6

Li New stopped concentrating on healing himself with the Force and opened his eyes. Scanning the room, he saw that nothing had changed. Beside him, Rylo was still in his own state of Force heal, and across the room the restrained Gran Dark Jedi continued to moan under his breath. Their current guard, the female Togruta, stood near the entrance, and watched him.

"So, you awaken at last," she said, and took a couple of paces towards him. "And now perhaps I should make you suffer a little more, should I not?"

Strange, Li New thought. He had received the impression through the Force that someone or something familiar had just entered the room. He was a little confused to see that nobody had. Reaching into the Force once more, he searched for answers. Though nothing came to him in certainty, he thought he could feel something, and it did seem familiar. A moment of further concentration was all it took for him to realise why.

Codan? he asked into the Force. Where are you? Though there was no reply at first, he was sure he could feel the presence of his good friend. And it was getting stronger and clearer. Codan, he tried again, reaching as deep as he could into the Force and concentrating on the familiar sensation. A short time later, the reply came back, though it was hazy as if through a cloud of some sort. At least he was certain now that it was Codan. He struggled to sense what was going on.

Codan was approaching in a ship, and he wasn't alone. A little surprised Li New realised it was Macan that was travelling with him, and then he understood. The reason the Dark Jedi were showing little interest in him and Rylo recently was because Macan had escaped. And now he had returned with help. But what was it they were thinking? They couldn't seriously be planning to land in the hangar and fight their way through to the cells.

No, Li New warned Codan immediately. That will not work. But there maybe another way.


"Are we really about to do this?" Macan asked, glancing at Codan who was himself looking away thoughtfully. For the second time that day he had just passed into the atmosphere of the forest planet in this small transport vessel, and he couldn't really say he wished to be there any more this time than he did the last. At least this time he knew exactly why he was there, which made it all a little easier to bear. The lightsaber in his hand didn't hurt either.

"Just relax," Codan told him. "Use the Force, and focus. You'll be fine."

"Just relax?" Macan scoffed. "We're about to throw ourselves into mortal danger against three times as many enemies. On top of that, we don't even know if Li New is even still alive."

"Oh, he's alive," Codan said. "And as far as I can tell so is Rylo. For now, at least."

"I don't get it," Macan wondered. "Why haven't they killed them already?"

"You don't know?" Codan asked, a little surprised. He thought his old friend was smarter than that. "I think we can safely assume Li New and Rylo were imprisoned so that they could be tortured in front of you. Just another method of trying to turn you to the dark side."

Macan's mind suddenly felt very heavy with the understanding. Li New and Rylo's suffering was because of him, because he was weak and emotional.

"No," Codan told him, sensing his mood. "Don't think of it that way. They're actually still alive because of you. If Kreygor didn't think he could turn you then Li New and his Padawan would be dead already. Now you must relax."

Making himself do as his friend recommended, Macan closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath. Clearing his mind, he then tried desperately to remember the Jedi meditation techniques he had learned at the Academy. He was doing quite well, until a beeping from Codan's R2 astromech droid put the Jedi into alert mode.

"We're coming up on the hills," Codan explained. "Are you sure we're on exactly the same approach trajectory?"

Macan checked the control panel, then looked out of the viewing screen. "Yes, I'm certain. It's that third hill on the right. An entire section of it is disguised by some kind of hologram."

"Did you get that R2?" Codan asked. The silver and blue domed droid bleeped its affirmative. "Alright, now plug in."

The little droid whistled excitedly and extended its interface into the cockpit's computer terminal.

"What's going on?" Macan asked.

"My R2 unit will now fly the ship into the hangar," Codan explained, before turning back to the droid. "Take us down low, and try to fly a little recklessly. Think of yourself as a Dark Jedi."

The droid bleeped in nervous confusion, but soon went back to its duty.

"Why can't we fly the ship?" Macan asked, a little baffled.

"Because we won't be in it."

"No? So exactly where will we be?"

Codan smiled and opened the side hatch. "Down there," he said, pointing down to the forest as the wind now swirled around him.

"I don't know what this plan is," Macan told him. "But I don't like it already."

"Just give yourself to the Force, and jump," Codan instructed. "You will not come to harm."

