help the Coruscanti forces control the situation. The Coruscant Security Force had requested assistance from the Jedi and Master Joy never declined when civilian lives were at stake. She obliged the CSF with her two favourite problem solvers.

Over the past ten years Darius Baron had taken well to his role as the Sword of the Jedi. He trained like a man possessed to the point that Master Jenner could not keep up with his training regime. Darius had become an accomplished blade master and he had surpassed Master Sarro who had been the previous best. His ever growing knowledge of the Force was impressive as well amongst his peers. Darius enjoyed the physical aspects of training more, like swordplay, but he was one of the better rounded knights the Jedi had. He and Master Jenner had completed numerous missions and he rose to the rank of Jedi Knight quickly. Darius was now considered honourable and he was well respected throughout the order since turning away from Cyrax’s teachings of the Dark Side.

Darius was content with his rise in the Jedi Order but all was not as it seemed with him. Whether they were nightmares or visions from the Force, Darius always saw himself as a fallen Jedi and the cause of tremendous pain to the galaxy. Darius struggled with his visions and he still felt the pain of losing his uncle. He doubted himself so much that he refused to take a Padawan leaner. Darius feared that if he faltered and fell to the Dark Side, he would taint and ruin any Padawan Learner. Darius’ visions of a dark man, were always changing, they were always in motion. When he first had the visions it was his face that he saw in the dark robes. Recently the face had become blurred and unrecognizable. Perhaps he had saved himself form that fate but Darius could feel there was a darkness rising.

Master Jenner was the only one that knew of Darius’ struggles and she had to be the voice of reassurance for him. She had witnessed him go from a confused young man to one of the most respected Jedi in the Order, yet she could not understand his lack of confidence in himself. Sella had never trusted anyone else more than she trusted Darius. He had saved her life numerous times on their adventures together in the past decade. As Sella reached the twilight years of her life she felt her greatest achievement was bringing Darius to the Light Side of the Force, making him see that his life could be so much more. She was happy she helped Darius realize his potential but now she had to keep him on the right path. As the years had passed Sella was thankful that Darius could see his fate changing and that he was not on the dark path anymore.

Darius and Sella approached in a light transport ship that only carried a maximum of ten beings at a time. Sella turned to Darius and said, “You know I don’t think I’ve ever done a drop into a battle zone like this. Even at this age I’m doing new things.”
Darius looked at the scene under him, then back at his former master and said seriously, “I jumped out of falling cruiser that belonged to the mercenaries that killed my uncle ten years ago.”
“I remember that story Darius,” Sella said apologetically as she regretted bringing up his uncle. “You never mentioned jumping out of a cruiser though, impressive.”
“Thank you Master. Are you ready for this?” Darius said
“After you Darius,” Sella said while motioning with her hand out the side door.

Darius jumped out and with the Force guided himself into the middle of a fire fight between three outnumbered Coruscanti Security Force members and about a dozen battle droids. The battle droids brief pause gave Darius the opportunity to lash out at them with a Force push that sent many of them flying. He leaped at them again and at the same time drew and ignited his lightsabre. His new lightsabre was deep blue and had no resemblance to the one that he had built with Cyrax. Darius made the blade whirl and in moments he had destroyed the rest of the droids. He looked back at the appreciative Coruscanti Security Force members and directed them to regroup with another unit. Darius turned and looked to see where Sella had landed. He saw her about half a kilometre away swinging her yellow lightsabre blade picking off as many battle droids as she could get her blade on. Darius noticed she had slowed over the years but her technique was still flawless.

Darius made his way over to his former master and destroyed a few droids along the way. He could feel Sella was relying heavily on the Force to speed her body and evade any wayward blaster shots. When Darius joined her he covered her back and they finished off the few remaining droids in the area they were in. The battle zone had spread and the two Jedi had to cover more ground as a result to support the soldiers. There were pockets of droid resistance that were quickly being destroyed by the remaining Coruscant Security Forces, their military allies, and the Jedi. Darius and Sella found the commanding CSF officer, a human named Commander Donovan. His armour had been blackened by carbon scoring and he was bleeding from a cut above his right eye.

Darius and Sella approached the make shift command centre watching as Commander Donovan gave his officers various instructions. The Commander then looked at the Jedi and said, “Thanks for the assists Master Jedi. We were spread thin and that western zone was falling. We should be good to maintain the area now.”
Sella looked at the holographic image of the area and then back at the commander. “Do you have a location on General Singard Commander?”
Commander Donovan gave the Jedi master a stern look before saying, “Don’t call him that Master Jedi. That’s no general over there, he’s a terrorist. We’ll get to him soon, I can promise you that.”

Sella gave Darius a quick look that he knew well. Master Sella was about to make her opinion known. “Commander Donovan, I would like the general’s location immediately. My fellow Jedi Knight and I will track him down and bring him to you.” Master Jenner walked closer towards the commander. “I realize that you are taking his betrayal hard but you must realize that we need to eliminate the threat as soon as possible Commander.”
“Oh I realize it Jedi,” Sella noticed the lack of ‘Master’ in front of ‘Jedi.’ “What you have to realize is that a lot of soldiers here took the same oath the terrorist did, and now he has betrayed his oath, his company, his core. We’ll deal with him Jedi and I’ll take this up to high command if I have to.”
“Who do you think called us Commander?” Donovan stepped back at Sella’s revelation. “When we arrest him I promise to bring him to you.”

Sella turned and did not even wait for confirmation from Donovan. Darius followed her and realized that Sella had not received the coordinates to where the captain was.

“Sella, you didn’t get the general’s location.” Darius said.
“Yes I did.” She looked back at Darius with a knowing smile. “It was on the holo table. Don’t forget Darius, I was a liaison for the Coruscanti Security Force. I know their procedures, codes, and how they run their operations. It’s an advantage this generation of the Jedi have over past incarnations of the Order. Most Jedi masters on our council have experience with military operations.”
“I’ve been involved in operations before with the CSF but I did my best to do my own thing. It usually produced better results.” Darius said.
“You’re going to have to learn to command soldiers Darius,” Sella replied. “It’s apart of a Jedi’s life now. We used to deal with our own kind for the longest time but we need ordinary citizens and soldiers when the odds are against us.”

