Chapter 20: A Shadow Surfaces

The Jedi star fighter soared through the atmosphere as it landed on the ground. Sim immediately jumped out as he saw Leia and Tosh walk up to him. They both bowed before him while he bowed to them too.

"Sorry for the delay but I ran into some trouble on my way back," said Sim as they walked into the temple.

"Well, I'm glad it wasn't too bad," replied Leia, "While you were gone, we had some visitors."

"Did you treat them right?" asked Sim sarcastically as he neared the prison door, "Let me guess: Myrenia."

"Yep, it seems that your old girlfriend was coming here to get me," said Leia. They walked down the halls as they finally neared a one of the cell doors.

"There were four of them but three of them killed each other and we saved Myrenia," said Tosh as they entered into the cell room and found Myrenia meditating behind a series of force-shields. She was fully incapable of using her Force powers because of the properties of the room.

Her blue-crystal eyes opened up as she peered at Sim. A gentle smile came up on her young and beautiful face revealing dimples.

"Hello, Sim, long time no see," said Myrenia as she sat on the bench, "I see you were off on a trip when I 'visited'."

Sim motioned for the two to leave as he wanted to talk to her privately. The door shut close as the two sat there looking at each other. Finally Sim came up with a reply.

"Glad to hear that you were treated well," answered Sim with a smile.

"20 years and you still haven't lost your tongue," said Avenger with a calm voice, "I'm no longer Myrenia, and I'm Darth Avenger."

"Good because I know Myrenia wouldn't be serving evil," said Sim with a downward glance, "It's sad to see that you were once my friend and now you're just evil."

"Save me the lecture," shouted Avenger, "I serve only I not some dead order. Its time to move on and do what is going to keep you alive."

"Not at the expense of others, though," replied Sim, "Has evil truly consumed you to the point that the once powerful and graceful women I knew are now nothing more than a shell full of evil?"

Avenger didn't reply as she turned her gaze from Sim to the ground. Sim immediately tried to probe her mind and met little defense because of her reduced Force abilities. He could see that in the shadows of darkness a light had flickered alive within Avenger. It was Myrenia.

Captain Tuwesh kneeled before Vader as he delivered the message to the Dark Lord. Vader read it over before crushing it into millions of pieces with the use of the Force. It had read:

"Dear Darth Vader,

I hope you like looking for me. I know you have nothing better to do besides hurting people but seriously you need a new hobby. Also you really need to fix those Storm Troopers. There as dum as... well... idiots.

From Your Dear Friend,
Sim Nam"

Instantly Tuwesh began apologizing.

"Sir, I'm sorry but he was too powerful," said the Captain, "It won't happen again, sir." Vader looked at the officer with disgust. He knew Tuwesh was a boot-licker.

"I know you won't fail me because you won't have another chance," replied Vader as he pulled the Captain off the ground and used the Force to choke him. The Captain stayed suspended in air as he choked before finally falling limp, dead. The entire crew looked at Vader who replied with a monstrous stare that sent the crew working again without offering another glance.

Vader walked out of the room as Darth Annihilator watched him leave. He grinned at the body of the former Captain as crew men came over and picked him up to throw in the garbage. He immediately followed his father and Master.

Sim chatted with Darth Avenger as she retold her story about her years in exile before her fall from grace. Sim watched her talk with grace even in darkness.

"You know Sim you could be a valuable asset to the dark side," said Avenger with a seductive tone, "We could be together again."

Sim just nodded his head, "I wouldn't join you. You're not even Myrenia." This obviously insulted Avenger as a face of pure hatred showed yet she could not fight the tide of guilt forming inside of her. Sim was going to take advantage of this.

"Avenger, do you really not care for others anymore? Have you lost all hope in me?" asked Sim with a stern look as his eyes gazed into hers. Avenger looked the other ways as her feelings looked like they were about to burst.

"If you no longer care for me or even for the welfare of others then I'm sorry," answered Sim as he got up. He could see the dark heart that had formed in Avenger in 10 years had begun to crack as light peered through them. As much as Avenger tried to fight it she was indeed unleashing the spirit of the Jedi within her once more.

In a second of a moment, it all burst. Avenger got up as she threw herself against Sim and sobbed. Tears flowed through her as the darkness that had long encompassed her had begun to retreat as light filtered into her. Sim just embraced her as she wept.

"I'm sorry," said Myrenia as she continued to cry. Sim just offered her a smile as they hugged for the first time in over 20 years. Memories began to flood into Sim's mind of when he used to be a Jedi padawan under Qui-Gon Jinn, being partnered up with Myrenia and falling in love with her. He remembered being the greatest of friends with Myrenia and Anakin as they were known as the heroes of the Clone Wars. A tear trickled down Sim's cheek as both of them sat down and just sat there nothing being said except for their feelings.

