The Best Around

Hannibal brought the shuttle out of hyperspace as it neared Corusant. "Haven't been home in a while," he grinned and turned to his preoccupied copilot. "Will you relax? This is what you live for. What's the problem?"

"The problem is that you are right," Hector answered. "This is what I live for…. Or at least it used to be. I thought I had moved passed it now. I don't even know if I want it anymore."

Hannibal rolled his eyes. "Because of Myriam? You have got to stop comparing yourself to her. I thought you had moved passed that too?"

Hector checked the scanners as he programmed their approach to the planet. "It's not about comparing myself to Myriam anymore, but she had a point. Why does the Council even sponsor this thing? The Lightsaber Tournament does nothing but encourage unhealthy competition amongst fellow Jedi."

"I think you're really just afraid of being beaten," Hector goaded. He smiled reassuringly when Hector shot the expected dirty look. "The Council obviously have their reasons for hosting it. And it's not really unhealthy competition if all the participants enjoy it and it encourages Jedi to hone their lightsaber skills. I mean, everybody who enters does so voluntarily….." Hannibal stopped himself mid- sentence. "Well….. almost everybody."

Hector sat back in his seat. Normally Hannibal would have been absolutely correct. The Lightsaber Tournament was entirely voluntary although masters sometimes encouraged their padawans to participate. Hector entered every year since he was eligible. Since his final years as a padawan, he finished at least in the top ten, making it to the final round in the last five years, winning for the last two. It was fun and he always enjoyed it, but this year he had decided not to enter. He felt that part of his life was over and that he needed to devote himself to his assignment. In many ways, he had become the face of the tournament. He had a following in certain circles of aspiring lightsaber duelists. There was probably wide-spread disappointment when he announced that he would not participate. And maybe it was that disappointment that caused the Jedi Council to order his participation just two days ago. "I haven't really had time to prepare like other years." Hector lamented.

"You'll be fine," Hannibal reassured as their shuttle approached the landing bay outside the temple. "Look," he pointed, "we're home."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As he had come to expect, Hector barreled his way through the early rounds of the tournament. Despite his lack of preparation, he found it surprisingly easy. He had been using his saber quite a bit against live opponents lately. Although those opponents were all using blasters, the repetition must have been good for his reflexes. He had also spent more time meditating and practicing other Force techniques. Nonsaber Force moves were not allowed in the tournament (it was strictly based on saber dueling skills), but being more in touch with the Force also had to assist in that regard.

Hector found a slight challenge in the fifth round. His opponent was experienced enough not to broadcast his every move before he made it. The rare purple-saber wheilding dueler actually managed to score a point when Hector fell for a fake move. The crowd applauded the upstart as he managed the rare trick on the returning champion. As Hector parried the purple beam in another defensive maneuver, he could not help, but wonder what color his opponent's actual saber was. Participants checked their actual lightsabers at the Jedi Temple and used special practice sabers during the tournament. On-lookers were also not allowed to bring their actual weapons to the arena. The only live blades in the entire section were in the procession of the temple guards and they were here mostly to guard the Chancellor of the Republic who would attend just long enough to view the final round.

Hector parried and counter moved against the purple blade yet again this time quickly scoring his third point and ending his longest match so far. "Hannibal brought his friend a bottle of water as he approached the bench to rest. "Had me worried there for a minute," Hannibal jabbed as Hector sat.

The barely winded participant replied, "You could be useful and go scope out the real competition."

"Oh, I have," he grinned back. "I hear there is someone tearing up the other bracket, but I haven't made it over there yet. You won't be seeing him until the final round anyway. As long as you keep this pace up, you should breeze through everyone else."

Hannibal was right. None of his other opponents even touched the returning champion. Before Hector even had a chance to enjoy the day, he found himself standing next to the judges' panel with Hannibal waiting for the announcer to introduce his opponent to the crowd for the final round. "Any idea who it is?" he leaned towards Hannibal.

"Not a clue. You'll be fine though," his friend reassured.

Hector's long awaited rush of adrenaline returned as the announcer's voice boomed through the arena, "Ladies and Gentlemen. Children of all ages. Fellow Jedi and friends from across the galaxy. Thank you for attending our annual Lightsaber Tournament. And now the moment you have all been waiting for our championship round!"

The cheers and applause boomed throughout the arena. Hector bounced just slightly as the announcer greeted the sponsors and honored guests. "Now let's meet this year's contestants. First, our two time returning champion. You know him and love him. The man you all came to see, esteemed Jedi Knight, Hector Andrilious!" The arena exploded with applause even louder than before. "And our surprising challenger. Despite this being her first entry into our competition, her reputation requires no prolonged introduction. You know her, you love her, her enemies fear her, the marvelous Jedi Knight Myriam!"

