Darth Vader approached David, the dark lord's steps echoed with power as he spoke to Jedi before him, "It foresaw that you would be here. Our long awaited meeting has come at last."
"I'm glad I gave you something to look forward to," David said as he gripped his lightsaber tightly.
Then, Darth Vader stopped in his pace. David readied himself for the attack, but instead, the dark lord offered him his hand. He spoke as if trying to reason with a friend, instead of an enemy. "We need not be adversaries. The Emperor will show you mercy if you hand over the holocrons and reveal any names of remaining Jedi and where they can be found."
David shook his head. As tempting as Vader's offer was, the young Jedi Knight would rather die than betray what was left of what the Jedi stood for. "That's a fool's bargain!" he shouted at Vader. "People mean nothing to you. There are no Jedi. You and your inquisitors have seen to it."
A smile was hidden under Vader's mask as looked at a soon to be dead Jedi. "Perhaps Aleah or Master Dray will confess what you will not."
The two began to circle, each blade only inches away from touch. David sadly looked at Vader. "Dray told me who you were behind that mask, but it's impossible. My friend Anakin Skywalker would not be as vile as you."
Vader raised his lightsaber ready to strike. "Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him."
David raised his. "Then I will avenge his death."
"Revenge is not the Jedi way." Vader retorted as he swung his blade towards David.
"I no longer follow the Jedi code, but I still fight for justice for all the Jedi killed during Order 66 and especially..." David blocked the attack, pushed back and went for a strike of his own as he shouted, "Anakin Skywalker." Vader brought his lightsaber around and parried David's strike. The lightsabers clash as the duelists fought each other.
"Your powers are weak, Creed," Darth Vader said.
"You and the Sith can't win, Darth. Even if you strike me down now, one more powerful than you will bring an end to the Empire," David said as he ignited a second lightsaber and his lightsaber became a lightsaber staff.
Back in the research room, Aleah looked at her father, confused as to why he would show himself now and not come for her during Order 66. Taking a step forward, the beautiful Nelvaanian looked at him, her eyes filled with angry tears.
"Why?" she cried. "Why now?"
Aleah's father frowned. He did like her tone, but answered anyway. "Because I wasn't ready to be your father, but I am now."
Siv came up and pulled Aleah back a bit. He didn't believe that her father was being honest. The fact that he showed up now when she was in trouble only added to his suspicions about this Nelvaanian.
"If you really are her father, then why weren't you the one training her in the ways of the force?" Siv asked him.
"Yeah," David said joining in on the interrogation. "Why didn't you?"
Aleah's father looked at the Mirialan. He could already tell this one was going to cause him trouble, so he gave Danny an answer. "I didn't train her because I never knew I had a daughter until Daesha Eyan told the Jedi council about her."
Fang scoffed. "Lame excuse."
Aleah's father growled at Fang. "It is the truth!" he than turned to looked at his daughter once more. "I had already left the order because I could no longer stand all the politics. The Jedi were meant to be guardians of peace and justice, not one who pledges their loyalty to corrupt politicians and senators."
Dray stepped forward, finally realizing who this Gray Jedi was. "You're former Jedi master Bator Daylon. You were sent to Nelvaan on mission to retrieve a downed Republic recon ship."
Bator smiled. "Yes, that is where I met Aleah's mother," he reached out and stroked his daughter's hair. "I fell in love, but sadly I had to return to the Jedi."
"So it all makes since now," Aleah sighed looking sadly at her father. "Because of you, I was born with the force. My people hated me. They called me a witch, said I was an evil demon and it only got worse once my mother got married and gave birth to my sister." Her friends listened, each one feeling a great weight on their hearts.
"My sister was treated with nothing but love and respect, while I was never allowed to even play with the other children. As I grew up, men avoided me, my sister distanced herself from me. I was all alone."
"Not anymore," Bator smiled. "I have come to make up for my mistakes. Now, we leave for Dantooine." he reached out to take Aleah by her hand, but she instead backed away.
Firmly standing her ground, Aleah said firmly. "I'm not going with you."
David fought Darth in the same manner as his old friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi fought Darth Maul when he was a padawan. He tried to attack Darth Vader's legs, but Vader blocked David's attacks and force choked him.
