A/N: After kicking out Maledictus from Corellia two years before, Marcus and his friends have the old Sith Lord cornered right on Dantooine. Marcus, now a fully experienced Jedi Knight now is ready to face off and defeat his grandfather in a final battle. Reesa and her brother stand at his side prepared to go through Maledictus' army of criminals and former Sith Soldiers.
Ch. 4: Endgame
Marcus led the Dantooinians in a charge to take back the fortress from the Last of the Dark Lords of the Sith. The Republic ships have thrown the Sith ground forces in disarray. The Sith were on their last feet as Marcus, Yathura, Bastila, Bress, and Reesa were taking down Dark Jedi left and right.
Yathura already familiar with the Sith attack strategy was already showing them to disorganized and desperate to avoid defeat. They were even willing to take mild Force-Sensitives to the fight and their sloppiness cost them ground as the fortress could not stop them the Republic from rolling with light hover tanks and armored personnel carriers and the troops were already making the weak troopers and criminals surrender by the dozens.
"We almost have them, Marcus, as soon as, we get in that building that your grandfather resides in, we will have finally defeated the Sith Lord once and for all." Bastila said.
"Don't count your blessings before you receive them, Master. I have reason to believe he is planning something. Unlike me, he is unpredictable in his attacks. Hopefully, this lightsaber will help counter his. I can't believe that it is almost over though." Marcus said.
"I know, and then maybe you can finally rest from your war with him. By the way, when are you going to propose to my granddaughter?" Bastila asked then whispered.
"When the time is right, I will ask her hand in marriage. I just hope that she likes the ring that I got her. It is in my pocket now." Marcus said.
"Marcus! The door is locked. We cannot push it in or pull it open. It looks like it is missing a piece of key we have found from Corellia." Bress said. Marcus then realized the piece that his grandmother gave in his necklace was the other half of that key.
"I have it, Bress. The missing piece was in possession was in my possession all this time." Marcus said.
"How do you have it, my friend?" Bress said with bewilderment.
"I have always had it. I just didn't think this necklace had any importance." Marcus said as he put the pieces together and used the Force to open the door as red lightning began sparking across the door. Inside was a platform with Darth Maledictus meditating floating off the ground with his eyes closed aware of the threat approaching to the Sith Lord. Visas Marr, Bress, Bastila, Reesa and Marcus began to walk on the platform of the secret chamber. Reesa began to feel chills that Maledictus was there feeling them in the Force watching was nervous along with his grandmother and Visas Marr.
"I can sense that he is ready for us. He is more dark than any Dark Jedi or Sith that I have encountered in my life. Nihilus was dark but this is another scale of evil. He was definitely trained by Sion, he is without much fear except one: his only grandson." Visas Marr said.
They finally approached the Sith Lord who exited from his meditation and began to stand and turn around with ExarKun's lightsaber. He was covered in dark energy and his face had Rakatan tech near his eye. He looked at the group with a dark smile.
"So you finally came to face me, Jedi. Unfortunately, I have already assimilated with the gauntlet of Darth Haazen andExarKun's lightsaber with the dark-sided technology of the Infinite Empire. I am Maledictus, Lord of the Damned." The Dark Lord said as he activated the blue lightsaber throwing BastilaShan and Visas Marr in a Force Stasis and throwing them back outside leaving the three Jedi Knights to face the deadly Sith in a fight.
"Any last words before I end your miserable lives?" Maledictus said letting purple Force Lighning crackle from his fingertips. (Cue the song Duel of the Fates for this fight).
"I've given you every opportunity, grandfather. But you leave me no choice, you cannot be saved." Marcus said as he pulled the lightsaber from his shoulder sheath activating it giving off a white color. His friends pulled their lightsabers, as well. Reesa's new one was purple, while her brother's was green.
Maledictus then responded, "I never wanted to be, grandson." He then leapt in the middle of the trio and began an onslaught of the deadly Juyo with Shii-Cho to throw them off. He then used Force Storm on them, but it would not work as the three of them used the Force to shield them from his wrath-filled lightning. The Sith Lord eyes glowed red with fury as started throwing objects with the Force at the three Jedi Knights. They were forced to duck and roll and take cover as the Sith Lord continued his attempts on killing the Jedi that stood in his path.
