Chapter 10: Battle of Malachor V Part III: Duel with a Sith Master

Malachor V, Republic Military Encampment

After a month into the Battle for Malachor V, the battle was in the Republic's favor now. Most of the Mandalorian cities had been taken, except for its capital. Over fifty percent of the Mandalorian's fleet was either captured or floating wreckage over the planet, and the Mandalorian Army was starting to crumble. It was only a matter of time before the Mandalorians were forced to surrender.

Seja Kimura, the Mandalorian Slayer, was sitting in his tent in deep meditation. He had just finished constructing a new lightsaber, one which contained the non-lethal Lightsaber Crystal that Arren Kae had given him on her death bed. He had met with Revan a few days ago, and he was thinking of the encounter. Revan was…different somehow…

On the Republic Interdictor Cruiser, the Republic Freedom, Seja Kimura walked forth to meet with the Jedi Revan Skywalker. He hadn't seen his old friend since the beginning of Jedi Involvement. Walking past Republic Soldiers, he started sensing something wrong coming from them, like something dark was awakened in the soldiers.

Walking into Revan's quarters, he saw a strange black cape on the chair, "Revan, I'm here old friend, what is it that you wanted to talk with me about?"

"Right here Seja," Revan called, walking out of his dressing room in dark red and black armor, "I was just getting my new armor ready. I assume you heard Mandalore's challenge to me?"

"Yes I did," Seja replied, sitting down on a nearby table, "I faced him a few days ago, he is a deadly and powerful warrior. He may even bring his captains to the battle with him."

"That is what is worrying me. Even though Mandalore is honorable, his captains may be not," Revan told Seja, "I want you to accompany me with Malak to the site of the duel, as insurance."

"I have faced the captains of the Mandalore Honor Guard, with the exception of Cassus Fett, they are all honorable," Seja responded, and then he looked at Revan's grayish skin, "Revan, what has happened to you, my friend?"

"What do you mean?" Revan retorted, shooting Seja a glare, "Do I look different to you?"

"Yes, your skin is now a shade of gray…" Seja observed, looking at the veins starting to pulse on Revan's face, "…and you have become more brutal. You still haven't killed civilians, but you are no longer taking prisoners."

"The war has changed me, Seja," Revan started, as he stood up, "I was captured a few weeks ago, right after we seized the Fighter from the Mandalorian Fleet…and I discovered something…"

"What?" Seja asked, looking as Revan's gray eyes began to change to a dark golden color, "What the hell has happened to you?"

"Nothing, my friend," Revan replied with a smirk, "I have approved of your request for leaving Malachor V, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, I intend to start my journey soon," Seja replied, getting up, "Why do you ask?"

"Because something great will happen after Malachor, and I want you and Malak at my side…" Revan told him, a dark expression etching over his normally friendly brow.

"I am sorry my friend, I must decline. I intend to never kill again once I leave, and I feel that I will kill again if I stay with you and Malak," Seja replied, getting up and walking to the door, "Excuse me, I am heading back to the surface."

"As you wish my friend, I do not intend to stop your leaving," Revan said as Seja walked out the door, "This is only because of our friendship however, Seja. That was the only reason why I didn't strike you down where you stood, or why I am not preventing your leave…"

Even though the door was closed, and Seja already down the hall near Revan's quarters, the scarred Jedi could hear Revan's last words to him. They shook him to the core, since his friend would have never said such things before this battle. He sighed, and walked onto the turbolift, selecting the docking level of the ship.

After remembering his meeting with Revan, his body shivered at the darkness he felt in his friend that day. Malachor had changed Revan, and he wanted to know why, that is why he returned to the surface of the planet.

He walked about the base, which had grown from a dirt airfield with a few tents to a full grown military encampment. Transportable duracrete was now on the airfield, with semi-permanent hangars for star fighters to the sides of the airfield. The crew tents were replaced by a barracks, and a temporary air control tower was also set up. Transportable medical buildings also replaced the medical tents, and surrounding the base was a durasteel/duracrete wall. Finally, for defense, planetary turbolasers and anti-air quad laser turrets. Seja watched as the gate opened for another supply speeder exiting the base.

