Chapter XXV: Breaking Point

For a Jedi, being on the brink of death wasn't really anything new. Aaron had thought once before that he might be facing the end. It was a sickening feeling – watching the best and worst snapshots of his life swing by on fast-forward across the movie screen of his mind.

These current visions were different, though. More distinct than those he had experienced of Order 66 and the subsequent chaos, but clearly figments of his imagination. They were not entirely impossible outcomes of current events, however, and this frightened him.

Today, Aaron wasn't reliving his past.

He was imagining Julia's future.

She had a gentle, quiet strength inside, he was sure. But when things started crashing down around her, when it was time to face the end with shoulders squared and jaw set, who would promise to watch her back? Who would guard the fragile, hopeful girl she hid from the world? Who would prevent them from tearing down her light? And when all else failed, and death came grim and certain to cut the thread of life – who would hold her hand?

Even a Jedi shouldn't have to die alone.

As he raced against relentless time, every second a beat of pain in his shoulders, each step forward taking every ounce of his will, Aaron saw another's life flash before his eyes.

She was lying on her back, her chest rising and falling with a rapid, quaking motion, her eyes closed, her bones unnaturally pronounced, showing clearly through her tight, pallid skin as her dry lips parted in a long, distant sigh and her last breath slipped away, a puff of white briefly visible before vanishing into the waiting expanse of the atmosphere –

"No!" Aaron yelled aloud, panting for air but somehow able to scream. "No!"

The Padawan's legs ran for him, dragging him further into the blinding darkness. His body wanted to collapse, but his mind felt like it was being submerged in acid. His head throbbed, his arms burned, his legs stung...

He sprinted faster. His foot caught on a loose stone, and he tumbled forwards, arms outstretched but unable to catch his fall. His lightsaber tumbled from his open palm, landing with such a jolt, it deactivated. The world was as black as dead space.

Scraped and wounded, his robe stained with blood from both himself and Julia, his face drenched in his own sweat, the weight of exhaustion pressing down over him, Aaron wormed one hand between his chest and the ground, forcing himself back to his feet.

Staggering, he almost tripped over his own feet. But he didn't. He found his balance. Clutching his chest with one torn-up hand for support, he stretched out his other arm, groping uselessly for his lightsaber in the eternal nothingness. Where the heck –? His palm found the wall – the floor – the cool, slick surface of metal –

Aaron flicked his lightsaber's activation switch. Blue light split the night, and he took off running again. Running, running, running.

Aaron's slammed into the back wall with such force, he nearly snapped his wrist as he barreled into it. Reaching down with his free hand, he fumbled with the supply packs they had stored here.

Where the heck are the grenades?

Aaron opened the nearest pack. Rations. Nothing else. With a shout, he hurled the useless pack aside, digging into a second. More food. He seized a third, gasping for air. The latch was stuck fast. He slammed it against his knee, ripped at it with his fingers, tore it with his teeth.

That did it.

The pack fell open. A cluster of frag grenades rolled to the floor.

...

Darksaber leveled his blade, the tip of his sword hovering unwaveringly, inches from the base of the Jedi Knight's neck. "What is left to fight for?"

"STOP!" Kherev burst out. A blast of the Force ripped angrily out of him, like a plasma grenade blowing open in his chest, sending Darksaber to the ground. The Togruta brought his saberstaff up at an angle, his entire body rigid, like a serpent poised to strike. "I've heard enough of your games!"

The Dark Lord laughed as he rose to a standing position, the light of his saber pulsating like a panicked man's heartbeat.

"How long will you attempt to evade the truth? What do you have to trust but yourself? What does your heart tell you?" the Sith said, sauntering forwards. "The Republic betrayed you. The Grand Army betrayed you. The Jedi left you on this planet to die. Does not your soul cry aloud for release?"

"Enough!" Kherev screamed, and attacked.

...

Aaron snatched a frag grenade with desperate speed, fingering the sloping curve of the trigger. He pressed the switch, backed several paces away from the wall, and with all his strength hurled the explosive directly at it.

The resulting blast of flame and smoke sent stones, dirt, and gravel tumbling down on Aaron's head, but the wall still held, despite a huge, circular indent in its center. Aaron looked down when he felt a stab of pain in his left leg – some of the shrapnel was embedded in his knee.

The Padawan's cheeks flushed crimson with anger. He seized a second grenade and lobbed it, too, at the wall.

And that was the breaking point.

Rocks burst apart with an ear-splitting bang that was immediately drowned out by the roar of raging, foaming water surging forth, all the indifferent force of nature pressing into the cave.

