Kyle Katarn: The Rise & Fall
Book 2, Part 2: Birth of a Jedi
Chapter 26: Yun's Decision
A/N: Greetings once again, my friends. I had not intended this to be such a long absence, but circumstances won out over desire. My mother had a total knee replacement back on January 18th and while initially everything went just fine, things went kinda nuts after she came home. Pain management became an issue plus I don't think either of us realized (as we do now) just how complex this surgery was. As you're reading this, take a moment to consider all your knee does throughout the day. Now imagine having to have that joint replaced with something artificial. Fortunately, I had family to assist me through the worst and as I write this, my Mom is back to using a cane although we're still dealing with some pain. Please, if you will, join me in praying that this blasted pain goes away for good! I am so DONE with it!
That being said, I have gotten back into a routine and this week, decided this story needed my attention. I am going to finish it, although I'll need a few more chapters. I'm playing through the final levels now and from what I've seen of the length and complexity, I may do a little creative skipping to move forward to the final battle with Jerec. And from there, we'll see. But for right now, please enjoy this new chapter and thank you for your patience during my absence.
Shanesnest – March 30th 2011
Whoops! Almost forgot the shout outs. Silly me!
Ovall Aocrog: Absolutely! I might consider adding a Dark Side chapter later on. But for now, definitely Light side. In learning to become a Jedi, Kyle is walking the sometimes thin line between evil and good and unfortunately, goes the wrong at times. I know what you mean! The first time I saw that cutscene, I was like, "turn, turn, TURN!" And then it was too late. It's a shame to see that old ship fall, but there's a better one coming. Jan plus Twi'leks. You're right about it, but I didn't see it until now. Weird.
Phygmalion: Thanks for the compliment! Its fun getting to explore Kyle's darker side, but you're right, that part of him needs a check up from the neck up! Y'know, I should've phrased as Jedi don't murder instead of Jedi don't kill. The idea I had is that Jedi don't kill without a reason, example Anakin in Episode III saying, "I shouldn't have done that" after he killed Dooku. But in Maw's case, I agree, there was a guy who needed killin' ten times over! I cannot agree with you more about the Falling Ship level. It used to drive me crazy!
Nerwen Aldarion: I love it when you start with "wow"; it makes me feel really good. You really got what I was trying to convey. I like to paint a word picture so vivid that it's almost as if you're watching the scene and hearing it with your eyes and ears. Kyle faced possibility the greatest trial of his life, murdering a "helpless" person and then having Jan see it. How can he ever explain or look her in eye again? That's what I envisioned going through his mind. Plus, there's his feelings for Jan as part of the mix. It's an incredible scene in the game. So you think Yun is turning, eh? We'll just have to see if you're right.
Manus Dei - Chapter 24: Shoot, this is nothing. The levels that are coming are some of the most torturous and, in my mind, ridiculously constructed. It's almost like the designers almost want you to fail. When you say the final puzzle is like a timed puzzle, I'm curious as to what you mean by that.
Tinuviel Undomiel: I remember trying to teach my Dad how to play football on my Atari 2600. Two hours later, I was very much regretting that decision. You make an excellent point about the temptation. I was trying to show a lot more of the emotional turmoil Kyle is going through. The game touches so briefly on it. Raising his lightsaber at Jan borrowed a little bit from the Dark Side decision where he actually cuts her down. I wanted to convey just how close he got to doing it. The switching technique I used is one I've seen in movies where they jump back and forth between scenes, like at the end of Apollo 13.
Manus Dei – Chapter 25: It makes the Grand Canyon look small! A Force-sensitive Jan? Now that's scary! Oh don't worry, Boc is gonna get more than a whack on the head. And I'm gonna take of Wee Gee, promise.
A/N: All right then! Enjoy, and I'll get to work on Chapter 27. Until next time!
A/N: Friday, 4/1/11. FYI. Was gonna add a song to the Kyle/Sariss battle, but decided at the last minute not to.
Planet Ruusan
Crash Site
The ship lay on the rock-strewn ground, a curl of smoke arising from the burning fuselage. Tilted over on itself, the Moldy Crow looked nothing like the starship it had been. One wing torn off, the hull rent in numerous places, it presented the image of a collection of beaten and broken metal. Forward of the burning power plant, lying motionlessly against the acceleration straps, Kyle Katarn lay motionless, eyes closed. At first glance, one might have even thought him dead. But a closer examination would have shown the faint rise and fall of his chest.
Three figures appeared, having descended the rock path to the floor of the valley and now moved towards the broken ship. Two wore dark robes, the third eschewing such garb in favor of a dirty gray tunic. Muted giggling could be heard from the one called Boc as the three Dark Jedi came to a halt before the remains of the Crow. One of the cloaked figures drew back his hood, revealing a youthful face with an expression of concern. Dark brown eyes assessed the wreckage.
I wonder if he made it.
Just then, the pale-skinned Twi'lek let out a loud bark of laughter, enough to almost startle Yun while the other Dark Jedi seemed not to take notice.
"Broke his ship! Broke his ship!"
Though he knew she would detect it and later chastise him for it, the Epicanthix could not keep his concern for the pilot of the crashed ship hidden any longer from Sariss, particularly his disgust for Boc. True, the Twi'lek was a fellow Dark Jedi, but the young man was finding the alien more and more unappealing. Searching for something to distract, the Dark Jedi found it as his eyes spotted the faint movement inside the cockpit.
"Lady Sariss!"
"I see it, Yun."
She spoke calmly, her tone somewhat chiding, although her thoughts were not dissimilar from her less experienced companion. To have found Kyle Katarn in one piece was surprising enough, but that he was still alive given obvious evidence of the violent crash was quite unexpected. However, she mused, having an intact body would be all the more pleasing when she presented Katarn to Lord Jerec.
"I think he's alive."
Sariss started to chastise the young man for making such an unfounded observation. But even as she opened her mouth to speak, the Dark Jedi reconsidered. Closing her eyes, she reached out with the Force and upon opening them again, felt satisfaction course through her even as a smile crossed her face.
"Indeed he is."
That pleasant smile morphed now, growing more malicious until it assumed the expression of a predator eyeing an unsuspecting prey.
"What should we do?" asked Yun.
Now, Sariss turned to regard the Epicanthix, her expression saying the answer was obvious.
"Why, rescue him, of course."
Her white teeth flashed in the light of the burning fire emanating from the ship.
"Rescue him! Rescue him!" jabbered Boc.
At first, Yun wasn't sure how to do this as the cockpit was nearly crushed under the weight of the ship. But then he felt a nudge in the Force from Sariss and, responding to it, closed his eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened for the first few seconds, then with the screech of rock on metal, the Crow moved, guided by unseen hands until it lifted into the air, rotated upright and came to rest once again on its belly with a muted thump.
"Go ahead," Sarris said, gesturing, and Yun moved forward to the cockpit. The change in position now had Kyle lying diagonally across the forward couch. Undoing the straps, Yun started to pull him out when another set of hands joined his. He looked to his left to see Boc, no longer laughing, no longer jabbering. The Twi'lek's face was set in a serious expression, appearing almost sane when Yun turned to look at him.
"Gently. Gently now. Mustn't hurt him, mustn't hurt."
