Star Wars
The Dark Path
Prologue
The sun was setting over Yavin 4. The forest was a green blur, Glowing in the golden yellow light of the sun. Only a few birds were sill singing. A large shadow was cast on the ground. The building that cast it stood as tall as an imperial walker and taller. It was covered by vines and surrounded by trees, except for the small clearing in front of it. A landing site. It looked old and blended with the environment.
This was no ordinary building. This was the Jedi Academy. Students came to learn the ways of the Jedi and of the Force. It was the largest place in Yavin 4. But, then again, it was probably the only intelligently populated place in Yavin 4.
The starship came out of hyperspace a fair distance from the planet. The ship was a New Republic ambassador ship. The Razor. It looked like a modified sandcrawler that could fly. Bulky and blocky. It didn't fly any better either. It looked like it could barely get to lightspeed.
"Sir, I have the planet in sight. I think we'll make it." The pilot said over the comm system. He was young and looked fresh from training. But he seemed filled with relief. "Thank the Force, good job Lt." Said the scruffy voice of the ships commander. "I didn't think we'd make it."
The ship seemed to have taken some damage. A lot of it. The ships recent escape was close.
The commander thought. Why were those pirates attacking us? Pirates attacked the ship in between Coruscant and Bandomeer. The ship glided closer to the planet. What did she put on this ship? And why? Couldn't she have put it on a faster, more powerful ship? It had been thirteen years since the destruction of the second Death Star. Could the New Republic be at war with the Imperials again?
BLEEEEP! BLEEEEP! BLEEEP! The alarm sounded. Oh no! What now? "Sir! We were followed! It's the pirates!" "Get the messenger and the package off the ship!" the commander said," But first send a test, see if they shoot down our escape pods."
"Yes, sir!" The seconds that past seemed like hours. "Negative, pod one is down."
"Who did we lose?" asked the commander.
"Johnson was in that pod, sir."
"About face, launch the package behind us, towards the planet, away from us. Shoot all we have at them. We'll get that package there!"
The ship slowly turned. It went as fast as it could go. Come on. Come on. The ship shook and rocked as it took fire. Come on!
"Pod two away!"
Finally.
"Sir we can't last any longer like this!"
"Take evasive actions. Just keep that Pod behind us until it is out of firing range. Then go to lightspeed."
"Yes, sir!"
The ship served to port. An energy bolt grazed it. Blaster fire was raining down on them.
"How many are there, Lt.?"
"Seven warships and two command ships. Sir I don't think we'll make- "
"Lt, where is the pod?"
"Thirty seconds until clear, Sir"
The commander sighed. More blaster fire. The ship swerved and glided all over, avoiding fire.
Twenty seconds...
"Sir, another has just arrived. I've never seen one like it before."
"Keep going" Fifteen seconds... "Sir, the new ship is charging some kind of weapon!"
"Keep going"
Ten seconds...
"Sir-"
"Keep going"
Five seconds...
"The weapon is fully charged, sir!"
"Get us out of here, Lt!"
The ship was half way to lightspeed. The new vessel fired a massive yellow beam. It hit the Razor directly. The Razor immediately stopped. It slowly melted from the outside in. It went to a chain reaction of explosions and burst into a fireball. It was destroyed.
But the pod slowly drifted on. The mission was so far a success. Even though the entire crew was killed. Except for one. The pod was still intact and out of range of the pirates. It fell slowly towards its destination. Yavin 4.
1
Zeph Mardone
He breathed heavily, but quietly. Every step was carefully placed. He did all he could to stay as quiet as possible. His enemy was just as quiet. All he could hear was the sound of his lightsaber, humming steadily in his hands.
Both he and his opponent were hooded. Sweat poured from his hair down his face and nose. His body ached and strained, but somehow he kept going.
He moved right and held his lightsaber in a defensive position. His enemy's lightsaber slammed down on his. They sizzled as the two opponents tried to push each other off balance.
They broke off and attacked. Parrying and attacking in a smooth rhythm. On and on it seemed to last. Every muscle ached. It was hard to move.
He kicked to his side. His foot connected. He turned and slashed down, but hit the other lightsaber. His lightsaber bounced off the other.
He twisted with his lightsaber held high and parried another attack. His opponent kicked off of him and landed away from him. His breath now staggered and stung sharply every time he inhaled, but he could he his opponent breathing loudly as well.
He couldn't take it any more. This was killing him. He jumped toward his enemy, bringing his lightsaber down hard, only to have his opponent parry it. He started a mad series of attacks, all being parried. He swung powerfully and accurately and finally landed a hit.
"Ah!"
His lightsaber grazed the shoulder of his enemy. He turned around, saber held high and...
"Stop!" said a commanding voice overhead.
