Chapter 2 – The Assassin

As Malachi's swoop bike parted the first layers of sand beneath him, he could feel the struggle of the Jedi that was captured. When he saw what was in front of him, he knew exactly where he was headed. The docks of Anchorhead were a rough area of Tatooine, where Czerka still had control of most of the dock trading. However, Malachi knew that Sith Lords knew how to get what they want. Malachi focused his mind, and could hear the heartbeat of the Jedi. He took a better look, and his vision changed. He didn't see in all colors anymore. He saw outlines, but he could see the bodies of those in Anchorhead. He could see how the Force was affecting its citizens. He could see mothers taking care of their children, and the light side of the Force poured from them like the silver waters of the Room of a Thousand Fountains at the Temple on Coruscant. He could also see bounty hunters, and the evil that emanated from their black hearts. He had been trained by Revan to be able to see the Force, and he could use the perception of a Miraluka. He then was able to see the Hangar. There were about fifteen Sith troopers, but there was a darker presence.

"Great, it's a Sith warrior. This could get difficult."

A man bearing red robes and a black cape around his back stepped out of a Sith carrier. Two lightsabers were strapped to his hip, one regular length, and one that was shorter. He was around six feet tall, and looked very strong. However, his face was that of a human, but his skin was scaly, and green. He had long black hair that extended in a ponytail on the back of his head. Beside the ponytail however, he was bald. His eyes where black in color, and every bit of him seemed to pulse with the Dark Side of the force. He was a Faleen, and his name was Darth Nectorus. He began to walk toward a cage, and inside the cage was a being with reddish-orange skin, and wore a pair of specialized goggles and a breath mask, both of which were attached to his skin. He wore the robes of a Jedi Knight, the colors however being white, with a brownish red cape. This young man was from the planet of Dorin, and he was a Kel-Dor. Nectorus spoke with a high, hissing voice.

"So, my would-be assassin tried to defeat me. So, who sent you? Who would be foolish enough to try and kill one of the future rulers of this galaxy?"

The Kel-Dor looked Nectorus in the eyes, and crossed his arms. If he wasn't wearing a breath mask, he would have been smiling.

"My name is Kimri Nurwin, and I was sent by my master, Juhani."

"So, you were trained by one of Revan's friends, eh? You must be a guardian, judging by your lightsaber." Nectorus raised a dual-hilted lightsaber, and extended it. The blade glowed with a purple light. "This is very well made. Did you construct it yourself?"

Kimri looked the Sith dead in the eyes, and said nothing. He was fearless, and stood by his beliefs. Kimri was captured once by Sith, but the Jedi had freed him. Since then, he has been trained to be a great warrior, and he was top of his class in sword fighting skills. He was as great a Jedi Guardian as his master, and would never give in to a Sith.

"Well I guess you've decided to take the silent approach. Well, that's your choice. Either way, we're taking you to be changed forever. We're going to break you, Jedi. You will soon become one of us, and then your attitude will change. You will soon embrace the Dark Side of the Force."

Kimri looked him in the eyes, then took a step forward in his force cage. "Before my time is done, Sith, I will have you at the mercy of my lightsaber."

Malachi had reached the outside wall of the hangar, and extended his lightsabers. He then held them underhanded, and plunged them into the wall. He than began to use them to scale it, one hole made after the other until he reached the top. Malachi looked below him, and then put his lightsabers away. He dropped stealth fully onto the ground below him. He wandered over to a group of five Sith troopers, and stayed hidden behind some boxes. He looked around, and saw there were boxes strewn about behind them. He used the Force to pull the boxes toward him, and he knocked the five troopers out. Kimri and Nectorus both looked toward the boxes, and saw the five guards were out cold. Then, he saw Malachi walk out toward them.

"Guards, attack him!"

Malachi threw off his cape, and drew his lightsabers. The guards then aimed their rifles at him, and began firing. One bolt after the other, the blaster shots were deflected back at those who fired them, each one being killed by their own weaponry. Nectorus looked shocked, but smiled.

