The main ideas and final approvals for this story come from a friend, "HerShadow". I am simply adding details and character to her creation.
In the depths of the galaxy, there are many unknown, unnamed worlds. Many are so insignificant that this is justified. However, there are those whose importance is simply yet to be realized. It sometimes comes to pass that their importance is on a galactic scale. But one must not forget the importance to and of the individual.
A small, shuttle-like craft soared through an unused region of space. The system was not on Republic maps or charts. Only a handful of sentient beings had ever seen it. The system itself lay between the boundaries of the Republic and the more shadowy, secretive borders of the Sith Empire. Since Naga Sadow's failed attempt to invade the Republic, the Sith Empire had gotten progressively weaker. Despite this, any who thought it dead were fools.
"Master?" one of the ship's occupants spoke up.
"What is it?" questioned the older, black-cloaked man.
"I am detecting another ship in-system, several kilometers away."
The man sat in thought for a moment, observing her. Lien Korbix had always had a dark personality, an excellent asset for her Sith training. Her master knew that she felt she'd always be alone, and he was the only one she would work with; the only one who could come close to meaning anything to her. "Destroy them. This is your first test."
"Yes, Master," she complied with a flicker of a smile.
In the other ship, the crewman monitoring sensors jumped up, worried.
"Captain! The ship we detected is coming in, weapons hot!"
"Get us out of here, now! Plot a course and jump to hyperspace!"
"Master, they are running."
"Their destruction is then imperative."
"We are still outside weapons range. They will be able to make the jump to hyperspace before we can hit them."
"Very well. Watch and learn." Almost immediately, the man seemed to fall into a trance. Suddenly, he snapped open his eyes, his gaze full of a furious power. He made the slightest of gestures with his hand. On her display, Lien saw nearly the entire representation of the other ship go red at once. She looked up, and in the distance the other ship exploded.
"Now then, Lien. Take us down to the planet. It is time to truly begin your training."
* * *
Far distant from that point, in a ship of similar function, sat Jedi apprentice Jirin Renaw. As he gazed out at the wonder of the stars he realized, not for the first time, how insignificant he really was. He was in his mid-to late teens, tall and somewhat lanky yet quick and agile. His seemingly inborn intelligence brought with it a near endless curiosity. As with all Jedi, he had been trained from a very young age, yet seemed more susceptible to darker influences than his peers.
And despite the near-constant company of his Master, he'd always felt alone…
Something lit up on the sensor display, and a brief tone sounded. What the…hmm.
"Master!" he called back to the small living area. The older man emerged, his eyes showing a mild curiosity.
"What is it, Jirin?"
"Some sort of message pod just dropped out of hyperspace. It seems it has a small hyperdrive installed."
"Well, bring it aboard."
A few minutes later, they stood in the small cargo area. They hooked the emergency pod up to a holoprojector. The image of an obviously frightened man appeared in the air.
"To whoever gets this, we're probably dead now. We encountered a shuttle-like craft that started to attack us. We are outside the range of their weapons, but they still hit us with something big. The ship's coming apart. The coordinates are attached." A moment later, there was a view from the now-independent pod of the ship exploding.
Jirin looked on with a lack of feeling.
"We should go there."
"But Master, these coordinates are outside Republic territory."
"I realize that, but I feel drawn there. I feel it is important."
* * *
The two Sith walked through a field, coming to a stop at a point distant from their landing site. Having previously obtained information, the Master knew it to be an inhospitable world. Lien understood that the world was mostly grasslands, with scattered water and trees, and some cliffs. The abnormally fast rotation gave way to unstable and often harsh weather conditions. The summer was extremely hot and dry, contrasting the excessively cold winter. In all seasons, hurricane-force storms were common. In her Master's mind, she knew, it was the perfect place for training.
"For now," her Master was saying, "we will continue your lightsaber training." Giving her time to prepare, he moved to sit under a tree and fell into meditation. She lifted her lightsaber from her belt, and ignited it. She was slightly below average in height, but well built, and suprisingly strong, and it showed as she went through a series of practice cuts and blocks. She smoothly fell into a ready stance, blade up and forward, feet shoulder length apart, and looked to her Master.
Behind her, the earth exploded upward as a massive, worm-like creature launched into the air. Lien took a step back, pivoted and slashed her blade in a vertical arc. It cut through the beast's tail and the two parts landed at the same time. The upper part squirmed around and spewed a stream of acid at her. She ducked, dodged right, and launched herself into a forward flip. The move ended with her saber driving through the worm's head.
It vanished as a group of humanoids appeared to surround her. Some held blasters, others metal swords as the Sith Lords once used. One swordsman swept into the middle of the circle, weapon held high. He swung in a broad slash that made up for in power what it lacked in finesse. Lien knew that finesse, at times, could be far more valuable. The attack left him open, and she needed merely to duck and drive her lightsaber into his chest. He vanished before he hit the ground.
