INTERIOR: THE SITH TEMPLE – EOL SHA

While the shock of Terra’s decimation sinks into the heads of the spectators watching the smoldering line of smoke rise revealing a pile of ash, back on Eol Sha the battle between Q2 and the true, malicious Elixis Kel rages on. Since Elixis’s last approach Q2 has suffered several more inflictions of her Inferno Force Lightning and has been hurled around the room like a rag doll, slammed into walls and columns without mercy. Elixis also has sustained considerable damage from Q2’s counter attacks, having been rammed into walls as both wager a stalemate pausing only to catch their breath, evenly matched so it would appear.

With blinding speed Elixis, still in her banged up, busted, cracked, Skorne armor charges towards Q2, letting loose a flurry of lefts and right jabs, landing her fist to the side of his head, then the other, whipping around as her boot contacts under his chin, sending him lunging back off balance, crashing to the floor on his stomach as she eagerly moves in for the kill. Elixis resembles that of a kickboxer possessing force sensitivity with equally crushing blows. Q2 can feel the pain screaming through his body and each burning sensation only arouses him more…the raw intensity, the lack of regret within Elixis’s physical advance was sadistically enchanting to him. Hatred burned deep but as much as it impressed him, Q2 was growing tired of the balance in power.

ELIXIS – How does it feel to be at MY feet Quillion the Second.

Elixis sends a swift axe kick to the center of Q2’s spine as he recoils upward in pain, using that pain to grab her ankle as he rolls, using his momentum to hurl her face first into a disheveled pile of stone. Elixis feels the impact wrack her body but uses the dark side to maintain her focus. Fast on her heels Q2 grabs her by the head and cracks it viciously into a stone foundation, causing her cranium to split open and blood to pour as she hurls her Inferno Force Lightning once more to hold Q2 at bay in her fiery wrath.

ELIXIS – You dare to strike a woman?

Q2 growls angrily and calls upon his full mastery of the force as he uses it to lift Elixis into the air, constricting his grip around her throat chocking the life from her, while he stands to both feet and grins with evil intentions.

Q2 – Combat does not recognize gender, it only selects its victor.

ELIXIS – YOU BELIEVE YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CHOKE THE LIFE FROM SOMEONE!

As quickly as Elixis gasps for breath, her eyes flare with a deep crimson glow while her black gloves swirl with orange radiance. Suddenly Q2 is lifted off the ground as Elixis drops from his lack of focus. Q2’s head crashes upward into the ceiling several times, held in midair by her Force Dominion ability. His own head begins to rupture and display blood. A violent echo fills the room as the ground rumbles, stirring up clouds of dust at Elixis’s feet.

ELIXIS – (licks the blood from her wound) Your skills are impressive, but nothing I haven’t encountered before. I already have a mate superior to you.

Q2 – That I highly doubt.

Q2 instantly looks towards a pile of rocks and uses the force to hurl them at Elixis from behind, knocking her off balance and shattering her grip over him as he flips himself around, kicking off a series of columns, landing flat and safe to the ground. Elixis shakes away her dizzy spells while Q2 quickly and swiftly in a blinding motion yanks off his heatsaber and ignites the weapon with a squealed echo of rippling rage.

Q2 – You desire a new experience? Consider your request granted.

Elixis sees his image come back into focus, through the crimson mask of blood on her face she can feel the heat slice clean through her armor. Q2’s blade moves so fast that only a tinge of purple can be seen between his blazing, white hot strikes, making his length disappear in a ripple of rising steam as Elixis is powerless to keep up with his assault. Suddenly she feels her body torn from the armor, shucked like a clam as she flings face first towards a wall at the opposite side of the room, revealing her original snakelike black and red attire.

ELIXIS – (dizzy) What kind of…lightsaber (cough) is that?

As she struggles to maintain her consciousness, Q2 strides slowly across the room, permitting her to hear the echo of his calculated footsteps combined with the ripple of his devastating energy weapon. Along his way he kicks aside the bubbling hot sections of Skorne’s armor, sliced and melted by the incredible temperature of his heatsaber.

Q2 – I do not recall mentioning a lightsaber.

Biding her time, Elixis again channels her Inferno Force Lightning as she hurls her devastating tendrils towards Q2 but this time instead of being consumed, Q2 seems to absorb the energy. Switching off the purple ripple of his blade, he clips his saber back to his belt with his white gloved hand, while holding up his ribbed black hand towards Elixis’s attack, sucking in her powerful hatred filled bolts.

Seconds later a ball of energy forms and he hurls her own lightning back at her, but as the bolts near, Elixis simply laughs watching sparks erupt all around her as patches of fire ignite.

ELIXIS – Did you really think my own energy would harm its master? My suit offers me ample protection from dangers surrounding me.

Q2 – (raises a brow) Most Intriguing.

Suddenly Elixis rushes towards Q2 as he sidesteps, but as he starts to reach for his heatsaber again, Elixis kicks him square in the groin, dropping him to the floor in agony as she grabs his masked head and slams her knee upward into the bridge of his covered nose. Had he not had protective facial gear he would have surely lost a couple teeth. Savoring the pain and feeding on her hate, Q2 sweeps Elixis’s legs, forcing her to land on her back as he kicks her several times in the ribs, cracking them, watching her crawl away as the breath is driven from her black and red padded body. At close distance Elixis wasn’t as strong and she struggled to gain some space between her and Q2 but he wouldn’t have it a he grabbed her by her platinum hair and slammed her head maliciously into the stone floor, kneeling down to see her wounds increase, covering her face in a crimson mask.

Q2 – No more foreplay.

Elixis quickly refocuses her vision through the crimson haze as she slams her elbow backward into the center of Q2’s golden mask.

ELIXIS – STEP OFF!

Q2 recoils back, whipping into a stone platform but snaps back up as he grabs Elixis by the hair and flings her forward towards that distinctive rising pillar he noticed earlier, their paths having led them near the exit to the temple. As a challenge none of The Sith could interfere in the battle and were forced to watch the two dark side masters go at one another, knowing full well who ever came out the victor would be their ruler.

Q2 – Thus far all you have presented is a display of fireworks and mediocre combat skill.

Elixis suddenly tightens her grip on Q2 again as he is thrown into the air. Using her mastery she calls two large chunks of stone to hover into the air, hurling them to sandwich Q2 between them, but he is not so easily thwarted as the stones slam and shatter to rubble. His fists slam into the center of the foundations, raining debris to the floor, landing with a THUD on the toppled 35 degree “bridge”. Elixis rushes Q2 unleashing a series of crescent and roundhouse kicks and tight punches, landing each as Q2 stumbles backward, straining not to get knocked off the pedestal as both fighters appeared in silhouette 40 feet in the air.

ELIXIS – YOU MIGHT HAVE HELD THE ADVANTAGE BUT THIS VICTORY IS MINE!

Sending a swift roundhouse kick, Elixis knocks Q2 off the bridge, but to her surprise he grips the side of the column before falling and uses his weight to hurl his body around, sending his boots square into the center of Elixis’s back, causing her to slam on her stomach on the wobbly stone foundation. The surface cracks and buckles under the weight of the two contenders.

Dusting off his red and black suit, having completely lost his white cut-away attire Q2 grins broadly reaching for his heatsaber again, igniting the rippling blade as he pivots around on the column, dashing to slash Elixis’s thighs from behind. The agony sends her dropping down, as his heatsaber slashes viciously across her back, making her scream out in tremendous pain while the second degree burn boils her flesh.

Still as the pain spreads through her body, Elixis seems to feed on the sensation, flaring her body into intense orange glow, pivoting backward as she grabs Q2’s saber arm and turns it to straighten, then jams her knee upward. The isolation of bone meeting its maximum flexibility forces Q2 to drop his grip on his heatsaber. The weapon extinguishes and soon drops to the floor with a CLANG, into the darkness below. Elixis is knocked off balance as the temple shakes and thunders from a powerful vibration below a result of Eol Sha’s continuing countdown to destruction.

ELIXIS – You’ve caused me considerable injury, but this conflict has chosen its victor.

Q2 – (grins) Haven’t you figured it out yet Miss Kel?

ELIXIS – (perks a brow) Figured out what?

Q2 – That is exactly what I wanted you to think…from the start.

As swiftly as he speaks, Q2 flips over Elixis’s shoulders causing her to topple dangerously close to the edge of the pillar, having reached the very end of its ascent upward. His eyes flash with a blazing red as his hands glow with a deeper shade of orange. Blazing bolts of Shard Lightning unexpectedly explode from his fingertips, not ice blue like his predecessor but just as deadly.

The shards shear into Elixis’s costume and bite into her flesh as she screams in utter terror, knocked back by each radiant orange burst of maleficent power. Q2 smiles sadistically stepping forward. He drives more and more misery into Elixis’s body until he places her right where he wants her. It is then that he allows her to witness the truth through her wide eyed crimson gaze. as he ceases the force assault momentarily. All of his wounds miraculously heal before her eyes…the gash in his head closing and sealing over, the slashes and lacerations to his body suddenly disappearing while he gazes into her panic stricken expression. The earth rumbles with a devastating tear as a huge gash of earth rips into the stone foundation of the floor, collapsing a few supports as they crash into segmented rubble.

Q2 – (stabilizing himself) You never had an opportunity for victory Miss Kel, and you never will.

Without relent, Q2 hurls a second volley of orange Shard Lightning, sending Elixis plunging from the pillar as some of the bolts follow her during the fall, slashing into her body with their energetic razor sharp inflictions. A crash of flesh meeting rock fills the room. Q2 looks down and smiles observing Elixis’s broken body shattered on the rocks below.
 

