DISCLAIMER: I, unfortunately, don't own Star Wars. Curse you George Lucas!


Chapter 2: The Fields of Death


Master Geran sliced his way through a droid before slamming another one into a tank, smashing through it.

The sky was overcast as a battle raged over the planet of Mustafar. Geran was on the ground directing ground assault forces as the Galactic Free Republic forces battled the rogue reborn Confederacy of Independent Systems.

For days, the Republic Army had fought to a stalemate the droid armies of the CIS on Mustafar. The Republic was trying to break through the defenses of the CIS and destroy crucial droid-manufacturing plants on the surface of the planet. The CIS had responded with fierce attacks, and unlike the Republic, had a constant stream of soldiers from the manufacturing plant. Word had arrived that even the Galactic Empire was arriving to offer reinforcements. In retaliation, the Planetary Union had offered its army to help the Republic.

Nearby, Sitk stabbed through a droid's chest. Captain Blitz leaped off of a tank, shooting at droids with pistols smoking, landing on top of another one. All around, troopers and droids desperately fired at each other and grappled. A moment's hesitation left any soldier, droid or trooper smoking on the ground.

Geran flipped over the tide of droids over to the position of Sitk, slashing his lightsaber elegantly. By contrast, Sitk was wildly swinging his lightsaber.

All of a sudden, Sitk felt a hand on his soldier. Swinging around to behead whatever was there, he stopped abruptly. Looking into the full Mandalorian battle armor of his master, Sitk had almost beheaded him.

"Watch where you're swinging that thing, alright? A Jedi's lightsaber is an elegant weapon, designed to fit the owner's specifications." Geran rebuked Sitk harshly.

Sitk guiltily looked down, nodding. As he raised his head to reply to his master, he noticed a droid with a rocket launcher on his shoulder.

Sitk gave a shout, leaping over his master to slash the droid into two. Too late.

The missile shrieked towards Geran. He calmly turned around, and lifted his hand.

The missile started to slow down. Soon, it stopped completely, mere inches from Geran's hand.

Geran flipped his hand, and pushed forward. The missile turned direction, and flew towards a CIS turret emplacement. It cut a gentle arc before violently exploding on impact.

Turning towards Sitk, the shocked Padawan just stood amidst a pile of sparkling droid parts.

Geran just looked at him and asked, "What?"

Geran left no time for Sitk to respond, and promptly dived into combat once more.

Captain Blitz sprinted up to Sitk.

"Did the general just do what I think he just did?" Captain Blitz asked, amazed. The soldiers accompanying him bore similar expressions.

"Yeah, I think he did, or something." Sitk murmured.

All of a sudden, a sudden commotion arose in the ranks of the Republic. The only thing that could be heard were screams and the unmistakable whirring of a lightsaber.

Geran took one look at Sitk, and ran towards the commotion.

Speaking into the communications relay on his wrist, Geran said, "Continue fighting, Sitk. If these are the Dark Jedi that we have been informed about, I'll handle it."

"All right Master. I'll continue forward, or something. Watch your back out there." Sitk replied, with a hint of longing to fight in his voice.

Geran didn't respond, and merely leapt into the circle around the source of commotion. He froze.

In the middle of the circle, as troopers desperately fought, an armored warrior slashed to and fro, beheading, impaling, and slashing troopers in half.

A member of the Republic Aerial Elite, armed with a vibro-sword, flying wings, jetpack, and lightweight armor, desperately parried the armored warrior's blows.

Staggering back, the RAE trooper tripped on a rock, and screamed as his unprotected and hit the scorching hot soil of Mustafar. This gave the armored warrior enough time to stab down on the RAE trooper's head.

Geran flinched as the RAE trooper's last scream was abruptly cut off. Then, he gasped.

As the warrior turned around, Geran saw the helmet and armor he was wearing, and realized from the dossiers he had been reading last night that the warrior was none other than a Dark Jedi.

Leaping forward with a roar, Geran slashed down at the Dark Jedi. He merely raised up his lightsaber and blocked the blow.

"Jedi Master Geran Skirata. Still fighting with your distinctive Vasu fighting style I see." The Dark Jedi remarked.