Hector and Hannibal's jaws dropped as their seemingly emotionless teammate stepped from behind the gathered spectators and into the ring. In Hector's ears the applause seemed even louder than his. "The announcer resumed. "We will give our participants an hour to refresh themselves and return to what is sure to be a captivating match!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

Hannibal caught himself trying to control his anger as he stormed towards the opposing locker room. The door slid open for him to find a calm Myriam examining her assigned practice saber as she sat on the bench in the dim room. "You really are a sneaky one aren't you?" he bit back his anger at the sight of her.

"Excuse me?" to his surprise she raised her gaze to address her intruder.

"You know this is Hector's thing. All that talk about his competitive nature and here you are. What was that? Just to psyche him out or something? You have some nerve….."

The seated Jedi let out a slight sigh, "I guess curiosity just got the best of me. I thought he had decided not to enter this time?"

"He did," Hannibal weighed her response. "The Council ordered him to participate. I guess they figured he would be your only real competition here…"

"Rest assured, Jedi Hannibal, Jedi Myriam was also ordered here by the Council," a voice from the corner of the room broke into the confrontation.

Hannibal's noticed the stoic figure for the first time since entering his tirade. "Master Voudon," he glanced confusingly around the room. "My apologies, was I interrupting something important?" Hannibal was not even sure himself if he intended any innuendo, but it was ignored by both parties.

"Just a friendly chat," the reputable Master smiled. "Would you mind giving us another moment?"

"Of course, Master," the still confused knight glanced around the otherwise empty room before returning his gaze to Myriam. "Any chance Yoda is hiding in here too?"

Myriam actually seemed to scoff in the presence of her senior, "Master Yoda wouldn't touch something this trite with a ten meter walking stick."

"A moment please, Master Jedi," Voudon's tone remained friendly, but firm. "And I would appreciate no mention of my presence here."

"Of course, Master," Hannibal bowed slightly, eyed Myriam one last time and exited.

"So the 'Council' ordered Hector here as well?" Myriam did not hide her dissatisfaction from her superior. "Our team is planning a major mission, yet here we are. It reeks of your doing."

"I am the Jedi Council," Voudon smiled. "We have need of our most skilled Jedi here today."

"I can think of at least eleven other members of the council who would disagree with you sentiment," Myriam continued to be reserved, but defiant. "They are the ones who assembled our team and ordered our overall mission in the first place. Why would they go along with pulling their two 'most skilled' away from that."

"Nothing is more important than preserving the peace and prosperity of the Republic. The Chancellor is in attendance today. We have reason to believe his safety will be threatened."

"That's what temple guards are for. Not to mention there are hundreds of Jedi out there. Even unarmed, who would be stupid enough to move on the Chancellor here?" Myriam shot back.

"People who want to make a statement," Voudon reassured. "I'm not accustomed to explaining my orders….."

"And I'm not used to receiving questionable orders in the name of the Council," Myriam's voice did not waver.

"Your newly formed team has experience with organized criminals. We believe the Black Sun to be behind this plot. Yours and Hector's experience may prove useful. Just preparing for every eventuality."

Myriam tried to exhale her continued dissatisfaction. "Fair enough. So why isn't Hector receiving this same briefing?"

Voudon's smile did not fade. "To maintain the appearance of normality."

"I'm not used to operating under these conditions," Myriam rose and attached her temporary saber to her belt. "Especially with a fake lightsaber."

"You will be fine. If you had come to work for me like you were supposed to, you would be perfectly comfortable," Voudon's smile intensified.

"I'm comfortable in the Force. What about you?" Myriam turned away to enter the arena.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hector and Myriam faced each other as the announcer completed their introductions. "And now with no further ado, we begin our championship round. Jedi, ignite and touch sabers." Two blue beams of light extended and slightly touched. "Begin."

Neither beam moved for some time. The competitors faced each other in stern concentration. "Make your move," Myriam mumbled across the blades to Hector.

"Ladies first," Hector grinned back. He had longed for this moment for several months. Just never thought it would be happening in the arena.

Myriam sighed, "A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack."

"Don't go all Yoda on me. Or do you forget I've seen you in action?" Hector grinned back. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Same as you, you fool. I was ordered here by Voudon."

"So Master Voudon wanted to see us go at it?" Hector clarified.