"It's such a shame you had to refuse my offer. You would've been a fine Inquisitor," Darth Vader said.
David knew that he wouldn't last long if he didn't break free from Vader's grip. He noticed there were electrical cables from a damaged electrical box. He forced a smile and gasping his words. "You… Should… Always… Mind… Your surroundings." Vader realized to late what David meant by that. The Jedi Knight quickly force pulled the electrical cables free and struck Vader with them in the back. Electricity surged through the dark lord as his respirator shut down from the overload, his metallic arms and legs locked up. Vader lost his grip on David as he split his lightsaber staff back into two lightsabers.
Seeing his opening, David brought both lightsabers down on Vader. The dark lord was able to lift his lightsaber up to deflect one lightsaber, but the other ended up slicing through his left arm. Vader felt searing pain, then nothing but rage.
The dark lords looked down at his severed arm. The wires and metal could be seen clearly, but still, he couldn't help but smile. "You have always been the clever one, David, but that can't help you in the long run," Vader said as he threw his lightsaber at David. It contacted David's lightsaber and it returned to Vader like a boomerang.
Darth Vader let his rage guide his strikes. David tried to hold his ground, but the amount of power the dark lord was putting into each strike kept forcing him back. The young Jedi Knight remembered what his master had told him about attacking with strength instead of using technique. It would make the opponent easier defeat when they would give an opening. Now all David had to do was wait until Vader messed up, then he would end the fight with one swift strike.
The two foes continued to fight each other until Vader's Inquisitors showed up and charged in to help him, but Vader stopped them. "Do nothing! He's mine to finish!" Vader commanded.
"As you wish, Lord Vader," Barriss Offee said.
David recognized Barriss from the Old Republic and thought she had been punished for bombing the Jedi Temple. "I see that you recruited Barriss to be one of your Inquisitor," David said.
"She had proven to be a great asset to the Empire to hunt the remaining Jedi. Though she still wants to find her old friend, Ashoka Tano. That is, if she is still alive," Darth Vader said almost sounding sad about mentioning the name of the Anakin Skywalker's padawan.
As the duelists fought each other with such intensity, David began to notice how Darth Vader reminded him of Anakin Skywalker. The way he fought with his lightsaber, the way he felt his presence and how powerful he was with the Force.
With one final strike, Vader knocked David into the wall, causing the Jedi Knight to lose his lightsaber. The dark lord smiled as he raised his left arm and like an invisible picked of the lightsaber and placed it on his belt.
The dark lords towered over David. "A good fight, but pointless. You have been defeated. Now..." he growled pointing his red lightsaber at the Jedi's throat. "Surrender!"
David looked around, hoping for some kind way to escape. Then, he saw a laser pistol close to a dead pirate. Maybe, he could use that to his advantage, but time needed to be stalled. "I surrender. Spare me, please!" the Jedi begged, noticing that there was a pipe above them. If he could blow steam into the room, then it would provide him enough cover to try to make a run for it.
"How good it is to know that you have chosen to submit, rather than resist," Vader said deactivating his lightsaber. Placing his own lightsaber on his belt, the dark lord held out his right hand to David.
David reached out towards Vader. "Fooled you!" he laughed and force pulled the gun to him. Vader couldn't react fast enough as the Jedi took aim and fired at the pipe above him. The steam blew out a hot gas at Vader and his Inquisitors. The steam provided David enough cover to snatch his lightsaber off Vader.
"Love to stay and chat but I got to run!" He joked as he force dashed his way to the exit while Vader and the Inquisitors were trying to get their bearings.
At that moment, some Clones arrived. Vader shouted to the commander. "FIND HIM!"
"Pull out your thermal visors," the Clone trooper commander said to his men. The clones quickly scanned the room to see nothing but an incoming swarm of infected coming down the hall. David had escaped.
"No sign of the Jedi, sir," the clone trooper reported. He and his men began firing at the infected until there were none standing.
Barriss frowned and looked at the Clones with contempt. These soldiers use to be some of the greatest in the galaxy, but now they were starting to show signs of being unreliable. Turning to Darth Vader, she ignited it, the red blade glowed brightly as she spoke to her lord and enforcer of the Sith. "Do not worry, I will find him," Barriss said.
