Chapter 2: Escape – Part 1
Saran Agarnon and his team of JIF officers marched towards His quarters, afraid of what they would find there. He was extremely powerful, however most of His early training had been conducted on His home planet by one of the peacekeepers sent there during the war, this man had seen His potential, but had been killed by the Sith. The rest of his forces had also been destroyed, only when this boy of nearly 14 had shown up at the door to the Enclave with a signed letter from the Knight had they known about Him. Now, seven years later, he had proved himself to be a tough opponent.
Even then they did not know the true extent of His powers, his midichlorian count surpassed even that of Master Ka'RanTik, His lightsaber skills were unparalleled in sparring and at twenty years old, He was the youngest to ever be promoted to Jedi Knight.
He had helped solve a dispute on Cestus between the X'Ting and human colonials. 1. Once again they were at war over mining claims, the X'Ting saying that the humans were not welcome, and the humans, making themselves welcome, with blasters. Although the bugs outnumbered them, the humans were having an easy time defending against them. So, He had been sent to stop the fighting.
How He did it is not known as He went alone, as had always been His way. In actuality, He went there for his own purposes and had killed fifty dashta eels in order to make a Force enhancing cloak, one which He now wore. Of course, the natives wouldn't stand for that. So He took matters into His own hands, using the power of the Dark side, he warped and twisted their minds until they were all 'happy', thus ending the war. Not that the Jedi knew about that.
He felt no remorse for ridding the galaxy of six useless, foolish Jedi, having gained much knowledge from them, adding their skill and strength to His already considerable powers. Only the last had shown promise. Rhea, so subtly powerful and of great beauty as well. She hid her emotions well, unlike most Jedi they ran just beneath the surface, not underneath a ton of rock.
He had considered taking her with him. He knew she wanted to love him, He felt her and reciprocated the feeling, she could denounce the Jedi and join Him in the ways of the Sith. Unfortunately, when the time came, it appeared that she was too indoctrinated, brainwashed by the 'teachings' of the Jedi. The veil covering her emotions, although thin, was impenetrable, like comparing a concrete wall to a sheet of titanium.
Ah well...
Saran stood outside the door, turned around and reminded his men that they were facing a powerful foe and to be wary of Him.
Inside, He was writing on a datapad with a stylus. Leaving a note as He prepared to make His escape.
It read: "My dear 'friends', the time has come for me to reveal myself to you, you have always known that I was different, if not in what way. You have taught me well, in certain aspects, and poorly in others. I do not resent you for that, instead I pity you fools who have already corrupted so many with your misguided teachings and ancient beliefs, I pity that you cannot see that only through emotion and feelings can one truly become enlightened.
I am one such being. In concealing myself from you for so long, I have learned much. Much about yourselves, myself and the universe in general. This has been a long time in coming, do not blame yourselves for those who have so suddenly left the physical plain, they are but a drop in the ocean for the knowledge I've gained.
In all my existence, I have been plagued by one simple question, why am I here? Thus, in my pursuit of this divine meaning, I have decided that it would be beneficial to me to have more resources at my disposal.
Know that at this time I have made my choice. I am leaving soon if not already and I want you to remember me, if not for my skill and prowess then for the things I have done.
I assume you have already found the oh so obvious clue I left behind in allowing her to imprint her memories, and no doubt want me to be tried for my 'crimes'. I'm afraid I cannot let that happen. I have already surpassed you in many ways, if you decide to try and hunt me down, I will give you no quarter and I expect none.
P.S. I would like to leave my Kodachi as a memorial to my dearly departed Master Wilken. If you want, you can display it as a symbol of my power.
Most assuredly, mine,
Devien Tavar"
Just as he finished, Saran Agarnon forced the door open and his squad burst in, taking up a semicircular position near the entrance. Devien did not even turn around, he had been expecting this since he felt their presence outside the door.
