5

The stolen Dark Jedi ship returned to normal space after the short leap through hyperspace. Macan quickly checked his controls and entered a new set of hyperspace coordinates. If he could make the jump to light speed quickly along a different route, there would be no way for anyone to track him.

As the navigation computer processed his command, he looked out to a nearby planet. It looked pretty much all desert, and the land was riddled with dozens of what seemed like collision craters. The place must have been in the path of one wicked asteroid shower at some point, he thought.

He wondered exactly what system it was that he'd quickly punched into the navi-com on his escape from the Dark Jedi facility, but he was given little time to think about it. His radar beeped wildly. Another ship had appeared from hyperspace close behind him, and it already had him in a target lock. There was no doubt to its intentions. It definitely wasn't friendly.

"I just want to be left alone," Macan muttered to himself, quickly banking the craft in an evasive pattern. After throwing a quick glance at the navi-com that informed him the ship was still not ready, he noticed several blue flashes of energy pass closely by. Ion weapons, he realised. They still wanted him alive. "Why can't they just kill me and be done with it?"

The dogfight initiated, Macan did everything he could to escape his pursuer, as one hit from those ion cannons would immobilise his craft completely. He summoned all the ability he was capable of, but he found himself outclassed far too easily. Just as the navi-com signalled ready, several ion shots slammed into the stolen ship. The control panels flashed and sparked with blue waves of electricity, and he quickly removed his hands from them.

Completely out of control, the transport became caught in the gravitational pull of the nearby planet and began to drift down towards it. A short way behind, the enemy craft followed in its wake. Yet in the heat of the moment, neither pilot noticed another small ship approaching from the direction of a neighbouring planet.


It took a great effort from his aching body, but finally Macan managed to open the side hatch and struggle out onto the soft white sand. After ricocheting awkwardly off of several large sand ridges, the ship had come to rest here, a short distance from a vast ruined city. His entire body felt like it was bruised, and he had to give everything he had to even remain standing as the world seemed to spin around him.

Fighting back the urge to vomit, he slowly began to walk towards the city. He couldn't remember why at first, but all his instincts seemed to be telling him to hide, and to not wait around. The reminder he needed came as he heard the sublight drive of the small black ship that had shot him down. He had trouble focusing in on it as it sped across the sky above him, possibly checking if he had survived the crash.

As the craft became just a speck in the clear sky, he redoubled his efforts to reach the ruins. No doubt the ship would double back, and probably very soon. The only slender chance he had got now was to hide in the devastated city and hope that his pursuer would get bored and leave. Hopefully without causing any further damage to his crashed ship.

Struggling on, he tried to run. At first the soft sand that moved beneath his feet gave him trouble, but a little further on his head began to clear and things once more came back into focus. Nearer to the city still, the sand became firmer, and he found himself able to run at a moderate pace. Surprised to say the least, he managed to reach cover without the craft returning. Exactly what was the pilot doing?

Observing the ruins, Macan realised the city that once stood must have been built many millennia ago, or by a race of creatures that were either not very advanced, or preferred to use stone over metal. It seemed quite a shame that the place had met this fate. A city so large, built purely by this kind of orange rock, would surely be a fantastically different place in this time of steel and industrial engineering.

Some way into the city, he heard a strange sound in the air. While at first it was quiet, it steadily built up to a whine almost like that of a fighter engine. For a split second Macan was sure he could hear the sound of an X-Wing, but he quickly changed his mind as the approaching sound came nearer. It was surely some kind of engine exhaust, but did not seem as powerful as those he'd heard on any space craft. As it got louder it dawned on him what it could be. Somewhere in his memory he could vaguely recall seeing a rocket pack built in to the back of Ghyron's suit of armour. It seemed one former Jedi student had been sent to find and recapture the other.

Quickly breaking into another run, Macan leapt into the remains of an old building, trying to take cover. The sound of the rocket pack drew closer still, now almost like thunder in his throbbing head, booming out across the otherwise silent terrain. Ghyron could not be far away, he figured.

As the sound of the rocket pack died, Macan suddenly became aware of how loud his heart was thumping in his chest. Now Ghyron was on foot, he would need all his senses at their maximum to evade him, especially his hearing, so he breathed deep and urged himself to relax. Crouched down in a suitable area surrounded by shattered brickwork, he waited.

From somewhere nearby there came the sound of footsteps as the stalker paced over the rubble and rocks.

