Protector Against Protector, Battle to the Death?! A Strong Bond.

Jade paced behind Yoda's chair fuming, the Jedi counsel room itself seemed to shrink around the man in the middle of the circle of chairs. He was tall with yellow eyes that seemed to have the black slits of a snake's pupils. He had on a red robe with gold designs and pale skin. Night Eyes had laid herself down directly behind Yoda's chair, easily reminding her master, to stay back behind the Grand Jedi Master's seat. Jade though, had eyes only for the traitor that stood in the center of the room. She listened as the Jedi interrogated the man, but she wanted to ask questions of her own, her own way. She felt herself tensing, ready to spring:

"Know the mistake you made, yes?" Yoda's voice cut through her mind, stopping her in mid spring.

"What mistake? They were doomed any ways." The man sneered, flicking imaginary dust off his flowing robe.

"You killed your own kindred!" Windu emphasized. The man just laughed darkly, his bald head flashing in the sun's light.

"They were never my own! They just wanted me to never fully use my power!" Jade made a sharp turn in returning to her furious pacing. The man noticed and chuckled darkly. "Why are you hiding behind the weak Jedi, Protector?" He sneered at her. Night Eyes stood and gave him a fierce warning growl of her kind as Jade's eyed flash with slight, controlled anger. "You've become one of them!" he mocked. "Now I am truly the last of the Protectors." Jade mentally tapped Windu's mind in askance. He gave an affirming tap back and watched to see what she would do. Jade stepped forward, much like a feline predator after her prey.

"Enough, Askron, you are not a Protector, you are a force shadow." She spoke with a slow, menacing voice, the voice that might cause those who didn't know her to label her as a Sith.

"When did I stoop so low?" He met her flashing eyes with his own, predator against predator, force against force, and power against power. They silently nodded at each other, agreeing to some sort of deadly challenge. Night Eyes stepped back, knowing Jade needed no guiding. She stood by Yoda, ready to protect the Jedi if needed to be.

"When you betrayed my people!" Jade tensed as they circled. "Not here." She said, speaking of the battle. "The Jedi are needed." The air in the room seemed to crackle in some type of preparation.

"They are weak, but I will respect your request." He gave a sigh. "Where do we do battle?"

"In the Force Plane. We can settle it for good."

"Agreed." They eased, but kept an eye on each other. Only after Askron was dragged away did Jade leave, Night Eyes following as usual. The Protector's eyes were hard as steel. She ignored the voices of people and walked to a large training room. This room was barely used anymore, but Jade would use it when she was at the Jedi Temple.

"Jade?" Yoda stuck his head in to see her staring out the large window, lightsaber in hand. He walked in carefully, taking care to stay within Night Eyes' sight and where Jade could see him easily with the Force. He eyed the lightsaber in her hand with caution, he could feel the energy from it. It seemed to crackle, as if it was talking. It wasn't laughing, no, it was excited, but accepting. It would be fighting one of its own type anyways.

"She's ready." The voice was so quiet that the aged Jedi master nearly missed it. "She's ready to battle and to settle this." Jade didn't turn, for all it seemed to be for anyone who walked in, she was talking to Night Eyes. She barely acknowledged Yoda's presence. "I will truly be the last Protector or they will fade forever into a shadowed part of history." Yoda said nothing, letting her continue. "I chose the Force Plane so that no one will get harmed, but if he wins, the Galaxy is set for the kill."

"Gather strength and defeat him years to come you will?" Yoda looked at her, trying to see her eyes, to see the emotion that was devoid in her voice.

Jade turned and kneeled down and looked into his eyes. The emotion and darkness that Yoda saw scared him. The Force itself seemed to grab him and hold him there. He couldn't look away, his mind screamed to break away, to use the force, anything, but the voice was quickly silenced by the pure, white fear of helplessness. He heard Jade voice, but no comfort came from it, only cold, dark reality.

"It will be a battle to the death, only one will make it out alive."

"J…Jade….." His mind spun; Yoda gripped her arm to keep from falling. "W….why….."

"To decide the fate of the Galaxy."

"The… War….Prove…."

"To decide the fate of the Force. Will join us or be against us? It must be done. Am I understood?" Yoda gave a nod and Jade broke her hard gaze. He felt himself falling, darkness entering his vision as soon as the blue-grey eyes released him. "Easy, easy, breathe." Jade spoke gently, supporting him. He gripped her as a child would and wept silently. Jade held him and sat down on the floor. They stayed there, Yoda snuggled into Jade and Jade silently guarding and comforting him.

The next day Jade said what might be farewells to the Jedi, a few Senators, and others she was close to. Once she was in the Force Plane, Yoda paced the length of the briefing room. The other Jedi shared sympathetic glances. The poor Grand Master had a deep connection with Jade. He was the first one to gain her trust and the one she formed a mental connection with.

