Happy Friday, Force Fans!

So, we're nearing the end here. Probably should have at least hinted to the length of the novel earlier, my bad about that.

There is a sequel, though it needs some thorough editing. But more on that later. For now, it's back to Geonosis and the beginning of the clone wars.


Chapter Twenty-Six

"What's your name, Pilot?" Kyra asked.

"We don't have names, just numbers. I'm CT-2233," the clone trooper said without taking his gaze away from the viewport.

Kyra and Aedan shared a dismayed glance. "You guys have to have some kind of nickname, or something."

Now the clone did glance back, but only briefly, and then he resumed looking forward. He shrugged, "I'm Tilt."

"Tilt," Kyra said with a smile. "Thats a great name. Nice to meet you."

The trooper nodded and continued flying. It was clear he was a capable pilot, as he maneuvered the ship deftly eluding all of the separatist ground-to-air attacks. The gunships, although not the sleekest or fastest looking, were surprisingly agile. And these clones seemed to be very good at what they do.

They neared the carved out landing platform where the large Kom'rk starfighter rested, its wings pointing straight up. "Drop us off right beside that fighter, and then get out of here."

"Yes, Sir," helmet still facing out the viewport, "Sure you don't want me to stay put?"

"I'm sure. You'll be a sitting porg here just waiting."

"Copy that," he said. "Well get ready, you two. Drop point is thirty seconds out."

"Got it," they both said.

The gunship swooped down toward the circular landing pad. At this close distance they could see the arched entrance into the mountain. The ship slowed, and hovered ten meters off the ground, and Kyra and Aedan both leapt down, landing softly just in front of the door. The gunship took off, and Kyra watched it speed away. "I didn't get to thank him for the lift."

Aedan smiled, "We'll get a chance to later. Come on," he said, and began walking through the tall archway. "We have a monster to slay."

They moved down the rock corridor for ten meters and then a cavern opened in front of them. It was a big cavern, the red orange rock walls engulfing a host of machines. Big power generators to one side, large round cables running from those cylindrical power plants to conveyor belts, and other assembly machines. Kyra felt her stomach tighten, and her heartrate increase. Her tunic became stifling, and she felt she wasn't getting enough air. It all looked too disturbingly familiar. The only difference being this cavern was not devoid of activity. Loading droids and humans clad in black uniforms were scurrying back and forth, carrying droid parts, computer terminals, and all other manner of objects. They were escorting these parts through a far tunnel, but it was impossible to tell where it led.

"Looks like they're trying to pick up shop and get out quick," Aedan said.

All Kyra could do was nod and follow her master as he stalked alongside the wall to the right. On the other side of the power generators stood four tall, broad-shouldered droids, all with electro staffs strapped to their backs.

"Magnaguards," Kyra whispered.

"This is definitely the right place," Aedan said.

They moved farther in, sticking to the wall, and then a dark presence hit her awareness, and she froze.

"Master, I sense..." she started, but couldn't finish.

"Kyra, what is it?"

She let out a breath, "He's here."

"My, my," a deep, silky voice emanated from the far side of the room, "Look who it is." Salas Sa'Kard walked into view, stepping out of the far tunnel. The imposing size, the red lined helmet, the dark striated armor, the staff strapped to one side of his back, and his sword to his other. Kyra's heart went cold. The demon was before her once more, and his masked gaze was directed straight at her.

"You're using the phrikite to make their electrostaffs, aren't you?" Aedan said.

Salas focused his gaze on Aedan now, "Ah," he said calmly, "The new master. How nice. We didn't get a chance to meet last time. Pity I'm not in the sporting mood today, as I'd finish you both off myself. My magnagaurds will have to do the job." He touched a button on his left gauntlet, and the four menacing droids powered up. Their red bulbous eyes and chest lights glowing bright. In unison, they all reached for the staffs at their backs, pulled them free, ignited the purple sparking weapons, spun them in a show of dexterity, and then settled into a combat stance. The other droids and workers continued their evacuation, even more frazzled than before.

"Destroy them," Sa'kard said.

The magnaguards closed in on them. Aedan immediately picked one up with the force and flung it through the air towards Salas. He merely stepped to the side as it slammed into the wall. "Nice try," he said.

Kyra reached out and pulled one towards her, swiftly igniting her saber just as it neared, and impaling the tall droid through the chest.

"Nicely done." Aedan said.

"Seems you have improved…Kyra," Salas sneered from twenty yards away.

The impaled droid wasn't deactivated yet, it still had upper body motor control and struck out with its staff. Surprised, Kyra barely was able to duck, withdraw her saber, and then slice upward, splitting the droid in half. She turned to see Aedan square off against the two remaining droids. Four purple tips whizzed through the air in complex patterns, but her skilled master met every attack. Kyra knew exactly what Aedan was doing: Analyzing their attacks, as he always did. He parried one strike, ducked another, then rose and parried one energy tip so it slammed into the other droid's chest, and that's when Kyra came flying through the air, slicing down through one droid. And Aedan finished the final stunned droid off.

