Star Wars: Jewel Wars
BY Dragonfang33
Chapter I
Half-Demon
Location: Shuttle Skywalker's Fire, Onderon System, Inner Rim
Kyle stood at attention, gazing out the small opening. The star filled blackness of space seemed so calm and peaceful, even as he clicked his trademark staff lightsaber and a DL-44 Blaster Pistol to his belt. His mind began drifting back to the events of two months previous. He remembered the final words he spoke to her when she asked him to tell her his real name, and how he'd refused.
Kyle gazed at the large brown green planet before him; through the Force he could sense that something was wrong. He could feel the screams of the dead and dying, as something tore into them.
"Kyle," a familiar voice said from behind. Kyle didn't say anything as he turned to find Luke standing behind him.
"You okay," Luke asked, with a concerned look to his face.
"Yeah," Kyle replied, "I'm just tired."
"Well," Luke continued, "we're going to be landing in Iziz soon, and we don't know what to expect, so be ready for anything."
"Don't remind me," Kyle replied, calmly, "I was born ready."
Location: Iziz Spaceport, Iziz, Onderon
The Skywalker's Fire slowly descended toward the landing pad at the far end of the spaceport. Slowly the boarding ramp extended, allowing the 20 Jedi who were aboard the shuttle to disembark. The sight before them was appalling; members of the Onderon Defense Forces were lying in pools of blood as medics tried desperately to save their lives. Some were missing arms, legs; even whole sections of their abdomens had been sliced out by something.
Troopers were telling stories to some of the newly arrived Jedi about massive creatures armed with weapons that looked like vibroblade swords, but did the damage of a lightsaber.
"What happened," Luke asked, as an Onderonian trooper fell into his arm.
"They came out of no where," The trooper said, "and just started killing anything that moved."
"What came out of no where trooper?" another Jedi asked.
"I don't know," the trooper replied, clutching the wound in his arm, "I've never seen anything like them, four arms, strange armor, and their swords were slicing through anything, just then a pair of E-Wings flew over head heading toward the main portion of the city. Kyle didn't even flinch as he looked at the wound in the trooper's shoulder.
"What kind of weapons?" Kyle asked, coldly.
"Curved swords," the trooper replied, it didn't take Kyle long to put two and two together.
"Katanas," Kyle said, under his breath, "impossible." But before Kyle had any chance to elaborate on his previous statement, the gate to the spaceport suddenly exploded inward.
"They're here," a trooper shouted, as crimson blaster bolts streaked toward cloud of dust that had been thrown up by the collapsing gate. It was then the first of the creatures emerged from the dust. It looked like a walking corpse, supported on four stubby legs, it wore the decaying armor of a Samurai warrior, and clenched in its left hand. The defenders opened up with a full volley of blaster fire, but it seemed to have little effect on the creature. The monster lunged at one group of troopers, slicing the troopers in half, showering blood and organs all across the ground. The creature then turned his attention to the troopers on the other side, and just as quickly, killed them as well. As the Zorm began making his way toward the gathered Jedi, no fewer then six other Zorm climbed over the rubble the rubble of the gate, and joined the first in his charge.
One by one the Jedi Apprentices activated their lightsabers, and charged toward the advancing Zorm. However the moment their lightsabers touched the decaying flesh of the Genma, the Jedi discovered that their lightsabers had no effect on the creatures. One by one the Zorm sliced into the Jedi with their Katanas. A few of the Jedi attempted to use Force Throw to hurl some of the lose stones, from the wall that surrounded the city, at the advancing Genma. A few of the stones managed to score a hit, crushing at least two of the advancing Zorms, but it was too little too late. Before long the Genma had killed all except Luke, Kyle, and a few others.
"What in the name of the Force are these things?" Luke shouted, as he Force Pushed one of the Zorm across the docking bay, slamming him into a pile of storage containers.
"I don't know," Kyle replied, as he blocked another of the Zorms attack, "but I do know one thing, we're all going to die if the Force doesn't give us a miracle or something."