EXTERIOR: UNKNOWN LOCATION – CHANDRILA

Shifting from the steam swirled fire of Eol Sha, the scenery returns to the lush, green, glittering blue slendor of Chandrila as the war torn landscape sizzles with ripples of smoke and debris. Warriors of metal and flesh litter the landscape.

Hate…hate is all Val could feel at that very moment, while Gen dropped her lightsaber in sheer disbelief. Lon was the first to act, taking a swing towards Skorne as he sidestepped causing Lon to crash into a tree, while Lance unleashed a volley of blaster fire towards Skorne. Struck several times, Skorne’s armor was resistant to Lance’s assault. Skorne yanked the javelin from his shoulder, tossing it to the ground as he tried to make a hasty retreat but Val wouldn’t have any part of it.

SKORNE – Ashes to ashes, dust to dust Val. I’m sure you remember those words.

Driven by the loss of his daughter, Val viciously whipped his sword upward and hacked away endlessly into Skorne’s prized armor, able to shear into the plating but not reach Skorne’s body itself as the rare hunter was knocked back in grinding flashes of white metal sparks. Skorne touches a few buttons on his arm as an electronic device latches into a tree behind him. A hum screams into a sonic pitch which reverses polarity on Val’s sword, attuning it into a magnetic pull leading to the device embedded in the tree bark which hurls Val’s body backward, slamming is blade into a thick tree trunk. Meanwhile Gen, emotionally shattered remains standing with tears flooding her eyes…the shock of Terra’s death not completely sunk in along with the apparent return of Elixis Kel.

Skorne grabs a another weapon from a compartment in his belt aiming towards Sara as Lance continues to fire his blaster, trying to gain some form of revenge after Terra’s brutal demise.

SKORNE – When I said I only have a singular purpose, I lied!

Sara brings her lightsaber up to parry the shots, but to her surprise she cannot see any streaks of red or blue. Suddenly she feels her body torn into, through the shoulder, rib, and thigh, dropping to the floor in becoming numb as she realizes she’s just been shot. The force for some reason wasn’t affecting the projectiles and they slid right through her defenses. Lance spots Sara collapsing as his fiancée is gunned down, reaching for a fallen Sith’s lightsaber igniting the blade as he charges to her side and aims to deflect Skorne from unleashing another salvo, discovering the same revelation Sara made a moment too late as Lance feels his body slammed into by armor piercing, force resistant projectiles that rip through his flesh, sinking him down next to his lover.

VAL – LANCE, SARA! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

As Val released his grip on his sword, he chooses to neglect the words still thundering in his head as he reaches for his lightsaber and decides that enough is enough. Having lost his daughter in a blink of an eye and now witnessed his friends mercilessly gunned down, he ignites his golden bladed lightsaber and rushes towards Skorne.

“People you love will suffer…”

Obi Wan’s voice tortured Val endlessly. Those words, the events were coming true but Val hadn’t crossed his lightsaber blade with another, it didn’t make any sense to him. Was Obi wrong? Was his lack of complete surrender causing the prophecy to become a reality regardless of his precautions?

SKORNE – Nifty toy isn’t it? Ever wonder how the Emperor’s extermination squads were able to eliminate force users? Ysalamiri DNA encoded projectiles.

Val doesn’t pay attention as fire burns in his body and doubt floods his thoughts. He was beginning to regret trusting the words of an old Jedi Master. Val summons the force to guide his movements as he leaps in front of Gen still devastated by Terra’s death, staring at the ground. Skorne detecting Val’s really been pushed to the limit, quickly activates a button on his wrist as he unleashes one of his flying discuses, but this one is not energy based as before at Versai Tech.

SKORNE – Terra T’Negun was nothing personal, Lance and Sara however had it coming.

The disc is fast enough and composed of the same DNA encoded material as the slugs in Skorne’s gun.
Val is able to slash with a diagonal uppercut and slice Skorne’s pistol across the barrel, but as his weapon comes around to slash across Skorne’s midsection, the disc blazes out of no where and severs Val’s lightsaber across the hilt at a forty-five degree arc, in an explosive display of mechanical destruction. Skorne reaches into his belt and drops three dead man switch grenades causing a chain reaction explosion to blow apart Val and Skorne’s positions, hurling them backward giving Skorne the crucial distance he needs to attempt his escape.

Gen attempts to regain her senses but the pain is just too overpowering, causing all her pent up emotions to boil to the surface. She looks down to the javelin on the ground and slowly scoops up the ashes of her dead daughter in her hand as lines of ash stream through her fingers like sand in a hourglass…it is then that deep down, somewhere below all of her personal restraint she lets go…and something inside her shatters.

GEN – MURDERER!!!! THIS CHAOS CEASES NOW!

Gen screams to the top of her lungs as she grabs her lightsaber and focuses her vision on Skorne, charging relentlessly through his barrage of plasma blaster fire, having switched weapons. In a blaze of hatred fury and blazing magenta eyes, Gen slices her way through Skorne’s hail of gunfire. Closing distance she kicks and punches Skorne’s lacerated armor as she sends lefts and rights into his mask, bending and denting his helmet and with a whip of the backside of her saber, she cracks the glass visor. Skorne is unable to keep his balance as he crashes to the ground, landing a kick to Gen’s ribs, but to his surprise Gen snaps right back to her feet and charges in with her lightsaber. He is barely able to roll away from several stabbing, sizzling blows as Gen’s lightsaber contacts the ground in a shower of flaming debris.

Panting for breath and extremely outmatched, Skorne struggles to get away from Gen as she kicks and screams, slashing with untapped fury. The pain of losing her daughter and what her bloodline represented causes Gen to give in entirely to her hatred, against better judgment as that power of love which sustains also wrecks havoc.

Skorne quickly grabs Gen’s wrist when she’s caught off guard and twists it back, forcing her grip to drop her lightsaber, whirling her face first into a tree trunk, but Gen pivots and reverses the hold slamming Skorne into the tree instead as she knees his spine with endless blows to the back, then grabs him by the throat and slams her fist into his sliced up chest, taking considerable damage to her knuckles, not caring about the lacerations of flesh contacting sharpened steel as she claws and scratches to break Skorne’s shell.

Skorne retreats as fast as he can, but he’s soon speared to the floor as Gen unleashes her brighter, more intense Force Twirl Lightning into his body, wrapping around him like serpents. They cook him inside his armor and sizzle his flesh, shearing through his body glove suit in showers of bright magenta luminance, striking into his bare flesh. Inside his mask, Skorne stares through a static flickering, splintered display which reads the proximity between himself and Gen, counting down to zero as she approaches.

Smoke rises off Skorne’s body while Gen refocuses her efforts. She shifts her attack to shatter through his armored core as TK punches slam into his ribs and thighs. His body recoils back like it was being shot in a firing squad as Skorne bled from the internal injuries inside his mask. Trying desperately to breath, Skorne fires one of his signature nets at Gen from his wrist, but Gen quickly reaches out and ignites her lightsaber slicing through the sheer metal device before it can ensnare her.

Having bought himself some time, Skorne coughs through his extensive injuries and taps a few buttons stretching his gloved hands towards Gen.

SKORNE – (coughing) Just like old times? Remember this little number?

Gen suddenly is forced back to her senses, breaking the dark side rage as she feels her grip on her lightsaber tug harder and harder. Detecting Skorne’s electromagnetic glove trick, she aims not to fall for the same measure last time that destroyed her first lightsaber.

SKORNE – After all this time…you still haven’t learned.

Gen plays the game as she allows Skorne to call her weapon towards his grasp, knowing his tactics now having seen them before. Skorne like clockwork grabs his disruptor pistol and begins to take his aim, but as he is about to pull the trigger, Gen whips out a small disc that spins through the air and erupts in a blue-white electronic cloud. The device instantly latches on to Skorne like a leech and as he pulls the trigger to his pistol, his blaster shorts out followed by all his other electrical systems, dropping him a hail of explosive sparks and a hisses of electronic squeals. Gen’s disc, a EMP magnetic disruptor deals its damage to the rare hunter, leaving him completely defenseless against her shorting out his mechanical leg, forcing him into a limp.

SKORNE – STOP! KILLING ME WON’T BRING THE GIRL BACK!

GEN –  SHE WASN’T JUST A GIRL! SHE WAS MY DAUGHTER!

SKORNE – (blinks) She was what?

In one swift move, Gen recoils her lightsaber back to her hand as Skorne stands before her. She spins back in a 360 and whips her lightsaber in an arc as a cloud of filaments erupt from Skorne’s neckline. Skorne’s arm whips up sending his helmet flying off his shoulders as his smoking, decapitated body slumps to the ground with a resounding CRASH of crumpled metal. His mask lands several feet away and skids to a stop in the scorched earth.
 

INTERIOR: THE SITH TEMPLE – EOL SHA

As Skorne’s headless corpse slumps to the ground, back inside the archaic innards of the Sith Temple on Eol Sha, Elixis still miraculously breathes. Her body is shattered and broken, as blood leaks from various tears in her suit and out of her lips. She stares with blurring, slightly darkening vision towards the ceiling blankly. Q2 has descended the towering heights of the pillar bridge and casually walks down till his boots contact the floor. Elixis is paralyzed gazing upward, unable to move, unable to really think, let alone concentrate from her borderline fatal injuries knowing with each struggle of breath she grows closer and closer to death’s door.