"I'm not worried about that," Macan explained. "There will be a lot of opportunities to come to harm later."

Codan may have been mildly amused, but the situation of Li New and his Padawan meant now was the time for seriousness, and focus. Seeing the look on his friend's face, Macan understood also, and stepped up to the hatch.

"When we hit the ground, follow me as fast as you can," Codan told him. "We must get to Li New before the Dark Jedi realise what's going on, or they will kill him."

"You got it," Macan nodded, trying once again to free his mind into the Force.

"It's time," Codan observed as the hill came ever closer. "Are you ready?"

Macan gripped the saber tightly and took in another deep breath. "As I'll ever be."

"Alright. No need to rush now R2. Give us as much time as you can."

The droid beeped again, and took the ship down low so that it almost touched the tree tops.

"Let's go," Codan ordered, and leapt from the craft. Macan hesitated just a moment, before some kind of assurance from the Force prompted him to jump as well. As he passed through the canopy of the trees, the Dark Jedi transport and R2-G3 soon vanished from his vision, as down below him the ground approached rapidly.

Hitting the floor, he allowed the Force to flow through him. Strengthened by its energies, his leg muscles took the strain with little difficulty and he continued forward into a roll. He barely had time to return to his feet and cast a note of thanks to the Force before Codan had caught up with him from his own landing spot.

"Come on," the Jedi said. "This way, and quickly."

Macan followed as fast as his Force motivated legs would carry him.


In the heart of the Dark Jedi structure, Karynna and Raelag were carefully monitoring their respective controls when a warning sound beeped annoyingly. Karynna reached to her control panel and typed a command, prompting a large image to appear on the holographic display in the centre of the room. On it, they could see a transport approaching the hills.

"Is that Ghyron?" Raelag asked. "It is about time."

"Maybe he had a little trouble handling our former Padawan," Karynna smiled wickedly.

"Always some drama," Raelag agreed, and pressed a few buttons on the communication array. "Now what's he playing at?" he barked. "He's not even answering my hails."

"Raelag dearest," Karynna smirked. "Surely by now you should be used to Ghyron's entire lack of respect for Kreygor's instructions. He's probably not even brought Macan back with him, but rather killed him to show Kreygor what he thinks of him."

"This is hardly the time for petty squabbling. Not with the Jedi around searching for us."

"Well I know that and you know that," Karynna agreed. "But this is Ghyron we're talking about after all."

"I think I'll be having words about this later," Raelag decided. "Deactivate the cloak and let him land. I will inform Kreygor."

"Very well," Karynna said, turning her hands to the control panel underneath the hangar observation screen.

Raelag moved to another nearby control section and pressed a button. "Master Kreygor," he said. "The transport approaches."

"Understood," a voice came back. "Have Macan brought to me immediately. I will teach him the consequences of his defiance!"

"As you wish," Raelag obeyed, and flicked the communication switch to off.

"Well now," Karynna tutted. "He has been a naughty little failed Jedi."

"It's all a lot of fuss about nothing if you ask me," Raelag said. "Macan's potential is only average at best."

"Oh," Karynna taunted him. "Are you feeling a little jealous, my sweet?"

"Of course not," the Zabrak snapped, causing the Twi'lek to smile widely. "Do not tempt me to hurt you, for I would not hesitate."

Pretending to tremble a little on her seat, Karynna cast him a sardonic grin. "Stop it now," she instructed. "I'm getting excited."

"Well maybe you can take that excitement and come with me to retrieve the prisoner. Again."

"It's always work, work, work with you people isn't it?" she moaned, and followed him out of the room. Cutting through the nearby pilot prep and equipment room, they appeared in the hangar as the ship came into land. They stood waiting, surprisingly patient for Dark Jedi, as the transport touched down and its engines expired.

"What's he doing?" Raelag asked when the side hatch didn't open.

"Something is wrong here," Karynna realised, instinctively clasping a hand around her saber. "There is treachery in the air."

Raelag observed her posture as she reached out to the dark side, and seemed to agree. He readied his own double edged weapon and moved towards the craft. As he approached, he ignited his saber and flicked the door release switch using the Force. The hatch hissed open, revealing the interior of the craft. Greeted by a chirpy beep from R2-G3, he quickly sprinted to the panel at the back of the hangar and pressed the communicator.