Almost at that instant, the Zorm Kyle was dueling suddenly let out an earsplitting screech, as another Katana sliced into its neck, decapitating the creature. As its head flew off, the body of the Zorm suddenly seemed to decay away into nothing. There standing in front of Kyle was a young man with shoulder length black hair and clad in bright red Samurai armor.
" Speaks Japanese You where are we?" the man asked, the other Jedi looked at each other they had no idea what the man had just said, what ever language he spoke it certainly wasn't Galactic Basic.
"Inner Rim no Onderon ga desu,(This is Onderon in the Inner Rim)" Kyle replied, speaking the very same language the man had just spoken.
"(Speaks Japanese) You speak my language," the man replied.
"Hai," Kyle replied, but before he had a chance to finish his statement, a large black vortex suddenly appeared beneath his feet. Six pale arms suddenly emerged from the vortex grabbing Kyle by both his arms and legs, and as he struggled to break free, pulled him into the vortex.
Location: The Nether Realm, a few minutes later
Kyle continued to struggle to break what ever it that held him in its grasp. It was at that moment; Kyle got a good look at the creature. It was a massive centipede like creature with the upper body of a young woman with flowing black hair.
"Alive," Mistress Centipede said, joyously, "oh to be alive once more," slowly her body began to reform around what at one time had been nothing but bone.
"You have it don't you," Mistress Centipede said, licking Kyle's cheek with her tongue, "I can feel the energy of the Sacred Jewel all around you, give it to me."
"What are you," Kyle snarled, as he tried to break loose. He began drawing the Force around his right hand, "LET GO OF ME YOU OVERGROWN COCKROACH." He discharged a blinding burst of Force Energy into Mistress Centipede's face, releasing her iron grip on the Force Knight, and in the process severing one of her arms.
"Since when are my powers that strong?" Kyle asked himself, as he looked at his smoking hand.
"Retched boy," Mistress Centipede snarled, "I must have the Shikon Jewel, I must."
"The Shikon Jewel," Kyle said to himself, so far he'd only read about the Jewel in old scrolls back at the academy, he never expected to hear that the Jewel could be real.
Location: The Temple of Cherry Hill, on the outskirts of Edo, Japan 1577
"Stay in here," the old man said, as he shoved the young girl down into the caverns that ran beneath his temple, and covered the small opening with branches from a near by tree. She was young, no older then 16, with long raven colored hair that was tied up in a pony tail her eyes were a deep purple, and dressed in a red and white Shinto Priest robe.
Sakura Hino sat against the wall of the cavern, with her knees to her head. The only sounds she could hear were those of her father and grandfather arguing with someone up above. It was at that moment she heard a sound that she'd never heard before, and then silence.
Peaking out of the cavern, Sakura saw no fewer then five black armored Stormtroopers and someone clad in an all black robe, with a scarf around his face, and a pair of blazing yellow eyes emerging through the darkness of his cloak, clutching what looked to be a strange foreign weapon. At his feet she saw the blood coated bodies of her father and grandfather.
"Sir," one of the troops said, "the Jewel isn't here."
"Keep looking," the Sith Knight ordered, "you know Prince Valarium's orders, the Jewel is to be found at all costs." The Stormtrooper motioned for the others to continue searching the premises.
From her hiding place, Sakura's eye burned with fury, as the Black Guardsmen continued their ransacking; she gazed at the bodies of her father and grandfather, and silently vowed to avenge their deaths no matter what. She couldn't hear what the troopers were saying, as the Sith Knight motioned for his men to pull out of the Temple.
Once she was sure the Imperials were gone, Sakura dug her way out of the cavern, and quickly raced to her father and grandfather's sides. Two gapping holes had been blown into their chests; the holes looked more like burns then gunshot wounds, with blood oozing from small cracks in the scabs. With tears in her eyes, Sakura picked up her father's discarded Katana.