"Devien Tavar, you are charged with murder, espionage and for embracing the ways of the dark side." Master Agarnon enunciated.
"You say that as if it was a bad thing, Master Agarnon," he replied.
With that, he whipped around, and with a burst of the Force, sent all twelve of them crashing into the wall. Simultaneously, the stylus and datapad left his hands, the former burying all five-and-a-half inches of itself through the throat of one of them, pinning him to the wall; and the latter smashing the cranium of another with a sickening 'splutch' sound. They both died instantly.
The Jedi recovered quickly, but they were not terribly organised and had scarcely took heed of Master Agarnon's warning. Three of the younger ones recklessly charged forwards, lightsabers ignited. He didn't even look up.
As they reached him, there was a sudden flurry of movement, his Kodachi flashed out of its sheath, slashing across three times, blood sprayed across the walls from gaping wounds that suddenly appeared across their torsos, it was a second before anyone realized what happened, because the sword was already back in its sheath. Once again, his robes were unstained. Their faces contorted in agony and horror, they had not expected this. Then they crumpled to the ground, each in several pieces, Jedi robes no match for cold hard steel.
Their extinguished lightsabers flew silently to hook themselves onto Devien's belt. Saran knew then that he was way out of his league. Devien thought, five down, seven to go. One more Jedi who thought himself worthy of his challenge rushed forwards, lightsaber held high, intending to cut him in half lengthwise. Devien just looked at him, somewhat bemused, without even gesturing, the Jedi floated up into the air, and his body contorted in an unnatural position, there were several loud cracks, then he too was still as he hit the floor. 2.
Devien knelt down and picked his lightsaber up, igniting it, lazily twirling the glowing blade before turning it off and clipping it to his belt. Two more Jedi approached, more cautiously now. They held their lightsabers in guard position then struck, one vertically and one horizontally.
Then there was a collective gasp from the Jedi as he held the beams of energy, feeling the flow of the Force and controlling it so the beams came within a millimetre of him. He twisted the blades and buried them in the stomachs of their owners.
He now had nine (including his own) lightsabers clipped to his belt. Saran shouted to one of the three remaining JIF officers to run for help. As the unfortunate man reached the door, Devien unsheathed his Kodachi and hurled it at him, javelin style. Like a bolt of black lightning it impaled him right through the heart and threw him a good ten feet to slam into the opposite wall.
Then there was a flash of black robes as Devien Tavar, formerly Sith Adept turned Jedi Knight turned Sith Lord flew towards the last three defenders, lightsaber in hand, blue blade nearly blinding in the darkness. He sliced down at one of them, carving a cauterized swath from his collarbone to his right thigh, then cutting the other in two with an upwards slash.
That left only Master Agarnon squared off with possibly the most powerful Force user ever. "Master, if you'll let me pass, I have no need to harm you, you have always been kind to me in the past, I'm giving you one chance to live." Devien said.
"You know I can't do that, Devien, but if you surrender now I will guarantee you a fair trial and hearing."
"I was hoping you would see reason, Master... but I see now that you too are beyond! my! help!" He attacked, unleashing a furious barrage of strikes with just one hand.
Master Agarnon was fighting for his life, pushed into the defensive and having to focus completely on blocking each thrust with one of his own. Then, using an unorthodox and some would say unfair move, one of the other lightsabers clipped to Devien's belt ignited and came to Devien's other hand. It was then Saran realized he was doomed.
Saran parried one hit just a split second too late. The blade in Devien's left hand came up and stabbed through his abdomen, burning and sealing the wound as lightsabers do. As Devien leant closer to remove the blade, he whispered, "Goodbye, Master." Saran Agarnon sank to the floor, feeling the Force drain from him as his life ended.
Wasting no time on sentiment, Devien Tavar, self-proclaimed Sith Lord, strode down the hallway, and woe betide whosoever stand in his way.
1. See Star Wars: The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes from Del Rey and Ballantine Books.
2. Force Crush power from the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.