Suddenly, the dark presence he felt the day Arren Kae was killed appeared again. This time, it didn't go away however. Instead, he felt someone probing his mind.

'You will join us…'

'Who are you?' Seja questioned telepathically, and he started to go for his lightsaber as a dark, evil laughter was heard on the other end of the telepathic conversation.

'Oh, you will find out…' the voice replied menacingly.

Suddenly, Seja felt two presences behind him, they were not of the Republic, nor were Mandalorians. Since it was night, no one except for the gate guards were patrolling the base. Before he could even react, he felt someone hit one of his nerve points being struck so precisely, he was knocked unconscious before he even touched the ground.

His body was scooped up by his unknown, invisible assailants and transported out of the base.

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Malachor V, unknown location

A few hours later, Seja awoke. He rubbed his neck, where he had been hit, and looked around as his eyesight focused. He was in a dark room, it was large and the walls extended fifty feet high, and he checked himself to see if his lightsaber was still at his belt.

"Welcome to the Trayus Academy, Knight Kimura," a booming voice echoed throughout the room.

"Who are you?" Seja asked, as suddenly a few lights turned on in the room he was in.

He saw a middle aged man standing near the opening of the massive room. He was wearing a dark cloak as well as dark robes. His face was pale, and his eyes were dark gold. He had been clearly twisted by the Dark Side.

"I am the keeper of this Sith Academy, young one," the man started, walking forward, "Do not worry, you were kept intact while you were transported here."

'A Sith Academy?' Seja thought as his eyes widened, "You are the one who corrupted Revan, aren't you?"

"Yes, it took him a while to fall, however. But eventually, he succumbed to the Sith Teachings, my teachings, when there was no other alternative," the old man replied, and he let his cloak open and fall to the ground, "You are my next target, Seja Kimura. Either you will fall to the Dark Side, or you will die."

"I am afraid I'll choose life and the Light Side," Seja retorted, his hand lowering to his lightsaber, "Now, if you let me go right now, you won't get hurt."

"Oh, I am afraid I can't do that Kimura," the old man told him, his hand lowering to his hip, "Either you will join us, or die."

The Sith told him, taking his lightsaber off his hip. A crimson red blade shot forth, and the Sith sunk into a Makashi stance, his lightsaber pointed at the scarred Jedi. Seja hand slowly drifted out, and his lightsaber flew into his hand. The blue blade erupted from the hilt with a fury, and he looked at his Sith opponent.

Seja let the Force flow through him once more as the Sith charged at him. Using his own Makashi form, he blocked his enemy's lightsaber, and the two burning blades sizzled as they came in contact with each other. The smell of burning ozone filled the air as both Force users pushed against each other.

They broke the clash and their lightsaber sizzled through the air as another attack contacted. The Sith's blood red lightsaber was brought down in a vertical arc, while Seja retaliated with a horizontal slash. The clash brought forth more burning noises, and sparks flew off the lightsaber blades.

Breaking the second clash, Seja back flipped away from the Sith, who had a confident look on his face. The scarred Jedi sunk into Shien, to prepare for whatever the Sith was planning. The Sith raised his hand at Seja, and dark blue lightning erupted from his palms towards the Jedi.

Seja had no time to react, and his body was hit squarely in the chest by the burst of Force Lightning. He screamed in pain as his body, and his life force was electrocuted, and Force wave accompanied the lightning, sending the Jedi flying back into a nearby wall. The force of Seja slamming into the wall made a small crater. He groaned in pain as his vision blurred, noticing that the Sith was walking towards him.

"Now do you see the power of the Dark Side?" the Sith asked him with a confident, evil smirk, "You can succumb at any time, and then your pain will end."

"N-Never…" Seja spat, spitting out blood from his mouth, "I will never turn to the Dark Side."

"I guess you need more convincing then…" the Sith snarled, watching as Seja slowly picked himself up, "Luckily, I like challenges."