Yun found himself momentarily caught in the glow of intelligence in the Twi'lek's red eyes. And then an insane smile appeared on the pale pink lips.
"At least, not yet."
And with this came another bark of insane laughter.
Moving the operative a safe distance away from the still burning ship, the Dark Jedi settled him on the ground. The sky overhead had filled with dark clouds, casting the valley into shadow. Only the glow from the fire slowly consuming the Crow provided flickering illumination. Boc disappeared for a moment and then returned with an object rescued from the broken ship. The Twi'lek giggled and jabbered over it.
Just then, the body on the ground began to stir, eyelids fluttering. In the Force, Sariss detected that Kyle was returning to consciousness.
"Perfect timing," she said.
Kyle's felt himself swimming back to awareness through a gray, featureless haze. As his eyes opened, the operative could see a cloud filled sky above him.
Looks like it's gonna rain.
Sensation began to return to him and with it, the realization that he was no longer inside the cockpit of the Moldy Crow.
So where…?
And that's when he felt the pain, not overwhelming, but enough to let him know he was alive.
Okay then, I'm not dead. So what…?
Suddenly, a pale face with red eyes appeared in his field of vision. Recoiling instinctively at the sight, the operative found that he was unable to move. The face above him smiled, pink lips surrounding a double row of needle sharp teeth. And then it laughed; a shrill sound that easily identified its owner.
Boc.
The Twi'lek seemed to sense Kyle's recognition of him and the smile grew.
"Such a bad fall you had," the Twi'lek offered, wrapping a dangling lekku over one shoulder.
Kyle felt momentary surprise as the Dark Jedi sounded almost... concerned.
"But, you'll be glad to know I found your lightsaber."
Looking up, Kyle could see the Twi'lek was indeed holding the metal cylinder, turning it this way and that as if inspecting the device.
"Want it?"
You bet I want it. Then you'll see what I can do with it.
Boc caressed the lightsaber hilt, running his fingers over its surface.
"Oh," he breathed, "very… distinctive."
And then the Twi'lek opened his hands and let the metal shaft fall.
It struck a rock near Kyle's head and lay there.
"Oops."
Incensed by the taunt, Kyle tried to retrieve his weapon, willing himself to reach out and grab it. But no matter how he tried, his body refused to move. His frustration and confusion over this quickly cleared as another figure came into his field of vision, this one clad in a dark robe. Hands reached out to pull the hood back, exposing the face. Kyle recognized it almost immediately.
Sariss!
She was standing near his left side, looking down on him with her cold blue eyes. The operative noticed her gaze seemed particularly intense and he made another attempt to move, saw a smile cross her lips. It took only a few seconds before he understood.
She's holding me here.
Boc moved out of the operative's field of vision for a moment, but returned seconds later, this time holding a good-sized rock.
"What are you doing?" asked a new voice.
Yun.
The young man's moved to where Kyle could see him, the disapproving look on his face directed towards Boc, who laughed derisively as he raised the rock over his head. Understanding what was about to happen, Kyle tried desperately to move. But it was no use. No matter how much he struggled, his body wouldn't respond. Sariss' Force Hold on him was too strong. With a final howl of laughter, Boc hurled the rock downwards and Kyle closed his eyes, anticipating the blow.
Instead, he heard a crunching sound from somewhere next to him, followed by the sound of an electrical snap. Realizing he hadn't been hit after and with the Twi'lek's crazy laughter filling his ears, Kyle opened his eyes. Finding that he was to turn his head a little, he looked to the side and felt his heart sink. For there, mere inches away, sat his lightsaber, or at least what was left of it. The rock had shattered the hilt and smashed the components inside. The electrical snap had been a small explosion as the power cell had detonated, rendering the lightsaber useless.
"Not so distinctive anymore is it?" Boc asked; an insane smile on his face.
Kyle felt his eyes sting. His lightsaber, which had once belonged to the Jedi Qu Rahn: a treasure which had opened up his mind and his world to the existence of the Force. And now it lay there, broken, destroyed, gone. The operative felt rage swell inside his mind, but quickly tempered it.
Fear and anger are the gateway to the Dark Side.
Even so, the desire to strike back was strong. He wanted a weapon, any weapon, something to let him take revenge, to punish the Twi'lek for what he had done. The anger threatened once again, nearly filling his mind, requiring a strong effort to push it away.
Just then, Sariss's voice rang out.
"Enough of this!"
Kyle could feel the inherent command in her words. Clearly, she had tired of the game Boc had been playing. But her stern expression soon gave way to an almost pretty smile.
"Tell Jerec that this Jedi will soon join the dead."
The Twi'lek looked surprised for a moment, then giggled madly as it looked down at Kyle's broken lightsaber.
"Oops," Boc said before scurrying off, using Force Speed to quickly leave the area.
For a moment, only the crackling of the fire from the broken Moldy Crow was heard, the light playing off the face of the Dark Jedi. And then Sariss removed the remainder of her black cloak, allowing her short blond hair to come into view. She wore her customary black singlet which left her arms bare and had a single splash of red emblazoned across the chest. Holding the cloak out, she waited until, after a moment's hesitation; Yun stepped forward awkwardly and took it from her. Slowly, she drew her lightsaber from her belt and activated it, the blade shimmering into existence. Moving the blade to a vertical position, her face was momentarily bathed in blue light. Then, with an audible breath of anticipation, she raised the weapon, intent on a killing strike.
Kyle struggled once more to try and move, but could not break Sariss' hold on him. The blue blade descended; intent on ending his life.
But midway through the strike it was met with a golden-yellow blade that blocked the path of the strike. Before any words could be said, the blue blade changed direction, sliding up the yellow blade until it found its target.
Yun gasped in pain as the lightsaber blade sliced into him.
He fell to his knees, losing the grip on his saber. It deactivated, the hilt striking the ground and rolling until it came to a stop near Kyle's left hand. Sariss looked upon her fellow Dark Jedi in mute shock, her expression incredulous. Seconds passed before she uttered a single, softly spoken word.
"Why?"
His breath coming in small gasps, a hand holding the place where she'd cut him, Yun looked up at Sariss, their eyes meeting. Amazingly, he found the strength to speak.
"He… is a Jedi, "the young man gasped, his eyes moving to Kyle briefly, "He deserves… a battle."
And then with a final, painful exhalation, the Epicanthix fell. And in that moment, Sariss' concentration faltered and Kyle, finding that he was able to move again, scrambled to his feet, unconsciously grabbing at the lightsaber hilt lying next to him. Backing away a few steps, he stared at the Dark Jedi who went from looking with disbelief at the body of her former compatriot's body to regard Kyle. Her ice blue eyes seemed to stab out at him, her face an unreadable mask. But in the Force, Kyle could actually feel a sort of happiness radiating from her as she raised her blade in an attack posture
It took the operative a few extra seconds to find the activation stud on the unfamiliar weapon, but he did and pressed it. With the same snap-hiss as his former lightsaber, this one displayed a golden-yellow blade instead. Kyle studied it for a moment, and then shrugged.
Not exactly the same thing, but it'll do.
