Republic Transport

Galen Zaun was on the bridge of the Transport looking at the sensor displays at the front of the bridge while sipping gingerly on his scalding hot beverage.

They were heading for another unknown planet, another unnamed rock that was unexplored by the Republic. It was the fifth planet from the sun and the Republic had received an anonymous tip giving spatial coordinates there, along with the schematics of an enemy supply base carrying war materials.

This was the first big break in the growing crisis.

But given that it was based on a tip from an unknown and unconfirmed source, it seemed too good to be true, the Republic and the Jedi were proceeding with caution. For starters they sent in the best Jedi duo in this part of space. Namely Galen and his son.

It was a sad fact of life, as he watched the orb grow steadily larger in the forward view port. He was thinking of Arkadi again, missing her greatly at a time like this.

And thinking of Death, sending a chill shooting up and down his spine, he looked at the planet again with uncertainty.

He felt a tugging on the sleeve of his robes.

He put his cup down and turned slowly to the thing trying to get his attention.

It was a protocol droid.

"I beg your pardon sir but this just came through over the communication net." It announced with simple mechanical precision.

"Thank you." Galen nodded to it taking the paper from the lose hands of the droid.

He read it over and stiffened, he read it again and his eyes widened perceptibly, as he held it loosely in his hand.

A door whooshed behind him.

"Hey Father." John greeted as he came into the room, taking a caf from a droid before shooting it a look.

"Hey son." Galen responded hollowly.

"What is that?" John asked gesturing with the cup to the piece of paper in Galen's hand.

Galen turned to his son and stared for a bit, before smiling and making a shrugging motion with the paper. "A promotion, of sorts."

John smiled crookedly. "What, they making you an Admiral now? You are certainly old enough." John winked.

Galen laughed. "No not that kind of promotion. It's the Jedi. They are making me the new Master Sentinel since the last one just passed away."

John grinned, "Congratulations father," his hand shot out and Galen grasped it as they together gave a firm shake.

"Yeah well it's really nothing." Galen shrugged.

"Nothing?" John responded shocked. "You are now the most powerful, in the eyes of the Jedi, Sentinel in the entire Order; By title, by position, and by actual ability."

"But I don't deserve it!" Galen barked, and then he clenched his fists as his body shook with barely controlled grief, he tried to get himself to calm down.

His son reached out a tentative arm and grasped his shoulder. "Father? What's wrong?"

Galen sighed and stroked his beard absentmindedly. "I lied, I lied because I felt that I did not have any other choice. I lied because I liked it, and I was running out of time. So I felt at the time….so long ago." He shook his head, "Too long ago." He chuckled warily "I can barely remember it."

"Father?" John's voice shook as his throat suddenly felt dry, a lump was beginning to gather at the base of it.

"I lied about Death, to Death. I was no friend of his Father's, I killed him. It was a duel on Kandar, I won, he asked me to find his son…the current Death. I did, bounty hunters nearly beat me to it, I killed them, and then to get Death out of there I lied to him. His mother was dead, probably step mother or something." He explained, sitting down, his shoulders slumping.

"Yeah but his father obviously wanted you to take care of him?" John also pulled up a chair.

"Yeah but Death doesn't know that, all he knows…or suspects…is that I lied about killing his father." Galen slams his fist into the arm rest. "All I did to him was violate his trust."

"Does the council know?" John asked after running his hands through his hair disheveling it and making it stand up on end.

"Yes of course they know!" He spat, "and they continue to do nothing about it."

John drummed his fingers on his knee before continuing. "Look, I know this is tough for you, I know how you must be feeling…ah hell no I don't. But we still have a mission to run."

"I know son, let the launch bay know that we will be heading down soon and tell them to prepare." Galen ordered, leaning back in the chair.

John nodded and patted his father's knee on the way out before heading off.

The Planet Surface.

The drop ship swooped down out of the sky, and then hovered for a second, flying around low to the ground sweeping over the plains.

It floated steadily as the two Jedi leapt out of the transport, they brought their Lightsabers to hand with Force ability and glared around the horizon for a couple of minutes.

"I don't see anything." John reported sounding suspicious.