He finally had enough and decided to call upon Force Rage to kill his enemies. The first move was to throw Reesa into Marcus causing them to bump into each other violently knocking the wind out of them as they hit the ground. The second was that Bress was hit with Force Lightning causing him to pass out from the pain. Maledictus was laughing to how Marcus and his beloved were in each other's arms in battle.
"Awww… Ain't that precious? My grandson has finally the love of his life, only to die with her at the hands of his grandfather, the Sith Lord. The thing is that there is more to be done to bring the Sith Empire back to its glory days and I do not need punk kids like you getting in the way. Time to join your father, Marcus. Can't say it was nice knowing you." Maledictus said raising his right Haazen hand and the red Force Lightning crackling lifting his hand to the airing delivering one of the most lethal amps of Force Lightning that Maledictus has ever been able to do.
Realizing his sister and best friend were in danger, Bress made the ultimate sacrifice to save them both. As the lightning neared them, Bress sprinted with the Force yelling, "NOOO!" The Jedi Knight heart of gold stopped when the lightning hit him in the chest throwing his arms out to catch other lightning that might harm his friend and sister. He then passed out in pain and close to death. Marcus felt his pain and rushed to activate his lightsaber to stop his grandfather, once and for all. He slammed into his grandfather's lightsaber with all of his strength looking at his glowing red eyes with Marcus looking into his fogged up grey ones.
"Grandfather, in name of the Living Force, please stop with what you are doing. This doesn't have to end in your death." Marcus said pleading with his grandfather one more time to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
"You are a fool to face me alone, boy. Now I will kill you then I will ravage your beloved as I did your grandmother!" Maledictus said as he Force Pushed Marcus and tried to use Force Lightning on him, but was surprised when from the lightning's bright flash of shining light enough to rival a dwarf star. The bright light was enough was enough to make Reesa run to Bress to shield his eyes from the intensity of the light. She was in awe of Marcus' look. He looked a god in his full and benevolent might. Marcus walked towards his grandfather. At first, he was slow, but then began to move like a blur so quick, that from her view, that one moment Maledictus was trying to throw Exar Kun's lightsaber at Marcus, the next the young was right behind him landing a shiim on the Dark Lord's shoulder. He then proceeded to fight him in the Echani arts in Oneness with the Force. He easily bested the Sith Lord and then threw him on the floor with a shoulder throw and the kick him in the mouth causing blood to come from his mouth. Marcus then threw him aroung without causing too much damage and then he destroyed his Haazen hand and the Rakatan tech in his body. He then got up on his knees and prepared the death blow from his grandson. Marcus had reverted back to his mortal form once more with his white lightsaber near the evil man's chin.
There the Sith Lord lay on his knees with his lightsaber nearby waiting for Marcus to kill him. He taunted him saying, "I am defenseless strike me down, and you will completed your journey of justice. I'm sure you have not forgetten that I was the one who slew your father."
"No, I have not. Take your lightsaber and go, you are no longer my family anymore. This is your last and final warning: leave or you will face the death penalty by the Republic for your actions." Marcus said taking the lightsaber away from the old man's chin. He then began to walk away. He then heard Maledictus make a war cry as he used his left hand to activate one end of the lightsaber raised to kill only for Marcus to duck a slash and perform a shiak from behind him, stabbing his white blade into his cruel, black heart. He then fell as he felt all of the damned souls of the Netherworld claim his soul as his scream from being eternally separated from the from the Force with no comfort and reminded of all things done wrong. Realizing the weapon was too dangerous to keep, Marcus then lifted the blade with the Force hearing it's beckoning for the Jedi to turn evil. "Never again, will this weapon take innocent lives. Henceforth, let this be the day that the dark weapon will be no more." He then threw it in the air and when it nearly hit the ground, he slicked the weapon in three pieces.
