Chapter 9

An Ancient Evil

Part II

She tried to ignore him as she stood upright on shaking legs. It was the only way she could keep her sanity in check, and it was the only way she could stop herself from being taken over. Dead Karness Muur may be, but the effects of the talisman locked around her neck kept his disembodied spirit from crossing over to whatever hell awaited him.

Looking away from the enraged Sith spirit she took in her present position, an ancient chamber of some description, vines clung to the walls, floor was cracked and broken, everything was worn with age, even the still functioning equipment. Then she took in the surrounding people, none of whom were familiar to her.

The nearest one was a sentient being dressed from head to toe in ancient black battle-armour, reminiscent of some medieval cultures she had witnessed in her youth. A billowing cape hung from his armoured shoulders, obscuring his arms and sides, but she noticed the silver hilt of a lightsaber clipped to a black utility belt. He was allowing her to rest her hand on his shoulder, to keep her still precarious balance. The next one was an old man, dressed in what looked like a worn HASMAT suit, obscuring everything but his face.

Other sentient's surrounded the platform she found herself on, wearing white armour and carrying small compact blasters she was unfamiliar with, military grade by their pristine conditions. They were positioned in a rough circle around her and the two men who freed her, and there were still more guarding the exits to the chamber, standing to attention with military precision born from years of training.

A small part of her was saddened to see that Jaden was not present. He had promised to return and free her once he cleared his name, but it appeared that he never did. It passed quickly as she schooled her mind and took a breath. She was Celeste Morne, Jedi Shadow and agent of the Watcher's Council.

This was nothing.

"Curse that fool Dreypa and his blasted Oubliette! What use is it to live through millennia if one is trapped inside a box, and to be put inside so soon after finding a suitable host!"

A single word stood out from the rest of the spirits rant, a word which made the Jedi Shadows mind blanch and chilled her to the very bone. She whispered the very word, "Millennia?"

For a brief moment she felt panic grip her, and the Sith Lord's presence was more than willing to take full advantage. She felt his presence creep into her mind, psychic tendrils of power trying to break through her mental defences. She clamped her hands over her ears to try and stop it, knowing full well that her usual clear blue eyes were bleeding crimson. "How long, how long were we – was I – inside?"

"It's difficult to say for certain, but I believe you entered the Oubliette just before the bombardment of Jebble." It was the old man who answered her question, drawing her attention to him as he continued on with his ramblings. Celeste didn't like this man, for no other reason that he looked at her as a scientist would look at an experiment. "Truly it's amazing that this device sustained you for so long."

She wasn't in the mood for this old man rambling on and on, so with mounting agitation she grabbed hold of his collar, forcing him to look at her. "How long!"

"Four thousand years," the man squeaked fearfully in response, raising his hands in an effort to calm her.

To the Shadow the words hit her like a jackhammer. Four thousand years? She had been locked away inside that sarcophagus for four thousand years. The revelation was a shock to her, such a shock that her whole body seemed to go numb. Everyone she knew, everything she considered important was gone, no one she knew could possibly still live after such a long time. What about everything from her time? A million questions jumbled through her tired and weary mind.

Did the Republic still stand?

What about the Jedi?

What about the Mandalorians?

"Four thousand..."she repeated the words numbly.

Karness Muur was right in her face, raising a long bony finger, "So much time wasted!"

The questions spilled from her like an avalanche and the old man was just barely able to keep up with her. "What about the Covenant? Was it successful?"

The old man raised his hands up in an attempt to calm her. "I'm afraid I know nothing about a Covenant."

"Then what about the Rakghouls," she asked.

"Isolated and eventually wiped out on Taris." She breathed a sigh of relief at hearing that information, thankful that the disease those turned creatures carried was destroyed with them.

"And the Mandalorians, did the Mandalorians conquer the galaxy," she asked, with the same sharpness as before.

"No," he replied, and for a brief moment she felt hope flair in her chest, and also a little smug satisfaction when her poltergeist openly snarled in disgust.

"So the Republic still stands," she asked, hoping with all her might for a 'yes'. That hope came crashing down with the old man's next few words.

"No," the old man replied, pointing towards the black armoured figure who had descended the steps. "It was taken over by the Sith."

She turned and looked at the figure in shock and disbelief. The Sith took over the Republic? No, it was not possible. Sith were extinct, had been for millennia. Yet as she timidly reached out through the force to feel his presence she knew it was true. This man's presence was a cesspool of negative emotions, not directed at her specifically, all she gained from his thoughts of her was curiosity. Yet she felt darkness within him, ten times worse than anything she had ever felt in her lifetime.

"Sith," she muttered the name as if it were a curse, aware as Karness Muur said the same name with a kind of smug satisfaction. She ignored him and ignited her lightsaber, feeling comfort in the heat which emanated from the weapon. "I should have felt it sooner!"

