A/N: This fic is based on the manga, Rurouni Kenshin, and I used fan-translated manga for ideas. Seja Kimura, Callista Kimura, and Shawnou Ordo are based on Kenshin Himura, Tomoe Yukishiro, and Enishi Yukishiro from Rurouni Kenshin, and the character, Serphants, is also based on Hajime Saito from Rurouni Kenshin, note that they are based on those characters. Most dialogue I used is common place as well. So, before anyone accuses me of plagiarism, please read the fic, not skim it over, before you make such a judgment. Also note that I had help doing this fic from the Rurouni Kenshin Manga, the Remembrance Chapters.
Chapter Nine: The Battle of Malachor V, Part II: Revan
Malachor V, Taung City, near the Slave Prison
Serphants blade flew out at Seja in a powerful thrust. At the last possible second, the scarred Jedi dodged it. The Mandalorian captain flipped his blade suddenly, and performed a side slash at Seja, who ducked it, losing a few hairs.
Seja rolled out of the way and quickly got to his feet. His killing eyes flashed, and he went into an attack. Using his speed, he launched a horizontal slash at his opponent with his left arm. Serphants blocked it, and Seja put his hand on the pommel of his lightsaber. They pushed against each other in a clash; the sound of the lightsaber trying to cut threw the vibrosword echoed through the area. They broke the clash, and charged into another attack.
Seja launched a vertical slash, which Serphants countered with a horizontal. Each blow threw them back, and they continued with the exchange. The scarred Jedi used his own thrust, which the Mandalorian Captain batted away. Seja followed up with a diagonal slash, which was countered by Serphants with a horizontal slash that blocked Seja's attack.
The two warriors were engaged in another clash, both of them trying to push each other back for an opening to attack. Their blades were brought back up into the vertical position pointing up, and they kept pushing back against each other. Finally, both Jedi and Mandalorian broke the clash, throwing each other back a good five meters. To stabilize himself, Serphants threw out his blade, and skidded to a stop. Seja did the same, and back flipped to land on his feet.
"You are an impressive warrior, Slayer," Serphants commented with a smirk, "If you were a Mandalorian, you would have quickly risen threw the ranks."
"Do you want to talk or fight?" Seja asked, glancing back at Arren.
She was breathing hard; she had too many injuries for the Force to deal with. She was clutching her stomach in pain, time was running short. Seja had to end this fast and get Arren to a Kolto tank fast.
Serphants grinned at him, and spread his legs out again. He was taking the same stance that he used at the start of the duel, and Seja twirled his lightsaber, grasped its pommel, lifted it up, and pointed it at his enemy. He had switched to Makashi, since this was a battle of blades.
"You were able to avoid the Thrust of Mandalore, but do you think you can avoid it a second time?" Serphants taunted, as he raised his left hand, and he rested the back of his blade on his palm, and he aimed at Seja.
"We'll see…" Seja retorted, spreading his legs further out into the guard.
Serphants grinned, and then launched himself again at Seja. The scarred Jedi waited, and time slowed down as his Mandalorian opponent launched his thrust. Seja's back hand let go of the pommel of his lightsaber, and his front arm swung his blade horizontally to the ground. His lightsaber struck Serphants' vibrosword hard, sending the Thrust of Mandalore away from him.
Seja began to retaliate by lifting his lightsaber into the air with his left hand, but a fist came crashing into his face. The scarred Jedi rolled on the ground before he managed to leap back onto his feet. He rubbed his cheek and looked over at Serphants, who was grinning with his fist extended in the result of a hook punch.
'He has prepared for everything, I see…' Seja thought, raising himself up to his full height, and he wiped the blood of his lip, '…must not underestimate him, he is more powerful and skilled than any other opponent I've faced in this war…'
"You seem surprised, Slayer," Serphants started, swinging his blade, "That weapon break was powerful and unexpected, yet I was prepared to defend against your retaliation…"
"So you can read my moves, is that it?" Seja asked, slowly lowering his lightsaber.