Sariss moved towards him and Kyle retreated, eyes searching to take in the battlefield. The pair of them were standing on a plateau of mottled rock jutting up from the ground and angled down so that if either warrior lost their footing, they could very well roll down the incline and over the edge some ten feet away. Rather than take a chance going that way, Kyle spotted a path at the "top" of the plateau that described a downward incline, following the natural curve of the rock. Moving towards while keeping an eye on Sariss, the operative heard his mentor's voice speak inside his head.
Be cautious, Kyle. Of all Jerec's Dark Jedi, Sarris is one to be feared. In the mental and physical arenas of the Force, she is both master and perfectionist, quiet and reserved. All these qualities come together to make her a very dangerous foe.
Great, the operative thought back, any weaknesses?
She does consider herself of a higher class than those around her. This arrogance may provide an opportunity.
Hearing footsteps on the path behind him, Kyle turned just in time to see Sariss execute a Force Jump, flying up into the air and landing only a few feet behind him. Accelerating with the help of the Force, Kyle ran down the rocky path until he reached the bottom. But this spot was no better than the plateau. Rock walls created a narrow space that would restrict his movements. Additionally, aside from a small cave, there was no usable cover here. Turning round, he found an exit of sorts where the rock walls opened up into a large expanse of unevenly shaped ground. A shallow, but swiftly moving creek cut an irregular path across this space before disappearing through a narrow cut at the far end. On one side, brown and black rock formed a wavy sort of incline leading to a sheer wall that rose out of sight. Hearing a grunt from directly behind, Kyle turned to see Sariss walking slowly towards him, her lightsaber held in both hands, the blade pointing behind her. Not sure what this posture could mean, Kyle decided to put more distance between the two of them while he formulated his battle strategy.
A burst of Force Speed brought him to far end of the open ground, though a sheer wall blocked any further progress. Turning back, the operative didn't see his opponent at first, but then a warning cry from the Force sent him diving away just as the Dark Jedi landed right next to him. The blue blade moved, slicing the air where Kyle's head had been just seconds before. Retreating, the operative moved to where the creek first appeared which was just below where he'd jumped down earlier. Mind whirling, he suddenly felt a searing pain strike him. Every inch of his skin seemed to be on fire.
Sariss's Deadly Sight Attack! Rahn cried. Quickly, Kyle, you must shield yourself with Force Protect!
The operative remembered learning this power from Luke and Ovall. It seemed a bit redundant against shields and a lightsaber, so he had not thought to employ it up till now. With the sensation of his skin burning growing more intense by the second, Kyle worked to fight against the pain and concentrate on calling to the Force. At first, nothing happened. But then Kyle's eyes came to rest on the creek. The water looked so cool and inviting that he could image the sensation as touched his searing skin. A moment later, the very feeling he'd imagined washed over him, the sensation of flame devouring him fading. It took a few seconds for the operative to realize his skin was no on fire and, opening his saw a field of pulsating green energy surrounding him. In appearance, it was not unlike his shield, except this field was visible where his shields showed themselves only when struck by blaster fire. Turning around, the operative saw Sariss standing about a hundred yards away, a hint of frustration on her face. Then, like lightning, she moved, leaping into the air and coming down only a short distance away, her lightsaber humming loudly as she approached.
And that's when Kyle knew he had to act. There was nowhere and dodging away would only delay the inevitable. He was going to have to face this Dark Jedi, there was no other choice. Adjusting his grip on the unfamiliar lightsaber, the operative readied himself for the first strike.
Let's see just how good she is.
He brought the golden-yellow beam down in a horizontal slash, but Sariss did not react to it, other than to move away from the strike. Kyle reversed his grip, slashing upwards, but Sariss sidestepped this attack to, modifying her approach but still advancing.
What's going on? Why isn't she attacking?
The answer came as he drew his lightsaber back for another slash. Taking two steps forward, Sariss brought her lightsaber over her shoulder and down in an ax-handle strike. Surprised by the simple attack, Kyle brought his saber up to block, a terrific crash filling the air as the energy blades met. And though he was able to keep the Dark Jedi at bay, the operative felt his arms begin to tremble against weight of her attack. The pressure vanished as quickly as it had come when Sariss pulled her blade free and stepped back, eyes regarding Kyle with a touch of amusement in them.
Suddenly, she came at him again, this time an upward slash that nearly ripped the lightsaber from Kyle's grasp. It took nearly all his strength to hold her back.
She's strong.
Again, Sariss disengaged and stepped back. Her look of amusement intensified, lips nearly curving into a smile. A second later, Kyle realized what it meant.
She's playing with me.
And indeed she was, for Sariss' had learned how to add Dark Side power to the force of every blow she landed with her lightsaber. It increased her strength to three times her normal ability and she had used this technique well, letting her slender frame and thin-looking arms cause opponents to underestimate her power. Very few who assumed this had survived. And though Kyle had no knowledge of this, he did realize that he could underestimate this Dark Jedi even a little. Lost in contemplation for a few seconds, he nearly missed her next attack, a sideways slash that he brought his saber in to block and a moment later, felt his feet leave the ground as the force of Sariss's blow send him flying back several feet before tumbling to the ground. Mindful of his saber, the operative got his feet, breathing heavily and sweating.
Sariss, on the other hand, showed not the slightest sign of her exertions, her mastery of the Force sufficient to keep her body cool even during combat. Now she advanced, swinging her lightsaber in long, slow arcs, none of them meant to connect, but to intimidate. Watching her, the operative got an idea.
Okay, let's see how you handle this!
Coming forward, Kyle lifted his blade up, then brought it across and down, aiming for his opponents' shoulder. Sariss began to move that way, intending to deflect the blow, but realized a second later that it was feint as Kyle's blade changed arcs and slashed down, going for her sword arm. She lifted her blade up and when the lightsabers met, the impact nearly ripped Kyle's arms from their sockets. He backed away quickly, his arms screaming in pain. It was only by the force of his will alone that he managed to hold onto the golden-yellow blade. Giving him no quarter, Sariss pressed her advantage, dashing forward and snap-kicking the operative in the chest. Kyle's breath left him in a great whoosh as his chest flashed with fiery pain. Stumbling back, trying to maintain his footing, Kyle was able to focus his mind enough to throw a Force Push at Sariss', intent on knocking her down.
Instead, the Dark Jedi blocked the move and began to move towards him once again, describing a new set of arcs with her lightsaber. Watching her, it finally occurred to Kyle that what he thought were a pair of thin, spindly arms were actually two taut cords of solid muscle.
And if the rest of her is the same…
Pushing his pain aside for a moment, Kyle dashed ahead, executing another feint, followed by a punch to Sariss's midsection. It turned out to be just as solid as he thought, as his now aching knuckles attested to. However, the blow did draw a brief cry of pain from her lips and she backed up a few steps. It also served to increase her anger as the operative quickly discovered. Executing a short Force Jump, Sariss landed right in front of Kyle, swinging her saber. The operative blocked the incoming blow, but his weakened were no match against her Force-powered blow and the lightsaber flew from his hands. Reversing her strike, the Dark Jedi brought her blade in low. Unable to dodge completely and with no shield to protect him, Kyle felt pain rip across his flank as the blue blade sliced into him, cutting his skin open. The wound cauterized seconds later, but that did nothing to reduce the pain. Spinning away, trying to gain some distance, Kyle worked to control the pain, calling on the Force to help.
