A long time in waiting and, really it didn't take me too long to write this chapter, just a real long time to think of what to say. Or rather, it took me a real long time to think of how to put ideas into words (thank you, Dad).
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The Darkness Begins




Keilana was surprised but she did not let on. She could not show these men that she had been phased by their knowledge of her lineage. Instead, she smiled softly and, grabbing Luke by the hair, she wrenched his head back and dug the barrel of her blaster into his neck. She only let up when his breaths started coming in wheezes.

Thank you, she said softly, the smile turning into a smirk. I see that there is never a lack of company around here.

the man said as he put down the piece of fruit, there is usually no one around. It's quite odd, actually. No, they all wanted to be here for this historical day, the day Luke Skywalker is brought in by the daughter of his greatest enemy and pest, Boba Fett.

Keilana felt the muscles in Luke's body tense up as these words reached his ears. She grimaced and tightened her grip on him.

Oh, no need to waste your strength on him, Keilana, dearest, the man said. He held up one hand to motion two guards to Keilana's side. They took Luke from her and walked him several paces away. There, they bound his wrists in a pair of stuncuffs in front of his body. Luke's head rolled to one side to glance at Keilana, but she did not meet his eyes. She did not even turn to look at him. Her gaze, instead, was locked on the man in front of her.

So you are acting the messenger boy for your boss?

How'd you ever guess? Pushing greasy locks out of his face, the man sat back. Keilana could not decide if he was being sarcastic or sincere.

Besides the fact that a snivelling, spineless creature like yourself could never lord over a bunch of misfits like this? Keilana gestured at the men on the floor with her chin. Your messenger told me.

He turned slightly in his chair to glare at the man he had sent out.

I also remember from our little meeting. Shouldn't let things like that slip.

Close your trap, Fett, he growled; his knuckles started to turn white as he clenched the arms of his chair. Keilana shook her head but obliged. It is not a very good idea getting your employer upset, either.

You're not my employer, this crimelord' is. The smirk returned to Keilana's lips and the man sitting upon the throne growled audibly. Gesturing sharply, he called the man who brought Keilana and Luke into the room to his side. Leaning over, his eyes still locked on the bounty hunter, he whispered something to the other man. They both smiled after a moment and laughed softly. Keilana frowned and furrowed her brow. She did not like the feeling she was getting.

But the crimelord is not here. I am the acting second and am currently in charge of the operation concerning you.



That is none of your concern.

Look, I would just like my money. If we can complete the transaction—Skywalker for the three million—than I can get on my way and be out of your hair.

I'd love to, really I would, the man said, placing one hand over his heart. However, I need the official word from the crimelord and that is something I just don't have.



Like I said, I just don't have the official word. However, as soon as I have it, I'll let you know. Then I can give you your money and you can leave and be on your way.

I thought you said that you were in charge of this little operation?

I did, but it is still the crimelord's money.

Who the hell is this crimelord? Keilana snarled, painfully clutching her fists together.

That does not concern you.

To hell with you and all that other shit! I want to know who I'm getting my money from and how dirty it is!

Temper, temper, the man said clicking his tongue.

And who are you?

That is none of your concern, either. The calm tone of the man's voice was starting to bug Keilana and all she wanted to do was draw her blaster and shoot the man dead. However, she had to control her anger, she could not let them win. Besides, there were too many of them for her to fight off without the Force.

Look, will you just get hold of this crimelord so that he can give you approval?

The man seemed to think about it for a moment before shaking his head. No, no I just can't do that.

Sighing in frustration, Keilana bowed her head to look at the floor. Glancing quickly at Luke, she was not at all surprised that he was still woozy. His head was still lolling slightly from side to side, his half-closed eyes seemingly unable to focus on anything.

How long will it take for you to get the official word? Keilana asked eventually. She once again fixed her gaze on the man on the throne. Putting her gloved hand on her forehead, she rubbed it in a frustrated manner before letting her arm drop back to her side.

Not sure.

Look, this isn't just some game we are playing for the amusement of these thugs, Keilana said, gesturing at the men on either side of her.

