Kyle Katarn: The Rise & Fall
Book 2, Part 2: Birth of a Jedi
Chapter 25: The Decision
A/N: Greetings everyone and Merry Christmas! Shanesnest is back this week with an update for you. Although, when you think about it, after Chapter 24, I couldn't leave you hanging too long, could I? Don't answer that! Seriously, this was one of the more emotional and exciting chapters to write as it takes a short cut scene from the Jedi Knight game and delves into more of what happens in those few moments. It also deals with the quintessential question faced by Kyle, choose the Light Side and what appears to be certain death or the Dark Side and its promise of power beyond description? Not to go too deep into this, but I see it as a question faced both in this world and in real life by everyone who's ever lived. What choice would you make? Okay, enough philosophizing by the armchair psychologist. Let's do the shout outs and let you get to the story!
Phygmalion: Thanks so much for the compliment. I really wanted to expand on that battle and show a lot more of the subtext whereas the game focuses solely on the battle. Seems to have worked. Wait a minute, I knew something about Star Wars you didn't! Oh, man! Up is down; black is white, dogs and cats living together! Seriously, that was a surprise. Happened to find it via a Google search.
Tinuviel Undomiel: You liked it? Good. I remember all too well what happens when you don't like what I write! Agreed about Rahn, he has that little intro, then nothing. It just doesn't feel quite right. I really wanted to capture what Kyle and Maw, for that matter, were feeling during the battle. The moments of victory, the frustration and anger and ultimately how Maw's verbal assault drives Kyle over the edge. Would have been interesting if the game had given you a choice over whether or not to kill him. Oh wow, thank you so much for the compliment! Made me smile! That moment on the landing platform as you'll see is a key step in Kyle's destiny, a choice that will affect him forever. You size up what Kyle's feeling about Jan more or less how I wrote it. She's his close friend, but also a near constant thorn in his side. And with the promise of ultimate power, what is one life, even Jan's, in the balance? And yes, it was her he saw as you'll see. Hey, that kinda rhymes.
Nerwen Aldarion: AW-SOME! I'm so glad I was able to bring you into the story that far. Too cool! Exactly, Kyle is facing a monumental decision that will affect his life forever. Yep, you got it right, it was Jan he saw as will be made clear in this chapter. Yes! So glad to hear you got that line, about how Jan is the one to share the burden with. The Mon Mothma thing was spur of the moment. The line where Kyle declares himself as a Jedi is important in that he breaks through the final wall separating him from the Force. Now, he can really learn to use it with greater efficiency and power. No, no! Stay inside! Too dang cold to be out!
Ovall Aocrog: The thing about the lightsabers just occurred to me last time since in Episodes 1, 2 and 3, Darth Maul and Palpatine both use red lightsabers as did Darth Vader. Guess it's one of those things where the game designers went with other colors. Couldn't agree with you more about the Dianogas, they still frighten me. I'll spin around and waste half a clip of ammo blasting one just out of reflex! I wanted the dual views during the battle since the game is all from Kyle's view, plus getting at the subtext beyond the battle itself. The cloaking thing seems to be how Force Blind works in the game, kinda like the Invisibility Cloak in the Harry Potter movies. It was Jan with Jerec and the other Dark Jedi at the end. Oh no, no Dark Side path here! I might write an alternate ending later on showing that path, but for right now, it's Light Side all the way!
Manus Dei: Imagine the title, My Manic Life by Kyle Katarn or How I Went from an Imperial to an operative to a Jedi in three easy steps. You can too! Boy, am I nuts or what? I tell ya, Manus, I dunno how they came up with the level layouts, but they manage to find more ways for Kyle to fall and get hurt than anything else? I mean, who had the time to build all that crap? Oh well, such are the thing we tolerate. Kyle is going to get better with his anger now, but you're right, Jan can still be the banshee from hell!
A/N: Here's hoping each and every one of you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! As I write this, I'm listening to the band SR-71 play the song, "Christmas is the time to say I love you", which is kinda weird given what you're about to read. In any case, enjoy and please review!
- Shanesnest, December 23rd, 2010 Glen Allen, VA
Planet Ruusan
Landing Pad just outside the Valley of the Jedi
Maw's corpse lay before him, sightless eyes staring up at nothing. What had once been a man, then half a man and now even less than that. Kyle was in turmoil, a sense of victory shadowed by the realization that he'd murdered a defenseless opponent. Over again and again, the same phrase rang inside his mind.
Jedi don't kill.
And then had came that voice, so full of praise, but not with warmth or even happiness. No, this was a cold voice, one that dripped with malevolence and evil, a voice the operative knew and wished he didn't. In the Force, he sensed the other presences, other Force users, but not Light Side. No, he could feel their essence, dark and cold. And yet, there was another, another presence, but not a Force user. No, this other presence was different, not broadcasting that terrible aura. This was something completely different and somehow… familiar?
Kyle whirled around, wide-eyed and teeth bared; saber held out in front of him, ready to strike. But he didn't. Just ahead and coming to a halt was a group of five people. A strong wind swirled across the landing pad, ruffling the cloaks three of the group wore. The cargo ship provided a background of sorts to the scene, but the operative barely noticed. He was too focused on the people standing before him. Though he had not personally met them all, in the Force he knew each one's identity. His eyes met the those of Yun as the Dark Jedi pulled back the hood of his cloak. And while the Epicanthix didn't shy away from the operative's gaze, Kyle could see that the younger man looked uncomfortable. Why was anyone's guess.
As his eyes moved to the next figure, the operative could not help but display his reaction. For there stood one of the ugliest Twi'lek's he had ever seen. Pale, almost sickly looking skin glistened dully under the sunlight. Gleaming red eyes gazed back at Kyle with what appeared to be amusement. The lips split open in a grin, displaying rows of sharp, needle-like teeth. A tunic that might have once been clean, white and whole was now a smudged gray mess of tattered cloth lying loosely about the Twi'lek's legs leading up to a section wrapped around the midsection and partially covering the chest. Strips that appeared to have been torn from the tunic were wrapped around the forearms. The image the one named Boc presented was that of a poor wretch desperately in need of medical care. But in the Force, Kyle could feel a strong and somewhat unstable power emanating from the Twi'lek. Forcing himself to look closer, the operative got the sense that Boc… wasn't quite all there. Further contemplation as he moved to the next figure, the hood on the black cloak partly obscuring her face. She did not draw it back as Yun had, but even the partial view could not hide the fact that the figure behind the hood was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her piercing blue eyes gazed back Kyle appraisingly, as if she was measuring him with them. A full lipped mouth stood out in its stark redness against the pale skin of her face, the crown of her head just barely visible showing a shock of blonde hair. Clad in a singlet with a red crest up around the left shoulder and chest, the woman's thin arms were exposed, but as Kyle looked, the wiry muscle under the deceptively smooth skin showed itself.