I cannot let her do that again.
Working to retain clarity and focus, Kyle completed his spin, firing another Force Push at Sariss. It proved no more effective than the first. However, as he reached out with his other hand and executed a Force Pull, Sariss nearly lost her footing, but recovered it seconds later.
Looking across at her opponent, the Dark Jedi could not quite keep herself from smiling a little. Rather than the easy kill she had initially assumed, Katarn had proved an imaginative and resourceful opponent.
It truly is a shame he will not join us. With Yun gone, Katarn could be a most worthy apprentice.
But the fledgling Jedi has made his choice. And even now, Sariss could sense no variation from that course.
You've fought well so far, Kyle Katarn. But this game is now over.
Marching forward with deliberate steps, Sariss began to idly swing her lightsaber in short arcs, no longer trying to intimidate, making it clear she intended to finish him. He'd managed to recover his lightsaber but wondered just how useful the weapon would be at the moment. He'd seen enough of Sariss's skills with her lightsaber to conclude that trying to dodge to either side would mean getting hit again. A frontal assault was no good either and if she managed to land another of those immensely powerful blows on him, he knew he wouldn't be able to withstand it. For a moment, there seemed no answer, no way of defeating her. And then it hit him.
Okay, if not to the side or directly ahead, why not up and over?
It was such a simple idea that the operative laughed to himself; remembering the old adage that sometimes the simple plans are the best ones. As Sariss drew within striking distance and swung her blade, Kyle executed a Force Jump, flipping in mid-air and landing directly behind the Dark Jedi. Realizing what had happened, she spun to meet him, but not before Kyle had his blade in motion. It crashed against hers', the difference being that this time it was Kyle who had landed the blow, forcing Sariss to the defensive. Nothing in her face betrayed surprise or concern, but Kyle could feel the flare of frustration in the Force. Intent on striking him, the Dark Jedi disengaged her blade, drew it back and then brought it down with a force strong enough to cut through the ground itself and leave a wide open slash there. But Kyle had not been hit, having jumped back and out of the strike zone. Sariss yanked her blade from the ground, intent on a new strike, but instead had to block a new attack from Kyle. His diagonal slash met her blade with enough power behind that she had to give some ground.
Her frustration rising to new heights, the Dark Jedi knocked the operative away and pulling her blade back over her shoulder, sent a fresh strike at him, but Kyle was already leaping away. Sariss tried to change the angle of her blade, intent on stabbing upwards at him, but instead saw the golden-yellow beam intersect her blue one and knock it to the side even as Kyle completed his somersault and came down a short distance away. Seeing that his opponent had been thrown off balance, Kyle seized the advantage and rushed forward, swinging his blade down, then slashing up. The blue blade was there to defend Sariss from the strike, but even as the lightsabers crashed together, Kyle removed his right hand from the hilt and forming it into a fist, struck at Sariss' unprotected flank.
Eyes going wide, the Dark Jedi could not hold back a cry of pain as the blow struck. But where an ordinary person might have fallen or at least stumbled, Sariss maintained her feet, using the Force to leap away. Landing on her feet, the Dark Jedi felt both shame and anger grip her in equal measure. How had this happened? Surely she was not so weak as to allow Katarn to land a blow and yet he had done so. Blue eyes narrowing, she glared at the operative with naked aggression for several seconds, her emotionless settling back into place only with some effort. No more games, she decided, it was time to finish this. She bounded forward, surprised to see her opponent do the same. The air crackled as both lightsabers described sweeping arcs before meeting in an impact so violent; the very sound of it caused small rivers of loose rock to be dislodged. However, what made this exchange different than the others was that, instead of resisting, Kyle allowed his blade to move with the thrust of the attack, finding that doing so allowed him to redirect the blue blade away from him and effectively parry it. Surprised to see her blade turned away, Sarris came at him again and again Kyle moved with her attack, sending the blue blade skittering off of his and into the rocky ground.
And while his opponent's inscrutable face told the operative nothing of the effectiveness of this new tactic, he could sense Sariss' frustration growing higher with each deflected strike. The next two strikes were faster and even more powerful, but as long as he avoided the basic block and instead moved with the attack, she could not touch him. The technique also left the Dark Jedi open to counterattack, loud grunts coming from her as she worked to defend herself against Kyle's counterstrikes. And while the golden-yellow blade never came close enough to touch her, the Dark Jedi found she was having to give ground, the force of Kyle's attacks driving her back. Redoubling her efforts, she caused him to retreat as well. And so it went for a time. Back and forth the combatants moved across the uneven ground, lightsaber blades flashing, connecting, separating, circling in again. The combat was slow and deliberate, Sariss relying on her power to shatter Kyle's defenses and the operative using that very power to keep her at bay. It was in the middle of one of these exchanges that the operative heard his friend and mentor speak inside his mind.
You have found the answer, Kyle. Now let your blade flow as the water does and you will win.
Flow as the water does? I don't…
About to say he didn't understand, Kyle's eyes landed on the shallow creek. Despite the rocky ground, the water moved swiftly over it, not impeded in the slightest, changing course as was necessary to keep flowing. As solid as the rock was, it could not stop the water. The water would always find a way through.
There's no way I can match Sariss blow for blow, but do I have to?
The answer came as the Dark Jedi rushed towards him, bringing her lightsaber across her shoulder, the blue blade humming loudly. As Kyle brought his golden-yellow one around to block the blow, sparks flew from the point of contact, a loud crack from where the energy blades met. It was then as Sariss pressed forward with her strike that Kyle did as had before, not resisting directly, but going with the motion of the strike, but this time allowing the blue blade to draw dangerously close. Seeing this, a smile of triumph began to appear on Sariss' lips, the smile of one who was confident that she had the upper hand. And that's when Kyle moved, changing the angle of his blade while maintaining contact with the other, drawing it down and away. Then, sliding his blade clear, Kyle circled it around in an arc before bringing the golden-yellow blade down directly at his opponent's head.
Caught by surprised at the sudden change in tactics, Sariss victorious smile melted away, her eyes widening as she found herself suddenly on the defensive, fighting to bring her blade up in time to block Kyle's strike, the golden-yellow blade mere inches away from her. She started to push back, but Kyle was already sliding his blade off of hers and coming in low, forcing Sariss to abandon the beginning of a new attack and slide her blade down just in time to block the blow aimed at her legs. Energy crackled and sparked as the lightsabers met. Staring across them at her opponent, Sariss sensed a change, and one she did not like. Earlier, he had been sweaty faced, teeth gritted together, his expression showing the extreme effort he was putting forth to block her attacks. There was some strain visible on his face now, but she felt none of the concern and fear that he'd shown earlier. Something had changed with him, but what it was she could not decipher.
And then, the golden-yellow blade was moving again, sliding across hers before moving back towards her middle. She blocked this attack as well and was about to launch a counterstrike when Kyle reversed the direction of his lightsaber, bringing it back across Sariss' midsection, the tip of the blade drawing a line across her middle. Pain exploded in the Dark Jedi's stomach, her concentration faltering as she let out a snake-like hiss; backing away and taking one hand off her saber to clutch her middle. She waited for the follow-up, certain that Katarn would be coming at her. Instead, she found him standing there, almost motionless, his eyes wide.
