Enemies

Forn let out a scream as she watched Cyrin crash into the wall, and he collapsed to the ground, letting out a low grunt. Her hands went to her mouth as she stared in horror as she noticed the figure that stood before her.

"Hello," boomed a deep, dark and articulate voice. "I don't believe we met." The figure moved towards her, his expression—as was his voice—jovial. He was clad in elegant and aristocratic robes, as a velvet coloured cape was draped on both of his shoulders. He had snow-white hair slicked back that seemed to match the neatly trimmed goatee that appeared on his pale and slightly mottled skin. "I'm Dietrich Cain—but you may call me Darth—no, Lord Cain."

She eyed him warily. "What do you want?" She began to back up, moving towards the desk, as the old man talked. If he noticed what she was doing, he made no sign of it.

He held a thoughtful expression for a moment, smiling once he felt he had found the right words. "Regrettably, I come only for you," he replied, smiling darkly as his eyes hungrily feasted on the sight before him.

This was one of the few times when Forn regretted the stigma of appearing as a regal, elegant and handsome woman. She continued to make her way slowly towards the desk, looking for that comlink, hoping to catch the man off-guard.

"Though I must say," he continued, "you're quite the catch." His smile never left his expression. He shifted his eyes—regrettably—towards the collapsed figure, who now struggled to rise. "Ah, Master Jace, my friend," Darth Cain began, "I didn't realize you had survived after all these years."

The only reply from Jace was a low groan as he futilely tried to rise.

Forn looked at the two men, and feeling fear pierce her heart for what Dietrich Cain might do to Cyrin, she picked up the small statuette and began to run at the Sith Lord.

He felt her anger rise and he knew that he would enjoy this. He grew annoyed, however, due to the fact that he would have to leave his old friend for a moment. Turning back and extending a hand, he sent Forn flying back, yelling as she crashed into one of the pillars of the room. He smiled inwardly as he enjoyed the pain and torture he would undoubtedly carry out this day. "As you can see," he began, weighing his words with careful precision, "my powers are vastly beyond any Jedi. You would do well to stay out of this affair, Chancellor."

She groaned as she found herself close to losing consciousness, barely hearing the words that came from the Sith figure.

The old man chortled, unaware that Cyrin Jace now stood behind him.

With a cold, venomous tone, the Jedi Master said, "hello Dietrich. It's been a long time."

The Sith Lord's expression became fearful. "You're no match for me—try as you might, old friend." With his back still turned to Cyrin and trying hard not to stammer as he spoke, he quickly calculated his chances of actually surviving now.

With a mere gesture, Cyrin sent the older man flying away, crashing against the other side of the room. "You will stay away from her, traitor."

Panting as he rose, Cain looked at Cyrin. "I see some things never change, do they, Cyrin? Even now you flock to her and the Republic is at an end. The Code prohibits any attachments—or do you fail to remember? Stay out of this affair or die, Jedi. My powers are beyond any Jedi now."

With a threatening and welcoming expression, Cyrin produced his silver lightsaber handle. "I don't think so."

Cain merely smiled. "We shall see about that." He extended both of his hands, sending a wave of the Force flying towards the dark skinned Master. As he watched Cyrin bring his arms together, his forearms crossing against each other against the Force wave, Cain raced towards Forn—who happened to only be rising now—and he wrapped one arm around her throat and ignited his crimson lightsaber in the other.

Repulsing the Force wave, Cyrin turned about, his rich, dark brown cloak swirling about him, as he faced Cain, who was now hiding behind Forn. "Is this what the Sith have taught you, Dietrich?"

The older man sneered, "don't be foolish. I am far more powerful than you—and it would be wise of you to stay out of this affair. I won't tell you again. All I want is her."

"You can't have her," Cyrin stated threateningly, as he ignited his violet blade. The tempest beneath his exterior threatened to break loose, as he kept his exterior calm. The temptation to drive his blade into the Sith Lord seemed all too welcoming as he felt fear for her very life. I won't lose her now! He swore silently.

Sensing Cyrin's rage slowly rising, Cain's dark smile returned to his face. "Very well," he said slowly and deliberately. "Have it your way." He threw her aside, sending her flying towards the wall, as she crashed into it and blue energy seemed to encroach her, rendering her immobile. "It is just you and I."

They began to circle each other, staring intently into each other's eyes. Rage seemed to swirl between the pair.

"As it should be," Cain finished, as he kept his lightsaber angled towards the floor in a defensive pattern. The old man had been a master of the second form of lightsaber combat: Makashi. He preferred the elegance of dueling and he had continued to hone his technique, turning his fighting style to something more of an art. As always, he maintained a calm demeanour when it came to fighting, though his anticipation of fighting his former friend seemed to whet his appetite.

Cyrin kept his blade angled towards the Sith's throat, before he brought it over his head and swung down at the Sith Lord.

The old man smiled as he brought his blade up horizontally, blocking the violet blade that thrummed violently. Both lightsabers met for a brief moment, hissing as they touched, before Cain angled his blade and sidestepped to his left, rolling the hilt around before he thrust towards Cyrin's stomach, only to meet the violet blade again.

Now it was Cyrin's turn to show his level of skill. He smacked the crimson lightsaber away, as he rushed towards the former Jedi, bringing the blade over his head and swinging at Cain again, as both blades crackled against one another.

The Sith spun about, parrying the next thrust and attempting to follow up with a riposte, as Cyrin strafed right, causing the Sith Lord to stumble.

He extended his right arm away from his body, leaving himself open and daring the Sith to make a thrust for his chest.

