Chapter 26

The air was still as Luke faced Marka Ragnos. His green blade reflecting off his skin. Sweat ran down his brow as he gripped his lightsaber close to him. Unlike Vader, Ragnos didn't have any potential weaknesses, he was pure muscle. Unlike his father who was half machine. But Luke knew that deep down, Ragnos was just as vulnerable as Palpatine. Overconfidence. Yes, overconfidence always threw the sith off. And hopefully this would be the same case. The fate of the galaxy was at stake. If he lost, Ragnos would take over his body, and force him to destroy everything he loved and worked hard to achieve. But if Luke won, the galaxy will never lose it's hope. And the next generation of Jedi Knights will rise. Luke closed his eyes as he let himself be guided by the force. Even on this planet with nothing but darkness, he could still feel the light radiating through the force. Both the presence of Ahsoka, Ezra and Sabine, and yet a light that outshined them all. The past. Something had happened here in the past, and its now forever tainted as a streak of light in the dark place. "I'm one with the force, the force is with me. I'm one with the force, and the force shall free me", Luke muttered to himself. He moved his footing to a defense position. Luke opened his eyes, his blue eyes shining brighter then ever.

Ragnos charged at Luke. He swung his vibrosword down at him. Luke immediately dodged the swing as he brought his lightsaber up for attack. The two blades interlocked, sparks flying everywhere. Luke spun back as he freed his blade. He twirled himself in the air as Ragnos struck low to the ground. Luke used his advantage of being smaller as he quickly swung the saber up. Ragnos staggered as he forced himself to remain on his feet. Luke kicked Ragnos in the face as he struck again. The cry of the saber giving a high pitch as it slid against the large vibrosword. Ragnos screamed as he suddenly started smashing down on Luke. The room was filling with sparks as Luke was pinned to the ground, Ragnos grabbed Luke's arm as he threw the Jedi across the room. Luke grunted as he hit the wall. Ragnos came again as he sent a force wave to keep Luke down. Luke threw his lightsaber at the sith lord. Ragnos jumped in time to miss the oncoming lightsaber. The lightsaber spun back to Luke's hand in time for Luke to block an incoming blow. Luke growled as he sent a huge force push towards Ragnos. But the sith lord was simply pushed only a few inches. Ragnos smiled as he brought his vibrosword down on Luke again. Luke had to cartwheel himself to safety as he barely dodged the swing. Luke spun on his feet as Ragnos brought his vibrosword down again. Ragnos punched Luke in the head, making his vision dizzy. Luke violently swung his lightsaber in the air as Ragnos dodged every attempt made upon him. Luke suddenly changed his position, trying to use a form of Ataru to gain the upper-hand. He was able to get a clean shot at Ragnos's head. Without hesitation he sliced off Ragnos's ear. Ragnos screamed in pain as the ear fell to the floor. The room was filled with the smell of burning flesh as Ragnos clutched his wound. He started force chocking Luke before throwing him across the room like a ragdoll.

"Ahsoka we have to help him", Ezra stated as Sabine helped him get up. "No, you guys get out of here. I'll go help Luke", Ahsoka quickly barked. Ahsoka helped them reach the exit, but their path was blocked by Baylon and his Knights of Ren. "Where do you think you're going", he said darkly as he ignited his lightsaber. "Other way, other way!", Sabine yelled out as they tried to run away from them. But behind them, the roof collapsed once Luke pushed Ragnos into a wall. They were now trapped. The Knights of Ren slowly circled around them, Baylon signaled them to take out Ezra and Sabine. "I'll take care of the Togruta", he told them. Ahsoka activated her lightsabers as she faced Baylon. "You don't have to do this. We can all just walk away, it isn't too late for you", Ahsoka tried reasoning with him. Baylon simply chuckled at Ahsoka's attempt to persuade him. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to kill you. You always took the glory, while I lived in your shadow", Baylon and Ahsoka started walk in circles hoping to find an opening to each others defense. "I was the one who taught you how to wield your pathetic lightsabers. The one making sure that Master Yoda could see our progress. I was already a padawan when you barely joined the rank of youngling. I was meant to be the padawan of the Chosen One, not you!", Baylon shouted as he lunged forward. Ahsoka blocked his blow as she kicked him in the side. "Master Yoda chose me over you because I was more disciplined", she yelled back as she jumped into the air. The two continued to duel as Ahsoka was starting to get a upper-hand. Baylon violently swung at Ahsoka. "Discipline? You were the brattiest child of us all. You lacked everything!", Baylon swung again aiming for the head. But Ahsoka gracefully dodged his every move. "I may have been a brat, but I learned so much since then. I matured, and I understand that my powers have limits. Unlike someone like you, consumed by darkness. Only the weak embrace it", Ahsoka said as she blocked another blow. She force pushed Baylon onto the ceiling. Baylon let out a small grunt as he hit the ceiling, his lightsaber released from his grip. "And if I didn't know you, you wouldn't have lasted this long", Ahsoka said arrogantly as she walked around him. Baylon got back up as he grabbed his lightsaber. "Still having the arrogance of Master Kenobi, I see. Well you should know Ahsoka, once Ragnos defeats Skywalker, the sith will be reborn", he activated his lightsaber and gave it a twirl as he marched towards Ahsoka.