Salas Sa'Kard stared at them for a moment, and then glanced down. "They were just prototypes," he said, far too nonchalantly. "No matter. It's time to finish what I started on Obredaan and continued on Taris. This is the end for you, young Jedi."

Kyra's heart was pounding now as Salas moved toward them. Her palms sweating, stomach in knots, breath coming in rasps—she was now face to face with the nightmare that had haunted her. She even felt her shoulder ache where the dagger had impaled her.

She looked to Aedan. His face passive, posture relaxed, eyes never wavering from the threat in front of them—he was the epitome of calm and cool. This sight before her made her remember all she'd been through. The countless hours of training, drilling, and practicing. The thousands of times that she had "found her peace." This was no different. So, she acted as she always had.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She reached out into that reservoir that stretched on forever, and sank into its embrace.

We'll take him together, Kyra

Together

Stay in Soresu as much as possible, don't overextend, and only attack seldomly

Master, I can do more

You will. Be prepared when he brings his sword out to strike

Yes, Master

Aedan walked forward a few steps and then settled into a dueling stance—blade extended outward, and left fist behind his back. While Kyra took up her stance alongside him, she twirled her blade once then brought it to the side of her face, the blade tip pointing straight at Sa'Kard. She stretched out her left hand and pointed her two fingers at him as well.

Sa'Kard sauntered forward, pulling the electrostaff from his back and igniting it. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Neither Aedan or Kyra said a word, and the reticence seemed to unsettle Sa'Kard for the first time. He surged forward, and Kyra saw as even Aedan Kahl, Master Swordsmen, was unprepared for the stunning speed. Unable to get his saber into a proper block, he ducked under the swipe aimed for his head. Sa'kard moved that same tip of the staff in a backhanded strike, and this one came even faster than the first, and collided with Aedan's poorly positioned deflection. The ferocity of the strike knocked her master to the side. Sa'kard began to bring the other end of the staff around to land a crushing blow to the off-balanced Aedan. But Kyra's blade was there, jamming Sa'kard's attack before it could get around. He looked down at her, stunned as their blades were now locked. Kyra herself was slightly stunned at her quick reaction too.

Sa'Kard growled and muscled her away with a lowered shoulder. He made contact, but she was already moving back, and channeled the momentum, and backwards somersaulted, and then came out of the roll into a back handspring, and then circled back to stand beside a focused Aedan.

He pursed his lips, and then bobbed his head. "Okay, so he's fast."

"Told you," Kyra said, under her breath.

Kyra felt Aedan draw on the force, something she knew he rarely, if ever, had to do when engaging in lightsaber combat. His natural abilities of speed, quickness, and fast reflexes coupled with his flawless technique and experience gave him an advantage over everyone. He never needed to use the force because he was that much better.

This was different. Sa'kard was different.

Aedan cracked his neck from side to side, then rolled his shoulders. He brought his saber into a two-handed high guard.

Djem So Form?

She pondered that change in tactics for a moment, but then realized Form ll had too much finesse and style to stand up to Sa'Kards power. A two-handed form was needed, one that allowed for strong defense, powerful counterattacks, and aggressive offense. In theory, it was perfect, particularly because of Sa'Kard's lack of refined technique. But theories are just theories.

The big Gen'Dai charged forward, and Aedan's blue blade met the attack firmly. The assault came on strong, as Salas moved his staff in a whirlwind of strikes—overhead chops, to spinning backhands, to lightning quick jabs. Aedan and Kyra blocked every single one of them cleanly. The precision that Aedan wielded was staggering. His movements were so quick and controlled, that Salas, even though still lightning fast, was having difficulty. And Kyra, as focused as she had ever been, was holding her own. Gone was the timid and unskilled padawan. Sa'Kard often tried veering away from Aedan, and lashing out at Kyra, thinking he could make the younger Jedi stumble, trip up, or falter. That was not the case. Kyra blocked, deflected, and parried every attack. Sure, Sa'Kard moved with absurd speed for a non-force sensitive, but Aedan had trained her far too well. Pushed her to her limits, and then some. She knew where the strikes would be, and with the slightest and most effective movement of her blade, while drawing heavily on the force, intercepted all Sa'Kard's violent machinations. And every time he attacked Kyra, Aedan was able to press the momentary advantage, forcing the Gen'Dai to go on the defensive.