Seja's brown robes were smoking from the blast of Force Lightning, and he prepared himself for another assault. His eyes flashed, becoming their killing golden yellow color, and he bore his teeth at his enemy. The Sith smirked, and shot forth more Force Lightning at the Jedi.

To counter this, Seja sank quickly into the Super Shien style, and using all the speed available to him, he leapt out of the way of the Sith's deadly assault. Apparently, the Sith wasn't expecting this, and Seja roared as he brought his blade over his head.

'Super Shien Style, Krayt Dragon Hammer Strike!' He thought, starting his extremely fast controlled fall at the Sith.

Unexpectedly, the Sith redirected the Lightning up at Seja. The scarred Jedi was surprised by this, and the searing blast of Dark Side energy hit him once more. Screaming in pain, he was held up there by the Sith, who cackled maliciously as he pumped more voltage into the Jedi's body. The Sith then threw his hand to the right, slamming and electrocuting Seja into the right wall.

Seja spat out more blood as the steady stream of Force Lightning kept pummeling his body. The Sith raised his hand suddenly, and slammed Seja into the ceiling, making a crater in the Jedi's wake. Finally, the Sith ceased his Force Lightning barrage, letting Seja, barely conscious, fall the 50 foot drop back onto the Academy's floor.

"Do you see now? This power-the Power of the Dark Side-can be yours, just submit," the Sith mocked, watching as Seja started to weakly pick himself off the floor.

He spat out more blood, and his robes smoked. His forehead was bleeding profusely, so was his lip and nose. He panted, letting the Force partially heal his wounds, and his vision blurred.

"So, what is your answer? Join me, and you will receive this overwhelming power, or you will die," the Sith told him, watching as Seja tried to pick himself up, but he collapsed, "What is your answer?"

Seja's eyes slowly closed, and he drifted into unconsciousness. A probing voice at the back of his mind started getting louder, and louder.

END THE PAIN! JOIN THE DARK SIDE!

The voice echoed, and Seja tried to ignore it. It became louder, and louder, and he could feel the calling echoing throughout every corner of his mind. Normally, he would be able to resist it, yet his body was weakened.

"Seja!" a woman's voice called out behind the pounding, evil voice that was trying to convert him to the Dark Side, "Do not give in! You are stronger than this!"

In his mind's eye, Seja stood up in a mental realm. It was shaking from the booming evil voice from the back of his mind. He looked over to see two women standing before him. One was Arren Kae, the other Callista, his deceased wife and love.

"Where…where am I?" Seja asked them, and Callista walked over to him.

"We are here to give you the strength you need to face this evil, Seja," Arren told him, as she sat down on what looked like a rock, "You cannot give into the lure of the Dark Side."

"My body…it is broken however. I never faced such an assault before," Seja argued weakly; "I can't win this fight."

"Yes you can, Seja," a powerful male voice interjected, and he looked back to see a tall, muscular man with black hair, wearing brown robes and a white cape, "Don't tell me, that all you have gone through, you will give into the Dark Side now, my stupid apprentice?"

"Master Okih!" Seja gasped, nearly falling over, but Callista caught him, "Callista…"

"Remember what you are fighting for…" Callista told him, her body starting to fade away.

"What's happening?" Seja asked, and Callista smiled at him.

"I must go back to the after life, this is my last visit to you," Callista told him, noticing Arren was finishing her meditation, "Arren is going to give you the strength you need…"

"But you have to choose it, Seja," Okih added, a smirk appearing on his face, "You have to remember what you are fighting for, my stupid apprentice. That is the only way you can access the strength to beat this Sith."

Okih began to fade away as well, "Because of the distance, our Master-Apprentice bond is weaker than it is normally. I only wanted to point you in the right direction, Seja."

Seja nodded, and his Master faded away, and he looked over at Arren. Her eyes opened suddenly, and she breathed out.