"The sith are dead. Luke has defeated them, I have defeated sith in the past as well. What makes you think that Ragnos would win?", Ahsoka asked as she swung her twin blades at him. Baylon blocked her attack as he punched her face with his arm. "It doesn't matter if Skywalker wins or loses his duel. Ragnos would still win, he'll take over his mind, destroy his soul until the only thing remaining are his powers and physical body. He'll bring chaos as Luke Skywalker, but with the wisdom of Marka Ragnos. And there is nothing you can do about it", he laughed as he swung his blade down on Ahsoka. Ahsoka was trapped as she formed an "X" with her lightsabers. She pushed Baylon away, no longer caring if he was once an old friend. "He won't lay a hand on Luke as long as I'm alive!", she shouted as she kicked Baylon's face. Baylon staggered back in the sudden impact on his face. He let out a small grin as he slid his lightsaber between Ahsoka's blades.

"That's the idea".

The blade swung down as Sabine dodged another attack from one of the Knights of Ren. Ezra was having a hard time to block the attacks, the knights were fast and strong. He was malnourished and very weak. Not to mention he had a broken arm and hand. Erza violently swung his green lightsaber at the Knights of Ren. But they blocked his attack with their own melee weapons. Sabine punched one of the Knights in the gut as she dodged another attack from behind. One of the Knights, Kuruk, was able to take Sabine off her feet. He kicked her around as Ushar and Trudgen engaged Ezra once again. Ezra forced pushed them to the side as he went to aid his Mandalorian friend. Sabine quickly got up as she used her gauntlet on one of the Knights. Fire spitted out of her gauntlet as the Knights were forced to back off. "We're trapped!", Sabine shouted as her gauntlet redeveloped her shields. "Just like old times huh, Bine?", Ezra asked trying to lighten to mood. "Now's not the time!", she barked back as she kicked Ushar away. Trudgen suddenly pulled out a small vibroblade as he charged directly at Ezra. Ezra had his back turned to him as he fought the other Knights. Sabine turned around in the last minute, but that was too slow for a proper reaction.

"Ezra look out!"

Luke blocked another incoming swing. He was growing tired. Everytime he'd attempt to strike him, Ragnos would meet him ten times faster. Sweat started getting into his eyes as he tried avoiding another swing. He felt the duels between Ahsoka and Baylon, and the one of Ezra and Sabine desperately trying to find an escape route. But the results of their fights hardly mattered if Luke lost. Ragnos would use him to destroy anyone who opposed him. Luke jumped into the air as he got out of the blades reach. "Growing tired Jedi?", Ragnos tauntingly asked as he swung again, this time having his weight pin Luke down. Luke struggled to breathe as Ragnos started crushing him. He focused his mind on one of the nearby pillars. He called for it as he desperately fought back. Ragnos was suddenly sent flying when the pillar struck him. Ragnos let out a growl as he tried to get up. Luke supported himself to the wall, taking deeps breathes as he started to clear his mind. Ragnos screamed as he got up and tackled Luke. He grabbed Luke by the head. Luke let out a blood curdling scream as Ragnos started to enter his mind. Luke fell to his knees as he tried to fight the sith lord from taking over his body. "I've won Jedi. You have failed. It's useless to resist", Ragnos stated as he continued to try and break Luke's mind. It would take some time, Luke was fighting him trying to protect what was rightfully his. Ragnos suddenly stopped as he was shot in the shoulder. He lost his concentration, Luke's spirit forcing his own to retreat back into his body. He failed as he tried again but was unable to get back into Luke's head.