Both the woman, whose name the Force had told Kyle was Sariss and the creature Boc had started to go for their lightsabers when the operative had turned towards them, but halted in mid-draw, responding to a signal from the final cloaked figure, whose identity Kyle almost didn't need the Force to know.
Jerec.
The Miralukan's appearance was exactly as the operative had seen in his visions. The black singlet with reinforced kneepads and armored gloves, a thin plate covering over the chest and waist with red patches in the shoulders, high black boots and a black cloak with spiderlike red symbols running down its length. Strange markings, almost like tattoos, marred the edges of Jerec's lips. But perhaps the most striking feature was the strip of black cloth covering the recesses where Jerec's eyes had once been. And yet, he gazed right at Kyle as if he could indeed "see" the operative.
But as much as Jerec drew his attention, it was the last figure that made Kyle's heart thump painfully and his grip on the lightsaber to tighten.
Jan.
Indeed, it was Jan Ors who stood with the group of Dark Jedi, struggling in the implacable grip of Jerec, each grunt that issued from her like another knife blade in Kyle's chest. Her goggles were missing as was the equipment jacket she'd selected for the mission. She still wore the white and khaki pants, along with her gloves and equipment belt, but her clothes were disheveled and there was high color in her cheeks indicating the exertions she was making to get free.
She didn't come along quietly then, Kyle surmised.
Jerec yanked Jan back roughly, then shoved her forward, shaking her like a rag doll before letting go. Nearly falling, Jan went to her knees with a low cry of pain before lifting her head up, letting Kyle see her face. He saw fear there, but also anger. Just then, the ugly Twi'lek moved to kneel next to her, one of his hands reaching out to touch her hair. Kyle gritted his teeth at the sight, wanting nothing more than to slice the intruding appendage off at the wrist. But even as he contemplated this, the operative sensed something else as he looked at Jan.
The fear in her eyes, it wasn't just fear of Jerec and minions. It was fear of him.
Oh no! She saw me! She saw what I did!
A tidal wave of emotions tore at his body and mind, regret over killing Maw, horror that Jan had seen him do it, a cacophony of images flashing across his mind at light speed, all but incomprehensible. There was a sudden desire in him to turn and run away, and yet to do so would mean abandoning Jan. But how could he face her? How could he justify what he'd done?
I've got to try.
Kyle opened his mouth, intent on speaking to Jan, on explaining what he'd done. But no words came out. He tried a second time, but his mind had suddenly gone blank, having no words for him to say.
Jan, however, did manage to speak, her voice betraying the pain she was feeling in her body and in her heart.
"Looks like I can't bail you out of trouble this time."
Kyle remembered that earlier exchange, Jan saying he was only going to get into more trouble and he replying that's when you bail me out.
Oh Jan, please. I… I… want you to understand. I…
That feeling came again, wanting to run away, run as fast and as far as he could. But where could he go?
His path forward was blocked and the cargo ship was behind him. There was nowhere to run.
Jerec spoke, interrupting his thoughts.
"You've started your journey to the Dark Side. But that is not enough!"
Kyle's eyes moved from Jerec to where Boc was petting Jan's hair. She tried to move away, but the Twi'lek didn't let up, running its hand down her right arm, occasionally looking up at Kyle as if curious why the two humans didn't like what he was doing.
You scum, Kyle thought, I swear I'll cut you in…
An image of his lightsaber slicing into the Twi'lek's face appeared in his mind.
And rather than feel good about it, it made him sick.
Jerec drew the operative's attention again as he said in authoritative voice, "Strike her down, and realize your true destiny as a Dark Jedi, your true path!"
Kyle looked down at Jan, realizing Jerec meant for him to kill her. Their eyes met and he could see her searching his face, looking for some clue of what he was feeling. He could sense her curiosity, along with a wish to reassure, perhaps even to try and comfort him. But overshadowing it all was that fear, that fear of him.
Why are you afraid of me, Jan? Why? You've never been afraid of me before, so why now?
Her voice seemed to speak inside his mind.
"Because I never saw you strike someone down so maliciously, in cold blood. Why did you do that, Kyle?"
The guilt hit him, a powerful sensation that threatened to crush him beneath its weight. Why had he killed Maw? What hadn't he resisted? Refused to act? Refused to kill?
Because of what he said about Father.
That thought brought with a feeling of reassurance, of confidence that his action had been more than justified. As quickly as he'd wondered why he'd killed the Boltrunian, Kyle found himself curious as to why he should feel even the slightest bit of guilt.
I had to kill Maw, Jan. You saw him, heard him. He would have destroyed me without a second thought. And for what he said about my father, he deserved that and more.
"I thought Jedi didn't kill."
There it was; that accusation, the damning phrase that would let go of him no matter how hard he tried to banish it. It wasn't fair. Why was he being made to feel guilty? He had done what had needed to be done. So why was Jan, his closest friend, afraid of him?
She's afraid because she sees what you're becoming, and wonders where she fits into the picture.
Where she fits? I don't understand.
Oh c'mon, Kyle. It's not that hard to figure out.
The operative realized this voice was the one from before, the other Kyle. But what he was saying; was it possible?
No, you're wrong. Not Jan. I trust her.
Trust is something only fools believe in. She desires power, Kyle, just as you do.
You're saying she wants my power? That she wants what I have?
And knowing you, as weak as you are when it comes to her, you'll probably hand it right over, won't you?
The operative contemplated the question. Could the other Kyle be right? Could Jan have been pretending all this time to be his friend? Could it all have been an act in order to take his power away at an opportune time? The idea that this might be so, that Jan might be trying to take away his abilities, his power filled him with a cold certainty.