"I don't know why you bother hiding, Macan," Ghyron's voice sounded out. "I can sense your presence, and eventually I will find you."

There were more footsteps, and Macan surprised himself with how quiet he was managing to be.

"I'm kind of glad we've been able to spend this short time together," Ghyron continued. "I am invigorated at the discovery of just how much you fear me."

It was just like Ghyron to say something like that, as he surely knew Macan had no fear of him at all. The only thing he truly feared at the moment was the threat of being forced over to the dark side. And he would gladly take a few of Ghyron's jibes if it gave him the chance of evading that threat.

"Even back at the Academy, I got the impression that you were scared of me. Did you know that?"

I didn't like you Ghyron, Macan thought. I never have. But I have never feared you.

"Is that so?" Ghyron asked after a moment. Through the Force, he had managed to pick up on what Macan was thinking. "Then why do you hide away like a scared little child?"

Being careful not to take the bait, Macan cleared his mind and remained silent. He continued to listen as the cyborg nattered on, but it still sounded like his voice was getting louder, as if he was moving closer.

"Has there always been such fear in your heart? Some day you must have known it would drive you to the dark side."

That will never happen, Macan thought determinedly, partly hoping Ghyron would sense it.

"You really are a failure. You were even worse as an apprentice than I was. At least I've never been a simple slave to my emotions."

The Dark Jedi was very close, Macan could tell. His footsteps sounded from just outside the building. Possibly even inside the building. Did Ghyron know where he was hiding? It seemed he had a very good idea, and getting caught in this cowardly position wouldn't help his cause at all.

There was another footstep, this time surely inside the building. He had to make a decision and fast. Was he just going to wait there to be seized? In the slight panic of the moment his brain didn't disappoint him. The answer came to him fast indeed. It was a resolute no way.

Springing to his feet, he made a dash for a nearby hole in the wall easily big enough for him to fit through. Ghyron, as he expected, was already waiting for such a move. Two blaster shots flew passed in front of him, close enough to worry him but clearly not aimed directly at him. It seemed Ghyron was just trying to deter him from fleeing, but he would have to do a lot better than that. He hit the rocky street on the other side of the wall and opened up into a sprint. After passing a couple of other ruined buildings he turned and cut diagonally through the next one, reaching another street-like area beyond it.

He ran for a while longer, making several more twists and turns, before risking a glance behind. There was no sign of his pursuer. At the next suitable location he stopped again and ducked behind cover, once again relaxing himself and stretching out with his hearing as best as he could. For several minutes he waited, but could hear nothing.

After another couple of minutes, he braved a glance out from behind his cover. Not only was there no sound from the Dark Jedi, there was no visible sign of him either. Macan knew that he wouldn't have just given up, that he was probably playing some sick twisted game. Well this was one quarry that wasn't just going to sit about and be found like he did last time. As quietly as he could, he began to creep through the city, sticking close to shadows and any cover he could. After a while he noticed he was passing a wall that had taken very little damage. He hugged it carefully until the end, ready to cautiously peer around the corner.

Suddenly there came a warning through the Force, but he failed to act quickly enough on it. From around the corner, a cybernetic arm reached and grabbed him by the neck. The next thing he knew Ghyron had dragged him into the open and cast him to the floor. His hands hurt as he steadied himself on the sharp rubble.

"Why do you make this so hard on yourself?" Ghyron asked, kicking Macan back against a short broken wall. "After all, we did try and ask nicely." In a slow and meaningful motion, the cyborg then raised one of his blasters, and aimed directly between Macan's eyes. "But not anymore."

"I'm not going back," Macan declared. "I will never become what you have."

"Oh, you are going back," Ghyron told him. "You have no choice in the matter. The only thing you can decide is how much pain you will be going back in."

Macan suddenly flinched, closing his eyes at the sound of the blaster firing. A split second later, stone and debris from the freshly made hole in the wall hit him in the face and tumbled down his chest. Grimacing, he opened his eyes as the small cloud of dust began to dissipate. Through it, he could see that Ghyron was once again aiming directly at him. He almost wished Ghyron would just finish him off. Being toyed with like this was one thing he really didn't enjoy.

"I know you are capable of making the right decision," the Dark Jedi said. "So what will it be?"