Salas attempted a powerful, looping swipe again, that Aedan ducked under, and Kyra was close enough to parry the strike to the side, completely off balancing the bigger foe. Aedan capitalized on the moment and unleashed a force push right into Sa'kard's chest. There was no dodging this one, and he was blasted across the room into the wall, slamming into it so hard that cracks emanated from the impact cite. Sa'kard fell to the ground in a heap, but the big, armor-clad foe was up on his feet instantly. Kyra had been feeling confident, but that force push would have disabled just about anyone. And he seemed to recover immediately. It caused a short stab of fear, but there was no time to think about it, as Sa'kard growled and then sprinted forward. Within seconds it was clear he had changed tactics. His swings and strikes took on a far more ferocious tone, forcing Aedan and Kyra to give up ground. Aedan, still in Djem So was able to make him miss, and landed several perfect counter attacks, but they harmlessly glanced off Sa'kards helmet and chest armor. Kyra, remained on the defensive, almost posing as more of distraction than anything. She was confident she could counter his strikes, but did not think she could get out of the way in time before Sa'kard's retaliatory slice came. Aedan could, he was just too smooth and too experienced.

Salas battered at the two of them for minutes now, and Kyra felt the strain of blocking such powerful blows. Aedan noticed this, and disengaged for a second, backing up.

Switch to Ataru

Really?

Yes. Spin, flip, and dance all over this kriffing place.

Yes, Master.

I'll show you a dance.

She dashed forward, somersaulted, slashed as Sa'kard's feet, then cartwheeled to the side, while Aedan came right behind her, and slashed at Sa'kard, who was caught off guard by the change. Aedan's saber sliced right down his sternum. It glanced off harmlessly, but still angered the Gen'Dai, who snarled, and swung wildly at Aedan, and then began chasing Kyra as she flipped back, and then to the side.

Kyra couldn't help but smile as Sa'kard missed nearly a dozen slashes in a row as she twirled, flipped, rolled, and spun around them all. She finally ended up being cornered in one side of the room, and a spike of fear shot through her, as the monster loomed over her, cutting off her escape. Had he baited her into this?

Sa'kard raised his staff. If she did any sort of aerial or acrobatic move, he'd knock her flat. She had to resort back to parrying. But before the strike started, Aedan was slashing at him, sparks glancing off the armor still. Sa'kard whipped his staff around behind him wildly. Aedan ducked, causing him to miss by a half meter.

And then she saw it. His legs seemed to buckle, and one arm went slightly limp. He was so close she could hear the heavy, ragged breathing.

Master, you fracking genius.

She slashed at the armor at his back, and he made another wild slash. Kyra side-stepped, and this miss caused him to buckled to a knee. She flipped over him, and then stood next to her Master. Smiling widely.

He's getting tired.

Aedan winked at her, and then assumed his stance.

Sa'kard climbed to his feet, looked at the two of them standing completely composed and unscathed. The sight seemed to drive him mad, and he charged forward once again. He spun that staff blindingly fast, whipped it around this way and that, but every attack hit nothing but air. The long duration of the fight was clearly taking its toll on the fully muscled, bigger opponent. The constant swinging and hitting nothing but air was draining the energy from the Gen'Dai.

What an absolutely perfect strategy.

Clearly getting desperate, he tried grabbing at Kyra at one point, but she flipped backward, and then unleashed a force push that sent him flying back into the wall, his staff falling to the ground. He roared again, and charged forward, but then Aedan sent another force push that blasted him backwards, and he smashed into the wall. He screeched once more, and then Kyra sent another blast into him, and he smashed once more into the wall, and then collapsed to his knees.

He lifted his red lit helmet towards them and growled. Then one shaking hand reached over to the gauntlet on his left arm and hit a button.

The force flashed, and a laser fire streaked toward them. Kyra turned and saw a Mandalorian step into the massive room, and immediately started firing a heavy repeater rifle at them. The same bronze armored Mandalorian from Taris. They deflected the fire back, but he was already moving, using his jetpack to fly to the side. Aedan moved forward to intercept, and Kyra took two steps to help, when the force flashed.

She dropped to the ground just as a black and silver blade passed over her head. She flipped to her back, and brought her saber across, but a heavy boot kicked at her hand sending her lightsaber flying, and the sword was now descending towards her. She had no way of deflecting the strike, so she twisted to the side. The blade missed its intended target of her chest and pierced down into the red clay ground. Kyra rolled back to her left and kicked at his hands holding the hilt. But his superior reflexes caught her foot and lifted her off the ground. He hung her upside down with his left hand, raising her up so her eyes were nearly level with his. She glared back at him as he peered through his red lit helmet. In fact, she could see more than just his intricately striated black armor. Being this close to the monster she could see there were weak points in his armor. Particularly at the elbow and shoulder joints. She heard blasterfire behind them as Aedan still engaged the Mandalorian. She even sensed there were other combatants that had entered the fray and were attacking Aedan. She was alone. Once more she was alone with the beast, and this time, she was fine with that.