I… hit her.
It seemed impossible. Sariss was one of Jerec's elite Dark Jedi and had been training in the arenas of Force use and lightsaber combat for many years. And yet, there she was, clutching her stomach and backing away, the pain she was feeling evident in her facial expression.
For Sariss, the turn in events was no less surprising. She knew Kyle had some skill. The reports of his fights with Yun, Gorc and Pic and his destruction of Maw had made that much clear. But in comparison to her, a trained Sith with years of experience, he was little more than a rank amateur. And yet, somehow, he'd gotten through her defenses and landed a damaging blow. It had hurt tremendously, but she was already calling on the Force to heal her injury in addition to channeling her anger at being hit into power, power she would use now to strike back at her opponent and crush him.
Seeing Sariss remove her hand from her middle and resume her two-handed grip on the lightsaber, Kyle realized that despite this one minor victory, the battle was far from over. The Dark Jedi advanced on him now, her lightsaber held out to the side, no swings to try and distract him. And in the Force, he could feel the anger radiating from her, ready to reach out and consume him. But even as he backed away, mind filling with fear, an image of Jan, helpless in Jerec's clutches, looking to him for help flashed across his mind.
I can't lose this fight. Jan is depending on me and I won't fail her this time.
It was the image, the face of the woman he cared so much for that sent fresh strength flowing into him.
Sariss advanced and swung her saber. Kyle caught it on his, turning the blow into a half arc which knocked the blue blade away and allowed the operative to drive in with a strike at the Dark Jedi's chest. Sariss got her blade in place just time to block it, retreating a little. Pressing the advantage, Kyle looped his blade down and around, aiming for his opponent's legs. And that's when he learned what so many before had just before they'd lost their lives. When the Dark Jedi Sariss appeared to show weakness; that was when she was at her most deadly.
Sariss not only blocked his attack, but sent the operative sailing out to the side, even as she pulled her left hand from the hilt of her lightsaber and fired a punch into Kyle's face, striking him full on the cheek. Pain exploded in the operative's face, his left eye closing reflexively. Backing away and trying to overcome the force of Sariss blow, Kyle's footing became uncertain. Allowing herself to smile at her stumbling opponent, Sariss extended both hands, hitting the operative with a Force Push that lifted him off his feet, sending him sailing through the air until he landed with a large splash in the creek. The impact was jarring, sending rivers of fire shooting along his back and legs. And to add insult to injury, the lightsaber had been dislodged from his grasp.
Trying to maintain focus, the pain threatening to overwhelm, Kyle brushed a hand across his face, attempting to clear away water that had splashed into his eyes. But when they did clear, the operative almost wished they hadn't for standing above was Sariss, a mocking smile on her face, her lightsaber held loosely in one hand. She stared down at for a long moment, and then opened her mouth to speak.
"You fought well. But really, did you think you were going to defeat me?"
Looking up at her, Kyle shrugged.
"Had to try, didn't I?"
Her smile widened, her expression showing that she was considering something.
"Lord Jerec said to kill you. But I wonder. You are obviously strong in the Force, though you do need training in the arts of combat. Join me. Together, we can…"
"Over my dead body," Kyle replied emphatically.
The smile disappeared from Sariss' face. Extending her free hand, she hit Kyle with Force Push, the operative's scream cutting off as the breath was driven from his lungs. Seconds passed as Sariss set her feet and put both hands on the lightsaber hilt, reversing the blade so it pointed down and drawing it up, intending on driving it directly into Kyle's chest.
"Okay, okay!" the operative exclaimed, his voice hoarse, one hand held out in a warding off gesture, "just wait a second! Please!"
Seeing the fear in his eyes, Sariss hesitated. Kyle was at her mercy and the Dark Jedi knew one sweep of her lightsaber would finish him. So why not see if she might play with him a bit longer before killing him?
"What is it?"
"Just wanted to know if you're thirsty," the operative said casually.
"Thirsty?"
"Yeah. I mean, we've got some water here. Why not have some?"
And with that, Kyle exercised himself in the Force, sweeping his arm forward and sending a spray of water directly into Sariss' face. It blinded her for a only a moment as she quickly wiped her eyes clear and with an expression of supreme anger drove the blue blade directly down, anticipating the scream of pain when it bit into her opponent's skin. Then would come the sensation as life left the body. The feeling it brought in the Force was beyond words and Sariss smiled to herself as she anticipated feeling it now as she had with so many others. But as seconds ticked away, she experienced none of these things. No scream, no sensation, not even the smell of flesh burning away under the lightsaber's irresistible force.
"What?"
She blinked twice and looked down to where her opponent lay, but finding that he was gone. Only the swiftly flowing water was there, the ground beneath and the lightsaber swiftly sinking down into the porous ground. Overbalanced, Sariss fell forward; realizing only too late that the operative had rolled out of the way of her strike in those few seconds she'd been blinded had somehow regained his feet.
She saw his tooth-filled grin seconds before he moved. And then her midsection was on fire, victim of a knee lift to her stomach causing her to pitch forward. Her back screamed seconds later as an ax handle blow struck. No non Force user could have withstood such an attack and still be able to fight. But Sariss was a Dark Jedi. Pain was something to embrace, to use and to channel into even greater mastery of the Force.
Dropping to her knees, the Dark Jedi let the pain wash over her, her mind transforming it into power. Grabbing for her saber, she yanked it free of the creek bed, sending an explosion of water and steam into the air. Swinging it in the direction of where she had last seen her opponent, the blue blade met only empty air.
Blast! Where is he!
Her ears caught the sound of a lightsaber blade cutting the air nearby. Rising to her feet with an exclamation, Sariss saw that Kyle was upon her, the golden-yellow blade slashing down. Only a Force Jump at the last second saved her from certain death. But even as she leapt away, Sariss saw Kyle extend his hand, the Force Push hitting a second later and turning her controlled leap into a wild gyration that would have sent her smashing into a rock wall. Reaching deep inside, gathering the Force about her, Sariss flipped herself around and extended her feet. They struck the rock wall even as she relaxed her legs allowing them to bend naturally. Then, with a flexing of muscle, she rebounded off the wall, sending herself flying back towards where Kyle was standing. Her smile returned. Certainly her opponent would never have anticipated her ability to react to an application of Force power. At the same time, Kyle's ability to recover and launch a new attack impressed. He was indeed a formidable opponent. But she was a Dark Jedi Master in all but name, more than equal to a fledgling Jedi with limited skills. Or so she thought.
Coming to ground within easy striking distance, Sariss extended her saber blade, her intention to send the blue blade stabbing into and through the operative's chest. Instead, she was shocked to see her attack thwarted, the blue blade knocked up and away as Kyle guided his saber in a sweeping arc. Then, with a change in the angle of the blade, the operative pivoted on his ankle, executing a spin, he struck.
For her part, Sariss felt nothing less than complete surprise at seeing her blade knocked away.