"Yes, you could say that," Serphants replied, his smirk still on his face, "Before the war, I received Echani combat training. Move prediction is one of the things I mastered."
Seja nodded, and closed his eyes. Serphants watched in anticipation, waiting to see what his Jedi opponent would do. The scarred Jedi opened his eyes, and Serphants began to blink, and Seja was gone! Instinctively, the Mandalorian raised his vibrosword and got into a guard position, and he began to look around.
He then got a gleam of Seja's lightsaber over him, and he quickly raised his blade to block his opponent's lightsaber. The blow was blocked, but the force of Seja's attack made the ground splinter, crack, and shatter underneath his feet. Seja then landed, brought his lightsaber up horizontally, and launched a vertical slash at Serphants' midsection.
Serphants gritted his teeth, and brought down a block. The clang of a lightsaber hitting vibrosword echoed throughout the area once more, and Seja wasn't done with his attack either.
'He is going in for a kick now…' Serphants thought nervously, as Seja's back leg lifted into a roundhouse kick aimed for his head.
The Mandalorian slowly moved his head away from the kick, and prepared to retaliate once the foot dropped. Yet, Seja crouched down and threw his palm out, and Serphants was sent flying off his feet. Using the Force, Seja leapt high into the air, making the slaves gasp at such a feat. Raising his saber over his head, he prepared to finish the fight.
Serphants eyes widened as the Jedi started a control fall towards him. Seja was moving so fast, his Mandalorian opponent hadn't even hit the ground yet. While in midair, Serphants brought his blade up and braced it with his opposite hand as Seja's lightsaber fell into the vertical slash attack.
The blow was blocked, but the force sent Serphants crashing into the ground hard. He skidded across the ground, kicking up dust before he stopped. He began to pant hard, and notice that there was a raw pain in his back, and realized what happened. The force of Seja's Force push, as well as the premature falling onto the duracrete ground had torn off the back of his light battle armor.
As he began to pick himself up, he found Seja already standing over him, with the Jedi's blue lightsaber point hovering just centimeters to his neck. He breathed hard, and smiled, using his free hand to wipe away the blood from his lip.
"You are beaten, Serphants," Seja told him, looking at the blood skid on the ground, "Yet I have no desire to kill you…"
"Oh, I am not beaten yet…" Serphants retorted, slamming his blade into the pavement and he picked himself up, "This match is far from over, Slayer."
Before Seja could react, Serphants heel slammed into his solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him, and he also spat out a little blood. Ignoring the pain, the scarred Jedi retaliated with a horizontal slash which Serphants skillfully blocked with his vibrosword. Seja then clutched his stomach with his left hand, as he tried to push his lightsaber to Serphants' flank with his right.
Serphants growled, and slammed his left fist into Seja's scarred cheek again to break the clash. Seja crashed onto the ground again and rolled out of the way of Serphants blade. He picked himself up, and looked at his opponent. Both of them were beginning to show the toll of their battle.
"I think we should end this now, Slayer," Serphants told him, grasping the pommel of his blade, "I do not have the energy for another thrust of Mandalore, and no doubt your Force reserves are running low, so your speed has been cut in half. You won't be running out of my sight now."
"…that's true. And yes, we should end this. I got to get Arren some medical attention…" Seja retorted, as he looked at the dying Jedi that was near him.
"…I…will be fine…Seja…just save…the slaves…" Arren told him, her eyes growing heavy.
Seja nodded, and squeezed his lightsaber hilt. He couldn't use the Super Shien style in the state his body was in at the moment, so he switched to Shii-cho. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble, and Serphants and Seja turned their heads to see a Republic Attack Speeder, as well as a hundred Republic Marines following them. The top heavy cannon of the Attack Speeder fired into the ranks of the Mandalore Honor Guard, killing a dozen of them with one blast.
