Boop! Boop! Boop! Ry-Gaul picked up his beeping comlink, now set back to its standard tone. He looked at the message, and his stolid face took up a solemn expression.
He informed his Padawan, "We need to get back faster."
"Why, Master? We're already going pretty fast."
"The Temple is sending out a desperation signal. We need to get back and help."
"Got it." The Padawan, now in the pilot's seat, accelerated the vehicle to its maximum speed in hyperspace.
Two hours later…
Boom! Boom! Several explosions sent sparks flying everywhere in the Coruscant sky. The Temple, now partly aflame and under attack, stood out even more in the twilight.
Veeew! Ry-Gaul, once again the pilot, quickly landed the ship.
"Let's go."
The two Jedi leaped into the fray. Deflecting blaster bolts in all directions, their sabers swirled and spiraled in tandem, and taking down clones as they went. They forced their way into the smoke-filled Temple, searching for any Jedi. Already, both were fatigued with the dying Force signatures of their fellow Jedi and the intense barrage of lasers. They looked up ahead into a slightly clearer area.
Wait… That's not supposed to be there.
Ry-Gaul stopped in astonishment. That "clearer area" wasn't just a space. It was a hole, a huge, gaping hole that was in the door to the Archives. Even more astounding was the fact that there were two shapes with lightsabers engaged in battle. Both were familiar to Ry-Gaul.
That can't be…
In disbelief, he tapped the Force to clear the smoke, and the realization of the identities of the fighting forms was painfully clear: Anakin Skywalker and Tru Veld. Then, there was a surge of horror that flowed through Ry-Gaul's body. The fight was a fight to the death, with Anakin on the Dark Side. Furthermore, Tru was losing.
Ry-Gaul began running toward the fighting forms, but a wall of the Dark side stopped him.
NO!
In agony, he understood what was going on. Anakin was going to kill Tru, and had formed an impenetrable wall of the Dark Side.
Whoosh! Suddenly, it felt as if a vacuum had been activated in Ry-Gaul's body. It forced him to the ground, holding his head and writhing in pain.
"Aargh!" he bellowed in anguish. The agony made it piercingly clear: Tru Veld, his former Padawan, was dead.
"Aargh!" Emeth also shouted, but he was still standing. Obviously, his tie to Tru was barely there, but it was enough.
The two Jedi moaned in distress, confusion temporarily clouding their heads.
No, Tru… gone.
But now was not the time to grieve. It was the time for defense, the time to try to save the remaining Jedi.
"Let's move."
Ten minutes later…
Kssshhh! Vwoom! Buzz. Hmm.
Three lightsabers twirled again and again, and clashed over and over.
"Anakin, give up!" Ry-Gaul roared. "Stop!"
"Never." Darth Vader's cold voice went straight to Ry-Gaul's heart.
Kssshhh! Buzz.
Why is this happening? How can this be? What's going on? The questions whirled around in Ry-Gaul's head.
Their battle wore on, until it was obviously Night. Both Jedi were exhausted, but Darth Vader seemed just as strong as ever. Nevertheless, the Jedi didn't give up—it was a fight to the death.
"Keep fighting, Emeth!" Ry-Gaul murmured his Padawan, who was already slowing down. But it was too late.
Hiss! In the blink of an eye, Darth Vader had plunged his lightsaber into Emeth's chest. The boy's eyes froze open, and glazed over. Emeth L'aroi was dead.
I will lament later… now I must fight.
"AAAARRGH!" Ry-Gaul lunged at Vader, unleashing a flurry of attacks and temporarily silencing the former Jedi. He kept it up for several minutes, but eventually slowed.
Now it was Vader's turn. The Sith Lord let loose a torrent of attacks, powered by the Dark Side, and gradually wore out the Jedi Master.
Finally, the moment came. Ry-Gaul made his faux pas, and Vader jumped at the chance. He thrust his lightsaber blade deep into the Jedi's chest, laughing as Ry-Gaul's body froze, and then went limp.
"HA HA HA!" Apparently, Vader had read Ry-Gaul's mind. "You will never get the chance to mourn your Padawans." With that, the Sith Lord left the Archives.
End