Disclaimer: Forgot to put it on the first chapter, so here it is. I don't own Davrel, or the KOTOR series, or Star Wars and I'm not writing this with any intention of making a profit.
PART TWO: A Different Path to Follow
A mocking laugh rang in his ears, but Davrel was grateful that at least it didn't echo within his mind. The dark Jedi kicked him onto his back, the impact jarring his already fried joints. It was a struggle merely to keep his eyes open and trained on the blurred crimson blade that would deal his death. Each shuddering breath was painful but he was appreciative even as he fought for air.
After all, he thought as the dark Jedi regarded him silently, these could be my last.
"They don't necessarily have to be," the dark Jedi said, like he'd read Davrel's thoughts. "You don't have to die on this moon, Davrel."
Davrel was surprised when he managed a laugh that sounded more like a wheeze. It must have surprised the dark Jedi too, because the man delivered a vicious kick to Davrel's other side. Sharp pains told Davrel that at least three of his ribs had been broken, but he was alive.
He had that at least.
"I won't ask again. You have the potential to use the Force-and I have lost my apprentice. An accommodation could be reached between us. Consider what you could be capable of among the armies of the Sith, what you could learn and understand. Imagine the power." The man's voice was persuasive. "Imagine the honour you could earn."
Davrel managed to laugh again.
"No," he replied in a weak voice. "That isn't honour. I'd rather die here than be without a soul."
The dark Jedi's pale face screwed up with fury.
"Fine," he retorted, "die in the mud like a slave deserves!" He lifted the blazing lightsaber high, then brought it down in a cutting arc determined to decapitate Davrel. The weapon hummed dangerously as it descended.
For Davrel, it seemed that time slowed. Instead of the fabled "life flashing before my eyes", all he saw was the lightsaber glowing viciously in a blurred line, the light reflecting from his enemy's dark eyes and gleaming white teeth.
The end, he thought as he closed his eyes, surprised to feel so detached about his own death.
It doesn't have to be, a small voice within him said. Remember what she said…
Can I really? Will it answer if I call? He asked himself, sensing the heat from the lightsaber as it neared his head.
How else will I know? Came the reply.
As the dark Jedi gave a triumphant cry, Davrel threw aside the defences he'd built since childhood, the defences his mother had taught him to hide the unnatural talent he'd displayed. On the edge of his senses, something answered his desperate plea, filled him with comforting energy and calm reassurance.
Davrel's eyes flew open and with renewed vigour, he rolled to the right. The lightsaber seared itself into the soft earth where his head had been merely seconds before. The dark Jedi recovered quickly, slashing viciously. Davrel countered by unexpectedly going on the offensive, landing blows even as the lightsaber hummed lethally close to lopping off limbs.
Davrel could hardly think for himself, merely followed the directions and subtle clues the energy offered him. He ducked, wove and leapt as lead to, the dark Jedi's intentions somehow spelled clearly before him.
When the Sith's lightsaber came close to shearing off his left arm, Davrel merely slipped beneath the blade and aimed a hard kick in the opening offered. He resisted the urge to laugh hysterically, for fear of destroying the connection, and instead focused on disarming his opponent.
This is how they feel…this is why they win…this is why we never defeat them… Fragments of thought flew through his mind as Davrel deftly avoided another slash, aware that the rush of adrenaline had waned, replaced instead by an unshakable sense of certainty and rest that he'd never experienced before. For the first time in his life, Davrel knew the outcome of this contest without being arrogant or over-confident. The reassuring energy that flowed about him was revealing paths and connections he'd never noticed with his other senses.
Amid the energy that teemed about him, Davrel could sense the void that was the dark Jedi attacking him. He vaguely wondered if the dark Jedi could sense his disadvantage. Amid the blazing life about them both, the dark Jedi was leaving a trail of intent and purpose that was easier to follow than a HUD training program.
The dark Jedi cartwheeled to the left in an impressive display of agility. The blade furiously cut through the air, but met nothing. Davrel followed the trail of negative energy and simply moved from its projected path. The dark Jedi landed, his dark hair falling into his face in stringy strands that did nothing to veil the uncontrolled rage that froze his expression.
"You practically stink of Jedi weakness," the dark Jedi spat. "Is this what you would make of yourself? A pawn of the Republic?"
Davrel thought of his mother, of the Jedi who had spared him. There was a reason they believed in me, he thought, knowing instinctively that he was right. To his surprise, he felt no guilt at the thought, no sense of disloyalty.