Tosh entered into the room at that time as he looked into the cell. Only a face of hurt filled his expression as he looked at Myrenia. Immediately, Myrenia got up as she walked over to Tosh.

"I'm sorry, my master," said Myrenia as she just stood there with her eye's watering. Tosh only offered a warm smile as he embraced his former padawan and once more their friendship was recoiled.

"It is okay," said Tosh as he smiled at Sim, "I forgive you."

Months began to pass as Myrenia joined the ranks of the Jedi once more and began relearning the ways of the Force. Her powers began to return to her as she became increasingly powerful in the Light Side to the point that she could even best Leia some times, though, most of the times it was either a draw, though, Leia managed to defeat her as many times as she defeated Leia. As Tosh, Leia, and Myrenia began to teach each other new techniques and Force capabilities, Sim began to retreat from activities until he no longer even did mock battles with the duo.

One day he stood on the top of a green hill next to the temple. A breeze passed him as his robe flowed behind him and his hood concealed his face. His arms were crossed within his sleeves as he just watched the horizon. Suddenly he felt a presence and smiled. He turned around in time to see Myrenia run up to him and embrace him. There eyes met as their lips met and they kissed. Sim broke away, though, as he looked into Myrenia's blue eyes. She was looking younger than before, looking now around the same age as Sim.

"How have you been, Sim?" asked Myrenia with concern on her face.

"Why do you need to ask me? You sound as if I don't live in the temple," replied Sim with a laughing glare.

"Well, you rarely spend any time anymore with the rest of us that it really seems that you are gone somewhere," said Myrenia. Sim looked away from her as she tried to gain some answer on her lover's behavior.

"Its nothing," said Sim without waiting for her to ask "What's wrong?"

"If it is so, then why aren't you looking at me?" asked Myrenia.

"Uh...nothing," offered Sim as he looked into her blue eyes.

"Fine, be stubborn," sniffed Myrenia, "But you have to make it up. You have to do a lightsaber duel with me, Leia, and Tosh."

Sim smiled as he chuckled. Myrenia still kept her aggressive behavior even after 20 years. She had always been one to solve problems and let her anger out through lightsaber combat and even she enjoyed the grueling practices.

"Fine," answered Sim as he got up and dropped Myrenia who gave Sim a death stare while he walked off laughing. She just followed him as she tackled him to the ground and he slid all the way down the hill. She stood at the top laughing at him as she cried out of sheer amusement. Sim's eyes narrowed as he got up and walked into the temple with Myrenia running behind him.

Sim watched as Leia, Tosh, and Myrenia came up on one side snickering at Sim who could only reply with a snicker. Leia was the loud-mouth of that camp.

"Well master, I thought you wouldn't show up," said Leia with a huge grin, "I guess you do like being beaten."

"I guess I do, my young apprentice," replied Sim, "Who knows, it might be the Force's will for me to win."

"Yeah, like that's going to happen," responded Myrenia with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Very well," responded Sim as he let his Jedi robe fall to the ground. He ignited his lightsaber as a black blade came out for the first time in months. Leia and the others followed with her silver blade popping out, Tosh's green blade sparking to life, and finally Myrenia's gold blade coming to life.

The three attacked Sim with a jab and sideways slice as Sim leaped out of the way while blocking Myrenia's blade and doing a swipe to block Tosh's jab. He did a spin as he blocked another wave of attacks and thrust at Leia causing her to move back. He immediately twirled his lightsaber as he turned and blocked Myrenia's and Tosh's blade with a horizontal lock. Leia came back as she thrust her blade at his back but he did a back flip over her and landed in time to counter one of her swipes and block it while moving his blade fast enough to meet Tosh and Myrenia's at the same time.

Leia did a downward thrust as Sim jumped into the air, causing Tosh and Myrenia to take advantage and swipe at his ankles but Sim had a few tricks up his sleeve. Using the Force, he slammed them across the room as he singled out his apprentice with a smirk. Leia just looked at him with surprise. He took the initiative as he brought his hilt above his head and engaged his apprentice.

Leia moved quickly as she blocked Sim's blows and was pushed further back. He swiped at her midsection causing her to block but he spun in time to thrust it up and almost knocked her hilt out of her hands but she moved her hand fast enough to avoid the blade. She immediately did a thrust at his gut but he did a vertical slash to the ground as turned and precisely dodged Leia's move. In the mean time he watched as Tosh and Myrenia got up and Force-jumped into the chaos to meet Sim's blade. The various colors turned into many blades as Sim was forced to back down as the three different colors attacked him at once from all three sides.