His lightsaber was poised, but he turned it off. The voiced continued, "Remove your hoods. The match is over."
The fresh air was almost painful it felt so good. He was a human with black hair cut short, green eyes, and a white complexion. His muscles were aching and pulling. He was hunched over breathing heavily.
A Calamarian was on a platform above looking down at the two students. This was the Jedi Temple.
"Your name is Zeph, correct?" said the Calamarian Jedi Master, Gunrak Moltes.
Zeph nodded. "Zeph Mardone, sir" he said winded.
The Jedi studied him for a minute. "The winner is Mr. Corsidorth." He finally said.
The boy next to Zeph gave a sigh of relief and surprise.
"What!" Exclaimed Zeph. "How did he win. I beat him."
"You did not." Said Master Moltes in a calm voice. "You were defenseless. You must learn to control yourself."
"In a real battle I would have killed hi-"
"In a real battle, against a fully trained Jedi, your lack of defense would have been your undoing. That is enough." Said Master Moltes in a more commanding voice.
"What lack of defenses?"
"You left yourself open to an attack time and time again. Your physical pains were driving you to act foolishly and leave yourself open. A real Jedi would have blocked out the pain and waited for a mistake like yours. Like Mr. Corsidorth did. That is why he won. You are dismissed." He said firmly.
The door opened and Zeph stormed out of the training room. He stopped in the corridor and closed his eyes. He breathed deeply, remembering his training. Anger will consume you. A Jedi saying. He felt stupid. How could he have lost control of himself again? That was the first lesson he learned at the Academy.
He turned down a hallway and walked down it. He took a couple of turns. His first day here he found out for himself that the Academy held secrets. Secrets that might hold past Jedi times within hem. Secrets that have to do with the future. Secrets that had to do with nothing at all. His first day, he found one. A paradise. Within the temple was an area that held a paradise.
Zeph came here often to relax. He reached a dead end in a dimly lit corridor. He focused on it. Imagined it opening up.
The wall started to split open slowly. Light shed through the widening opening. It continued to open until it was about two meters across. Zeph casually stepped through as the opening began to close. A forest of evergreens, a river, clearings. The beauty of the place sunk into him.
Peace. The academy might have been made of peace, but this was the one place he could have real peace. Zeph walked along the crystal clear water casually.
He told no one of this place. No one except his two friends. He should have gone to see them, instead of coming here. He had told them he would see them later.
He came to a small clearing, where the water opened up into a small pond. The clear waters washed the rocks on the bank. Zeph breathed deeply. Relaxation. Peace. Only the sound of stream trickling into the pond could be heard. Quiet.
Snap!! Zeph turned quicker than lightning. He had his light saber in his hand although he couldn't remember grabbing it. He crept towards the area the sound had come from. He found a broken twig, but nothing else. He heard the dirt crunch behind him.
Zeph whirled around, lightsaber in hand. It's yellow glow illuminating a tall form. A massive creature stood in front of him. Fur covered it's human like body.
"Roar!!"
Zeph powered down his lightsaber. "You should practice your sneaking skills." He said. The creature, a wookie, hung his head in a saddened state. "But you did spook me."
This wookie was one of Zeph's best friends, Wotapuk. He looked happier, due to the comment.
Wotapuk was native to Kashyyk. When he was young, his parents were killed by slavers. He was sold on Tatooine to a gang of Rodian lowlives. He was one of their slaves for two years. Rick Elgsargam, an old Jedi Master, passed through Mos Espa, the city where the gang hid, and felt a strong Force out put from Wotapuk. Using the Force, he tricked the Rodians into letting Wotapuk go free. He then took Wotapuk to the academy.
Wotapuk made some grunts in his native language.
"I know," said Zeph, "I...forgot about the meeting. Sorry."
As they started back toward the entrance to the opening, Zeph heard the wall open. A green Twi'Lekian girl came through seeming to be looking for someone. Vendalla Andalon, Zeph's other friend, sighed and looked disapprovingly towards him. Vendalla had come from a line of battle hardened Twi'Leks.
Although she couldn't remember them, she had heard about them and decided to honor them through combat training. She was the first of the three to be brought to the academy. She was three when she arrived. Zeph was seven and Wotapuk nine. Now seven years later they were all sixteen.
"We are gonna be late, what are you doing here?" Vendalla asked.
"I'm sorry. I forgot, let's go before we are late."
She looked at him with raised eyebrows. She had known him longer than Wotapuk and knew that he had not truly forgotten.
"Right" she said unbelievingly. "Well, lets go then."
Wotapuk grunted approval. The three of them hurried out of the hidden place and ran towards the meeting. Vendalla sprinted ahead with Zeph trying to keep up behind her, and Wotapuk unhappily bringing up the rear.
