Cuts

25 years in the past, 5 years after the battle of Endor

planet Ruusan

It didn't hurt.

It should have hurt, but it didn't.

Jan Orrs was in shock. This day had just gotten worse and worse. They had found the Valley but the Dark Jedi had gotten here first. She had been taken off guard by stormtroopers. As good as the assault troops of the Empire were, they hadn't really had a chance against her, but they had held her in place long enough for one of Jerec's Dark Jedi to arrive and that had been that. Jan had expected to die right then and there, but instead, the woman in black had disarmed her, bound her and paraded her to the crazy woman's master like a tame bantha. She had thought the Dark Jedi the scariest things she had seen until Kyle had arrived. She had known something had changed when they had visited his father's old homestead on Sulon and found an ancient map to an ancient treasure/tomb, but she hadn't had any idea. Seeing him carrying a lightsaber had been enough of a shock. Seeing him using one and the Force so well had been even more of a shock. She had thought she had known the man after all of what they had gone through during the Rebellion. But then…

Kyle had killed the half man called 'Maw'. Just slashed once and killed the Dark Jedi as if it was nothing. She had seen Kyle's face when he had and the raw fury there had shaken her. That wasn't the man she knew. But Jerec had all but crowed! He had thrown Jan down in between his minions and Kyle and Jan had hoped. But then a green flash had blinded her and she was here.

Wherever the hell 'here' was.

"You are in no danger." A kind female voice entered Jan's awareness. She tried to rise, to sit up, to do anything, but nothing happened. She couldn't move! "Hold on." A flash of blue and Jan was suddenly able to move. She sat up, staring around wildly at…

Nothing.

She sat on a featureless gray plain. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but gray. Gray ground, lighter gray sky. The only thing not gray was the woman in brown armor who sat beside her. Jan went utterly still as the woman met her eyes. She did not know this woman, so why was she so familiar? She had black hair and the most piercing green eyes that Jan had ever seen. Her face was lined with both sorrow and laughter.

"You don't know me." The other woman reassured her while Jan tried to find her wits. "My name is Nia. Nia Korr. You are?" She inquired politely.

"Jan Orrs." Jan said automatically. "Um... What just happened?" She couldn't see anything but the plain she was sitting on.

"Eh..." Nia made a face. "The usual. Most Dark Force users are almost always the same. 'Bow before me'. 'The Dark Side is all powerful'. Yadda, yadda, yadda." Her tone was so mocking that Jan had to smile. "So many of them think power alone makes them mighty. It doesn't."

"Kyle hit me." Jan could not resists a shiver and Nia reached out with a slow hand to touch her hand.

"He did, but you are not dead." Nia was quick to calm Jan. "That idiot Dark Jedi thought that pushing your friend was a good idea. It wasn't. He has no idea how skilled Kyle Katarn is or how powerful he gets when angry. You do."

"I..." Jan stared down at herself. Wait a second! Why was she clad in brown armor? Armor that matched Nia's? She turned scared eyes to Nia who took her hand in a gentle grip. "Am I dead?"

"You are not dead." Nia reassured her. "Not yet. Very close, but not yet. This is in a mind. You are badly hurt, but you are not alone, Jan Orrs. We cannot interfere but so much, but you are needed. If Kyle Katarn takes the power of the Valley in anger, I do not think there is any power in this galaxy that can stop him. Luke Skywalker might be able to, he might not. No one else has a chance, and even Luke may not. Luke was a farmer before he learned about the Force, Kyle was a soldier." Nia shook her head. "Power alone cannot win this. Love may not be able to. I can hope, but that is all I have. Hope."

"What hope?" Jan all but begged. "If Kyle loses, he dies, Jerec wins and the Valley will be used for evil. If Kyle wins? He is so angry..." She shivered. "It won't end well, will it?" Nia shook her head.

"The Emperor himself might not have been able to face that kind of power. You need to stop him." Nia said firmly and Jan stared at her.

"Me? Um… How?" Jan asked, clearly wary of the obviously insane woman. "I do not have the Force."

"Correction." Nia smiled, but it was more sad than happy. "The Force is in all things. You had it. You did not have enough of the Force to train. Now you do." Jan felt her eyes bulge and Nia sighed. "I do not know how it happened, but you are currently lying next to what is likely the single most potent store of Force energy in the Galaxy." She shook her head, face turning rueful. "Ashla has a very odd sense of humor at times, but I do not find this funny. Not at all."

"'Ashla'?" Far from enlightened, if anything, Jan was even more confused.