On the contrary— This got Keilana's attention. Her eyes snapped suddenly to lock with the man's gaze. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a similar reaction in Luke, only with him it was simply his head that stopped lolling and his eyes that cleared up. —it is, only not for the amusement of these good men. The crimelord has some fascination in you, Keilana Fett, and I cannot figure out quite what it is. Guards?

Keilana looked around and, before she knew it, the hands of two rather large Gamorrean guards were holding her still. She did not bother to struggle. Instead, she looked back at the man on the throne and gave him a hard stare.

What are you playing at? I brought him in. What did I do?

The crimelord wants to speak to you.

Then bring him out here! Keilana tried to step forward but the two Gamorreans held her hard.

Not in front of the thugs, my dear bounty hunter. There's a special room in the back for you and the crimelord. The man waved his hand. Take her away.

The two Gamorreans started to pull her away but Keilana did not budge. No! I want answers right now!

In a moment, my dear bounty hunter, in a moment. The two Gamorreans started to move again, pulling harder this time. Once again, Keilana bulked. However, after noticing the path they were going to take, Keilana moved along with them. The man on the throne looked surprised but quickly drowned the emotion.

As the two aliens moved past the dais, Keilana between them, she pulled back hard, slipping slightly from her captor's grasp. While the two Gamorreans were trying to figure out exactly what was happening, Keilana kicked out and knocked the cage holding the ysalamiri over. The delicate creature's neck snapped as soon as it hit the floor and the anti-Force field collapsed. Smiling to herself and drawing the Force in, Keilana pushed the two guards mentally, sending them flying across the room. When the two large aliens hit the far wall, they slid unconscious to the floor. The smile on Keilana's face broadened as she spun around to face the rest of the thugs, her blaster already in her hand.

Get her! The man on the throne yelled before disappearing into a door in the floor. Keilana snarled and started after him but the first of the man had already reached her. Before they could run her down, Keilana put her hand out in front of her and pushed hard with the Force. The first ranks of men went tumbling to the floor while the others paused in stunned silence. Then they were back in action, climbing over their fallen, though not dead, comrades.

The thugs were moving slower this time, far more cautious, in hopes of bracing against another blast of the Force. However, rather than using the Force, Keilana let her blaster loose, bolts of deadly light volleying into the crowd. Men went down hard, either dead or wounded, while others continued to plow forward.

To avoid them, and give herself a better view, Keilana jumped backwards onto the dais and looked around. The two guards holding Luke looked around as well, obviously confused. Luke, on the other hand, looked strong, his lolling head erect and his hazy eyes clear and alert. After a moment, their gazes locked and Keilana felt a smile tug at the sides of her lips. While still shooting into the crowd, Keilana unclipped Luke's lightsaber from her belt and tossed it to him. After only a moment, Luke caught it with the Force and activated it. The emerald blade arched through the air to lop off the head of first one guard and then the other. With one final, precise movement, Luke cut the stuncuffs off his wrists and gripped the hilt of his saber, lowering into a defensive stance. This pulled the attention of the guards off Keilana, but only for a moment. While the indecision lasted, Keilana dropped a few more men and jumped to the highest level of the dais. Several men started to scramble after her. They were quickly followed by many more but not all. Someone had come up with the brilliant plan of going after the Jedi Master with his light sword. After Luke dropped the first few who were rushing up to him, others stood back to shoot at him. These men quickly fell dead to the floor as their blaster bolts were ricocheted back at them. Keilana smiled. At least he was good for one thing.

The smile did not last very long, though. When another alien ran into the room holding up a wooden box, Keilana felt the Force being ripped from her. Another ysalamiri. Glancing over at Luke, she noticed his movements had slowed slightly, had become a bit sloppy, but he was still fighting strong. Keeping her eyes on the ysalamiri, Keilana switched her blaster to her other hand and continued to shoot at the men coming after her. Grabbing her pistol, she aimed carefully and shot right through the box, killing the second ysalamiri. The same blaster bolt that tore through the small alien tore through the handler's shoulder. He dropped to the floor gripping his wound and Keilana paid him no more attention.

