Chapter 1
The searing hum of 15 lightsabers igniting at once was enough to catch anyone's attention.
Every being in the square stopped in their tracks. Merchants and customers fell silent; the only noise coming now from ignorant droids dutifully continuing to sort goods. Everyone looked with new interest at the unremarkable store-front that had been set up 3 weeks ago. Two off-worlders, a Gran and a Human, had shown up to sell Swoop Bike accessories in the hectic bazaar. The Gran seemed to do most of the work, dealing with customers and bossing the droids around. The other was rarely seen. He always wore shades and rarely came out of the shop. With the arrival of the Jedi, though, there was obviously something more going on than parts sales.
The Gran was nearly frantic, and was gesturing for the Jedi to calm down. Several Jedi brushed by him while two others firmly took him by each arm and pulled him away. His sheer terror was enough to make a few of the other bystanders chuckle. The humour was soon gone as the human emerged from the back of the shop with a sneer on his pale face.
"How nice of you all to come," he said dryly.
"Aska Jorung," began an elderly Zabrak female, addressing the man. "The Jedi are aware of what you are. You are to come with us immediately." She paused and stared hard at him, then gestured at two other Jedi, who began to flank him in the doorway. "Will you comply?"
"If you know what I am," he answered. "You would have come better prepared." He chuckled arrogantly. "I see through your bluff."
The Zabrak showed no emotion, but a few of the other Jedi glanced at each other.
"There is but one true Jedi among you," Jorung said, never taking his eyes from the Jedi Master.
The flanking Jedi stopped and looked back at the Master. Her jaw slid forward slightly - the only sign of tension she had shown so far.
"You are really going to sacrifice these inexperienced weaklings to try to stop me? What if their masters knew?" His face was deadly serious. The on-lookers began to disperse quickly, knowing now that it was not worth staying around to see what happened. Though they were not attuned to the Force, they could all sense the danger clearly now.
"Listen well, padawans," he continued. "This Jedi has no doubt told you that you must do the noble thing – bring me to justice. She has no doubt told you that you have all been trained well…that you will prevail if you stay calm and focused. But I sense your fear…"
With that, he stepped out of the doorway and walked slowly up to the Zabrak master, until he was just out of the reach of her weapon.
"You face a Sith. Death awaits you." He said nothing more.
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Ferroh watched the unfolding scene, fighting his anxiety. His muscles twitched, and he felt his claws dig into his palm as they unsheathed involuntarily. Master Shae Ryk's plan was as obvious to Jorung as if the Sith had planned it himself. Now one Jedi and 14 untried and completely inexperienced padawans faced a powerful renegade Sith Lord.
The group of padawans had journeyed to this planet as part of a survival training exercise. Ferroh was a Cathar, a feline-like humanoid, with short golden fur and the beginnings of a mane. Being a Cathar, he was naturally adept at living in the wilderness. He had told his master, Talomar, that his time could be better spent elsewhere, such as training under the Battlemaster. As usual, Talomar had not listened to him and had sent him anyway. He had spent the past month fasting and hiking, building shelters and then taking them down, eating roots…All skills that were not going to help him now against Aska Jorung.
Ferroh was surprised that Jorung did not have a lightsaber drawn. In fact, he didn't seem to have any weapon on his person at all. He knew better than to assume the Sith was without defenses, however. A user of the Dark side was devious and could use the Force any number of ways to kill his foes. Still, Ferroh thought, if I could move fast enough…
It seemed that Cabatha, a Wookiee padawan, had the same idea. In a blur of speed only the Force could provide, he rushed Jorung from the side. Ferroh saw his chance and began to rush forward as well, until he saw Jorung leap straight up, a red lightsaber flashing to life in his hand. Piking in mid-air, Jorung held his lighsaber straight down and into Cabatha's face. The wookiee ran right into it and dropped to the ground.
Before he had even landed, Jorung used the Force to blast outward in a circle. Everyone except Master Shae Ryk was knocked flat.
"There is the first victim of your decision," spat Jorung. "How many more are you going to send to their deaths?"
"Stand down, everyone," said Shae Ryk, quietly. "This is a foe that is beyond any of your skills. Go and send for help…I will face this wretched creature alone."
No one moved. Ferroh figured he would not be much of a match for the Sith, but he was not going to leave the old Zabrak to fight him alone. She was a tough taskmaster, but she was also clever and witty, and a better listener than his own Ithorian master. He had come to know her well over the past few weeks. He couldn't bring himself to leave her to fend for herself.
It appeared that the other padawans felt the same.
"Seems you don't have very obedient students, Jedi," said Jorung with a smirk. "That's alright. I have reconsidered my decision to let them go anyway." He began to move back to the doorway. "Better to get rid of them now than to allow them to become brainwashed Jedi knights."
"You won't escape," said Garreeb, a young Nautilan. He was moving to cut Jorung off from the doorway, his head tendrils swaying side to side.
"Victim number two," said Jorung. He raised his hand toward the Nautilan.
Shae Ryk's hand flew up faster. Jorung whipped around to block her force attack, but he misread her intentions – she was not aiming for his body, nor his weapon. His sun-blinders flew from his eyes, and Jorung cried out loud in pain and surprise.
Ferroh moved quickly now. He plunged his lightsaber toward the blinded Sith, as did Garreeb. But the Sith was still a formidable adversary, and he parried both padawan's attacks. Garreeb was a pretty good duelist – he and Ferroh had sparred several times over the past few weeks. But they had never fought together against a foe, and Ferroh found it awkward. Even a blinded Jorung was able to fend them off.
Then Master Shae Ryk was among them, and Ferroh pulled back. Jorung was more hard-pressed to defend himself, but Shae Ryk's Shii-Cho style seemed too predictable for the Sith, and he was able to maneuver back into the shop. Once inside, the lower level of light allowed Jorung to regain his composure and counter-attack. He held Shae Ryk in the doorway, blocking any of the padawans from entering. Finally, Shae Ryk stepped back into the light of the street, leaving Jorung inside.
Other than the dust-filled wind, there was no sound in the square. Many of the padawans twitched nervously, not knowing what to do.
"He will strike hard and fast when he sees a chance to escape," stated the Jedi Master. "Be ready."
"Master," said Ferroh. "We are ready for anything."
Shae Ryk turned out to be right; Ferroh, however, was not as prepared as he declared. A fiery explosion tore through the front of the building, catching several of the padawans in the blast. Ferroh was fortunate to not be in the path of the discharge. He saw Jorung leap out just behind the explosion and run down the street. Ferroh leapt over the debris and gave pursuit. The Sith wouldn't escape so easily.
"Ferroh, stop!" cried Shae Ryk. Ferroh ground to a halt, but kept his eyes on Jorung until he rounded a bend and out of sight. He kicked at the dust in frustration.
"So that's how it ends? He wins?" he growled through his teeth.
"Padawan," said Shae Ryk gently, "he has temporarily escaped us. Our purpose on this planet was survival training – not confronting Sith. We did what we could. I foresee that one day, he will get what he deserves."
"Besides," she added. "Our comrades need our help."
They made their way over to the fallen padawans. Their number had been reduced by three.