Chapter XXI
Jadir Prime, Republic Space
Mace Windu activated his com-link with a tap, "Come in Master Secura, Master Kolar, is the area secured?"
"Landing site secured in Delta base, Master Windu," replied Aayla Secura.
"Landing site secured, Falcon base," replied Agen, after a sigh he continued, "the Seekers have not made any attempt to engage our troops so far, and Commander Bly has made contact with Republic Recon, the Commandos have disabled their shield, but we then lost contact with them, awaiting orders Mace,"
Mace bowed his head before doffing his cowl, the forest lands of Jadir made the terrain difficult, and as it was the Death Seekers had made a powerful line of defense against them, even worse, it began to rain, he touched his com again, "stand down, I will made contact with the Seeker Commander and ask for a peaceful stand-off, they will be allowed a measure of amnesty and will be questioned,"
"Be careful Master Windu," said Aayla.
"I will Master Secura," replied Mace as he continued toward the Death Seeker encampment, four clones took up his flanks and kept their blasters ready while the Jedi Master stretched out with the Force to gain a better feel for his surroundings.
Master Windu had a gift for seeing the shatter-point of various objects, from animals, to inanimate objects, to even Sith Lords, he reflected as he remembered seeing the shatter-point in Chancellor Palpatine, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, as he neared the encampment he saw the shatter-point in the various sentry-posts, and Apprentices as they tried to make their way around the Jedi without being seen, he turned his head ever slightly, "surrender and I shall spare your lives," he said quietly, "I only wish to meet with your leader,"
The four clones around him were simultaneously wrenched into the trees knocking them out as five apprentices appeared, surrounding the Jedi Master, "the only meeting you shall have is with my blade," said one with a sneer as he pulled of his cowl revealing a pale face with dark yellow eyes that pierced into Mace's skin, "come Jedi, let us do battle,"
Mace raised his head slightly, "your last chance, surrender, or die,"
"The only death that will occur here Jedi is yours!" shouted another as she rushed forward her lightsaber activating with a snap-hiss, the bronze blade dazzling the Jedi Master in the rain.
Mace's hand extended and his lightsaber connected with his palm, activating simultaneously the electrum hilt hummed with life as the violet blade slashed through the woman's arm, she screamed in pain and fell away while another apprentice rushed forward, his blue lightsaber connected with Mace's and they locked, with an easy push the apprentice was sent reeling into the same tree as a clone had been.
The other two were smarter, moving in together to take the Jedi Weapons Master, though it did little to their scenario as Mace easily cut through them, disabling one's lightsaber while knocking another out with the rear of his lightsaber hilt, only the still sneering apprentice remained, Mace brought his blade around to regard him, "surrender,"
"Never," replied the apprentice, he stretched out his hand and unleashed a burst of Force Lightning, caught of guard the Jedi Master intercepted it with his lightsaber, using the power of Vaapad to absorb the aggression rather than hit it head on, "surrender," again ordered Mace.
"No!" screamed the apprentice, leaping into the air and activating his dual bladed lightsaber, the single hilt housing two separate lightsabers, "I will not,"
Mace blocked the now enraged barrage of attacks and parried the attacks with more growing difficulty, while the apprentice kept coming, lashing out with unbelievable speed and agility, as well as well honed skill, spinning his body in order to gain momentum in attacking the Jedi, keeping the lightsaber above his head and in front of him in order to avoid impaling himself or dismembering himself.
The Jedi Master grew more observant of his opponent's technique and suddenly lashed out, shearing off the emitter of one of the apprentice's red blades, with disgust the apprentice sputtered a curse and reversed his blade, allowing it to act a single lightsaber and parrying the Jedi's attacks.
Mace Windu finally unleashed the full power of Vaapad and his blade became a blur of violet energy, a pure ring of energy that buffeted the apprentice, finally decapitating him, Mace's blade disappeared into his hilt with a hiss as he deactivated it, watching the corpse of the apprentice with pity, "too be trained in the darkness at such a young age,"
With a turn he continued toward the encampment, hopefully the apprentice's life would be the only life lost that day.