Chapter 7: Farewell my Beloved, part 2

Bruloune Mountains, Mandalorian hideout

Seja stumbled forward, and he raised his lightsaber. His Mandalorian opponent smirked, and flexed his large muscles. The Slayer put up a weak guard, and prepared to use the Shii-cho style. Katahara's eye twitched, and he began to charge.

"Take this, Mandalorian Secret Art, Sytold Makk!" Katahara roared, raising his muscular right arm, pointing his fist towards the sky, and he slammed it into Seja's neck hard, "Break of Mandalore!"

Seja spat out blood, and a crack was heard at the back of his neck. A tiny hairline fracture appeared formed on his vertebrae at the base of his neck, and more blood flew out of his mouth. The Jedi flew backwards, crumpling on the ground like a broken child's toy. Katahara stood there smirking, his arms still in the position they attacked with.

"Ha, ha, you're beat up and exhausted, with no sense of hearing, the Force, or vision," Katahara boasted, grabbing his right arm with his left hand, flexing his muscles, "And this is Sytold Makk! There is no way that you could possibly win-!"

Katahara's boast was cut short when blood shot out. He looked down to see a slash mark from Seja's lightsaber on it. Seja got onto one knee, and he rubbed his neck.

"Even if I can't use my senses or my body correctly…" Seja panted, trying to numb the pain coming from his neck, and he raised his lightsaber in his right hand, "All I really have to do is concentrate on hitting you."

"I see…" Katahara growled confidently, putting his hand over his chest to stop the bleeding.

Seja rose to his feet slowly, and put his left hand over the pommel. Katahara dropped his hand, and didn't even bother to put up a guard.

"Well, you use your head too, eh?" Katahara asked in a mocking tone, "Well, I plan on giving you a quick death anyway…"

A feral grin appeared on the Mandalorian's face, "…that is, of course, I change my fighting style…"

Seja panted, the loss of blood started to affect him. His killing eyes were still flashing, but he wasn't even at a quarter of his full strength. He knew he wouldn't survive the battle.

In the cabin, Callista had managed to sit up, groaning in pain. She placed her hand on her face, and looked around.

'Where am I…?'she asked, raising herself to her feet, 'What am I doing?'

She then looked over to where her vibrodagger was; apparently Katahara had thrown it in with her. She grabbed it, and looked around.

'What am I doing…?' she thought, and then the sounds of battle she heard from the outside, "Who is fighting…?"

She walked over to the door, which had been wrecked. There was a large crack, and she could see outside.

"That's…" Callista starts, getting a closer look, 'That's…'

Her eyes widen, she sees her dead fiancée holding a blade, fighting for his life. She then shook her head, and groaned again. After rubbing her eyes, she looked again, and was even more shocked. It was Seja, battered, bruised, and bleeding, standing out in the cold.

'Oh…now I see…' Callista thought, the image of her fiancée appearing again, 'He died because I couldn't stop him…' and then the image faded, leaving Seja there, 'And I risked everything I have for him to die…'

Weakly, Seja lowered his lightsaber, trying to sink into a better guard stance. A shadow covered his golden eyes, and he breathed hard, blood spitting out with every breath.

'But there's no way I can let him die…' Callista thought, looking at her husband, her love, 'Because I truly do love him…' and then she closed her eyes, 'And I cannot let my beloved die again…and that means…'

Her lips curled to a warm smile, knowing what she must do. She was going to save Seja, even if it costs her life to do so.

Katahara charged, both arms out in the same position they were previously. Seja prepared for the same attack that hit him before, but his right shoulder and left forearm were struck hard. Threw the pain, he retaliated with a horizontal slash from his lightsaber. Quickly dodging the attack, Katahara spun around and kicked Seja hard in the hip.

"Damn!" Seja yelled, as he was thrown off his feet.

The Jedi swung his blade in a wide arc to get his balance, and he landed hard on his left leg. Katahara stumbled back towards the hutt with a smirk on his face. Seja growled at him, and the Mandalorian smirked.

"So, how's that?" Katahara taunted as he began to hop on one leg, "All I am doing is hitting you all over with fancy moves, then avoiding you so you can't hit me," he continued to taunt, "It won't kill you, but it is a very effective way to weaken your opponent's fighting ability substantially…you can't even hit me with your lightsaber now."

Seja panted, and grasped his burning blade's hilt hard. He was never going to give up; he was going to rescue Callista.

