Disclaimer: I DO NOT; I REPEAT I DO NOT in any form or fashion OWN THESE CHARACTERS! I do not own these characters and all the credit and ownership should go directly to George Lucas. George Lucas is the person that created these characters and this universe and so having said that all money should go to him and not me. I am not making any money off of this story. No money is being exchanged at all so please….powers that be, please do not sue me because I have no money. None whatsoever. Cool, now let's move onward.
Hello all and welcome back to my first ever Star Wars story. I thank everyone who took the time to read the story and I thank everyone who took the time to review. I hope everyone enjoyed the prologue to this story and I know it was kinda long for a prologue but it was one of the most important chapters in the story. I kinda introduce a few of the primary characters in the story and so I hope that you enjoyed my portrayal of them because they'll be featured throughout the story. Anyway I know you all are tired of me talking so I'll just get right to the story but before I go I would just like to say please continue to READ, REVIEW( A writer's main source of Motivation) and of course Enjoy!
A Long time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away...
STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE YUUZHAN VONG
It's been Twelve Years since the brash and powerful Jedi Knight Kyp Durron was stranded upon the homeworld of the mysterious and vicious enemy known as the Yuuzhan Vong. In the time since he's been stranded the Galaxy continued to move on unaware of the looming threat this fanatical warrior race poses to the semblance of order and peace that the New Republic Military and the New Jedi Order have struggled to maintain. The situation would be even dire if Kyp had been alone but, he's found a companion in the form of his young apprentice Akilah M'Raan, who at the hands of the Yuuzhan Vong suffered through the death of her entire family. The two Jedi have been battling the Yuuzhan Vong to the best of their abilities and have recently uncovered a plot to besiege the Galaxy but have no means to warn the New Republic or the New Jedi Order, however through the will of the force a solution to their problem may yet be at hand…..….
Chapter 1: The Knight and the Apprentice
A young Kyp Durron deflected several laser bolts from the training droid that whirred in front of him. He twirled his blue lightsaber while putting a cocky smirk upon his face as he waited for the next round of bolts that were sure to come. The force nudged him and with a flash of blue he expertly deflected two lightening fast lasers that came towards his knees.
"HA!" he shouted in joy, "End training session" he said loudly.
The training droid let out several chirps before powering down allowing Kyp to deactivate his lightsaber.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Kyp heard the clapping and he turned around to see a slightly younger Jaina Solo with a padawan braid hanging down her left shoulder standing a few feet behind him.
"How long you've been spying on me Solo?" he asked, as smile on his face 'By the force she is beautiful' he thought to himself.
"I wasn't spying. I came in here to train and I saw you attempting to train as well." she replied.
"Attempting you say?" he replied, "I don't know if you saw but that was training level ten, its no walk through the garden princess."
"It is for me." she replied.
"Those are bold words coming from an average duelist." Kyp responded playfully.
"Average!" Jaina scoffed.
"I didn't stutter, little padawan."
Jaina cocked her head to the side and the smile on her face widen considerably. She then called upon the force and her lightsaber flew from her belt and to her hand.
"That sounded like a challenge." she said while activating the blue blade.
Kyp smirked and then reactivated his own lightsaber and got into a ready stance just as Jaina fell into her own. A long pause passed between the two smiling duelist before it was broken by a shout.
"BEGIN!" they shouted in unison.
Later
Kyp stared lovingly into the eyes of Jaina Solo while she smiled sweetly back at him. The two of them were standing on the top spire of the Jedi Temple where they could see the massive megalopolis that was Coruscant however their attention wasn't on the city or the view but each other. Kyp reached up and cupped her face in his palm.
"Kyp." she stated.
"Yes Jaina."
"Get up." she suddenly bluntly.
Kyp's face suddenly scrunched up in confusion.
"What?"
"GET UP!" she shouted again.
"Jaina"
"MASTER! GET UP!" Jaina roared at him frantically.
Yuuzhan'Tar: Homeworld of the Yuuzhan Vong
"MASTER GET UP!"
Kyp's brown eyes snapped open, instantly broken from his memories and his focus solely upon the semi-armored Yuuzhan Vong warrior standing over him ready to plunge his hissing amphistaff through his skull. Kyp grunted while quickly rolling to the right just as the amphistaff came down.
BAM! went the sound of the weapon hitting the mossy stone surface beneath him. Kyp gathered his wits and used the force to jump to his feet while calling for his fallen lightsaber. The lightsaber flew from its spot and to his outstretched hand just as he landed on the ground. He brandished the emerald blade, holding it at the ready. Kyp felt someone back into him and he glanced over his shoulder to see his twenty year old apprentice Akilah M'Raan with her own emerald green lightsaber brandished at the ready. The Knight and the Apprentice stood back to back facing down the fierce Yuuzhan Vong warriors that surrounded them.
There were eight Yuuzhan Vong surrounding them and each were sporting the thick and durable crab-armor which Kyp and Akilah had discovered in their enemies native tongue to be called: Vonduun Skerr Kyrric. The armor was sharp and tough, almost impossible to crack but in spite of that it still had its weak spots that they exploited whenever they found the chance.
The warriors before them were wearing modified versions of the full body armor that most of the other Yuuzhan Vong wore; they had their chest and abdomen covered, their thick dull yellow forearms were covered by the armor plating as well as their legs and feet but their faces, their hideous dull yellow tattoo covered faces were uncovered along with the joint portions of their arms and shoulders. Kyp and Akilah had discovered that these semi-covered hunter Vong were faster and more agile than the Vong warriors they usually and frequently fought.
"Thank the force, I thought you were dead." said Akilah quickly eying her master.
"I'm fine, relatively speaking. My ears are ringing from that last blast bug though." he responded in a slightly pained voice.
"They've made some modifications Master." she stated gripping her lightsaber tightly.