Q2 dusts off his tattered attire, smoothing away the debris from the shimmering silver plates of his legs as he closes distance with his decimated prey. He looks into her hazy, glazed over eyes as his hand slides along her heart, sensing the beats slowing. Grinning in wicked delight, Q2 knows he now has Elixis right where he wants her, leaning in to whisper into her ear.

Q2 – It was a grand display Miss Kel, but admit it…you are beaten. The Sith will be mine and you will return to the emptiness of eternal darkness.

Does Q2 even expect Elixis to be able to reply to him? After a 40 foot plummet, being slashed to death by his mysterious orange Shard Lightning and lacerated by his heatsaber she was in no condition to negotiate any further let alone utter any smart retorts and yet Q2 was vile enough to continue his “negotiations” anyway. It was all part of Q2’s master scheme however, for he was uncanny at detecting the movements of his opponents moments before they were made. He knew given enough time he would finally be able to capture the untouchable prize before him, completely, and utterly conquering her.

Q2 – However, it does not have to reach this conclusion.

ELIXIS – (barely audible) Just let me die.

Q2 – I don’t believe that is what you truly desire.

Q2 caresses Elixis’s bloody cheek as he stands up and begins to waltz towards a large cylinder column, raising his fingers towards the ground while his heatsaber, undamaged returns to his grasp.

Q2 – In fact I am willing to wager my kingdom on that assumption.

Q2 suddenly stretches his hand forward as the base of the column shatters, making the large tower of stone buckle and crackle before slowly lurching forward, collapsing like a tree cut down in the woods. Elixis stares upward powerless to move from it, then the memories of the past flood her vision. The stone is replaced by a massive spiked tree. She witnesses the similar situation now that mirrors her death in the forest at the hands of Gen long ago.

Frantically she screams, somehow finding the power to lift up her arms and beg for the tree, which she sees in her hallucinogenic gaze to stop its trajectory.

ELIXIS – (screaming frantically) NO! NOT AGAIN! NOT THIS WAY!

All of a sudden, the toppling columns direction shifts and topples to the far left of with a resounding crunch of crushed stone, rising up a choking cloud of dust as Q2 paces slowly back along Elixis’s side, whispering into her ear once more.

Q2 – You remember don’t you Miss Kel? The feeling of vulnerability, the kiss of eternity… you once held immense authority over anyone who dared challenge your might.

ELIXIS – (in shock) I…I…I

Q2 runs his fingers along Elixis’s cheek, down her lips with his gloved fingers as he uses his white gloved hand to brush blood stained platinum locks from her eyes, looking into her traumatic crimson stare. His fingers traveled lower to caress her breasts, down between her thighs. Sick you say? Extremely considering her body was still shattered, but there was a method to Q2’s madness. During his words the temple buckled and a violent tremor shook dust from the ceiling and splintered stone structures.

Q2 – Men trembled and women fell. All the supremacy and potential…I can restore.

ELIXIS – (still shocked) What do you…you mean…give it back?

Q2 – Everyone is allowed two mistakes. You have committed your first, but I offer you redemption if you join my flock AND my side.

ELIXIS – Why should I trust you?

Q2 – You are a dying breed Miss Kel you have little option…one chance, one offer.

Elixis sees her vision start to grow dimmer and dimmer as her eyes strain to focus on Q2, turning her head through labored pants. Her view blurs the details of his mask, seeing only washes of red and gold mingle together as she tries to form words.

ELIXIS – (barely a whisper) Accepted.

A glint of joy shimmers in Q2’s eyes behind his golden mask as he brings his hand down, tracing Elixis’s silver buckle, detecting a concealed weapon. With a jerk of his wrist he yanks the insignia from Elixis’s belt revealing she did indeed have one hidden instrument on her person. Removing his white glove, exposing a human hand Q2 quickly slashes along his palm with the triangular end of Elixis’s blade, as blood begins to trickle from the serrated edge lacerating his skin. Holding his palm along Elixis’s lips, he lets the blood begin to trickle into her mouth, forcing her to swallow as it pools over.

Q2 – I knew you possessed a weapon, cleverly concealed as you have kept it.

Elixis swallows his life essence. She can feel an instant shock of electrical impulses spread throughout every pore of her body. Her eyes flash open as the electricity spreads through her like wildfire, agonizing pain filling her nerve endings but beyond the pain a rush of energy continuing to build and build as she detects her bones literally knit themselves back together and her torn ligaments web together and re-stimulate her paralyzed state.

She cocks her head towards Q2 in complete disbelief as the power fuels her form. Soon she can flex her fingers and in less then a few minutes she looks to see all her wounds seal up, just as she had witnessed Q2 heal on the pillar above. Internally her cells mingle with Q2’s enhanced blood, breeding with it and constructing newer, more resilient cell structures which directly reflect and dramatically boost her midi- chlorian count to a supernatural level.

ELIXIS –What’s happening to me? What kind of man are you?

Q2 – A diminutive sample of what I offer. I am not a man…I something more.

Q2 helps Elixis rise to her feet as his fingers wrap around her body lewdly caressing every inch. This time Elixis put up no resistance to his advances allowing him to roam her newly restored frame. His hands slide along the globes of her rear and caress along her spine as he motions for her to walk towards her dais.

Q2 – I believe we should discuss the final terms of our negotiations in private.

ELIXIS – (smirks) Dare I refuse that invitation?

Sharply Elixis glares towards the Sith initiates still gathered in the corner of the room as she steps away from Q2 momentarily to pace up along her throne. Grabbing her cloak with a jerk, she drapes it around her shoulders, reassuming her Dark Lady of the Sith sternness.

ELIXIS – Members of The New Sith Order, prepare yourselves for departure. As of this moment, The Sith are now aligned with The Killian Order. Not one word of what has been witnessed here is to leave this room, under penalty of execution.

One of the Sith warriors whispers a moment as Elixis’s recomposed crimson gaze streaks towards him.

SITH WARRIOR – What about Skorne? What should he be told?

Q2 raises a curious eyebrow as he looks over Elixis briefly. He calculates that this “Skorne” must be the other “mate” she mentioned earlier. Suddenly there was now competition for this female’s affections. This made the game all the more interesting. He had her wrapped around his finger, but he wasn’t yet sure if she was seduced enough to give her body to him entirely. Seeking a new level to his goals, he devised his strategy while she spoke to her lackeys.

ELIXIS – He will be informed of the alliance between The Sith and The Killian. He will not be told anything further. That goes for ALL of you.

The Sith warrior nods slowly as do the others as Elixis points with her black gloved fingers to exit her sight. Adjusting her hair a moment and smoothing the black velvet cloak around her shoulders, she paces back towards Q2, staring at him with half mooned, seductive eyes. Still it was unclear if she was really as complacent as she let on, or if she was merely playing a mind game of her own, now that she had been given a second chance to rule. Power aroused Elixis more then anything else. When Skorne was dumped on Eol Sha she didn’t even want to bother taking him in, but his uncanny combat skills soon won her doubt over. The sheer efficiency of his methods was barbaric and ruthless. It was that trait of heartlessness that convinced her to advance her relationship with him to another level of commitment.

Elixis knew Skorne’s dirty little secrets. She knew his true identity and of his conflict with Valaryc Versai. Having agendas of her own, she sent Skorne to assassinate Terra for a singular purpose. Terra was the only surviving member left of the T’Negun bloodline and as such she was the heir to Crymson Vachon’s place in the Shadow Guild.

Like an animal getting its first taste of blood, she wanted as much supremacy as she could attain. This is why she is the undisputed leader of the New Sith Order, that lust for power and bloodshed. Q2 impressed her at the moment more so then Skorne for his abilities were unlike anything she had ever encountered previously and the enhanced bloodline from his “gift” to her rushed through her veins, coursing with dark side energy.

ELIXIS – Enough politics…let us “negotiate”.

Walking along the semicircle steps to her dais, she looped her arm in Q2’s and headed towards the exit. She rounded a few corners and ascended a spiraling staircase she reached the elegant expanse of her bedroom chambers, all laden in red silks and black velvet coverings. She presented her backside as Q2 paced over to the foot of Elixis’s bed and watched her behind sway back and forth, the last image we can see is Elixis’s platinum hair cascade down her shoulders while her hands pull down her tight, battle worn suit which reveals her creamy, nude, voluptuous, body as her codpiece, gloves, then her suit drop to the floor.
 

EXTERIOR: UNKNOWN LOCATION – CHANDRILA

The doors close from view inside Eol Sha as the carnage has come to a close upon Chandrila, but the memories of the events have indelibly etched their history upon the victims of the tragedy, a party which was meant to be a event of celebration has turned into a overwhelming nightmare upon which Val and Gen cannot wake, to embrace their cherished daughter.

Terra was dead…

There was no bringing their loved one back from the ashes that settled on the ground. Silence passed over the group as Val and Gen slipped from reality, replaying the events over and over again in their mind while Skorne’s headless body was motionless at Gen’s feet. She stood there over it, watching the stream of smoke billow upward as her lightsaber hummed in her grasp but in her eyes, there was a blank stare of disbelief as caked salt flowed down her tear stained cheeks.

In a flash Skorne was gone, and Terra’s death was avenged but the reverberations of vengeance cannot reverse time, no matter how much one tries. Gen was a rare exception, circumstantial and uncommon. Terra on the other hand had no way to trap her spirit in any lightsaber crystals; she didn’t have time to react beyond a horrified appearance of doubt. As Val looked down to his halved golden saber, also victim of Skorne’s raid he tossed the sputtering casing to the earth in anguish.

