"No way I'm going back, DeathRain!" Elan objected as the circle of bounty hunters began to close in, "Do you really think I'm going to let you fight without me? You're crazier than I remember!"

I grinned, igniting my lightsabers. "And you're more stupid than I remember, Elan. Now step back."

A nearby Rodian pirate shot a blazing red bullet in my direction, which I easily deflected with my flaming bloodred blade. A few other bullets whizzed towards me from behind, and I snapped my weapons in their direction, sending them flying back to harmlessly absorb into the wall. Another bullet from behind, a few more from the side—I was spinning in a spasmodic circle, trying to everywhere at once as the circle of mercenaries and thugs got tighter.

And then came the shot I hadn't seen coming. A sudden blast from the owner of the tavern's blaster—this time not aimed at me.

"Elan!" I yelled, watching, as if in slow motion, the laser discharge shoot through my old friend's arm. The smuggler cried out in pain as it tore through the nerves, scorching the bone and sending his bright green blood spurting out in all directions. Some landed on my hand, warm and sticky, and other flecks jumped into my lightsabers, their existence abruptly ending with a soft sizzle.

"Elan?" I knelt down beside the man, staring uncertainly at him. No answer, not even a twitch. "Elan, can you hear me?" The room was quiet, even the bounty hunters not moving, just so they could watch me suffer. I set my jaw, my flaming scarlet eyes narrowing. That would be the last thing they ever did.

I stood steadily, nothing betraying how I felt except my eyes, which were boiling over with anger. I felt that anger, and the hate, the suffering, the aggression, everything the Jedi were told to hold back back well up inside of me.

And then I let it out.

I didn't realize it was happening until I looked down. The sound of the crackling lightning drowned my screams, and the bright, harsh blue light tinted my pale features and turned my eyes to amethyst. The thugs, on the other hand, experienced things a bit differently.

I watched as they flew backwards, electricity running up and down their body as their skin rapidly blackened and shriveled, held together only by the lightning for a short time before it melted away like black ice. My lightning barely drowned out the sounds of their creams of agony, but I could still hear them.

I couldn't tell how much time passed before I finally stopped. All I knew was that it left me exhausted, and that my throat was hoarse and dry. The dull tingling it left in my fingertips gradually spread to the rest of my arms as I felt Elan's neck for a pulse. Sighing in relief, I began to bandage his wound. The stinging feeling began to intensify, burning and aching until I couldn't bear it. I screamed out in pain as it did nothing but grow in pain. It felt like I'd been shot with a blaster rifle, sliced by a lightsaber.

Hit by lightning.

That's it, I realized as I lay moaning on the ground. That's why most Sith don't use their lightning much. It hurts us just as much as it hurts our victims. I'd never used the lightning before, and I had no intention of using it again soon. Though I also had no doubt that I would use it again. I didn't want to forget this. But, at the same time, I kind of did.

I shook my head clear of my thoughts, and was saved from further reveries as Elan awoke.

"What happened?" he groaned, wincing as he felt his shoulder wound. "I feel like I got shot by a blaster…"

"I wonder why?" I managed a laugh as the pain in my arms began to die away. I helped my friend up, and we both hobbled out the door.

"I take it you used your Sith lightning?" he commented as he looked over his shoulder at the charred ashes of a human skull.

"Obviously," I smirked, back to my normal self.