"A very long time ago, even by galactic standards, the Light Side of the Force was known as Ashla." Nia explained. "Bogan was the Dark Side and it was very, very dark even by your standards. None of the Dark Jedi you face today would have any inkling of how powerful Bogan masters were. Thank god." She said fervently.

"I..." Jan swallowed hard. "I am no Jedi."

"That is not a bad thing." Nia smiled at the younger woman and Jan felt her fear lessen. "Fear is nothing bad, Jan Orrs. Even the Sith understand that fear is a survival instinct. They use it to fuel their anger and their power. The Jedi strive to pass beyond fear, to reach a state of oneness with the Force. I am neither Sith nor Jedi although I trained with both. I was, am, a member of an order of warriors whose name translates into modern language as 'Bladeborn'."

"You… were?" Jan inquired carefully.

"I died, Jan Orrs." Nia said quietly. "I died a very long time before the events that forged the Valley into what it is. Before the spirits of Jedi and Sith were trapped there." Jan stared at her and Nia bowed her head. "I have my duty however and death does not absolve me from that. I have done many horrible things in the name of duty. Perhaps today, I can tilt the balance more to Ashla than to Bogan. I hope I can. You did not deserve this."

"If you are dead… Then how are you here?" Jan asked. "And where is here?" She asked, looking around.

"I am here because my oaths hold me even past death. As for where we are? This is a representation of the mind of a huge mass of sentient nanites." Nia replied calmly and Jan stared at her, horror mixing with awe. "And yes, they are aware that you are here. They brought you here so we could talk. Mere moments will pass in the real world but we can talk as long as we need to. There is much to say, but the basis is this: Kyle Katarn needs you now more than ever. His love for you will drive him to depths of anger that even the Dark Jedi cannot fathom. The galaxy itself may fall before him unless you stop him."

"How can I possibly stop Kyle?" Jan asked, dejected.

"Not alone."

The real world

Kyle's lightsaber slashed through the double white lightsaber guard as if it wasn't there. The insane Twilek gave a screech. His cry of 'Ooo, you are an angry one' gurgled off as he tried to put his throat back together and failed. The the mad creature snarled and summoned the Force to heal himself, but Kyle struck again and this time, the blow went deep. Bok fell to lie still and even a Dark Jedi would not rise from such a wound. The dark haired human paid no mind to the woman who lay crumpled next to a pillar as he focused on the mound where his enemy was hiding. He could feel the Force bubbling in the earth as Jerec sought to tame the incredible power that seethed in the very dirt of this place.

"Jerec! Face me, coward!" Kyle snarled, his rage given full voice as he kicked the fallen Twilek.

A burst of raw energy flared from the mound and dirt flew every which way as the golden glowing Jerec blew his way out of it to land in front of…

What the hell?

A woman in silver armor stood between Kyle and Jerec. She hadn't run in between them. She hadn't jumped. One moment, there was no one there, the next an apparition in odd looking silver armor stood ready. It was ancient, that armor and covered her from her toes to the visored helmet that hid her face. Was that a sword that hung at her waist? Not a lightsaber, a steel sword! Where had she come from? Kyle could not see her face, but the sheer power that radiated off her to his Force senses was daunting to say the least. Kyle barely noticed, his fury still fanned even after carving through Yun and Bok along with dozens, maybe hundreds of troops. Now, at long last, his father's murderer stood before him, his face wary as the blind Dark Jedi scrutinized the newcomer with senses far beyond human sight.

"Who are you?" The Dark Jedi demanded as Kyle moved to go around her. She ignored him! She moved to stay between Kyle and Jerec! What the?

"Get out of my way!" Kyle snarled. "I will kill him!"

"Why?" The voice form the woman was calm, but barely repressed violence sang in her tone. Also a deep sadness. "Why must you kill this being?" She inquired.

She wasn't being mocking. She sounded honest. Curious. Did he know the voice? It sounded kind of like Jan, but Jan lay still next to the pillar. The Force said she was breathing and Kyle stiffened a little. He had done that. Cut her down. He hadn't even thought about it. She had been in his way, an impediment. He had killed her, but she was alive. Somehow. Jerec stood there, clearly wary of the newcomer as Kyle struggled with himself.

"He killed my father." Kyle said finally. "He killed Qu Rahn. He… He made me kill Jan." He swallowed hard.

"He did not make you do that." The woman corrected him grimly. "He may have pushed you, but you did that on your own." She shook her armored head. "She is not dead, Kyle Katarn. She forgave you."

"What?" Kyle stammered, stunned out of his anger and Jerec acted. The Force was an arrow thrown at the distracted Katarn, but both men went utterly still as the woman's sword simply appeared in her hand and batted the Force bolt aside! Both men jerked back. Whatever this woman was, she was no Jedi or Dark Jedi. He had no idea what she was, except for on thing: strong in the Force.