After Keilana killed the ysalamiri, the thugs decided to shoot back. Keilana rose her brow, figuring that these men were indeed slightly intelligent, and rolled behind a large amplifying box. She did not have very good visibility but there were so many men out there she figured if she simply shot blindly into the crowd she would hit at least one of them. So, that became her new tactic: duck and cover while shooting blindly.

This tactic only lasted for a few moments. It was effective, or at least as effective as Keilana could hope for, so she decided it was time for a scene change. Glancing up, while still shooting blindly into the crowd, Keilana looked for anything that might be promising. There were beams far above her head that were wide enough to walk on. However, it would take a good deal of power to vault herself up that high. Closing her eyes and letting out a deep breath, Keilana stood and sprinted toward the high throne. As she ran, she pulled the Force into herself once more, readying herself for a series of jumps. The first one brought her to the arm of the throne. From there she took one leap to the opposite end of the chair's back and, from there with a great push with the Force, she vaulted herself toward the ceiling. Reaching up, both blasters still in hand, Keilana managed to grip one of the beams before swinging herself up and onto her feet. She looked down at the men and they stared back, their blasters quiet for a moment before they all started shooting at her at once. Before they had started, however, Keilana was already sprinting down the narrow beam, balance not an issue. Ahead of her there was a large window and if she could only get out to the street, she would be home free.




Luke watched Keilana as she sprinted down the beam to an open window on the other end. It did not take a genius to figure out what she was doing but the men shooting her sure did not think very long. They stood in a tight group on the very top of the dais hoping that at least one of their misaimed shots would bring down the female bounty hunter. Luke pursed his lips, not quite sure who he was rooting for. On one hand, Keilana had thrown him his lightsaber and on the other she had brought him here to collect her reward. Shaking his head, Luke pushed the man running at him away with the Force and started running for the door. With a quick slash of his lightsaber, the doors opened to admit him into the dark night. However, the neon lights of the strip club across the way made the alley anything but dark.

Luke ducked around a corner in time to see Keilana jump out of the window. Though Luke knew Keilana had a trick for just about everything he had seen her come across, he was not sure how she was going to escape this situation. However, as these thoughts were running through his mind, Keilana pressed at something on her wrist and, a moment later, she was gripping an invisible cable. Luke watched in amazement as she swung between the buildings. Grimacing as the bounty hunter slammed into the opposite building, Luke rubbed his own shoulder in sympathy. However, that impact did not seem to bother Keilana. She quickly scrambled up the building and disappeared from view. But that was certainly not what Luke wanted. Noticing the parked swoop bike, Luke stepped forward quickly to take it. Starting it up and pulling the throttle hard, he raced up the side of the building and spotted Keilana at a dead run, heading in the direction from whence they had come.

Keilana glanced back at the roar of the swoop's engine and sped up. She took a flying leap between her building and the next, landing in a role. Upon coming up on her feet, she spun around and, drawing both blasters, she started to shoot at Luke. Or at least Luke thought she was. Just as he drew his lightsaber, one of Keilana's shots hit home and the swoop nose-dived toward the building, its engine dead. Luke leapt off, kicked it toward Keilana and rolled to his feet upon landing on the rooftop, coming up in time to see Keilana dive behind a stairwell housing. The bike crashed one story below where they were standing, the roof collapsing where Keilana had previously been located.

Luke stood still for a moment, the only sound being the humming of his lightsaber. He quickly deactivated it and reached out with the Force but not too far.

There.

Keilana was sitting behind the stairwell, her emotions scattered and strong. She was angry with herself, angry for being fooled and pulled into a trap, angry that a whole crime organization knew who she was, who she truly was. However, as soon as she sensed Luke's presence, Keilana drew in on herself, disappearing from the Force completely. But she did not move. There was no telltale scramble of boots on duracrete or the sound of things scattering across the rooftop from a careless bump. No, she had stayed right where she was.

However, she did not stay inactive for long. The distinctive roar of several swoops grew louder as the dumbed down presence of thugs neared. Before Luke could properly react, Keilana was on her feet, though she had not started to sprint away.