She surged forward with a battle-cry, bringing her lightsaber down in a diagonal slash with all her might. Celeste heard another unmistakable snap-hiss before she saw the unknown Sith Lord bring up his own lightsaber to parry her strike. Morne used the momentum to somersault over the Dark Lords head and land on the ground with perfect ease. Already the white armoured soldiers were surrounding her, some already firing crimson bolts from their blasters.

She moved her lightsaber deftly in response, parrying and deflected blaster bolts with perfect precision and accuracy before spinning around to block her main opponent's blade. Years of training and experience took over as she took in her surroundings and prepared strategies. Her opponent was bigger than her, heavier than her and much stronger than her. His attack was easily parried, yet the force behind it sent her skidding back several feet.

The Sith used the chance, lifting the now empty Oubliette with the force and sending it flying towards her. Celeste took up a basic stance, lifted her golden bladed weapon over her head and as the now empty coffin was within arm's reach brought it down in a slash, cutting the gleaming sarcophagus in two. The two halves flew in opposite directions. One slammed into a Trooper, caving in his armoured chest, and the other hit the ground and skidded to a halt. Celeste spun and danced, deflecting blaster bolts from the surrounding Troopers and pieces of debris flung at her by the Sith Lord.

She wasn't given enough of a respite to truly ascertain the strength of her opponent, but from what little she was able to gleam she gained a conclusion. Her opponent was powerful, almost extremely powerful, a living maelstrom in the force. She had only ever met a single Jedi even remotely close to him in power, and that was a rogue Jedi Master named Revan.

The Dark Lord was on her again, moving faster than a man his size should and Celeste was forced to abandon her train of thought and focus on defending herself. There would be time for questions later; first she needed to survive the next few minutes.

The battle taking place was just the distraction they needed and both Aayla and Dass used it to its full advantage. With painstakingly subtle manipulations with the force they were able to click open the locks of their stuncuffs, releasing them from their bindings, now all they needed to do was get their lightsabers and leave.

Aayla's search for her lightsaber was interrupted when a piece of the sarcophagus came hurtling towards her, forcing her to abandon her prone position and dive to the side with a force augmented leap. The coffin missed her feet by millimetres, snapping the steel poles with its force and skidding across the broken concrete for several meters. If she hadn't freed herself when she did then she probably wouldn't have survived that.

Dass was by her side, helping her to her feet while keeping a wary eye on the carnage taking place in front of them. The woman was outnumbered a dozen to one, plus Vader, but she was fighting well. Already she had killed at least four Clones, and was holding her own against the recently christened Dark Lord.

However;

"Do you feel that?" Jennir asked her.

Aayla nodded her head as she watched the duel between Sith Lord and Jedi Knight, "Something's hanging over her, like a shroud."

The older Master nodded, "Yes, and it reeks of the Dark Side."

"And death," Aayla agreed. It seemed to be coalescing around the human woman and it felt dark, vile, and ominous. The young Jedi studied this new force sensitive being before noticing something out of place with her attire. The woman's attire was a light armoured suit, specially made so that its bearer could move fast and also get some protection. She dressed like a soldier, and the scarab shaped neckpiece latched around her neck seemed so out of place with the rest of her clothing.

"Hey there," she froze at the voice behind her, breath hitching as she edged around. No it couldn't be him. Her mind was playing tricks on her. But there he was. That spiked blonde hair, those brilliant blue eyes, even those whisker marks on his cheeks and that stupid grin. Naruto was crouched behind her, grin slowly morphing to a frown as he studied her shell shocked expression.

She timidly reached out, half expecting her hand to faze through him, yet her palm rested against his chest. She was barely aware that Dass was looking at the blond with an almost comical expression, eyes wide and face going white as a sheet. "You're alive."

"Yeah,"

She breathed out, realising just now that she had been holding it. Relief and joy at seeing her friend crouching behind her made her heart soar. He was already leaning over her shoulder, frowning as he examined the stun cuffs for a moment. "A kunai isn't going to break through these, unless."

He did indeed grip a kunai, concentrated for a moment and allowed his own chakra to coat the blade. Aayla had seen him do this a few times before, nature manipulation he called it, a technique where he was able to manipulate the surrounding air into a condensed coating sharper than any blade.

He looked at her and smiled. "Hold still."

He brought the kunai down, and Aayla watched as it cut through the stun cuff on her right hand like a knife through warm butter. He repeated the motion with the left, freeing her from her imprisonment. The moment she was free the young Jedi did something she thought she'd never do. She slapped him, and then she hugged him despite his surprise at the sudden reddened cheek.