About him and within him, the benign energy he now knew to be the Force gave its agreement.
"I'm not a pawn," he answered in a low, weak voice, "and I never will be. Not the Republic's, not the Mandalore's. And certainly not yours."
"Fool," he man replied.
"No," Davrel retorted, "not any longer. I don't doubt any more, I know my path…" It was his turn to give the dark Jedi a condescending smile. "I trust the Force."
And to his shock, it was the truth.
The Sith laughed cruelly. "The Force has no conscious. It falters and at times it wanes. It can be manipulated and it can be cruel. Would you put your life in the care of such a power? The Sith don't-they understand the one truth in this galaxy, one that has eluded your grasp for your entire existence. The only entity that can be truly trusted is yourself."
He lunged towards Davrel again, expecting the young soldier to duck, weave or retreat. Davrel didn't. Instead, he held his ground and followed the path opened to him by the Force. As the lightsaber swung towards him, Davrel stepped quickly to intercept it, using both hands to firmly grasp the other man's arm and shoulder.
The dark Jedi attempted to pull himself back, but couldn't get free. The heavy robes he wore gave Davrel a convenient advantage. With an abrupt wrench, Davrel felt bone and cartilage beneath his grip snap and tear. He could feel his opponent's pain and shock through the Force before the dark Jedi gave a surprised cry of pain and dropped his weapon. The lightsaber went hissing into the mud. The scent of evaporating earth filled the air, clean and surprisingly fresh.
Davrel wasn't surprised that the other man's shoulder gave way easily. He pressed his advantage, throwing a heavy blow to the man's face. He was dispassionate when he felt the dark Jedi's nose crunch beneath his gauntleted fist, the blood spraying across them both. The man attempted to use the Force to push him away, the pressure unbalancing Davrel. Davrel could feel the Force about him swirling, the direction becoming more obscure to read in response.
Disorientated, he took a wild swing that was easily avoided by the dark Jedi. Unbalanced and distracted, Davrel didn't sense the dark Jedi reaching for his own reserves of forbidden strength. The crashing sound filled his ears first, and then the glowing violet light encircled the dark Jedi, his eyes bleaching white and mouth set into a grim line.
Davrel took an involuntary step back, perturbed by this change of events. He was about to reach for the Force when the light suddenly hit him, filling his vision with shadows and death.
The dark Jedi assumed a feral grin and began to advance on Davrel, the violet light intensifying. He could feel the strength leeching from his body, his newfound vitality pouring in waves through the Force towards the dark figure. Not one part of his body didn't scream its resistance to the violation.
He's stealing my strength, Davrel screamed at himself. He'll steal my life to renew himself if I don't fight back!
Davrel struggled to stand, but his legs no longer had the strength to support him. He sank to the ground, the numbing weakness spreading rapidly though his body. The arc of brilliant violet light that connected Davrel to his attacker was blindingly bright. Even when his eyelids no longer had the strength to keep his eyes open, he could see it. More importantly he could feel it…leaving him and charging his enemy.
What can I do? He asked himself. Not even my armour will protect me from this stripping…
Even as the thought crossed his pain-filled mind, another fragment of memory came to mind, one that the dark Jedi hadn't unearthed during his mental violation.
The zakkeg, having thrown off the Jedi's two apprentices-the blonde human has been flung into the packed earth that cradles the predator's lair, the Zabrak's double-ended lightsaber crushed beneath the zakkeg's talons-rounds on the Jedi and Davrel and roars, the stench of carrion nearly overwhelming the filters in his helmet. He drops to one knee, begins to fire a barrage of red bolts that would cut down any other creature, aiming for vulnerable spots, eyes, throat, underbelly…
At his side, the Jedi woman has her lightsaber ignited, one hand held out. Davrel wonders what she's doing-her expression is one of focused determination and strain-and what exactly she thinks she'll achieve by just standing there and doing nothing.
There's a strange noise in his ears, very faint and slightly like the crashing of waves against a rocky shore, but he assumes it static. It's annoying and sets his teeth on edge, but he does his best to ignore it. The battle must have damaged my helmet, he thinks.