"I know" he whispered back.
One of the Vong Warriors stepped forward and glared menacingly at Kyp and Akilah.
(Jeedai must die, being alive is an insult. You must be sacrificed to True-God Yun-Yammka)
Kyp and Akilah heard the proclamation loud and clear and knew what the Vong were planning to do to them once they were captured. They would be bloody sacrifices in a ritual to the Warrior Vong God known as Yun-Yammka. It was a ritual that the two of them had seen and it could only be described as sickeningly horrendous. The sacrifice was not something they would wish upon anyone and they had no place to be part of it. The Knight and the Apprentice pressed their backs a little more firmly against the other as they saw their enemies inch a little closer.
"Any ideas on how to get out of this one master?" Akilah asked.
"Just one." he replied glancing at her out of the corner of his eye again. She caught the look and instantly knew what he was thinking.
"I can do it Master." she said to him.
"I know you can Akilah but the question is should you do it or should I do it for that matter."
"I've done it three times already today."
"My point exactly. You can't control your force lightening just yet and each time you've used it, it has taken a toll on you."
"It takes a toll on you too Master but we have to chance it there is no other way."
(KILL THEM!)
The Yuuzhan Vong warriors swiftly moved in on the two Jedi in a standard Vong attack pattern which was all at once.
Kyp and Akilah eyed each other and wordlessly and in unison they lowered their lightsabers and held up their left hands. Their palms and fingers tips crackled with bright, wild and unruly electricity that rocketed forward, it struck them dead on, violently electrifying them on impact.
The force lightening was once only reserved for those who practiced the darkside of the force, the Sith, however in their years of being stranded upon the Vong homeworld, Kyp and Akilah have had time to improvise and re-evaluate many aspects of the force and in that improvisation and re-evaluation they had discovered that under the right circumstances a Jedi could harness the powerful ability of force lightening. It was challenging and tiring but it could be done and it was one of their most effective tools against the Yuuzhan Vong.
The blue force lightening hit made the Vong scream in agony as it electrified their bodies. The Jedi continued to pour on the lightening but just as the Vong Warriors started to drop to their knees the lightening from one of them suddenly ceased.
Kyp ceased his lightening but when he stopped he noticed his apprentice kept pouring the lightening onto their enemies.
"Akilah." He said.
Akilah gritted her teeth and the lightening from her hand increased slightly, in the back of her mind she knew she should stop but seeing the creatures before her on their knees and in pain brought a semblance of joy to the forefront of her mind, and it was a joy she didn't want to end too quickly.
"AKILAH!" shouted Kyp grabbing her hand which threw off her concentration and thus making the lightening cease it's onslaught.
"ARGH!" Akilah grunted as she dropped to a knee breathing heavily, she brought her left hand up to her purple eyes which narrowed upon the singed flesh that would surely bring blisters later on. The young apprentice pushed aside the pain and she turned her gaze to the motionless and severely burned Yuuzhan Vong before them. They were obviously dead, completely burned beyond recognition but their burnt bodies sparked no remorse from the young Jedi.
Kyp looked at his apprentice and then at the dead Vong. He knew he should say something but he was at a lost for words because he himself felt no remorse for the dead creatures before him either, his only concern was for his apprentice and her signed hand which he could tell just by looking that blisters would surely follow.
"Are you alright?" he asked her.
She bit her lip and balled her left hand into a fist.
"I'll live" she responded strongly "How about you Master?"
Kyp looked at his own singed hand and he saw the red angry flesh.
"About the same as you, I'll live"
Kyp held out his right hand and Akilah grasped it with her good hand. He helped his apprentice to her feet and the two of them glanced at their defeated enemies one last time before taking a few deep breaths and deactivating their lightsabers.
"This was too close for comfort Master" Akilah said after a long moment, "This group of Vong must've been tracking us for days and I didn't even sense them. I bet they were lurking in the shadows while were fighting the hunters from two days ago. They are getting better and better about sneaking up on us and evading our traps. Are you still having trouble sensing them in the force?"
"Yes, they are still a void in the force to me, but I've got my tricks to track them, but unfortunately we're upwind so I didn't detect them either."
Akilah turned away from her Master and she looked around, in the distance over the cliff they were standing upon, she could see a massive temple like structure among the sea of multi-colored jungle wildlife. It looked small but she knew that it was much larger up close and she knew that it was swarming with more of their enemies, the Yuuzhan Vong.
The young Jedi padawan narrowed her eyes at the structure and the ominous feeling of dread that passed along her spine.
"Master, we've only been this far into the Yuuzahn Vong territory three times and after those harrowing experiences we swore to never to get this close again so, why are we moving towards that structure?"
Kyp turned around and walked towards the edge of the cliff where Akilah was standing and he too stared off into the distance at the structure. He stared long and hard before answering the question that lingered in the air.
"Because our time on this planet has come to an end my Apprentice" he said with finality.
Akilah whipped her head to him and she stared at him intently. Kyp took his eyes away from the structure and he slowly looked to her. He could feel her shock in the force and he could plainly see it on her face.
In the twelve years since being stranded they had both changed dramatically Akilah had gone from a frail child into a tall, thin, but athletic young woman, her light purple hair was cut short and that was by choice. She often stated that it got in the way, her light brown skin was made one shade darker due to the bright sun that hung in the sky over Yuuzhan'tar which illuminated the dirt spot and smudges on her face however, in spite of her dirty and grimy appearance anyone could see that she was still attractive.
Kyp had changed physically as well, he was still the same height but his hair had grown much longer, down to his shoulders and a thick brown beard had grown across his cheeks and chin. He had lost some weight due to a drastic change in diet but he still had a strong wiry appearance to him and like his apprentice he had a dirty grimy look but that was understandable due to the years of living in the harsh jungles of Yuuzhan'tar.