"Serphants, this battle will have to be postponed! We have to retreat!" Mandalore ordered, and his captain nodded, "Mandalorian Slayer, you fought well, and you will engage Serphants and myself in battle once more, but now we must leave."
"Your life has been spared for now, Slayer," Serphants told him as he sheathed his vibrosword, and began running with his fellow guardsmen.
"I look forward to our next engagement, Captain Serphants," Seja retorted, as he shut off his lightsaber.
The Republic Marines fired volleys into the retreating Mandalore Honor Guardsmen, cutting down many of them before they disappeared into Taung City's alleyways. Seja walked over to the dying Arren Kae, and two Republic marines walked over to him.
"Get a stretcher, this battle is won but we need to tend to our wounded," Seja ordered, and the two Marines nodded and saluted him.
The stretcher was brought over to Arren Kae and the Marines slowly and carefully lifted her on to it as a Medical Speeder flew over to them. Seja wanted to accompany his friend, and walked into the speeder with the medical officers. Walking into the speeder, he sat on a nearby chair as the repulsorlifts roared to life on the medical speeder.
Med packs were placed on Arren's wounds, as the Medics treated Seja's bruises. A Medical Droid in the speeder opened Arren's robes and looked at the slash wound.
"I am afraid there is not much I can do," the droid told Seja and the still conscious Arren, "…I can try to ease the pain with Kolto, but this is a mortal wound."
"Arren, my Force Reserves are running low, there is nothing I can do either…" Seja told her, and she nodded.
"Don't worry about it, Knight Kimura…" Arren replied weakly, a smile forming on her face, "Such a…wound would be almost…impossible for the Force to heal anyways…"
"I cannot help but blame myself. I should have been the one to engage Mandalore in combat, not you," Seja said, and she shook her head."
"No, the Force wanted me to fight…you were off getting armor and supplies for the Slaves, thinking of others…" Arren told him, and she looked at his scar, "After…the war…what do you plan…to do…?"
"I've…decided I will wander the galaxy…helping people…" Seja replied, looking down to the ground, so he wouldn't see Arren's now expose chest which was being hooked up to life support systems and heart monitors by the medical droid, "I've decided never to kill again after the war either…"
"I…think I…might be able to help you with that…" Arren started, her hand weakly rising to her lightsaber crystal pack, "There…was a crystal…I found…with special properties…"
"What do you mean?" Seja asked, looking at her face.
"When…I tested it out…" Arren started, untying the pack, "…I found out…it would burn or cut…through Sentient beings…"
Seja's eyes widened as Arren reached her hand into her pack, and she weakly took out a blue crystal. It looked like a standard Lightsaber crystal, yet it let off a faint glow.
"…I…want…you to…have it…" Arren told him, weakly moving her hand over to him, "…your goal…is noble…and fits the…way of the Jedi. Please…you will…probably be…the only one who can use this…crystal…"
Seja nodded, and reluctantly took the crystal from her hand. She nodded back, and slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing became shallow, and he watched as her chest rose and fell weakly and slowly with each breath.
"…before I depart…to the higher…plane…Seja…" Arren started, with her eyes closed.
"Yes, I'll do whatever you want," Seja told her, looking up at her face.
"…please…take care…of my daughter…Brianna…if you encounter…her…" Arren finished, starting to breathe her last breath, "…and take…care…of…yourself…and…don't…"
"Don't what?" Seja asked, "Please don't stress yourself, we are almost to the base."
"…don't think…love will…condemn you…it is…what saved you from the…darkness. Please…live…" Arren told him, and she stopped breathing.
The heart monitor that was hooked up to her went flat line, and then she was gone. Her body then began to fade before Seja's eyes, and he watched in amazement as Arren Kae became One with the Force, leaving her bulky grayish-white robe behind.
''Please…live…' is what Callista told me as well…' Seja thought, closing his eyes, 'I now have another reason to live after the conflict is over…'
He felt the repulsorlifts lower to the ground, knowing they were at the base. The great Jedi, Arren Kae, had past from this world, and he would curse his failure of not being able to save her for years to come.