He wasn’t angry towards Gen for snapping or Skorne for pulling the trigger, it was Obi Wan’s name that he cursed under his breath as the winds of Chandrila whipped his hair in a rising breeze. He could barely hear the words echo now as he did before, the warnings. What good were the damned warnings now? Terra was gone and his friends were mortally injured…

VAL – (blinks) Oh damn…Lance and Sara.

Val rushed over towards his injured friends immediately as they lay silently in a heap, bleeding from their wounds but stabilized with their force mastery. Even the power to sustain their damage wasn’t enough to cheat death however as it loomed over them closer and closer. Fitting or ironic that both potential husbands and wives had now suffered a devastating loss, perhaps this was Obi’s warning…but how could it be? Val didn’t break the prophecy’s requirement; his lightsaber didn’t cross in any way with another, not even from a distant view.

Perhaps if Val had been faster and neglected retrieving his sword but instead ignited both his lightsabers and struck down Skorne the moment he appeared…Terra would live. Why did he have to relent? He knew deep down the reason was simple…Val wasn’t ready for a major confrontation yet, his body had proven to him that there was something inside him, happening to him to break his mastery over the force and at times mastery over his physical endurance. His chest ached again as he clutched it dropping to one knee, fighting back the surge of pain as he glanced back to Gen, focusing the force to send her a telepathic message.

VAL – (telepathic) Honey, I know you’re hurting right now, Obi knows I’m hurting just as bad, I already miss her but we can’t let him win, you hear me? Lance and Sara require serious medical attention; I need to know where we are so I can contact help.

Gen hears Val’s voice whisper in her mind, but she doesn’t take notice, still trembling with pain gazing over to where Terra last stood. Her eyes narrowing as she darts her purple anguish back to Skorne’s body, kicking it hard with her boot before relenting to rotate on her ankle and formulate her way towards Sara and Lance.

GEN – By all that is scared Elixis and anyone else who is involved in this atrocity will suffer.

VAL – (telepathic) We’ll get them baby, I promise on our daughter’s ashes, we’ll…get them.

Val endeavors to maintain his composure even as he flips open a comlink on his wrist, but he is unable to hold back his tears of sadness, dropping to his knees, trying to shield his grief as he looks down and takes his sister’s hand into his own. Glancing over to Lance, their images blurring in his ocean of pained tears

Gen keeps her eyes staring on Skorne’s body as she closes distance with Val, drawing him into a tight embrace, both grieving heavily in each other’s arms momentarily while she whispers the location into his ear, trying frantically to compose he and herself to contact help.

VAL – (almost silent into a com) Marcus Jade respond…I desperately need your reply.

There is a momentary series of static as the signal travels outward. Chandrila having no planetary shield allows Val’s com signal to reach its destination as Marc Jade, currently aboard his flagship, responds instantly to the President’s request.

MARC – (concerned) Desperately need my reply? Why Sir what has happened?

VAL – (struggles) I need…need to know the nearest medical facility. Versai Tech is too far away to…

MARC – Sir? To what? Is everything ok? What’s wrong, what has happened?

Taking a deep breath, Val closes his eyes then slowly reopens them. His focus coming back as he purges the visions of Obi Wan, Terra’s tragic death, and Skorne from his thoughts, sucking it up as President to acquire aid to his beloved sister and dearest friend.

VAL – I need to know the closest facility right now. Lance and Sara have been seriously injured and require immediate medical attention. The Killian or The Sith, I’m not sure which at the moment have resurfaced. They attacked us and we’re in drastic need of assistance.

Marc aboard his Mon Calamari Cruiser, The Leviathan barks orders to a few crew members as they rush back and forth flipping through holo screens and planetary maps, rushing back to give their superior his answer with great haste.

MARC – (reading printout) The closest facility is the Forest Moon of Endor. I’m coming to retrieve you as my fleet is in the area, we’ll come by and pick up Lance and Sara and rush them to Endor ASAP. ETA 10 minutes.

VAL – Ten minutes, but make sure you hurry, there isn’t a moment to lose. They appeared to have gone into force induced hibernation trances so they should be able to hold on.

Val squeezes Sara’s hand as he communicates with Marc and then flips his comlink off. Wrapping his arms around Gen he doesn’t relent in displaying his emotions once more. Gen tries to remain strong and manages to wipe the tears from her eyes and pace over to Lance, running her fingertips along his forehead, checking for signs of shock.

Meanwhile a thought occurs to Val as he gazes back towards Skorne, then towards his helmet. If Skorne’s head was sliced off, his identity would be revealed and the mystery would be over. Slipping from Gen’s arms Val trots over towards Skorne’s battle damaged helmet a good distance away. He picks it up off the ground, and makes an even more unusual discovery…

Gazing towards Gen, then towards Skorne’s headless body, then back towards Gen again he keeps the helmet in his hand starting to circle around the battle scene. Gen raises a curious eyebrow as she sees her lover circle around the area like a bloodhound, raising a twinge of concern.

GEN – What alarms you Beloved? Are you searching for something?

Val gives Gen a puzzled look as he starts to hasten his search, moving faster, running his fingers through bushes and peering behind trees, shifting his look of study to instant apprehension. Gen can feel his unsettled thoughts as she takes a deeper interest in his actions, unclipping her lightsaber from her belt once more while in all this, Lon recovers from a nasty blow to his head, unaware of most of the action beyond Terra’s death shaking away the dizzy spell.

VAL – It’s not over Gen…I can’t find…

GEN – What do you mean? He’s beaten, gone; no one can survive an injury of that magnitude.

VAL – But I can’t find his head Gen, I can’t find his MISSING HEAD.

Suddenly as Val voices his concern to Gen, he can see her ignite her purple saber in panic. Before Val can react, reaching for his other lightsaber, Russel’s clipped to his belt he can hear the rustling of armor growing loud behind him. In a flash he spins around to see Skorne’s HEADLESS body standing up.

As the headless corpse rises, limping on the shorted out leg, Gen breaks into a sprint with weapon in hand. Val looks towards the corpse and unclips his lightsaber, but the carcass sends a rigid kick into Val’s ribs knocking the wind from him as he stumbles backward dropping his second saber a few feet. The decapitated body bends down and picks up Skorne’s matching helmet putting it back on, what appears to be thin air but solid. Gen is still not quite close enough to close distance as she runs at force enhanced speed.

Val struggles to catch his breath, he can hear the words rip through his head again as Obi’s warning returns with a louder, more disturbing velocity. Val covers his ears trying to block them out as it sounds like thunder echoing in his skull, knowing that he must maintain focus. He can just barely hear Skorne speaking him.

SKORNE – I can play dead too. What do you get when you mix stolen Versai Tech material with Killian Technology? Give up? A mask that allows your body COMPLETE stealth while deflecting lightsaber blades!

Gen rushes towards Skorne and seeks to kick him, but he proves quicker as he lunges out of the way and cracks her behind her head with his fist. It isn’t enough to stop Gen however, as Skorne dodges Gen’s lightsaber blade screeching backward, leaping to the far left as the shimmering purple shaft stabs horizontally into what would have been through his ribcage.

Reaching into his belt of tricks, Skorne suddenly drops a grenade on the ground which explodes into a cloud of blinding grey smoke, shielding Val and Skorne from Gen’s view as she struggles to breathe through the choking thick haze.

While Gen struggles to regain her field of view, Skorne takes the opportunity he has been waiting years to carry out.

SKORNE – Now you will understand Versai, the curse which you have left me…now you will feel the fires of hatred consume you.

Without warning one of Skorne’s arms flings upward and two cylindrical devices spring out, seconds before two bursts fire outward as Val instinctively raises both his arms upward to shield his eyes from the intense flash of light. Val is able to twirl his body away from the first, but the second erupts temporarily blinding him as a net of prima cord expands out, roughly five feet in diameter.

What Val doesn’t realize is that as the cord ensnares his body, he expects there to be a tremendous electrical shock, but to his astonishment the lines suddenly ignite into blazing, white hot ropes of destructive fire, instantly burning into the exposed flesh of his arms. With Val’s difficulty in controlling the force, he can’t ward off the excruciating pain of Skorne’s flaming net, tangled and igniting his body in lines of hellfire. Although he has material to minimize some of the damage to his lower legs, his arms obtain the full brunt of the immense heat, burning and swelling with second degree burns. The event also triggers the pain in Val’s chest to intensify greatly, adding to his already intolerable dilemma.

In a blaze of black and purple, Gen channels the force to increase the velocity of the wind and clear the smoke, seeing Val trapped and ablaze as the winds slowly extinguish the flames. Her eyes narrow ferally as she spots Skorne standing and laughing, looking down to Val’s agony, savoring his cries of piercing misery.

Skorne jerks his helmet up to see Gen rushing towards him as he sweeps her legs, dropping her to the ground, but just as quick Gen flips back to her feet and slashes menacingly at Skorne as he stumbles backward, barely erect on his shorted out prosthetic. Gen screeches in anger as her lightsaber rakes across Skorne’s neck again, emitting a shower of sparks but the same as last time, it does nothing damaging as the rare hunter sidesteps and attempts to slam Gen’s face into a tree, but she is wise to his strategy, instead she reverses the tactic and slams her boot square in Skorne’s spine, slamming his face into the tree as she grabs him by the neck and spins him around.

Skorne brings up his net launchers to fire but Gen swiftly and brutally pivots to Skorne’s right and in one sweep of her Form G grace severs Skorne’s synthetic leg off, just below the knee. Skorne drops to the ground instantaneously as he tries to crawl away while Gen takes one look towards Val then glares back towards Skorne. Stalking his movements she sees him slither along the ground like a serpent on its belly…the Dark Jedi Headmaster eyeing her injured prey.