The physical changes were apparent but even more so was their emotional changes which had undergone much development as well. When they first landed upon the strange world of their enemy Akilah had been a hopeless, confused and downtrodden child. She had once thought that the universe was punishing her by taking her family away and being tortured by the Yuuzhan Vong, she had often thought of dying and was prepared to die, that is until she had met Kyp. Kyp had saved her and taught her the ways of the force and through the force she had gained a sense of hope and purpose. As she grew she became a formidable Jedi and had inherited her Master's brashness and hot-headed nature.
Kyp's change was just the opposite. He had gone from a brash, hot-headed Jedi Knight into calm and tempered Jedi Knight, he considered himself a Master but that was more of an informal title than actual. Kyp had become a much more solemn and introverted than he was twelve years ago. When he first landed he was confident that he could not only train Akilah but also find them a way off of Yuuzhan'tar in no time at all but the days turned into months and months turned into years and in that time he had yet to find them a safe passage off of the harsh jungle war-world.
Kyp heaved a sigh and he took his eyes away from his apprentice; Akilah, still stunned by her master's words turned to him fully and furrowed her brows.
"What do you mean Master?" she asked.
"Do you remember our excursion two moons ago to the Vong Capital?"
"I try not to think about that journey Master. We came so close to dying"
"I know, but do you remember when we were separated for a day?" he asked, his eyes locked into the distance and at the temple structure.
"I do." She answered.
"While we were separated, I found myself hiding near a temple like the one in the distance. I managed to sneak inside and I found out…..something terrible."
Several Feet away
Hidden within the thick living jungle was a Yuuzhan Vong warrior, but he was no ordinary warrior. He was an elite and one of the most feared warriors the Yuuzhan Vong Empire had produced in decades, his name was Tsavong Lah. The Vong warrior stood at an impressive six three with a powerful yet lean muscular build. He had long jet black hair that had dozens of gold rings stacked on the bottom edges. He had dull yellow skin, black pupiless eyes, no nose cartilage but the bone socket for a nose was in place and finally he had razor sharp teeth adding to his overall menacing appearance.
Tsavong Lah narrowed his black eyes as he peered through the vines in front of him and at the unsuspecting Jedi. He had been watching them intently as they fought his brethren and he watched how they had taken them apart.
(Jeedai) he grumbled angrily before spitting on the ground, (Shameless warriors)
Tsavong Lah looked away from the Jedi and he settled his eyes to the ground where there were several large black bugs crawling along his feet. He grabbed one of the squishy bugs and he brought it up to his dull yellow lips.
He whispered something to the fat squishy black bug and the bug let out a few clicks before opening its back revealing a set of wings. The wings flapped and the bug took to the air and flew in the opposite direction and further into the jungle.
Tsavong Lah watched the bug fly away before turning back to the Jedi. The elite warrior reached towards his armored waist and he removed a blast bug that was crawling upon his side and held it up.
(Yun-Yammka guide my aim)
Cliff
"What did you find Master?" Akilah asked.
"I…I believe I stumbled upon a plot to besiege the Galaxy. The Yuuzhan Vong are going to invade the known worlds and I think they're planning on leaving soon. I managed to translate and locate one of their….what I'm assuming to be their hangars. I'm still having some trouble with the translations."
"And you believe that temple to be a hangar?" Akilah questioned.
"If my translations are correct then yes."
"How can you be so sure of this master? What if it's a trap? What if….…." Akilah started before she and Kyp caught sight of movement out the corner of their eyes.
The Knight and the apprentice turned to see a spinning blast bug heading right for them. Kyp's eyes widen in shock.
"BLAST BUG! JUMP!" he roared.
The two Jedi gathered the force beneath their feet and managed to spring into the air right as the blast hit the ground beneath them exploding in a shower of fire and rocks.
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The force of the explosion, plus several chunks of rocks hit the airborne Jedi and propelled them over the steep cliff.
Tsavong Lah rushed from his spot and he ran towards the edge of the cliff looking over to see the falling Jedi. He held up his hand and balled it into a fist, angry at the fact that they weren't killed in the explosion like he had planned.
"RAH!" he growled loudly.
Free Fall
Kyp shook the cobwebs from his head, clearing his vision. He could feel the wind whipping against his body as he fell off of the cliff and towards more of the lush jungle of Yuuzhan'tar. He rolled in the air eyes searching for his apprentice who was falling a few feet ahead of him.
"AKILAH!" he shouted.
He looked to see that his apprentice had her eyes closed and he could make out a small trail of blood coming from her forehead. Kyp gritted his teeth and straightened his body allowing himself to fall faster through the air.
'Come on Durran, REACH HER! REACH!' he yelled in his mind.
Kyp's speed increased and as a result he drifted closer and closer to his unconscious apprentice. He looked past her to see tall tress and mossy rough ground coming closer as well. The Knight gritted his teeth as he reached out and grabbed onto his apprentice and he pulled her close to his body. He looked see that they were heading towards a massive tree branch.
Kyp called his lightsaber to his hand and he activated the emerald blade and as the branch came near he brought the blade forward and sliced it in half. The massive branch gave way but upon it being removed he saw several more branches in their way; with several flicks of his wrist his sliced each branch. Kyp sliced the last the branch in his path making it so that there was nothing between him and the ground. He deactivated his lightsaber and shifted his apprentice in his arms while rolling in mid-air so his feet were facing the ground. He called upon the force and directed it to his lower extremities.
'Last time I broke my leg in three places when I tried this….let's hope I learned from my mistakes.' he thought to himself as he neared the ground.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Went the sound of Kyp landing and causing a giant crater in the ground.