In his plan, Darksaber had overlooked a single, crucial detail. Although he knew the planet Ryisyyyk as intimately as he knew the Dark Side of the Force, although this very cave had been the site of his transformation, he had entirely failed to take the river into account. The river that conveniently ran directly against the cave's back wall.

The water broke through in a single, uncontrollable wave with all the hunger of a starving beast from the Geonosian arenas.

Aaron Earthshaker braced himself, arms outstretched, and held his breath as the wall of water came on.

...

The Togruta tore forwards, an animal whirlwind now, slashing at Darksaber's head, at his neck, at his arms and legs and chest, and failing, again and again – failing. All his training rendered useless. All the foundation of his upbringing, of his life, of his goals, hollow and meaningless against this warrior's words.

"I don't know who or what you are... but you know nothing of me, Dark Lord – nothing!" Kherev spluttered. He struck again, a second time, a third time. Deflected. Heat boiled in his stomach. "I am a Jedi!" he shouted, hacking wildly at his enemy. "I preserve peace. I defend the freedom of the galaxy!"

Darksaber took a step back. Coolly, simply, he said, "Do you feel free, Kherev?"

"Lies! All of this is lies!" Kherev stabbed with his saberstaff, each movement sharp, each attack meant to be the killing blow. "I am a Jedi! A peacekeeper! A servant of the Light!"

"Are you, Kherev? Or are you merely running from the dark? Running from yourself?"

Kherev's blade whirled about him at such a velocity, he seemed to be standing in a golden pillar of flame.

"I am a Jedi!" he burst out, and sprung forwards.

"You speak that word as though it can consume your darkness," Darksaber said, smashing Kherev against the wall with a telekinetic blow. "Tell me, boy – will you still be a servant of the Light when there is nowhere left to hide?"

Kherev couldn't breathe. Vertigo gripped him. He leaned against the wall for support.

"I – I –"

What was he trying to say?

I don't know? I don't care? I don't believe your lies? I don't trust myself? I don't trust the Jedi? I can't hide for much longer?

There was a sound of rumbling - not unlike the crushing, grinding, pounding sensation in the Jedi Knight's head. Hero and villain turned in unison, staring incredulously. The sound rose and peaked, drowning all else.

Before he could consider anything further, Kherev Ra'shah was struck head-on by a wall of water.

The wave hit, crashing over and under and around them. Darksaber had vanished from sight. The most Kherev could do was somehow return his saberstaff to his belt. He flailed in the rush of liquid, squeezing his eyes shut, trying not to breathe.

He let the flow carry him away.

...

Julia Star heard the all-consuming noise, but it took a moment for her to realize what it was.

Thirty-nine connected the dots before she did. He attached his weapon to his belt and grasped her arm with urgency. "Hold on to me!" he warned. "And don't breathe!"

She opened her mouth to ask what was happening. In the same second, the water surrounded them both – the force of it tore the clone from Julia's arm, and she choked, convulsing underwater. Bubbles of oxygen spurted up in a tornado. She flung her arms about wildly, trying to catch hold of something.

Then she felt solid grass and dirt and stone and... ground... beneath her. She opened her eyes. Her vision still swam.

Thirty-nine was stumbling towards her. Kherev was on his hands and knees, convulsing, retching violently. Water spurted from his mouth as he coughed up his last meal.

But where was –

Aaron's hands were sweeping under her. Julia cried out in surprise as he lifted her, one hand under her back, the other supporting her legs.

"Go!" Aaron blared at the others. "Go! Now!"

Julia turned her head to look behind them as he broke into a sprint, carrying her. Darksaber was nowhere to be seen, lost in the chaos of the river. Julia sighed and closed her eyes, letting herself hang limply in Aaron's arms.

There was still so much anguish she couldn't shut out. Every step Aaron took made her wound flare with fresh pain.

"I'm here," he rasped as he sprinted.

"Of course you are." Julia laughed, managing a small smile. "You say that a lot."

Aaron couldn't help but grin. He increased his pace, clutching Julia tightly against him. "Was that an attempt at sarcasm?"

"Yes," Julia said, and then she blacked out.

A/N: One of the biggest and most important scenes – complete. I am so happy! This was the first scene I dreamed for this story. I can't believe it's written out.

I already know the general direction this plot is going, and I intend to finish it. I know how it will end, and I know the major incidents that will carry it to its inevitable conclusion. I even have a few scattered ideas for a more improbable possible sequel.

Happy New Year, everyone! 2012. Yikes.

Thanks for the reviews!