“When was the last time that happened,” Darius asked as they found their speeder and entered it. “Was it during Darth Krayt’s purge?”
“The Jedi had the backing of the then Emperor Fel and the Jedi were led by Kol Skywalker, which should have been enough.” Sella recalled. “In the end the One Sith had their day and destroyed the Galactic Alliance, Empire, and the Jedi. Of course another Skywalker emerged to stop Krayt later on.”
“Yes I remember, Cade Skywalker, Kol’s son.” Darius recollected from his studies. “It all eventually led to this line of emperors and the restriction of Force users using the Dark Side. Not my favourite idea but the Jedi-Imperial Act has brought almost three centuries of peace. ”
“Yes, the line of emperors has been just and they have been fair leaders. The Senate has its fools but they are controlled as well.” Sella agreed. “With this looming darkness coming I sense that the peace will not last and war will be brought to our doorstep.”
“Who would dare challenge the Empire now?” Darius said confidently. “We control almost every civilized system but for a few in the outer rim and with Jedi support we control the most important thing of all, the Force.”
“First of all Darius I don’t mean war against the Empire, I mean a war against the Jedi. Secondly, remember that the Force always seeks balance.” Sella explained. “I’d say the Force is quite tipped over to our side and has been for a long time.”
Darius thought about what his former master said for a few moments and then said, “Darth Krayt had the Jedi exterminated and when Cade Skywalker freed the galaxy the Dark Side was put down. There is your balance Master.”
Sella shook her head slightly and looked Darius in the eye, “The scales will be tipped again Darius, and soon. The faster you accept that the more prepared you will be when it comes. Enough of these predictions, it is time to focus on the moment my former Padawan. The general is held up in that warehouse over there.”
“How do you want to approach it Master?’ Darius asked. “There does not seem to be much resistance from this vantage point.”
“Noting fancy Darius, we’ll just knock on the front door to call on the general.” Sella said with a smirk.

The two Jedi landed close to a warehouse which was located in the rougher part of Coruscant’s manufacturing sector. They approached cautiously along the walls of other buildings as to stay out of the plain sight. When they reached General Singard’s building Darius used the Force to quickly reach out and see how many insurgents they were dealing with. He sensed more than a dozen beings in the building and Darius felt that many of them were nervous. They no doubt saw that their battle droid attack was failing and that they would soon be under pressure from the CSF soldiers. Darius was pleased that their confidence was shaken because they would be open to surrender rather than spill their own blood or risk capture. He could not help but think that if this was ten years ago when he was under Cyrax’s influence he would have welcomed a battle and bloodshed. Darius respected life more as a Jedi Knight and knew that every time he had taken a life when he followed the dark path, he was weakening the Force and worst of all himself.

Sella Force pushed the massive doors open and Darius followed that up by launching smoke pellets that covered the area and threw the general’s men into mass confusion. Sella and Darius knew not to kill any soldiers if they could help it and so when they encountered enemies in the cloud of smoke they merely incapacitated them. The main floor of the warehouse had a number of military vehicles and hardware that the general obviously had been stock piling for his coup. It all made for great places to find cover while the soldiers fired their blasters wildly into the smoke cloud.

Darius and Sella had wasted little time and made it up to the warehouse’s offices which were in the back of main floor. Beyond the door they could sense that there were three very worried beings. Sella decided communication with the General was the best way to end the conflict.

“General Singard this is Jedi Master Sella Jenner” she called out. “Please surrender yourself and no one else will be hurt. This coup has been pointless, you have lost.”
“Jedi?” A voice said from inside the durasteel reinforced door. “Only the Jedi could have brought my demonstration to an end so quickly. Regardless we have shown them that Coruscant is vulnerable and that we need the help of the Jedi to protect us! How pathetic.”
“You know you will not change anything General.” Sella tried to reason with him. “What is Coruscant vulnerable to General? There are no major wars, no armies to fight. What are you worried about?”

“He showed me that despair and death were coming. People will die and we must prepare!” The General yelled sounding angry.

Sella and Darius both looked at each other wondering who had told him that such a thing was coming. “Who are you talking about General, who told you?”
“I can’t tell you. I’ve already said too much. He will kill me when he finds out what I did and then death will take Coruscant and rain down fire upon us!” General Singard screamed.

The two Jedi heard blaster shots from inside the door and Darius broke the door open with a swift Force enhanced kick. The General had killed his two protectors and was holding a blaster to his head while muttering to himself. Before they could try and stop him the General fired and killed himself. Darius could feel multiple presences closing in on them and so he turned with his lightsabre ignited only to find Commander Donovan there with a squad of men.

The Commander took the scene in and then held his gaze on the Jedi. “We should have known it was you two.” He looked over at the fallen General Singard. “At least he did the honourable thing and ended his own life. Let’s go men, clean this area up and get all this hardware back to the barracks.”

The Commander and his men paid no attention to the Jedi as they walked past them and back to their speeder. The obvious question was who was the General talking about? Darius for some reason could not shake a feeling he was having. There was a taint on General Singard that was familiar to him. While Sella had every intention to ask Master Joy about the ‘him’ that the General spoke about, Darius had a chilling revelation. The taint on General Singard was from Cyrax.

Darius had not been on the team of Jedi that had gone out in search of his former master after he revealed Cyrax’s location to the Jedi but he was well aware that Cyrax had escaped. Darius had tried to find his former master in his free time after he was knighted and he was allowed to pursue his own investigations. He looked for possible landing sights not far from Kashyyyk where the Dark Jedi could hide and continue his work but the trail went cold. Cyrax’s contacts that Darius knew of had disappeared as they were most likely warned by their master that Darius would one day try to find them. The network was closed to him and Darius finally stopped searching, Cyrax would reveal himself sooner or later.

Questions piled up with few answers to them. Why would Cyrax reveal himself to General Singard and what did he reveal that would force the General to try and expose Coruscant’s lack of readiness when it came to acts of terrorism? The idea that Cyrax had a plan that made the General think that fire would rain upon Coruscant was extremely disturbing.

Darius finally turned to Sella and said, “It is Cyrax. My former master is who the General was talking about.”
Sella considered Darius’ statement and asked, “Are you sure, how can you be certain it’s Cyrax?”
“I felt Cyrax’s taint on the General, it is unmistakeable Sella.” Darius said.
“We don’t even know where to start looking Darius. We’re going to have to look into the General’s past postings to see where he has been.” Sella said. “We don’t even know how far back in time we have to look.”
“We just can’t wait for an attack Sella. The Jedi must be proactive on this.” Darius demanded. “This is the looming darkness that we have been sensing.”
Sella remained quiet for a moment and then said, “It may very well be Darius but we have to first tell Master Joy and I know she will want to meditate on this and plan a course of action. We can’t find Cyrax but we will try, I promise you that.”
“I pray to the Force that when we find him it is not too late.” Darius said grimly.
“So do I Darius,” Sella replied.

***

Coronet City Corellia

Cyrax and Dr. Silas exchanged looks as the blue mixture filtered into a small tempered glass container. Cyrax smiled with great anticipation as the hardest part of his research had been completed thanks to Dr. Silas. Ten years of research and experiments had finally come to fruition for Cyrax. The Sith had to hire Dr. Silas to help speed up the process and complete the fictional cleaning product. Cyrax had lied to Dr. Silas that the agent they were creating would be used by a mining guild on Kessel to clean certain types of organisms off of the metal alloys being minded there.