"Neither do I." Galen stretched out to his full height as if to peer around the rolling plains getting a better view.

"Sir, what do you want me to do?" The Pilot asked peeking out of the open hatch.

"Head back to the ship, keep a constant lock on us, we are going to investigate the area." Galen ordered.

"What's up?" John asked looking at him sideways.

"I feel something, something is here." Galen responded neutrally, scanning the horizon with a pair of macrobinoculars.

"What?" John asked, scanning the horizon with his eyes, and then reaching out with the Force. He felt something, dark and oppressive, but vague and undefined.

"I don't know. But come on lets go find out." Galen stowed the binoculars in his vest and started to move out, John followed at twenty meters.

They moved out for over an hour, making good pace over the smooth, even planes. The yellow grass shot out of the ground in tufts here and there, causing them to move around to avoid them. They were traveling along the perimeter of a Canyon, it declined steeply onto a dry river bed, leaving a solid cliff face of pure rock, leading to jagged rock at the bottom.

John had his Saber in hand and was balancing on the edge, shooting uncertain looks over the side, and steadying his nerves.

In the distance there was a solid glass bridge that led from one end of the canyon to the other, connecting the two sides.

The sun was blazing overhead, beating down on them high in the sky. John was starting to feel winded as sweat was poring over his brow, as the feeling was beginning to increase.

Galen took a sharp right hand turn in the middle of a path, heading off in a new direction, and picking up his pace till he was nearly jogging.

He stopped suddenly, as did John. All of John's senses were on edge as he was straining to hear anything. He heard a rustle of leaves and spun around to better hear the noise , but he was lifted off his feet, his eyes widened as he looked at Galen.

Galen's hands were raised over his head and he was manipulating John as he made him fly through the air.

Father! He screamed at Galen using the Force in his head.

Galen just shook his head sadly.

John landed painfully behind some rocks, providing him with cover but he could clearly see the path, and his father.

He tried to get up but found that his muscles somehow would not move, he could not get up, as if he was pinned. He suddenly realized he was pinned by the power of the Force, he tried to open his mouth in protest but that did not work. All that would work was his neck.

He heard another rustling of vegetation and craned around.

A figure dressed in full body, tall, dark robes stalked over to Galen. Galen was staring wearily at the newcomer, but from his perspective John could not identify the man, since he was hooded.

But the voice was unmistakable.

"Hello old friend." The figure sneered.

"Hello Death." Galen replied bowing, "you look well."

Death took off his hood revealing smooth, clear, the palest of white skin. "So do you, well for someone who is old and infirm."

Galen bowed. "Nothing I can say is there?"

"Nope." Death responded, aggressive, the challenge was simple.

"I see." Galen sounded resigned to his fate, resigned to this moment. Whether he was going to survive or not was meaningless.

A sudden wave of despair shot through John's body, but his muscles could not work, and he could not release a sob.

Two rays of Light shot forth from their two Lightsabers crossing each other in mid air. It was sparking and sizzling, cracking throughout the air, sounding loud even from John's perspective, both combatants were leaning into the attack, their muscles flexing and pumping, sweat breaking out on both of their brows.

Galen leapt back about ten meters, Death swooped in, he was sweeping his Lightsaber down low. The now red blade threatening to cut Galen off at the knees caused him to dodge defensively.

Galen countered by leaping high into the air and flipping, he landed hard and spun around, pivoting on the ball of his foot.

This caught Death off guard as he nearly charged into the active blade, he too tried to leap but Galen rolled with him and kicked out, shooting Death into the air.

Death landed hard and snarled before charging again.

A series of slashes and blows were exchanged between the two combatants. Galen was parrying and on the defensive, his Bronze blade a flurry of near unseen activity, staying one step ahead of Death.

But it was not enough.

John could feel the feelings of guilt pouring off of his father. He could feel that his father was loosing, but somehow this was all according to his plan. That and his own age, combined with the superiority of his opponent, made it difficult for him to win in the first place.

Death charged, he could sense the weakness of his prey, could sense that his prey was about to die at his hand.

John wanted to help, knew that together him and his father could win. John did not care what his father did, he did not deserve to be killed.

Death separated from the combat and shot a ball of lighting at his father.