"Well, it seems we have another Jedi in our midst. So, who are you, and why could I not sense your presence."

Malachi smiled, and replied, "Power blinds people, Sith. You have become too obsessed with power to sense what is truly around you. That ignorance shall become your undoing."

"Well, Jedi, it seems that you've forgotten the old saying, you cannot kill what you cannot see!"

Nectorus cast off his cloak, and disappeared before Malachi's very eyes. Malachi lept forward toward the force cage.

"Stand still for a moment. I'm going to free you. What's your name?"

"Kimri Nurwin. I'm a Jedi Guardian."

"I overheard that. Give me a moment." Malachi put his palm in front of the energy field, and then the force cage dissipated. "Get out. I can only manipulate it shortly."

"Thank you, my friend."

"Don't thank me just yet. We have a Sith to deal with."

"He must have ran. I can't sense him."

"No, he's here. He's a Sith Assassin. He can mask his presence easily. Let me reveal him first. Then, we'll retrieve your lightsaber. Sit tight."

Malachi took a moment to focus, and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, his eyes were white, and he could see through the force. He then leapt forward, and drew his lightsabers. He came down with them, and a red lightsaber was revealed, and blocked the blow.

"I've found you Sith. Remember what I talked about being blind?"

"You little brat!" Nectorus then revealed himself, and Kimri leapt forward to join Malachi. He Force pulled his lightsaber from Nectorus' belt, and drew it. Malachi stepped back, and both of them put themselves in ready positions. Nectorus drew his short lightsaber, and readied himself.

"You shall now come to justice, Sith!" said Kimri. Malachi flipped over their opponent, and both Jedi clashed lightsabers with Nectorus. Both Jedi kept striking at the Sith, and he was able to defend both of them. Nectorus kicked off of a wall, and tried to attack both of them, but the blow was defended by both sides. Malachi side kicked Nectorus in his temple, and sent him into a stack of cargo boxes. Kimri then charged him, and attempted to try and stab him in the stomach. Nectorus deflected the blow, and spun around Kimri. He attempted to swipe at Kimri's head with his long lightsaber, but Kimri deflected the shot behind his back. Kimri then turned around, kicked Nectorus' left hand backward, and cut his longer lightsaber in half. He then kicked Nectorus in the stomach, and sent him flying toward Malachi, who then kicked Nectorus into the air. Malachi threw his lightsaber into the air, and split Nectorus' other lightsaber. The two Jedi then intercepted the Sith on his was back down, and kicked him into the cargo bay of his transport. Nectorus screamed in pain.

"Take off now!" The door closed, and the shuttle took off as quick as it possibly could. It raced off of the planet, seemingly scared of the two Jedi. Malachi then looked at Kimri, and pulled his cloak back toward himself.

"You're a great warrior, Kimri. I was honored to fight with you? Who are you here with?"

"I'm here by myself. I was told by my master to look for someone named Revan, to further my training as a Jedi Knight."

Malachi smiled and said, "Revan huh? He is my master. Trust me, he won't be found until he wants to be found. He told me about your master. She is the Kathar known as Juhani, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Revan said she was an incredible warrior. She was with him and Jolee Bindo when they brought down the Star Forge. I'm honored to meet you."

"Thank you. I was sent here to go over the planet, and I'm supposed to be looking for something."

"What would that be?" Malachi asked.

"I was looking for you, actually. I wanted to ask you if you would like to travel with me, and help me with a mission my master and I were given on Coruscant. The council wanted us to defeat these new Sith Lords, and stop whatever plans they have."

"Well, it sounds interesting. I'd love to. Do you have a ship?"

"Yes, I do actually. It's a Corellian ship, and I call it the Pike."

"Corellians are top of the line ships. Who gave it to you?"

"The council. I'm a pretty good pilot. However, I'm going to have to find us a transport back to Coruscant, because that's where I found Nectorus."

"I'm guessing that you tried to stop him, and he captured you? Well, it happens. I'd love to help you. Let's go."

The two walked off toward the door of the hangar bay, and prepared to look for some sort of transport they could take off of the planet.