"Kreygor. We have a problem."


"That is it," Codan said, pointing through the trees to the small metal construction just visible.

"What's it?"

"The other entrance Li New informed me of."

"Through the Force?" Macan finally understood. "That's useful. And here's me not even able to sense him at all."

"You're just out of practise," Codan assured him. "And for some reason the Force seems to be a little clouded around this planet. It's difficult to sense anything at all."

"That makes me feel so much better," Macan moaned.

"Now if we can just find their sabers and head inside. Hopefully the Dark Jedi's attention will be drawn to the hangar just long enough for us to get in and free them."

"Awful lot of hoping we're doing," Macan realised as they approached the entry.

Codan turned and scanned the area. Sure enough, he soon spotted Li New's saber a short distance away by a large tree, and beckoned it to him using the Force. It took a little more of a rummage to find Rylo's buried in the scrub, but it was not long until they were passing through the steel doorway and heading into the underground structure.

Luckily the entrance made little noise, but as it slid shut behind them Macan was suddenly worried by the sight of the dark corridor, and the familiar dank smell of the structure as it hit his nostrils. Nevertheless, he continued to follow as Codan pressed on towards the heart of the facility.

It took just a short while for them to come to a place that Macan recognised. The new corridor, which was much better lit than the one they had just come from, was one of the corridors he had been forced along earlier. They were standing pretty much where his two captors had spoken with the Gran, and the door nearby on their left was the one that led back out to the hangar. He pointed it out to Codan.

"Noted for later reference," Codan told him. "But Li New and Rylo are this way, and not too far away either."

Macan followed as Codan walked in the other direction, going passed two doors until arriving at another on their right. As the door was directly opposite an adjoining corridor, they moved with extreme caution, knowing they could now be spotted from any one of several directions.

"This it?" Macan asked.

"I believe so," Codan confirmed. "If the situation has not changed, there will be a Dark Jedi guarding them. So while I confront her, you free the captives."

"Alright," he nodded his agreement. He'd much rather have it that way than the opposite way round.

"Get ready," Codan said, his own saber in his hand as he reached out towards the door activate switch. Just before he touched it, they were both surprised by a blaring alarm that echoed down the corridors.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Macan stated as Codan ignited his saber.

"No time for sneaking around now," the Jedi decided, and opened the door. As they rushed inside, Xeroque turned to face them, a shocked but alert expression on her face. Over the com system, Kreygor's voice suddenly bellowed out into the room.

"Xeroque," he shouted. "Kill the Jedi prisoners immediately! Kill them immediately!"

In a flash the Dark Jedi's red saber ignited, and she turned towards Li New and Rylo with the look of slaughter in her eyes. Codan was moving before Macan had even sent the move command to the rest of his body. The Jedi leapt forward, his purple saber cutting through the air to parry the attacking blade just inches from Li New's chest.

"Kill him Xeroque," a voice suddenly shouted as the two sabers clashed again. Macan ignited Codan's green saber and spun to face it. He realised he had no need to worry. It was just the Gran, who was now also secured to the wall by energy bonds. It seemed he had even managed to drive his own comrades to despair.

"Macan!" Codan shouted as he ducked and parried. "Free the prisoners. Hurry!"

Macan nodded and moved over to Li New and Rylo. "How are you holding up?" he shot at Li New, as he scanned his eyes over the nearby control panel that governed the restraints. He could make little sense of it.

"I'll be much better when I'm free," Li New answered. "But I didn't think it would be you doing the freeing."

"I doubt you're as surprised as I am," Macan reckoned, as the combatants continued to fight behind him. He checked the control panel again, but as far as he could tell he would need a code to deactivate the energy bonds, and there was little time for that. Figuring he had no other option, he raised the saber and drove it deep into the control board. The damage caused it to crackle and short out, and he removed the saber quickly as it sparked in a small explosion. All around the room the energy bonds vanished, and the prisoners found themselves free again.

Ro-Donic rubbed his wrists and quickly ran through the door, not wanting to be there once all of the Jedi were armed and fighting. Though the Gran was a weak coward, Xeroque realised he had a point. To fight four opponents by herself would be stupid, so after parrying Codan's saber aside once more, she turned and followed him out of the room.