The fact that the mysterious warrior knew so much unnerved Geran for a moment. He hesitated.

The Dark Jedi lunged forward, nearly impaling the Mandalorian Jedi. Geran's razor sharp reflexes were the only thing that saved him. He cursed under his breath.

"Getting slower, Skirata? I wonder how you managed to kill Darth Excrucitous all those years ago!" The Dark Jedi mocked, as he slashed forward three times, menacingly.

"Shut up!" Geran roared. The mere mention of the name Darth Excrucitous caused painful emotions to well up inside Geran. He leapt forward, slashing his lightsaber in a series of intricate, yet elegant moves.

The Dark Jedi slashed back, jumped back, then slashed forward, jumped back again, and repeated this process over and over again. Each time, Geran met him with his own strikes.

"A bit touchy, are we? Aren't all Jedi supposed to be detached and emotionless? You're nothing but a di'kutla darmanda! (Stupid Outcast) The Dark Jedi sarcastically snarled.

Geran froze. The Dark Jedi knew a lot about him, was highly skilled, and most chilling of all, spoke Mando'a, the language of the Mandalorians.

"Who are you?" Geran spoke unsteadily.

"Me? I'm just a simple former Jedi who realized the ways of the Jedi were false. I am a true Mandalorian who witnessed his village get razed to the ground after protests from our people. I was Qyntilla Ordo! I am now Je'karta Solus! (The Vengeful One) And you, Jetii (Jedi) are kyr'adyc! (Dead) Je'karta ripped off his helmet.

Je'karta sprang forward, slashing his lightsaber down. Geran narrowly blocked the blow. The blow caused Geran to trip, and as he fell, he kicked up some rocks in the air. They hit Je'karta in the face, and he screamed in pain. Geran relaxed for a moment.

Je'karta snarled and laughed, "Di'kutla Jetii! Now you die!" He leapt forward shooting out Force Lightning. Geran realized too late that the agony of Je'karta was all just a ruse.

Geran blocked the lightning with his lightsaber. It was not very strong, considering Je'karta was not a true Sith. Geran Force Pushed Je'karta back. This gave him time to think.

The beauty of the Vasu fighting style invented by Master Geran was how it was done. It was nicknamed "The Inquisitive Style." While most Jedi preferred to stay to the traditional ways, some, like Geran, mastered their own personal styles. The Vasu style emphasized making probing attacks, and blocking most of the time to analyze how an opponent fought. After determining an opponent's fighting style, a Vasu practioner would then exploit the weaknesses of the opponent's style. It required a high intellect, and an enormous sense of focus, both of which Geran had.

From his probing attacks, Geran realized that Je'karta blocked attacks in a way that would deflect his opponent's attacks. This would cause his opponents to be caught off-guard, and he would quickly attack. He also played with his opponent's emotions, and expected them to work well. He attacked ferociously, but would instantly retreat afterwards. Geran realized that the best way for him to defeat Je'karta would be to either attack as Je'karta made his retreats, or to pretend to be alarmed by Je'karta's verbal abuse, and attack him after he lunged.

Armed with this information, Geran waited. Je'karta roared and sprang forward. He slashed at Geran once, and leapt back. Seizing his chance, Geran leapt forward, and lunged at the exact moment that Je'karta leapt back.

Je'karta collasped on the ground. A hole in his lower chest smoked as Je'karta gasped.

"D-damn you, you bastard! You're nothing but aruetii! (Foreigner or Traitor) Kyr'amu hetti darasuum dar'yaim, aruetii! (Die and burn eternally in hell, traitor) Je'karta gasped.

"Nu gana dar ijaa, dar'jetii. Kyr'amu iviin'yc. Nu iviin'yc cuyi Cuy'val Dar." (You have no honor, Dark Jedi. Die quickly. You will soon be one of the dead) Geran replied.

"Mando'ad draar digur! (A Mandalorian never forgets) I will have my vengeance, aruetii!" Je'karta spat.

Geran did not reply, and walked away as a transport flew in to rescue the severely wounded Dark Jedi.