"Father," Sakura said, trying to fight back tears, "Grandfather, I swear by the Sacred Fire of our Temple I won't rest until your deaths have been avenged." With tears flowing from her eyes, Sakura raced off in the direction of Edo, hoping to find those who'd killed her family.
Location: Forest, 12 miles outside of Edo, Japan 1577
Bolts of blue lightning began jumping between the trees, followed by a large black portal. Kyle suddenly fell out of the portal, landing in a near by pile of leaves and twigs. Slowly Kyle regained his balance, looking about he was shocked to find himself standing in the middle of a forest, when only a few minutes before he'd been standing in the middle of a spaceport on Onderon, now he was in the middle of a large forest.
"What happened," Kyle asked, himself, as he tried to get his bearings, it was then he remembered all that happened, the Samurai who'd appeared in Iziz, the Centipede monster. It was at that moment; he looked down at his neck, and saw the hand that he'd blown off of the creature was still wrapped around his neck. Kyle immediately threw the severed appendage to the side; he then spotted an old weather beaten sign, written in Japanese.
"No way," Kyle said, to himself, "I was on Onderon, how did I get to Earth?" Then out of the corner of his eye he spotted a young woman, dressed in a tattered kimono, with no shoes and a bail of sticks tied to her back.
"Hay you," Kyle shouted, trying to get the woman's attention. The woman didn't say anything in reply; instead she took one look at the Force Knight and bolted in the opposite direction.
"Wait," Kyle shouted, sprinting after the woman. However before he could catch up, the sounds of screaming echoed through out the forest. When Kyle finally came upon the scene all he saw was a massive toad like monster with two large fangs emerging from its lower jaw, and a giant spiked club in his hand, standing over the body of the woman he'd been chasing. The woman's skull had been smashed in by the creature's massive club, and her skin had nearly been completely consumed by the monster.
"Tasty Human," Osric said, laughing, it was then out of the corner of his eye he spotted Kyle, "well, well dissert." The massive Genma began making his way toward Kyle.
Acting on instinct Kyle drew his Blaster Pistol and fired off a few shots, the bolts didn't so much as scratch Osric's thick hide. The massive Genma raised his club, over his head and brought it down. The force of the blow was strong enough, it knocked Kyle against a near by tree. Dazed, Kyle, though dazed from the blow, managed to regain his footing and draw his lightsaber. With all his remaining strength, Kyle lunged at the massive Genma, and as Osric brought his club around to strike another blow, plunged one of the blades into the Genma's abdomen.
To Kyle's shock, his saber didn't even affect the massive creature in the slightest, Osric let out a low deep laugh as he brought his massive war club down on Kyle's back, knocking the Force Knight out cold.
"Humans are more tasty when angry," Osric said, smiling. He reached down and picked up the out cold warrior. However, no sooner had the massive Genma's hand touched the dark warrior, Kyle came too, and almost as if on queue discharged a burst of Force Lightning into the Genma's face.
"CURSE YOU," Osric snarled, as he tossed the Force Knight to the ground. Kyle slowly regained his footing, as the colossal Genma prepared to charge. As Kyle separated his lightstaff, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left arm. Kyle gazed at his arm just in time to watch a bright red and silver gauntlet materialize on his arm.
The moment the gauntlet materialized, his lightsaber suddenly glowed bright purple for a brief second, before returning to its original red hue. Kyle looked at the gauntlet that had formed on his arm for a few seconds before turning his attention to the charging Genma in front of him. With one quick swing, he brought his lightsaber around, and sliced Osric's head in half. As the Genma's body fell to the ground it suddenly began to break apart, revealing a glowing pink orb, almost instantly the orb flew to the gauntlet on Kyle's arm, and the moment it touched the metal, the gauntlet absorbed the orb.
"What in the name of the Force," Kyle said, to himself, and then almost as in answer to his question, Kyle heard a loud voice echo behind him.
"STRANGER FROM A DISTANT TIME," the voice shouted, "YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED FOR A MISSION OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE." Kyle looked behind him and came face to face with a glowing creature with a single large horn in the center of its head.