Codan relaxed and took a heavy breath, before copying Macan in deactivating his saber.

"Thank you both," Li New expressed his gratitude, mirrored by his apprentice.

"How are you feeling?" Codan asked.

"Better than earlier," Li New explained. "Luckily the Dark Jedi left us alone for the last couple of hours, and we've been able to heal ourselves somewhat."

"You can heal yourself a whole lot more when we're out of here," Codan urged. "Let's go. We have a ship in the hangar."

"No," Li New told him. "We must not let Kreygor escape. This operation must be stopped."

Codan raised his eyebrows at his fellow Jedi. "We're not exactly in very good shape to take on a group of Dark Jedi here," he pointed out. "Besides, Master Reeldo and the others are on their way. They will handle these dark side users."

"No," Li New insisted. "They may arrive too late. If we flee now then the Dark Jedi will be allowed to escape and harm others. I could not rest if that were to happen."

Codan thought for a moment. His friend was right, but could the four of them take on five enemies in their current state? He believed it was just possible, but it would depend on one thing. "It's up to you Macan," he explained.

"What? Why?"

"We're really going to need your help. We need to know you are with us here, one hundred percent."

"Of course," Macan said, even before he had thought it over. But after he did, he still came to the same answer. If he could do anything to stop Kreygor and his Dark Jedi then he would. Especially after the day he had had. "I'll do everything I can. You have my word."

"That's good enough for me," Codan told him, and handed the retrieved sabers to Li New and Rylo. "Let's go and find us some Dark Jedi."

"And may the Force be with us," Li New added.

The Jedi quickly moved through the corridors of the structure, searching for any signs of activity. As they entered an area on the opposite side of the facility to the prison, they spotted Raelag and Karynna looking a little confused as to what was going on. The Dark Jedi moved along the corridor, and vanished through a door part way down its length. Neither the Jedi or Macan spoke any words as they followed, eventually appearing in a large square room.

Somehow, the dark side seemed to be stronger here than anywhere else they had yet discovered. Using the Force, the Jedi could sense the anger and bitterness that seemed to resonate from the walls. It appeared they had found the area where their enemies delved most deeply into the dark side and practised their skills on each other. Even to Macan, the room almost stank from the dark arts and their influence.

Though the room's floor was plain cold metal and its illumination levels were low, they were still able to observe strange symbols painted all around the walls in some kind of red dye. On the back wall, the largest and most twisted symbol of all was easily visible, even through the gloom. And beneath it, the Dark Jedi stood, rallied around their leader.

"Well this is quite amusing," Kreygor said. "They mean to stand against us."

"Your time inflicting pain on others is over, Kreygor," Codan told him. "We will give you one chance to yield, otherwise we will be left with no choice but to destroy you."

The volume of the laugh that suddenly burst from within Kreygor would probably have matched the growl of a rancor, Codan thought. Could this man truly underestimate the Jedi that much? No matter how powerful he was, he was indeed foolish.

"Well," Kreygor managed as he allowed his laughter to subside. "When you put it like that I'm afraid there's only one thing to say." His Dark Jedi readied their sabers, instinctively knowing what was coming next. "Kill them all!"

Igniting their sabers, the Dark Jedi obeyed their master and began to run towards their opponents. In reply, the blue, green and purple blades of the Jedi flared into existence as they moved forward into the fray. On their flank, Macan cast aside his doubts and nervousness as battle loomed. Negative emotion would do him little good here, and he gave control of his actions to the Force, hoping that it would be enough to save him.

As the two lines of adversaries neared, all eight sabers were brought round onto the offensive, and battle was joined. Codan parried and countered against the double-bladed saber of Raelag, as Li New and Rylo teamed up against Xeroque and Karynna.

"I owe you this one, Macan," Ro-Donic said, his temper obviously still flaring from the events of the escape earlier. As the Gran swung his saber round at the former Padawan, he brought his saber up and parried the attack aside, with little difficulty at that.