No, Kyle thought darkly in response, no, I will not. I have achieved this, I have earned this. It is my right to possess this power. It has been through my effort alone that I have achieved this. What has she done to earn any of it? No, I will not let her have it. She will not possess my power.
Well said, but you know she still desires it. So what will you do?"
Kyle looked down at Jan, seeing her in a whole new light. Though he had never believed her capable of such things, it did make sense.
From the first time I met her, she has taken things from me. Time after time, she has done this.
His expression shifted, his eyes glaring down at her.
But you will not have this, Jan Ors. It is mine.
The saber was there, he held it in his hands.
A single strike was all that was needed.
A single move and it would be over.
He would deny her what she wanted.
He slowly moved the energy blade towards her.
Jan's eyes shifted to it, then back to him.
He saw the question there.
Do not doubt me, Jan. I have the power to do this thing and you cannot stop me.
And then he heard her voice in his mind once more.
"You can't do this, Kyle. You can't kill me."
He heard the fear in her voice, but greater than was the disbelief.
He moved the saber closer, intent on showing her, to shatter her ambitions with a single stroke of the blade.
Is this the moment, Kyle? Do you truly intend to make this choice?
Though he heard Rahn's words, the operative's mind was too full of darkness to listen.
She wants my power! She wants to take it from me!
Power cannot be taken, Kyle. It must be earned.
It's like he says, old man, said the other Kyle, He's not about to lose what he's worked so hard for."
But you would sacrifice a partner, a friend for it?
I would, said the other Kyle.
And what of you, Kyle? Will you also make the same choice?
He looked down at Jan, contemplating his answer. An in that moment, a worm of doubt entered the operative's mind
My power… she does want it, doesn't she?
Search your feelings, Kyle. See the truth that only you can know
Don't listen to that old fool! He's trying to distract you! He's probably in league with Jan for all you know!
But… but Rahn has been kind to me all along, he's helped me.
For his own purposes!
I have faith in you, Kyle, Rahn said gently.
As if triggered by the old Jedi's words, a memory from the past came to Kyle's mind. He and Jan in the maintenance aboard the Intrepid, when their relationship had gone through it's greatest trial, the two of them more like enemies than friends. And yet, he refused to give up, to allow things to stay that way. They'd talked and talked and gradually, healing had begun. And he remembered what he'd thought about her in that moment.
"Don't go," she said, her voice slightly muffled from where her face was planted against his back.
"Please, Kyle, don't leave me here. I don't want to be alone."
"Well, okay, but I thought you wanted time to…"
"I've had time and time again while you were gone on your mission, Kyle. Please, would you let me stay like this for a bit?"
"If that's what you want," he said.
Tightening her grip on him, Jan smiled into his back.
They stayed this way for many minutes, neither of them wanting to move, each of them enjoying the warmth and feel of the other. Kyle closed his eyes and let himself feel the touch of Jan's hands, her arms, her body against his back.
How could I have ever said I hated her? I was such a fool.
And in that moment, Kyle remembered how he'd felt ever since. He'd decided then and remembered now that, without a shadow of a doubt, he'd rather live the rest of his life with Jan Ors than exist even one day without her. A light seemed to go on in his mind, triggered by the memory. Kyle saw clearly with true eyes now. He gazed at Jan, seeing past the fear to what was truly in her heart.
He knew what he had to do.
Pulling the saber away, Kyle maneuvered it to a guard position, drawing in a deep breath and exhaling it slowly, the last of the trembling in him fading away. His thumb moved to the activation stud, pressed it. The hum of the emerald beam died away as the meter-long shaft of energy retracted into the hilt.
"No," he breathed.
Just saying the word had been difficult, but on the heels of it came such a wave of relief, of happiness, and of confirmation that he had, indeed, done the right thing. He looked to Jerec, and then to Jan. Her uncertain gaze had faded and she was looking up at him with something like wonder in her eyes.
I'm sorry, Jan, I'm sorry. I don't want you to be afraid of me ever again.
Feelings from her flowed into him, feelings of victory, feelings of gratefulness, feelings of thankfulness, and something else; feelings of… love?
But the scene quickly changed as Jerec roughly yanked Jan back to her feet before tossing her to Yun. The Epicanthix caught her and held on, but not aggressively. It was then Kyle realized something was was different about the young Dark Jedi. He sensed confused feelings emanating from Yun, perhaps of uncertainty? Whatever the case, there was little to contemplate this as Jerec spoke, grabbing the operative's attention once again.
"A pity, then you will die."
And even as the Dark Jedi Master moved, Kyle could sense genuine regret flowing from him. It seemed that Jerec had never contemplated that Kyle would refuse his offer and was genuinely disappointed.
Sensing a possible opportunity, the operative was about to make a move, but found himself blinded by an aura of strong light. Jerec had raised his right hand, a red-white ball of energy materializing on the palm. It floated there for a moment before rushing out and striking the operative. The impact was tremendous, akin to a Force Push of incredible power, enough to lift Kyle off his feet and send him flying into the air, coming down onto one of the gantries connecting the landing platform to the cargo ship.
Grunting with the ferocity of the impact, Kyle lay on his side for a moment, but as the first in a series of explosions went off, the operative scrambled to his feet. Triggered by Jerec, explosive charges went off on each of the gantries connecting the cargo ship to the platform. Horror filled Kyle as he saw the one he was on was beginning to bend, the metral creaking ominously. At the same time, the cargo ships's engines, which had been left on to hold the ship in place, now went dark. The ship itself began to fall, putting even more stress on the flimsy gantries. Sensing the danger, Kyle turned round and ran inside an open hatch. Behind him, no longer able to bear the weight of the cargo ship, the gantry snapped with a loud crack, followed the others seconds later, the pieces beginning their long fall to the ground. And with the repulsor grid turned off, no longer holding the vessel in place, the cargo ship began a slow, arduous fall towards the ground, tilting over on it left side.
Pausing just inside the hatch, Kyle saw and felt the change in orientation as the floor he stood on began to tilt. He tried to keep his footing, but the angle finally reached a point where this was impossible and so he slid down the length of what had been the floor and was quickly become a wall until he reached the far wall, which was now part of the new floor. Red lights had begun to flash inside the space as the hatch above closed, giving Kyle one final of the canyon wall slipping by as the cargo ship fell.