Kyp heaved several heavy breaths and he looked at the ground around him and then his feet to happily find no broken bones. He smiled to himself for a second before his attention went to his ward. He inspected her and he saw a knot on her head from where a rock must have hit her. Kyp raised his right hand to Akilah's head and he closed his eyes. He concentrated for a second and his hand started to glow a light blue.
The glow lasted for a long second before he opened his eyes and removed his hand. The knot had receded and Akilah started to stir but she didn't wake. Kyp released a sigh.
"She'll be alright" he whispered.
Kyp took his eyes away from his apprentice and he looked up towards the steep cliff and he narrowed his eyes.
"Apparently those weren't the only Vong that were tracking us" he said to himself "I have to keep moving whoever threw that blast bug will find a way down, not to mention we have to get off of this planet. I have to warn everyone that the Vong are coming." He finished.
Kyp shifted Akilah in his arms slightly and he began to walk forward into the jungle and in the direction of the temple that was in the distance.
La'okio- Yuuzhan Vong Capital City
Stone, rock and blood is what the sprawling Yuzzhan Vong Capital city was made from and any Yuuzhan Vong would be proud to state that fact. The city was their heart, their crown jewel, old as the entire species itself. The city was a living breathing entity. The hard stones and rocks were covered with moving and shifting scales that were similar to the armor worn by the warriors. The city was full of odd and wonderful creatures that freely moved about carrying different items to different destinations in the city and creatures flew through the air patrolling the skies above the metropolis. La'okio was the home to thousand upon thousands of Yuuzhan Vong but living amongst the Vong were other species of creatures who were all captured out in the unknown sectors and brought to Yuuzhan'tar to be subjected to harsh and unyielding slavery to the warmongering sentient race. All of them forced to toil and embrace the painful and flesh tearing lash of their masters.
BRNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! BRNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! Came a loud horn or trumpet. All of the people in the city stopped what they were doing and they turned to the massive tower.
In the center of La'okio was a massive tower that was easily the largest structure in the city. The structure stood proud, tall and strong as a symbol of the Yuuzhan Vong people as a whole. The tower was home to the current ruler of the Yuuzhan Vong, their monarch and most exalted, their Supreme Overlord Shimrra Jamaane.
Throne Room
In the decadently gothic themed throne room dozens of armed Vong warriors male and female facing a throne that was carved out of the bones of various creatures killed in battle respectfully bowed to one knee. There was a Yuuzhon Vong sitting on the bone carved throne and that Vong was the Supreme Overlord Shimrra Jamaane. The Supreme Overlord was six four with a bald head and bone spikes protruding from several areas. The bone spikes were covered with purple tattoos that ran all over his scalp, he had pupiless black eyes but his eyes were unique in the sense that depending on his mood they would drastically change colors. He had light yellow skin, no nose cartilage but the bone socket was there, a skinny black mustache that went across his lips and over the edges and down towards his chest. On the edges of his mustache were four gold rings.
The Overlord was a master warrior and he possessed a slim lean build that was covered in vibrant red plated crab-scaled armor. He had two hissing amphistaffs on each of his forearms and they were all standing in attention, their snake–like heads staring at the warriors bowed before their master.
The Yuuzhan Vong warriors raised their heads and then their fists.
(SUPREME OVERLORD WE SALUTE YOU!) they all yelled out.
The Supreme Overlord stood from his throne and he puffed out his chest and he held out his hands.
(LONG LIVE THE VONG!) He shouted at the top of his lungs.
(RAHH! RAH! RAH! RAH!) the Vong warriors shouted out in acknowledgement.
The Supreme Overlord smiled at the gathered soldiers and his solid black pupiless eyes changed to a vibrant green color as he surveyed them.
THOOOOOM! Went a loud sound.
The Supreme Overlord looked past his warriors and to the stone doors that were thrown open. He looked on as is most trusted, his second in command and the leader of the Vong army Warmaster Czulkang Lah entered the throne room.
Warmaster Czulkang Lah, roughly stood at five ten, long black hair with gold rings at the ends. He had dull yellow and slightly black skin with tattoos and scars going all along his flesh. He had pupiless black eyes, no nose, and razor sharp teeth. He was a burly Yuuzhan Vong, he was bare chested showing off his build and more of his tribal like tattoos and scars, but he had on armor leggings, and armored forearm guards. Czulkang Lah was old, but despite his old age he was still as formidable as he was when he was young warrior. He was one of the most revered and feared Vong in the empire. As the old Warmaster walked into the throne room the gathered Vong soldiers split like the red sea allowing him to pass and once he passed each of the Vong slammed their right armored hand to their chest in acknowledgement and respect.
Czulkang Lah came to a stop once he stood in front of the Supreme Overlord and he dropped to a knee
(Supreme One) said Czulkang in a calm yet commanding voic.
The Supreme Overlord looked at his most trusted.
(Rise) he stated.
Czulkang rose to his feet and he looked at his leader.
(Supreme One I must apologize for the intrusion but I must speak with you immediately)
(No need to apologize Czulkang. Follow me.) He replied.
The Supreme Overlord stepped down from his throne and he turned to the left and began walking towards the stone balcony that allowed the sun that hung in the sky to shine through.
The Balcony
(Speak) The Overlord commanded.
(The armada is ready, everything has been set for us to take over and spread the greatness of our empire to the infidels. The God-less worlds are preoccupied with other matters they will not see us coming.)
(The shapers?) The Overlord asked.
(Are in place, they have slowly been infiltrating the surrounding worlds in this sector and they have been spreading further into the galaxy. Soon there won't be any world where we are not a strong presence.)
The Supreme Overlord smile a hideous grin and he turned to his second in command. He looked at Czulkang's face for a moment and his grin fell from his face.
(You are not pleased by these facts Czulkang.)