With his mind clear and his focus governed by the Force, Macan was surprised at the awesome speed and power he found his blows striking with. He had almost forgotten the astonishing things the body could do when supported by the Force. The Gran seemed very disgruntled as a former apprentice with supposedly very little training began to drive him back.

A short distance away, Codan and Raelag put Macan and Ro-Donic to shame as their sabers moved at seemingly twice the speed. The Jedi parried left, right and left again, before leaping over one of Raelag's low attacks. As he somersaulted over the Zabrak's head, his purple blade flashed, forcing his opponent to quickly duck and roll aside. Codan landed right behind Ro-Donic, and the Gran didn't even know until he saw and then felt the Jedi's saber sticking through his chest.

Not even pausing to confirm the kill, Codan spun back in to action as Raelag charged him down again. Macan stepped back and watched Ro-Donic fall, a look of disbelief on the Gran's repulsive face.

Still observing from the back of the room, Kreygor shrugged off the loss of one of his warriors. He couldn't be too disappointed with it, as he had after all been tempted to kill Ro-Donic anyway. He would just have to join in and teach these puny Jedi himself. With an evil smile on his face, he switched on his saber and charged forward.

Li New had just managed to catch Karynna off guard and hurl her back with a Force push as Kreygor came at him. The Dark Jedi's red saber came powerfully down in an arc, and Li New had to put maximum energy into his parry in order to deflect the attack. The Jedi stepped back as Kreygor came on again, his attacks fuelled by a deep connection to the dark side.

As Li New stood against this powerful threat, San Rylo found himself wanting to rush to his assistance. However, the young Jedi and his blue saber were already stretched to their utmost capability in defending the attacks of the assertive Xeroque.

Meanwhile, Macan rushed to help Codan against the wickedly fast saber of Raelag, but could only manage two simple parries before the shrieking purple Twi'lek charged him down. He quickly ducked her first attack, then leapt back and parried the next. As she came forward Macan realised she was much more of a handful than Ro-Donic, but surprised himself again with the discovery that he could just keep up with her attacks. Heartened by a new belief, he pressed on doggedly, at times even managing to put her under pressure.

The situation Macan found himself in was pretty much echoed all across the floor. All of the individual duels seemed so close they could go either way. Surely now it was all going to be decided on whichever side lost a fighter first, which would obviously throw a great advantage to the other.


Entering the atmosphere of the planet, Ghyron sat in his small black fighter. He knew very well what was probably happening in the facility at the minute, as he had followed the Jedi and the failure here in the stolen transport. Though his lust for battle cried to him to go down and participate, he nevertheless restrained himself.

He had found plenty of time to think since his retreat from the Raddus system. Everything that had gone wrong today, from the loss at Gorek II, through to the Jedi discovering the hidden base, had been the fault of one man's feeble orders - Kreygor's. There was no way he was going to go down there and rush to that idiot's aid, not after his pitiful decisions had brought an abrupt end to months of hard work and planning.

It seemed that Kreygor feared their mysterious master so much, that he had let his decisions be influenced by it. He had obviously been so caught up in trying to prove himself a great warrior and leader, that he had lost sight of the bigger picture. Stupid decisions were not going to help in defeating the Jedi, and that was all Ghyron truly wanted. He wanted it more than anything.

And so he had made his own decision. Though not in the near future, the Jedi would fall. He would help make sure of it.


As the battle in the duelling arena continued to rage, all of the combatants found themselves forced or drawn towards the centre of the room. Suddenly all four of the individual duels came within close proximity, and a great display of saber skill dominated the small area. It seemed impossible that no-one was struck down, but the fighters all managed to parry, duck, roll or jump out of harm's way every time.

After parrying and dodging away from Raelag once more, Codan found himself having to evade another red saber as he stepped within range of Kreygor. The Dark Jedi leader found himself relishing the chance to display his skills to another of his enemies, and attacked again.

San Rylo continued to match the skill of Xeroque, but was under constant pressure and could not find chance to counter. Li New suddenly found himself free to rush to his Padawan's aid, and began to push the Togruta back as Karynna stepped in to try her luck against the young Jedi.

His original target now under the attack of his leader, Raelag smiled at the chance to clash with Macan. Surely the weak Jedi reject could not withstand his powerful assault, and he charged forward aggressively. Macan backed off, parrying for all he was worth but barely able to match the superior combat skills of his opponent.