This, he thought, is not good.
As if adding emphasis to this thought, he heard the ship's computer speak its own concern.
"Warning, docking systems have been deactivated. Vessel is in free fall. Impact in nine minutes."
Great, just enough time to contemplate how bad it will be when this thing hits the ground.
But then the operative shook his head, chastising himself. Such thoughts were worthless now; he needed to come up with a plan. And that's when, as if answering his thought, Rahn's voice came to him, speaking with an urgent tone.
Kyle! You must get to your ship! It's captured in the landing bay!
I'd like nothing more, the operative thought back, but I have no idea where that is, much less where I am.
Concentrate, Kyle. See the interior of this ship. See its corridors, its rooms.
Despite the clang of multiple klaxons and the computerized voice warning that there were now eight minutes to impact, Kyle closed his eyes, trying to ignore all these distractions, focusing in on his connection to the Force.
Yes, Rahn said encouragingly, Good. Now reach out with your mind.
Kyle imagined the motion and with the most curious sensation, it seemed that his eyes left his body and were now soaring through the corridors of the ship. Turn after turn, hallway after hallway, level after level, he searched, looking for that one place. And then he found it.
The sensation as his eyes "returned" to his body was a little disorienting, so Kyle took a moment to recover before seeking out the opening in the wall he had seen only seconds earlier. He knew he had to hurry even as the computerized voice called that there now seven minutes to impact.
Enough graveside whistling, let's find the way out of here.
The opening in the wall was about ten feet up, a distance way beyond his normal jumping ability. But with the way the cargo ship was tilting as it fell; the operative found he could walk right up one of the walls. Unfortunately, this positioned him a bit away from the opening. Judging the distance, he leapt, not using the Force for fear he'd jump too high and give himself quite the headache slamming into the wall/ceiling. His feet missed the opening and for a moment, the operative imagined himself falling all the way to the floor, but then he felt the impact as his hands met the metal lip. It was painful, but Kyle pushed the pain aside, too desperate to think about anything other than getting inside the opening. With a deep breath, he did a chin up move and managed to get his upper half inside. Pausing for a few seconds to relieve the pressure on his aching hands, the operative pulled his legs inside and stood, finding the opening was more than large enough for a man to walk down.
This Kyle did, moving at a rapid clip until he met a set of bars across the shaft. He reached out automatically, feeling the shaft of the lightsaber as he gripped it and brought it out, the emerald blade coming to life a second later with a snap-hiss. One swipe was all it took to reduce the iron bars to half melted slag and permit the operative to step past them and continue until he reached the end of the shaft, where another set of bars greeted him. Cutting through this set with the lightsaber, Kyle saw a long shaft stretching out directly below. Normally, he would have assessed how best to safely navigate it, but time was not on his side. Muttering a quick prayer, he jumped into the shaft and began to fall rapidly.
This is gonna hurt when I hit bottom.
But at the point where the shaft opened out into a larger room, a shift in the cargo ship's gravitational field slowed the operative's headlong fall into a gentle descent, his boots coming down on the floor beneath with only a slight bump. Taking a moment to thank providence, Kyle scanned about and, consulting his mental map, turned to the left where the room narrowed into another shaft, although this one was even larger than the one he'd just come from. Judging from the large fans inside, this area was part of the vessel's air filtration system. Gazing at the fast spinning blades with a concerned look, Kyle debated about trying to find a way around, but quickly dismissed the idea, there just wasn't enough time. Bringing the saber out a second time and activating it, the operative took a deep breath and, with a running start, jumped into the shaft. The strong current from the first fan caught him, drawing the operative forward directly towards the swirling blades. At an earlier time, this would have worried Kyle immeasurably, but not now. Even as he drew closer to what would have been for most certain death, the operative stared at the fan blades, focusing on them and then noticing four small wedge-shaped area at the corners of the cross-shaped framework that held the fan in place. They looked big enough for a man to get through as long as he could cut through the bars there. His eyes now moved back to regard the massive fan. And in the Force, he spoke these words.
You… will… not… harm… me.
It would have seemed an insane thought before, but not now. Kyle could feel the power of the Force coursing in and around him, now beginning to shift his path of travel, guiding him away from the swirling blades and towards the lower right wedge. The lightsaber was ready and even before it swung out, Kyle knew it would slice through the bars handily, and so it did. He moved through the opening seconds before the one of the sweeping fan blades would have cut into him. Repeating the action with the second fan, Kyle felt himself pushed forward towards what appeared to be a dead end. But a turn to the right revealed a new corridor with a floor of the mottled gray metal he'd seen so often. Turning to the left at the end, the operative moved through a circular opening, then experienced another shift in the ship's fluctuating gravity field, guiding him through a trapezoidal opening rimmed with banks of red lights. As his feet meet a floor once again, Kyle found he was in another large shaft with a two more trapezoidal openings a short distance away and red emergency lights flashing on and off. Moving forward through a large octagonal opening, the operative found himself in a large, dimly lit chamber with no evident exit. But then he spotted a narrow corridor along the lower edge on the left side. Stepping down into it, he followed the part that didn't immediately come to a dead end around a turn and through another shaft until it came to a stop by a small, squarish hole.
Moving through it, the operative found himself literally standing on the side of a wall that reminded him of a sink drain. The walls seemed to describe a narrowing circular opening leading to a room below with its own circular opening in the floor. It took a moment to see as the flashing red lights kept disrupting his vision, but he was finally able to make out that there was a cross-shaped framework splitting the interior of the circle below into four wedges. Feeling certain that he was still on the right path, Kyle dropped down towards it, the fluctuating gravity making it possible for him to land safely on part of the framework inside the circle. He was about to search for the next part of his escape route when he heard a familiar and unwelcome sound. A blaster shot nearly parted his hair as the probe droid, which had been "sitting" against a wall outside the circle detected the operative's entrance and attacked. Kyle heard the echoing of its repulsors as the droid drew near.
I've got no time for this.
Pulling out his blaster, he hit the probe droid with a dozen shots as soon it came into view. It jittered in mid-air as it was hit multiple times before exploding in a ball of flame.