"What are you talking about," Kyle shouted, "what mission?"
"THE CREATURES WHO APPEARED IN YOUR TIME," The Oni replied, "THE GENMA, AND THEIR DEMON ALLIES SEEK A POWERFUL ITEM WITHIN OUR TIME, THE SHIKON NO TAMA, THE JEWEL OF FOUR SOULS. DEFEAT NOBUNAGA ODA AND HIS FOLLOWERS, AND SEAL THEIR SOULS TO YOUR RIGHT HAND, THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD DEPENDS ON IT," the Oni held out his right hand and a bright blue circle suddenly appeared in it, "TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR QUEST SHE WILL BE YOUR GUIDE." He hurled the blue orb at the Force Knight, who raised his lightsaber and attempted to deflect it back at the Oni. But before Kyle could even bring his lightsaber around the orb struck the ground in front of him, and the Oni vanished.
"Hay down here," a soft voice said, Kyle suddenly felt someone tugging at his boot. Looking down, Kyle spotted a tiny creature with the body and head of a human girl, but the wings of a bird.
"Hi," the creature said, "I'm Ako."
"What's going on," Kyle said, "I can speak Japanese but not that well, yet I can understand everything you're saying?"
"It's one of my powers," Ako said, happily, "I'm a Tengu, I have lots of neat powers and I can fly around faster," before Ako could finish her sentence, Kyle attempted to swat her.
"I hate bugs," Kyle snarled, as he began walking down the road, "now go away."
"I told you I'm a Tengu," Ako shouted, as she followed Kyle down the road.
Location: The Edo-Chokai Road, a few hours later
The sun was beginning to set when Kyle and Ako came upon a crumbling farm house. The farm house looked as though it hadn't been repaired in years. Its wooden walls were beginning to fall apart, and its thatched roof was starting to show signs of wear.
"OPEN UP OLD MAN," a man dressed in weather beaten Samurai Armour shouted, pounding on the weakened wooden door. Standing around the man were three other soldiers, all dressed in weather beaten Samurai armor. In the center of the group was a creature that appeared human but had the ears and front teeth of a rat, and was dressed in an outfit similar to a noble, a bright red and blue kimono made from the finest silk, and a long black hat.
"YOU HEARD ME," the Samurai shouted, "PAY YOUR TAXES OR GET OUT." At that moment the Samurai spotted Kyle and Ako out of the corner of his eye.
"Well, well," the Samurai said, laughing, "It seems we have a traveler and a foreigner by the looks of him."
"Excuse me," Kyle said, pushing the Samurai aside.
"Hold it right there," The Samurai replied, grabbing Kyle by his cape, "this road is the property of Master Besso, and no one can travel down it with out paying the master's traveling tax."
"I'm sorry," Kyle replied, coldly, "but I'm broke."
"Okay then," Besso said, snickering, "then I'll just take the nice little sword of yours as tribute to my greatness." Almost at that moment the Samurai who held his cape began feeling his throat caving in, as though some unseen force as crushing his wind pipe. Kyle didn't say anything, as he Force Pulled his Lightsaber into his hand, and with one quick cut, decapitated the Samurai.
"You want my sword," Kyle snarled, as the Samurai's body fell to the ground, "come and claim it."
"Don't just stand there you fools," Besso snarled, "make an example of this foreign fool." The three other Samurai drew their Katanas and charged toward the young Jedi. Kyle simply smiled, as he Force Jumped over their heads, separating his trademark weapon into two single bladed lightsabers. He landed in front of Besso, and held both of his crimson lightsabers under his neck, and gazed at the Rat Demon with cold eyes that seemed to be alight with furry.
"Stay back," Besso said, "I'm the Lord of this area." Kyle didn't even bother to reply, instead he decapitated the Rat Demon right their, and as Besso's headless body fell to the ground, it too disintegrated, allowing its soul to enter the gauntlet on Kyle's arm.