Vader however saw things differently. "No! The rest of you clear this ship of any infected, find the remaining Nova Star crew, salvage anything useful for the Empire. Then, destroy this ship. Leave no trace of this infection." Darth Vader said as he left to pursue his former friend.
David ran through the many halls of the Taint of Darkness as he tried to find a way to get topside. He cut down many infected and clone troopers by either deflecting their blasters or cutting them up. He then saw BD-2 droids aiming their lasers at him.
"Halt, Jedi!" The droid ordered.
"Not now, rust bolt! I got my own problems to deal with. I'm being pursued by Darth Vader, I kept getting attacked by the infected and I keep getting lost in every turn and... oh, don't give me a hard time right now!"
Then, he sensed Darth Vader's presence. Looking over his shoulder, he the wall get blasted open with his force push.
David Creed had to give Vader credit for knowing how to make an entrance. "Halt!" The BD-2 ordered as he and other droids opened fire at Vader.
That only aggravated the Sith enforcers as he simply deflected the lasers and crushed them with his force concentration. "Your cleverness and persistence is really starting to aggravate me, David. Why don't you just come out and give yourself up? I promise to make your death quick and painless," Vader said taunting the Jedi Knight.
"What do you mean you're not coming with me?" Bator asked, not at all happy that his daughter was choosing the hard way.
Aleah took Siv's hand in hers, kissing it gently as she stared at her father. "I'm staying with the man I love," she then looked at her friends, "with my crew," then finally at Dray. "And my new master, Dray Flange."
"With them?" Bator scoffed, almost finding her choice somewhat funny. "Aleah, they can't protect you from the threat I have foreseen through the force." The other didn't seem to understand, so said Nelvaanian Gray Jedi turned towards a star map.
"Right now, poised in the center of the Outer Rim, Emperor Palpatine is secretly building a weapon with destructive capacity to annihilate an entire planet!" he proclaimed. "I alone will train my daughter, find the weapon's weakness and destroy it."
The response from the others was he had suspected.
"YOU ARE CRAZY!" Danny shouted.
"No such weapon could ever exist," Siv said shaking his head. "Even if the entire Imperial navy attacked a small moon, they wouldn't be able to destroy it."
Feline spoke up after looking over her deta pad. "Also, the amount of power used to operate such a weapon would be impossible."
Dray had the final say now. "And the power to destroy a planet is insignificant when set against the power of the force."
"Indeed," Fang said sneering at Bator, the tone in his voice could only be that of disrespect towards Aleah's father. "You are nothing more than an old fool who only wants Aleah to come with you just so can have some cook and clean for you. She's a wonderful addition to our crew, so just-" The Nova Star's first mate suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his hands shot up to his neck, as if he was chocking.
Everyone drew their weapons and pointed them at Bator who showed no fear as he held out his hand at Fang. "I find your lack of respect towards me disturbing," he said calmly.
"Stop! Let him go!" Aleah ordered. Bator smiled.
"As you wish, daughter," he said and released Fang from his grip.
Now Aleah was really mad at him. "You have no right to come a try to take me away from them. I am no child of yours. You may be my father through birth, but not by heart. My real family is the Nova Star. Now..." she said pointing to the way he came in. "Leave."
Bator sighed. He could clearly see himself in Aleah as she had his stubbornness. He could've have just used the force on her and taken down the Nova Star crew, but then she would fight him every day. So, with a heavy heart, Bator turned to leave. Stopping only to give Aleah one small piece of advice.
"Be weary of the Mandalorian," he said not even looking back. "He comes from a very dangerous family of tyrants. Once he gets a taste of that kind of power, it will corrupt him."
As Bator was about to disappear out of sight, Siv shouted, "I'll never be corrupt by power! Aleah and my friends will see to that."
Once Siv had the final say, he and the others quickly hurried to get to the Star since Darth Vader had been seen on the security monitor. The Star crew cut and blasted their way out and were crossing one of Nex's display rooms when something caught Siv's eye. As the others hurried on ahead, he stopped and stared in wonder at the most amazing suit of Mandalorian armor. It was black with dark red patterns on it, and the Drawoh family crest was stamped into the chest plate.