The drawn out struggle continued, and Kreygor found himself getting increasingly frustrated. All four of their enemies still fought on, and though it seemed they were tiring they were still managing to match the Dark Jedi. It certainly wasn't supposed to be that way, Kreygor thought, and grit his teeth. How weak were his Dark Jedi if they could not bring about the end of these measly opponents? Even the young Padawan and the pitiful failure were still battling on.

But almost as if Kreygor had willed it, Macan fell and his saber clattered away as he was hit by a powerful kick from Raelag. The Zabrak prepared to strike the killing blow with his double bladed saber, and Kreygor paused for a split second to enjoy the moment. However this allowed Codan to find the time to step in, and his purple saber defiantly blocked the attack. Snarling in frustration, Raelag once again engaged the Jedi.

The Zabrak wasn't the only one who was annoyed with the proceedings. The incident with Macan pushed Kreygor over the edge. He had witnessed his Dark Jedi fail for the last time today, and he had no intention of carrying them any further. In his opinion, they no longer deserved his assistance. If they were truly as good as they had often boasted, then maybe he would see them again, and possibly respect them more for it. But right at that moment his mind was made up. He deactivated his saber, and stormed out of the room, leaving his old apprentices to their own devices. Still determined he would eventually get his way, he decided he would find himself new students, and this time make certain they were more powerful than the Jedi.

Struggling to his feet, Macan was confused as he watched Kreygor leave. It seemed a bizarre thing to do with the battle so evenly matched. In fact, Macan believed the Dark Jedi probably just had the edge, mainly due to his own poor skills, but maybe the fleeing opponent didn't see it that way. Fear was a big part of the path to the dark side, and it seemed that despite his power, Kreygor was full of it.

But now what was he to do? The other Jedi were occupied, all locked in fierce combat. With his help they would possibly overpower these enemies much sooner, but it would allow Kreygor time to make his escape. Thinking back to Li New's words he remembered they were only risking their lives here to stop Kreygor from doing just that.

He realised he had little choice in the matter. Gathering his saber he ran out of the room, intent on holding up the Dark Jedi until his friends could arrive and deal with him.

Turning right once out into the corridor, he left the sounds of combat behind and ran through another door further along. Again the room was dimly lit, with a large rack containing spare engine and weapon parts pretty much concealing one wall. Around half a dozen flight suits that looked like they never got used littered one far corner.

Another door was situated along the opposite wall, presumably leading out into the hangar. Before it, Kreygor was just reaching up to the activation switch.

"Leaving so soon?" Macan gibed.

Kreygor ceased his arm movement, and smiled. "You have made incorrect decisions today, Macan," he said, turning to face him. "Don't make coming after me alone be your last one."

"Brave words," Macan came back, "for someone looking to run from the conflict."

"You still have a chance to save yourself. I will not stop you if you back away while you can."

"That's not an option," Macan explained. "I will not let you leave to threaten other innocent people. Not without a fight."

"Fight?" Kreygor chuckled. "Is that what you would call it? What kind of contest could you possibly offer me?"

Macan took a deep breath and cleared his mind. "Let's find out."

Kreygor ignited his lightsaber as Macan rushed him. This was indeed interesting. Having the former Jedi before him and all alone gave him a perfect chance to try and turn him. The day may end on a better note after all. He figured it was time Macan found out the one thing he had always wanted to know.

The red blade flashed twice in defence, parrying Macan's saber aside and allowing Kreygor to kick him in the gut. The cold floor met Macan's back hard as he fell.

"Despite your weaknesses you still have all the accursed nobility and sentiment I've come to expect from Jedi," Kreygor said as Macan struggled back to his feet. "But do not think I cannot see through it. For I understand why you seek isolation. I know why it is you turned your back on the Jedi Order."

"You know nothing," Macan told him, readying himself again. "Or you would know that I will never betray my friends and turn to the dark side as you have done."

Macan swung Codan's green saber again, and as before Kreygor blocked with far too much ease, and pushed Macan away with a laugh.

"You are so wrong," Kreygor said. "I know exactly why it is you left the Jedi. Your entire soul stinks of it. The love you couldn't have."