"If you three value your lives," Kyle snarled, catching the remaining Samurai off guard, "you'll get as far away from here as your legs can carry you." The Samurai didn't even bother to form a reply, and they scurried out of the area as fast as they could. As Kyle deactivated and reconnected his lightsabers, he heard the sound of someone in the bushes. A young boy, dressed in a tattered kimono leapt from the bushes.
"Wow," the boy shouted, imitating Kyle's moves, as though he was holding a sword, "that was amazing, his head went flying."
"Uh yeah," Kyle replied, as he turned to take his leave, the boy grabbed him by his cape.
"Please sir," the boy said, "let us offer you shelter for the night." Kyle didn't answer, and just as he prepared to yank his cape from the boy's grasp Ako spoke for him.
"Of course we'll stay," Ako replied, the boy quickly ran inside the crumbling house.
"I don't recall you answering for me being mentioned in the deal," Kyle snarled, as he wrapped a black scarf, that he had tied around his neck, around his face.
"Come on Kyle," Ako said, "there isn't another house for miles, and it's a full day's walk to Edo from here."
"For the record," Dark Jedi snarled, "only my friends and allies can call me Kyle, and right now you're neither. So until then you can call me Dark Jedi." He brushed the little Tengu aside, and stormed toward the house.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO RUDE," Ako shouted in return.
Location: Outside of the farm house, the next day
The warm sun shined through the trees of the forest, casting a vibrant glow across the budding plants that lined the road.
"Please Lord," the old man said, handing Dark Jedi a small bundle, "take these; it's the least we can offer."
"Domo arigato," Dark Jedi replied, bowing to the old man and his family. It was then he took his leave, and headed down the road before him.
Location: Downtown Edo, that night
Edo in the year 1577 was far removed from the bustling metropolis it was destined to become. The city was essentially nothing more then a sleepy fishing village located on the shore line of the future Tokyo Bay. Most if its buildings were stone or mud huts, with small boats floating in water. Dominating the skyline was Edo Castle; just outside of the castle was the Asakusa temple.
Ako and Dark Jedi made their way threw the darkened street, the only source of light coming from the torches that lined some of the buildings.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE," a voice shouted from behind them. Dark Jedi stopped in his tracks and turned to find Sakura Hino standing behind him, her Katana drawn, and her eyes alight with fury.
"I finally found you," Sakura shouted, "you're much weaker looking then I'd thought you'd be murder."
"Do you know what this girl is talking about?" Ako asked.
"Haven't the foggiest," Dark Jedi replied. Sakura didn't even bother replying to what Dark Jedi had said, and charged at him. The moment Sakura's Katana came within a hair of striking him, Dark Jedi Force Jumped over her head, but when he came down for a landing he failed to notice that he was standing on an old fruit stand, which gave away the moment his boot touched it, sending the Jedi tumbling to the ground.
"Is it possible," Sakura said, barely able to contain her laughter, "that you're the same man who killed my family, you dress like them but you sure don't act like them?"
"Lady," Dark Jedi snarled, trying to get up, "I just got here, and for the record I'm nothing more then a drifter," he unclipped his lightsaber, and handed it to Sakura, "do you honestly think I could kill someone with this?" Sakura took the lightsaber from Dark Jedi's hand, and activated one of the blades. To her shock, a blade of solid red light emerged from one of the two holes in the hilt.
"What kind of," Sakura said, in amazement, "the blade's pure light?"
"That's a Lightsaber," Dark Jedi replied, finally freeing himself from the rubble.
"A Lightsaber," Sakura asked, confused.
"It's the very symbol of my order," Dark Jedi replied, "It can't slay anyone." Dark Jedi smiled under his mask, everyone in the Galaxy knew that a Lightsaber could cut through almost any substance in the Galaxy, including human flesh and bone.
"You're right," Sakura replied, inspecting the weapon in her hand, "there isn't a scratch or anything on it."