"No dummy, the Black Sun is going to attempt to assassinate the Chancellor. We are here to protect him."

"Hector kept his focus on Myriam, but his confusion was obvious. "There are nearly a thousand Jedi here. How would an assassin even have a chance at getting to the Chancellor?"

"Because everyone is focused on us." The words were barely out of Myriam's mouth when they both sensed the danger. Maybe the others felt it as well, but had no idea of the impending attack. Or maybe the two competitors felt it a few seconds before everyone else. Hector and Myriam turned to the Chancellor's box, dropped their practice sabers and flipped to the Chancellor's seat just as the sniper's blaster bolt left a perch from the upper deck. In mid-air, both Jedi extended their hands robbing two of the temple guards of their double-hilted saber's. Hector's other hand extended towards the bolt slowing it just long enough for Myriam to land, ignite the double yellow blade and deflect the bolt harmlessly into the floor. Hector landed with his borrowed blades ignited as the other guard's also extended their blades. "Someone's been practicing," Myriam nodded at her teammate.

"He's up there," Hector yelled and pointed to the shadow that was now fleeing across an upper catwalk.

"Myriam pointed to the two now unarmed guards, "Stay with the Chancellor. The rest of you follow us."

The would-be assassin neared the end of the catwalk as Hector and a team of guards landed in front of him. "Halt!" Hector yelled.

The assassin turned to see Myriam and another team of guards blocking his escape. "You are cut off. Surrender."

The assassin grinned from beneath his cloak. He pointed his sniper rifle at Hector's team, pulled a pistol from beneath his cloak and began firing wildly at both sides as he jumped over the rail, flipping to a lower catwalk. He darted into a corridor as all of the armed Jedi landed behind him. The assassin blasted the door controls as he entered the corridor, lowering and sealing the door behind him. He ran a few feet before he was face to face with Master Voudon. The assassin came to a dead stop and knelt before the Jedi Master. "Well done." Voudon grinned as he approached the assassin.

The assassin pulled back his cloak. "Thank you, Master."

"I have observed what I needed to observe," the Master reassured his subordinate as he rose to his feet. "Have no fear, I will clear everything with the Council, but for now you must escape." The subordinate turned to continue his flight, when Voudon stopped him again. "I almost forgot. Your lightsaber." Voudon pulled the saber from his robe to offer it to the assassin.

"Thank you, Mast….."the subordinate's gratitude was cut off in mid-sentence as Voudon extended the yellow blade through the sentinal's chest. A look of horror flashed through his eyes as the life rushed out of them.

"I'm sorry," Voudon whispered. "You have served the Council well."

It was only a matter of minutes before the guards led by Myriam and Hector reached Voudon. "He used to be one of mine." Voudon sounded disappointed as he stared at his now lifeless subordinate. "He went rogue some time back." The Jedi Master offered the saber to one of the temple guards. "This was his."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Back in the arena, the crowd had finally settled when the announcer and Hector approached the center of the arena. "In an unusual turn of events, our challenger, Jedi Myriam has conceded the match." He turned to Hector, grabbed his hand and raised it high in the air. "Presenting our Lightsaber Tournament Champion for the third year in a row, Jedi Knight Hector Andrillious!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Unfortunately, this agent went rogue some time ago, as I previously reported. I did not know that he had become involved with the Black Sun, but when I received reports of their plans, I felt it best to redeploy two of our best knights to the scene," Voudon concluded his report to the Jedi Council.

"You reassigned Knights already assigned to a very important task. Surely there were others just as qualified…" Tarayzin attempted to argue.

"I needed Knights who would not be out of place at the tournament," Voudon defended his decision.

"This type of mission is Master Voudon's specialty," Master Oldofo interjected. "We will trust his judgement on this matter."

"What worries me," Master Yoda spoke up, "the second recent report of a rogue this is."

"Exactly," Master Oo'looku agreed. "This is a disturbing trend."

"The other supposed rogue is in your camp Oo'looku," Voudon continued to defend. "You should be allowed to handle him as I was."

"Very well," Oldofo reiterated. "Master Oo'looku, your team is nearly up for a performance evaluation. Do as you see fit."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hector and Myriam once again stared across from each other with practice sabers in hand. "You sure you want to do this?" Myriam asked. "We really should join the others in planning our trip to Markuria. Besides you have retained your title that is what you wanted right?"

Hector grinned, "I may have the title, but I won't feel like I earned it until this is over."

"Well, no one is watching. We are the only ones who will ever know the truth. Make your move." Myriam goaded.

"Ladies first," Hector replied.