Terror reigns in the Galaxy as the Sith threat reveals itself. Even though the Sith number just two, the Grand Republic and the Jedi Council seek to stop the blooming evil in its tracks.
Situated in the Outer Rim,Jedi Master Piell Eh and his Padawan Learner Guib Dienhart, will be challenged in a way neither of them could have ever expected. For the Sith's greatest weapon lies in more than their fighting skills alone.
Life, death, strength and weakness.
The fight for balance begins anew...
Prologue
Jedi Master Piell Eh placed comforting hands on his Padawan's shoulders. "Everyone is faced with the harshness of reality eventually, my Padawan," he explained. "Do not feel regret or shame for protecting freedoms and upholding beliefs."
"Yes, Master," Guib said dourly, placing his Lightsaber hilt on his hip with violently shaking hands.
But it wasn't as simple as his Master made it out to be. He had murdered a Man. There was no justification for that act. At only nine years of age there would be no turning back. His Lightsaber was forever tainted with the touch of flesh, and his skinwith human blood.
"It is not over yet, my young student," Master Eh said, turning and pointing over his shoulder. "Steel yourself."
They stood side by side, Guib barely grazing his Master's elbows. Their brown robes were crumpled on the ground behind them and the men they had killed discarded before them.
Guib had killed one of the ten menhis Master had brought down in a graceful dance of light and fire. They hadn't stood a chance against the Master's skill.
Guib on the other hand had struck a lucky blow to his charging enemy. Cutting off his arm above the wrist and then stabbing him through the chest as he fell.
Fifty fresh farmers charged up the Jedi Temple's stairs wielding all manner of farm implements. With pitchforks, shovels and rakes they were no real threat to the sanctuary, but there was no way to subdue them other than death.
Guib was desperate to keep these enraged farmers from entering sacred ground and breaking into the Archives. The knowledge had to be protected at all costs. That cost unfortunately for Guib was his innocence.
The farmers, seeing Master Eh twirl his blade, came to a halt twenty metres away. They threw down their poorly matched tools and pulled guns from their backs. They started firing, all focussed on Master Eh as Guib reactivated his own blue Lightsaber.
Master Eh twirled his blade with both hands, creating a windmill-like shield that parried the laser fire, returning it to cut down the farmers' great numbers.
They ceased firing and split into two groups as a hulking brute of a man stepped through the gap. He wore traditional farmer's garb and yet held a blazing blue Lightsaber by his side.
"Master Jedi," he bellowed. "Lay down your Lightsaber and step aside. Nobody else must die today."
Master Eh took a confident step forward and levelled his weapon. "That weapon does not belong in your hands, farmer."
The Lightsaber wielding farmer cackled, holding his broad belly with one hand. "I earnt this saber as one of you. Before I saw the light." He dropped into a fighting stance. "You will not have an easy fight against me, Jedi." He growled the last word, putting all of his hatred into it.
"You've turned to the Dark side of the Force?" Master Eh queried, stalking forwards.
"Light side. Dark side. Neither matter to the people of the galaxy. People you fail time and again to protect. I am honorbound to be these people's protector. I am Justice."
"Justice? You are an unleashed hound. You will not enter the Temple."
"We came not for entry, but to destroy," the former Jedi explained, taking his own steps forward. "All Jedi Temples and Archives will fall today."
"What manner of terrorist are you to proclaim such a galactic upheaval?"
Guib took the opportunity to circle the fight. Getting closer to the enraptured farmers who paid him no mind. His Master would expect him to be proactive, even if he stood no chance at fighting fifty grown men.
"I am a hammer in a time of nails," the former Jedi proclaimed, waving his Lightsaber, "a sword when all else is flesh. I will consume and destroy. I am the proclaimed Justice."
Master Eh launched at the farmer in a gliding under armed swing. He threw his lithe grace against the former Jedi's hulking brutality. Their Lightsabers clashed in a booming display of light. Blue versus green. Jedi versus Jedi. Moral good versus immoral evil. Righteousness versus wrathfulness.