SKORNE – (crawling and looking back) No more Gen…please…I’ll give you anything you want!

Gen listens to Skorne beg for the misery to end but she blinds herself to his cries for mercy. Her voice is cold and focused, devoid of reason or compassion.

GEN – YOU HAVE STOLEN A PIECE OF MY SOUL, SO WILL I TAKE WHAT IS OWED TO ME!

Skorne spins around holding up both hands as he pleads for her to stop, but Gen is unrelenting as she brings her lightsaber down. With a slashing spray of sparks and a bloodcurdling scream, Skorne’s right arm is sliced off by Gen’s lightsaber, clean through just below the elbow as she kicks it aside and swirls her weapon around to deliver the killing blow.

GEN – (emotionless) Your crimes against my family are unforgivable…you will never see the inside of a courtroom, but you will witness your execution.

Gen jabs her lightsaber down as Skorne just barely manages to roll out of the way, while she is forced to regain her balance. Seizing the opportunity, he flips up a control pad and launches his grappling hook from his left hand as the chord spirals outward and finds its way latched on to distanced tree. Before Gen can deliver a fatal strike, her lightsaber impales the bare earth in a hail of embers as Skorne’s body zips away at blinding swiftness.

He released his hook in midair and retracted it, then fired towards Gannon’s Specter fighter, seeing the vessel hidden behind a series of tall trees and then disappears into the brush. Skorne was acting on instinct more then anything else. The ache was mind numbing from his severed arm, REAL FLESH not machine. Flesh which could not be replaced once it was torn from the body, a piece of his humanity lost on the battlefield, payment for preservation of his life.

Gen glances to Val then rushes towards the bushes, only to be blown back as ion thrusters hurl her across the grassy floor, revealing Skorne taking off in the craft and swiftly streaking into the sky. Wondering if the VT medical craft will arrive in time to intercept him, her hopes are dashed as Gannon’s ship suddenly stops and disappears. A Shadow Serpent decloaks and swallows his fighter craft into its rear hatch then instantly vanishes into space.

Flicking the switch to her lightsaber, her blade retreats back into the hilt as she runs over and tries to pry the steel cable off Val’s body. She discovers with his extensive injury that his flesh as almost fused with the metallic wire, forcing her to watch and wait for help to arrive as she holds him in her arms, trying to soothe his agonizing pain.

Lon quickly rushes over to his Master and Gen, looking down to Skorne’s severed arm as he tries to absorb all the events that have occurred. He was still a little fuzzy from the blow to his head. The scream of intense suffering triggered his attention as never in his lifetime had he heard such a sound reverberate from Val’s lips, knowing that his Master was in serious jeopardy. Val continues to writhe and tense as every inch of his body burns with intolerable torture, forcing his fingers to curl tightly. Lon’s face shows instant concern as he looks towards Gen. He can see that Val isn’t even in his right mind from the sensations plaguing every nerve ending of his core from the wide eyed terror plastered in his glazed over eyes.

LON – He’s suffering immensely, we gotta help him! We can’t just sit here and do nothing! I mean…

Gen briskly holds up her finger as she slowly shifts her purple eyes towards Lon and then returns them back to Val, adjusting him so he’s nestled closer in her arms.

GEN – He has not revealed this expression to me in a very, very, long time. When last I witnessed this occurrence, Crymson Vachon ferociously attacked him in the forest, injuring him to the brink of death. He cannot be reached at this point.

LON – You mean this pain he’s in is that serious?

GEN – (nods) I do not understand how a man of his skill would suffer from such mortal injury, the force should have sustained him. There is clearly something more Val isn’t telling us. I’m sure of it. However I can ease his trauma.

Closing her eyes, Gen taps into the force, resting her hand along Val’s sweaty forehead and slowly his eyes flicker shut…placing him into a deep sleep, as the world fades away, in a healing meditative trance where the misery cannot reach him.
 

INTERIOR – LANDING BAY – SHADOW SERPENT

While Val slips into the realm of dreams, inside the speeding Shadow Serpent, Skorne raises a curious brow. He gazes inside a fairly large octagonal hanger bay illuminated by several green lights affixed in the ceiling. Skorne slides his fingers around the handle of a blaster…one of the spares left by Gannon’s XIM droids as he looks down to his missing leg, then grimaces in pain from his severed right arm. It was becoming clear that this wasn’t his intentional pick up vehicle and that he was greatly disturbed by being inside the mammoth vessel.

He looked around frantically for some measure of escape, spying the raised docking bay door sealed shut, trapping him inside the belly of the beast belonging to The Killian. You must understand as Skorne told Gannon, he had no ties to The Killian after Jenner’s betrayal and he expected the worst to occur as his allegiance was now allied with The Sith and Elixis Kel. He was also unaware at the moment of the bargain struck between the two factions.

While he flipped a series of buttons and pulled a release lever, the roof of the Specter fighter raised upward, mirroring that of an X-Wing. Gazing through his cracked, flickering vision Skorne could barely move as each motion caused that ache in his cauterized stump to scream with pain, also inflamed around the region of his missing leg, unable to put up much of a fight but swearing to himself to take down a few Killian troops with him should things turn ugly.

Then he watched two triangular doors slide at 45 degree angles as a familiar figure hobbled its way down a flight of metal steps. Light fixtures in the steel of the walkway illuminated the silhouette of a reptilian creature flexing its long, razor sharp talons, while the other end of his clothing hung a vacant sleeve. Skorne easily recognizes one of his only allies, but is greatly puzzled by his presence here. This vessel that belonged to his enemy revealed Skel, flanked by four of his Ssi Ruu servants pacing down to the landing deck and slithering to Skorne’s ship.

Skel gestures with his one arm for his companions to cease their approach, spying Skorne’s grip around a blaster rifle as his cat’s eye black iris flares open.

SKEL – Relax my friend. Much to discusss we have. Ordered to assissst we were. Changes you see have come, explain in due time I will. Now we must attend to your injuriesss, great they are but survive you will.

Skorne’s vision begins to blur in and out of focus as he looks towards Skel, baffled by his words…knowing he was sent on a specific mission by Elixis Kel and held no allegiance to The Killian and yet what was this “change” that had come? Skorne was supposed to assassinate Terra then return to a small Sith shuttlecraft and depart the planet, this pick up was not part of his original plan. Things had indeed changed more so then he would have approved of . It was clear that somewhere along the line, Skel was given orders to come to Skorne’s aid but by who was still a mystery.

Skel once again makes his way towards Skorne, watching his friend struggle to hold up the blaster and then drop the rifle to the ground with a THUD as a wave of searing pain spreads through his body. In addition to his missing limbs, Skorne had attained considerable internal injury from Gen’s physical assault and there was no doubt this time who was the victor of their battle…but not yet the war. As stubborn as Skorne was, he had little choice but to give in to Skel’s wishes, climbing out of the vessel then immediately dropping lifeless to the floor, Skorne continued to crawl forward in determination as Skel motioned for his minions to assist, followed by a floating hover gurney.

SKORNE – (low whisper) She didn’t tell me…Terra was their daughter.

SKEL – Easssy rare hunter, let us assist you must. Repair and improve you I will, trust me you can Skorne for allies we once were and allies we are now.

Skorne grunts sharply, letting out a mechanical roar of agony as his body is lifted onto the hovering medical apparatus. His body then settles as the other Ssi Ruu begin to systematically shear away his armor with handheld laser carving devices, peeling each twisted, carbon scored, sliced section of his armor off in layers, reaching the heat constricted black body glove beneath, torn in several places keeping the grisly display of Skorne’s physical injuries in shadow.

SKEL – (to his minions) Careful…careful. Take him to the bacta infirmary and see that his missing appendagesss are replaced with only the best technology. Return to the Killian Bastion we will, so that he may discuss changes with Lady Sith Elixisss.

Skorne hears Elixis’s name mentioned in conjunction with “Killian” uttering a growl of discontent, but he is soon put under by a needle that enters his arm, sedated into a deep sleep by one of Skel’s paramount medical personnel.
 

TWO WEEKS LATER…
 

INTERIOR: DREAMSCAPE – ???

From the depths of the Killian Shadow Serpent, deep under the decks occupied by Skel’s Ssi Ru inside a shady, green lit room of humming technology and crackles of light, sputtering hails of sparks shower from mechanical equipment wielding the final touches to a fallen hunter’s new arm. Heavily sedated and unaware of the blinding white-hot heat of his reconstruction, Skorne is slowly bit by bit returned to his fully functioning state, however in the plague of darkness he his haunted by the repetitive image of Gen’s blazing purple lightsaber coming down to lop off what remained of his humanity, as she shouted to him she would take away his right to live piece by agonizing piece.

Then again was Gen’s anger unwarranted? Of course not, Skorne had earned his fate by the maniacal deeds he had committed whether he was aware of Terra’s importance to Val and Gen or not. He had the choice and he paid dearly for it. As vindictive as Gen’s action was, charged by anger and sorrow masked by brutal rage it could not undo the damage Skorne had created. Terra T’Negun was gone, and with her death the family bloodline of the T’Neguns was forever lost. The pain swelled through both Val and Skorne as both had lost a part of their lives, never to be replaced or forgotten. Skorne could have completed his mission and left, but his burning vengeance towards Val for some misdeed in the past forced him to make yet another choice, to plunge his adversary into the pit of agony as his brutal fire net dealt its damage.  However Skorne was not aware of just how incredibly effective his device had become for used against a powerful force user it would have been a momentary discomfort but easily forgotten and healed.