Now that Cyrax was alone he was forced to move to Coronet to be able to complete his experiments. Cyrax had been hiding in plain site since his apprentice had betrayed him and defected to the Jedi. He had been informed by his contacts that Darius had been captured by the Jedi and so Cyrax made preparations to leave the Shadow Lands of Kashyyyk just in case the Jedi made Darius reveal their base. The move set back his work as he had to abandon numerous samples and supplies. Cyrax had the foresight though to arrange for a mercenary to destroy what was left of his lab. He was then told that a Jedi contingent had in fact gone to investigate the remains of his base. The Jedi found nothing but the charred remains of the base but Cyrax’s contact also explained that they had felt the “taint” of the Dark Sid there. Cyrax had no doubt the Jedi would be aware of his existence now, but that was all they knew and it would remain that way for as long as he deemed it necessary.

Cyrax did not expect Darius to turn his back on him and join the Jedi Order. He knew Darius’ resolve had been weakening during that time, but he did not realize just how feeble the fool actually was. Cyrax had vowed that he would seek out his vengeance from Darius for his betrayal, destroy him and his now precious Jedi Order. Over the years Darius had been active within the Jedi Order according to an inside source Cyrax had. Darius had risen quickly and was well respected as a warrior and leader. He had kept a close eye on the career progress of his former apprentice whose power undoubtedly had grown. Darius’ Force potential was substantial but Cyrax knew that under the Jedi, he would never reach the pinnacle of that potential. Cyrax despised the idea of Darius completing his training and the Jedi reaping the benefits of his labour.

Nevertheless Cyrax could feel the Force shifting, the Dark Side was more prevalent and he knew the Jedi could feel that. Cyrax wanted to think that it was he that was causing such a seismic shift in the Force but he knew that was not the case. There were other forces causing it elsewhere that would reveal themselves in time and Cyrax intended to be there when they did. He was certain that he felt that dark presence many years ago. It was full of raw Force power and especially full of hate. Whoever that being was, Cyrax was certain that they would make their presence felt soon enough.

Cyrax cleaned his station and started to store away the newly filled vile into a portable container that was climate controlled. Dr. Silas was doing the same and when he was finished he approached Cyrax.

“Well it seems our business is concluded Professor.” Dr. Silas said.
“Yes it has Doctor. I thank you again for your assistance.” Cyrax pulled up a datapad and tapped some buttons. “I have made the final transfer of funds into your account.”
“Thank you,” Silas responded. “I trust you will take the necessary precautions when you travel to Kessel. The poison level of the mixture is still a major concern to me Professor. The potency of it is higher than we anticipated.”
Cyrax smiled. “I have taken the care of everything Dr. Silas; you need not worry any further.”
“I have one question though Professor Cyrus.” Cyrax turned with a small scowl on his face. “I saw that you ran experiments where you vaporized the agent turning it into a gas and then you let living specimens inhale it.”
“Yes, Dr. Silas?” Cyrax said knowing exactly where Silas was going with this.
“Well you knew it would kill them instantly if there was no dilution of the agent.” Silas said. “Super heating it and releasing it in an aerosol form on a living creature would cause a certain death. You also know no being or creature would live if they inhaled that gas in such a concentrated form.”

Cyrax’s deception had run its course and Dr. Silas knew too much. “I wanted to see how fast it would kill the test subjects. In fact I need a human subject Dr. Silas.” Cyrax started to move closer to Silas and the doctor stepped back sensing something was wrong. Cyrax produced another small canister from his container and pointed it directly at Silas where he pressed a small button. The canister produced a fine mist that went on Sila’s face and instantly Silas reached for his throat. The flesh on the doctor’s face turned red, purple, and then finally black.

Silas’ body feel to the ground and Cyrax observed the remains; he was content with the results of his poisonous gas as Silas had died within moments of exposure to the gas. Cyrax had developed a breathing apparatus that protected him self from exposure and now it was time to synthesize more of the liquid form of the gas. He would go into the final preparations for the assault on the heart of the Empire, Coruscant.

Cyrax’s first task was to destroy the lab he had built in the Coronet University student’s residential area. He wanted to be close to Dr. Silas and that was the best way. All evidence from the lab needed to be eliminated to leave no trace of what was actually transpiring in it. Cyrax ignited a flammable fuel which quickly spread as he left with two cases full of samples and of course the vile of the finished product.

Cyrax took his speeder and flew to the spaceport where he boarded his transport which was in a private hanger bay that he previously paid for through a fictional name. Cyrax secured his precious payload in a secret compartment in the cargo hold. He went to the ship’s communication station where he turned on the holonet and was greeted by a story of two Jedi helping Coruscanti Police and Military forces with a former general that had gone rogue. Anger raged through him as he saw Darius with an older Jedi woman by his side. What made Cyrax even more furious was that one of his own contacts had carried out yet another betrayal.

General Singard was a well placed source that Cyrax used to find out information relevant to Coruscant. The General had access to a vast security network that Cyrax had dipped into on numerous occasions. Cyrax had come to trust the General with information that he now felt may have been compromised. The news feed was not very specific and not knowing what the General may have told the Jedi was a serious issue. Cyrax could only draw one conclusion and that was Darius knew that he was involved with General Singard. Cyrax had to destroy his old apprentice to preserve his plans of attacking Imperial Center and the Jedi Temple with his noxious agent. It was time for Cyrax to reveal himself to the Jedi and destroy the stagnant establishments of this foolish Empire. The Jedi did not fear death so he would break their spirit by destroying their peace.

Cyrax went to the cockpit and started the launch sequence for his ship. He plotted a course for Coruscant and flew the ship to the upper atmosphere. He transmitted the false identifications for himself and his ship to get by the Cor-Sec planetary defence platform in Corellia’s orbit. Cyrax engaged the hyperdrive and left the cockpit for the bunks in the rear of the ship. He lay down and closed his eyes knowing that soon he would be reunited with Darius for a final confrontation. Regardless if Cyrax defeated his former apprentice or not he had made arrangements for the execution of his plans. There would be no stopping his poison from crippling the Empire and her peace keepers.

***

Jedi Temple – Coruscant

Darius sat in meditation trying to reach out into the Force to pick up any currents of the Dark Side or Cyrax. Even after a few days of General Singard’s warning Darius could not shake the idea of Cyrax being close. He was too distracted by what his former master could be plotting to concentrate on his meditations with his full attention and so he stopped what he was doing. It was frustrating to think about how he could not do anything to prevent what could possibly come. Being proactive was something the Jedi seldom did so Darius was confined to trying to find Cyrax through the usual channels available to him.

Darius’ comm station buzzed with a chime and suddenly it gave him a welcome distraction from his line of thinking. He answered the call and was surprised to see his father’s image appear in the hologram.