(I am Supreme One but….I feel that the Jeedai will pose a threat to our empire. When we attack the infidels we need to attack them first)
(Why do they worry you so much Czulkang, they are nothing. We have learned much about them since the discovery of their existence. They are a feeble pink belly race that clings to a formless force God. If they were shown our Gods, the true Gods they would tremble in fear and fall in line.)
(Perhaps, perhaps not Supreme Overlord, these Jeedai while far less superior physically. They are intelligent and cunning.)
(What makes you say that Czulkang?)
(The two Jeedai on our own planet have managed to survive for 1200 moon cycles. They have managed evade capture and even defeat some of our most skilled warriors, that in itself has earned them my respect.)
(Maybe these Jeedai are the most skilled of their breed. And do not forget that they have been receiving help from the accursed and the shamed ones) The Supreme Overlord offered while stroking his mustache.
(I have not forgotten Supreme One, however the shamed ones are Yuuzhan Vong so eluding capture does not surprise me but these infidels are of a strange nature. I have received word from my son Tsavong Lah. He has finally tracked down the Jeedai and his legion engaged them.)
(And?)
(And the Jeedai were victorious….they have demonstrated an ability only the dark ones we have seen exhibit. They discharged an element from their fingertips, they have adapted.)
The Supreme Overlord stroked his mustache before walking towards the edge of the stone balcony and placing his hands on the stone railing. The Overlord's green eyes changed to a solid orange color as he stared out and into the vast living city that was La'okio. He heaved a heavy sigh and he turned his eyes towards the green tinted sky and closed his eyes.
Czulkang Lah eyed his Overlord with curious eyes, he narrowed them after a long minute and he took a step forward.
(Supre…..) The old warrior started before being interrupted.
(We continue with our plan Czulkang. All will fall before the might of the Yuuzhan Vong, even the Jeedai. We will show them our ways and they will know that we are the chosen race to bring order to this Godless Galaxy.)
Warmaster Czulkang nodded his head before turning his eyes away and looking out into the distance where he could see the thick and forested jungle. He wanted to believe his Overlord but there was a nagging feeling originating in the pit of his scarred stomach. If there was one thing he had learned through his entire life as a warrior it was to always trust his instincts, and his instincts were telling him that now was not the right time to engage the galaxy, but he knew that it was unwise to argue with the Supreme Overlord despite his position. Once the Overlord gave a decree it was to be followed without question and without delay no matter how he felt. The old warrior turned his pupiless eyes away from the jungle and back towards the Overlord who turned to face him.
(Send word to the temples, to the Priests, and the Commanders to prepare the Armada. The first wave is to leave by the half-moon. The shapers are already in place correct.)
(Yes, Supreme One.)
(Send the signal to each shaper on each planet for them to prepare for the arrival of the first wave.)
(Yes, Supreme One, it will be done.)
Warmaster Czulkang swiftly turned and made his exit with the intent of followed his Supreme Overlord's orders.
Later: Bottom of Cliff
Tsavong Lah knelt down to one knee and he placed his hand upon the massive crater that was in the mossy rocky ground. He curled his dull yellow lips and then turned his vision upwards looking at the steep cliff he had just descended. He narrowed his eyes and then turned his gaze back to the crater. He surveyed the crater and that's when he spotted footprints in the moss.
He let out a low growl from his throat as he saw the mossy footprints lead further into the thick jungle. Tsavong Lah rose to his feet and he briskly started after the footprints.
Jungle-
"Uhhhh….uhhh…ow" came a long groan of pain from Akilah. The young apprentice slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she felt was a slight throbbing pain coming from the left side of her forehead. Akilah raised a hand to her hand and she gently felt around but she didn't feel anything.
"I healed you."
Akilah moved her head but right as she did that she felt gravity overtake her and she began to fall.
"AH!" she shouted but her descent was quickly stopped as Kyp grabbed her ankle.
Akilah's eyes widen as she dangled but she looked up to see her Master smiling at her.
"I probably should have led with don't move." He said.
Akilah saw that he was standing on a large tree branch.
"Why are we in a tree Master!?" Akilah exclaimed.
He grunted for a moment before answering her question, "Well, I think if you look down you'll see why we're in this tree." He responded.
Akilah lowered her head and she looked towards the ground where she saw heard of Vua'sa circling around the bottom of the tree growling and snarling at them.
"Oh."
Vua'sa, were highly dangerous beast-like creatures indigenous to the planet of Yuuzhan'tar. There were about four feet nine in height, had three eyes that were blood red, razor sharp teeth and were a dark shade of lavender. The creatures possessed four legs with three toes on each foot which had razor sharp talon tips. The Vua'sa were strong, quick, and vicious animals that were drawn to fighting, the smell of blood and carnage. The Yuuzhan Vong often used them in battle as a way to thin out the weak willed and it was a job that the Vua'sa enjoyed immensely. In the animal food chain on Yuuzhan'Tar the vua'sa were one of the species at the top.
Akilah eyed the ravenous beast and her eyes narrowed as one of them made a futile attempt to jump up and try to bite her but she was far too high up for it to ever hope to reach her.
"Master, I think you can pull me up now."
"Right." Kyp responded.
The Jedi Knight gave another grunt as he began to pull his apprentice up to the safety of the branch.
"So, now we're being hunted by the Vua'sa?" asked Akilah.
"No, I accidentally wandered into their nest and before they were able to rip us to shreds I managed to get us to safety." Kyp responded.
"Accidentally wandered?" Akilah repeated "Master aren't you the one who always says that a Jedi must be aware of his or her surroundings at all times?" she playfully chided.
Kyp looked at her and smirked.
"My attention was preoccupied with my injured apprentice" he replied.
Akilah pursed her lips together.
ROAR!
Kyp and Akilah looked down to see the Vua'sa attempting to climb the tree with their claws.
"We can't stay here" The Knight and the Apprentice said at the same time.
"They are going to tear this tree apart to get to us. We have to move."