Look, there she is! Someone yelled in rough basic. The voice was female, gravelly, slightly familiar. Luke did not have time to think through where he had heard that voice before for a fresh volley of blaster fire soared through the air ahead of the swoops. Someone up there had a laser cannon.

Luke dove for cover, wishing momentarily he had a distance weapon on him. That thought was quickly pushed out of his mind as something brushed up against him. Before he could do a thing, a strong hand slid over his mouth, a voice hushing him from behind.

Don't worry, Master Skywalker, I have a plan. Keilana slid away and back into the night, though not very far. Luke glanced to his right and could see her taking aim with a rather large blaster—a sniper rifle. Holding it steady and peering through the viewfinder, Keilana was apparently able to see through the dark for, with one well-aimed shot, the laser cannon was silenced and a scream filled the air. A moment later the building shook as another swoop bike hit it. Then the rest came into view. They had landed on the building across the way and were running over a thin plank to the building Luke and Keilana were on. The last man to come across tripped on the plank and went plummeting through the air between the buildings, his scream cut short after only a moment.

Keilana put the sniper rifle against her back, an automatic sheath snapping across the blaster and holding it steady. Drawing her other two blasters—the pistol having been stored beneath her belt—Keilana peeked back over the top and furrowed her brow.

I thought killing her once was enough, she muttered. Luke barely heard the words and, glancing over the barrier they were behind, he quickly figured out who she was talking about. Leading the group of thugs was a female alien whose head was wrapped. Her tail was swishing angrily behind her, a long cylinder in her hand. Luke suddenly realized who it was.

This woman was one of his students and had been for a long time. Her name was Llywen du Kiins, a Fin Ghula from Ghulan IV. Her species was a dying one, nearly wiped out by the Empire. She had been a good student, a good Jedi.

No, it wouldn't be, Luke said. He glanced over at Keilana, who was surprised. Her species has an incredible way of bouncing back, nearly impossible to kill.

Keilana sighed, rolling her eyes. An invincible Jedi turned bad. You sure have a way of picking us out, Skywalker.

he followed Keilana's pointed finger. Llywen had activated her lightsaber. She knew Luke was near.

So, you deal with her and I've got the others, okay?

Yeah, sure, Luke muttered. He did not even bother to ask what would happen once Keilana was done and he was still fighting. Sighing, Luke stood up. Perhaps there was still some way he could stop this before it got messy.

C'mere, Skywalker, Llywen rasped. She put up one gloved hand and beckoned Luke forward. I know you're back there, I can feel you. If you come quickly and silently than we won't have to commence with the unpleasantries.

There's some reason they wanted you, too, Skywalker, Keilana said. She was still crouched behind the barrier. You weren't just brought along for the hell of it.

Luke nodded but was not sure whether or not he agreed. All of these could be mental games. Keilana was a bounty hunter after all and she had managed to bring him down. Sighing again, Luke stepped around the barrier and activated his own lightsaber.

I won't give you the pleasure of bringing me to your boss, Llywen. It happened once and perhaps she even deserved to bring me down but that was because she out tricked me. Youyou simply followed. If you want me, than I'll make you work for it, if I am what you really want. He paused several meters away from the Fin Ghula, his lightsaber clutched in his right hand. Llywen seemed to smile, or at least the cloth wrapped over her face moved as if she had done so. Her tail swished through the air behind her in eager anticipation. She had been waiting for this for a long time.

Bringing her lightsaber up into high guard, she beckoned Luke forward with a light of challenge flashing through her yellow eyes. You have taught me well, Master, now it is your turn to learn a lesson.

As soon as the words died in the air, Llywen stepped forward and jabbed her lightsaber toward Luke's stomach. He batted the midnight saber away with ease and came around into middle guard. Growling low, Llywen spun into a fencers stance and lashed out again. Rather than ducking under the blade and coming up with a killing blow, Luke batted the saber to his left and, once again, moved into a guard position. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the battle that should have been going on around them had slowed to a stop, all eyes on the battling Jedi. Llywen seemed to have noticed this too, for she put out her hand and gestured for the others to circle around, Luke did not like this idea and glanced quickly at Keilana. She was standing on top of the barrier, surveying the crowd before her. There was a smirk set on her lips, a plan obviously coming together in her mind.