"Now you see…" Katahara continued, "Because of your massive blood loss, and the freezing wind, you're becoming numb. And so you have lost your sense of touch…" the Mandalorian smirked, "And that means that the 'Fourth Barrier' has taken its effect on you…"

The Mandalorian put his right hand up to his beard, rubbing it lightly, "What, you think it's all a bad joke? I wouldn't doubt it," he moved his hand down the length of his beard, "It will outwit even the greatest of warriors, like you. It has for decades…and after fighting you, I'd say you have no chance in winning…the way you are now…you are a devoted servant of the light correct?"

"Yes…" Seja replied, now knowing fully the Mandalorian's plan.

"The only way you can beat me now is if you give into your anger, your hate…I know it is swirling up in you…" Katahara taunted, making a fist, "My master has more use of you if you are alive…and if you turned…you could be a very good asset to him…"

"Never…I'll never turn to the Dark Side…and I can see now you aren't working for the Mandalorians…" Seja spat at him, "I will remain true to the Light, and save Callista that way…"

"What a shame, my master will be very disappointed…" Katahara started, "Would you like a slow, painful death…or a quick painless one?"

"I can at least let you choose from those…" Seja retorted, managing to rise up to his full height, and he smirked, "So there is no chance at all of me winning this duel, eh? You might be right about that…" he then grasped his lightsaber hilt hard again, 'But…I am going to take you with me!'

"So you want it to be quick and painless, do you…?" Katahara asked with a smirk.

'I'll force all my senses to work…' Seja thought as he closed his eyes, '…and I'll put it all into this attack. Please forgive me, Callista…live in the new era and be happy…'

Seja flipped his lightsaber so it was pointing at his back, and he started running at full speed towards his Mandalorian opponent. Letting out a mighty war cry, he began to raise his blade.

"Let's finish it!" Seja roared preparing to strike down the Mandalorian.

"Ha! Now-!" Katahara started, raising his arm, but someone or something pushed it up.

Seja raised his lightsaber fully above his head and he closed his eyes. He then began to bring it down, yet something caught his attention, he smelt something familiar.

'This is…!' he thought, but it was too late.

The sickening sound of his lightsaber burning and slicing threw fabric and flesh was heard as he brought his blade down at full speed. His eyes focused to see Callista standing there, in front of Katahara, holding her blade on his forearm. Blood began to burst out of her back and she began to fall.

'This smell…' he thought, his eyes fully focused seeing his wife falling towards him, with blood shooting out of her back and shoulder.

He had struck Katahara too with a fatal wound. The Mandalorian's heart had been vaporized by Seja's lightsaber, and blood spewed out of the wound.

'Red…lilac…' he finished, his eyes widened, realizing what he had done.

Callista's vibrodagger flew up into the air, and dropped, grazing Seja's scarred cheek, leaving yet another wound. It was a horizontal slash, pointing at the Jedi's shoulder. As his wife finished her fall, his blade was over her. The shape of both scars would form an X…

Shawnou had finally made it to the shack, and he saw what had just occurred. His eyes widened in fear and rage, his beloved sister was dying.

Seja dropped his lightsaber, and it shut off automatically. He knelt down, and picked up Callista's broken body. He tried to shake her, tried to wake her up.

"Callista…" he stammered, "…Callista…" he tried to wake, "…why…?" he asked, with tears in his normal blue eyes, "Why...?"

Weakly, Callista brought her hand to his cheek, and placed it on his new wound. She weakly pulled him down to her, and their lips locked for one, final time. He pulled away, and held her close. She smiled weakly, and began to weakly speak to him.

"Don't worry…its okay…its better this way…" she told him weakly, her voice shaking, "So please…don't cry…"

"No Callista, don't die…please…I can save you….I have to take you out of this forest…" Seja pleaded, not wanting to let her go. Tears swirled in his eyes, as he tried to understand why she had done this.

"You…already have…saved me…" Callista told him, her eyes closing shut, and a tear rolled down her cheek, "…I…love…you…please…live……"

He looked down at her, and he began to shake his head. He could feel her spirit leaving her body; he could feel that she was out of time.

"…Cal…lis…ta…?" he started, his body shaking, tears streaming down his face, "CALLISTA!"

He remembered her last words, 'Don't worry…it'll be okay…please don't cry…'

'No it's not okay! As an assassin, I should be the one who dies! It's not okay for you to die! It's not okay for you to die!' he thought, the pain of her loss hurt more than any of his wounds, and unknowingly he was transmitting it, "CALLISTA…!" he cradled her body, wanting her to wake up, wanting her to live.