"Where Master?" Akilah asked.
Kyp looked to the left and he pointed to another tree that had similar branches to the one he and his apprentice were currently perched upon.
"There. We have to make it to that tree it's due-south and directly in the direction we need to go."
"The temple we saw?" Akilah questioned.
"Yes. And we have to move now; the force is pushing us in that direction."
"Then let's go. If that temple is our ticket off of this awful planet then we shouldn't waste another second." Akilah stated strongly.
The young apprentice gathered the force around her and she sprung off of the tree and sailed towards the intended branch.
ROAR!
Kyp looked down below to see half the Vua'sa running in the direction that Akilah went and the other half stayed perched beneath the branch he was standing upon. He could see their three red eyes locked upon him.
"Smart beast." he whispered to himself as he gathered the force beneath his feet and launched himself from the tree.
The Temple- Half-Moon (Evening)
Kyp and Akilah landed on a branch both staring upon the giant temple that was once in the distance but now only a few feet away from them. They glanced down for a second to see the Vua'sa still growling but their attention was mostly on the temple. Kyp narrowed his eyes as an ominous feeling crept along his spine as he stared at the stone structure. He looked at the base of the temple to see patrolling units of Yuuzhan Vong warriors marching about, some were on foot patrolling and a few others were riding animals called Umrachs.
Umrachs were green tinted reptilian beast, that were muscular with thick hind legs with large toes and talons, they had small tentacle like arms, but along with tentacles for arms they had dozens of tentacles protruding from they're mouths. Unlike the Vua'sa they weren't inherently violently, the Umrachs' were peaceful creatures but could be a handful when being ridden by a Yuuzhan Vong.
In the sky flying around the temple were huge insect like creatures that were being ridden by the Vong as well.
Kyp took all of this in and he released a heavy sigh.
'This place is swarming and I see no way to sneak in.' he thought to himself. As he continued to look at the temple he closed his eyes for a second and when he did that a brief memory or dream flashed across his mind.
Kyp opened his eyes and staring back at him was the beautiful Jaina Solo illuminated by a morning sun. She reached up and gently rubbed the side of his face.
"Kyp…come back to me."
Kyp opened his eyes and he reached up to his dingy, dirty tunic and he grasped the pendant that hung from his neck.
"I will Jaina. I'm coming." he whispered.
"Who is Jaina?"
Kyp turned to his young apprentice to see that she was staring at him intently.
"What?"
"Who is Jaina? I just heard you whisper her name, and this is not the first time I've heard her name, you mumble it when you sleep sometimes. I've never had the courage to ask you before but seeing as how we're about to engage the Vong to get into that fortress and we may very well die, I guess now would be a good time to ask."
Kyp let a slow smile creep upon his face.
"I'll introduce you to her once we're safely off this planet." He replied confidently.
BWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNN! BWRNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! Came a loud sound that shook the Jedi to their core. Kyp and Akilah put their hands to their ears but the motion was for naught as the ground beneath them began to shake and rumble. They had to use their hands to steady themselves on the tree branch.
"WHAT IS THAT!?" Akilah exclaimed.
The question hung in the air for a second before movement caught their eyes. The stone temple suddenly started to split open at the middle. The stones neatly separated and as they opened a giant armored dome like ship that resembled a group of jelly-fish connected together lifted out of the opening. The size of the dome jelly-fish ship almost dwarfed anything Kyp had seen before. The only thing that could compare in size would be a Venator-Class Republic Imperial Star Destroyer. It was a shocking sight to see but immediately he knew what it was, it was a battleship. The battleship looked as it housed hundreds of Yuuzhan Vong and ships.
Kyp saw it and he pursed his lips together.
"I was right." he stated catching Akilah's attention, "They are planning to…."
In mid-sentence Kyp was tackled out of the tree. Akilah's eyes widen as her Master was there one second and then gone the next. She looked to see a semi-armored Yuuzhan Vong warrior. The warrior while still in mid-air turned and threw his hissing amphistaff at Akilah.
The amphistaff reached its target and tightly wrapped around Akilah's throat cutting off her air-supply. The amphistaff reared its head back and got ready to sink its poisonous fangs into her face but she managed to grab it by its neck and stop the attack.
Down below
THUD!
"OOOOOOHF!" Kyp grunted as he hit the ground hard. The first thing he felt beside the rough impact onto the rocky ground was the weight of his attacker on his back. He tried to rise by his attacker grabbed him by the head and forced it back to the ground.
Tsavong Lah kept a firm grip upon the struggling Jedi. He smiled to himself because of his superior strength. The seasoned warrior reached towards his waist and he removed a jagged crab shelled dagger and he raised it high in the air.
(NOW IS THE TIME OF YOUR DEATH INFIDEL!) Tsavong Lah roared.
Kyp heard the shout and he looked straight ahead to see a large rock sticking out of the ground. The Jedi Knight reached out with the force and grabbed hold of the rock and sent it careening towards his unsuspecting attacker.
Tsavong Lah was getting ready to plunge his dagger through Kyp's skulled but he saw something out of the corner of his eye and it was the rock coming right for him, he tried to move but it was too quick for him to react.
BAM! went the sound of the rock hitting him and knocking him off.
Kyp let out a few breaths and he quickly rolled to his feet calling his lightsaber to his hands. He looked to see Tsavong Lah flipping to his feet and staring him down.
Akilah struggled with the hissing amphistaff that had a firm grip around her neck. The more she tried to pull it away the tighter it coiled around her throat cutting off more air. The young Jedi gritted her teeth while she used the force to help her pry the hissing amphistaff from off of her neck. It took effort but slowly ever so slowly the grip began to loosen and once it was loose enough she quickly unwrapped the creature from her neck and she stared at it with a scowl.
The amphistaff snapped and jerked toward her but she kept it at bay.