“Father, how did you find me?” Darius asked.
“Well it was simple Darius, I saw you on the holonet fighting an army of droids and there was not much left to piece together.” Claude replied. “I contacted the Jedi Temple and they put me through to you.”
“Your influence is farther reaching than I thought father. What do you want?” Darius asked
“I want to see you Darius. You have been missing for years. I thought you had died when your uncle Rolf was killed on Kashyyyk. What happened to you?” Claude said.
“He was your brother, not just my uncle.” Darius said with anger in his voice. “Did you try to find me? I was on Kashyyyk the whole time! I was taken into the Shadow Lands by a Dark Jedi and abandoned by my own father.”
“Dark Jedi? Shadow Lands? Darius, my team of investigators were forbidden from going into the Shadow Lands by the Wookiees. There was nothing I could do.”

Darius considered his father’s words but he did not want to forgive him. This was still the man that neglected him for his whole childhood and lied to him about his Force abilities. Darius then realized that by holding on to this hate for his father he was still hanging onto traits of the Dark Side. He remembered his uncle Rolf trying to convince him that even though Claude never showed emotion there was still love in his heart for his son. Now Darius could see that was actually the case. He still wondered just how hard his father looked for him considering Claude’s vast resources.

“Father I want to believe you but there is so much I am angry about.” Darius admitted. “You must understand that I thought I was betrayed and abandoned by my father. I watched as raiders killed Uncle Rolf. Then to my shame I found and killed those responsible for it. I have found peace and I live a fulfilling life. I have found a place and a family.”
“Darius I am your family too, you are my son.” Claude said sincerely. “Please meet me; I want you to tell me everything.”
Darius relaxed his tensed muscles and suddenly felt the Force flow through him. He took it as a sign that meeting his father was the right thing to do. “I will meet you father. Where do you want to meet?”

***

Sella Jenner studied the datapad that detailed General Singard’s travel for the past year. There was nothing that she noted that was out of the ordinary. It was almost impossible to make out where the General might have met Darius’ former master. Singard was deployed all over the galaxy even the Out Rim territories where the Jedi and the Empire could not possibly keep track of everything. The only thing she knew for sure was that this Dark Jedi was about to reveal himself and he had something so sinister planned that it made a hardened General Singard cringe.

Sella also knew that the whole situation weighed heavily on Darius’ mind. He was not a frail and fragile person by any stretch but Darius knew this day would come sooner or later. The fact that Cyrax had a plan that threatened Coruscant made finding him a top priority. Sella had a meeting scheduled with Grand Master Joy about the situation which was fast approaching. She gathered her things and went to Council chambers where she found Master Joy in her usual seat and Master Sarro was there sitting to his wife’s right hand side. Master Bail Exas and Master Radii joined in from the training academy on Dantooine via hologram. They were the only five Jedi Masters that were council members in Master Joy’s hierarchy. She had made it difficult to earn the privilege of being a Master in the current Jedi Order. With the Jedi’s limited numbers, Master Joy only promoted the beings she trusted, even though there were a few Knights in the Order that she was considering promoting.

“Master Sella,” Master Joy started. “What news do you have for us about the fugitive Cyrax?”
“Grand Master Joy, Masters.” Sella bowed her head to her fellow council members. “Darius Baron and I have learned that his former master may resurface soon and attack Coruscant from a General Singard who warned us and then took his own life rather than be punished by Cyrax.”
“Warning?” Master Radii asked. “He attacked the Red Bank Sector and killed dozens of civilians with his droid attack. How was this terrorist warning us Master Sella?”
The Council members went from looking at Master Radii asking her question to looking for a reply from Sella. “He warned us that ‘death was coming,’ that a ‘rain of fire’ was on its way. The General said that Coruscant was not ready for the upcoming peril he was describing. Furthermore Darius sensed his former master’s taint on the General.”
Master Sarro put his hands together as if he was praying and then put his fore fingers together before saying, “Very well Sella, what have you and Darius done to locate Cyrax?”
“I’ve been looking at the General’s past deployments,” Sella explained. “I thought perhaps I could find out where Cyrax and the General interacted to give me some type of clue as to where Cyrax currently is. Unfortunately my search parameters are much too vague as the General had deployments all over the galaxy.”
Master Exas considered the conversation before asking the Council “I have a capable Knight here on Dantooine, Lorn Nyeb. He and his former Padawan Vikka Gratua are well travelled; they can search your Outer Rim locations if you wish.”
“No Master Bail,” The Grand Master said. “Master Sella, I have spoken with the Coruscanti Security Force high command and they tell me that a recent acquaintance of yours, a Captain Donovan, has found another of the General’s staging grounds. I will send you the coordinates and I’d like you to see if there maybe a clue there as to where this Dark Jedi is.”

“That’s good news Master,” Sella replied not surprised at all that Master Joy already had a lead. “I will get Master Baron and we’ll head there right away.”
“Master Darius is away.” Master Joy informed Sella. “His father has returned to Coruscant to mend ties with his son. I have already taken the liberty of advising Knight Trett Dorr that you are coming, he will accompany you until Master Darius arrives. May the Force be with you Master Sella, good hunting.”
“Thank You Master Joy.”

Sella bowed to the Council and went to the hanger bay where Knight Dorr was waiting. He was a tall, lean Twi’lek who was known for his skills with his dual bladed lightsabre. He had blue skin and wore traditional Jedi robes. As Sella approached Trett bowed his head in acknowledgment of her arrival and said “Master Jenner, it’s an honour to work with you.”
“The honour is mine Knight Dorr.” Sella replied. “We have the simple task of information gathering today and we are meeting with a Coruscanti Security Force team as well. I warn you Trett, I didn’t leave them on the best of terms the last time I was with them.”
“I’m sure we’ll get some sideways looks but lightsabres usually straighten them up.” Trett joked. “Will Knight Baron be joining us? I’ve always wanted to talk about duelling with him.”
Sella smiled at the enthusiasm of young males who loved to play with their swords. “I’m not sure; he’s at an important meeting. Knight Baron will catch up.”

The two Jedi took a transport to the Red Bank Sector and as they approached Sella had an uneasy feeling come over her. Trett landed their transport on the top of a building which had two landing pads. Sella saw two transports on the other landing pad but no one was guarding them, which was CSF standard procedure. When they landed Trett quickly unlatched his lightsabre from his belt as he looked around the area with suspicion. The two Jedi exchanged looks and instantly knew that there was something wrong. Sella could smell the odour of carbon scoring and then she saw it as they entered the building that looked like an abandoned roof top garden. The structure was made of glass that was blacked out as if the building was under construction.

“There is something very wrong here Master Jenner.” Trett said. “I don’t sense anyone here.”

Sella said nothing as she did sense someone there but it was not Commander Donovan. When the two Jedi entered the building they were greeted by two bodies on the ground. The two men were CSF soldiers lying on their stomachs face down. Trett kneeled beside one of them and turned the body over carefully. There were two gashes across the chest and throat of the soldier. They were both cauterized which more than likely meant it was done by a lightsabre. Sella turned over the other soldier’s body and discover the same kind of wounds.