The Dark Path
Prologue
The sun was setting over Yavin 4. The forest was a green blur, Glowing in the golden yellow light of the sun. Only a few birds were sill singing. A large shadow was cast on the ground. The building that cast it stood as tall as an imperial walker and taller. It was covered by vines and surrounded by trees, except for the small clearing in front of it. A landing site. It looked old and blended with the environment.
This was no ordinary building. This was the Jedi Academy. Students came to learn the ways of the Jedi and of the Force. It was the largest place in Yavin 4. But, then again, it was probably the only intelligently populated place in Yavin 4.
The starship came out of hyperspace a fair distance from the planet. The ship was a New Republic ambassador ship. The Razor. It looked like a modified sandcrawler that could fly. Bulky and blocky. It didn't fly any better either. It looked like it could barely get to lightspeed.
"Sir, I have the planet in sight. I think we'll make it." The pilot said over the comm system. He was young and looked fresh from training. But he seemed filled with relief. "Thank the Force, good job Lt." Said the scruffy voice of the ships commander. "I didn't think we'd make it."
The ship seemed to have taken some damage. A lot of it. The ships recent escape was close.
The commander thought. Why were those pirates attacking us? Pirates attacked the ship in between Coruscant and Bandomeer. The ship glided closer to the planet. What did she put on this ship? And why? Couldn't she have put it on a faster, more powerful ship? It had been thirteen years since the destruction of the second Death Star. Could the New Republic be at war with the Imperials again?
BLEEEEP! BLEEEEP! BLEEEP! The alarm sounded. Oh no! What now? "Sir! We were followed! It's the pirates!" "Get the messenger and the package off the ship!" the commander said," But first send a test, see if they shoot down our escape pods."
"Yes, sir!" The seconds that past seemed like hours. "Negative, pod one is down."
"Who did we lose?" asked the commander.
"Johnson was in that pod, sir."
"About face, launch the package behind us, towards the planet, away from us. Shoot all we have at them. We'll get that package there!"
The ship slowly turned. It went as fast as it could go. Come on. Come on. The ship shook and rocked as it took fire. Come on!
"Pod two away!"
Finally.
"Sir we can't last any longer like this!"
"Take evasive actions. Just keep that Pod behind us until it is out of firing range. Then go to lightspeed."
"Yes, sir!"
The ship served to port. An energy bolt grazed it. Blaster fire was raining down on them.
"How many are there, Lt.?"
"Seven warships and two command ships. Sir I don't think we'll make- "
"Lt, where is the pod?"
"Thirty seconds until clear, Sir"
The commander sighed. More blaster fire. The ship swerved and glided all over, avoiding fire.
Twenty seconds...
"Sir, another has just arrived. I've never seen one like it before."
"Keep going" Fifteen seconds... "Sir, the new ship is charging some kind of weapon!"
"Keep going"
Ten seconds...
"Sir-"
"Keep going"
Five seconds...
"The weapon is fully charged, sir!"
"Get us out of here, Lt!"
The ship was half way to lightspeed. The new vessel fired a massive yellow beam. It hit the Razor directly. The Razor immediately stopped. It slowly melted from the outside in. It went to a chain reaction of explosions and burst into a fireball. It was destroyed.
But the pod slowly drifted on. The mission was so far a success. Even though the entire crew was killed. Except for one. The pod was still intact and out of range of the pirates. It fell slowly towards its destination. Yavin 4.
1
Zeph Mardone
He breathed heavily, but quietly. Every step was carefully placed. He did all he could to stay as quiet as possible. His enemy was just as quiet. All he could hear was the sound of his lightsaber, humming steadily in his hands.
Both he and his opponent were hooded. Sweat poured from his hair down his face and nose. His body ached and strained, but somehow he kept going.
He moved right and held his lightsaber in a defensive position. His enemy's lightsaber slammed down on his. They sizzled as the two opponents tried to push each other off balance.
They broke off and attacked. Parrying and attacking in a smooth rhythm. On and on it seemed to last. Every muscle ached. It was hard to move.
He kicked to his side. His foot connected. He turned and slashed down, but hit the other lightsaber. His lightsaber bounced off the other.
He twisted with his lightsaber held high and parried another attack. His opponent kicked off of him and landed away from him. His breath now staggered and stung sharply every time he inhaled, but he could he his opponent breathing loudly as well.
He couldn't take it any more. This was killing him. He jumped toward his enemy, bringing his lightsaber down hard, only to have his opponent parry it. He started a mad series of attacks, all being parried. He swung powerfully and accurately and finally landed a hit.
"Ah!"
His lightsaber grazed the shoulder of his enemy. He turned around, saber held high and...
"Stop!" said a commanding voice overhead.