Another blaster fire hit Ragnos in the back, almost missing the spine. The blaster bolt did minimal damage as Ragnos simply absorbed the energy. But it was still painful. Ragnos turned to see the assassin, Mara Jade, holding the blaster rifle in her hand. "Get away from him. He's mine", Mara spat coldly. "Assassin" Ragnos said in disgust, he charged at Mara, he swung his vibrosword down on her as she quickly jumped over him. She activated her lightsaber as she met Ragnos's weapon. The two continued to duel before Ragnos slapped her away. Mara fell to the floor as soon as she hit the wall. Her helmet was no longer on her, it was destroyed in one of Ragnos's attacks. Revealing her face and red hair. She attempted to block another blow until Ragnos let out a fit of rage upon her. He kept bashing his vibrosword at her lightsaber, the only thing between it and Mara.

Slowly but surely, Mara's gripped weakend. Her lightsaber was flung across the room, leaving her defenseless. Ragnos smiled as he finally saw victory. "Now you will die!", he said as he brought his vibrosword down on her. Mara let out a shriek as she expected to be impaled by Ragnos's blade. But she was met with nothing. Mara opened her eyes in confusion. Why didn't he kill her? But as soon as she looked up she saw it. Luke Skywalker's lightsaber intercepted Ragnos's killing blow. Ragnos looked up at annoyance to see Luke standing next to him, staring directly into his soul. Before Ragnos could make a move, Luke forced pushed him into a wall. Mara was silent, wondering why the man she so desperately wanted to kill, had just saved her. He was the bad guy after all, the villain in her eyes. Luke didn't speak as he walked towards her, he suddenly extended his hand at her. He was giving her an offer, a plea. She couldn't take Ragnos out alone, and neither could he. But together, they could take him out. Mara would just need another plan to kill him after all of this was over. And before she knew it, Mara accepted Luke's offer. Luke helped Mara up to her feet as he gave back her lightsaber. "Don't thank me yet", he said facing towards Ragnos. The two ignited their respected weapons, facing their foe. Ragnos stood up in amusement, "At last, a challenge".

He charged at them, jumping in the air and spinning as he caught both their blades. Mara used Luke as leverage as she jumped over Ragnos and struck him in the back. Luke ducked as Ragnos swung wide. He used his momentum to push Ragnos as he came back up. The sith lord tripped over Mara as she ducked behind him. Luke jumped in the air before using his lightsaber to strike Ragnos. The tip of Luke's blade sliced open Ragnos's face. The sith lord yelled out in pain as he attacked Mara. The three continued to duel, Luke and Mara covering each other's weak spots as Marka Ragnos advanced. Mara suddenly wrapped her self around Ragnos's arm, pinning him down and making him vulnerable to Luke. Luke swung his blade to Ragnos's chest, but Ragnos stopped the incoming blow with the force. Luke struggled to get his lightsaber out of the invisible grip. He decided to aim it at his hand instead of his chest. Luke managed to move his lightsaber to the hand that held the vibrosword.

Luke sliced at the vibrosword. Multiple shards flew everywhere, as both the handle and the blade broke apart. "No!", Ragnos yelled in horror as he threw Mara and Luke away from him. Luke and Mara jumped back up immediately, "You've lost Ragnos. Surrender now", Luke ordered as he reignited his lightsaber. "Screw surrender, he deserves to die", Mara barked as she charged at the unarmed sith lord. "Wait No!", Luke shouted at the assassin. But it was too late. Ragnos unleashed a storm of lightning from his hands. The purple-blue mix lightning sent Mara flying across the room. The lightning then moved onto Luke. Luke immediately blocked it with his lightsaber, he could feel the immense heat as he remembered how years earlier Palpatine unleashed his rage upon him. Back then, he had his father to save him, now he was alone. Luke let the force guide him as he inched closer to Ragnos. His lightsaber blade was starting to bend as the amount of energy was starting to overwhelm it. Mara jumped back into the fight, igniting her lightsaber as she stared to deflect the lightning. Ragnos struggled as he kept releasing more lightning. He fell on his knee as he yelled out a battle cry. The floor beneath them started to crack as it could no longer hold their weight. Luke and Mara continued to walk forward, despite of their lightsaber's blades bending towards them. Luke had no choice but to end it all, and if Ragnos somehow managed to take over his body, then he'll have the assassin end his life. It's better to be dead then be forced to bring havoc and chaos on those you love. Luke tightened his grip as he inched closer to Ragnos. "This ends now!".

