Only the Force

Part One


Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Star Wars

This story is set in the canon Star Wars universe and follows two original characters as they go on a journey of their own that weaves its way in and out of the storyline that we all know and love.


Chapter One

The stars burned brightly high above the planet Obredaan, and Jedi Padawan, Kyra Dawnstar, head tilted back, mouth agape, gazed up at them.

"We don't get this view back on Coruscant, do we?" Jedi Master Orrick Bando said, stepping up beside her, mimicking her look.

Kyra sighed, "No, we sure don't."

The tall, dark-skinned Master grunted in response, then cleared his throat. "That was nice flying, by the way," he said.

Kyra glanced back at the sleek starship, "It's hard to not fly smoothly in that ship," she said pointing at the sleek Corellian HWK-290. "Still not sure how the Order managed to snag one of them."

Orrick nodded, "First, don't sell yourself short. You're a great pilot. And second, they probably received it as a gift. Though it's missions like these that I'd still trade it in for Kahl's ship."

"So, you keep telling me," Kyra said.

Kyra followed the Jedi Master away from the dagger-like ship, and approached the entrance to a cave. Its opening a dozen meters wide and just as tall. Starlight illuminated the mouth of the tunnel, but only darkness lay within. Lush, green vegetation engulfed the opening, and a few vines snarled down from the top of the rocky lip like teeth in the night.

"Well, this is the place," Orrick said.

Kyra took a deep breath, her heart already beating loudly in her ears. Flying a ship, she could do. What came next, she wasn't so sure about.

Master Bando turned and faced her. "Relax, Kyra. This is just a routine investigation. We'll be fine."

Kyra gritted her teeth at being so transparent. "I know, Master, I'm just still bothered by last mission."

Master Bando put his hand on her shoulder, a rare show of sentiment from her typically stoic master. "This time you won't hesitate. You are brave and courageous. Remember that." He turned away from her, and stepped forward.

Kyra shook her head. If that were true, then why am I trembling? She thought as she followed him down into the darkness.

The two moved slowly down the mineshaft, their footfalls hardly making a sound. Heavy machinery could be heard farther down the underground pathway. Footsteps soft and cautious, they made their way down into the dark.

"What do you sense?" Orrick whispered to his apprentice.

Kyra closed her eyes, sinking into the force. "There's something down there. Something alive but not... right."

"Good," Orrick said. "Now be careful and stay alert."

Kyra Dawnstar let her Master lead as they continued down the dark tunnel until it finally opened up into a huge, brightly lit cavern, and as suspected, large machines lined the reddish-orange colored rock walls. She saw conveyor belts, smelting furnaces, and assembly lines marked the interior spaces. What caused a spike of fear in her was four unusual looking droids standing off to the side. Dark gray plated armor covered the tall, broad-shouldered droids. A circular red light marked the middle of their chest, and two bulbous red optics and a long vertical vent made up the features of their face while electrostaffs were attached to each of the fearsome droids' backs. Wires and cables hung down from the ceiling, and datascreens lined the wall behind the droids.

"Master, what in the Force are those?" Kyra asked.

He shook his head, "I am not sure, Padawan. But I don't like the look of them."

"I thought we were looking for a possible slave trade."

"Well, we were," he said, glancing around the room.

Kyra eyed the dormant machines warily, and said, "I'm glad they're deactivated at the moment. They don't look entirely friendly."

Orrick nodded, "That makes two of us," and then walked over to one of the smaller smelting furnaces. A bucket of violet colored ore ingots was sitting there. Orrick Picked one up and inspected it closely.

"What is it, Master?" Kyra asked.

"I don't know exactly, but obviously it's part of them." He then tossed the ingot to Kyra, which she caught, and then began approaching the droids.

A deep voice rang out from the other side of the cavern. "My masterpiece, the Ig-95 Magnaguard."

Orrick and Kyra quickly turned around and brought their sabers up, igniting them. Sauntering toward them was a huge humanoid standing well over two meters tall with wide shoulders, and a torso that tapered to a slim waist. He was massive, and clad in black armor, with long striated patterns running across its torso. His species was unidentifiable due to the black helmet it wore. The facemask appearing more akin to a demon than a trooper helmet or droid as two red, parallel lines began where the bottom of his jaw would be, and moved vertically up the front of his mask, and split off at forty-five-degree angles, forming slanted eye slits. It walked with an unnatural grace that unsettled both of the Jedi. An electrostaff, same as what the "Magnaguards" had, was in his hand. And another sword was strapped to his back, as the hilt was visible over his right shoulder. "The more fitting name, however, will be Jedi Killer."

"By order of the Republic, I declare this establishment seized and place you under arrest." Orrick stated.

The newcomer ignored the comment and focused back on the droids. "The Magnaguards are prototypes and were scheduled to be activated tomorrow. I'll have to move to a different system now." He casually leaned up against the wall and rested his staff against his shoulder. "Pity you didn't wait one more day to show up, as I would have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them in action. Not as much as I'll enjoy exterminating you two by myself, however."