How? How is this possible? There's no way he could have anticipated my attack. So h…
Further contemplation was cut off as the Dark Jedi's breath exploded from her lungs, followed a river of raw pain as Kyle's lightsaber bit deeply just above her waist, the blow nearly bisecting her, the tip missing the spinal column by micro-inches before exiting out the other side. A mist of red, almost like a cloud, fountained out, coating both Jedi and Sith. Realizing she'd been hit, Sariss began to reach for her midsection but never made it. Strength seemed to flee from her limbs as she dropped to her knees in front of Kyle. Amazingly, her eyes never left his and even as her brain began to shut down, the Dark Jedi tried to understand just how this know-nothing novice had beaten her.
For Kyle, having only recently been laid out on the ground, facing certain death, it would have seemed unreal had he not experienced every last second of it. From finding the strength in the Force to sweep the water into Sariss', blinding her for critical seconds to being able to roll away from her strike and get to his feet. And then, the knee lift, the ax handle strike, neither of them blows sufficient to disable the Dark Jedi, but granting more precious seconds. He had held out his hand and the lightsaber which was his and yet not his rocketed into it, the blade coming to life with its distinctive snap-hiss. A strike that he somehow knew wouldn't work, but forced his opponent to dodge and attempt to leap away. And then, in his mind, a vision, one so clear and precise it couldn't be ignored. He extended the hand not holding the saber, seeing the effect as Sariss tumbled briefly, the Force Push spoiling her leap.
Now she'll push off the rock and come at me.
Where this thought came from Kyle didn't know, but his eyes recorded that very event as the Dark Jedi seemed to bounce off the rock wall and flew towards with incredible speed, far too fast for a normal human to follow. But even as she touched down, Kyle was moving, guiding his lightsaber to knock Sariss' away. And then, as if body had undergone no hardship at all, the operative had pivoted with a dancer's grace and slashed out with the lightsaber, feeling the brief resistance as the golden-yellow struck, then sliced through, the flesh of his opponent. It was certainly a fatal blow, so how were Sariss' eyes still meeting his unflinchingly?
For one brief moment, Kyle wondered if somehow he had missed or perhaps this Sith was impervious to a lightsaber strike. He watched as, still holding her glowing weapon, Sariss raised the arm holding it to the sky, almost as if saluting something or perhaps someone. And the way she was holding the saber…
Sudden horror stole over him.
She's not going to run herself through is she?
Truly, the Dark Jedi's posture was not unlike that of species in the process of a ritual suicide. But in this case, the operative was far off the mark. Sariss' eyes left his and turned to look up at the sky. Her lips moved and in a voice that just barely carried to his ears spoke.
"Forgive me, Lord Jerec. I have failed you."
And with that, Sariss' eyes closed for the last time and she crumpled over on her side, the lightsaber falling from her grasp. A final exhalation came from the Dark Jedi's lips and she was finally still. Kyle stared at the motionless form for several seconds before the realization that Sariss was truly dead came to him. And with it, the Force seemed to retreat from him as well.
Exhaling deeply, the operative took a few shaky steps away from the body before half-sitting, half falling near the small creek, barely remembering to shut down his lightsaber. Pain seemed to grip his joints all at once and it was with some difficulty that he managed to pull himself forward and with shaking hands scoop a bit of water from the creek into his mouth. Parched lips and a dry throat responded with gratitude to the cold water and Kyle exerted himself to take more, but in small sips so as to not to overwhelm his already traumatized system. In time, his thirst somewhat abated, the operative managed to sit himself up and contemplate the area around him. The sun was gone, dark clouds filling the sky. And as he continued to sit there, a gentle rain began to fall. In time, it began to soak his clothes, but was so refreshing that Kyle didn't care. Or at least he didn't until the first rumble of thunder. And though pain still wracked his body, the operative found himself smiling.
Be just my luck to survive a Dark Jedi only to get fried by a bolt of lightning.
The smile turned into a bark of laughter as he imagined the scene. Sitting on the ground resting as a streak of pure white energy lanced from the sky and struck him, making him jitter and dance like a marionette until he was released, and with steam arising from his blackened body, fall back to the ground.
Oh-kay, he thought, the smile fading a little, bad mental image. I need to find some cover. But first, I need to be able to move. Closing his eyes and concentrating, Kyle felt the Force respond, bringing healing energy to his limbs and providing renewed energy so that he was able to rise to his feet. Remembering the small cave he had seen earlier, the operative moved that way, hoping there'd be enough room inside to shelter him from the approaching storm. But just as his eyes found the opening, they were drawn to the high plateau on his left. The memory flashed across his mind. Sariss's saber descending, Yun's intercepting it. The young man's cry as the blue blade struck him and the final words the Epicanthix had spoken.
"He… is a Jedi. He deserves… a battle."
Pulling the still unfamiliar lightsaber hilt from his belt, Kyle examined it. It was far sleeker than his own, an affair of chrome and black metal with only two small button-like projections about three-quarters of the way up the shaft. Even the receptacle from which the energy blade emerged was a shiny chrome color. Another rumble of thunder prompted Kyle to decide. He moved towards the path leading up the top of the plateau. It took time as even with the Force helping, the operative's overtaxed body was demanding rest. But he drove himself to keep going.
I have to. Such a sacrifice has to be honored.
But when he reached the top of the path and stepped onto the plateau upon which the body of Yun had lain, he found… nothing. Eyes widening in surprise and with his legs aching more by the second, Kyle made a brief search of the plateau, looking in vain for some trace of Yun's body, a leg, a hand, a scrap of clothing. But there was nothing to be found.
What happened to him?
Just then, lightning flashed brightly, and close enough that the operative had to abandon this place or actually risk being struck. Making his way back down the path, the gentle rain became a torrent, pounding on him. Shielding his eyes, Kyle managed to find and enter the cave just a bolt of lightning struck the ground nearby, followed a loud clap of thunder.
Okay, no more graveyard whistling for me. That was way too close.
Retrieving a glow rod from his equipment, Kyle activated it and used the light source to examine the cave's interior. Fortunately, it turned out to be larger than at first glance and the operative was able to move far back enough from the entrance to be shield from the wind and rain as the storm's fury peaked, lashing the ground outside. Kyle also made sure to check that there was nothing else living inside the cave, at least nothing that would be a threat to him. Reaching deeper into the Force for a last boost of energy, the operative looked about some more and, with a sense of relief, found that the cave would provide an ideal to rest. There were piles of debris scattered, including several chunks of wood, dried grass and other items for the makings of a fire. A touch of the lightsaber blade to the kindling brought a flash of flame and by carefully feeding the small ember, it grew and soon, Kyle was able to sit before the fire and dry himself. His dwindling supply of ration packs made for a serviceable meal and as the storm outside continued to rage, Kyle dared to approach the mouth of the cave only long enough to gather some water. Then, sitting down with legs crossed and closing his eyes, he reached out with his mind. The rain, wind and thunder outside were soon forgotten as the swirling eddies of the Force filled his mind. Asking for and feeling healing energies began to encompass his entire being, the operative let himself fall further and further into the real and yet not-real world. He felt at peace, composed and relaxed.
You have done well, Kyle. You took on and defeated a superior opponent, one schooled in the ways of the Force and especially the Dark Side. Many have fallen at her hand. That you did not marks your progress as a Jedi.