The zakkeg starts towards them, its heavy bulk filling Davrel's HUD screen. He's suddenly certain he's going to die, no one has survived this monster and it's unlikely he will either-
-and then the Jedi pushes him aside and steps to intercept the creature with a sudden burst of green energy that flares from her hands. The zakkeg snarls and snaps its enormous maw, and throws itself against the shield in uncontrolled fury. It's such a fragile defence that Davrel's certain it will falter and opens his mouth to say as much-
-when the Jedi lets the barrier drop abruptly and unexpectedly. Davrel jumps to his feet and begins to fire, expending the last of his gas-cartridge and dropping the heavy repeater to draw his vibroblade when-
-the Jedi woman flings her lightsaber at the creature as it charges at them. The blue blade buries itself into the zakkeg's thick skull, just above one slitted yellow eye, driven deep by the zakkeg's own momentum.
The zakkeg gives one last pathetic groan before collapsing to the ground.
Davrel and the Jedi stare at each other as her companions begin to stir back into consciousness.
Her expression worries and disturbs him fora reason that he can't place.
With a grunt of effort that sounded more like a snarl, Davrel reached for the Force again. It was desperately attempting to replenish what energy the dark Jedi stole, but couldn't. Feeling his body-his life-failing fast, Davrel made his last gamble, one that not even the Force could assure him would succeed.
Instead of channelling the Force into himself, he made a conscious effort to push it away, toward the dark Jedi. For a torturous moment, Davrel felt the sudden rush of pain as his life began to slip away, accelerated and agonising.
The violet arc of energy that connected the two faltered, sending small fat sparks sizzling to the ground and slightly slowing the draining. Heartened, Davrel flung one gauntleted hand toward the dark-robed figure, the violet energy reacting as it came into contact with his gloved fingers. It reminded him of oil and water, or opposing magnets. The fluid violet light sparked and recoiled from his outstretched hand, this time more dangerously.
"What-what are you doing?" the dark Jedi snarled in surprise, increasing his focus in an attempt to overwhelm Davrel's unexpected defence.
Davrel, still unable to stand but strong enough to keep on his knees, flung out his opposite hand, marvelling at how the deadly energy reacted. Flaring away from Davrel, the energy began to recoil and retract violently toward its maker.
Able to breathe properly again, the terrible pressure now dissipating, he focused more clearly, able to cast aside the fear that had gripped him only moments before. The Force responded, channelling toward the dark Jedi with more intensity. Matching the dark Jedi's determined stare, Davrel watched the white-violet light crackle and roar as it was pushed further away, the dark Jedi's white eyes beginning to return to their natural colour in response.
"No!" the dark Jedi howled in disbelief. He must have sensed what was about to happen first, but Davrel didn't care. If he was going to die here…then so was his killer.
The invisible barrier that had been repelling the life-stealing energy suddenly became visible as bright green shield that originated from Davrel's outstretched hands. His determined face reflecting the brilliant emerald light, Davrel directed it toward the dark Jedi with what was left of his strength.
The man screamed-no, howled-his rage and doubled his efforts, his strain betrayed by his knotted brow. Somewhere far off in the jungle, a zakkeg shrieked in reply, echoing the dark Jedi's frustration and hunger for violence.
The light flared again, stalling the shield's progress. It paused only a body-length away from the dark Jedi, and slowly began to push back toward Davrel.
Now.
Davrel let the shield drop, leaving an opening. The dark Jedi's life-stealing force surged through, spreading tendrils of white light that sizzled and crackled as it tore apart the remnants of Davrel's shield.
Davrel knew he couldn't match the energy's speed, nor did he have the strength left to recall his barrier of Force. What he did have was the strength to fall prone to the ground, one hand reaching blindly for the still-activated lightsaber, his fingers disturbing the dried mud as they scrambled for the foreign weapon's hilt.
The agony tore into him again, but Davrel ignored the pain and finally grasped the lightsaber.
"You had your chance!" the dark Jedi cried, his voice now hoarse and tinted by his own injuries.
Davrel dragged himself up, the violent crash of pain near deafening him, the insidious leeching of his strength forcing him to choke and strain for air again. His vision was dim now, his body fighting against him as she tried to focus on the dark Jedi.
"So did you." Davrel used the very last of his energy to throw the lightsaber.
The last thing he heard as he fell to the ground face-first was the singing of the lightsaber as it cut through the air.
And then there was an infuriated roar…
Davrel's mouth curved into a satisfied grin before he lost consciousness.
A/N- Just wanted to thnak the people who reviewed this. Sorry it's taken so long to update.