"Search yourself, and gain the strength I am leaving you…" Arren told him before vanishing, "Revan couldn't do so, but maybe you can…"

The scenery began to vanish with Arren, leaving Seja in a blackness. The voice was stronger now, and his mental form tried to silence it by toning it out. He closed his eyes and began to think of what Arren meant. His mind raced as he tried to remember what he was fighting for.

"We want to play big brother!" a child's voice echoed through his mind, "Please come out and play!"

Seja looked at the memory; it was from the time he was at Katarr. He and Callista loved playing with the children there, and the pounding evil voice began to lessen as his eyes widened. He watched as he played with the human and miraluka children. Then, the image of Callista dying in his arms appeared, and he knew what he must do.

The image shattered, as a new strength filled his mental and physical forms. The pounding evil voice that was trying to turn him to the Dark Side was silenced, for now. In the corporeal realm, his eyes shot open, and he started picking himself off the ground.

"So, boy, what is your answer?"

"I will never turn to the Dark Side, and I will defeat you," Seja replied, his eyes staying in their normal blue color.

The Sith snarled, "So be it."

Seja's eyes stayed as they would be normally, and the Sith hurled his Sith Lightning, this time with both hands towards the Jedi. Bringing up his lightsaber, Seja used Juyo to block, and redirect the Force Lightning burst up into the ceiling. This Sith's eyes widened in surprise at the maneuver, and he stopped his barrage.

Seja vanished right before his eyes. He looked around, searching the area for his Jedi Opponent. A yelling was heard from his left, and he saw that Seja had closed the gap between them. The Jedi's blue lightsaber came flying at the Sith.

The Sith attempted to block his lightsaber, but he was too slow. Seja's blade came down on the Sith's lightsaber arm, the bluish blade arced skyward as the Jedi severed the Sith's opposite arm. The Sith let out a bloodcurdling scream of pain as one Force push from Seja sent him flying onto his back.

Seja walked over to him, and pointed his lightsaber at the Sith's chin, "You have lost."

"So kill me," the Sith chuckled weakly, looking up at Seja, "Come on, do it. I know you want to. Let the hate flow through you, and end my life and your path down the Dark Side will both begin and end."

Seja's blade then disappeared into the hilt, shocking the Sith once more, "I won't kill you, and you are harmless now. You won't be corrupting anymore Jedi without the use of your arms."

The Jedi began to walk away from the Sith, who snarled at him, "Kill me!"

"No, I am getting out of here," Seja replied, looking at the hole he made with the Sith's Force Lightning.

"Do it! Now! I'll just kill or turn more Jedi if you don't!" the Sith roared in anger, telepathically rising himself into sitting position, "Do it, kill me!"

Seja ignored the Sith's outburst as he measured the jumping length. He leapt into the air, and the Sith roared in protest once more.

"Remember my name, Seja Kimura!" the Sith started, watching as Seja reached the ceiling, "Remember Darth Corruptus! I'll be the death of you!"

Seja ignored him as he climbed out of the hole. He looked around to see that the battle in space was still going on, with the last remnants of the Mandalorian Fleet being obliterated. He grimaced, and walked to a large durasteel gateway, and he stopped for a second.

'This battle has gone on far too long; I have to leave tonight,' Seja thought, and he looked back at the Trayus Academy's entrance, 'So this place is why Revan fell…'

With that, he walked away from the Academy for good.

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Republic Base, Jedi Barracks

The wounds that Seja had received from the Sith Lord, Darth Corruptus, were being treated by a Jedi Healer. The boy's name was Bandon, who was three years younger than him. They were in the Barracks' medical bay, where other Jedi and Republic Soldiers were being treated by Jedi Healers.

"Knight Kimura, your treatment is done," Bandon told him, lowering his hand which was sending healing waves of the Force through Seja.

"Thank you, I must contact Admiral Roland Wann now," Seja replied, as he stood up and stretched his arms, "Padawan Bandon, I hope you do well when you return to the Jedi."

"I am not returning to the Jedi Seja, Revan invited me to accompany him and Malak on a new journey. Did you hear about the secret project that Revan initiated?" Bandon asked Seja, who nodded.