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Coruscant, Jedi Temple

Master Okih Jiro was meditating near the large fountain. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed by sadness. He opened his eyes, and stood up, his cape flapping in the wind that was blowing through the temple. Master Vandar Tokare hobbled into the fountain room, and he looked up to Okih.

"You have felt it too," Vandar said, sitting on the fountains wall, "…Seja will not fall to the Dark Side…"

"I know that…Master Okih…" Okih replied, feeling his apprentice's pain, "…threw the love of another, he proved he wouldn't…"

"Yes, I know that," Vandar said, standing up and putting his clawed hand on Okih's shoulder, "He knows what he is protecting now. He also knows love, and we cannot blame him for falling in love, for, although the more conservative members of the Council refuse to accept it, love saves us…"

"I know Master, it is just…I wish I was there, with him. He is like a son to me…" Okih told him, looking down at the smaller green Master, "He could have been right about going to this war…"

"I know he is right, my student. Yet, there is a greater war looming, the darkness is growing stronger," Vandar replied, closing his eyes, "We do now have one advantage over it however, your pupil."

"I don't want him to be a weapon Vandar," Okih told him, sitting down on the fountain's wall, "After all the pain he is feeling right now, we have no right to make him fight in another war."

Suddenly, the young, newly promoted Padawan, Bastila Shan walked into the room. She noticed the two Jedi Masters conversing.

"Oh, forgive me Masters, I had no idea anyone was in here," Bastila said with a bow, "I was just coming here to meditate…"

"Then do so, young Padawan," Vandar told her, "We must go anyway."

Bastila bowed reverently, and both of the Jedi Masters began to walk out of the room. She walked over to the Fountain Wall, sat, and began to breathe slowly as she closed her eyes.

"She'll be a great Jedi someday," Okih muttered to Vandar, who nodded, "Where are we going, Master Vandar?"

"You are going to tell the Council that Seja is still a Jedi, and it is his choice whether he wants to come back," Vandar replied, and they walked up the massive flight of steps to the higher Council, "With my help, of course."

"Thank you, Master," Okih said with a thankful smile, and he bowed stopped and bowed to the older green Master, "Hopefully my idiot apprentice will appreciate it."

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Katarr, Bruloune Mountains, January 15th

It was snowing hard, and a lone figure was walking down the street of the rural village of the mountains. Underneath the winter clothes he was wearing, was a Republic military uniform. When he came to a fork in the road, he asked one of the locals which route to take. The local told him to go to the left, and he nodded thanks. He walked up the road, towards the Kimura household. It was Roland Wann, finally able to come out of hiding.

The Kimura household and grounds were covered by a thick layer of snow that had been unattended to. Roland was delayed because of this, but he started to walk through the snow.

In the house, Seja was sitting on the floor, his lightsaber on the floor near him. He looked lost, watching the small fire in the fireplace crackle. His wounds had healed, thanks to the help of the Force, but the pain from Callista's sacrifice still stung, and his X-shaped scar wouldn't heal.

'No matter how much I think about it, it doesn't make any sense…' he thought, grasping the bottom of his robes, as tears started to stream down his face, 'Why…why…?'

He then looked up to the staircase. He had cleaned Callista's wound, and used the Force to stitch up the gash on her lifeless form. On their bed, he had placed her on it, and folded her arms together, giving her the appearance that she was merely sleeping.

'Callista…' he thought sadly.

The windows of his house were open, and a mysterious wind blew in. Suddenly, Callista's diary activated, and he looked over to it, beeping noises of it's turning on sequence finished. It settled on one date in her diary strangely, and his eyes widened.

'That's Callista's…diary…' he thought, walking over to it. He picked up the datapad and began to read.

April 4th,

Today I have gotten news of my Fiancée, Vako Mandalore's death. I can't believe it, what am I going to do? I should have stopped him, and I regret that terribly now…

Vako Mandalore… he repeated, and then he repeated the first name again in his mind, 'Vako…her fiancée's name…I've heard that name somewhere before…' his eyes then widened in recognition of the name, "That's!"

He remembered the night where he received his first scar. It was against the Mandalorian bodyguard of Governor Jaunto. He remembered their last exchange of blows, where both of them attacked with a slash. He then remembered the dying Mandalorian's last words.

"Cal…lis…ta…" Vako, the bodyguard cried, as he reached out to something invisible.

