Broken Chains

Rena blocked each swipe Sebastian made.

He swung left and then right, as he twirled his body towards her, turning the deadly double-bladed lightsaber into a sphere of lacerating energy that sought her blood. It hardly mattered to him whether she lived or died—he could always claim that she had tried to kill him, which wasn't stretching the truth.

She jumped back, her thoughts focused on stopping the Sith Apprentice, as she rotated her blade in a counter-clockwise fashion, deflecting one shaft of crimson energy.

He twirled his lightsaber around his body, as he moved in closer to her, eager to knock her blade away and finish it.

She continued moving back, as her blade met each side, overhead and underhand, as she spun around him, slashing her blade horizontally, causing Sebastian Marseilles to move back and size her up again.

"You're good," he commented, forcing himself not to pant heavily for air, and to ensure that she didn't realize how much of a break he needed.

She poised herself, not commenting as a dark twinkle glittered in her eyes.

He chuckled dryly, "not going to talk?"

Rena's thoughts turned to little Febe, who was now hiding in Rena's chambers. If she died, then Sebastian would undoubtedly harm the young girl. She cried out determinedly, as she brought her blade over her head, and crashed against his blade, spinning around as she brought her blade upright to prevent his counter-attack.

He spun around, extending his leg, as his heel caught her in the shoulder, sending her back. He grinned as he went into a butterfly, leaping towards her.

She leapt over him, arcing herself as her blade came down and slashed through the hilt of his weapon, shearing both blades in half.

He fell back, but was quickly back on his feet, as he looked in his hands to see a crimson lightsaber in each hand. He grinned and looked at her again. "You're going to regret that."

Much to her dismay, she began to block Sebastian's thrusts and flurries as he spun around, each red swirl moving high and low, to be met with an emerald blade.

He continued, bringing his blades around him, slashing left and right, horizontally and diagonally, not allowing Rena a chance to push back.

She spun her blade in a semi-circle, as she turned around and gathering all of her strength, she swung her blade with hopes of tearing Sebastian in half from groin to head.

He saw it for what it was and leapt back, causing her to stumble, which bought him time as he pressed his attack once more.

She growled fiercely as she continued to be pushed back, moving her blade low and high, looking for an opening in his attacks.

He smiled, thinking he had the end of it, as he brought both blades in a cross pattern, only to watch an emerald shaft of energy crash into the center, aiming for his head.

Locked, both Jedi continued to struggle, as Rena struggled with all of her might to bring the blade down and sever his head.

Struggling, Sebastian felt his strength ebbing slowly, as he felt the Padawan's rage slowly swell, giving her an edge, as his blades slowly began to descend on him. Not hesitating a moment, he shifted his left, locking the emerald blade between his pair and guiding it away, as his elbow crashed against her face, sending her back and ending the lock.

Grunting and ignoring the dull pain, she quickly turned around, gaining her bearings as two red blades came streaking for her. Raising her lightsaber, she smacked them away, towards her left, as she shoved herself against Sebastian.

He spun about, staggering slightly, as they eyed each other with disdain, circling one another. "So," he said, panting, "you're far better than I had thought. Use your anger to strike me down—I dare you." He laughed maliciously, as he felt her contemplate giving in to her baser emotions. After another moment, he felt her look at him with unnerving resolve.

"I won't fall into the trap you've lost yourself in already, fool," she hissed.

His expression turned sour and he thrust out with both blades.

She leapt back and pivoted on her side, extending her right foot, as it smashed into his face.


Lotus witnessed the battle from her vessel, after she had engaged repulsors, hovering beside an empty corridor. Hundreds of Republic soldiers had entered the Jedi Temple, as they fought alongside the remaining Jedi Masters, who were eliminating the Dark Jedi.

Traya won't be happy about this, she grumbled in her mind. But then again, Traya would still see this as a victory—odd woman. She gathered the Force around her, and leapt through the broken window, rolling on the ground and rising, as she pulled her lightsabers out in the same movement. She looked around and confident that no one was there, she raced around the hallway and entered another corridor that forced her to pause and witness a ferocious duel between a female Padawan and Sebastian Marseilles.

It dawned on her that the Padawan was none other than Rena Naver. Feeling another presence within an adjoining room, Lotus silently stalked through there—hoping to find a way of persuading Rena to join her. All she needed was Dante's star pupil, and her vengeful plot would begin. She ignored Sebastian's plight, knowing full well he would die before the night was out—be it from her or the Padawan.