"That was rude." The woman said sternly. "Just stand there for a moment, moron. The adults are talking. We will get to you in a moment." She turned her back on Jerec! Kyle's strangled protest fell flat as Jerec stabbed out with his lightsaber and the red energy blade was parried by the steel one! That wasn't possible! Was it? The woman tossed the blind Dark Jedi away with a negligent flip of both wrists. Jerec landed on his feet, but was clearly confused. Jerec shook her head as the Dark Jedi tried to understand what had just happened. "I said, we will get to you in a moment, Jerec. Just stand there and be a good little Dark Side fool, okay?"

"No one talks to me that way!" Jerec snapped as the Force flew from his hands in two bolts of sheer power. Again, she batted the bolts aside. The powerful energy obliterated two inoffensive statues and did nothing else. It was hard to say who was more surprised by that, Jerec or Kyle.

"Who are you?" Kyle asked as he deactivated his saber. He shook his head. "I... I messed up."

"You did." The silver armored woman agreed. "Don't lower your defenses." She warned as Jerec pulsed with stolen power. Everything he threw, she deflected and he was clearly losing his temper as she just stood there, unscathed. "He is going to be stupid. It is what his kind do. The question is, what will you do?"

"No." A stunned voice from the side had everyone looking to where Jerec's last servant, the Dark Jedi known as Sariss stood hidden half behind an ancient statue, face ashen as she stared at the woman in silver armor. "No! Not you!"

"Sariss!" Jerec command. "Kill this pest!"

"You can try." The silver armored woman said as Sariss shook her head. "This won't end well for you and you know it." That was stern. "Traitor."

Both men jerked at the sheer hate in the silver armored woman's tone and Sariss recoiled a step, but firmed up her stance.

"I..." Sariss swallowed hard and the master swords-woman of Jarec's Dark Jedi drew her lightsaber. "I had no choice."

"You had a choice." The silver armored woman snapped, fury that matched any Dark Jedi or Sith Lord fanned. "We gave you a choice and you scorned it. Where is it, Sariss?" She demanded as she advanced on the female Dark Jedi who shook her head. "Don't make me beat it out of you, brat. You know I will and enjoy it."

That wasn't Jan. Not a chance. The sheer hate and power in the voice was-

"NO!" Sariss screamed as Jerec, enraged beyond all measure, dashed at the woman, lightsaber held ready. What happened next defined description. The strange armored woman moved, that was clear. But how? And doing what? Impossible to say. A twist, a spin, a slice, all of these and none. One moment, she stood with her back to him, the next, his hand was lying on the ground alongside his saber hilt as it extinguished. For her part, she shook blood off her blade and held it ready. Jerec snarled and fell back, his saber flying to his other hand as the woman sneered at him. For her part, Sariss was all but begging as she held her saber ready bur clearly she did not want to fight the silver armored woman. "Istara! No!"

"Istara? I know that name." Jerec stiffened and then he slowly shook his head. "Bladeborn."

"Do yourself a favor and shut up, Jerec." The armored woman snapped as she advanced on Sariss. "You have your own part to play in this and it is coming to an end. But you." She snapped at Sariss as the dark robed woman took a slow step back. For his part, Kyle was stunned. Sariss was a very powerful Dark Jedi, skilled with the Force and the saber equally. Darkness manifested. What could scare her? "Where? Is? It?"

"I don't know!" Sariss said quickly. "I took it to the Emperor! He rewarded me! He said he would safeguard it! That is all I know!"

For a long, long moment, the silver armored woman just stared at the dark robed one and Sariss swallowed hard in the silence. Jerec sneered, but Kyle just waited.

"We would have welcomed you, girl." The silver woman said after the pause had stretched so long as to be uncomfortable. "Your skill was and is undeniable, but your greed undid you. You cost us a great deal and your payment comes due today." Her visor turned to Kyle. "You seek vengeance?" She asked slowly.

"I did." Kyle pursed his lips. "I thought I could stop them alone. I was wrong."

"You fought well." The silver woman allowed. "A bit brash, but not too bad. If you fall, this will not end well for anyone." She warned.

"What do I do?"Kyle asked sadly. "I… I don''t know what to do."

"Give in to your hate!" Jerec sneered. "Or be weak and pathetic like-" He broke off with a gasp as a lightsaber ignited behind him but before he could move, it had skewered him! The white blade was one of Bok's. But the Twilek lay still.