Siv knew whose armor this was and how it was one of the strongest armors ever made by the Mandalorian. "My Great-Great grandfather's armor," he gasped in amazement. There was no way he was going to leave it here to be taken by the Empire or Nex and his pirates. Hurrying to the display case, the young Mandalorian pulled out his blaster and used it to destroy the glass pod.
As he reached out and touched the armor, something felt different. He felt… Stronger? Or was it just the excitement? No that it really mattered. It was just armor, nothing more. Siv quickly loaded and secured the armor to a backpack. He didn't have much time, more infected were drawing near. Entering the hallway, the young Mandalorian started running to catch up to the others, but as he did, his speed began to increase.
Siv soon caught up to the others. Each member of the Star surprised by how quickly he had caught up. Aleah however noticed the armor Siv was hauling, it looked just like the one from her nightmare, but before she could speak. WHAM!
David had come running through a door and crashed right into the Nelvaanian. Both Jedi went careening to the floor. Aleah drew her lightsaber, ready to strike down who she thought was an infected, however she turned it off at seeing it was just David.
"David Creed?" she asked with a smile at seeing her friend alive. A laugh escaped her. "You got me good."
As the two got back on their feet, Siv hurried to the front of the group to open the last door that would lead them to the Nova Star. He pressed the button that read: Open.
"Alright, we're home free!" he shouted joyfully, but as the door slip open…
"Hi guys," came the voice of the mutated Jens. He walked in, claws dripping with blood, and his eyes were, and teeth were stained black. Everyone stepped back as the mutant Jens stared at them. Cocking his head, he asked, "What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?"
Siv reached for his blaster to blast Jens, but the mutated captain saw this coming. His clawed arm shot forwards, grabbing the Mandalorian's hand, crushing it and the blaster with ease. "AHHH! MY HAND!" Siv cried out as the bones in his hand were crushed.
The mutated Jens sneered at Mandalorian's pain, yet he wasn't done with him. "I'm still your captain, Siv. You must treat me with respect." Then with his other arm, the mutated Jens stuck Siv so hard his Baskar chest plate was dented.
Aleah watched in horror as her beloved was sent flying into the wall. Dray rushed forward, thrusting hislightsaber into Jens' chest. However, it did little to the mutated captain. With a sweep of his arm, the Bothan was knocked back.
"Pathetic," the mutated Jens said.
Feline looked at the man who was once her captain and friend. "I know where you plan to go after killing us," she bravely stated.
Jens looked at her, a smile grew on his face. "I know you do," he said, his voice become rougher and deeper with each word spoken. "There's a whole galaxy waiting out there."
Feline drew her blaster and started shooting. He raised his arm up to strike, but suddenly…
"Feline! Grenade! GET DOWN!" Clank shouted as he arrived just in time stick a thermal detonator in Jens' pants. The mutated Jens spun around and struck Clank so hard that he destroyed the poor droid.
Aleah, David, and Dray then all used force push on the mutated Jens, throwing back through the door and… BOOM! Jens was blown to bits.
Kenna rushed over to Siv. Thinking fast, she removed his armor chest plate, lifted his shirt and saw what kind of injury he had. A massive bruise was already forming and his breathing was labored. It wasn't looking good for Siv. The Shistavanen medic turned to Faolahd.
"Get him to the Nova Star!" she cried.
The Wookie hurried and picked up his wounded friend.
"My family's armor," Siv whispered.
Danny grabbed the black armor and followed close. The rest of the crew picked up what was left of Clank, but David stayed. He felt the need to face Vader just once more.
As Vader showed up a few minutes later, David sat slumped against the wall. The Sith Enforcer approached him. "Looks like this chase has come to an end," said igniting his lightsaber. The red glow sent shivers down David's spine, but he didn't move. No. He needed Vader to walk into his trap. As soon as Vader crossed under the door, the Jedi Knight acted quick.
He Force pulled an explosive barrel at Darth Vader as he said, "It the end."
Vader just held up his hand and stopped the barrel from his hitting him. "Predictable," he said, but that was what David suspected would happen. Reaching into his vest, the Jedi Knight pulled out a remote detonator.
"Predict this, Vader," he said pressing the button.