He fell back and barely brought his lightsaber up in time.

She was on him with incredible speed and savagery, as her blade snaked around her, covering her in streaks of furious green as she thrust and slashed side to side.

Sebastian held on as best he could, arcing his blades to block her attacks, as he was both mesmerized and terrified at her ferocity.

She switched her grip on her blade, as she began to slash at him in backhand motions, rotating her grip again as she slashed left, knocking both red blades away, and then right, knocking them and its wielder back.

He began to whimper slightly, as he continued to give ground against her attacks.

Rena's downward slash knocked the lightsabers away, and with a twitch of her wrist, she severed one blade's hilt, causing Sebastian to defend himself with only his single blade.

He spun about, slashing for her arms wildly, knowing that he would have to abandon all training to defeat her.

She met his wild attacks blade for blade, as she deflected his blades and spun around him, coming closer to him, yet far enough.

Feeling that he had her in his grasp, Sebastian Marseilles lunged.

Catching him in her guile, she guided his lightsaber along, with her blade perpendicular to his. With a flick, she smiled as her blade found its way into his chest, searing through his heart.

He gasped, as the hot searing pain coursed through his chest. Before he knew anything more, he found himself closer to Rena Naver, who still held her blade inside his chest.

"It's over," she said, looking at him darkly. "You've lost."

He gasped as he felt the shaft of energy leave his body, retreating back into its emitter. He fell to the ground, as darkness enveloped him.

She sighed, looking around, as the sounds of blasters now added to the cacophony of the battle. Febe, she thought, as she ran towards her chamber doors.

As she got there, she paused, feeling distress from the young girl. She ignited her blade and opened the doors, only to see the young girl sitting on the bed, with a crimson blade thrumming dangerously close to her throat.

The woman who carried the blade appeared different from the other Dark Jedi she had dueled, but Rena eyed her suspiciously.

"Rena Naver," the dark clad woman acknowledged.

"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are," Rena said cautiously, looking at the scared Youngling.

The dark clad woman moved closer into the slits of light that shone through the room. She had short, shoulder-length raven hair, and mismatched eyes. Her left eye was green, while her right eye was blue. She also wore two modified gauntlets on her forearms, and carried strategic plating on her armour.

It was obviously to Rena that she was more of an assassin than anything else.

"Allow me to introduce myself," she began, "my name is Lotus Xa. I am an old friend of your Master."

Rena tensed, knowing that whoever Lotus really was, she was no friend to Dante Ravenmoon. "Leave the girl out of this," she warned.

"Oh, her?" Lotus asked. "You have nothing to worry about—I was just being friendly, that's all."

"What do you want?"

Lotus smiled. "I want a great number of things. But I can only assume that you are asking what I want with you—as you Jedi would normally ask. I want to show you the way of the Force—the truth of the Force. I would even like to show you who you really are."

"I know who I am," she replied defiantly.

Lotus chuckled. "Of course you would say that, but I know what you truly are. You're an artificial person, a shadow of the original: Revan."

Rena tensed and clenched her jaw.

Febe looked at both of them silently.

"Yes," Lotus said, smiling widely, "you know I am right. You don't have to listen to the narrow views of the Jedi anymore—I can help you become your own person. I can help you become greater than Revan; simply cast down the shackles the Jedi forces upon you."

"You're nothing but a fool, Lotus," Rena replied. "The Dark Side is not for me—whether I am a Jedi, a shadow of Revan or not, I am still myself in the end."

Lotus' smile faded. "Reconsider my offer now, otherwise little Febe here will be the price you pay."

"You'll hurt her no matter what I choose," Rena said flatly, poising herself and shaking away the anger that was festering within her. She saw the scared look in little Febe's eyes, and it caused her hands to quiver slightly.

"Not true," Lotus said, eyeing Rena with some interest. "Did you ever pause to think what would happen if Dante found out about you?"

Rena clenched her jaw again, attempting to ignore the words that came from Lotus' mouth.

"He would most likely cast you away, calling you a traitor. He knows what you were bred for; he knows what you are capable of. He would see you as a threat, and he would deal with you the way he has dealt with anyone that has stood in his own personal gain for power. He'll use you and kill you," she explained.

"It's not true," Rena said, her voice quivering. What would happen if Dante found out about me? Would he see me the same way? Would he even love me? What if she is right? She shook her head, attempting to dislodge the doubts and questions that were beginning to surface and take root in her mind.