Knowing it was a feint, Cain feigned a lunge, spinning himself in the opposite direction Cyrin rotated, as both of their blades crackled once more in a lock. "I sense much fear in you, old friend," Cain mustered as they both continued to gain no ground against one another.

Cyrin's expression maintained its stoicism, as he rotated his lightsaber, forcing Cain to move back and do the same, as they both lunged at one another.

Bringing his lightsaber in a horizontal fashion to block, Cyrin deflected the crimson blade and snapped out with his fist, causing it to collide against the Sith's face.

Sent stumbling back, Cain growled as he brought one hand to rub the bruise that was undoubtedly forming on his cheek. "I sense much anger in you—use it! Show me the hatred you have for me—for betraying you and the Order! Give in!" He smiled darkly.

"No!" Cyrin yelled as he brought his lightsaber in an overhead swing again, hitting Cain's blade once more, forcing the hard-as-nails Master to turn about, attempting to slice one leg and the other, only to meet the blade of the skilled Sith Lord once more.

He's slowly gaining ground! Dietrich Cain thought, as he blocked a horizontal slash and an upward slash. He could prove useful in the Dark Side—but he may be too dangerous. Cain arced his blade in a semi-circle, connecting with the violet shaft of energy, as both blades crackled and hissed. He won't beat me! He screamed in his mind, as he smacked the Master's blade away and threw all of his weight on his left leg as he pivoted on his hips, extending his right leg as it connected with a thick thud against the Master's chest.

As he attempted to regain his footing, Cyrin paused for a moment, staring at Cain darkly. "You won't win, old friend."

"I will kill you, Cyrin—it is inevitable."

"I don't think so," the dark man sneered. He brought his lightsaber up to his chest, in an upright position. "Your move."

Cain chuckled darkly. "You always were the impatient one." He thrust out with his lightsaber, and spun about, slashing horizontally as both blades continued to smack against one another.

Growling, Cyrin locked blades and followed through with a semi-circle as he swung in a figure-eight pattern.

Cain leapt back, full of rage, and forgetting about finesse, he aimed for the violet lightsaber, attempting to cut Cyrin off at the source.

Anticipating a bold move, Cyrin let Cain reach for his lightsaber, only to flick his wrist and parry the crimson blade away. "You're done," he whispered as he rotated his blade, severing Cain's arm in half, right at the elbow.

Gasping in pain, he collapsed to the ground, on his knees, cradling his arm as he looked up pleadingly at the Jedi Master.

"You've lost, traitor," Cyrin said, as he stared darkly at the man who had used to be his friend.

"Please," he mustered, "I have valuable information for you!"

"You're a traitor to the Jedi Order and you should be killed." No, some part of him reasoned, as its reasoning somehow overwhelmed the Jedi Master. It had always been like that. He let go of his anger, as he felt the tunes and subtle vibrations of the Force reveal something else—something brooding within the streets of Coruscant. The rattle and hums of the Force told the Master that it was heading towards the Jedi Temple—a large Dark Side presence. Dietrich Cain had been nothing more than a diversion.

"No," he begged, pleading as he looked at his former friend. He felt the wave of the Dark Side moving towards the Jedi Temple and three faces came to mind: the cold, expressionless Traya, the smug expression of his Apprentice, Sebastian Marseilles and finally the most terrifying one of them all, the heartless, aberrational mien of Deus. He realized that he had been nothing but a mere distraction while the others would carry out an assault. His expression soon grew vengeful, as he repeated, "no!" He extended his remaining hand, as tendrils of blue energy began to form at the fingertips.

Knowing that there would be no other choice, Cyrin extended one hand, sending the man crashing into the glass window. He watched as it shattered, throwing the former Jedi away from the office and plummeting down to his death.

Clipping the lightsaber to his belt, he sighed as he closed his eyes, feeling Dietrich Cain's presence merge with the Force. Goodbye, old friend—I hope you find peace in the Force. Forn! He opened his eyes as he turned and saw Forn lying on the ground, coughing. "Forn!" He raced towards her and cradled her in his arms.

She coughed and looked up at him, at his dark eyes that were full of caring, concern and humanity. It was the humanity in his eyes that she had missed for so long.

"Are you all right?" He asked her, as he caressed her cheek with his one free hand.

She nodded, smiling weakly. "I almost thought I had lost you," she managed.

"You never will—I'll always be there when you need me."

She smiled.

He kissed her forehead and they rose. His mind turned to the thought of those at Temple—unable to thwart off any attack, since there were only a handful of Jedi there. The children would more than likely be killed or captured. He would never allow that to happen as long as he had breath in his body. His countenance suddenly grew serious and grim as he looked at Forn. "We need to go and warn the Temple—this was merely a diversion. The Sith are going to attack the Temple!"


Author's Notes: Yeah, this is getting real close to the climax, and we're going to find out more about what the Force has in store for our loveable characters. I've actually finished Catharsis, but I am editing the final chapters for the final installment. I hope you're enjoying Catharsis, I know I actually enjoyed writing up this story. For those of you who might be curious, The Rise of Darth Revan is in no way related to this. Since I am finishing off this story, I'll be paying closer attention toThe Rise of Darth Revan,so expect more things to occur throughout that story. I have a long way to go towards corrupting both Malak and Revan. I will also be working heavily on Lost Cause, so expect that to come around after a while. But updates might not be as quick, since I am also working and I've got mid-terms just around the corner. Once more, I would like to thank you all for reading my stories and for the constructive criticism and support I've received. It helps me a lot.