Such was not the case with Val for his body was not as stable as he wished others to believe. Gen was forced to witness Val lay flat again on his back as she did when he slipped into his coma. Her heart burned with resentment towards Skorne as she observed the medical crew cut away the wires from Val’s heavily burned flesh. She wondered what secret Val was still concealing from her as she traced her fingertips along the lines etched into his arms. Luckily Val had instinctively flung his arms upward to block the fire net’s damage from scarring his face as Skorne originally intended, yet another clue to his mysterious identity no doubt.

She discerned that the material of the net was forged with the same force resistant attributes as the slugs that struck down Lance and Sara. It turns out however that Skorne’s intentions to take more then one life had failed for Sara and Lance still lived. Lance had managed to endure less injury then Sara and had recovered somewhat enough to remain conscious, but Sara was in a far more grave condition, hanging on to life by a thread.

Lance boarded a shuttle sent down by Marc Jade as he stayed by his fiancée’s side while it approached and docked inside a hovering Medical Frigate bound for the Forest Moon of Endor. Lon Wol stayed by Val’s opposite side as he and Gen boarded the Assailant II and set course for the Versai Mansion, after retrieving what had survived of the gifts. While the gloves Terra had given Val as well as the belt and coat survived, the one gift Val was most impressed by from Lance was heavily damaged. Efface’s lightsaber was in pieces, and unfixable while the plaque with the signatures of the people from VT was still in tact but had carbon scoring obstructing much of the signatures save for Terra’s which would ironically be not only valued but never written again.

Gen tried to keep her untouchable, confident composure as she picked up the plaque and dusted it off. She ordered that what remained of Terra’s ashes be gathered and stored in a container not unlike that of an urn as everyone left Chandrila and the horror that occurred there.

Lance and Sara were bound for the Forest Moon of Endor where they would be safe from harm’s way as the events flashed through the thoughts of all those involved. Val relived the events like a broken record in his dreams, wondering if there was anything he could have done differently to prevent the tragedy but fate would reveal that in the realms of life and death a mortal is powerless.

It took Val another week before he finally came back to consciousness with Gen and Lon standing by his side. He had glanced down feeling that burning sensation tear through his arms, less agonizing then he had suffered previously to see his arms were now wrapped up in white medical tape. He tried to hide his growing loss, seeing an empty space where his daughter would have been as he stubbornly ripped out the IV in his arm and sat up, shaking off the dizziness.

Lon admired his Master’s unshakable willpower but he could feel through the force that Val was very much unsettled mentally and physically. Gen stepped to Val’s side and embraced him, looking into his brown eyes trying to read his thoughts through the window of his soul seeing the pain and uncertainty there. It took another couple days before Val started to resemble his old habits again, curling up with Gen and holding her one moment, then going down to train the next.

He had to again retrain himself to reach his potential, putting in another salvo of hours into the Powerhouse, sharpening his skills with his sword letting his anger towards Skorne fuel his focus to become stronger and better then before. Terra’s death tore at his soul as he viciously sliced various droids into pieces, ignoring the prominent ache within his wrapped up arms. He knew now more then ever that there was a problem with his physical well being. Normally any proficient wounds that Val encountered in his battles were healed in a matter of hours but days had passed and there was very little progress although his injuries were very slowly beginning to show gradual improvement at this stage of time the injuries should have cleared up. On the last day of the two week period that has passed, Val was working in his Firehouse on exploring the pieces of Skorne’s equipment that VT retrieved from Chandrila, namely his missing arm and pieces of the net wire that ensnared Val.

With his arms taped and dressed in the vest Gen had given him on the way to Chandrila, he uncovered that Skorne’s suit was fairly standard material but his artillery was forged with the ysalamiri DNA encoded material that definitely proved to be resistant to force powers. This explained why Sara and Lance were unable to block the damage. This also uncovered why Val felt no control over stopping the flaming web, and that it was in no way a lack of his abilities.

The next day a funeral was scheduled for Terra. Gen had taken extensive measures to see that there would be no one to interrupt the event as only a few would attend, those who knew Terra personally before her untimely departure, a woman with so much potential cut down before her prime could be reached. Lon Wol held his own grievances regarding her loss as he tried to mirror the strength of his mentor and shield his feelings. Terra to Lon was like a sister he never had, and in some ways reflected the sisters that he lost as a boy before a cold hearted force driven assassin known as Lord Overseer along with his consort Lady Carnage tore Lon’s family away from him. Not unlike Krevlin, this was one factor that showed the connection between Val and Lon, a loss of their family by the deeds of another.

History now was again following the pattern in the present as Val and this time Gen were forced to endure the loss of a family member at the hands of another homicidal madman. As tragic as Terra’s loss was, with men like Q2 and Skorne still alive it would ensure that their tyranny was not yet extinguished which left everyone on edge. Lon soothed his pain by talking to his fiancée Xola Neesan. She was a Zeltron and in addition to her sensual abilities she could feel his pain hundreds of miles away though the image Lon showed her during his holo transmissions to the Wol Estate.

Lon was feeling confused with Terra gone and Val back to his reclusive ways. No one could really blame Val for wanting to be left alone to deal with his grief in his own way, ceasing Lon’s training for the time being but with Foe Raker no longer around, Lon had to take responsibility to continue sharpening his skills, while keeping his mind stable with Xola’s soothing words at a distance.

Lon had walked away from his training twice before and was determined to remain at the Versai Mansion until he finally reached master hood and became an official Dark Jedi Master.  However, sadly Terra would not attain the goals that she so aggressively perused. Having been plagued with his nightmares, now more strongly then before Val faces his mental war, a fight against his fears, his anger, and to sustain his grip over keeping the dark side from consuming him with temptations of unlimited power.

It is here that we see him inside the Dreamscape once more, seated atop the moon washed cliffs of Kathryn’s Bluff. Although his physical body is obviously asleep inside the dreamscape he revisits the patterns of before with the difference that upon his will, he can escape unlike the gamble he took to escape this place in his coma.
 

INTERIOR – DREAMSCAPE - JEDI TEMPLE

Val no longer semi-transparent appears fully garbed in the same attire he wore on Chilandra with the addition of white medical tape around his arms shouting into the darkness of the illustrious temple, trapped in its prime within his mind containing rising columns and bathed in earth tones as he searches for who he feels is truly responsible for his current situation.

VAL – I KNOW YOU’RE HERE KENOBI! I WILL HAVE MY WORDS WITH YOU MASTER JEDI! DO YOU HEAR ME! I WILL FIND YOU!

Val streaks through the temple, running up stairs and spinning around columns searching high and low for Kenobi as he stalks towards an exit knowing full well how the dreamscape functions, slipping into the depths of the Killian Throne Room where he and Cire had their final confrontation, gazing to the flight of stairs leading down…that crucial stretch of metal extending from the catwalks where Cire left his final curse on Val’s body.

Val growls deeply dashing through the interior, finding it odd that this time he has not exited out into a exterior location as he did before, pacing to the hole where Cire’s chair was, revealing a gaping darkness where his mind had reconstructed the point in their battle when Cire’s own blasters had caused his throne to drop. Val knew if he leaped into the hole he would jump into another local and each time he exited a room he would find another place from his stored memories materialize.
 

EXTERIOR: DREAMSCAPE - JEDI CAMPSITE

It doesn’t take Val long to race through the file of his memories before he stumbles back into the site of his tragic past. The camp fire roars to life as he passes scattered robes of Jedi he had slain, seeing the familiar silhouette of Obi Wan, once again shimmering in blue gazing into the inferno. The anger inside Val swelled as he passed the carnage at his feet, kicking away tattered rags. Inside the dreamscape Val had no weapons but he sure as hell could use his fists if inclined. As he charged his way up to Kenobi and prepared to grab him by his luminescent robe, Obi Wan suddenly snapped his wrist upward and halted his movements.

OBI WAN – (calm) Cease this Val…Let go of your rage…don’t let it consume you as Anakin once did.

VAL – (clenching his fist) GIVE ME ONE REASON WHY I SHOULDN’T STRIKE YOU DOWN WHERE YOU SIT KENOBI, YOU LIED TO ME, BECAUSE OF YOU…(cuts off)

OBI WAN – I warned you only of what I saw…remember you insisted that I inform you, I never told you that my prophecy was forged with absolute certainty.

Val captures a deep breath, as the horrified look of Terra’s widened eyes flash in his thoughts, curling his fists tightly lashing his arm outward striking his fist into a toppled log right next to Obi Wan, letting his anger focus into his strike, cracking the wood into splinters. Each splint of wood represents a fraction of his torment and as each piece settles to the ground, Val’s anger diminishes to unveil the source for his fire…an overwhelming sadness.

Obi Wan watches Val’s outburst, calmly waiting for the opportune moment to comfort his pained friend, settling his hand on Val’s shoulder, lending his support. Quickly Val snaps his hand away and turns his back, staring into a balled fist.

VAL – My daughter is dead…because of you, because of your guidance.