Turning back to his most immediate threat, Luke brought his lightsaber out in a tighter guard and held Llywen's gaze. Her eyes flashed with rage at his patience and she came forward again, lashing this way and that, Luke easily blocking each blow. This only frustrated the alien Jedi further, the forked tip of her tail slashing from side to side above her head. She did not want to fight an old man who was simply batting away her every attack! She wanted a real fight! And she knew just the way to turn this one into that. Sliding her hand down the cylinder of her hilt and bringing the blade out in front of her, she hit a secondary button. Another blade sprouted from the bottom of her long hilt. A long smile curved her hidden lips as she spun the double blades toward her Master, forcing him to work extra hard.

The two danced within the confines of their audience for awhile, each sharing in attacks and parries. Llywen spun her blade in a silent precision that could only have come from hours of practice, practice Luke did not see for he did not recognize this double-bladed lightsaber. The alien's long tail swished from side to side, artfully dodging the double midnight blades and the blade of Luke's lightsaber in ways that would distract a normal, less skilled opponent. However, Luke was not that opponent.

The double blades became a whirl of midnight blue nearly impossible to see in the pitch black. Luke had to rely on his Force senses far more than his visual senses to stay alive. And, adding light to this battle was the brilliant glow of Luke's emerald blade. It cast eerie shadows around the rooftop and on the occupants themselves.

Llywen suddenly kicked out at Luke's chin, bringing her double blades up and around her shoulder, following through. Luke anticipated this move and back-flipped safely away. In his landing, he came down in a crouch and swung his lightsaber in a low arch at Llywen's knees. She jumped safely out of the way, swinging her saber around in the opposite direction, catching Luke's blade on her own. He stood and, in doing so, he dragged his blade up Llywen's, sending sparks flying in all directions. The glow he found in Llywen's yellow eyes was frightening. They had darkened to a near orange colour that sent the purple flecks within her iris's aflame. He had never seen eyes full of such intensity before.

Llywen twirled her saber between their faces, the blades coming painfully close to their noses. As her blade came in contact with Luke's, the crackle was intensified by the double shot of Keilana's blasters. Two of the men surrounding them fell without a sound to the duracrete rooftop and the two Jedi jumped back, both unwilling to admit they had been surprised by Keilana's sudden attack. The air was soon full of blaster fire and Keilana rolled out of the way, but not before dropping another of the thugs. And then the lightsaber battle resumed.

The air was full of blaster shots, the scream of dying men, and the crackling of blade against blade. The midnight sky was lit by the light from blaster bolts and a green lightsaber, the midnight blade still hidden among all the light. The blaster fight once again filled the sky above the two Jedi, casting fleeting light down upon the fighters. And Llywen pushed on. She kicked, attacked, slashed, and thrashed at Luke, but she could not break through his defences. And it was the same with Luke. He'd thrust forward, and the midnight blade would be there to block his, he'd arch toward her legs, and there would be that invisible wall of her blade to halt his movement. Pulling the Force in on himself, Luke allowed his eyes to slide half-closed as well as letting himself be pushed backward. His blade swung, thrusted, and blocked in flashes of green that did not break. Even as he jumped backward onto the stairwell casing, his blade moved in an impeccably smooth motion, blocking and attacking.

Llywen followed her Master to the top of the casing. They stood there for a moment, each eyeing the other, their blades still. They had to stand side to side, as if they were to fence, for the stairwell house was thin. Llywen moved first and Luke was there to block her, just as he had been the entire duel. Pushing out with the Force, she knocked Luke backward—or at least she thought she had . True, he had disappeared over the side of the stairwell house but it seemed too smooth.

Neither of the Jedi noticed that the blasters had silenced.