"So I've proven my innocence," Dark Jedi replied, calmly.
"NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME," Sakura shouted, as she held her Katana under Dark Jedi's neck, "MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE JUST MURDERED BY SOMEONE DRESSED EXACTLLY LIKE YOU PAL," Dark Jedi suddenly cut her off.
"What do you mean someone dressed like me?" Dark Jedi asked, confused.
"A man dressed in all black," Sakura replied, "with five men in some kind of armor, foreigners I would guess."
"What kind of armor," Dark Jedi asked, cutting her off.
"Jet black," Sakura replied, "they're helmets covered their entire faces, their helmets had some sort of face, just two black eyes, and a mouth with no nose."
"Black Guard Stormtroopers," Dark Jedi said to himself, "here that's impossible."
"You know them?" Sakura said, angrily.
"You could say that," Dark Jedi replied.
"WHO ARE THEY," Sakura snarled, pressing her katana deeper into Dark Jedi's flesh, "WHERE CAN I FIND THEM?"
"Answer to question one: the Black Guard, an elite Purification Squad of the Galactic Empire," Dark Jedi replied, pushing Sakura's sword off of his neck, "answer to question two, I wouldn't even know where to begin looking, besides your so blinded with grief and rage you can barely see straight, you wouldn't last two seconds against even a low level Sith Acolyte let alone the Imperial Crown Prince." Sakura paused for a brief second, before turning to face Dark Jedi.
"My father was the finest swordsman in all of Japan," Sakura replied, "he taught me everything I know, I'm sure I can defeat this Black Guard." With that final statement Sakura raced down the street, with Dark Jedi not far behind.
Location: the Inuyasha Forest, a few hours later
"Why are you following me?" Sakura shouted.
"Give me back my Lightsaber," Dark Jedi shouted in reply, "and I'll leave you to your fate."
"I don't think that is wise Kyle," Ako added, "right now this girl is so angry she can't even see straight."
"Right now her desire for revenge isn't my problem," Dark Jedi replied, "and I've said it before and I'll say it again, only my friends can use my real name, you bird girl are to address me as Dark Jedi."
"I told you I'm a Tengu," Ako replied, angrily.
"Tengu bird what ever," Dark Jedi said, keeping his attention focused on Sakura, this time he didn't even bother to say anything, he stormed up to her, and simply grabbed his lightsaber from her hand, before making his way down the road.
"Why don't you help me," Sakura shouted, as Dark Jedi pushed her to the side, "you seem to know much about this enemy I have to face." Dark Jedi paused for a brief moment, the memory of coming upon his parents bodies flowed back into his mind, the image of a burning city his parents lying in pools of their own blood.
"Understand one thing," Dark Jedi said, "I'm not agreeing to help you because it's right, I'm only doing this to settle a personal vendetta of my own. If you get in my way, I have no qualms about killing you. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Sakura replied, angry. Though she agreed to the warrior's help, his attitude told her that he couldn't be trusted. However it was at that moment, she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. Racing off in the direction of a large tree she found a young man, with bright silvery hair and dressed in a bright red outfit pinned to a tree and covered with vines. The strangest thing about the boy though were his ears, they were on top of his head and resembled a dog or a wolf more then a human.
"Will you stop doing that," Dark Jedi said, catching up to Sakura, it was at that moment Dark Jedi spied the same young man, "what in the name of."
"I have no idea," Sakura replied, as she climbed up and began fidgeting with the boy's dog ears, "he looks like a Half-Demon."
"A what???" Dark Jedi asked, at that moment he sensed the presence of someone approaching from the brush.
"GET AWAY FROM THERE," A man shouted, at that moment stream of arrows came flying at them, though Sakura managed to duck, one of the arrows struck Dark Jedi in the shoulder, pinning him to the tree. At that exact moment a group of men, all dressed in tattered clothing emerged from the forest.
Stay Tuned for Chapter II: The Shikon Jewel
PS: Don't worry we intend to have more Inuyasha in the next chapter.