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Republic Attack Cruiser, Warrior Spirit
Seja Kimura decided to give the knowledge of Yusanis's wife dying to him personally. Roland granted his request, and he was brought aboard the Republic Attack Cruiser, the ship that was representing the Echani People, the Warrior Spirit. His shuttle docked in the hangar bay of the cruiser, and he was escorted to Yusanis's quarters. He carried with him his pack, which had contents that would be important to Yusanis.
Seja gave a respectful bow to the guards, and the scarred Jedi walked into the general's quarters. He noticed a man, sitting near a desk. On the desk had a holovid of Arren Kae, holding a little baby girl with white hair. The man turned around, with a solemn look on his face.
"General Yusanis of the Echani, I greet you," Seja said with a bow, his voice becoming tense.
Yusanis nodded at him, and stood up. Like all Echani, he had platinum white hair, a powerfully built chest and arms, as well as a look of battle. His gray eyes focused on the Jedi in front of him, and looked closely at the scar on Seja's face.
"No need for formalities, Knight Kimura," Yusanis told him after a long pause, and he looked at the holovid, "I suppose you have come to tell me of my wife's death?"
Seja nodded, noticing the proud general's voice cracking, "Yes sir, there was nothing I could do. I had exhausted my Force Powers during battle, and I couldn't heal her wound. She was slain by Mandalore personally."
"I see…" Yusanis started slowly, looking at Seja's scar, "We are two of a kind, both warriors, who have lost someone we loved."
Seja then gave him a look of shock, "How can you tell?"
"Your stance, your walk, and your scars, both physical and spiritual are still present," Yusanis replied, still noticing Seja's look of shock, and he sighed, "We Echani read body movements like it is a second language to us, you understand."
"Yes, I have heard of the legendary Echani fighting skills," Seja started, as he took a seat in the General's quarters, "The Mandalorian I battled today claimed he trained with the Echani before the wars began."
"Was his name Serphants, perhaps?" Yusanis asked, and Seja nodded, "We Echani have a long standing rivalry with the Mandalorians, but before the wars, we did exchange fighters to train under Mandalore's combat masters, and they sent their young warriors to us."
"You know the Third Captain of the Mandalore Honor Guard personally?" Seja asked, starting to get curiously.
"Yes, we…trained together under the same master," Yusanis replied, and then he looked at Seja's scar, "I wonder how long you will hold that scar on your face…you don't have to tell me her name, but how did she die? To leave such a scar on a Jedi must have been powerful."
"She…was a kind Mandalorian," Seja started, a shadow descending over his eyes, "She…died to save me…"
"I am sorry for you, Mr. Kimura," Yusanis started, and he pulled over the holovid with Arren and the baby, "Arren was a good and honorable woman, the best companion I could have had. She loved me, and I her…this is a picture of our daughter, my sixth, with her holding the child…"
"The child's name Brianna, isn't it?" Seja asked, and Yusanis nodded, "How old is she now?"
"She turned thirteen a couple months ago. Her other sisters make fun of her because she has the look of Arren in her face, honoring her," Yusanis replied, "She'll grow up to be a powerful warrior one day, and I think she is Force-Sensitive."
"One of Arren's last wishes was for me to look after Brianna if I ever encountered her, with your consent, I would like to do that if I run across her," Seja told Yusanis, who nodded.
"Yes, you would be able to look after her much better than I," Yusanis started, and he sighed and looked down at the ground, "After the war, I plan to go into politics, and leave battle behind me…what are your plans?"
"I plan to wander the galaxy, helping people in need. Arren gave me something that she says will help me on that journey, a lightsaber crystal…" Seja started, and Yusanis looked back at him, "After the war, I am taking a non-killing oath. I will never slay another sentient being ever again after this conflict, and the lightsaber your wife gave me will enable me to accomplish that goal. She said it is unable to cut threw organic matter, meaning I will never be able to kill again with it focusing my lightsaber."