They went deeper into the building which was dark because of the blacked out windows. The Jedi discovered a main chamber that housed military hardware along with two small transports loaded with containers of blaster rifles. There was a sudden noise at the far end of the room and the Jedi had to walk around the vehicles to access the middle of the space. When they did they discovered Commander Donovan and his team. They were all lying dead on the ground in various positions. Standing over Commander Donovan was a thin man wearing simple black robes. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and had a small smirk on his narrow face. Sella felt the currents of the Dark Side flowing from within this man. She could only guess that this was Darius’ old master, Cyrax.

Trett started to circle the stranger and he looked back at Sella who did the same from her side of the room. As the Jedi surrounded Cyrax they both ignited their lightsabres and dropped into their battle stances. Cyrax moved forward and regarded the two Jedi while taking his own lightsabre from his belt without igniting it.

“Impressive. The Jedi arrive and have become the judge, jury, and executioners.” Cyrax said. “Don’t you mean to question me first?”
“You were a former Jedi Knight Cyrax.” Sella replied. “You were supposed to defend those that could not defend themselves.”

“I have defended my species for decades Master Jedi.” Cyrax said while igniting his red lightsabre. “Tonight, I will set things right for you, for me, for all of us.”
“Just like the way you set right Darius Baron?” Sella snapped back. “There isn’t anything that needs to be set right. There has been peace in the galaxy for centuries.”
The mention of Darius enraged Cyrax and the Jedi Master’s brainwashed rambling was just what he expected to hear. “The genocide against Force users is over Jedi. This Emperor’s regime is about to crumble and I will provide the detonation. As for my former apprentice, I am here to atone for that mistake as well. Of course that is after I dispatch the two of you.”

Cyrax threw himself at Sella and started a barrage of strikes which she parried but was surprised by a Force push from him. Sella was thrown back and Trett engaged with a flurry of his own high and low strikes at Cyrax. The Dark Jedi parried the blows that came from the Twi’lek’s double bladed lightsabre. Cyrax was surprised by the larger being’s strength that was most likely enhanced by the Force. The Jedi was strong but his movements were unrefined and he left openings in his defence which Cyrax would expose soon enough.

Sella rejoined the battle and went after Cyrax with a more coordinated attack that Trett recognized quickly. The larger Twi’lek began attacking Cyrax in unison with Sella who was slower in terms of movement but efficient in making the Sith keep moving. Cyrax began to feel the pressure of the double team against him and so he tried to alleviate it by back flipping away from the Jedi and collecting himself. He wasted no time going back to an offensive attack by destroying the glass ceiling above the Jedi. The panes shattered into thousands of pieces and rained down on his pursuers. Sella threw up her hands and caught the shards that were going to fall on her with the Force. She threw them harmlessly to the side and watched as Trett quickly leaped forward to avoid the falling glass. His manoeuvre put him in a vulnerable position right in front of Cyrax who was waiting for him with his lightsabre at the ready.

Cyrax threw a hard over hand strike that Trett tried to block with his lightsabre. The strike cut Trett’s lightsabre hilt at an end and made one of blades extinguish. His weapon had become a horribly balanced single bladed weapon. While Cyrax tried to take advantage Sella saw that her partner was in danger and she threw her lightsabre at him in an arc that Cyrax had to block to avoid being struck. He did better than block Sella’s lightsabre; Cyrax had actually cut the blade’s hilt in half rendering it useless. Trett in the meantime had risen and was on Cyrax just as he had destroyed Sella’s blade. His lightsabre was damaged but functional and he was giving Cyrax all he could handle with a barrage of strikes that made the Sith stay on the defensive. Trett managed a hit on Cyrax’s arm that only slowed the Sith as he was using the Dark Side to give himself the energy and adrenaline to keep the fight going.

Sella had gone onto her knees and started to use battle meditation to help Trett. Battle Meditation could calm his mind and help him focus on his enemy. Cyrax tried to find an opening but with Sella’s help Trett had become better and better in the dual. Cyrax knew that he had to interrupt Sella’s battle meditation to beat Trett who was already a gifted warrior but with Sella’s aid he was even more formidable. Cyrax then created space between him and the Twi’lek with a Force choke that caught Trett by surprise. The Jedi was thrown off the side and Cyrax leaped towards Sella who sensed the incoming attack. She rolled out of the way as Cyrax had landed in the exact spot where she was sitting. Seeing that she was helpless he launched a Force push that threw her back into a pile of debris.

Trett had regained his feet and saw the Jedi Master thrown into the debris pile. He launched his own Force push that Cyrax got caught up in but adjusted in the air and landed on his feet. Cyrax leaped again at the Jedi Knight and attempted a flurry of blows until one caught the Jedi on his leg causing him to fall to a knee. Cyrax’s predator side came out and kept the pressure on by hammering hard on the Jedi. Trett tried to keep his defence up until finally one of Cyrax’s blows cut through him at the neck and down into his shoulder. The Twi’lek let out a howl of pain but was quickly silenced as Cyrax finished him with another thrust into the Jedi’s chest. Sella had just caught the end of the battle and cried out in vain as her comrade fell to the Sith Lord.

Cyrax turned and smiled at Sella who he knew was almost defenceless without a lightsabre. “You have no lightsabre, no partner, and no hope. I will allow you to leave so you can witness the rebirth of the Empire with me at its head.”
“The Jedi would never give in to you.” Sella said still looking at the corpse of her fallen fellow Jedi. “Nor will I, I am not defenceless as long as I have the Force to call upon.”
“Surely you feel that the Force is in a state of movement.” Cyrax replied. “I will bring the Dark Side to the fore again while the Jedi drown in it. When my virus kills a significant portion of Coruscant in mere days, the citizens will beg me for the cure. They will happily elect me as their new ruler. The days of the Sith Empire will return and Darth Sidious’ dream will be realized, total galactic domination.”
“You will never rule the galaxy. Those are the ramblings of a mad man who has no idea what it means to rule.” Sella said while she wiped the sweat and blood from her brow. “Rule through fear is not ruling. It’s an invitation to chaos and anarchy.”
“The military might of the Empire will give me the power I need Master Jedi.” Cyrax spat back. “I already have numerous generals and high placed officers like General Singard in my pocket. That will be the difference; the stagnant Empire is rife with those that seek a new voice, a powerful voice, my voice.”
“The Jedi will stand against you Cyr…” Sella started to say before she was interrupted.
“The Jedi will be obliterated like those that wanted to practice the Dark Side of the Force. The genocide will be reversed.” Cyrax screamed. “Those Force users that don’t stand with me will be hunted and destroyed. The Force user that does will be a god amongst the ordinary masses of beings in the galaxy. That is the ultimate power, the Force, and I will control those that wield it.”
“There are those that would stop you Cyrax. Darius Baron is the Sword of Jedi; the Grand Master herself is the most powerful Force user in the galaxy. You can’t beat them both by yourself.” Sella responded suddenly feeling her aches and pains.
“I won’t have to beat the Grand Master. When she surrenders, and she will to protect the people, I will execute her and the Council. The Jedi that turn to my cause will defend me. Those Jedi that lack the fortitude to follow me, will be destroyed just like I will do with my former apprentice.” Cyrax responded. “Sword of the Jedi? Please. I will kill him especially slowly when he seeks me out. He may even return to my side if he falls to the Dark Side again.”
“He would never fall.” Sella replied.
“After I kill you and his father, it will be a certainty.” Cyrax said with a knowing smile. “I was the one that told Darius’ father where he was. Their relationship being mended and his love for you will be the things I destroy that will put him back on the path. I will reap the benefits the Jedi stole from me.”
Cyrax approached Sella while raising his lightsabre and he made a swipe to strike her down. Sella raised her hand and caught the blade. “You will be stopped traitor.” Sella said defiantly

