Alex Rider: Jedi Knight
Jedi Goat
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or Alex Rider.
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Chapter 6: Territory of Evil
"Well, here it is. The Sith monastery." Alex, Anakin and Obi-Wan stood in front of an ancient, dilapidated building. The front pillars leaned on each other, exhausted with age. There were no doors; a gaping hole led into the darkness where the dark side lay in wait. Sand whipped up in torrents around them, nearly blocking out the rocky path that wound down to the present spot they were standing in.
Alex shivered. The Force felt strange here. It was a dark and menacing presence, instead of the flow of life it usually was. He could imagine tendrils of evil reaching out to the Jedi from the monastery. This place was filled with evil, though it had been deserted of its Sith inhabitants for centuries.
Alex swallowed hard. Here they were. The Sith's haunting message had led them here. Either this would be the final defeat of the Sith Lords, or they were walking directly into a trap.
"Well, let's go." Anakin took the first step toward the monastery. Glancing nervously at the sandstorm brewing around them, Alex followed.
Picking their way cautiously up the slope, the Jedi finally arrived at the doorway. They stepped inside and the darkness swallowed them whole.
No, wait. There was light, slipping in through the cracks in the ceiling. Alex and the others paused, allowing their eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Slowly the room came into focus. At one point it might have been a huge, ornate hall; now it was a massive chamber cluttered with felled columns and crumbling statues. Giant slabs of stone formed a craggy floor. Thin weeds stretched and fought for the little light there was. A thick, ominous air seemed to hang over the room. And yet… Under the blanket of evil, Alex sensed a small spark of light, like a tiny plea for help.
Alex wondered if he'd simply imagined it as Obi-Wan led them to the next room.
Obi-Wan poked his head into the darkened corridor. It was completely pitch-black. Frowning slightly, he ignited his lightsaber and held the humming blue blade inside. Obi-Wan nodded to his Padawans to do the same.
Alex swept his emerald lightsaber over the floor. The stonework was old and cracked, but it looked stable. His senses were all on alert for any danger as he moved down the hallway first.
The hall sloped steadily downward, and the air became noticeably humid and cold. Alex's breathing seemed eerily loud in the silent monastery, the tomb of the Sith order's secrets.
Alex suddenly froze; the Force screamed at him. Pain rushed through his leg. Alex gasped, struggling to remain standing. What the…?
A moment later the feeling faded. Alex glanced back at the other Jedi, but they didn't seem to have sensed anything. Now very confused and worried, he continued onward warily.
Soon the corridor opened into another chamber. Obi-Wan touched Alex on the arm and took the lead once more.
A slab of stone jutted up from the ground in the center of the room. The group moved stealthily around it toward the next exit. With each step he took, Alex felt the strength of the dark side grow. Yet the beacon of light still stretched out for him, farther in to this hellish place.
Abruptly the Jedi stopped. Then Alex heard it: footsteps! Someone was coming!
"Hello, Jedi."
Alex gazed around wildly, but he could not pinpoint the source of the voice. Then Obi-Wan pointed upward. Peering up, Alex noticed a shadowy figure staring at them from a small balcony.
The figure laughed coldly. "I'm surprised you survived this far. I guess Jedi training is improving."
There was a resounding clang. Dread filled Alex as he realized the doorway they had come through had closed. The other exit was far across the room. Maybe if we sprint…
"But no longer." The Sith's voice cut through Alex like an icy sword. "Goodbye, Jedi."
The Sith swept away from his lookout post, but Alex barely noticed, too focused on what would happen next.
Silence.
Then the slab of rock was swarming with battle droids.
The Jedi leaped into action, lightsabers a blur as they dodged and blocked the flickers of blaster fire. Alex and Anakin took up positions on either side of Obi-Wan, each one defending from their chosen angle. The Jedi's minds fought as one, detecting with the Force where each blow would land and who would block it. Following this method, they slowly backed up toward the doorway.
Alex kept his concentration on the battle, knowing that any injury was unacceptable. He took every move in and analyzed how to respond, all in the span of a split second.
The battle droids advanced steadily, blasters shooting out a never-ending spurt of fire. Obi-Wan increased their speed, and Alex chanced a glance back. Just a few more feet…
A good block by Anakin deflected a stream of fire back on the droids. The front row crumpled in a charred heap.
"Run!" Obi-Wan shouted, and the three of them raced for the exit. Alex swung his blade behind him, rapidly blocking shots.
As soon as they entered the next corridor, Obi-Wan smashed his lightsaber down on the door's mechanism. It thudded shut and for a moment the Jedi stood in the darkness, exchanging relieved looks.
A wheezing breath brought them back to reality. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? Some Jedi. You shouldn't be here, Jedi. Now you will die." Four lightsabers blazed to life, crossed in front of their path. In the blue-green light, Alex apperceived a menacing robotic face glaring out at them with feral eyes. General Grievous.
Alex felt fear clamping down in his chest. He reached for the Force for support, and felt, to his shock, an abundance of light emanating from farther down the corridor. He gritted his teeth. He would find out where the Force was coming from. Soon.
Focusing on the beginning fight, Alex raised his lightsaber in front of him, poised for attack or defense. Beside him, Anakin and Obi-Wan adopted their own ready positions.
General Grievous struck. Two of his four blades stabbed forward: one came for Alex, the other Anakin. Alex blocked swiftly, feeling the resistance draining the strength from his arms. He retreated to the side.
Now two lightsabers arced toward him. Forcing down his panic, Alex shoved away the first blade and pushed down the second. The first one whipped back at him and he slashed instinctively.
Grievous's lightsaber clattered to the floor, accompanied by a burnt portion of his arm. Now there were only three lightsabers after them. Hope renewed, Alex continued to duel.
A few moments later, Grievous lost his second arm to Obi-Wan. Alex saw an opening and darted around behind the robot, slicing at him. A bit of cape fluttered down to the ground.
Alex attacked again. Grievous blocked, his focus remaining on the two Jedi in front of him. Why is he ignoring me? Alex glanced down the hall. He could easily escape this battle this way.
"Alex! Go!" called Obi-Wan, before stopping a quick series of blows from his oppressor. Seeing Alex hadn't budged, he cried, "Now!"
Alex nodded, sprinting down the corridor. Silently he vowed to return to his friends. He wouldn't desert them.
Alex peeked out into the next room. It was smaller than what he had seen before, with bars along one wall. It might have been a prison. At the side of the room, two battle droids stood guard with blasters drawn. Across the room was the next doorway. This place is one endless maze, Alex remarked.
He ignited his lightsaber and stepped inside.
Instantly the droids turned on him, shooting frenetically. Alex deflected several bolts back at the first droid, who sizzled as the shots penetrated his control panel. Charging forward, Alex summoned the Force and backflipped through the air, kicking the other droid down. Rapidly he slashed down, decapitating the droid. Then he flicked off his lightsaber and listened for any more approaching droids.
Something moved in the cage.
"Alex?"
To be continued...
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