"Weak like me?" All eyes turned to where Jan lay, her eyes open and her face set. She was glowing with Force power and the glow that had surrounded Jerec was fading! A look of concentration came over her face and the other white blade rose to menace Jerec who was still on his feet even with a lightsaber piercing him! Sariss gasped and started forward, but the silver woman blocked her way. "You will kill no more, monster!"

"Jan..." Kyle said very softly and then he slowly bowed his head. "I failed you. I am sorry."

"We will talk after the battle is done." Jan was calm as the blade that impaled Jerec flew from him to hover in mid-air. Both blades spun and reversed, as if held by an invisible swords woman. Was that Shien style? Kyle stared at Jan and then at the blades. Then, he smiled.

"You have failed, Jerec." Kyle Katarn said as he ignited his lightsaber again, moving to stand by the hovering swords. "I am not a Jedi. I do not know what I am, but I do not hate you. You have my pity."

"Save your pity for yourself! I will have the Valley! The galaxy will be mine!" The power of the Valley had completely faded from Jerec now but he was far from cowed as the silver woman advanced on Sariss who retreated. "Sariss! Obey!"

Sariss tried, she really did, but she was overmatched as she tried to dash past the silver armored woman. A clash of blade and lightsaber and then another and she was forced back.

"She is busy, you silly brat." The woman Sariss called 'Istara' said sternly. "Go on and die while I 'speak' to this traitor." Then she attacked and Sariss, for all of her evil, skill and power, was forced back again and again by flashing steel. Sariss was very good, this Istara woman was far better.

Jerec snarled and threw his saber at Jan! The woman didn't move as Kyle dashed to stand between her and the saber, deflecting it with ease. Then the sort of Jedi stared as the white blades charged Jerec who could do nothing but fall back himself even as his saber found his sole remaining hand. Kyle stared as the boogeyman who had defeated Jedi, Sith and mundane enemies by the score was struck again and again. Bok had been insane. Cloaking himself with the Force and striking with only his mad cackling as warning, the mad Twilek had come close to slaying Kyle a few times. But this… This was way beyond anything Kyle had ever seen. It wasn't just the sabers! The Force flew from the invisible wielder to slam into the Dark Jedi.

It was only a matter of time. Sariss and Jerec both cried out at the same time as both were struck. Sariss by steel, and Jerec by a white lightsaber. Sariss fell to lie still, only to have the silver woman cut her head off. Jerec fell to his knees, his saber falling away from his good hand. He growled at Kyle and the still woman on the ground.

"You want me dead? Do it! Give in to your hate!" Jerec stared as Kyle raised his hand and the Dark Jedi's lightsaber flew to it. He smiled as Kyle stared at the lightsaber. "I killed your father."

"Yes, you did." Jan said from where she lay. "Kyle? He is yours. Do what you must. Meet your fate with [Honor]." The word was not in a language he knew, but the gist was clear.

Kyle nodded and tossed the lightsaber to land at Jerec's side. For a long moment, there was silence as the silver woman turned to eye the trio. She bowed to them both!

"I may be fallen. I may be evil. I may be wrong in so many ways." Kyle said as Jerec turned his blind eyes to his saber and then at Kyle who took a ready stance. "But I will not be you."

Jerec smiled widely and jumped to his feet, his saber igniting as it found his hand. He charged but Kyle was ready and the outcome was clear even before the Dark Jedi started to swing. His face still held the same rictus of rage as his body fell, bisected and the last vestiges of power from the Valley flew from him to Jan who sighed as his body vaporized.

"It is done." Jan closed her eyes. "I… I am tired, Istara." Kyle spun to stare at the fallen woman, his face ashen, but the silver woman was there, kneeling beside her.

"It is all right, Jan." Istara reassured the other as she laid a hand on jan's brow and Jan's eyes closed. "Rest in the arms of Ashla, Grandmaster. We have this."

Kyle jerked as a dozen forms in brown armor appeared around the area. All held swords or other melee weapons instead of lightsabers. All bowed to Jan!

"Uh..." Kyle deactivated his saber and bowed his head. "What do I do?" He asked Istara who looked at him. "I am not stupid. I made a mess. I hope to be able to clean it up." He shrugged as she stared at him. "It seems I have a lot to learn."

"You will go far if you maintain that demeanor." Istara sounded bemused. "I too know what it is to fall and come back. You did far less than I did, but there is hope now. For the first time in years, for the first time since Sariss killed their Grandmaster and fled with his sword, the Bladeborn have a leader again."

"Jan?" Kyle asked as he fell to his knees beside Jan. Istara nodded "Then I stand with her. And you." He bowed his head as the brown armored forms closed in, some sheathing their weapons to pull out medical gear.

"I will be watching." Istara's voice was warm as she vanished.