Obi Wan draws in a few breaths, choosing his words carefully knowing that the wrong ones would set Val off again like a firecracker. In all of his years of instruction, now beyond the realm of the living Obi Wan was learning to understand the depths of human emotion. During his training with Yoda and Qui Gon he was instructed to bury his feelings and trust in the force but Val was not a Jedi, Val was not trained to control the pain inside, and that lack of control had once consumed Anakin and led to him becoming Darth Vader where it ate away at his humanity and eventually cost him his life. Obi Wan didn’t want to see the same happen to Val, although Val had managed to reclaim his lover Gen Zeridian, he was forced to endure another loss in return. Had it occurred not more then a year earlier Val would have accepted the loss of Terra and moved on, but time had forged a bond with her between Father and adopted daughter which kindled a need of preservation and protection…a sense of balance, thrust out of alignment.

He felt as if he had failed to protect his daughter and in some small measure he was in denial that Obi Wan wasn’t responsible for her death, he was. All the irrational thoughts driven by the power of emotion but in this moment, in the darkness of the night under the orange radiance of the burning campfire, Val wanted answers…no more games, no more mixed messages.

OBI WAN – I sympathize with your pain Val, I know you blame me for her death but you must understand that a Jedi’s ability to see into the future is not absolute. The ability of choice can shift the visions of the future. If I could had foreseen Terra’s demise I would have told you, believe that what has transpired was not part of the prophecy…there is another force at work now, a force I cannot control.

VAL – (spins back on his heel) YOU SAID THAT IF I GAVE UP USING MY LIGHTSABERS THAT THE PEOPLE I CHERISH WOULD BE PROTECTED! Lance and Sara were gunned down; Terra was killed and now look at me! LOOK AT MY ARMS! Why have they not healed Obi Wan? If you know so much I want to know the truth.

OBI WAN – (sighs) Val, the truth is that the vision in the fire is unchanged. There is something more however, something more sinister then before. Your choices Val, you must make them wisely for I see another loss in your future…

Val blinks a moment, clearing the images in his head as he smoothes his fingers through his medium length locks, slowly wiping the tears from his eyes walking over to sit by Obi Wan. A few moments pass as Obi gazes from the fire, then towards Val, once again settling his hand on his shoulder. This time Val does not pull away.

OBI WAN – (deep sigh) Let it go Val, I beg you…abandon these feelings of vengeance. If you truly love her you will listen to me. Don’t let yourself be destroyed by hatred as others have before you.

VAL – (blinks) What do you mean if I love her? I loved Terra as any another father would and I miss her deeply…wait…(thinks) you don’t mean…Sara? Is Sara going to die???

Obi Wan remains silent as he stares into the flickering campfire, craning his eyes back towards Val. He searches for the words to express his concern. Wisdom serves that no man should know too much about his future and Obi Wan tries to compose the best approach to tell Val what he must know to prevent further tragedy but on the same hand, if he chooses his words hastily could send Val down the path to his former self where his humanity would be lost in a flood of bloodlust.

OBI WAN – Sara’s fate is unclear. Listen to me Val, you have to keep your resistance to the dark side strong. No matter what temptations you are going to be put through you have to remember your love for Gen and those you cherish. What I can tell you with absolute certainty is that you haven’t broken the prophecy…you must continue to keep up your guard or all will be lost.

VAL – Riddles, games…jaded messages Obi Wan. Why must you be so cryptic, why can’t you just let go and tell me exactly what you perceive in the fire. Can you not see that by giving me the choice to make my own conclusions that you’re causing more harm then good? Why keep the freedom of choice available to me? Tell me and I will defy destiny.

OBI WAN – That is exactly why you must continue to hold the advantage of choice Val. You choose to defy destiny and that is what has kept you alive to reunite with your beloved Gen. Hold strong to that love for you will be forced to choose, I wish I could tell you everything Val I really wish I could but I can’t say with assurance that what I see will occur. The future is clouded by the choices we make and the people who affect it.

Val shifts his gaze down into the fire and relaxes his mind, trying to accept Obi Wan’s guidance despite the impatient need to know everything. These words from Obi Wan, cryptic or not had saved him from further torment, despite the anomaly of Skorne’s return whatever further damage Val could have caused to fulfill the previous prophecy had not been allowed to start the chain of events Obi warned of the last time they met.

VAL – You’re now referring to Gen aren’t you?

OBI WAN– (nods) You’re going to be tested Val, I don’t know how or why but I can see the pattern forming in the flames. Trials by fire and love…you must remember always those who sustain you from the darkness my friend, if you allow your focus to become distracted all is lost.

VAL – (growls) I’m going to be tested but you still refuse to tell me how. I will continue to honor your request to relinquishing my lightsabers in combat. As for Gen, words cannot describe the depth of love I share with her but you have forced me to place a barrier between what we shared years ago and the union that we have now.

OBI WAN – No Val, it is not I who has erected that barrier of protection it is once again by your choice. You sense it don’t you? I warned you that if you returned back to the world of the living you would not return back to it as you once were…there would be change.

Val thinks silently to himself as he ponders Obi’s words. Change…yes, he was right. Val caused the rift between Gen and himself. But it was out of protection that he wasn’t completely honest with his lover…his love for Gen had caused him to decide to shelter her from what he felt was a growing concern. Gen’s eyes were so radiant when he returned to her back on Versai Tech, so full of joy and hope. Each shared a heartfelt embrace and kissed with passionate fire. When Val escaped the dreamscape he returned with that same passion and fire that he felt for Gen longing for her to return. Then it happened…small and barely noticeable he recognized the growing pain in his body and the lapse with the force. Slowly Val looked down and traced the bandages covering his burned arms then lifted his eyes back to Obi Wan.

VAL – (sighs deeply) I recognize the change Obi Wan…but I don’t understand it. Why can I not lift this burden that holds me back from her? From returning back to the man I used to be?

OBI WAN – (comforting) You’re strong and stubborn Val. I don’t need to tell you what you already know so I will try to alleviate what you do not understand. There is a great disturbance in the force…a great wrong has been committed within the stability of the universe. The balance of the force has once again shifted. I don’t have any connections to the physical realm other then through your thoughts. It is because of this I cannot clearly see. The threat is blinded by endless fire.

VAL – (quirks a brow) The balance of the force has shifted? In which direction?

OBI WAN – The Dark Side has grown immensely powerful, it has found a vessel and I fear that it seeks others to feed is destructive appetite. It held you in its grasp once Val, don’t let it trap you again, don’t give in to hate.

Val peers around the camp and slowly his memory replays the red tinted blur of his vision as the Jedi Slayer. He can hear the cries of the Jedi as his orange saber struck them down one by one and yet the details of their forms were blurred in a tunnel vision state, painted in monochromatic red hues. Red representing his bloodlust, consuming his focus and his humanity in its crimson shroud where love and compassion could not be found and where he could no longer be reached. Suddenly Obi Wan’s words began to make sense. He was beginning to understand what the venerable Jedi Master was trying to warn him about. Val started to replay Obi’s words in his mind and connect the dots. Obi Wan kept his gaze towards the fire, then slowly tilted his eyes towards a foggy series of bushes as the winds and clouds filled the night sky stirring the embers of the fire.

VAL – These trials…these changes involve myself, Gen, and this mysterious disturbance right? The ability to choose is the factor between preserving lives and losing them is that what you mean? What choice Obi Wan? What must I choose to do?

OBI WAN – (keeping his gaze on the bushes) I fear my time is short Val. Your thoughts betray you, even now. Remember what I have told you, stay strong and remember your power of choice.

VAL – (blinks) What do you mean my thoughts betray me?

Obi Wan remains silent as he gestures towards the bushes. The winds continue to rise as Val watches intensely. He can hear the rustle of footsteps but he still cannot discern the source. If memory serves correctly only Val and Obi Wan are the people who have ever been seen inside the dreamscape, but that was changing for the snapping of twigs and the rustling of cloth not originated by the two near the fire was already bringing Obi’s words closer and closer to completion.

Change had arrived…

Val snapped to his feet as he saw a figure in jet black rush from the bushes, but it remained in deep shadow only visible in silhouette. The figure slowly stopped its sprint and casually paced its way closer and closer to Val and Obi Wan while the elderly blue aura of Obi Wan remained in wait. Much like awaiting the final blow from Vader inside the Death Star, Obi Wan didn’t move a muscle, he didn’t even turn to look at the dark specter invading the Jedi Camp for somewhere deep down he knew what was going to occur and like before he embraced his destiny.

VAL – (to figure) WHO ARE YOU…

The form still in pure black steps closer and closer, closing the distance between Val and Obi. It says nothing as it stretches over a log, revealing that it is draped in a heavily torn gray cloak. Along its belt, there is a flicker of silver and the outline of a buckle. Val is perplexed more and more as the rules of the Dreamscape begin to change with the increasing winds for the figure was wearing a lightsaber!

Obi Wan continued to watch the fire and then slowly looked towards the darkened, deep gray robed invader. The legendary Jedi Master maintained a calm but sorrowful expression as he looked into the darkness of a raised hood.

FIGURE – (whisper)You fill his head with lies Kenobi. Why don’t you tell him the WHOLE truth.

Obi Wan keeps his gaze steady as he peers into the covering then looks over towards Val a moment before returning his eyes back to the gray figure.

OBI WAN – I have told him everything he needs to know to resist you. That is all that matters and all I was sent here to do.

FIGURE – His resistance to me is by his own choices, not by your guidance. Because of those choices YOU KNOW what will happen, you’re just going to sit there and let him endure that torture? You revere me and yet I’m the only one who warrants TRUE concern for him.

Val closes his eyes a moment, and then snaps his gaze towards the robed specter. Something inside him knows that with the rising winds and the billowing clouds an event of importance is about to occur. He keeps his gaze fastened to Obi Wan as he moves between the two.