Cyrax was shocked to see the Force absorption technique used like that. Anger flashed through him again and while he pushed the blade harder against her hand he saw the blood start to drip from it. He quickly changed tactics and released the lock but he fired forks of blue Force lightning at the Jedi Master. Sella was not ready for the quick strike and was consumed by the lightning. Her Force absorption was overwhelmed and she was being ravaged by the electricity. Cyrax was relentless but controlled and he felt the Jedi Master dying before him. Sella had finally given in and started to fade into the Force.

Cyrax stopped and took up his blade once more. “Die Jedi, die with the knowledge I will be Emperor and all will bow before me.”

As Cyrax was about to finish Jedi Master Sella Jenner once and for all a presence entered the room accompanied by the snap hiss sound of a lightsabre being ignited. A deep blue light filled the room and Darius Baron stood with his face half in darkness and half illuminated by his lightsabre. His look was grim, angry, but controlled while he stared at the scene. His dear Master Jenner, who saved his life many years before, was about to die at his former Dark Side master’s blade. Darius was relieved that he had arrived in time to help Master Sella. He sensed her life signs were low but they were still present. Darius tried to keep his anger under the control he learned form his Jedi master but he was heart broken to see her so frail and small on the ground. Darius wanted to assist her but he knew that he would have to deal with Cyrax first. If he let Master Sella’s injuries dominate his mind, Cyrax would exploit that and use it to destroy him.

“Welcome Darius,” Cyrax said while pulling up his red lightsabre. “I was hoping to see you later on. I wanted to send you a gift, your master’s head. How is your father by the way?”

Darius started to circle his former master and saw the body of Trett Dorr lying on the ground along with the CSF troops including Commander Donovan. He turned his attention to Cyrax again and said. “It was you who told my father about me, knowing he would seek me out. You then launched your attack through General Singard on Coruscant to distract us from your arrival.”

“Correct Darius, that was all planned.” Cyrax answered. “The rest of this was a beautiful coincidence. Meeting your Jedi Master while I sought out General Singard’s storage facility and meeting you now is perfect for me. Once I rip the Jedi of their ‘sword’ and one of their Council members I will unleash my plague and take what I want.”
“Which is what?” Darius asked.
“Everything Darius, I want everything.” Cyrax snarled. “The Empire will be mine, the Jedi will be destroyed and all Force users will be united under my banner. We will rule the galaxy and all its worthless beings will be our subjects. You could have joined me in this vision Darius but you chose to betray me and follow the Jedi. So follow them, follow them into the abyss.”
“You will not anger me with your threats and taunts Master. If you somehow defeat me there are others to take up the cause.” Darius replied. “I am a Jedi Knight and I will not fall to the darkness again.”
“Did you forget how you took your revenge for your uncle’s murder? You butchered a whole crew of raiders and their innocent crew members.” Cyrax said

Darius started to become frustrated. “I was a child. You twisted and perverted my beliefs for your own ends. I am not that confused boy you preyed upon all those years ago. There is no confusion as to what I am now and what I will become.”
“Which is what?” Cyrax said while mocking what Darius had asked before.
“I will be the one that stops you.” Darius said.

With his blade ignited Darius leaped at Cyrax and engaged his former master with a hard series of strikes. Cyrax parried each one accurately but quickly realized that Darius’ strength and speed were excellent. Cyrax remembered that Darius’ blade work was above average when they had sparred back on Kashyyyk, but now he could see that Darius had come even further since then. The strikes were polished and Darius’ transition to defence when needed was seamless. Cyrax needed all of his skill to fight off his former apprentice along with augmented powers from the Force. He felt Darius’ confidence grow with every strike. Cyrax had his former apprentice believing that he could win which was exactly what he wanted.

Cyrax wanted to turn the tide and enhanced his own abilities with the Force. The Dark Side rose within him causing his eyes to turn the sickly yellow associated with the Sith. Darius and Cyrax slammed their lightsabres against one another in a ballet of skills and Force powers. Both men were drawing heavily on the Force to defeat the other. Cyrax leapt between Darius’ power strikes hoping to tire his former apprentice. He tried firing Force pushes to keep Darius off balance as well. Cyrax took Darius’ best swings and could feel the doubt starting to creep into the Jedi’s mind. Cyrax decided to heighten his attacks and now would mix in the throwing of objects at Darius’ back. The Jedi Knight deflected the objects easily enough but when Cyrax mixed in his lightsabre attacks Darius struggled but never faltered.

Darius on the other hand was suddenly fighting for his life against his former master. No matter what combination Darius could come up with Cyrax had an answer for it and with a lethal response. Darius lashed out with another series of strikes but Cyrax stopped them and they locked sabres again and the blades were inches from each other’s faces.

Cyrax broke the steady stream of lightsabre battle sounds with a taunt. “I can feel you weakening Darius, you are alone and the tide is turning. You know you need the Dark Side to defeat me. You know to maximize your power it is the only choice. If you don’t I will surely destroy you.”

While he thought he had the advantage Cyrax quickly broke the sabre lock with a well timed kick that hit Darius in the stomach taking the wind out of him and dropping him back. The Dark Jedi needed to keep the battle evolving to keep Darius guessing and he so he fired Dark Side lightning at him that hit Darius hard and broke him down to his knees. Cyrax then stopped the lightning and came down with a hard strike that Darius saw coming.

In those seconds that Cyrax took to stop his lightning attack and go for the lightsabre strike Darius looked up and let out a massive Force push despite his wariness. The blast of Force power threw Cyrax into the wall and put him in a haze. Darius quickly took advantage by advancing on Cyrax and he pinned him against the wall by his neck with his left forearm. Darius started to throw punch after punch bloodying Cyrax’s face.

