Chapter 2

Drake cautiously approached the grove careful to avoid the numerous kath hounds that roamed the area. Zhar had been right about the dark side, it was strong in the grove and was almost choking the life from the ancient structure, there were trees and flowers nearby that were dying and losing their colour as a result of its taint. Drake felt a strong presence within the grove; but what he felt was not completely dark: it was more conflicted, sad and the light was still present.

As he came up upon the place of his final trial he saw the source of the presence. A woman, a Cathar to be more precise. She was lithe and athletic in build, with enough curves and muscle to feminine yet capable much like Bastila did. Drake caught himself thinking the way he was and shook his head. He needed to focus. He could sense that this woman was strong in the force, but she was conflicted and confused meaning she would not be able to fight at full power.

As Drake approached, the woman looked up from her position. Her catlike eyes narrowed and she got to her feet. She took a step forward as Drake came to a stop in front of her. She snarled and a lightsabre leapt from her belt to her hand and red blade erupted from its hilt.

"I will be your doom!" the Cathar flew at him, Drake's lightsabre shot into his hand, and its blue blade ignited in time to catch the red blade. Drake had one hand on his sabre hilt as he gazed at the young woman. She looked around nineteen and her mind was clouded with doubt. Drake knew this fight was his but also realised she wasn't going to make it easy.

He tensed and shoved her back. His opponent back flipped into a crouch and stood, and she twirled her blade so the blade was angled vertically up beside her, giving her a clear view of the young Jedi.

Ataru…Drake thought. Form VI of lightsabre combat, requiring extreme acrobatic skill and an aggressive yet focused form, best suited for single opponents and wide spaces.

Drake spun his lightsabre backwards around his hand and settled into a classic Djem So stance, the blade angled upwards and behind his head. The angry Cathar charged at him. Drake waited, as she got close. Sliding his blade down Drake stopped the slash at his midsection. Taking a step forward, he pushed her blade back up and kicked her back. He then attacked himself. Drake slashed at her side and legs, both attacks blocked. He brought his sabre back up to parry a blow at his head and responded immediately with one of his own which received similar results.

As the duel continued on, Drake noted that while the Cathar was definitely the faster out of the two them, he had the advantage in terms strength and power. Drake locked his sabre with hers and the two began pushing each others blades, as the cackling of the energy in the air echoed throughout the grove.

The Jedi looked into his opponent's eyes and saw her pain, her fear and her soul. She was not fully turned and now he would help her find her path back to the light. He broke the lock and ducked a final desperate sweep at his head and as he came back his shot his hand out so it was in front of her face. With a loud boom, the woman shot back into the stone and crashed onto it. She slumped to the ground with groan, and found her sabre floating into her opponent's hand. He deactivated his own sabre and approached her.

"You…you are strong, stronger than me, even in my darkness and I didn't think that was possible…" the Cathar murmured as Drake knelt down in front of her.

"Who are you?" Drake inquired.

"I am Juhani…and this my grove. This is the place of my dark power…" Juhani stood up "This is the place you have invaded, when I embraced the dark side, this is where I sort my solace it is MINE!"

"So the kath hounds and their behaviour is influenced by you…" Drake said slowly.

"Yes…aren't they pretty? My pets, they know smell of power and like the power their mistress gives them…" Juhani said darkly "power enough to crush the life out of anyone who stands in my way…or so I thought…" she finished quietly.

" Sometimes power it is not enough" Drake replied. Juhani sighed.

"What is it you want? Why do you bother me?" Juhani asked.

"I want to talk…" Drake said sarcasm evident.

"Talk?!" Juhani exclaimed "You who have beaten me so easily just want to talk? I do not believe it. Kill me now while you still have the power!"

"Juhani…I am not angry with you…I wish you peace…" Drake replied calmly.

"Not anger peace…yet even with your naïve attitude you were still able to beat me" Juhani mused "I am pathetic… I sit and think myself great for embracing the dark side but I am nothing…" Juhani sighed, "I cannot be turned back…and I always thought they were jealous of my power…but I am not good enough to meet their standards…I never have been" Juhani knelt down. Drake looked down at her and moved so he was at her level.

"Come now Juhani …you are a beautiful young woman, with much talent." Drake was truthful in his words, she was beautiful and she had much skill and potential. Juhani looked slightly flattered and felt a little charmed by his words.

"I thank you for your kind words Jedi…" she replied with a smile "I seem to still have much to learn… Both about being a Jedi and myself." Juhani then looked down "But the cost of my ignorance was too great, I wish my master had not suffered because of me…" Drake placed a hand on her shoulder and Juhani looked up surprised.

"Even in death…she will be allowed to live on…" Drake responded.

"If she were alive now…I would have so much to say to her, so much to apologise for…" Juhani stood and turned away "how can the council ever take me back, striking my master in anger is unforgivable." She turned back around her arms folded somewhat defensively. Drake stood up and looked at her with sympathy.

"Anger? Show them you've freed yourself of this base passion" he advised carefully choosing his words not wanting to anger her anger.

"If I show them I am free of passion…That I am serene…That I am willing to forsake the dark side…" Juhani uttered slowly "then maybe just maybe they will accept back…" Juhani turned to Drake "do you think they would after all I have done?" Drake nodded and again placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Your inner peace and harmony will show them your serenity." Drake replied. Juhani believed him, she wanted too, she had too. The way he spoke his words made her believe him.

"I thank you…master Jedi…I will return to the council and submit to their judgement and hope they will forgive me…" Juhani smiled a beautiful smile and looked up at Drake with almost tearful eyes "again I thank you I am sure I will hear great things of you in the future…" with that Juhani gave a small bow and set off over the grove breaking into a run. Drake watched her leave and felt a strong sense of peace in the air around him as the grove returned to life as the light began seep back into the place.

Juhani turned to see Drake going over to a small clump of dead flowers, roses that were dead under the dark side's influence. She watched with a sense of awe as the man knelt down and gentle brushed his hand across the stem. As if on his touch, the flowers began to come back to life, the red of the petal's re-emerging and the small plants stood up straight and proud under his gaze. The light emanating from him was intoxicating, peaceful yet strong and aggressive engulfing all those around, filling them with warmth and strength. With a final glance Juhani hurried away towards the enclave leaving behind the dark memory that she had forged and overcome.

Firstly I apologise for any inaccurate speech I havn't played the game for a while. Any bit shorter this chapter. Your thoughts please...!!