"WHAT!" Vader gasped as the barrel exploded. The force of the blast alone damaged his mask and ruined his suit. David then used the force to bring more debris down on Vader as he made a run for the Nova Star. "David, wait!" Vader said through his damaged mask.
David turned around to see Vader's face with his eyes being seen through his mask.
"David." Vader said once more.
"Anakin," David gasped.
"Go, save yourself," Anakin said as he temporarily had control over Vader.
David looked sadly at the Jedi he once called friend. "Dray was right. Anakin is dead."
Vader took control and spoke with great pride. "Yes, and it was I who killed him."
David turned and hurried to the Nova Star as it was lifting off. With the Jedi Knight now on board, Fang set course for Tatooine and went into hyperspace.
Back on the Taint of Darkness command deck, Nex Slars watched as the Nova Star, its crew and over a hundred of his slaves disappeared from sight. It was all too much for the evil pirate to take in. First his ship had been overrun by mutated walking corpses, then the Empire showed up and now the Jedi who had stopped him before had escaped.
"Curse you, Nova Star, and especially you, David Creed!" Nex yelled!
"They are the least of your worries," Darth Vader said with his lightsaber ignited.
Immediately Nex fell to his knees and started begging for his life. "No! Please! Have mercy!" but his pleas fell on deaf ears as Vader cut his head off.
Down one deck, the Second Brother was just finishing off a wounded pirate when an infected female Chiss walked up. The Inquisitor of course saw no sign of any bites because there was no blood on him.
"Help me," she gasped, falling into his arms.
"I got you," the Second Brother said softly. Suddenly she bit him. When Vader came down, he saw said Inquisitor standing over the body of the headless Chiss.
"Is the ship clear now?" he asked.
The Second Brother smiled. "Yes, Lord Vader."
Vader nodded and headed back to the landing pad where his shuttle was coming to pick him up. Once he was out of sight, the Second Brother pulled up his sleeve and looked at his bite wound. He could already feel the hunger, the rage towards the only ones who had stopped the spread of infection twice now. "Nova Star, run while you can, because when I find you, you'll be begging for death to come and take you away!" he growled before hurrying to follow Vader.
Back on the Nova Star, Dray walked past Kenna who was tending to some slaves who were suffering from the mistreatment they had endured while at the hands of Nex. "We should be Jabba's palace by the time we exited hyperspace," Dray said to the Shistavanen medic.
"Hopefully we will be enough to save Lyra," she said.
"I hope so too," Aleah said.
Fang came out of one of the supply rooms and with him was the lone survivor of the Nova Star's original crew. "Hey, look who I found," Fang said.
"Who is he?" Dray asked.
The lone survivor smiled. "I'm Aaron, the only survivor when Darth Vader killed every one of my crew," Aaron said. "Where's David?"
"He's in the medical bay with Siv," Danny said walking by with a tray of hot food for the slaves.
In the medical bay, David did a full exam of Siv. His physical health was not looking so good, but at least there was no sign of anything fatal, but he could tell that Siv was exhibiting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. The encounter with the mutated Jens triggered a memory he hoped he never remembered. "Are you okay?" Keena asked David as she entered the medical bay.
"No," The Jedi Knight said bitterly.
"It's about Darth Vader, right?"
David turned to face the beautiful Shistavanen before him and said, "It's stupid really. Why should I feel like this? I mean, Darth Vader was Anakin Skywalker who fell to the Dark Side. He was my friend when we started Jedi training. I even considered him my rival, but there was always respect. I didn't realize he was Darth Vader until I saw his eyes."
"David, having emotions don't make you weak. They make you human."
"Yeah, but I'm not as strong as Siv, I hesitated for a moment, and I could've died right there if Vader chose to attack me again."
"Shh. Just relax. Everything's going to okay, David," Keena said as she brought him into a hug. "I'm here for you."
"We all are," Aleah said as she and the others saw the tender scene before them.
"We're a family," Fang said as they all hugged David.
However, while everyone comforted David, deep within Siv's mind, a voice was calling out to him. A voice that was coming from the armor he had found. It wanted him, because it had chosen him to be its next host.
The second Brother is now infected, Siv may also be in danger of the armor he found. Things are getting crazy, but at least they will have some time to take a break from all the action. Lyra will sure be glad she missed the outbreak on the Tiant of Darkness.