Ahsoka blocked another blow as she and Baylon continued to duel. Baylon called his mask to him as Ahsoka jumped over him again. The mask flew past Ahsoka, barely missing her. Baylon caught it and put it on. "Need a mask to help you?", Ahsoka tauntingly asked. "No, but I'm sure Anakin Skywalker needed his, or should I say Darth Vader?", Baylon barked back. Ahsoka quickly fell quiet at the mention of Anakin. "What's the matter? Sith caught your tongue?", Baylon said tauntingly as he swung at Ahsoka again. Ahsoka growled in rage as she trapped Baylon's lightsaber. She kicked him in the gut as she brought her lightsaber to his face. Baylon dodged as he grabbed Ahsoka by her montrals. "Not again!", Ahsoka cried out as she was thrown across the room. "Master Ren, we were able to disable the bomb", the voice of Cardo spoke in the comlink. Baylon grabbed the comlink to reply, "Fire up the engines and come to my position. We're getting out of here"

"Ezra look out!", Sabine yelled at the top of her lungs. Ezra quickly turned to see Trudgen come at him at full speed. He tried to swing at the Knight, but Trudgen dodged the swing as he stabbed Ezra in the gut. Ezra let out a cry as the blade sunk deeper into his flesh. Blood started oozing out of Ezra as he lost his grip on the lightsaber. "Ezra!", Sabine cried out in horror. Without thinking Sabine grabbed his lightsaber and stabbed Trudgen in the chest. Trudgen let out a cry as Sabine pushed him to the floor. The Knights stopped fighting, rushing past Sabine as they tried to help their fallen brother. Baylon and Ahsoka had stopped dueling once they felt the death. "Trudgen, no!", Baylon cried out. He ran towards the fallen knight. He force pushed Ezra and Sabine away from his knights. Baylon grabbed Trudgen's hand. "It's alright Trudgen, I'm here", he said softly. He removed Trudgen's mask, to reveal a young boy, no older than 13, with dark brown hair. He had freckles and still had a baby face. Trudgen grabbed Baylon's hand as he choked on his own blood. "I'm sorry Master Ren, I wasn't strong enough. I'm...sorry", Trudgen suddenly stopped breathing. His hand fell to on the floor, lifeless.

Ahsoka calmed Ezra down as he struggled to breathe. He remained seated as he clutched the blade that had entered his body. She turned to Baylon and watched as he clutched the boy. "This is what happens when you use the darkside. You cause pain and suffering on both sides. None of this would've happened if you just left us alone", Ahsoka stated quietly. Suddenly Sabine started floating in mid air, she started clawing her throat as she struggled to breathe. Baylon slowly stood up, one hand force chocking Sabine, and the other held the lifeless Trudgen. Sabine was slowly losing consciousness with each stroke to free her windpipe. "Baylon, stop this!", Ahsoka shouted, in a fit of desperation she threw her lightsabers at him. The lightsabers spun at immense speed before chopping Baylon's hand off. Baylon screamed out in pain as his hand laid on the floor. Sabine fell to the floor, her eyes were rolled back as her body fell limb. Ahsoka helped her up, but she was barely breathing. Suddenly the wall behind the Knights of Ren exploded. The Night Buzzard came into view as it flew close to them. The sudden exposing of sun light blinded Ahsoka as she tried tending to Ezra and Sabine. The Knights of Ren started firing their weapons at her as they slowly retreated into the Night Buzzard. Ahsoka reflected each blaster bolt, trying to hit the Transport. The platform of the Night Buzzard opened and lowered as Ap'lek and Cardo walked out, firing their blasters at Ahsoka. Baylon followed the Knights in retreat. "Master Ren, what about Master Ragnos?", Ap'lek asked as he help the other Knights aboard. "Leave him. We had no chance", he stated as he gave Ap'lek the body of Trudgen.

Ahsoka cried in pain as a blaster bolt hit her shoulder. She kept reflecting all incoming blaster fire, but they were starting to overwhelm her. The Temple suddenly shook as the wall near them collapsed. Luke and Mara were thrown through the wall as force lightning started to fill the room. Ragnos forced them back onto their feet as they blocked the dangerous energy from cooking them alive. Ahsoka quickly looked at them confused. The assassin, why was she helping Luke? The realization suddenly hit her, just like how the blaster fire had hit her shoulder. The assassin was using him for her benefit. "Luke!", she shouted at the top of her lungs. But her yell was muted as the Night Buzzard's engines roared loudly. The Knights entered the shuttle, still firing every now and then as Ahsoka tried to reach Luke. "Ahsoka", Baylon called out. Ahsoka turned to him, her lekku swung around like crazy as the power of the Night Buzzard's engines blew into the temple. Baylon took out a thermal detonator and threw it near where Luke and Mara were still fighting Ragnos. "No!", Ahsoka shouted as she jumped to catch it. But the thermal detonator exploded before it reached its target.

