The Lightsaber: Chapter 2
First the blade saw honor and sacrifice:
A carrion bird keens mournfully as it soars above the Sullustan sky. A young boy cries out in fear. Concealed behind a craggy rock, he watches his master deflecting blast after blast from attack droids, each one drawing him closer to the real enemy—a Sith. One by one, the monsters fall. There is a lull in the fighting and the boy, barely ten years old, runs to his master clinging to the folds of his robes. His master''s tone is stern but gentle. "I told you to stay on the ship. It's too dangerous here. You must hide."
The boy sniffles and his chin trembles as he tries to be brave.
"I want to stay here with you."
The master kneels in front of him and takes his small hand.
"My Padawan, you must live. Promise me you will run and not look back no matter what happens."
"I promise."
The tall, olive-skinned man brushes a tear from the boy's cheek.
"Now, run, child!"
The boy runs, shutting his eyes against the grit and destruction. He runs faster than he thought possible, but his path is blocked by a giant. The Sith stands blocking his path. He stands over two meters tall with a face barely recognizable as humanoid. Matted black hair falls into eyes even blacker. Deep black ridges scar his cheeks with etched tattoos and below that the skin is stretched and scarred with protruding spikes echoed in black wristguards and armor. He scowls at the boy revealing sharply pointed teeth. His massive muscles tense as he ignites his blood-red lightsaber.
The boy stands frozen then ignites his training saber. The Sith calls it to his hand, laughing, and sends the child flying. The boy lands on his back and uses the force to right himself. The Sith's eyes flash, yellow burning in the black orbs and he stalks foreward preparing for a killing blow. As the lightsaber descends toward the Padawan's chest, the Sith's blade is met by the emerald blade of his Master.
"Go—get out of here," his Master commands. The child scrambles to his feet and runs.
The combatants circle. The Sith strikes first in rage, his blade passing within inches of the Jedi's face. He strikes for the Sith's legs, but the Sith easily jumps over his blade and lands a kick that connects with his solar plexus, driving the air from his lungs. He executes a backflip to the rock behind him and the Sith follows. The Jedi's blade connects with the exposed skin of the Sith's arm leaving a deep wound. The injury only increases the Sith's rancor and he lands an elbow strike to the Jedi's ribs, one of his spikes leaving a trail of blood seeping through the man's robes.
The Jedi uses a force-assisted push to knock the Sith from the rock and leaps gracefully to the ground ready to end the battle. Before he can strike, the Sith executes an arcing backflip and lands behind him. The Jedi's mistake is fatal, and he knows he's lost. The Sith's blade sears the flesh of his back and chest and he falls. The saber falls from his hand, deactivating upon impact. Ranin Sar, renowned Jedi hero is dead. The Sith picks up the blade and clips it to his belt. His Padawan reaches the ramp of the ship, suddenly hit by waves of nausea. He collapses into the pilot's seat, reeling as his master's pain washes over him through their bond. Suddenly, the bond is torn away and there is only emptiness.
The Padawan vows to recover his master's fallen blade.