His lightsaber was poised, but he turned it off. The voiced continued, "Remove your hoods. The match is over."
The fresh air was almost painful it felt so good. He was a human with black hair cut short, green eyes, and a white complexion. His muscles were aching and pulling. He was hunched over breathing heavily.
A Calamarian was on a platform above looking down at the two students. This was the Jedi Temple.
"Your name is Zeph, correct?" said the Calamarian Jedi Master, Gunrak Moltes.
Zeph nodded. "Zeph Mardone, sir" he said winded.
The Jedi studied him for a minute. "The winner is Mr. Corsidorth." He finally said.
The boy next to Zeph gave a sigh of relief and surprise.
"What!" Exclaimed Zeph. "How did he win. I beat him."
"You did not." Said Master Moltes in a calm voice. "You were defenseless. You must learn to control yourself."
"In a real battle I would have killed hi-"
"In a real battle, against a fully trained Jedi, your lack of defense would have been your undoing. That is enough." Said Master Moltes in a more commanding voice.
"What lack of defenses?"
"You left yourself open to an attack time and time again. Your physical pains were driving you to act foolishly and leave yourself open. A real Jedi would have blocked out the pain and waited for a mistake like yours. Like Mr. Corsidorth did. That is why he won. You are dismissed." He said firmly.
The door opened and Zeph stormed out of the training room. He stopped in the corridor and closed his eyes. He breathed deeply, remembering his training. Anger will consume you. A Jedi saying. He felt stupid. How could he have lost control of himself again? That was the first lesson he learned at the Academy.
He turned down a hallway and walked down it. He took a couple of turns. His first day here he found out for himself that the Academy held secrets. Secrets that might hold past Jedi times within hem. Secrets that have to do with the future. Secrets that had to do with nothing at all. His first day, he found one. A paradise. Within the temple was an area that held a paradise.
Zeph came here often to relax. He reached a dead end in a dimly lit corridor. He focused on it. Imagined it opening up.
The wall started to split open slowly. Light shed through the widening opening. It continued to open until it was about two meters across. Zeph casually stepped through as the opening began to close. A forest of evergreens, a river, clearings. The beauty of the place sunk into him.
Peace. The academy might have been made of peace, but this was the one place he could have real peace. Zeph walked along the crystal clear water casually.
He told no one of this place. No one except his two friends. He should have gone to see them, instead of coming here. He had told them he would see them later.
He came to a small clearing, where the water opened up into a small pond. The clear waters washed the rocks on the bank. Zeph breathed deeply. Relaxation. Peace. Only the sound of stream trickling into the pond could be heard. Quiet.
Snap!! Zeph turned quicker than lightning. He had his light saber in his hand although he couldn't remember grabbing it. He crept towards the area the sound had come from. He found a broken twig, but nothing else. He heard the dirt crunch behind him.
Zeph whirled around, lightsaber in hand. It's yellow glow illuminating a tall form. A massive creature stood in front of him. Fur covered it's human like body.
"Roar!!"
Zeph powered down his lightsaber. "You should practice your sneaking skills." He said. The creature, a wookie, hung his head in a saddened state. "But you did spook me."
This wookie was one of Zeph's best friends, Wotapuk. He looked happier, due to the comment.
Wotapuk was native to Kashyyk. When he was young, his parents were killed by slavers. He was sold on Tatooine to a gang of Rodian lowlives. He was one of their slaves for two years. Rick Elgsargam, an old Jedi Master, passed through Mos Espa, the city where the gang hid, and felt a strong Force out put from Wotapuk. Using the Force, he tricked the Rodians into letting Wotapuk go free. He then took Wotapuk to the academy.
Wotapuk made some grunts in his native language.
"I know," said Zeph, "I...forgot about the meeting. Sorry."
As they started back toward the entrance to the opening, Zeph heard the wall open. A green Twi'Lekian girl came through seeming to be looking for someone. Vendalla Andalon, Zeph's other friend, sighed and looked disapprovingly towards him. Vendalla had come from a line of battle hardened Twi'Leks.
Although she couldn't remember them, she had heard about them and decided to honor them through combat training. She was the first of the three to be brought to the academy. She was three when she arrived. Zeph was seven and Wotapuk nine. Now seven years later they were all sixteen.
"We are gonna be late, what are you doing here?" Vendalla asked.
"I'm sorry. I forgot, let's go before we are late."
She looked at him with raised eyebrows. She had known him longer than Wotapuk and knew that he had not truly forgotten.
"Right" she said unbelievingly. "Well, lets go then."
Wotapuk grunted approval. The three of them hurried out of the hidden place and ran towards the meeting. Vendalla sprinted ahead with Zeph trying to keep up behind her, and Wotapuk unhappily bringing up the rear.