"You are aware you face two Jedi, correct?" Orrick said.

Their adversary spoke again in that unnervingly calm, silky-smooth voice, "You are not the first Jedi I've killed, nor will you be the last."

His calm demeanor, and deep, silky smooth voice unnerved Kyra to no end. And something else seemed to be nagging at her. Something she couldn't quite place, but whatever it was she did not like it. She felt her palms begin to sweat, and the back of her neck grow hot.

"I see. And your name would be?" Orrick asked.

He stepped away from the wall and said, "I've been called many names: Destroyer, Rogue of Ruin, Calamity, far too many to list. But Salas Sa'Kard is my given name."

Kyra spoke quietly, fear evident in her voice, "Master, I sense…"

"Focus, Kyra," Orrick cutting her off, "Like we've practiced, we'll take him together."

The massive man in black shook his head. "Old, arrogant masters never listening to their wards," he let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Nothing changes. Part of why I will turn the whole Jedi order, and your sacrilegious temple, to ashes." His cool demeanor broke, the last word coming out in a snarl.

He charged, igniting his electrostaff. The most obvious thing about this new monster was his imposing size, but as he moved forward, Kyra saw that he was also fast. Impossibly fast. Orrick was a seasoned fighter, and though surprised, he wasn't caught off guard. He met the violet energy staff with his crystal blue blade. The moment their blades touched however, the foe spun around Orrick quickly and aimed a backhanded strike at Kyra. She barely got her blade up in time to block the attack, but unlike her master, she wasn't ready, and was immediately off balanced, the force of the blow sending her stumbling backward. Orrick followed up with his own strike to Sa'Kard's back, but only sliced through air, as Salas merely sidestepped it.

"Foolish Jedi, I've been killing your kind for centuries."

And then Salas attacked fiercely. He was a blur, wielding his electrostaff with not only uncanny speed but strength. He came at Orrick with relentless ferocity and quickness, and the power that was behind each strike was staggering. Immediately the Jedi was forced to give up ground, and all he could do was defend against the towering assailant with the sparking purple energy blades.

Kyra rejoined the fight, and Sa'kard immediately let loose a vicious swipe, which Kyra barely blocked, her shoulders instantly aching from the force of the blow. His follow up strike was too swift, and she couldn't pivot her saber around and down, so the energy blade smashed into her lower leg, sending an electric jolt into her body, and toppling her to the ground. Her basic Soresu and mediocre lightsaber skills posed little challenge to Salas, her body going cold at the realization that this might be the end for her. But before he could land a finishing blow, Orrick was there and poured on the attack, causing Sa'kard to back up a step, while Kyra rolled to her feet. Seeing an opening, she thrust her hand forward, attempting a force push. But nothing manifested. She gritted her teeth, tensed her muscles, and strained her palm outward, willing the energy to do as she begged.

Nothing.

By this point Orrick was drenched in sweat, but the dread that clung to him was far more distressing. He was impossibly outmatched. A veteran Jedi in his own right. Skilled with a blade, strong in the force, and wise in his ways-he knew a sword fight was no place for emotion. But fear gripped him like a Rancor gripping a Gamorrean meal. Fear, not for himself, but for his padawan, Kyra, who was the epitome of a Jedi, the quintessence of light, and this monster was going to be her end. He couldn't let that happen.

He had to change tactics. Orrick thrust his hand forward, sending a force push of his own directly at his approaching enemy, but Sa'kard, nearly faster than the eye could track, sidestepped the attack. It only partially grazed his arm, and he just let the momentum spin him around, and before Orrick realized it, he was defending against the whirring purple blades once again.

He was drawing heavily on the Force to stop Salas' attacks. They weren't even clean blocks now, merely deflections. He was being smothered, and running out of time. How could this monster be so fast? Sensing the inevitable, he spoke to Kyra through the training bond.

Run, Kyra! Get out of here. Warn the council of this, Orrick said telepathically through their force bond.

I'm not leaving you, Master.

That's an order, Padawan.

I…I can't

Please, Padawan. Uphold the Code. Put the mission first.

Kyra's head slumped; her resolve beaten. Yes, Master, and with that she turned and ran towards the tunnel leading to the surface.

"I don't think so," Salas said, and parried Orrick's strike with the right side of his electrostaff. He then brought that same side in a swift circle bringing Orrick's saber out wide, and with his outrageous speed, he then brought the left side of his staff into Orrick's upper left arm. The blade burnt through cloth and seared the skin. The Force of it fractured his humerus, sending him spinning around, and tumbling into the ground. Without wasting a second Salas sprinted after Kyra as she was about to enter the exit leading up the tunnel.

"Kyra," Orrick shouted through the pain, "Look out!"

She turned in time to get her saber up. And Sa'kard was on her, striking high and low, to the right side and to the left. His attacks were too fast, too powerful, and his final move sent her lightsaber flying out of her hand. The menace brought his staff up, and then down, the tipped spike aiming right for her head. But it halted in midair, and then was violently jerked out of Sa'kard's hands, and tossed away.