Macan instantly recoiled. His memory flickered back into the past, bringing with it joy and pain, all at once soothing and unbearable.

"Yes, you are transparent to me," Kreygor goaded him. "It weakens you, and torments you. The love you could have had."

"Shut up!" Macan snapped. "Do not speak of it."

"Ha ha ha," Kreygor laughed. "There it is. The pain and anger. Now draw close, and release it upon me."

"No!" Macan said, more in annoyance at himself and his triggered emotions than in response to his opponent's words. He was truly stunned by how quickly his anger had flared, and he forced himself to breathe deep and relax. "I shall not."

"You will!" Kreygor promised. "And though it will be your undoing you will not care. For would you not seek vengeance on the man who struck her down?"

"What?" Macan asked, struggling at first to comprehend the bombshell he had just discovered.

"Mmmm," Kreygor teased him further. "She had such a pretty face, that one."

"You?" Macan's heart began to thump hard in his chest. At last, without realising it, he had met the bane of the hurt and torment he had felt for the last four years. Already, he could feel his anger begging to be released, and his self control struggled to contain it. The part of his mind that was still clear fought with his trembling right arm to keep it still and not take action, for to attack in anger would be to take a step on the path towards the dark side. And there was not one piece of him that truly wanted that.

"So sweet, yet so strong."

The temptation to seek revenge grew almost too strong for Macan to bear. The memories of that fateful day were now fresh in his mind, and standing before the man responsible made their hurt twofold. He considered action either way. Part of him understood that to back down would save his soul, though it would cost him his life. It would be easy to release his saber and accept his fate, as he did not fear death. But far too much did he fear that he would miss this chance. Destroying Kreygor would not only satisfy his own desire for justice, it would also remove a threat capable of inflicting much harm on the innocent life forms of the galaxy.

"She put up such a valiant fight," Kreygor told him mockingly. "You would have been proud."

But could he justify taking a life in such a manner? Would taking the dark path to destroying one menace be worth the price he would pay? Drawing upon those energies now begging for his use would turn him into that which he despised the most.

"It was indeed a pity," Kreygor sneered malevolently, "that I had to cut... her... down."

The words wreaked more pain than any physical blade ever could, and Macan could take no more. He found he could not stand and do nothing as this villain gloated of his ruining of lives, as his will was just not strong enough. Though anguish threatened to cripple him, and tears threatened to blind him, he readied himself for battle. This man would pay for his crime, and by any means necessary. He raised his saber for the attack.

Kreygor smiled.


Xeroque backed away from Li New as he continued to search for a weakness. Slowly but surely, the fatigue in her arms was becoming too much for her to cope with, and the Jedi had picked up on her less aggressive style. He powered another attack home, forcing her to stumble as nearby the sabers of Rylo and Karynna kept up their frenetic pace. The young Twi'lek definitely wasn't showing any signs of fatigue. Actually, if the look in her eyes and the angered expression on her face were anything to go by, she was only just getting warmed up. She screamed a wickedly high pitched scream and swung her saber again, fuelled by her twisted hatred. Not to be outdone, Rylo calmly focused all of his energy into his arms and gave everything he'd got to match her blow for blow.

Still the bitter contest between Codan and Raelag persisted. Each fighter found themselves being forced back in turn, before taking the chance to go on the offensive themselves. Just as the Zabrak attacked again, a sudden flicker of doubt passed across his face. Codan soon sensed why, as Xeroque slumped to the floor, her body sliced in two where Li New's saber had just carved through it. Without time to even regain his concentration, Raelag staggered back as his enemy's blade moved again, passing straight through the handle of his saber and deactivating it. The damage to the intricate equipment inside caused a short, and the halves of the saber hilt sparked in his hands, causing him to drop them.

In less than a second the outcome of the battle had been decided. As Li New and Rylo pressed Karynna back, Raelag withdrew as Codan sought the telling blow. The Dark Jedi soon found themselves with so more space to back into...

Li New abruptly spun around and brought his saber up for defence, his actions automatically triggered by the Force. As the wave of blaster fire came at them, he caught sight of Rylo going down just off to his side. Ghyron had suddenly appeared at the entrance to the room, and one of his shots had passed right through the Padawan's shoulder. He groaned in pain as he hit the floor.