Okay then, where to next?
The computerized voice, which had been maintaining a vocal countdown all this time, spoke up again.
"Impact in four minutes."
Three of the wedges inside the circle held little more than blank walls, but the fourth, on the upper left opened out into a shaft rimmed with red emergency lights. Kyle quickly moved down it, negotiating a left hand turn, then a right as the shaft began to describe an incline, followed by a second left and, just as an explosion inside the shaft went off, Kyle dropped down into the room below, landing atop two haphazardly placed black boxes. Stepping off them onto the mottled gray floor, the operative looked about and spotted a gray door just ahead. Finding the control panel, he had it open in seconds.
Great, another corridor.
And so it was, most of the lights in it off except for the flashing emergency lights. Still, it felt like the right way to go and so Kyle moved down it, trying to orient himself since the corridor was tilted at an angle making part of the right hand wall the floor. A confused mouse droid nearly got underfoot, quickly moving past, bleeping excitedly.
Poor thing probably doesn't understand what's going on.
Just then, an explosion went off behind him and Kyle heard the mouse droid's bleeps abruptly end as it had moved right in the path of the blast.
Shaking his head in sympathy, the operative continued ahead, slowing a bit now as his eyes picked up something on the left and right hand walls. Drawing closer, Kyle could see it was a pair of directional arrows. And judging by the red pulses on their faces, they were was telling him to keep going. Doing so, the operative reached the end of the corridor and had to fight a wave of nausea as the corridor described a right hand turn into a room that he had to walk down into.
Just pretend its level, he told himself, though his brain wasn't cooperating too well. There was an opening to his right and as he drew closer, Kyle heard a loud blast of wind. Moving to the opening, he saw that the space beyond was completely opening at the bottom.
A docking bay! Now if I can just find the Crow.
Nothing appeared at first, but as the operative gazed about the room, he noticed two control panels. One was directly opposite and the second right in front of him. Examining the closer of the two, he quickly determined it was a control panel for the docking bay, used to lower vessels into, prior to them exiting. Activating the system, Kyle didn't see anything happen at first. But then, he detected movement from somewhere above and by craning his neck, saw a sight that brought a wide smile to his face. For there, held in a docking clamp and being lowered into position was the Moldy Crow.
I take back everything I've said against her. Right now, there isn't a more beautiful ship in the galaxy.
The Crow moved down a bit further down and then stopped, at relative rest.
Now if I could just find a way to somehow jump from here to the cockpit…
Laughing at himself for such a ludicrous thought, Kyle missed the sight at first, but as his eyes roved about the Crow's hull, he spotted it.
There's a door on the opposite side.
He took a few fleeting seconds to consider what that meant.
If this is the control room to lower the ships into place and clear them for launch, then that other door must be…
He knew; he knew exactly what it was and what he had to do. About to turn and leave, the operative's eyes took in a flashing indicator on the panel before him, then widened as his finger stabbed down to answer the computer's request affirmatively.
"Confirmed," the display now read, "docking clamp is unlocked. Vessel is cleared for departure."
"Yes!" Kyle cried, pumping a fist in the air.
He was about to leave the room when he remembered the other panel. Moving over to it, he studied the display and felt a renewed surge of hope. Pressing the indicated control, the toneless male voice of the ship's computer responded to his input.
"Landing trim activated. Impact in seven minutes."
Good, that bought me a little more time. Now let's see if I can get to my ship.
Retracing the path that had brought him to the control room, Kyle entered the room with the black boxes, moving past them in the other direction.
There we go!
Finding that the corridor at this end turned to right, a ramp moving up to a room beyond, Kyle moved up it and then a second one as the corridor turned to the left. Here he paused, having found more of the directional indicators. At first it was confusing since two of them were pointing ahead and two back the way he'd came. It took less than three seconds for the operative to decide to follow the ones leading him forward. The feeling of hope inside began to grow as he negotiated two left turns, moving down two ramps just like the ones he'd come up on only moments ago. But as he emerged into what he assumed would be an accessway to the Crow, he instead found another window which gave him a view of the ship and the control room opposite, but no way out. Fear began to nip at the edges of his mind, telling him it was over, that all was lost.
No! I won't believe that! I can't believe that!
Turning away from the window, the operative found his decision rewarded as he spotted an opening in the floor directly behind where he was with a ramp leading down. Rushing over, he moved down to a short corridor leading directly to the metal door he'd seen from the docking bay control room. Keying it open, Kyle started to move forward only to come up short as there was little more than a small lip of floor beyond the door, the edge marked in dark orange and black warning stripes. The wind here was a shriek of unending noise, the canyon walls moving past. Looking across the docking bay, Kyle could see the Crow, but had no way to get to her. He considered a Force Jump, but decided the distance was far too great.
Blast it! I can't have come this far only to fail now!
Smacking the door that had closed and locked behind him with his fist, Kyle cast about for something, anything and then drew in a sharp intake of breath as he spotted a control mounted in the wall to his right.
Oh please let this be what I think it is.
Pressing the control, the operative saw nothing at first. But then, from the lower field of his vision, he spotted a ramp rising towards him.
Yes!
The ramp rose steadily until it locked into place right in front of where the operative was standing, the other end level with the Crow's cockpit. Feeling so elated he could have screamed in joy, Kyle cautioned himself as he moved across the ramp. One slip here and he'd get to the ground long before the cargo ship would. Closing his eyes and reaching out to the Force, the operative felt a calm descend over him, tempering the urge to simply run across the ramp to the ship. Instead, he walked across, although it was a fast walk.
Reaching the Crow, Kyle quickly opened the cockpit and all but hurled himself inside. Ignoring the safety straps for now, his hands flew across the control panel, and then reached up to the start switches. The normal startup sequence took just a few minutes. But with the ground drawing ever closer, Kyle decided he didn't have time to wait even a second longer than necessary.
Sorry about this, old girl. But I need you to grab some sky right now.
Moving with efficient accuracy, the operative bypassed the automated start sequence and began feeding power to the repulsor grid, overriding the safety warnings that popped up. As for the engines, Kyle found the reactor had been left online, but that the engines themselves were cold. Knowing that was he was about to do could very blow the whole system, he bypassed the warm up sequence and began feed reactor power directly into the engines. Squeals and creaks of protest came from the hull and more warning popped up, the engines clearly not happy at being rushed into action.