VAL – What do you want…what is your purpose here? This is my world, you were not invited here you (cut off)

The figure snaps a gloved hand upward towards Val, silencing his verbal warnings as his other hand travels down towards the hilt of his lightsaber, letting the light reflect off the end to reveal the exact design of Val’s first lightsaber as the shadowy intruder keeps communicating through the raised hood shrouding his identity.

FIGURE – (pointing to Val) You and I have more in common then you think. Your control over this domain is not as strong as you believe. Look around you, you caused the clouds to build, the wind to howl and yet you don’t even realize it do you? He’s going to let her die Val. When he does, you’re going to understand the true potential you possess and let slip through your fingers.

OBI WAN – Don’t listen to him Val, remember you will be tested; you can’t give in to hate.

Val stared back and forth from the figure to Obi Wan growing more confused as the weather intensified, streaking the sky in bolts of white lightning as thunder echoed across the mental landscape. The figure was dark and vile in appearance but it seemed concerned about Val’s needs and yet Obi Wan continuously warned Val to ignore the words spoken. Val was trying to rationalize the display but he couldn’t sway his faith to either side, one thought surfaced above the rest.

VAL – (looking towards the figure) Who are you referring to? Who is the “she”?

The figure cackles in a blood curdling laughter as it reaches for its weapon and ignites the blazing orange light of its lightsaber, bringing the blade close enough to reveal just that inside the shroud it was human and possessed tendrils of brown hair. Alarmed Val stepped closer between Obi and the figure, narrowing his eyes.

VAL – ANSWER ME!

FIGURE – Why protect Obi Wan Val? I can feel your anger, your hatred burns…he’s deceived you. Terra T’Negun is dead because you catered to him, and Sara may soon follow. You have the choice and the authority to change these predictions Val, he admitted it but he refuses to tell you of the “she” because if you know the truth, he will fail his obligation to protect you.

Suddenly the figure snaps its wrist upward and lunges towards Obi Wan, bringing its lightsaber striking into the log as Obi remains seated, closing his eyes as if waiting to die. Val instantly grabs the wrist of the assailant but it moves far too quick, grabbing on to Val’ injured arm squeezing the flesh as he howls out in agony, dropping to one knee. Rain pours from the sky. Val sees the figure stride past him and continue its trajectory towards its prey…Obi Wan continues to stay seated, eyes closed and focused.

VAL – OBI WAN! MOVE!

Val jumps to his feet, but the figure backhands him with the backside of its weapon, colliding with Val’s temple as he slips in the murky mud caused by the intense rainfall. Staying stubborn and true to his wills Val struggles to his feet and lunges towards the figure again, ripping off portions of the deep gray robe, managing to tear off the hood to reveal a figure with dark brown hair in side profile, but still not lit enough to see the exact details of its identity.

The shadowy warrior jerks its fist back and grips Val’s arm around increasing the pressure far worse then the last time, causing Val to succumb to the torment, dropping to both knees forced to watch as the gray figure carries out its intentions while Obi Wan stays seated. Time stands still as Val’s eyes widen, witnessing the orange fury of the figure’s lightsaber blaze down, instantly causing Obi Wan’s spiritual form to dissipate into two sections, each moving away from the light saber’s sizzling blade as he vanishes.

VAL – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Val watches, stunned by the carnage as he sees the figure extinguish its weapon and clip it back to its belt. Suddenly it pivots on its foot and flashes its arm out, grabbing Val by the throat lifting him by one hand into the air as the rain showers downward.

FIGURE – Because of him you have become frail…too weak to save him, to feeble to save her before, and if you place your faith in his words, to weak to save her again. You need me Val, you and I are two of a kind. Do your arms ache? Do you feel vulnerable? Do you ENJOY PAIN? As I told you, everything that has occurred is by your will, whether you understand it or not.

VAL – I NEVER ASKED FOR ANY OF THIS! I DIDN’T WISH OBI WAN TO DIE!

FIGURE – (grins) Oh but you did…you came into this realm with intentions of vindication for the death of your beloved daughter and your friend’s suffering. You asked me to do what you cannot and I obey you because whether you approve, I am your TRUE conscience and your strength.

VAL – But I don’t understand…why would I want him to die? He’s protected me from the prophecy.

FIGURE – (growls) CRYPTIC LIES VAL! Has your lack of lightsabers made you stronger? Did it save your daughter? Does the force listen to you anymore? THINK VAL! He never gave you strength, I GIVE YOU STRENGTH! He’s blinded you with his Jedi mind tricks.

Val ponders momentarily, taking into account the figure’s words so appealing and filled with an underlying layer of truth. Val was weaker then before, his cloth covered arms proved that vulnerability but Obi Wan warned him that Terra’s death wasn’t part of the original prophecy and whatever Obi predicted still had not come to pass. If that was the truth then what vision had this figure seen that Obi Wan did not? Questions formed time and time again as the rain hammered the ground. Val was no longer concerned with Obi Wan’s departure he was growing more and more curious about the identity of the figure choking the life from his body with its ironclad grip around his throat.

FIGURE –(yanks Val closer) You have questions Versai and I have the answers, but I will not reveal them until you let go and confide in me.

Val struggles with the option presented to him for this figure was obviously sinister and dark and yet if it knew the answers to the questions Val had that Obi Wan refused to answer was it worth trusting the shadows to protect the people he loved? In that moment, against his better judgment curiosity overshadowed his sense of logic and he allowed himself to give in to the specter and unearth the answers he sought.

VAL – (deep sigh) Very well…the desire to know the truth is more important. More important to me then Jedi teachings, then shaded prophecies, then right and wrong. Tell me what I want to know.

I figure draws Val closer, dragging him by the throat nearer to the fire, as the lines of luminance show inch by inch more clues to its identity revealing more of its tendrils of brown hair and unveiling more regions of its face, showing a glint of gold in its narrowed eyes and patches of skin.

FIGURE – All that you must do now Val is ask. Remember that this world is under your control, it is sustained by your will alone, what you are told is what you desire to know and what you are not is what you are not ready to know.

VAL – (nods) Then first and foremost who is the “she” that Obi refused to acknowledge?

FIGURE –(grins) But you already know the answer to that question. You’ve known since you allowed yourself to deceive her in the first place.

VAL – (widens eyes) GEN! OBI WAN WAS GOING TO ALLOW HER TO DIE???

The figure nods as it watches Val’s eyes widen first in shock then slowly, ever so slowly narrow as anger once again begins to flood Val’s veins and his thoughts, which causes another series of lightning to rip across the sky and thunder to resonate with a loud crash of sonic ferocity.

VAL – (growling with balled fists) WHY! WHY WOULD HE ALLOW ME WATCH HER PERISH AGAIN?

FIGURE – Because Gen Zeridian is what keeps you in balance. He knows that if she dies he will fail and yet as crazy as that might sound, he refused to tell you the truth. The truths that he would rather see Gen perish then watch you accept your nature.

VAL – I won’t allow her to die, I swear to you one way or another that is one prophecy that shall NEVER COME TO PASS.

The shadowy figure smiles broadly lowering Val to the ground, releasing its grip around his throat as it settles one hand on his shoulder, but still its face is blocked by shadow as it leans in close to whisper into Val’s ear.

FIGURE – I understand you Versai. I’ve been with you since the beginning. I’ve always been there to help you when you needed it most and I won’t allow her to die either. I know how important Gen is to you. Am I really so evil to want to help you keep what you rightfully have fought and bled for to attain?

VAL – (calm voice) I don’t know anymore what is right and what is wrong but I do know one thing remains true that both of you cannot change my love for Gen. I will do whatever it takes to see that she is never taken away from me again.

FIGURE – Love is a powerful emotion Val but that is not the question you want to ask me now is it? There is something more you crave to know.

VAL – Yes there is and you already recognize the question without me even having to ask it.

FIGURE – Who I am?

VAL – Indeed.

The figure slips its hand away from Val’s shoulder and looks towards the fire, illuminating its grayish black cloak, portions missing to reveal tattered black pants and regions of black where the shirt would be along with a brown belt and a set of knee high black boots. Val starts to recognize some of the attributes as the skies above start to swell more and more, the raining having ceased. A few moments pass as the figure keeps its back to him.

FIGURE – Are you certain you really want to know? There are so many names for who I am, and for countless years I have taken the forms of many, but here in your imagination I have assumed a form most recognizable to you. You may fear me Versai but make no mistake that you and I are allies.

VAL – (raises a brow) What is to fear?

FIGURE – (laughs) The truth of course Val, the truth. You see…the reason you fear me is because…

The figure grins sadistically as it stares into the flame, knowing full well what it’s about to do will shock and amaze. Drawing in another deep breath, Val is captivated as the shadowy guardian seems to go completely silent. The roar of thunder and the streaking of lightning soften to a duller roar as the suspense builds, tension flowing through Val’s veins knowing that whoever this figure is, was of great dramatic importance.

Suddenly the tall specter spins around to grab Val by the throat again and thrust him forward, inches from its face as Val stares point blank into a flared set of golden eyes with shrunken pupils as the wind whips the figure’s brown hair viciously. Held in a death grip Val’s eyes widen in pure shock as they become as spacious as saucers, his pupils flared open as the breath and words are literally torn from his body.

FIGURE – WHAT YOU FEAR IS YOURSELF!

All of a sudden the campfire explodes in a hellish wall of flame, fully revealing the figure to be Val looking into the golden eyes of an animalistic demon, with medium length brown hair and a malicious, horrifying smile across its face, not that different from Cire’s own sadistic grin. Val couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked dead into the face of….

The Jedi Slayer…