She heard Sa'kard chuckle. That chuckle turned into a laugh as he pulled a long dagger from his belt. The same dagger from Taris. "Time to die, little Jedi," he said as he cocked his arm back, the dagger aimed straight at her.

He thrust it forward, and Kyra's hands shot up, grabbing the blade with both hands. The blade cut into her hands, but her palms pressed against the elaborate hilt, stopping the blade from slicing any further into her flesh. Using the force, she picked up Sa'kard's electrostaff, and sent it zipping through air. The staff was moving so fast that even the blunted tip impaled Sa'kard through his exposed left armpit. He might be nearly indestructible, but he still felt pain, and any kind of projectile through the armpit is bound to cause some agony. His grip relaxed, and Kyra fell to the ground. She rolled forward, calling her lightsaber to her.

Sa'kard ripped the staff from his side with a snarl, drew his sword out of the ground, brandished it once, and then swung at Kyra with a wild, one-handed grip. Kyra stepped forward to block against the diagonal slash.

The blue blade with gold accents met the silver and black sword in a perfect parry. The lightsaber pointing straight down at the ground, the hilt and her wrist forming a perfect ninety-degree angle. And Sa'kard stopped. He was not expecting the blade to remain lit, and he froze in confusion. Kyra did not freeze. She continued her movement, the saber's coming up in a quick loop, and then straight down right on Sa'kard's exposed elbow joint.

The lightsaber passed between the armor plates, through fabric, then skin, then muscle and then out the other side.

Half of his right arm dropped to the ground, leaving a stump behind.

Kyra held her blade low and stared at him. Sa'kard stumbled back. She could feel his surprise. His shock.

His fear.

She stalked forward, dragging the point of her blade across the ground, singing the top layer of red dirt. As if on reflex, Sa'kard lifted his left arm up, and then moved his stump of an arm to hit the button on his gauntlet.

"I think you're missing something," Kyra said coolly.

He stumbled back again, nearly falling. And Kyra brought her saber up into a high guard.

He looked behind Kyra and shouted, "Antinor, assist me!"

Kyra spared a glance towards Aedan, and saw he was holding his own against the Mandalorian as well as half a dozen Magnagaurds. The Mandalorian, apparently Antinor, didn't react, just locked eyes with Kyra, then suddenly knelt to the ground, and bowed forward.

What in the world? Kyra thought. Then she saw his rocket pack, and the missile sticking out the top of it. The missile launched from his jetpack and came right for her.

"Kyra!" Aedan yelled, terror in his voice.

Running wasn't an option, instead she dropped her saber, and thrust two hands forward. The force coursing through her, obeyed her wishes and wrapped around the fast-moving projectile. Once she had a solid grip, she waved both hands to her left, sending the missile heading directly for Salas Sa'kard. Before impact, the big Gen'Dai dropped to the deck, the missile zipping over his head, and right into the power generators.

The detonation sent a blast wave through the cavern, knocking everyone off their feet. Kyra was blown backwards off her feet, and into the wall. The wind was knocked out of her, and her vision was blurry, but she otherwise unscathed.

Aedan was by her side in an instant and helping her up.

She coughed, "Thought I had him."

"Almost, Padawan," he said. Blasterfire forced them both to back up, but they deflected all incoming shots. The mandalorian and the human soldiers were laying cover fire for the escaping Sa'Kard. They didn't have a chance of stopping them, as he was nearly to the tunnel that Aedan and Kyra had entered the facility initially, sneaking back out to their Kom'rk Fighter.

Aedan raised his lightsaber, pointing it at the Gen'Dai, "Salas," he shouted, causing the foe to stop before the exit. "Next time we meet, I will mix your ashes with the dirt."

A deep, gurgling laugh came from Salas, "Such vitriol from a Jedi."

"No," Aedan said calmly, "Just a promise. And we Jedi keep our word."

Sa'Kard spared them one last glance, and then walked out. Aedan and Kyra both collapsed to the ground, exhaustion finally catching up to them. They perhaps could have given chase, but they were in no shape to mount an assault, particularly through that cramped corridor. No, they had to let him go this time.

Kyra, lay back into the burnt orange sand, and let out a long breath.

I did it!

She had faced her demon. And won. She couldn't halt the smile that came to her face, and looked over to Aedan, wanting to share her victory with him.

Her smile vanished as she saw his agonized face and felt the waves of regret coming off him. His demons were very much still alive. Losing Trebor was too much for him. And she was extremely worried what this was going to mean for all the territory and obstacles they had covered in the last six months.

She could feel it already. All the barriers they had surmounted were now back up. Durasteel walls surrounded her Master, and she had no way in.