Chapter Eight
The Sith interceptor slid into the dense foliage of the shadowlands with an air of confidence. Landing deftly on the forest floor, its hatch sprung open with a dramatic hiss. Darth Sidious exited the craft with a satisfied expression on his face. At last. All that power and the Council let the boy slip right through their fingers. Pity. I look forward to completing his training. Hopefully his master will present something of a challenge. It has been far too long.
Cautiously the Sith Lord approached the Jedi craft dropping his shields little by little so that the Jedi inside could feel him in the force. Or more accurately feel the full power of the dark side. As much as he would have enjoyed a more stealthy approach, he was not particularly fond of close quarter fighting. Especially after that incident on Malastare.
Sensing the embodiment of their worst fears being realized, Baynuth and Calira raced out the boarding ramp, lightsabers activated. Their shared expression of shock palpable in the force. Quickly they released their emotions into the force and readied for the inevitable combat.
A sickening grin plastered itself on the Dark Lord's face. "Two Jedi? This is unexpected. Oh, yes, how delightful. I see now. Not only is Keirran your padawan, he is also your son."
"You will not have him Sith!" thundered Baynuth, the sound of his voice filling the small clearing.
By now the three deadly warriors circled each other, the Sith in the center of the ring they formed.
"Ah but you are mistaken Master Jedi, mistaken about a great many things." Kierran will be my apprentice and now, you will die."
"I don't think so." Calira spat, activating the other side of her lightsaber with a flourish, fixing the Sith with a glare.
"So be it, Jedi."
There was a snap-hiss and red twin lightsabers moved in tandem. Sidious launched himself through the air, blades flashing out in a skewering motion. Mid-air, the Sith aimed for Calira's head. Sensing the Sith's intent through the force, she pivoted sideways aiming for his legs. When his feet landed she struck, opening a small gash in his calf muscle.
Sidious fumed and raised his right hand. "You'll pay for that."
Before she could counter, a force noose tightened around her neck. Baynuth charged forward, gathering the force into a sphere. From the left hand blue lightning sparked forth, halting his advance. The Jedi barely managed to raise his lightsaber in time to catch the steady flow of lightning on his lightsaber blade.
The split-second distraction gave Calira ample time to send a powerful force push at the Sith, her lungs sucking in air greedily. He staggered backward to be met by a forceful scissor kick in the jaw. The battle was on.
The Jedi redoubled their efforts keeping their bond open formulating a plan. They decided on trapping the Sith in a pincer movement so that he would have to defend from both sides. Sidious snarled and swung even faster now, the dark side fueling him, giving him strength that would ordinarily be impossible for a human.
The three warriors continued to trade blows, the tempo escalating. Neither side seem so be gaining the upper hand. Calira and Baynuth exchanged a worried look: the Sith was only getting stronger.