"Oh it is very true, Rena Naver, shard of Revan," Lotus said softly, almost as if it were a whisper. "He and I used to be good friends, until he betrayed me."

"He did no such thing," Rena spat.

"He would never have told you of his past!" Lotus interjected. "He and I were going to become something far greater when we found the Unifying Force, but he turned his back on me, falling in love with that Twi'lek." Her voice was full of venom as she recalled her own twisted thoughts of the encounter between her, Dante and Rin Mesa.

"No," Rena struggled.

"Of course, he would never tell anyone of his treachery. I had to kill her because she was going to destroy him!" Her eyes shifted to the ground, her voice filled with regret and pain as she continued her story, "and when I came to him, arms wide open, he drove his blade in me. He sought to kill me—filled with rage—and he nearly succeeded."

Rena was taken aback, almost sympathetic to the assassin in front of her. Could he have done something such as that? Dante, my sweet Dante, what are you?

Lotus' eyes moved towards Rena. "And now he seeks to corrupt you—eager to use you. You must join me and together we can redeem him!"

Any sympathy Rena had for the Dark Jedi was lost as she heard those last words. It's a ruse—it must be… She has her lightsaber pointed at an innocent child and she is trying to goad me into believing her! How could I have been so foolish to believe her for a moment?

"Join me, Rena," Lotus urged, her eyes revealing the loss of her own sanity, as she was caught between her own world and reality.

"No," Rena answered.

Lotus growled and before she could make any move, she felt herself flying into the wall behind her, exploding all the air in her lungs.

"Febe!" Rena said, lowering her outstretched hand, "let's go!"

The young girl leapt off the bed and raced towards the door, with Rena in pursuit, as they heard Lotus scream behind them.


Ash and Tarn continued to exchange blows against Deus, as the Dark Jedi continued to effortlessly block their efforts.

Deus spun between them, pivoting his blade, as it deflected the older Jedi's lightsaber and shoved the younger Jedi away. Seizing their delay, Deus reached out with a large fist and struck Ash in the face, sending the older Master stumbling back.

Tarn, groggy from the last hit, noticed Ash being sent back. He cried out as he jumped towards Deus, kicking the Dark Jedi in the face.

Taking slightly by surprise, the Sith enjoyed the renewed fury with which the younger Jedi was lashing out with.

Tarn slashed horizontally, meeting only a crimson blade, as he spun around and brought his lightsaber over his head, as it crashed on the crimson blade. Growling in his frustration, the Jedi continued slashing to and fro, parrying against Deus' thrust and responding in kind with a riposte that grazed the Dark Jedi on the shoulder blade.

Deus growled, extending his hand as blue energy writhed away from his fingertips, crashing against Tarn and sending the poor Jedi back.

Ash slashed left and right, as he arced his blade upward, only to be met again with the crimson blade.

Deus lunged, only to have his lightsaber lock with the emerald blade of Ash.

Both Jedi faced each other, groaning slightly as they struggled to cause the other's blade to shift away.

Groaning, Ash slowly managed to budge the blades in a slow arc between them, as Deus lunged once more.

Ash was quick to spin around the larger Dark Jedi, who managed to respond with a snap kick to Ash's face, sending the Jedi back.

Smiling underneath his prosthetic mask, Deus grabbed Ash with the Force and sent him flying down the hallway and crashing into a pillar, that rendered the Master unconscious.

Tarn rose and witnessed Ash fly back. He screamed as he lashed out with his lightsaber, knocking the larger Jedi back, swinging his lightsaber with feral savagery.

Deus continued to parry and deflect the lightsaber, as he twirled his lightsaber around his back and brought it over his head, and crashing on Tarn's, whose blade came up in a horizontal block.

Both Jedi continued to struggle, with Deus gaining the superiority, as Tarn's knees began to buckle under the pressure.

Deus continued to press down with relative ease, as he craved for the worthy Jedi's head.

Ash slowly began to rise, shaking his head, as his blurred vision saw two Tarns locking blades with two Deus'. His eyes opened wide as he looked on with shock.

Tarn, summoning all of his strength, began to move the blades and he positioned his feet, as Deus continued to bear down on him. Moving quickly, he slammed his shoulder into the chest of the Dark Jedi, sending him back.

Slightly fazed, Deus blocked two diagonal slashes, as Tarn closed in on him.

Then it came to an end.

Deus snapped out with his elbow, hitting the Jedi Master in the face, as he snapped back and sliced the tip of his blade across the chest of Tarn Seethes.