There's still Boc to face, and Jerec.
With every trial faced and surmounted, Kyle, another inevitably takes its place, Rahn said with a trace of humor in his voice. Continue to hold fast to your beliefs and convictions. The Dark Side is growing in power here. I can feel it.
Then Jerec has reached the Valley.
I fear you are right. And though the Jedi trapped there will try to resist him, they will be no match. The Valley will call to Jerec and likely accept him.
But Rahn, if Jerec obtains the full power of the Valley, how can I hope to defeat him?
The future you speak of is too clouded to see, Kyle. I only know that you must face Jerec. He cannot be allowed to obtain such power as is stored here.
And what about Jan?
I cannot say, Kyle. That Jerec has kept her alive this long indicates he has a purpose for her. But what it is I do not know.
She can't die, Rahn. I won't allow it.
Be cautious, my friend. The Dark Side can use such words to tempt and corrupt you.
I understand that, but…
I know well your feelings, Kyle, though you may not. Whether or not she will live is beyond my ability to see. I only know that death awaits her should you fail.
Nice pep talk. Think I'll go slit my wrists.
I speak only the truth to you, Kyle. You know this well.
I do. I guess I'm just… scared.
You would be foolish were you not, my friend. Remember well the history of this place. Seven separate wars between Sith and Jedi. And in the end, neither side was truly victorious.
So then, what can one Jedi hope to accomplish?
Nothing; unless that one Jedi is you.
Great, now you're filling me with delusions of grandeur.
Not delusions, Kyle, but an opportunity to change the fate of the galaxy forever. And remember this too, there are Jedi in the Valley. Though their corporeal forms are long dead, they will know a fellow Jedi from a Sith.
Are you saying they'll help me?
It is a distinct possibility.
In other words, you don't know.
Indeed. And now you must rest. The Force can sustain your body for a time, but without a brief respite, the challenges before you will become that much harder.
No argument there.
Rahn said something else, but Kyle didn't hear it. In both mind and body, he was already fast asleep.
Planet Ruusan
Underground
Have you ever been in a place so full of history that you sensed it the moment you entered? Be it a monument, a graveyard or a battlefield, there are places where the impact of the event, the energy of the moment are so imbued in the place you cannot help but feel it. Such a place is the Valley of the Jedi.
With Boc keeping a watchful eye on her the whole, Jan reluctantly came to the conclusion that she had little chance of escape. What few distractions she'd tried on the Twi'lek had resulted in only more inane giggling and was quickly driving her up the wall. Besides, as she followed Jerec's caped form down corridor after corridor, turning seemingly at random, it occurred to her that even should she manage to get free, she had no idea where she was or how to get back to the surface. And with Kyle gone…
She shook her head, forcing the image away.
Though her logical mind knew it was more than likely that Kyle was dead or soon would be; Jan was holding onto a small grain of hope that somehow he might have survived and would come for her. The alternative was something she just couldn't deal with.
You've got to be alive, Katarn. You've just…
Jerec came to a sudden halt, forcing Jan to stop quickly lest she walk into him.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, "a little warning would be nice!"
Just over her left shoulder, Boc let out a loud bark of insane laughter at her statement.
Looking around, Jan wondered why the Dark Jedi had stopped. This hallway seemed no different than any of the others they'd passed through. True, the sandstone walls with their intricate designs and puzzling imagery made her curious about this place, but given the current situation, she'd just as soon be back topside.
The design in the wall to her left drew her attention briefly. Squinting, she tried to decipher, but the light was not sufficient. Torches were arranged along the walls at intervals, but their flickering light cast much of their path in shadow.
So what's so special about this place? Jan asked herself.
Before her, Jerec had not seen fit to react to her remark. Instead, he drew in a long breath.
"It is here."
"What's here?" Jan asked after a moment, trying to see past the Dark Jedi
"What could it be? What could it be?" parroted Boc.
"Silence!" Jerec said sharply and then held out his arms, the gloved fingers spreading. He concentrated, reaching out with the Force.
Suddenly, the Dark Jedi Master's gaze turned skyward as if something in the ceiling had caught his attention. Not understanding, Jan watched in curiosity as a smile spread across Jerec's face. He turned to regard Jan over his shoulder.
"It seems Sariss has finished with Katarn."
"Finished with," she repeated, her mind leaping to a conclusion she immediately wished it hadn't. "You don't mean…?"
Jerec gave no answer, continuing to smile at her.
"No," Jan said, shaking her head, "no, you're wrong."
"Am I?"
The cold confidence in Jerec's voice served to add further weight to his words.
Her legs suddenly feeling weak, Jan would have tumbled to the ground had Boc not reached out and held her up, his grip like iron on her arm. Grunting in pain, Jan turned to regard the Twi'lek, face, the sickly pale skin, the red eyes.
If my hands were free, I swear I'd…
Turning from the pair, Jerec refocused his attention on the rock wall before him. He could feel how close he was, just one final barrier. He spoke to the voices calling in his mind.
I am here.
And with that, the rock wall directly ahead began to move, the sound of stone grinding against itself filling the corridor. Light spilled out as pale yellow light filtered out through the opening, growing in intensity as the opening grew larger. A small gasp escaped Jerec as he beheld the scene before him.
"The Valley, "he said in a reverential tone.
He stepped forward and after a moment's hesitation, Boc followed, pulling the unwilling Jan Ors along. The corridor seemed narrow by comparison as the trio stepped into a room bigger in scale than some stadiums. Statues of all sizes and types ringed an arena of sorts, the rocky floor covered by a layer of dust that had been undisturbed for millennia.
Taken in just as the others were by the grandeur of the place, Jan observed huge statues of men, women and aliens forming the outermost ring. Several of the statues beyond these appeared to be wearing cloaks and with their hands raised to their faces gave the impression of being in prayer. Directly ahead, a wide ramp lead down to the floor of the room and Jan noticed three similar ones, each spaced equidistantly from the other. Just beyond where the ramps met the floor were seven more statues arranged in a circle. These too, wore cloaks, but unlike the others, these gave the appearance of powerful beings, each holding a long and sharp looking staff.
It's almost look like they're guarding that mound.
The mound she referred to brought to her mind an image of the large grass hummocks that decorated a vast grassy plain on Alderaan. Some rose from the ground only a few inches, others several feet, affording an exceptional view. This mound was of the latter kind, rising up several feet, but appeared comprised of rock instead of dirt and grass. At the same time, it was not a solid object. A halo of light spilled out between cracks in its surface, forming a corona of orange-yellow light that was the sole source of illumination.
"Stay here," Jerec said to Boc.
When the Twi'lek didn't immediately respond, Jan turned to look and saw an expression of concern of the alien's face. But when he turned to look at her, the insane reappeared. Shutting her eyes, Jan turned away, but could not completely avoid Boc as the Twi'lek reached out to touch her hair. She tried to shy away, which seem to excite the alien all the more. Wanting nothing more than stomp on the Twi'lek's hands till the bones were ground into fine powder; Jan opened her eyes, seeking some form of distraction and found it in watching Jerec as the Miraluka moved towards the mound. Approaching the final ring of statues, he came to a halt.