Dismissing the multiple cautions and silencing alarms before they could sound, Kyle checked to make sure the repulsors were online. A double beep from the control panel confirmed they were.
All right! Good girl!
Grasping the control stick, he yanked it back, holding it there so that the Crow would begin to climb as soon as she was free of the cargo ship. Reaching to the docking controls, Kyle pressed another button, waited a moment, then grinned briefly as the ship detached from the docking clamp and dropped free of the bay. Waiting until the metal walls had disappeared from sight, Kyle reached for the throttles.
Don't let me down, Moldy Crow.
With a quick three count, he drove them to the stops. Power indicators began to increase on the panel as did temperature and structural tolerance indicators. From behind his seat, the operative heard the reactor moan in protest.
C'mon, c'mon.
Suddenly, he felt as if a great hand was shoving him from behind. The tolerance indicators on the reactor and engines were holding just shy of the danger level when the thrusters lit. There was a low, echoing boom as the Crow's engines belched blue-white fire, forming a trail behind the ship as it leapt forward. Kyle felt like cheering, but resisted the temptation. The cargo ship was still falling and once it hit…
The Landing Pad
Held securely in Jerec's grip, Jan had abandoned any further attempts at escape, deciding to save her strength. She was also reliving, in her mind, the exchange with Kyle only a few minutes ago. She had seen nearly all of his battle with Maw, cringing each time Kyle had been knocked down or appeared hurt and mentally cheering each time he'd gotten up or landed a strike. And then Maw had fallen, clearly defeated and Kyle had stood over him in victory.
But then had come the Dark Jedi's words, the taunting, the accusing, the mocking. Jan could feel her blood boiling with anger and could imagine Kyle was experiencing much the same. But then he had pulled back the lightsaber and brought it down with a cry of such anger, such pain that she could feel it. Part of her understood why. But at the same time, the scene horrified her. True, it wasn't like she herself hadn't killed or seen Kyle do so. But never like this. Not against a helpless foe incapable of mounting even the slightest defense.
Oh, Kyle. Why did you do that? That's not like you at all.
And then Jerec had called out and he had turned to see her among the group of Dark Jedi. And the look on his face, a bared-teeth glare with the lightsaber held out as if he were going to strike one of them. What Jerec said next did little to help, calling for Kyle to kill her and complete his "journey" to the dark side, whatever that meant. But then, her partner, her friend had stepped forward, the emerald light of the saber coming so close, she could feel her hairs standing on end. And for one terrible moment, Jan wondered if Kyle would indeed strike her with the energy blade.
She had looked up into his face and, in that same moment, saw something dark and forbidding there, a sense of something that frightened her terribly. His eyes seemed to have actually changed color. She'd never seen him look like this ever before. And just when she'd begun to lose hope, the moment had passed and she was looking up into the face she knew so well, those placid brown eyes looking back at her. And then he had stepped back, turned off the saber, refusing to obey Jerec. At that precise moment, Jan had never been more happier with or prouder of Kyle Katarn.
But then, Jerec had used a Force power of some kind that had hurled Kyle onto a gantry leading to the cargo ship. Explosions began to go off and with the sound of metal stressed beyond tolerance, the gantries all collapsed as the cargo ship's engines turned off and the vessel began to drop to the floor of the valley. Jan's last glimpse of her partner and friend was as he ran through an open hatch. She had turned towards Jerec, ignoring the spike of pain this move induced.
"Why?"
The Dark Jedi Master had looked down at her with a surprisingly disappointed expression.
"The choice was his."
"What choice?" she spat.
"The same choice all my followers have made, except they chose wisely. I do regret losing him, however. He could have been a most powerful ally."
"Kyle would never have followed you."
"And so his fate was already chosen then. So why you do blame me?"
Jan stopped just as she was preparing another retort and quickly saw how the Dark Jedi had manipulated her words and reasoning to satisfy his own ends. She looked away, but couldn't keep herself from hearing Jerec's mocking laughter and that of the others, including the disgusting Boc. But then, there had been a flicker of movement. The blond in the cloak suddenly moved closer.
"My lord! I feel…"
"I already know, Sarris."
Know what? Jan thought. And then she heard it, the unmistakable sound of thrusters crackling to life, the echo long and loud, bouncing off the canyon walls.
Oh no, she thought dismissively, he didn't, he couldn't have.
But this thought was soon denied as the sleek form of the Moldy Crow appeared from underneath the cargo ship, arcing away at top speed, its thrusters trailing blue fire.
"Yes!" she called, pumping a fist in the air. "Go, Kyle, go!"
She heard one of the Dark Jedi utter a curse, followed by expressions of surprise and astonishment from the others, except for Yun, who quickly hid the grin that came to his lips.
In the Cockpit
Part of the engine display suddenly went red, the starboard thrusters beginning to lose power. With the other ones still pushing hard, the Crow's starboard wing began to drop and with it, the rest of the ship.
Not good.
Kyle started to reach for the panel, hoping he could find a way to get the engine back online when the display, as quickly as it had gone red, flashed yellow, then resumed a solid green as the starboard engine came back online seemingly of its own will. Grasping the control stick, the operative worked to bring the vessel back into level flight, but then noticed a new hazard. The engine failure, while temporary, had caused the Crow to drift a bit and even with that same engine firing steadily now, the ship was headed in the direction of a large rock formation. To Kyle, it resembled a giant "4" in reverse, one arm sticking from the base and protruding directly into the Crow's flight path.
No problem, the operative thought, I'll just adjust course away from it.
Manipulating the control stick, Kyle tried to adjust the angle of climb. In response, the nose came up a bit, but not enough.
Okay then, I'll just sideslip out of the way.
This maneuver too, adjusted the Crow's flight path somewhat, but still not enough.
C'mon old girl, I need to you to climb or slide a bit more.
It was at this point that the cargo ship struck the valley floor. At first, the hull seemed to hold its shape despite the severity of the impact. But then metal dented, deformed and finally ripped open. The fuel tanks were the first to go, their pressurized contents shooting out, coating the inside with the highly flammable liquid. All that was needed next was a single spark and due to the continued compressing and rending of the hull, sparks were flying everywhere. The fuel caught fire, the flames quickly moving back to the point of origin and with a loud "whump", a spire of flame cut through the outer hall, spreading out into the air. The few fuel tanks that hadn't been torn open were soon consumed, their contents adding to the conflagration.