The two Jedi deflected the remaining attacks away, with Li New quickly moving to cover his injured apprentice. Raelag and Karynna saw this as their chance, and hastily made their getaway. Once they were safely into the corridor, Ghyron vanished after them, pausing only to strike a mocking pose at Codan.

"No!" Li New demanded, as Codan moved to give chase. "It's Kreygor we must find. Macan went after him."

"What about Rylo?" Codan asked.

Li New knelt down and checked the wound, as the young Jedi grit his teeth in pain. "It is not life threatening," he explained. "But it could do with immediate attention."

"Just get Kreygor," Rylo growled agonisingly. "I'll be alright."

"We will return," Li New promised, and the two Jedi quickly moved away.


Over the other side of the facility, the fleeing Dark Jedi rapidly moved along the corridor towards the hangar.

"What about Kreygor?" Karynna asked.

"His time is over," Ghyron coldly explained.

"His time is over? You even speak like a Jedi," Karynna taunted him. "And since when is it up to you whether we leave him or not?"

"Didn't you see?" Raelag asked. "He had no problem leaving us to meet our doom. So I have none doing the same for him."

"Do not worry, Karynna," Ghyron told her as they entered the hangar. "I have spoken with the master and he agrees with this course of action. Kreygor has obviously demonstrated his distinct capabilities for failure. We will not defeat the Jedi without much stronger leadership."

"And you have a better person in mind?" she asked.

"Indeed," Ghyron confirmed, breaking away from them and heading towards his ship. "The master has requested our presence. We will be taking our orders directly from him now."

The Twi'lek and the Zabrak gave each other a surprised but excited glance. They had heard many great things about their enigmatic supreme master, and had long wished to prove themselves to him and allow him to improve their power. They took to the skies and headed away from the planet without giving Kreygor a further thought.


Kreygor stepped back, then once more, as Macan's onslaught came at him. The green saber flashed again and again, and though the attacks were wild and erratic their ferocity was enough to trouble the Dark Jedi.

Reaching into the Force, Kreygor delved into Macan's psyche. Amongst the rampant emotions, he could sense things were going well. The former Jedi had almost given into his hate and anger completely. He only needed just a little more coercing. Once an opportunity arrived, Kreygor drew upon the power of telekinesis, and sent Macan sprawling backwards with a mighty demonstration of the Force ability he possessed.

Macan grunted as he hit the back wall hard and collapsed to the floor.

"Weak, pathetic fool!" Kreygor scolded him. "Is that all you can muster? Your feelings for that woman couldn't have been that strong if that was your best attempt."

Macan struggled to find his feet. His body ached, and his legs were tired. But worse than that his heart was heavy with the understanding of what was about to occur. He would give himself to the dark side in a bid to rid himself of this malicious rival. Though the act would bring with it an evil into him far worse, nowhere could he find the strength to care.

"Does her death not warrant more of an effort on your part?"

Though he knew Kreygor was doing his best to tempt him to the dark side, Macan knew that those words were true. He so desperately wanted now to avenge her death, but he required more power and quickly if he was going to be able to achieve it. He closed his eyes and accepted his decision.

But in that moment, as the last shred of integrity threatened to leave him, the world around him seemed to slow. In the background, the drone of the structure's power generators faded out, along with the hum of the sabers. The only sounds were the long, slow beats of his heart, and each breath of air that seemed to last as long as the eternal wind itself.

This could not be as it would feel to give yourself to the dark side, he thought. He no longer felt angry, or frustrated. All over him peace came like he had never experienced, and he basked in its presence. He guessed he could only be dreaming, but when he commanded his eyes to open they obeyed.

He was still in the same room, he observed, but it was not dark and foreboding as it had been. Light gleamed from some unknown source, bathing the area in a wonderful warm glow. Kreygor was nowhere to be seen. In his place, a semi-transparent blue and white luminosity shifted and changed until taking on a shape that could be described as roughly humanoid. Then within the blue, the white continued to morph and sharpen, taking on the appearance of someone from his past. His eyes grew wider, and he breathed ever deeper. It was her.