"Idiot," she choked, just barely keeping herself in control. He was alive. He wasn't dead. He was alive. "Why did you put me through that? I thought you were dead!"

Naruto's eyes softened as he put his arms around her, returning her embrace with a tight one of his own. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking to make you cry."

"I'm not crying." She whispered defiantly, even though she knew a few tears were streaking down her cheeks. What a useless Jedi she was turning out to be, breaking down in a situation as bad as this.

"Excuse me," Dass hissed, keeping an eye on the fight taking place before them. It was amazing nobody noticed their rescuer by now. "Can you two do this later?"

"Oh, sure thing," Naruto muttered apologetically, moving from his friends embrace to free their fellow comrade in arms. "Both of you get out of here once I free you. There's a shuttle at the other side of the tower, lightly guarded. Try and take it without them alerting their friends above. If I'm not there in five minutes then get the hell out of here."

"What about you?"

Naruto grinned at the man's question. "I'm going to get some payback."

She was surrounded, winded and secure in the knowledge that there was no way she was going to win. The Sith Lord was just that much stronger than her, and the spirit within the Muur Talisman was cackling in her mindscape, joyful and delighted in her entrapment.

Celeste was fully aware of what Karness Muur was planning. His plan was to switch hosts from her to Darth Vader, gain his undeniable power and take control of the galaxy. Images of a possible future swirled through her mind's eye. Either she was having a vision in this lull in the battle or her torturer was feeding her his deepest wishes.

Either way she knew she couldn't possibly win.

The images showed the black armoured Sith Lord, Darth Vader, kneeling before the ethereal image of Karness Muur. The body of a man, wearing black robes, was lying several meters away. She immediately knew that the body had once been a Sith Lord, maybe this Darth Vader's current master.

More images assaulted her psyche, this time of Vader standing atop a ridge, lightsaber held high over his head and the golden trinket of the talisman clutched around his neck. Fire and lava was spilling out all around him, white armoured soldiers were charging forth below him and the force cried out as thousands of people screamed in agony before going eerily silent.

She wasn't aware if these images were true or false, but she was certain of one thing. If the Sith Lord before her took the talisman from her a great evil would be unleashed upon the galaxy, and every sentient being would suffer for it.

It was with that in mind that she made a terrible choice.

"I will not give you the talisman," she stated simply, and ignoring the spirits outraged cries reached deep within herself, found that small box in her mind which held all of her negative emotions, all of her hate, fear, pain and loss and with a release of breath prepared to open it.

There was a blur of motion and when she looked up a figure stood between her and the Dark Lord. He was tall, dressed in a black longcoat with crimson flamed trim which flapped and fluttered as if on a non-existent wind. A katana was held in his hand, rippling with some kind of energy as he engaged the black armoured giant before her.

A gruff, gravelly voice echoed through the chamber. "Hey, remember me?"

The sounds of combat began anew, only they weren't aimed at her or the Sith or the blond newcomer currently engaging Darth Vader. Celeste looked around to see the white armoured soldiers opening fire, spilling forth azure blasts of blaster fire into the dimly lit chamber. Knives were thrown back, dull silver glinting in the low light. She saw a knife pierce straight through one of the soldier's visors.

All the while Lord Vader and the stranger stood in the middle of the chaos and anarchy, katana locked together with lightsaber as the two brought all of their strength into their strikes, each one trying to overpower the other. Finally Vader spoke. "I thought you were, dead."

"Me, dead?" the stranger asked dubiously before releasing a bark of laughter. "Who the hell do you think I am?"

The two disengaged and leapt back, Lord Vader skidding to a halt while the blond stranger landing right beside her in a crouch, sword held in a backwards grip in his right hand while his left came up to make some kind of signal. He took a deep breath and to her shock and awe released a thin blast of air, so dense that she could see it as clearly as she could see a blaster bolt.

"Fūton: Shinkūgyoku."

The bolt of air spiralled towards Vader, who simply raised his free hand and blocked it with the most subtle force push Celeste had ever seen. For all intents and purposes it simply looked like he stopped the attack with his bare hand. Such subtle and perfect manipulation of the force yet the newcomer didn't appear worried in the least.

If anything he whistled his appreciation. "Seen a lot of things, but I've never seen a Vacuum Sphere stopped like that, dodged yeah but stopped."

Vader didn't reply for a long moment. "Who are you?"

"Ah right," the blond replied with a grin. "I forgot that I hadn't introduced myself yet. The name's Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki."

"You seem very forthcoming with information."

He smiled a smile without mirth. "I believe you should know the name of your killer, Lord Vader."

"I see," the Dark Lord didn't seem the least bit perturbed. "Then you may call me Darth Vader."