The ship's computer continued to work until the last, attempting to close down failing fuel lines, trying to prevent further damage by closing blast doors and sending a blizzard of warning messages to the bridge. But even this complex system was in time overwhelmed and surrendered, unable to save the doomed vessel. With a great noise and a bright flash, the cargo ship was consumed, nothing left except small pieces ejected into the air that slowly began to descend to the ground.
The Landing Pad
Jan had turned to Jerec with a wide smirk on her face.
"Guess you aren't as good as you think. Kyle's getting away."
But instead of a look of annoyance or even anger, Jerec merely smiled at her.
"Have I?"
She pointed at the fleeing Moldy Crow.
"Looks that way to me."
Jerec spared the vessel a moment's glance.
"So it appears."
CRACK-BOOM!
In the next second, Jan's eyes and ears were assaulted by the noise of the cargo ship's demise along with the nova-like intensity of the final explosion. She put her free hand over her eyes, lowering it once her eyes had adjusted to the sudden brightness. And with it, a worm of uncertainty made its way into her mind. The blast wave hit a few seconds later, a strong wind that sent the cloaks of the Dark Jedi flapping wildly and tearing at Jan's face, hair and body. Had it not been for Jerec's strong grip on her, she might well have been caught up in its force.
And then, as quickly as it had come, the bulk of the shockwave passed, leaving the group on the landing pad relatively unmolested. But as Jan's eyes turned back to see the Crow, they widened in horror as she realized what was about to happen. Behind her, Jerec chuckled maliciously.
"Perhaps it is Katarn who is not as good as you think, Miss Ors."
She glared at the Dark Jedi Master, but quickly returned to regard the Crow.
Look out, Kyle, look out. Check the rear sensors before…
In the Cockpit
Kyle didn't see the explosion directly, but the noise of it penetrated the Crow's hull seconds later. And just as the operative realized what that meant, the shockwave struck the fleeing vessel. To the operative, it was as if a giant hand had shoved the ship forward, the speed indicator showing a velocity well beyond the capacity of the Crow's engines. And the rock formation, which was already dangerously close, was suddenly right before him.
He yanked at the control stick, but it was far too late.
The Landing Pad
Jan watched helplessly as the blast wave shoved the Moldy Crow towards the rock outcropping.
"Divert, Kyle," she muttered, her hand assuming a shape as if she were at the controls of the ship, "dump the engine power and turn hard away."
But the Crow continued to fly straight for the rock formation.
"Blast it, Kyle!" she cried out, "compensate already. If you don't, you'll…"
In the Cockpit
The operative ground his teeth together as the sound of the Crow's port wing striking the rock outcropping resounded throughout the cockpit. Helpless, unable to do anything to prevent the collision, he held tightly to the control stick, surprised how the whole scene felt almost surreal.
This just can't be happening.
But it was happening, the classic case of the irresistible force meeting the immoveable object. Something had to give, and that something was the Moldy Crow. With the screech of rending metal, the left wing tore free of the fuselage. Immediately, half of the control panel went red, systems screeching out alarms. The horizon went from falling below the ship's nose to rising above it in a matter of seconds. There was nothing to do, nothing to keep it from happening as the Moldy Crow, now with all the aerodynamics of a flying brick plummeted towards the rocky ground of the valley. Kyle had just enough time to secure his straps before the vessel hit.
With the right wing rising up, the vessel struck the ground on its left side, shearing away what little remained of the left wing. As the momentum imparted by the craft's headlong flight pushed it forward, the Crow fell over on its left side, turning upside down, the top of the ship including the cockpit issuing a trail of sparks as it went. Seeing all this happen, Kyle felt a sharp "thump" as a large rock hit the underside turbolaser turret, cutting into it, sending up a second shower of sparks and electrical discharges. It seemed the chaotic ride would never end. But then, the right wing struck a mound that spun the ship to the side and arrested its headlong journey. In the cockpit, Kyle slumped against his straps, the sudden stop having sent him crashing into a bulkhead, knocking him out. He didn't see the pall of smoke rising from the area where the left wing had been, nor the warning that a fire had begun in the engine compartment. With the Crow laying the way it was, there was no way to open the cockpit. The operative didn't know it, but he was trapped, with no means of escape.
The Landing Pad
"No!"
Jan's cry was loud and defiant, but she could do nothing to change the events unfolding before her. The Crow's port wing had struck the rock outcropping and was ripped away, the crunching sound reaching her ears seconds later. The vessel wallowed in the air for a moment, and then dropped towards the ground.
Jan's mind raced, searching for an idea, a plan, something, anything to keep what she was seeing from happening. But there was nothing she could do.
And then the Crow struck the ground, turning upside down as it slid forward, trailing a sheet of sparks. The headlong plunge finally ended when the starboard wing hit a rocky mound, causing the whole of the ship to rotate to the left and finally come to halt. She felt tears coming to her eyes, but willed them away. No way was she going to let these people see her cry. Instead, she focused on the Crow, seeing the smoke rising up from where it lay like a mangled metal bird, sparks flaring from a section of the hull.
Any moment now, she thought, any moment and I'll see Kyle exit the cockpit.
It occurred to her that he might be hurt, but shoot, when had that ever stopped him?
But as seconds became a minute and then three, there was no sign of movement from the crashed ship. Jan's anxiety began to grow when she saw flames beginning to lick at the aft section of the hull.
Fuel tanks must have ruptured. C'mon, Kyle, now would be a really good time to see you get out of there.
But in the space of another minute, she saw no movement at all.
"It seems you overestimated Katarn's capabilities, Miss Ors," said Jerec, "now perhaps you begin to understand that all who oppose me will suffer a similar fate."
No, Jan thought, unable to keep her tears at bay any further. This isn't happening. Not after all we've been through, all we've endured. He can't be dead, he just can't be. You hear me, Katarn? You can't be dead!
She started to move forward, reaching out towards the ship, but Jerec roughly yanked her back.