He then turned off his weapon and went running toward his best friend and got on his knees with Reesa holding his head with tears in her eyes. Bress then smiled at the his best friend.
He said weakly, "We did it. We finally nailed him. I am so proud of you. You overcame the temptation to do evil and you best it without becoming it."
"Thank you, Bress, for saving our lives from the bottom of our hearts. You really are a great friend. No, you are my brother. I love you to the end." Marcus said as he began to have tears falling from his eyes.
"To the end. Reesa, I love you, my sister." Bress said as he took deep breaths.
"I love you, too, brother. Thank you for showing me the error of my bullying years ago." Reesa said with tears falling from her eyes.
"You are welcome. Marcus, please take good care of my sister. She loves you and you love her. I hope the future good for you in the future. This is a welcome end. Now my true love can forever be reunited May the Force be with you both, always…." Bress said as he took his final breath and became one with the Force.
Bastila and Visas then arrived to see the Jedi Knights hold onto the lifeless body of Bress crying heavily over his death. They then helped off their feet and to comfort them. Bress was then gathered by the Jedi Masters who then began to plan his funeral three days later with all the members of the Jedi Order, including his parents with Emess crying over the death of her eldest child. All the members of the Jedi Order had their hoods over their heads and began to mourn of the loss of one of their greatest members of the Order. Reesa and Marcus were holding hands and in tears over losing a family to them. Then as the rites were said, the Jedi and the visitors all said, "May the Force be with you, Marcus."
Vaner then took the torch and set the the pyre on fire allowing the fire to consume the body of the Jedi Knight. Marcus stood his ground long after the funeral and let himself remember Bress for his kindness and giving his blessing to marry Reesa. The blind man then left as the Coruscanti sun hit his face and he went to his former dormitory room to contemplate his life so far.
Two months later…
Reesa and Marcus were being award the Republic Cross of Glory at the Senate Tower in Coruscant. Everyone that survived the fury of Maledictus were there in attendance. The two Jedi Knights stood proud as they held each other's hand. The Supreme Chancellor then said, "For bravely facing the last of the Sith Lord in this time and era. May I present: Reesa Shan and her friend, Marcus to come forward." As they did so, they were given their medals for their bravery.
"For your bravery and willingness to face danger without hesitation. I present to the both you the Cross of Glory for your acts of heroism. On behalf of the Republic. Might I say…? Thank you." The Supreme Chancellor said. The Grandmaster of the Jedi Order then approached the Jedi Knights with a statement of his own. "I agree with them on your efforts to bring down this criminal organization and prevent the return of the Sith Empire. I believe both of you are ready for the responsibilities that Jedi Master should do. From this day forward, you are no longer Jedi Knights, you are now Jedi Masters."
"Jedi Master, master, we so young though." Marcus said with confusion in his voice.
"Young, yes. Good and wise, more so. The Council had passed it unanimously. You are ready." The Jedi Grandmaster said. Many hours later after the ceremony, Reesa and Marcus snuck on the roof to look the stars in the night sky.
"Who would've thought, that we would become Jedi Masters. I still can't believe it. I love you, hero man." Reesa said.
"I love you too, princess." Marcus said as the two kissed deeply and Marcus looked through his pocket to pull out a wedding ring in his right hand. He then got on his knee and asked her the most important question of his life.
"Reesa Shan, from the day, we became friends and eventually boyfriend and girlfriend. I love you very much and would be glad to spend the rest of my days by your side. Will you have the honor of becoming my wife?" Marcus with tears of joy coming from his eyes.
Reesa began crying at the sight of her beloved asking her hand in marriage. She began bawling at how they went being rivals to being lovers and by her choice, to be married to the love of her life. Tearfully she said, "Yes, I will marry you. I love you."
Their new life was soon to begin as they returned to the Temple to announce the news of their decision to be together forever.
A/N: That the end of Maledictus and his reign of terror. Now there is just one more chapter before I can focus on Rebirth of the Revanchist once more. Please standby and wait, we will soon see the union of Marcus and Reesa. Thank you and God bless!