“Kill me Darius or I swear to you I will destroy Coruscant and everything you hold dear. I will not rest until it all crumbles around you. Kill me!” Cyrax roared.

Darius was fuelled by rage and boiling anger as he remembered his vision from the Force. As everything burned around him, he was the dark figure that caused it all. He remembered his Uncle Rolf dying, his father’s neglect, his own massacre of the raiders, and now Master Sella laying on the ground only a few steps away from him. Darius used the Force to push Cyrax’s lightsabre away and he pressed Cyrax even harder against the wall. Cyrax’s attempts to push back were quickly negated and he realized that Darius was bordering on darkness again. Darius then held his lightsabre to Cyrax’s face and then stopped short of plunging it into his temple.

Seeing the tide turn totally in Darius’ favor, Cyrax tried one more time to reason with his former apprentice. “You see Darius! The Dark Side makes you stronger and yet you still fight it. Let go and embrace it. You will unlock your powers fully and you can finish the Jedi from the inside and continue our work.”
Darius snarled at the notion of him helping Cyrax and he wanted to communicate that to his former master. “I will never join you. Do you understand? Never!”
“What will you do then?” Cyrax said while spitting blood into Darius’ face.
“I am going to finish you once and for all, master.” Darius said with deadly sarcasm.

The Jedi raised his lightsabre to Cyrax’s neck and the Sith could fell the intense heat come off the blade making his throat sweat. From the corner of his eye Darius saw movement off to the side and he saw Sella stirring. He wanted to go to her and help but he could not risk Cyrax escaping.

Darius was too immersed in anger to let Cyrax go but Sella then got on a knee and said, “Don’t Darius. Please don’t do this. Everything you have done will all be for not, all that you have accomplished will die with him if you kill Cyrax in cold blood.”
“Oh I love how the Jedi plead peace and…” Darius punched Cyrax again in mouth to shut him up.
“Master, he can not be left alive. He has plans to endanger us all and I can stop him right now.” Darius said sounding exasperated.
“You’ve already stopped him Darius.” Sella said pleading with him. “Look at him, he’s finished. Bring him to the temple so we can question him and put him in the detention block for the rest of his life or we give him to the Empire. Promise me Darius, please.”
“I will die before I reveal anything to the Jed…” Cyrax started to say before Darius levelled him again with a punch to his chin.

Darius dropped Cyrax’s body and then went to Master Sella and took her into his arms. Her life signs went even weaker as she relaxed in her former student’s embrace. Darius had commed the Jedi Temple and they were sending medical units to help but his master’s presence was fading in the Force. Darius tried to perform a healing trance but all it did was calm her down until finally she looked up at him.

“Yes Master?” Darius asked. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No Darius, there isn’t anything you can do. I’ve come to the end and I will be one with the Force soon.” Sella said in a fading voice. “I am proud of you, of what you've become, and what you will be.”
“Just hold on Master, the medics are coming. Stay with me for a little while longer.” Darius started to tear.

Darius felt the life fade from his master. Jedi Master Sella Jenner had died in her former Padawan’s arms. Darius looked back at Cyrax who was still unconscious and for a moment he wanted to kill him. Of course Darius remembered his master’s words and the promise he had just made. Cyrax would be brought to justice but Darius wondered what would be justice in this case. If Cyrax revealed where he stored his bio agent he may get a reduced sentence, of course Darius knew Cyrax would never do such a thing. Cyrax would hope to escape and continue his plan at a later time. His old master was patient and cunning. Darius vowed he and the Jedi would be ready for whenever that happened. He knew Cyrax would eventually resurface as he felt that his former master still had a part to play.

Darius heard the transports arrive and a CSF team rushed in and took the unconscious Cyrax away in power binders. Darius rose to his feet while watching as fellow Jedi Knights collected the bodies of Master Sella and Knight Dorr with the care and compassion their fallen comrades deserved. The two bodies were placed into hovering life support capsules even though the occupants had expired. Master Joy herself walked into the room with Master Sarro. They approached Darius and he could see Master Joy was upset but she embraced him nonetheless.

The Grand Master looked Darius in the eye and said to him, “I am so sorry Darius. I know how much you cared for her. Master Sella’s loss will be felt by the whole Jedi Order.
“I was not fast enough Master,” Darius reflected. “I was selfish. I took my time during the meeting with my father. I neglected my duties and Master Sella and Knight Dorr paid for it with their lives.”
“Darius, it’s not your fault they died.” Master Joy said while placing a hand on his shoulder. “Cyrax was the one that did this, not you. They fought bravely but the Dark Side is strong in your former master. You have shown everyone that the Light Side is stronger, that the Dark Side will never prevail.”
“That is not entirely true Master.” Darius admitted. “I wanted to end Cyrax, kill him in cold blood. Master Sella stopped me from doing something that felt so right but would have been wrong. I sensed the Dark Side taint still within me Master Joy. I wanted it to take over but she pulled me back, again. I owe her everything and now I can’t repay her because I was too slow.”
“We understand your pain Darius but wallowing in self pity is the wrong way to deal with it.” Master Sarro said in a stern tone. “Master Sella died protecting us all and you honoured her memory by dealing with Cyrax the correct way. Now you must be strong enough to move on with and learn from all this.”
Darius considered what the two Jedi masters were saying to him and realized they were right. “I understand masters. Master Sella would have wanted me to do the same. I am content that Cyrax has been caught and the threat is over.”
“That remains to be seen Darius, I will take up the investigation against him. If you wish to be there when I question him you are most welcome to do so.” Master Sarro said.
“I will do that Master, thank you.” Darius responded. “I’d like to accompany Master Sella’s remains back to the Temple.”

“Of course Darius,” Master Joy said. “I’ve already initiated the arrangements for her funeral ceremony.”

***

Master Joy followed by Master Sarro Brun led the funeral procession into the Jedi Temple’s funeral chamber. The vast room had high ceilings and massive narrow windows that when the sun or the moon shined through them the light centered on the pyre in the middle of the room. The statues of ancient Jedi stood guard in the room representing the fallen members of the Order. All members of the procession wore their hoods up as tradition dictated with their heads bowed in respect for their fallen comrades. Master Sella’s and Knight Dorr’s bodies were laid to rest on the pyre and Darius followed with a lit torch. He looked over at Master Joy who gave him a nod and Darius then lit the pyre.

Darius watched as the flames started to kick up and consume the bodies. He looked into the fire to make out the shape of Master Sella’s face before he could not see anything. Darius started to speak to Master Sella in his mind and he vowed to never question himself or his allegiance to the Light Side of the Force. He swore he would not turn off the path that she had set him on many years before. Darius suddenly felt at peace while standing beside the body of his master. It was a calm feeling that made Darius more focused and made him think the future was brighter for the Jedi Order.

Darius looked over at Master Joy who gave him a knowing smile as if she knew what he was thinking. He wouldn’t be surprised by it as the Grand Master was intuitive enough to surmise what his thoughts were.