Macan didn't even have chance to think of another response. Ghyron's blaster was abruptly torn from his hand and sailed through the air away from him, into the waiting grasp of another. Shocked and angered, the Dark Jedi turned to see who it was that would dare bother him in such a way. Appearing through the ruins several dozen feet away, a human male in light grey Jedi robes strode forward.

"But of course," he snarled as he recognised this new player. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Well well well," Codan said, throwing the blaster to the floor and readying his two sabers. "Look who I've found."

"Leave us," Ghyron ordered. "Or you will wish you hadn't."

"I don't think so," the Jedi decided as he started to move closer. "I've waited far too long a time for this."

The Dark Jedi sniggered and prepped his own saber. He could think of no greater entertainment than having to kill this fool first. "Then why wait any longer?"

Macan found himself impulsively scuttling away as the two combatants charged at each other, sabers flaring into existence. From a safer distance, he watched as they clashed.

After the first exchanges, Ghyron fully delved into the dark side and began unleashing some fast, enraged attacks. His orange saber darted back and forth, but Codan surprised him with equally impressive defensive capabilities. The purple and green blades moved gracefully round and round, deflecting attacks left and right before Codan found the chance to initiate an assault of his own.

Suddenly forced back, the Dark Jedi parried and dodged frantically, seeming a little staggered at the skill and control of his old rival. He backed off into the shade of a building that, although heavily damaged, still stood three stories high. As Codan stepped forward to attack again, Ghyron reached out to the building with the Force, using his mind to pull at part of the wall nearer to the top.

The already shattered section of building needed little coercing to bring it down. As it fell in several large pieces, Ghyron ignited his rocket pack which sent him careering aside and out of the way. Codan immediately focused his mind on the falling debris, and taking the sudden strain managed to hold all the parts that may hit him in mid air.

Macan watched as the Jedi fought to throw the fragments aside, then noticed that Ghyron had already regained his footing and was aiming at his opponent with his other blaster.

"No!" he cried, instinctively summoning his own Force abilities to hurl several nearby rocks in the Dark Jedi's direction. Despite these efforts Ghyron got off a shot before he was distracted into repelling the rocks with his own Force powers, but Codan was already alert and easily deflected the attack with one of his sabers.

It then took little time for Ghyron to make his mind up about what he should do next. As Codan came at him again he jumped away, the power of the Force allowing him to ascend high into the air. At the pinnacle of his jump, he again activated his suit's rocket pack, and began to soar across the sky in retreat.

Macan scrambled to the abandoned blaster and gathered it up, then turned and hastily fired off several shots at the fleeing Dark Jedi. His aim was awry, and Ghyron soon escaped over the ruins of the city.

"We'll meet again," Codan muttered under his breath at the rocket pack trail, as behind him his old friend dropped the blaster to the floor.

"Meja Codan," Macan chuckled slightly. "This has been the strangest day."

"I never figured I'd see you again," Codan admitted, turning off his sabers. "What brings you to the Raddus system?"

"Oh, you know," Macan explained. "Hunted by Dark Jedi. Taken to their twisted leader who tried to turn me. Barely escaping with my life. That sort of thing."

"Taken to their leader?" Codan asked. "Where?"

"I'm not exactly sure," Macan shrugged. "Some kind of underground hideout, on a forest planet not too far from here. The coordinates should still be in the ship I stole."

"Take me to it quickly," Codan urged. "I need to find where they're hiding."

"Yeah, sure," Macan said, and they began to walk. "So just what is going on around here? The Dark Jedi are all over the place."

"With your help not for much longer," Codan said. "There are Jedi searching all the nearby systems for their hideout. Once we get the location we'll move in and extinguish their threat for good."

Macan suddenly thought about what Codan had said, what Kreygor had said, and the pain he had sensed in the underground structure. "Guests?" he asked himself.

"What?"

"Something the lead Dark Jedi told me," Macan explained. "Ghyron said his name was Kreygor."

"Kreygor?" Codan instantly cast a weary glance at Macan, a little surprised to hear the name.

"Oh?" Macan realised. "Met him before, I see?"

"No," Codan shook his head. From what he could sense, Macan obviously hadn't found out exactly who Kreygor was during his time as a captive. "Just heard of him, that's all."

"So he hasn't spent his whole life hiding underground on a backwater planet then? I was beginning to wonder."

Codan thought for a moment. Should he tell Macan the truth, or would this not be the best time? Thinking about it, there would never be a best time. How would Macan react to knowing Kreygor was really the man responsible for ruining his life?