The rest attacked en masse. Lien shot into the air, allowing a pair of charging swordsmen to skewer each other. She blocked several blaster bolts on her way down, decapitating a gunman on the way. She landed, wrapped an arm around a random neck, and spun, twisting the head around as a blaster bolt struck where she had been. She used the Force to launch the dead body at the source of the energy dart, speeding after it, and impaling both at once. Then she was in a mass of the swordsmen, blade flashing and hissing as it slashed through the enemies. She realized she'd be overwhelmed eventually, since no matter how many she cut down, more appeared to replace them. Maybe, but I'll do as much damage as possible. She let her anger surge, allowed it to empower her.
She threw out her lightsaber, allowing it to fly freely under her distant control. As it flashed about, she ran and weaved, snapping necks and flash-frying faces with surges of Force energy. At one point, she kicked one in his abdomen and it looked as if he'd cough up an organ before he died. Lien had no idea how long she was fighting, but in the end, she managed to defeat her opponents. She crouched down, breathing heavily.
"Did that wear on you?"
"A bit, Master. Nothing I couldn't handle, though," she smiled confidently.
"In that case…" he trailed off, looking preoccupied, "Return to the haven. I will return shortly. I sense something. A disturbance…"
"Yes, Master." The confused Lien trudged off towards what was essentially a hidden pit that her Master had made her dig when they landed.
* * *
Jirin quickly worked through the necessary post-landing procedures before joining his Master outside. "Master, why are we here?"
"Patience Jirin. You will know soon enough. Return to the ship, I will return as soon as I can.
Jirin frowned. "As you wish."
* * *
The sky began to darken and a wind picked up. The long, pale green grass swayed and rippled, a sea of plants. In another facet of reality, another storm approached. Everything affected by the Force in that region felt the influence of the two who mastered its use, like the converging of two weather fronts which can only end in destruction. The Jedi Master came to the edge of a cliff to find a black-cloaked man waiting for him.
"Why have you come here?"
"I have come for training. The Sith Empire is not what it once was. Our servants are revolting and dying, some of the Lords fight amongst themselves, and others, like Freedon Nadd," his voice became a snarl, "have left the Empire altogether. Not that it should matter to you. You will be dead soon enough. We may be dying, but we still know our true enemy."
"The Sith will never be victorious, you must have realized that by now."
"My apprentice and I can never be turned away." Suddenly, a flock of winged predators appeared above. Their talons dug into the ground as the Jedi dodged their swooping attacks. He fell into Jedi battle meditation and promptly saw through the illusion.
"Dark magic is no match for the power of the Force."
"Then allow me to show you the true power of the Force!" He raised his hands and shocks of energy resembling lightning streamed towards the Jedi. Responding to the need, the Jedi instinctively called on the Force for protection. The lightning reached him and dissipated as it met with the Jedi's barrier. The frustrated Sith focused Dark Side energy into a destructive ball which launched towards the Jedi. The Jedi was forced back several meters, but got up unscathed. He used the absorbed energy to make the edge of the cliff unstable.
The Sith Lord fell as the rock crumbled. Not believing it would be left at that, the Jedi ran and leapt after him. The talented Sith had found a handhold on the cliff face and activated his lightsaber. Using one hand, he slashed outward, catching the falling Jedi in the arm and dropped in pursuit. The Jedi landed and back-flipped away, parallel to the cliffs, activating his blue-hued saber as he went. The Sith hit the ground running. The Jedi used a Force technique to dull the pain, allowing him to use his arm. The wound was not deep, but it would slow him down.
The Sith attacked ferociously, but with just enough skill and cunning to make him a truly dangerous enemy. His persistent cuts, thrusts, and feints were by no means easy to counter. Only with his Force-given foresight could he block the attacks. Suddenly, the Sith jumped backwards and threw out his lightsaber. At the last second, it deactivated, streaking like a thrown club. The Jedi propelled it away, and it embedded itself in a tree.
"It is ended."
"Far from it Jedi," the Sith hissed.
The Jedi lowered his weapon. He started slowly towards the Sith Lord. "Please…"
"Die!" the Sith finished his sentence. At the last second, he sensed it. The world slowed as he leapt into the air. The Sith's lightsaber whirled by underneath, singeing his boots. The spinning blade did not stop until it halved the Dark Sider. The Jedi looked at his fallen opponent. With his little remaining energy, the Sith whispered something and glanced upwards. Dust and pebbles trickled down from above. Caught off guard, the Jedi could do nothing as a contained avalanche enveloped him, crushing his bones. He knew the wounds were too severe to heal without an extended period of time. Time he didn't have. I'm sorry, Jirin.