ROAR!
Akilah looked down to see several Vua'sa jumping at the tree, she glanced at the amphistaff and she curled her lips before raising the creature and tossing it towards the awaiting animals below.
"Eat this!" she shouted.
One of the Vua'sa jumped and snagged the falling amphistaff in its mouth and greedily ate the creature; as it was eating three of the Vua'sa that were next to it rammed it in an attempt get a piece of the amphistaff flesh that was hanging out of its mouth.
Akilah watched the Vua'sa that was down below fighting each other fore scraps of food. She shook her head and rubbed her neck and she turned her eyes to her Master who was in a heated battle with the Vong warrior that had took them by surprise. Akilah pursed her lips together as the Vong kicked her Master in the face, she let out a growl but her attention was quickly averted from them and to the two Vua'sa that were charging in their direction. She, without hesitation reached for her red and black hilted lightsaber and activated the brilliant emerald blade.
Down Below
Kyp's head snapped to the side from the kick, the whole left side of his face exploded with pain but he ignored it and rolled with the blow.
Tsavong Lah smirked to himself and he charged at the Jedi Knight. He raised the dagger high and came down with the intent of stabbing Kyp in the head but Kyp recovered and raised his lightsaber and blocked the attack. Tsavong Lah with his free hand pulled out another dagger and came across the middle. Kyp quickly disengaged deflected the mid-ranged attack and smacked his attacker across the jaw with the butt of his lightsaber.
The Jedi Knight saw an opening but before he could take it a Vua'sa jumped over Tsavong Lah with its mouth open, ready to eat to his face.
"AH!" Kyp shouted seeing the animal but thanks to his quick reflexes he brought his lightsaber up and sliced the creature's head off.
Kyp let out several breaths but he looked up to see another Vua'sa heading for him. He brought up his blade but at the last second Akilah came down out of the sky and plunged her lightsaber through the animals' abdomen, killing it.
"You okay Master" she asked quickly.
"GET DOWN!" Kyp yelled.
Akilah suddenly dropped down low allowing a dagger to narrowly miss the back of her head. The apprentice rolled on her shoulder and then came up and blocked Tsavong Lah's next attack which was a straight thrust to the heart. Akilah grunted under the weight of the attack. He was strong.
(You shall die with him) Tsavong Lah taunted pushing against the lightsaber
Akilah heard the taunt and she gritted her teeth and gathered the force and began to push back.
(No….you will DIE!) She yelled in his native tongue.
Tsavong Lah's eyes widened as Akilah deflected the attack to the side and began to press forward with a series of quick and vicious strikes. She swipe three strikes to his stomach, four to the head and three to the legs. Tsavong Lah, with his daggers, blocked every single attack that came his way, but he was hard pressed to do so, he blocked an over head strike and he countered after by jumping and kneeing her in the jaw.
The skilled Vong warrior growled and charged forward only to be forced backwards when he looked to the sky to see Kyp coming right for him. He jumped to the side just as the knight came down but Kyp expected him to dodge and right as he landed he dashed to the right and met Tsavong with a mid-ranged attack.
Tsavong blocked the attack and then disengaged and came around with his left dagger, Kyp blocked the attack and suddenly ducked. Tsavong Lah's eyes widen as Akilah suddenly appeared with a strong kick to the face.
(RAH!) He growled. He went stumbling back but he recovered. He gritted his razor sharp teeth and he let out a battle cry with he felt the black blood drip from his lips.
Since he was instructed by his Warmaster to hunt down the infidels and eliminate them he had watched them…stalked them, did his best to learn their moves and their patterns. He had been testing them and now the time to put his knowledge of them to the test came and to his surprise he was not prepared as he thought.
Tsavong Lah was a fury of powerful mid-ranged and powerful over-head attacks, attacks that taken down the mightiest of warriors that faced him in the past but the Jeedai…the Jedi stood their ground. Kyp and Akilah worked in tandem as they stood against him. When Kyp went high Akilah went low, when Akilah went high Kyp went towards the torso or legs. In all of his years he only once before had been pushed this hard in battle and that was against his father Warmaster Czulakng Lah.
Tsavong Lah blocked both blades with each of his daggers and with his strength he pushed both of them back and then back-pedaled away breathing heavily.
(Jeedai) he growled brandishing his daggers.
(Vong) they growled back brandishing their lightsabers.
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRN! BRRRRRRRRRRRN! Came the blaring horn which was followed by a large shadow forming over them.
Kyp took his eyes away from Tsavong Lah and he looked towards the sky to see the massive armored Vong battleship drifting past them. He let his eyes travel along the ship until he saw the end and his eyes widen when he saw a second battleship rise out of the temple but this ship was followed by what looked liked thick brown colored sea coral starfighters. The smaller flying starfighters were aptly named Yorik-et in the Yuuzhan Vong language. The dozens upon dozens of Vong starfighters swarmed around both battleships in a manor that suggested that they were protecting them.
Kyp eyed the flying ships above him and the ominous sense of dread he had been feeling earlier only grew.
"It's a full scale invasion fleet" he whispered "Akilah we have to get to get to one of those ships"
"I'm open to suggestions master. HERE HE COMES!"
Kyp tilted his head down to see Tsavong Lah had recovered and was on the charge again. He narrowed his eyes.
"Akilah, follow my lead and go for the opening when you see it." he said to her.
She nodded her head in response.
Kyp gripped his lightsaber tightly, he jumped forward and he met Tsavong head on. The two exchanged several quick strikes before the knight sidestepped to the right and Akilah came in with a lunge. Tsavong expertly deflected the lunge throwing Akilah off balance. Tsavong saw a major opening and he reared both of his hands back getting ready to skewer her. Kyp saw the motion and he raised his hand, he concentrated hard and with the force he grabbed Tsavong and yanked him slightly, enough to where it looked like he was going to fall.