The room was filled with a sudden shockwave and a blinding light. Everyone was thrown away from the explosion. As soon as the light vanished, the floor underneath them started to crack. The Temple started to collapse as it was being blown apart. Ragnos, Luke and Mara still continued to fight. Ragnos had grabbed the weapon of Trudgen and started slashing it at them. They were unaware that the floor had become unstable. Ragnos suddenly jumped and kicked Luke and Mara to the middle of the room. He then charged at them as he unleashed another storm of lightning to hurl at them. But the floor immediately caved in as Ragnos had gotten close to Luke and Mara. Both Ragnos, Luke and Mara all fell into the newly formed hole. Luke and Mara let out a scream as the got consumed by darkness. "Luke!", Ahsoka shouted in horror as she watched Luke fall into the hole. But the hole started to expand, Ahsoka quickly ran towards safety. But the floor beneath her suddenly collapsed. She began falling into the hole, but she caught an edge that was close to Ezra and Sabine. She started to pull herself up, when a blaster bolt hit a rock near her. "There is only one outcome Ahsoka", Baylon yelled from the platform as he held a small blaster pointing at her. "Wait, don't", Ahsoka pleaded as she struggled to grab another rock. "Goodbye", Baylon stated as he fired at Ahsoka's hand. Ahsoka winced in pain as she clutched her hand. But she immediately noticed her mistake. "No!", she yelled as she suddenly fell into the deep black void.

Baylon watched in amusement as Ahsoka fell into the hole. He tossed the blaster aside as if it was trash. The platform closed behind him as he entered the Night Buzzard. Baylon walked towards the body of Trudgen. He was covered up in a white sheet, waiting to be buried. "Is he dead?" a voice suddenly said. Baylon looked around to see who spoke. But none of the knights spoke. They were busy mourning the loss of their peer. "Who's this?", Baylon asked the voice inside your head. "Why surely you haven't forgotten, we met on Coruscant", the voice replied. "Snoke?", Baylon asked. He heard a chuckle echo in his head. "I assume Ragnos will soon be defeated?", Baylon asked through the force. "Not yet, but he will soon. I had retreated, I lost one of mine. I wasn't strong enough to protect him", Baylon stated as a couple of tears ran down his face. "I can show you the path for power, Ren, for revenge. Head to the planet of Malachor. There, I will begin your training", Snoke said before vanishing. "Yes, my Master", Baylon simply replied. "Kuruk", Baylon said, grabbing the attention of the young knight. "Yes Master?", Kuruk asked. "Set course for Malachor", Baylon stated as he wrapped his arm that no longer had a hand. "Malachor? What will we be doing there?", Kuruk asked as he headed towards the cockpit. "We will have our revenge ", Baylon stated before leaving the Knights be. The Night Buzzard started to gain altitude before the engines roared to life. It sent a shockwave throughout the Temple, as it started to leave the atmosphere.

Ezra popped his head out of the rubble, trying not to move as much as possible. The blade was still stuck in him, if he tried to pull it out, he would certainly die. "Sabine, Sabine. Please wake up", he cried out to the Mandalorian. She was laying on the floor. No sign of breathing from what Ezra could tell. Her body was stiff when Ezra tried lifting her. "No, please don't go", he cried. He watched the Night Buzzard get smaller and smaller as it rose in altitude. His eyes fell on the hole that Ahsoka have fallen in. It was deep from what he could tell. "Ahsoka?", he called out. No response. "This is all my fault", Ezra said to himself. If he didn't risked sending himself and Thrawn into hyperspace, none of this would've happened. They would've still been alive if he hadn't acted.Ezra suddenly felt a warm liquid spreading around his gut. He looked down to see the blade was no longer there. It was on the floor covered in blood. "Karabast", he cursed as he immediately put pressure on his wound. The blood was spreading everywhere now, he started to feel weak. Everyone was gone, he didn't know if someone could come rescue them. There was no hope. Ezra felt his eyelids growing heavier as he kept losing blood. "Somebody, help us", he called out weakly, he knew no one would hear him. But he wouldn't lose hope. Ezra looked up at the sky one last time, his vision started getting dizzy. In the distance, a small saucer shape ship entered the atmosphere. But before he could identify what type of ship it was, his eyelids finally closed shut, embracing the darkness.