"Yes, Project MSG…" Seja replied, "That is one of the reasons why I am contacting Roland now."

"Why is that, Seja?" Bandon asked, and Seja sighed.

"I am leaving the battle; Revan has already giving me clearance. I've experienced too much death and suffering, and I need to go somewhere to think and reflect," Seja replied, and he looked down at the ground, "I plan to never kill ever again, and that vow clashes with Revan's newest conquest."

Bandon nodded, and watched as Seja walked out of the Medical Bay. Little did he know that in the future, he would be attacking Seja mercilessly as Malak's apprentice…

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Republic Carrier, RNS Relentless

Seja walked through the clean, white corridors of the Relentless. He was heading towards the ships bridge to meet with Admiral Roland Wann, who was commanding the ship and its Assault Fighters. Passing cleaning utility droids and astromech droids, he walked up a flight of stairs towards the bridge.

The durasteel blast doors swished open, and two Republic Marines saluted him as he entered the bridge. Roland was watching the battle, his arms folded behind his back.

"Long time, no see, Seja," Roland said, gazing out the transparisteel window of the bridge, "I acquired the freighter you requested."

"Thank you," Seja replied with a bow, "Revan has gone mad…"

"I know that," Roland said as he turned around, "I am taking a portion of the Republic Fleet back to Republic Space, Revan has allowed it."

"So you are getting out before the atrocity can be committed, right?" Seja asked him, and the weathered Admiral nodded.

"Yes. Another portion of the fleet will be leaving as soon as the Generator is activated, and the rest are going with Revan," Roland replied, watching as the escort fighters made another pass around the ship, "I am beginning to believe that the Council was right about preaching patience, we may of well could have avoided this battle."

"I just wish my Master had stopped me," Seja added, walking forward, "Is that why you wanted me to come up here?"

"Partially," Roland started, "I also want to wish you good luck in your travels. You have done so much in this war, and had more taken away from you than most Jedi, yet you kept on fighting."

"…it was hard, yet I am ready to leave this war now," Seja told him, and Roland smiled warmly to him.

"You take care of yourself my friend," Roland told him, and Seja smiled back, "My men will escort you to your freighter."

"Thank you, and goodbye," Seja turned around and walked to the bridge door, "And take care of yourself, and your wife as well, Roland."

Roland nodded, watching as Seja walked out of the bridge with the Republic Guard. The blast doors shut closed, and the Admiral walked to the helm. He was going to take his portion of the fleet out of the battle in a few hours, and he would be able to get back to his family.

In the Relentless's hangar, Seja looked up at the Republic Freighter than Roland had procured for him. It was about 20 meters wide and nine meters tall. On the aft and starboard sides of the ship were dual quad laser turrets, and on top of the ship was light dual laser turret. He walked up into the ship, and sighed.

He went to a nearby terminal, and made the ramp raised off the durasteel flooring of the hangar. With a hiss, the ramp sealed the entranceway. He could hear the ships atmosphere generators and gravity generators start working, and walked to the cockpit.

It was a one seater cockpit, and he sat down in the chair that was provided in it. There was a message saying that he had clearance to leave, and on the galaxy map he selected the planet Tatooine for his first stop. He heard the freighters dual sub-light engines fire up as he engaged the controls.

The freighter began to lift off the durasteel flooring, and it flew out of the hangar of the Relentless. He kept a firm grip on the steering column as the ship flew out in the vacuum of space. Reaching for the hyperdrive controls, he started the countdown for jump in his mind.

'…two…one…' he thought, and he pulled the hyperdrive throttles back, initiating the hyperdrive.

The small freighter leapt into light speed, leaving the Battle of Malachor behind it. Seja had left war behind him, for now. He would have to fight again, but he would have some peace for the meantime. He had placed his killing Lightsaber away, and only wore his newer non-lethal one on his belt now. He would uphold his non-killing oath, even if it costs him his life.

The End

A/N: Well, the fic has one more thing left, an Epilogue. I had a lot of fun writing this fanfic, and I thank all the reviewers who read my fic.