"Such is a noble goal, I wish you luck," Yusanis told him, placing his hand on Seja's shoulder, "Thank you for delivering the news of my wife's death. I need some time alone to reflect now…"
Seja nodded, and he took something out of his pack, "Before I go, I want you to have this, General Yusanis. It is Arren's Jedi Robe…"
Yusanis thanked him silently as he took the folded whitish-gray robe from Seja's hands. Seja had repaired the robe's slash, and had it cleaned so it would be presentable for the General. The scarred Jedi bowed, and Yusanis did the same. With that, Seja walked silently out of the general's room.
He was escorted back to the shuttle, and he for a second, he looked at the massive space battle that was still raging between the Republic and Mandalorian forces. The Republic's newest offensive had taken the Mandalorian's defenses back, yet they were holding. It was a miracle a landing force of the Republic Army was able to secure Malachor itself with the Mandalorian's fleet still orbiting their planet.
He boarded his shuttle, and the ship lifted off the deck and floated out of the magnetic field to open space. Two Republic Heavy Attack Fighters, called "Wildcats" by the pilots, escorted his shuttle away from the Warrior's Spirit back to the planet Malachor.
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Revan's Flagship, the Republic Freedom
At the front lines of the space battle, the Republic Interdictor Cruiser, the Republic Freedom, engaged broadsides with a thousand meter long Mandalorian Battlecruiser. Even though the interdictor was smaller than the Mandalorian Battlecruiser by four hundred meters, its shields and weapons were of a higher caliber. Turbolaser batteries flashed, and bolts of plasma tore through the enemy Battlecruiser's hull, hitting the engines.
With the Mandalorian Battlecruiser disabled, tube shaped Republic Assault Shuttles were launched from the Republic Freedom to take the ship. Small anti-air laser batteries shot many of the shuttles down, and Basilisk War Droids also tried to shoot down the boarding parties, yet Republic Fighter Craft engaged them in a fierce dogfight, distracting them from the shuttles.
The Assault shuttles rammed themselves into the Battlecruiser's hull, allowing the openings to go far inside. The Mandalorian defenders were quick to set up a perimeter around each shuttle, and they waited. With a hiss, all of the Republic's assault shuttles opened simultaneously, and the Mandalorians guarding each sector opened fire. At one of the Republic Assault Transports, the Mandalorian's blasts were seemingly deflected back at them, and the Mandalorians saw three glowing blades from the darkness of the assault shuttles.
Suddenly, the Mandalorians were thrown back violently, some getting slammed so hard they were killed. Quickly regaining their wits, they saw a man with long, sandy blonde hair walk out of the shuttle, carrying two blue Lightsabers in hand. He was wearing black robes, yet had a handsome looking face and a gentle demeanor. Behind him, a man wielding one silver colored lightsaber followed. He had red hair and brown robes, as well as a powerfully built body.
"We should take this ship as soon as possibly, Talo. We don't want to waste anymore Republic lives," the leading Jedi said to the man behind him, "Remember, Mandalore's forces are starting to break and then it is the ground conflict. We need to capture as many Mandalorian Warships and personnel as we can, so we can force a surrender from Mandalore."
Jedi General Talo Ramis nodded, and looked behind him as Republic Marines started charging out, "I suggest we make it to the bridge swiftly, Revan."
Revan smirked and effortlessly blocked blaster fire with his right lightsaber. The Mandalorian's plasma bolts slammed back into their helmets, and screams of pain were heard. Admiral Revan and General Talo charged forth, disabling the attacking Mandalorians as they fought their way into the ship with their marines.
"Zulu 34 has reached the command deck, I suggest we give them backup as soon as possible," Talo told Revan, as he cut down a Mandalorian swordsman, and he pressed his com-link again, "They are encountering heavy resistance, and the two Jedi you assigned to Zulu were killed by Mandalorian fire."