"Kyle!" she called, praying somehow her voice would reach him.
Just then, the Crow's hull rocked with a small explosion, the firing now covering the entire aft section.
"KYLE!"
She struggled with everything she had, trying by the force of her own will to break the Dark Jedi's grip, trying to stretch forward with every fiber of her being.
Jerec's grip on her intensified, driving Jan to her knees.
"Truly," he said, "a shame it had to end this way."
Screaming a curse, Jan twisted to regard the Dark Jedi Master with every bit of her anger and pain.
"You… you monster!" she cried.
But as she looked at Jerec, it seemed that the Miraluka was actually taking pleasure from her anger. He sucked in a breath as if tasting the air itself.
"If only you felt the Force as Katarn did," he said, "your anger could very well be the gateway."
Seeming to sigh, the Dark Jedi Master yanked Jan to her feet, eliciting a fresh cry of pain from her.
"However, all is not lost in your case, Miss Ors. You can still be a part of what is to come."
Hearing this, Jan felt her anger and sadness fade, to be replaced by a feeling of incredulity. A smile of contempt came to her lips and she was unable to hold back a bark of laughter.
"If you really think I'm going to be a willing participant in any plans you have, you're crazy. First chance I get, I'll shove a vibroblade so far up your…"
Jerec's grip switched so quickly from her shoulder to her chin that Jan could swear she never saw the Dark Jedi move. A muted cry escaped her seconds later as Jerec lifted her off her feet.
"I have put up with your impudence for the last time, Miss Ors. Provoke me again and you can join Katarn in the wreckage of your burning ship. Your suffering will not last long, but will be very, very painful."
Looking into the Miraluka's face, Jan could see this was no idle threat, Jerec meant every word of it. Seconds passed as she worked to endure the pain, letting out small grunts. And then it was gone, the sensation vanishing as quickly as it had come. She also realized she could feel her feet touching the ground once more. Still, her jaw ached terribly and she reached a hand up to massage it. More time passed as Jerec regarded her silently and then…
"Good, it seems you responsible well to physical stimuli. Now…"
"My lord?"
Jerec whirled on Sariss, clearly angry at being interrupted.
"What is it?"
Lowering her eyes, she backed up a step before continuing.
"Apologies, Lord Jerec. I only meant to inquire as to the possibility of Katarn having survived the crash."
"You saw it, Sariss. There was no movement from the cockpit at all."
She nodded, but then added. "It is possible he was only knocked out, my lord."
"What of it? Even if you are correct, the fire will soon remedy that."
"Agreed," Sariss replied, "But still, I feel we should make sure. If by some chance Katarn is still alive…"
She deliberately left the sentence unfinished, putting the issue before Jerec to make the final decision on. Rubbing at his chin thoughtfully, the Miraluka considered his apprentice's proposal. It seemed very unlikely that Katarn had survived. And even if he had, the position of the craft should prevent any attempts at escape. Still…
I must make sure. Katarn is too great a threat to leave alive.
"Very well, Sariss. Take Boc and Yun with you and investigate the crash site. I shall expect a full report upon your return."
"And what if Katarn is somehow still alive?" asked Yun.
Jerec gave the Dark Jedi a look. "I should think the answer obvious, young one. Eliminate him."
The answer brought a smile to Sariss' face and Boc giggled maniacally, bouncing up and down.
"As you wish, Lord Jerec," the blonde-haired woman said before turning away to move towards a path leading down into the valley. Boc and Yun were close behind, the pale skinned Twi'lek letting off another crazy laugh as he shambled along in a crab-like crouch.
Unable to contain herself, Jan posed a question.
"Is it possible?"
Jerec regarded her for a moment, and then answered.
"Perhaps, but what does it matter? Either way, he will no longer be a hindrance to my goals."
Just then, a figure in a dark uniform came into view, walking quickly towards Jerec. Coming to a halt a short distance away from the cloaked figure, the man dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
"Yes, Commander, what is it?"
The officer raised his head, a pleased expression on his face.
"My lord, I bring good news. The drilling crews report they have broken through the final level. We have found the Valley."
Jerec didn't answer right away, searching in the Force to verify the report of the officer. But when he next spoke, there was obvious pleasure in his voice.
"Well done, Commander. Inform the drilling crew that I shall be along presently and remind them that no one is to enter the chamber before I arrive."
"It shall be as you wish, Lord Jerec," the man replied, his eyes flicking to Jan, obviously curious.
"She is of no consequence. Carry out my orders."
"Yes, Lord Jerec," the man said, bowing once again before rising to his feet and striding away purposefully.
A grin of satisfaction split the Dark Jedi's lips as he regarded his open palm before clenching it into a tight fist.
"Finally, after all this time, the Valley of the Jedi is within my grasp."
Turning to Jan, he said, "Well, Miss Ors, may I trust to accompany me and be my willing witness or shall I have my guards bring you along?"
It took Jan only a moment to decide.
"I can walk."
"Very good," Jerec said, unable to suppress a chuckle as he regarded the expression on Jan's face.
"Come, Miss Ors, this is no time to be frowning. You are about to witness what no human has seen in a thousand years. This is a historic moment, one to be celebrated."
"Whatever," Jan said dismissively.
"Perhaps you wonder why it is I am bringing you along, eh?"
"Not really."
Jerec grinned again.
"Your thoughts betray you, Miss Ors. I can sense you are as curious as I."
Jan's glare intensified as she realized that the Dark Jedi had read her mind.
"This is to be a glorious day," Jerec boasted, "if the legends are true, then I shall find in this place more power than any Dark Jedi in antiquity or existence today. Power even beyond that of Palpatine himself."
"Sounds like delusions of grandeur to me," Jan said.
"Spoken with the ignorance of one who knows nothing of the Force," Jerec replied contemptuously, "you may believe what you wish. But with the power of the Valley at my side I will, before this day is done, have become a god. As for you, it is only fitting that an observer witness be on hand to witness my… ascension."
Oh my… Jan thought, staring wide-eyed into the man's face, he's insane.
"Not as insane as you think, Miss Ors," Jerec said, chuckling, "only giddy with the thought of so much power almost in my grasp. Now, come."
Grabbing her arm, Jerec pulled Jan gently, but firmly, guiding her to the drilling site.