The brute stood still, easily defending against Master Eh's furious barrage of powerful strikes with slow precise defence. No matter what angle of attack he tried, he was rebuffed.
Guib had never seen his Master attack with such furious grace. He did not envy the opponent who challenged his endless stamina.
Guib managed to look away from the fight for a second and saw that all of the farmers had their weapons hanging low. None of them were ready to continue their attack. If he wanted to, he could carve through their ranks with ease. Instead he pointed his off hand at them palm outwards and pushed with all of his might. Fifty guns clattered to the ground and were blown across the ground, flying down the Temple stairs. Guib was satisfied with his success until the mob's attention fell on him. He held his Lightsaber hilt with white knuckles and cleared his throat.
"Leave," he said with adolescent lilt. "It is not too late to give up on this foolishness."
Two people at the back fled instantly. They clearly had not thought through fighting the Jedi. The rest, however, turned their group fury on him. That was not good. He thought his stance as a Jedi - albeit one in training - would be enough to deter them. He steeled himself.
Show no fear, he thought. They cannot hope to win.
Someone cried out in pain and he glanced at the fight between his Master and the former Jedi. Master Eh was on his knees. His abandoned Lightsaber several metres away with a severed hand still clasping the hilt. He held the stump of his right arm and screamed.
The former Jedi stood with the tip of his blade hovering at Master Eh's neck. "You fought well, Jedi," he said and took off Master Eh's head.
"NO!" Guib screamed in unbridled fury, throwing himself towards the former Jedi as Master Eh's body slumped headless to the stones. His blade met an easy parry and a Force push knocked him backwards. He barely managed to remain on his feet and instantly lunged again with a wild, pathetic swing. The farmer knocked his blade aside and then positioned his Lightsaber beneath Guib's chin.
"Yield, Padawan," he commanded. "You do not need to die today."
"Murderer," Guib yelled, batting the Lightsaber aside with a rash swing. He could have cut his own throat with that foolish manoeuvre. "You will pay for killing my master."
Hegrasped his Lightsaber hilt with both hands and adopted a fighting stance. He stood no chance against the giant man, but he could not let it be. He must exact his revenge.
"That was no Master. Accede to me and I will show you what it means to be a true Force wielder." He extended his off hand casually as if Guib would ever dare to join him.
Like the Lightsaber before, Guib batted his hand to the side and then performed a perfectly executed backwards cartwheel, creating room between them. He levelled his Lightsaber at his opponent, baring his teeth.
"Don't be a fool, Padawan. Lay down your weapon."
"Never," Guib growled.
He lunged forward, swinging with all of his might. Yet his attack was easily parried away with a staunch defence and he nearly lost the grip on his Lightsaber hilt. He twisted and twirled, striking with all of his skill and training, attacking at different angles and heights. But the former Jedi didn't even shift his feet as he batted every attack aside. His iron defences were unbreakable and Guib grew to realise that he would never be able to avenge his fallen Master.
After a tiring bout of strikes he began tofalter. His attacks became so obvious that the former Jedi always had his blade perfectly positioned before Guib had even begun to swing. But he could not, would not, give into fatigue. His Master had trained him to never give up. To fight for the Light and never let the Dark succeed.
"Yield," the former Jedi commanded, halting a weak strike in front of his chest and keeping their blades locked together with an energy filled hum. "I can train you to be better than this. I can give you a true purpose in life."
"No! I will avenge my Master," Guib screamed, spinning and coming in for a decapitating strike.
The former Jedi parried the blow and then swiped downwards. Guib's right arm was severed just below the elbow and it fell with a wet thud to the stones, still holding his awakened Lightsaber. He grasped for his cauterised stump with shaking agony and collapsed to his knees.
"You could have served me well," the former Jedi said and kicked him in the head with a mighty boot.
He slammed into the ground and slipped into unconsciousness.