Llywen jumped blindly after her Master, for the light of his saber had died. She realized, however, as soon as she landed that she had made a fatal error. The infamous snap-hiss of an activating lightsaber sounded behind her and, as she spun to block Luke's coming attack, she felt the first sting of a blaster bolt in the middle of her back. However, she was not concerned with the blaster, but with the more deadly weapon before her. All she could see before her was Luke's face and the front of his body lit by his emerald blade. The shadows cast by his saber were dramatic and highlighted every peak and valley on his face, showed every wrinkle in his clothes. Another blaster bolt hit her, higher this time, between her shoulders. Her thick skin absorbed the bolt, leaving only burned fabric and a circle of burned flesh. Clenching her teeth in pain, Llywen battled on.

From above her, on the housing, there came the banging of foot steps and then a call to Luke. She knew Keilana would be the one to win. Luke did not look up, nor did he acknowledge Keilana. Llywen, on the other hand, did. She leapt after Keilana, landing softly on the roof of the stairwell casing. Keilana looked at her, hardly phased, and started a fresh volley of fire at the female alien. Llywen easily batted the bolts away. As she did this, she slowly advanced toward the woman, pushing her further along the casing until Keilana had run out of space. Figuring she had won, Llywen slashed out, a cut that was meant to split Keilana in two. However, Keilana had one more trick up her sleeve, just as she always did. Jumping backward in a perfect back flip, Keilana came out of it and started launching more blaster bolts at her. Llywen, suddenly realizing that she could not feel Keilana, had not anticipated the sudden move and was caught several times in the chest, but still she did not go down. Instead, she leapt after Keilana, her sloppy landing evidence that she was indeed in pain.

Keilana smiled and aimed her blasters at the hilt of Llywen's lightsaber. Within an instant, the hilt exploded into a shower of sparks and the blades died. Growling and throwing the saber to her side, she crouched, her fists out in front of her, ready to fight. Keilana considered shooting her but, noticing the charge on her blasters, she tucked them away, ready to fight hand-to-hand.

It was Llywen who lashed out first, swinging around in a high kick, her long, prehensile tail following closely behind. Keilana ducked under the alien's foot and grabbed her tail in both hands, pulling hard. Llywen lost her balance but not before grabbing hold of Keilana's wrist with the thin, forked tip. She wrenched Keilana around, slapping her onto her back and untangled her tail from Keilana. The air was forced out of Keilana's lungs and she coughed for a moment before jumping up on to her feet, quickly coming around in a low kick. Llywen jumped and lashed out once again with her tail. This time, however, Keilana was ready. She ducked and kicked Llywen's feet out from under her. The female alien was ready as well and caught herself with her tail and, landing on her feet once again, vaulted out of a one-handed backspring.

Just as Llywen and Luke had done, the two women danced, though to a very different tune. This time, rather than the crackling of sabers, there was no sound except for leather against clothing or skin. There was no swish and no light. The two fought on in the dark, relying completely on their abilities in the Force, Llywen having the more difficult time as she adjusted to Keilana simply not being there.

After a moment, all sound ceased to be. There was no sound of boots scuffling against duracrete or the creak of leather. No one seemed to be moving. Llywen spun around, not sure of where her opponent had run off to and was suddenly blasted with a presence in the Force. Keilana was directly in front of her.

Taken by surprise, once again, Llywen was not ready for the intensity of the attacks Keilana pushed upon her. She was able to block most of the blows, but the ferocity was something new to her. Even though the alien could now sense Keilana in the Force, she could not move quick enough to beat her. Llywen sensed her impending death in the air, through the Force.




Keilana smiled, sensing that she had won. Slashing Llywen's legs out from under her, Keilana was ready when the alien caught herself with her tail. Slamming Llywen hard across the back with her shin, Keilana drew her vibroblade and grabbed Llywen's forehead, pulling it back against her shoulder. With one quick slash, Keilana drew the blade across the wrapped neck. Llywen fell limp in her arms and Keilana let go to allow her defeated enemy to crumble into a heap on the ground.

Not even bothering to wipe her blade off, Keilana put it back in it's place and started a dead sprint toward the bike. However, she did not see or sense Luke there. The only reason she knew he was around was when she was suddenly grabbed around the upper arm by a strong hand and pulled to the side, her face brought directly into Luke's.

You're not the only one who can disappear into the night, Keilana, he said softly.