Of course, he realised. That was how Kreygor was going to try and turn him. Tell him the news, and feed Macan's anger. That is if Kreygor himself knew the whole story, which he should do with Ghyron as an ally. He could think of no reason for Ghyron not to have told him. Things were indeed getting confusing.

"Well, this Kreygor guy," Macan continued, completely oblivious to Codan's quandary. "He said he had got other guests to attend to. The thing is, the planet seemed pretty much unpopulated. So, there would have to be a pretty special reason for anyone to just drop by, you know?"

Codan nodded understanding. "He said guests, plural?"

"Yes," Macan confirmed.

"All of the Jedi are searching alone," Codan explained. "Except one, who is with his Padawan."

"So you know them?"

"Yes," Codan nodded. Then he looked at Macan with a serious expression on his face. "One of them is Li New."


Macan glanced at Codan for a split second before the feeling of guilt made him look away. Without even realising it he had left one of his old friends at the mercy of the Dark Jedi. He hadn't even been bothered to find out who those new guests were. No wonder he had never made it as a Jedi.

Codan stood up and stepped out of the crashed Dark Jedi ship. "It's definitely them," he said. "The Do'Naar system."

"Do'Naar?" Macan asked quietly, and dipped his head. Codan didn't need to use the Force to sense how Macan felt about himself recently, and this situation with Li New had only made him feel worse. He realised there was a chance of helping his friend back onto his path, but Kreygor's involvement made it an extreme risk.

"I'll contact the other Jedi, but they're hours away," Codan said, making up his mind. "We must help them ourselves."

"We?" Macan asked.

"You're coming with me, aren't you?"

"Back to Do'Naar?" Macan scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"We need to get Li New and Rylo out of there, as soon as possible."

"I'm getting this ship operational as soon as possible," Macan explained. "Then I'm out of here."

"Is that your solution? Run away?"

"It's what I'm good at," Macan said regrettably. "It's the only thing I'm good at."

"No it's not," Codan assured him. "When are you going to stop running away from your problems? If you continue to run away they will continue to chase you. You must face them, and deal with them. Let the past go."

"I can't let it go," Macan explained, fighting back his memories. "I cannot let her go. Thinking of her and the short time we spent together is the only chance I get for a moment's peace. Peace from the pain, and the sorrow. My memories of her are all I have left."

"But she is gone, Macan," Codan said. "You must let her go. For your memories of her are the source of all that pain and sorrow. Can you not see?"

Macan closed his eyes and turned away. With all he had been through today, this conversation was the last thing he needed. He still hurt so much.

"There is a great strength within you," Codan told him. "Everybody sees it but you. And I could sure use it now. Li New could sure use it now."

"I don't want to fight," Macan declared. "I don't want to be there when other people I care about die."

"That is a risk," Codan agreed. "But it is a certainty if we do nothing. Would you rather Li New and Rylo be left to the torment of the Dark Jedi?"

"Of course not," Macan accepted. "But I would be of no use to you or them in battle."

"You will," Codan told him, and offered one of his sabers. "Take this, and come with me to Do'Naar. If you cannot fight for your friends, then who can you fight for? And maybe by doing this you will learn to fight for yourself again. You owe yourself that much."

Macan looked down at the saber hilt and pondered it. He was getting a little tired of people telling him that he should fight again, but he knew deep down that what Codan said was true. If they did not help Li New and his apprentice they would no doubt come to all manner of harm at the hands of Kreygor and his Dark Jedi, if they were not dead already. But it had been so long since he had wielded a saber or the Force that he knew he would likely go to his death. If not death, then he feared something far worse. The feeling of terrible power he had grasped from Kreygor still haunted him, and he knew if he used the Force again without first letting go of his grief and anger, he would be fighting the lure of the dark side as well as fighting the Dark Jedi. He could not go back there and risk becoming as Kreygor was.

Codan seemed to sense his decision, and tried one last time. "Please, take it," he urged.

Macan glanced up and caught the look in Codan's eyes. Suddenly he was taken back to his time at the Jedi Academy, to the months he had spent with Codan and Li New during their training. The feeling of their friendship and the experiences they had been through came rushing back, and he was staggered that he was thinking so hard about whether to go to their aid. In an instant he knew what was required. If there was any little way he could help, then he must. He nodded in realisation and took the saber.

They made great haste repairing the stolen transport, as Codan knew it would be the only way to return to the underground facility undetected.