"Yoda, please sit down, you're going to pass out." Madam Jocasta said. "If Jade gets killed." She thought to herself. No one dared to voice the possibility that they have seen Jade for the last time. The room suddenly dissolved around them; when the lights cleared, they saw they were in a place made entirely of color. There were no real shapes, they only fleetingly formed and disappeared quickly.

"Where are we?" Ashoka asked. Yoda didn't bother looking around the area before answering.

"The Force Plane." He said simply. They saw two figures just ahead of them. Coming closer, it was Jade and Askron. They stood a distance from each other looking eye to eye. They had the stance of predators ready to fight for a kill. The Force was swirling like a storm wind around them. Askron took out his lightsaber and ignited it. It was blood red and it made a harsh crackling sound. It seemed to be talking. There was a humming sound in response as Jade nodded. She reach not to her left, but to her right. Igniting her lightsaber, it snapped and crackled with stored energy. It had a deep purple tinge with black surrounding the blade. The lightsabers hissed at each other. They were indeed speaking to each other. Their masters circled each other before Askron leapt. Jade blocked his attack easily. They leapt and slashed at each other. They spun away and toward each other, lightsabers meeting in the air with a crackling hiss. Ashoka stepped back and Anakin wrapped himself around her, shielding her from the sight of the battle. Yoda stood besides Windu, shaking. He was forced to grip his friend's robe to remain standing. Windu looked at him sympathetically, but was unable to help his fellow Jedi with the mental suffering. They all were mentally anguished in their own way.

The two Protectors continued their deadly dance for what seemed to be hours. Finally Askron leapt, knocking Jade to the ground. Yoda froze, waiting, hoping she would defend herself. Everyone froze, waiting…

Slash! Askron fell with a dying scream. Jade rose from the ground and stood over her fallen enemy. She turned to the others and gave a small smile.

"It's over." She said simply. The Force around them swirled again and they were back in the briefing room. Ashoka looked at her, coming out of her master's arms.

"Is he gone?" Jade nodded.

"Yes, he will no longer bother anyone again."

"Jade?" Yoda shakily walked to her, eyes fearful. Jade gently swished the lower part if her robe around the smaller Jedi.

"It's ok, it's over. The Force is with us." After a few minutes everyone dispersed, there was no need to speak of the death battle that just took place.

Yoda stayed unusually close to her, as if he couldn't let her out of his sight. Many noticed this and whispered among themselves. Different ideas started flying around and those ideas reached the ears of the Jedi. Yoda was silent on anything these rumors said.

"Easy the answer, should be, to see." Was all he would say before walking off to the meditation room. This always got confused glances and more whispers. Mace had enough of the rumors and decided to walk in on a group of people speaking to each other to end them. Sure enough, they were talking about Jade and Yoda. When Mace knocked on the wall, they all froze. The group composed of Senators, notable civilians, and others.

"Jade is Yoda's Protector. They have a very strong mental and force connection. Now, stop all the rumors and talk about sensible things!" With that he walked away and returned to the Jedi Temple.

Yoda tossed and turned in his sleep. Whimpering, he clutched at the blanket and muttered a soft.

"No." before whimpering again. He flinched as if he was struck with something. The disturbance in the Force outside the dream world woke up Jade, Mace, Kit, and several others. Jade came down the hall with Night Eyes to find many Jedi standing outside Yoda's door.

"We can't seem to snap him out of it." Kit said worriedly.

"He's trapped in what dream he is locked in." Another Jedi said. Jade walked to the door and opened it.

"You guys go back to bed, I'll help him." Jade's tone broke no argument and they left. Mace lingered, just for a moment to see her and the Anooba enter Yoda's room.

Jade sat down on the bed and laid a gentle hand on Yoda. She let her own Force enter whatever dream Yoda was in and calm him down. He couldn't wake up with his mind still completely locked in.

"Yoda." A soft voice entered his frightened mind. He flicked his ears and tried to focus on the voice. "That's it, come back." Yoda managed to slow his breathing, he vaguely felt something calming on his arm. The dream faded and it was dark. Yoda's eyes flew open and he sat up with a gasp. "Easy, easy." Arms encircled him in that all familiar guarding hold. He huddled close to Jade, Night Eyes curled closely around the two, allowing him to pet her fur.

"Jade." His voice was cracked and hoarse from nearly yelling earlier. "Jade."

"Shhhh…..Just relax, you're shaking like a leaf." Indeed he was, Yoda focused on calming down and managed to breather steadier than a few minutes ago. The three simply stayed there that night. Jade looked into the darkness of the room and held the Jedi close by her. The steady breathing from the smaller form told her he fell back asleep. "Sleep, old friend, we'll guard your sleep tonight." She smiled lightly. Yes, Protector and Jedi was a strong bond indeed.