The shock hit Seja hard, as he remembered Vako's last word again, "Cal…lis...ta…"

He put his right hand up to his scar as his pupils shrunk, 'I killed him!' he thought in horror, 'The one who killed Callista's fiancée was me…I was the one who caused Callista's unhappiness…'

His eyes widened further, as he remembered Callista looking back at him. She wasn't smiling, at all at him, nor at the world around her.

'Callista…' he thought, not noticing his door opened suddenly.

Two steps were heard entering the room, and a familiar voice spoke out, "The fact that you killed Callista's fiancée, and fell in love with her yourself were both misfortunes…"

It was Roland, and he took off his winter cap. He crumpled it in his hand, and looked to his young friend.

"Both those incidents weren't your fault, though they were just horrible circumstances," Roland told him, "And I also know who the traitor is now. I've already sent someone to take care of him…"

High in the mountains, Ergot was walking up the paved, mountain path. In his hand was a large bag of credits, and he chuckled softly. Leaning on his walking stick, he started walking up the mountain further.

"I love being one step ahead of everyone…even Jedi can't predict me!" Ergot laughed to himself, and he grabbed a few of the credits he received, "Looks like a warrior doesn't need to depend on whatever side wins anyway. I won't need a vibroblade or blaster when I've got these!"

His eyes shifted when another chuckling was heard. The distinct ignition of a lightsaber followed, and he looked to see a crimson Jedi lightsaber pointed at the ground. Ergot looked at the new Jedi, one who he had never seen before. Even in this cold, the Jedi was wearing just a pair of pants, and a bandage wrap around his waist. He had black hair tied in a slip-not, and he had no Padawan braid on his face. His body was extremely muscular as well, very will toned, and soaked by the falling snowflakes.

"Geez, Wann's a fast learner. So he won't let me go, huh?" Ergot asked, unafraid of the Jedi, and he grasped his vibroblade, "I guess for the time being…I've still got to use this!"

As he unsheathed his vibroblade, the Jedi gave him a dark, sinister smirk, which shocked the cunning traitor. Red flames suddenly erupted around the Jedi's blade, seemingly from out of no where, and the Jedi grasped the hilt of his deadly blade with his left hand and charged. Before Ergot could even react, his body was cut cleanly in two from the waist down.

"AGH!" Ergot cried out in pain, and suddenly, flames erupted from his body.

The Jedi began to chuckle darkly, "So my first assignment was to kill this loser…they're underestimating me, I think…oh well. The Republic won't be ruled by the Senate or the Mandalorians anyway…" he then looked at the burning corpse of Ergot, "But only by me!"

This Jedi, Naolon Trya, would become the Lord of Pain, Darth Sion in the future. He turned off his lightsaber, and grinned evilly at the corpse.

Back at the Kimura household, Seja had let Roland in, and they were sitting around the fireplace. Roland informed him of recent events, and one name piqued the Jedi's interest.

"Naolon Trya…?" Seja asked, looking up at his commander.

"His Jedi Academy and his origins are unknown, but his skill is comparable to yours," Roland replied with a nod, "I've decided to let him handle the assassinations from here on out."

"So, you're laying me off, is that it?" Seja asked, not making eye contact with his commander.

"No, I'm not," Roland replied simply, "But it is time for you to fight. The Battle of Malachor has begun, and Revan needs his most skilled Jedi to stand by him to fight the Mandalorian Honor Guard. In addition to fighting, rescuing the Mandalorian Slaves will be a top priority…"

Roland then looked closer at the Jedi, "Kimura, I want you to stand in that bloody battlefield, and aid in the freeing of slaves and the protection of Republic Soldiers. You're going to be a 'Squad Jedi Swordsman' for now on," he then made himself a little more comfortable, "I know this is rough on you now. But you're the only person I would trust this role to. Put aside your heart for now, Kimura, and fight with the blade of a Jedi once more."

Seja paused for a second, as a gloomy shadow descended over his eyes. Roland waited patiently for his answer, and if he said 'no', Roland would understand. Suddenly, the door behind them opened, to reveal the local children with Visas.

"Hey! Big brother, are we going to play today?" one of the little boys asked.

"We're going kite-flying, even though it is snowing!" another boy added.

Visas saw the conversation, and she could feel the waves of sadness radiating off of Seja. She was about to take the children away for now, but Seja shook his head.

"Yes…" Roland told them, putting his hand up, "But we're busy right now, come back tomorrow."

"Very well," the voice of Seja said from behind Roland, whose pupils shrunk after hearing that. Seja began to walk toward the door slowly, and his commander turned to him.

"Kimura…" Roland started as Seja placed his lightsaber back onto his belt.