The Jedi Master groaned and felt his body grow weak as he collapsed, with all the air from his lungs rushing away and darkness finding its way around the corners of his vision.

The mechanical laughter of Deus filled the silence as Ash looked on in horror as his former Apprentice lay there, dying on the floor.

No, he thought, as his mind reeled with a dying Tarn. "No," he whispered, somehow finding the ability to talk, as he stood on his knees. "No!" He screamed out, feeling Tarn's life ebb away, along with the Force.

Deus turned and faced Ash. Another lightsaber to my new collection, he thought, amused at the kill count of three Jedi Masters. I'll retrieve them in a moment. First, I shall end this fight between the old one and myself. He slowly began to move towards the weakened Jedi Master.

Ash stood there, his mind replaying the death of Tarn, as he struggled to comprehend how he could have lost someone so dear. Someone that didn't know how much he really meant to the older Master. For all said and done, Ash Merrick loved Tarn deeply as a father would love his son. The truth was Ash Merrick loved his son, Tarn Seethes. He failed to notice the dark, looming figure that stood in front of him, vastly superior against a broken old man.

Deus brought his lightsaber over him, taking pleasure in the man he had broken. "This won't hurt a bit," he said bemusedly, bringing the blade down, only to find the old man much further away from him, as he flew across the hallway.

"I don't think so," Cyrin Jace said, his violet blade hungering for the Dark Jedi's blood. He noticed Ash had been on his knees, dazed and obviously crushed with the loss of Tarn. Cyrin knew that Tarn hadn't known the secret Ash had kept, and Cyrin obviously knew the pain that Ash carried, as his best friend's son lay there, dying.

Seething with fury, Deus rose and looked at the two Jedi Masters standing down the other end of the hallway. "I'll make you pay for that," he growled, as he felt his lightsaber flare to life once more in his hand.

"Deus!" A feminine voice called out towards him.

He turned and saw Lotus Xa.

"Help me retrieve your sister! The Masters want her!"

Deus clenched his jaw and followed Lotus to capture his long lost sister.


Rena carried Febe in one arm, as her lightsaber painted the hallway green. She continued to race through the hallways until she came to a dead end. "Uh oh," she muttered, as she turned around to find another escape route.

It was too late. Lotus Xa and what appeared to be a larger clone—another brother to Rena—blocked her from escaping.

She lowered Febe and whispered to the young girl, "go hide. Wait for the Masters—they'll know what to do."

Febe merely nodded as she began to move away.

"Febe," Rena added, causing the little girl to pause, "whatever you hear, do not turn back, all right?"

The scared girl nodded and raced into another corridor.

"Leave the little one," Lotus said to Deus, who was going to move towards the child.

Instead, he began to take a keen interest in Rena.

"Nothing like a family reunion," Lotus said, her voice filling the echo in the corridor.

"I guess I was the lucky one," Rena replied, bringing her lightsaber up to her shoulders, poised to strike.

"How touching, you've still got some fire left in you. We'll see to that," Lotus said.

"I would like to see how you fare, sister," he said.

"Far be it for me to reject a request from one of my fans, but I think I'll pass," Rena replied dryly, hoping to buy more time.

Lotus smiled mirthlessly. "You talk too much."

"I'll be sure to change that," Rena answered, as she charged the pair.

Lotus smiled and extended both of her hands, as blue crackling energy left her fingertips and slammed into Rena.

Rena screamed out, as she felt jolts of pain writhe all around her body, causing her to cringe and cry out for what seemed an eternity.

Lotus laughed sadistically as she poured ounce after ounce of blue electricity into the poor girl's body, watching as she squirmed in pain and screamed in horror.

Deus deactivated his lightsaber and holstered it, surveying the scene, his fists clenching tightly as he watched Lotus unleash her devastating blue energy against the young woman who was his sister.

After another moment, Lotus relinquished the pain she brought down on the young girl.

Rena could only whimper, as smoke left her body and she felt the pain and soreness overwhelm her senses. In a handful of moments, she collapsed into darkness.


Author's Notes: Okay, so I might have eliminated a few characters. It was actually hard to decide whether or not Tarn or Ash got the boot. So if any of you have any complaints about the result, I am sorry, but I find Ash to be far more interesting in some way. Anyhoo, if you're wondering where the heck Dante is, you'll see what shall happen soon. Coming up next, we get to see what goes on with Dante and Visas, and where Rena happens to fit in...