"Tell them we'll be there in a few minutes, order the Marines of Zulu 34 to find cover, and await further orders," Revan ordered, knocking fifteen Mandalorian warriors unconscious with a powerful Force Wave, "And, order them to disable the Mandalorians if they get any shots off."
"Yes sir!" Talo replied, quickly sending the transmission through his com-link.
Fighting their way to the Repulsorlifts, Revan's personal company was ordered to stay behind to guard the corridor, and was also told to set their weapons to stun. Boarding the turbolift, and also setting in the proper floor, both Jedi were shot up to the command deck in less than a minute. As the automated doors opened, Talo and Revan ducked behind each side of the elevator's walls as heavy blaster fire erupted from the opening.
"Zulu 34 Company has been eliminated," Talo said, with regret in his voice, "We should fall back; there are too many Mandalorians here."
"That isn't an option right now, and you know it Talo. Once we take the deck, the Mandalorians on board this ship will be forced to surrender," Revan told his Jedi friend coldly, "We are not taking any prisoners on this deck however, so be prepared."
"Yes, Revan," Talo nodded, igniting his lightsaber, "I am ready whenever you are."
Revan nodded, and he threw his hand out of the doorway. A massive Force wave knocked down the defenders, and both Jedi charged forward. They began to cut a swath through the Mandalorian defenders, and Revan used the Force to slam thirty of the Mandalorian defenders up against the walls at once, either killing them instantly and violently, or disabling them.
Using the Soresu form, Talo deflected each bolt of plasma right back at its owner, and when he got close, he severed the Mandalorians' heads or arms in one fluid motion. He heard a Mandalorian unsheathing his blade, yet before the Mandalorian could even get it drawn; his body was cut in half by Revan.
Reaching the end of the corridor, both Jedi plunged their lightsabers into the durasteel door. Slowly, their blades began to melt an opening into the door, and to speed up the process Talo carved a door out for him. Both using a Force Push, they flung the opening back into awaiting Mandalorian defenders, crushing them with their own steel.
As the Mandalorians cocked their weapons, their blaster rifles and heavy repeaters flew out of their hands. Revan stepped through, looking at the Mandalorians.
"I know surrender is hard for you Mandalorians, but it is the best option possible for you now. Surrender to the Republic and you will receive amnesty, and it won't be long until all your defenses are broken," Revan announced, looking at the Mandalorians, "Your fleet is almost crushed, right now thousands of Republic Marines have boarded your ship, and you have no chance of winning this battle."
"And who is the Jedi to demand such dishonor?" one of the Mandalorians in red armor asked.
"There is no dishonor in surrendering, Mandalorian," Revan retorted, sending him an icy glare, "In a battle you can't win, no honor is lost in surrendering. This is coming from a man who has learned your ways, tactics, and strategies, I, the Jedi Revan."
The Mandalorians gasped, suddenly remembering one of Mandalore's Laws, that there was no real honor lost in surrender. The Mandalorians sighed, and let Revan get to the console. The transmission of surrender was broadcasted over the Mandalorian Battlecruiser, and a cheer from the Republic Marines was heard.
"We should get back to the Republic Freedom, Revan," Talo told his friend, who nodded, "I feel this death is starting to affect me by the way, like an echo has started inside me..."
"Do not worry, my friend, for it is for the common good," Revan told him simply, as they escorted the new Mandalorian POWs out of the bridge.
To be continued…
A/N 2: This chapter I wanted to focus on Seja's battle with Serphants, which I hoped you liked, and also Yusanis. I also wanted to give the impression on what I thought Revan was before his fall, a mixture of Alice's Revan and my Battle Ready yet kind Revan. Talo Ramis is my Jedi Exile by the way.
Also, I figured Revan, being the absolute master of Form X: Niman would be cool wielding two lightsabers, both bluish in color to represent that he is a Jedi Guardian/Weapon's Master. I hoped you liked the chapter, please Read and Review.