"If I give up my lightsaber at this point…" Seja started, not looking at his commander, and he put Callista's diary in his robes, "…all the lives I've taken thus far will be in vain. Callista taught me the little happiness that people pursue, that's why I'll continue to kill to end this war and start the new era. But…"

Roland waited, not knowing what the condition would be.

"…when the new era is here, at that time…" Seja continued, stopping at the door.

"You'll give up your lightsaber, quit being a Jedi?" Roland interjected, looking over at his young friend.

"…I'm not sure…" Seja replied after a pause, the shadow still over his eyes, "I just don't want to kill people anymore. Never…again…"

Roland nodded, 'I guess Asaku was right all along…'You're going to ruin that kid's life, you know'…Now I see, the blades of Jedi and the Super Shien style shouldn't be used to destroy a former era or fight in a war, but they are there to protect the peace of a new era. I'm…so sorry Kimura…'

Outside, while it snowed, one of the little girls went to Seja, "Hey, hey, where is big sister? Mrs. Kimura?"

"Huh?" Seja asked, looking down at the little girl.

"Where's Mrs. Kimura? Where'd she go?" the girl persisted, and Seja put on a weak smile.

"She's gone far away…" Seja replied, trying to hide his sadness from the children, "She won't be coming back…"

'I see…the answer is written on his face…' Visas thought, looking at Seja's new scar through her veil, 'She…sacrificed herself to save him…'

"Did you get a divorce? That sucks!" one of the human boys asked.

"Hm, I guess you can say that…" Seja replied, keeping the weak smile on his face.

"So…that means that you're going far away too right?" one of the little girls asked fearfully.

"Aw, no way!" another little girl cried, her eyes swelling up with tears.

"I'm sorry everyone…tell you what, though; let's go play till the suns down…" Seja told them, and they all began walking away from his house, "You'll have fun with Visas while I am away…"

"Yes…I'll play with you kids every day after Mr. Kimura is gone…" Visas told them, trying to hide her tears.

Seja grabbed the little girl's hands gently, and continued to lead them away from his house. After the sun set, he saw a Republic Regiment at his house, and the soldiers saluted him. They had taken Callista's body out of the house, and put it in a speeder.

"Where are you going to bury her, Seja?" Roland asked, putting his hand on Seja's shoulder sadly.

"She'd…want to be buried somewhere peaceful, away from all war and conflict…" Seja replied, walking to the speeder, "She will have a grave on Dantooine…"

"I'm sorry I had to put you through this, Kimura," Roland told him, walking into the speeder, "Before we set off to Malachor, we will bury your wife on Dantooine."

"Thank you…" Seja said, trying to keep his emotions in check.

And so, the speeder sped off towards the spaceport. It was a silent trip, no one talking to anyone. There were a few other Jedi in the regiment, yet they respectfully gave Seja his space, due to the waves of grief and sadness that were radiating off him. Arriving at the transport, everyone filed in.

The transport lifted into the sky, and flew into space. Dantooine's hyperspace coordinates were set, and the transport entered hyperspace.

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Dantooine, three days later

Seja stood at the graveyard on Dantooine, in his ceremonial Jedi Robes. He looked to see Republic Soldiers carrying Callista's coffin, and the wave of sadness that radiated off him strengthened. On her tombstone, it read:

Callista Kimura, loving wife, she will be remembered for her kindness and her beautiful smile.

The Republic Soldiers stopped around the grave, and they slowly lowered it into onto a platform. Seja walked over to the coffin, and put his hand on it, and said a quiet prayer.

'Callista, after the war, I will never kill again. I will keep your love with me, always…' Seja thought, and he took his hand off the coffin, and it was lowered in.

A Republic Army Minister started to talk as the dirt was thrown over her grave, "We all have important parts to play, and Callista did her part. She gave her life to protect another, and will be remembered always for her sacrifice. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we return her to the planet, for her eternal sleep."

The Republic Marines raised their blaster rifles, and shot into the air for a salute. After three shots, the procession walked away, and Roland went over to Seja.

"Do you want to go to the Enclave before we go? I'm sure the Jedi Masters there will understand your plight," Roland asked, and Seja shook his head.

"I cannot step into a Jedi Enclave or Temple until this war is over, Roland. Now, let's leave," Seja replied, and he started walking away from the Republic commander, 'Callista….'

To be continued…

A/N: I estimate there will be two more chapters left before this fic is complete. More KOTOR I and II characters will be introduced during those chapters and Seja will receive his non-killing Lightsaber crystal as well. Please, read and review.