Standing before the mound, Jerec sucked in a long breath, feeling the whirls and eddies of Force energy moving about him, penetrating body and mind alike. And the voices! The glorious voices! Some spoke in insane gibberish, but others, Sith of ancient times, called to Jerec.
One like us, cloaked in darkness.
Come join us, Dark One.
There is power here for you.
We offer it to you.
Will you be the one to free us?
If you will obey me, Jerec answered, and the response he received brought a smile to his face.
The cracks in the rock forming the mound grew wider, the light coming forth growing more intense as the mound opened up. Now it flared even more brightly and Boc reacted to this by making a disagreeable sound, the concerned reappearing.
Looking over at the Twi'lek, Jan knew for certain what Boc was feeling.
He's afraid.
Jerec sucked in another deep breath, his lungs filling. He could feel such power here. The very air was bristling with it. He called to the ancient Sith who dealt within.
Reveal yourself to me.
And with that, Jerec's cape billowed out almost like a pair of wings as the Dark Jedi felt his feet leave the ground. Up he flew until he was positioned over the maw of light issuing from the mound. He descended into it, the rock closing over him.
"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" Jan said aloud.
But instead of another inane giggle or bark of laughter, she heard nothing from Boc. Turning to her left, Jan's eyes widened.
Where is he?
She cast about, thinking that Boc might be playing a trick on her, but the Twi'lek had indeed vanished. A moment later, a smile came to her face.
Big mistake.
She made to attempt an escape, figuring she would find a way to free her hands later. But in the midst of her first step, Jan felt something tug at her wrists, not letting her proceed. She tried to move again, but felt that same resistance. Turning to look, she let a curse fly from her lips. For while Boc had left her side, the Dark Jedi had connected a chain leading from her binders to a thick stanchion of solid rock. Jan tried a few experimental tugs, but found absolutely no give to the chain.
"This is so not fair!" she exclaimed.
Her previous hopeful mood came crashing down and the operative found herself feeling suddenly tired and not a little scared.
Planet Ruusan
Inside the Cave
Kyle awoke from a dreamless sleep to the sensation of something or shall we say several somethings crawling on him, including one on the side of his face. Sitting up quickly, his hands flew over his body, dislodging and knocking away the majority of them. The one on his face was a little more reluctant to let go, necessitating that he remove it by hand. However, the small, furry creature decided it preferred the operative's company rather than the floor of the cave. It came forward, fully intending to climb back up onto Kyle's face. It took igniting the lightsaber to send it and the few remaining others scurrying for the darker depths of the cave.
After enduring two full body shudders at the mental image of being a living nest for the creatures, Kyle rose, stretched and glanced outside. Weak sunlight filtered in through the opening and by drawing near and craning his neck, the operative could see dark clouds still covering the sky. However, the temperature felt much cooler and the air seemed far dryer than the day before.
Besides, I'm not exactly looking to open up a summer home here.
Chuckling to himself, the operative consumed a ration pack and enjoyed once again the cool water of the small creek while doing his best to ignore the corpse of Sariss upon whom the avian predators of Ruusan had already feasted on. Retracing his path to the plateau upon which Yun had formerly lain, the operative surveyed his surroundings. A quick glance of the remains of the lift mechanism that had brought him to the place where he had encountered Jerec and his retinue showed the operative he'd need to find another way inside the base. But an idea quickly sprang to his mind.
Unless Imperial engineering has changed, there's a backup lift somewhere around here.
It took two hours, but Kyle soon found himself smiling victoriously as he rode up on a cargo platform cut into a rock wall. Directly above a plasteel door covered the top of the shaft. But as the lift drew closer, it slid open, allowing the lift to rise to the top of the shaft before coming to a gentle stop, revealing a plateau of mottled rock. Directly ahead was another of the large silvery crates with the strange red writing on its surface. Looking to his left, Kyle spied another large plasteel door covering an opening cut into the rock. Just to the right of that was a shorter, narrower doorway also cut into the rock, but this one was open and accessible. Its purpose became clear as the operative spied an opening cut high into the sheer face of the rock wall before him. Calling to the Force, Kyle was able to see the ceiling of the room, which was comprised of glowpanels. Movement caught his attention and shifting his gaze, the operative was able to discern the peaked hat of an Imperial officer.
Moving forward quickly so as not to be seen, the operative set his back against the rock wall while edging towards the opening. Looking inside, he spotted a ramp leading up and out of sight. Starting up this ramp, Kyle negotiated a right hand turn, and then slowed down as he spied a metal doorframe directly ahead, the square shape outlined by the glowpanels imbedded into it. Drawing near, he sucked in a breath and held it, listening intently. There was a metallic click, followed the electronically filtered voice of a stormtrooper.
"All I know is that I saw something moving down there."
"And I tell you I saw nothing," shot back another voice, sounding annoyed.
"But shouldn't we call it in just in case. Command might…"
"Solider, I am in charge here and I say when we contact Command, not you."
Shaking his head derisively, Kyle reached to his belt and retrieved a thermal detonator, setting the timer for five seconds. Palming the device, he threw it underhand towards the door. It hit the edge and bounced inside.
"What's that?" the officer asked in a loud voice.
"Detonator!" the stormtrooper responded, "Take cover! It…"
Twin cries of pain accompanied the explosion, followed the sound of bodies falling to the ground.
Still cautious, Kyle advanced with blaster in hand to the doorway. A quick survey showed no one else in the room except the dead Imperials. Moving inside, the operative found a nondescript room of gray metal, aside from a single control panel. Curious about its purpose, Kyle examined it then snapped his fingers as he remembered the closed door outside. Reaching to the switch set in the middle of the panel, he pushed it down, and then moved out of the room and back down the ramp to the plateau outside. As he'd expected, the gray metal door that he'd seen previously was gone now, revealing a corridor cut into the rock. Moving past the doorframe, Kyle spied a black box sitting along the left side of the corridor.
Approaching it, the operative saw where the corridor bent to the right and beyond, a doorway framed in white glowpanels. There was also a stormtrooper with his back to Kyle standing just inside the doorway. Quickly moving into the cover providing by the black box, Kyle peered around the edge and saw an opportunity. Near the stormtrooper were two fuel barrels, their orange color a dead giveaway.
Nail one of those and it's all over for him.
Rising up, Kyle started around the black box when his boot inadvertently struck a small rock on the ground. The noise drew the trooper's attention and as he turned around, Kyle saw the Imperial was carrying a rail gun.
Sithspit!
"Drop your weapon!" the trooper called, even as he leveled the weapon.
Having no time to reach for one of his own, Kyle instead reached inside himself. For the stormtrooper, seeing the intruder extend his palm with the fingers spread made little sense until something struck him with enough force to send him crashing against the fuel barrels. Working to regain his feet, the Imperial saw with horror that the intruder now held a blaster. It fired once, twice and the trooper's world dissolved in fire.
As the explosion of the second barrel consumed what was left of the Imperial, Kyle paused as a shock of adrenalin went through him.
I have got to stop cutting it so close.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out, the operative moved past the scorch mark on the ground and out of the corridor only to find himself standing beneath an Imperial AT-AT Walker.
Not again!