Finally he did a spin and blocked Myrenia's blade to meet all three of the blades in a horizontal blade position. He could see that all three of them were trying to physically push him back but using the Force he held his position. He closed his eyes as he for the first time in a mock duel called on the Force to assist him in a lightsaber duel. He reopened his eyes with a new determination.

In an instant he disengaged and did a forward slash at Leia before spinning and missing Leia's blade to thrust at Tosh but he leaped above his blade to meet them backwards as he pushed Leia back and engaged Myrenia's blade and immediately did a flip and swipe at her legs causing her to fall to the ground as she tried to jump over him but couldn't. He turned in time to meet Tosh's blade with a smile. With one push he pushed the ancient Jedi master back and struck back as he forced him into a corner and blocked the Jedi's moves but the sudden feeling of Leia behind him caught him as he leaped backwards in time to Miss Leia's blade.

It was time to show them what a true Form IV master knew. It was time to act like Yoda. He Force-leaped to Myrenia as he leaped and jumped around her in a lightning fast maneuver as she barely kept up and turned at the same time. He did a flip in the air as he jumped down met her block before leaping again and doing a backwards midsection blow that was blocked barely but quickly disengaged to do a sideways flip that he landed before leaping again to get over Leia and Tosh's incoming blades. He leaped around and inside the group as he did twirls, spins, flips, and other acrobatic maneuvers. A sense of pride came upon him as he sensed his former master's spirit watching him in the room.

With a quick thrust he knocked Leia's blade out of her hands and did a spin to catch Tosh's blade and use it to block Myrenia's blade. With their blades entangled, it was time for Sim to end the duel. With a lightning fast move he disengaged leaped above two different swipes and found himself in the middle of the two as he turned and easily Force-grabbed their lightsabers out of their hands and bring his own blade to their throats. The duel was over.

All three of them stared in shock as Sim turned off his lightsaber and gave it back to them. He turned around and picked up his robe and put it on as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt and gave them a friendly nod. Just before he got out, he heard Leia's scream.

"WHAT!" shouted Leia, "Even three Jedi and you didn't lose?"

"Leia, number matters not," answered Sim as he turned to his apprentice, "It is one's tune with the Force. You are still young and do not have the knowledge or the experience to perfectly become in tune with the Force when you duel, while Tosh has become quite old and his reflexes are becoming slower, while Myrenia has been on the dark side for long enough to cause some temporary problems with her lightsaber form."

"But it was three! We should've won!" exclaimed Leia, "Not even you are that great!"

Sim just smiled at his apprentice as he walked out of the room to leave the three in the room.

"Leia, you underestimate how powerful Sim is," said Myrenia as she got her robe, "Remember he has spent 20 years refining his lightsaber skills and Force capabilities. I doubt anyone has done that in the entire galaxy."

Leia just nodded as her heart sank again from defeat at her master's hand. She got up as she walked out of the room to meditate on more time.

Vader meditated as his son sat next to him. He looked at his apprentice and sighed. He would be ready soon enough to go after Sim and Leia once and for all along with Tosh and the backstabbing Avenger. He had heard from one of his spies that she had been persuaded to join the light side once more. Vader smashed his fist against the wall as the memory flashed back to him.

Vader looked out the window as he saw the entire might of the Imperial Fleet behind him. He and his son were on a small shuttle that was heading for a planet that Vader considerably disliked but had four valuable Jedi and three smugglers. Icylian was the place and they would be arriving within two days. There Vader and Annihilator would engage Sim and Leia for one final time to end the Jedi and keep the Sith in power for the rest of time. It was only a matter of time.

Sim watched the Falcon leave into space as Han, Chewie, Lando, Tosh, and Leia went off on a trip to the planet of Wespa to meet up with some former Rebel Alliance commanders. They would be gone for over a week leaving him and Myrenia on the planet alone.

Sim walked into the building immediately as they left and searched out Myrenia and found her in the Meditation Room, peacefully meditating. As he entered he sat next to her and whispered to her,

"Hey, I think it is time we play a little game," said Sim with a grin on his face.

"And exactly what would that be?" asked Myrenia without opening her eyes yet with curiosity.

"Ever heard of the game called Kimball?" asked Sim. Myrenia just smiled as she realized exactly what he was saying.

"Oh yes, I know exactly what that is," said Myrenia in a low voice.

"Want to play it?" asked Sim.

"Sure, why not," answered Myrenia as they walked out and left the room unaware of the incoming danger, for even Sim was too distracted to sense it coming in the next day.

Author's Note: Review my friends, review! I once again thank those who take the time to comment and you don't realize how much I appreciate it. Thank You, very much to all them. - The Yoda