Master Joy walked towards Darius and said, “Darius, Sarro will question Cyrax soon. I want you there to put Cyrax off balance. I also want to find the location of his virus. That is our first priority. After that Cyrax will be turned over to the Empire.”
“I understand Master, I will not fail you.” Darius replied.

***

Brun Sarro and Darius Baron entered the detention block going directly to Cyrax’s cell. The Dark Jedi was cuffed and restrained to the floor so he could not escape. Cyrax’s Force powers were mitigated by the energy field built around his cell. Master Joy could not use the same technique she used on Darius ten years before because Cyrax’s connection was much more powerful and developed than Darius’ was at that time. Cyrax had been a model prisoner during his stay in the Jedi Temple’s detention centre. When the Imperial Military had heard that a Dark Side user had been captured they demanded immediately to have him transferred into their possession. Master Joy had to explain that Cyrax was extremely dangerous and had plans against Coruscant that still needed to be uncovered. Master Joy did not reveal exactly what the Jedi knew because she felt that panic would set in among the masses if the information about the virus had been leaked by anyone in the military.

The two Jedi walked into Cyrax’s cell and found him sitting crossed legged on the floor. Through the Force the two Jedi could feel a small current of the Dark Side. Even with the restrictions of the cell Cyrax still commanded the Force.

Without opening his eyes Cyrax said, “Welcome Darius. Hello Master Sarro. How is that beautiful wife of yours? Are you two here to frighten a confession out of me?”
“No Cyrax we’re here to rough you up.” Brun said.

Jedi Master Brun Sarro was many things but a patient man he sometimes was not. Cyrax suddenly came off the ground and slammed into the ceiling and then fell to the ground. Darius and Cyrax looked at the Jedi Master in surprise until he used the Force to pull Cyrax face first into the bars of the door. The Dark Jedi’s face was bloodied and when he picked himself off the ground, Cyrax got up seething. He spat the blood that had gathered in his mouth toward the Jedi Master but Brun anticipated the disgusting action and blocked it with the Force.

“Do your worst Jedi. It’s easy to attack an unarmed man that is cut off from the Force.” Cyrax said. “Let me out and we can see just how strong your really are.”
“You don’t want to know how strong I am Cyrax.” Master Sarro responded. “I have little patience for someone that threatens my wife, my world, and the Order. I can do whatever I want to you and then we will ship you off to the Imperials.”
“I swear I will not say anything and letting me out of this cage will be the biggest mistake you ever made Jedi.” Cyrax spat back. “Your powers are weak Brun, let me out and I will show you just how weak you have become.”
“No one will take any chances with you Cyrax.” Darius finally said. “Tell us where you’ve stored your virus and the Imperials might let you live on a mining colony in the Outer Rim.”
The irony was not lost on Cyrax as his virus was created as a liquid supposedly meant to clean rocks for the mining guilds. “The sword finally speaks. I will have my vengeance and Coruscant’s citizens will be the first casualties. The Empire will be mine. Leave me now Jedi. I want to rest.”

Cyrax sat back down and closed his eyes while the Jedi watched. Master Sarro was tempted to open the cage to force a confession but he thought better of it. Darius on the other hand was not ready to let go of his former master.

“Cyrax,” Darius started to say. “You must know that there is no way you will win this. I have been with the Jedi for ten years and the security on this planet is the best in the galaxy. The medical facilities are best in the galaxy. You can not possibly hope to disrupt the way of live here. We will find a way.”
“Spoken like a true blind man” Cyrax said while still sitting with his eyes closed. “You have not seen the vision I have. The Force showed me that the darkness is coming and then fire will rain. I will bring it about. I will be the herald and head of the next Sith regime.”

The two Jedi looked at each other knowing that Darius had a similar vision except Darius thought he would be the dark warrior. They knew that future had most likely had been avoided as Darius had no thoughts of committing such atrocities. The threat was over as far as Darius was concerned. Cyrax had been captured and he had been purged of his dark thoughts. If there was still a threat, Darius thought, it was somewhere else and it could not possibly be worse than Cyrax.

Brun remembered the powerful young Cor-Sec officer from Corellia. He was so full of rage and hatred but with a tremendous connection to the Force. Had the late Arianna Dern brought him before the council and had he been trained as a Jedi like Darius, he would have been a great asset to the Jedi. Brun knew that someone with such anger would have resisted every attempt to change. Brun was almost thankful that the young man had died in that accident or else if he had been trained he could very well have been the one to bring about the darkness Cyrax spoke of.

“That darkness will be stopped Cyrax.” Darius answered. “You have been stopped and when we find your experiments it will be over.”
“Young Darius, you have no idea where to start, what to look for, or who.” Cyrax said as he rose off the floor. “How do you know I haven’t already entrusted someone else with launching my weapon?”
“I know your lust for control.” Darius snapped. “You would never entrust anyone else with your precious master plan. No Cyrax, as long as you are behind bars or until you’re finally dead, this planet will never be safe. Whatever you do though, I will be here to stop you.”

 

Excellent update and great to see Darius remaining in the light. He is a true Jedi. I hope they can stop the plans of Cyrax

 

Hi, Furio. Cushy starting fresh.


I:

Is this first bit set in the Legacy Era? Seems to possess echoes of the little I know about it. Interesting atmosphere, Furio. Seems a bit grim and perilous. I like that the Knight is a Bothan but I am concerned for him. Love the style of your words though the flow is unique at times.

*Shakes head* Rather figured Vonar would die but it's a shame.

I note a few typos. Would you be receptive to me pointing them out so you can consider editing them?

I want to like Vikka and Master Exas but I am wary. Lorn is bad news. Nyeb seems like an infiltrator that is a sleeper agent of the Sith within the Jedi. This likely will not go well.

Okay, Lorn's and the Emperor's manners seem peculiar.

I hope Vikka either flees or reports Lorn to the Council.

There may well be a complicated path ahead.

Well done, Furio.

 

The story is set way after the Legacy Era, but the end of the Legacy era loosely helps provide the back drop for the politics of my time frame. There are more references to Legacy than there are to the trilogies or the EU after them. I purposely made it seem like a "grim" time only to play on the irony that even though the galaxy has had centuries of peace, the Force always seems to want that balance.

Sorry.

No worries DD. I've gone through those earlier chapters already and have made sone changes. The quality should get better as you keep reading.

Thank you DD. I appreciate the comments and support. Please keep reading.

 

Yes, I noticed it's after the Legacy Era, Furio but it seems the only tonal ref point in the first chap.

 

Sorry, still ill and just quickly reading some stories, because the notifications & PMs file up.

But now that I am not feverish any more, I can take leave some comments.

“That darkness will be stopped Cyrax.” Darius answered. “You have been stopped and when we find your experiments it will be over.”

Powerful sentences. Strong characters.