Hissing in anger, Sa'kard turned to see Orrick was running towards him, left arm hanging loosely at his side. Salas sauntered forward, unarmed. Orrick went for a simple forward thrust, but Salas, with his ethereal speed, in one motion, unsheathed the sword that was on his back and brought the silver lined black blade in front of his body, parrying the lightsaber attack. The moment the two blades met, one black, one blue, the lightsaber shorted out. Salas merely continued his parry into a 360' spin, and stabbed the Jedi through the torso, the black blade going all the way through, and sticking out the back.

Kyra dropped to her knees as she saw her master collapse to the floor. Her world came crumbling down with him. All energy left her. All means of getting up and running away dissipated. She couldn't escape anyway. He was just too strong and too fast. The will to fight left her. What chance did she stand against him anyway? It was all over. All her hope, gone, in a flash.

She watched as the demon, in a disgusting show of barbarism, slowly pulled the blade from Orrick's chest. All the while, his masked gaze never left hers. Not only was he savoring the torture he was doing to the fallen Jedi, he was relishing in her pain as well.

Then the world faded away, darkness filled her vision for one instant, and then light came blazing back in. But now she stood in an entirely different location, on an entirely different world. It was a vision. As bright and as vibrant as a supernova.

A range of lifeforms surrounded her, all smiling, all fantastically overjoyed. A little furry creature, standing a mere meter tall, wearing a tan moleskin cowl, hugged her leg. A Wookie bellowed behind her. Two pilots to her left recounted events with dramatic hand gestures. A beautiful woman and a dashing young man ran forward and hugged a blonde man wearing a black tunic. Joy permeated her senses. Joy and…victory. Around her there was dancing, singing, and laughing. Fireworks burst in the sky high above the monarchs of the forest. And she was right there in the middle of it, celebrating in triumph among them all. Then another presence was there, something or someone, was behind her. She turned…

She snapped out of it. A half second had passed. But it was enough. The force had shown her something. Something so powerful that she was now alight with purpose and strength. Whatever that vision was, it was Galaxy spanning, and she, Kyra Dawnstar, a Jedi padawan from Chandrila was directly tied to it. She couldn't fail now. The fate of everything was in her hands.

A shroud had been lifted from her eyes. Like sunlight piercing the clouds, she could now feel the force all around like never before. She never believed Master Yoda when he told her she was innately gifted in the force-far stronger than anyone her age had a right to be. But now, for the first time, she felt just how truly powerful she was. Perhaps in another moment she could enjoy the feeling, but not right now. Not with this demon walking in his slow, careless swagger towards her. He had to be stopped. He had to be destroyed. Even with all her clarity, she couldn't help but feel immense anger. It rose within her, and she did her best to control it.

As he stepped closer, she gathered power within her, summoning all she could muster. She only had one shot at this, and even then, it was a long shot. However, the reservoir of force power that she was tapped into now was staggering. Here goes nothing, she thought.

"Please," Kyra begged, "Don't."

Salas Sa'kard laughed, "Fear and begging for mercy? You are no Jedi. Just another-"

Kyra shot both hands forward and unleashed everything she had. Salas sidestepped the oncoming force attack, just as he had done before. But this time it wasn't a force push. It was a wave. A force wave of such immensity that it even stunned Kyra. It engulfed everything in the entire cavern and sent it flying backward, most importantly Salas Sa'kard, whose masked glare never left hers all the way until the machinery and debris that was caught in the wake came crashing down on him.

She stood amazed at the wreckage she had just brought about. The force was still coursing through her, but she knew fatigue was just around the corner. She shook her head and focused on the task at hand. She wasn't taking any chances. She ran to Orrick, attached his lightsaber to her belt, picked him up with great assistance from the force, and then ran as fast as she could the hundred or so meters up the tunnel and to their ship. She set him down on the floor, prepped the craft for launch as quickly as possible, and after what seemed like decades, got the spacecraft off the ground and into the atmosphere. Immediately she switched to autopilot, and ran back to the main hold where she could sense her Master's life force fading away.

"Master," she said, kneeling by his side.

He coughed up blood to the side, but smiled sadly at her. "Don't be afraid, Kyra. The force is strong in you. And it has plans for you. Don't be afraid."

"Master, where do I go now, what do I do?"

"Finish your training. Padawan." He was fading quickly.

Tears filling her eyes, "I can't without you."

"Aedan Kahl will teach you. Trust me, Kyra," he said, "And Trust in him."

"Master, please don't leave me."

"It was my honor and privilege to train you, Padawan."

Kyra hung her head in defeat. "Thank you, Master," she said, the tears streaming down her face, "The honor was all mine." And she sensed his peace as he passed into the force.


Author's Note

This story, which is a series, has been rattling around in my mind and dreams for years now, and so finally I'm putting it out there.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy it. I am a writer and therefore feedback is always appreciated.

Just remember, the Force will be with you, always.