Celeste could hardly breath, feeling through the force the great unrestrained power which flowed between these two, enough to make her feel lightheaded and short on breath. It was as if the force was coming alive, thrumming with power and substance, and these two beings presented the epicentre of the vortex. It was unlike anything she had ever felt in her life.

It took her longer than it should to realise that the sounds of battle taking place around them had stopped and she looked around to see the bodies of the white soldiers lying on the ground, and the victors standing over them.

She almost gasped when she looked upon a handful of identical figures, dressed in the same clothes with the same facial features. Some were grinning like madmen, others were glaring, some were twirling knives in their hands and some looked as interested in the proceedings as one would in watching paint dry.

Then they all vanished in a mass of white smoke, and the battle site was empty of all life but her, the Sith, the scientist and the unidentified man, Naruto.

What a strange name.

Before Celeste could fully grasp the situation she heard coarse laughter pounding through her skull. The spirit within the talisman was elated, joyful. The laughter seemed to continue for an eternity before Muur calmed down and spoke in his half mad speech.

- Yes, yes, this one will do. What power, what ability, what raw strength –

Morne felt a monumental chill slid down her spine. The visions returned full swing, only instead of Vader standing on the fields of the doomed world it was this new presence, Naruto, katana held high, eyes as black as night with crimson irises and slit pupils.

The gaze of the Muur talisman had shifted from one powerhouse to the other, and if it succeeded the galaxy was doomed.

The Stormtrooper guards didn't stand a chance. They saw Aayla and Dass coming right at them, lightsabers ignited and held at the ready. They fired upon them, watching as the azure bolts of their blaster discharges were effortlessly deflected as the two Jedi advanced.

The two worked in perfect synchrony, each aiming for a Clone. Aayla ducked as her opponent tried to use his blaster carbine like a club before lunging forward, lightsaber blade effortlessly piercing the plastoid armour from chest to back. Dass sidestepped his as the Clone fired one last shot at point blanc, and swinging his lightsaber in a wide arc decapitated his foe.

A third trooper, obviously the pilot, was attempting to close the ramp way, blaster pistol in his free hand and aiming straight for Aayla's head. She took aim, leaned back and threw her lightsaber before he could fire off a single shot, watching as the azure blade sliced him neatly in half at the waist.

The two Jedi exchanged a look before moving up the landing ramp, every move cautious as they checked the cargo hold for any additional troopers.

"Can you fly this crate?" she asked as she retrieved her lightsaber hilt and clipped it to her black belt.

"This thing," Dass looked thoughtful. "It's a newer model than the ones we used to fly, but there shouldn't be too much difference."

"Then get it started up, by the time Naruto comes out we're going to have to leave in a hurry."

Dass nodded before setting off to the cockpit, leaving Aayla alone in the cargo hold of the shuttle. She double checked the hold again for her own piece of mind before following the Master to the cockpit. Jennir was already starting her up, the engine whining to life as he punched several codes into the pilots control console.

"What do they have in orbit?" he asked.

Aayla wasted no time as she jumped into the co-pilots black chair and began punching buttons. It wasn't long before a stream of information passed by her eyes. "A single ship in high orbit," she hesitated for a moment as she read the additional information, cursing internally as she did so. "Looks like a capital-ship, Venator-class Star Destroyer."

"Ah Sith me that's just what we need." Jennir cursed as he punched several more buttons. "Doesn't look like they've caught on to what's happening yet."

"Do you think we could lose them?"

"This bucket of bolts against a Star Destroyer," Jennir gave her an incredulous look. "If we really gunned her engines we might make it out, but that's assuming your friend takes everyone out of the equation. Not an easy job."

"He's up to it." She stated simply.

"Yeah but there's something up with that woman they freed." Dass frowned as he spoke. "It felt like she was being possessed or something like that."

Aayla thought about it. There had been reports of dark force users being able to cling onto the living plain, containing their souls in a sarcophagus or a container like a holocron or a piece of jewellery, waiting for a chance to latch onto a living being and take them over. It wasn't unheard off, but such instances hadn't occurred in her lifetime, force if she thought about it the last documented incident was centuries, maybe even millennia ago.

"She might very well be." Aayla replied after a moment, suddenly getting an urge to rush back to that cave and help him, but she knew she'd only be a hindrance if she returned.

She had to trust that Naruto would be able to make it back safe and sound.

She had to.

Authors Alert: Star Wars and Naruto are the properties of Musashi Kishimoto & Lucas Arts, not particularly in that order.

Authors Alert: A short chapter this time, and I apologise for that, however I've had sort of a shift in my priorities as of late with the final year of my course and all. The only story I was even able to update was my Star Wars/Warhammer 40K crossover and only because writing it has come very easy, hopefully I'll be able to begin writing this story again soon.