Galen brought his saber up just barely in time to deflect it, but the overwhelming force of the strike drove him down to one knee. He was panting, his gray hair was drenched with sweat, lightning was tickling at his beard.

Death relented for a second.

"You have grown weak old man." Death spat.

"No," Galen grinned. "I trained you too well. You know in a sick twisted, but very poetic way, I have won here. You beat me because of my training."

"Really? Where did I get the lightning?" Death sneered.

"That is easy." Galen smiled, he got up and held his blade in a defensive posture.

Father! John screamed in his head, devastated.

Galen's eyes swiveled around to stare into his son's. I love you Son, May the Force be With You.

Death charged. He swept in and their blades clashed with a resounding noise reverberating down the canyon and reflecting back on the combatants.

Galen retreated under the blows, pacing back, until he was holding his blade in one hand, swinging it and twirling it in the air. Death kicked out connecting with Galen's chest flinging him back.

Death moved to hammer his Saber into Galen's but Galen held his blade close to his head and deflected it.

But Death grinned, he wrapped the blade around, went back to Galen, and then impaled Galen through the chest. Galen's eyes widened as he could feel the life drain from him.

John felt the Force restraints leave him, he could move again. He knew he had to be careful, so he twisted around and got on all of his fours and prepared to pounce if Death even came anywhere close.

"Where are you? I know you are here. Come out come out wherever you are, John…John Zau-na!" Death shouted mockingly to the air as he maneuvered over to the rocks where John was 'hiding'.

John was ready to pounce. He leapt up and shot his hand out, Death gasped and yelled as the Force blast flew him through the air, far far away.

John ran over to his father, nearly stumbling over the rocks.

"Father!" John yelped as he collapsed, near breathless next to his father. Picking his head up, cradling it in his lap.

Galen's body wracked with pain and he blinked his eyes open. He smiled. "Son."

"Shhhhh father, don't talk, save your strength, maybe I can get some help." John soothed, staring into his father's eyes. "Please hold on."

"I can't son." He coughed. "It's my time to go, I am content, and at ease…. it was my destiny, I could feel it. It was time that I paid for my sins, so you didn't have to."

"But father you can't go," John pleaded, "you still have so much life left to live."

Galen coughed again, this time blood spluttered out staining John's robes. "Son, it is my time to go. You cannot blame yourself." He hacked up more blood sounding like his time was near.

Rage shot throughout the core of John's being, his eyes darted around the area, expecting, hoping, that his enemy, his target, the thing, was there so that John could kill it.

Galen picked up on it, he stared at John puzzled studying him. He grabbed a tuft of John's robes dragging John's face close to his. He was losing his voice and losing his ability to speak. His voice spilled out in a horse whisper.

He stared up at his son. "John…do not…" He coughed. "Do not react with rage, with pain, with passion, no matter what. You are such a good boy…you have so much potential. But do not fight with rage. Only calmness and serenity, that is the key, unlock the Force and no opponent can stand before you." His eyes glazed over, he looked so content and happy, as he passed beyond.

"Father?" John whimpered, he tried to shake his father's head, but it just lolled to the side.

Then Death finally made an appearance. "Aww, did I hurt the wittle Wedi's feelings." He mocked.

John stood and dusted off his robes. "You will be brought to justice by me and the Jedi."

Death swaggered cockily around. "What by you? Little John Zaun?"

"Yes, by me." John stated simply holding back his rage at his father's request.

Death laughed. "Oh give it up little Jedi, I am more than ten years your age, your experience, and your skill."

John sighed and grimaced as they began to circle each other. "Well… and just like my father that could lead to your undoing…so we will see won't we?"

Death grinned feral.

John shot his hand out picking up the fallen Lightsaber hilt when Galen trapped him. He summoned it to his hand and then swished it in the air, he pointed at Death and activated it.

The blue beam shot through the air aiming at Death's throat, it humming aggressively, though he was still a couple dozen meters away.

Death brought his weapon to hand and leapt, he charged with an aggressive battle cry.

John dug his feet in the ground, rose his Lightsaber out to the left holding the blade by his eye, and the two blades clashed in mid air sizzling wildly.

Their battle had begun.