Akilah pursed her lips and she quickly spun around and brought her lightsaber in a fast upward arc motion and she struck at the knee joint of Tsavong Lah's right leg. The green emerald blade sliced through the armor and flesh beneath.
(GRRRRRRRRRRAHHHHHHHHHH!) Tsavong Lah roared in agony feeling his leg being chopped off.
The skilled warrior fell to the ground grasping the stump of a leg.
Akilah stepped back and she looked at the limb on the ground and then at the stump that was now Tsavong's leg. The Vong warrior sucked in a deep breath and he suddenly rolled over on his stomach and started to crawl towards Akilah.
(I SHALL KILL YOU JEEDAI! THIS PAIN IS NOTHING! I ENJOY IT! I WILL KILL YOU! KILL!) Tsavong shouted in Vong.
Akilah kept taking steps back away from him until she bumped into Kyp.
"I will never understand them." She said still watching the crawling Tsavong.
"Neither will I but we have to move now. COME ON!"
Kyp took off running and Akilah was right behind him.
(COME BACK! COME BACK AND FIGHT ME!) Tsavong's voice echoed but his challenge fell upon deaf ears.
The Knight and the Apprentice ran as fast as they could after the drifting battleships that were starting to curve upwards and heading further into the sky. Kyp bit his lip as he saw the dozens of starfighters flying over him and Akilah.
'I hope they don't look down and see us if we're spotted its over. There is no way we can handle all of these Yuuzhan Vong by ourselves.' He thought.
The Battleships started to fly higher into the air.
"MASTER!" Akilah shouted.
"NOT YET!" Kyp replied.
They continued to run and run, never for a second taking their eyes off of the ships above. Kyp narrowed his eyes as he saw three of the coral starfighters move away from his line of sight causing a blind spot which was exactly the moment he was waiting to be shown, finally knowing that it was the time to move.
"NOW!" he yelled.
At the same time the two of them gathered the force around their feet and they leapt with all of their might. The force carried them higher and higher into the air until they were close to the main battleship. They activated their lightsabers and then plunged the blades into the weak sided portion of armored plated ship.
Kyp and Akilah hung onto their lightsabers for dear life as the ship curved upwards and started for the stratosphere.
As they were going upwards Kyp managed to look out towards the distance and upon doing that his eyes widened in horror because he could see dozens more ships identical to the one he and his apprentice were clinging to curving upwards and flying towards the stratosphere. He could make out the swarming Yorik-et starfighters and he could make out the armored humpback whale like creatures that brought him and Akilah to Yuuzhan'tar twelve years ago. He saw all of them heading towards the sky.
'This isn't good' he thought to himself.
"MASTER! LOOK!" Akilah shouted while pointing upwards.
Kyp looked away from the Yuuzhan Vong fleet and in the direction his apprentice was pointing. From the front of the battleship they were clinging too he saw what looked like a beam of black light shoot from the ship and towards the part of the stratosphere where they were seemingly headed. The beam of black light in the sky expanded revealing a swirling, eerie looking black hole. The coral armored starfighters flew past the battleships and directly into the black hole disappearing.
"MASTER WHAT IS THAT!?" Akilah exclaimed in shock at seeing something like that for the first time.
"It's some type of black hole." he responded.
The front end of the battleship they were clinging entered the black hole much like the starfighters and it continued to slowly but surely reach them.
"Akilah take a deep breath and hold on tightly because something tells me this is going to be a bumpy ride." He said just as they entered the black hole.
End Chapter: Read and Review: Hello all, it's me Nomad88 back again with the closing comments. I'd like to thank everyone who read and reviewed the first chapter I appreciate any and all input because that's what helps me to better the story. While I'm pleased that everyone read the first chapter I'm even more pleased that all of you returned for the second chapter, I hope I have some newcomers who are jumping on the epic Star Wars train that's rocking along. I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. I debated with myself for a minute as to whether or not I should go ahead with the time skip or should I show the years and hardship that Kyp and Akilah had to endure on Yuuzhan'tarr. You got a little taste of it and I dropped some hints as to how they survived for as long as they did. In the end though I decided to just skip ahead to the point in time where they actually left the planet and the invasion was about to begin. I'll probably have some flashbacks to show their time on Yuuzhan'tar but that'll be further down the line or maybe not as far as you think LOL! Anyway I hope the second chapter was good enough to get you all even more interested in the story and anticipate the next chapter. I hope I stayed true enough to the Yuuzhan Vong and their world, like I said at the start of this story I'm trying my best to stay in the guidelines of the basic premise of each of the characters and worlds but at the same time do my own thing.
Also, the expanded Universe is so huge and what I'm trying to do is create a specific and relatively streamlined story. I may take a few liberties with a few things so again that just me warning you. Anyway please continue to read, PLEASE review (reviews not only help me to better the story but they keep me motivated to keep writing) and please continue to enjoy, there is plenty more epic chapters coming your way. If anyone has any questions feel free to leave it in the review or just send me a PM and I'll get back to you ASAP. This is Nomad88 saying later…
Ps: Oh, I forgot to mention that anything in the story that's in bold, whether it's a character, place, or thing you can look up on Wookieepedia to see or kinda get a reference as to what I'm talking about if you're confused. I'll make a note if a character is an OC of mine. And please continue to check my profile for any updates on any of my other stories. And I promise that I'm going to update my profile very soon so be on the lookout for that as well. This is me saying later…
Next up: The Galaxy at Large
Summary: In the Twelve years that Jedi Knight Kyp Durron has been absent the Galaxy continued to move on without him. What challenges has the New Jedi Order faced in that time? What challenges has the New Republic faced and just how different is the Galaxy now that it's twelve years older and is it prepared for the threat that is the Yuuzhan Vong.