The crew of the Turncoat prepared themselves for the sub-orbital jump. The three Sith champions approached the jump platform with the shock troopers following close behind. A'Suri Fatecaller, the frail, pale colored figure in black, reached out with her mind and sensed the death and dismay below her. She savored it like a fine wine and readied herself for the jump.
Without warning, the ship goes dark and then explodes around her. She is falling. She looks towards the ship she just disembarked from (if you could call it that) and sees nothing but smoke and fiery debris. With any luck, the other two Sith champions were a part of the wreckage. She clears her mind and once again reaches out only to find disappointment.
Jeran the LightSlayer was a few meters to her right. Kardan Hull was somewhere above them. The atmosphere is littered with the burning wreckage of a hundred dead starships. A huge metal hull fragment swerves into her and Jeran's path. With a fair amount of arial maneuvering they both manage to avoid it and continue the descent.
Kardan activates his lightsaber. A short moment later, the glowing red energy beams of a dozen or more shock troopers spring into existence. A'Suri, temporarily distracted by the spectacle, fails to notice another piece of hull coming from below. It strikes her, temporarily disorienting the Sith. The blow sends her spiraling into an erratic free-fall. She manages to steady herself as she pulls out her own lightsaber, determined not to embarrass herself again.
The ground approaches. Her helmet display shows the altitude quickly approaching zero. It begins flashing red and the jet fires, slowing her fall to a gentle descent. A meter or so from the ground, the shoulder straps automatically release and she falls prone.
Jaren and Kardan land a short moment later, followed by the shock troops. Two fall lifeless to the ground when released from their shoulder straps. A’Suri lets the anger consume her, calling for Flat’ira, the leader of her detachment.
“You disappoint me, captain. It would seem two of your troopers couldn’t even make landfall before failing me. See to it the others aren’t so eager to convey their weakness.”
The captain begins nervously shouting for the troops to group up.
The hill upon which they landed provides an impressive view of the battle waging on the planet. The red and green blaster fire lights up the sky like some sort of firework homage to war.
“Yes!”, yells Jaren. “The battle is before us. Let us join our brothers and destroy the Mandalorian scum who oppose us.
“Steady your resolve, Jaren!” whips A’Suri. “We have a mission to do. That battle is merely a distraction, hiding our true purpose here. We must find the artifact. Our master demands it.”
“Let Darth Bare wait a few more hours for his precious trinket. I smell Jedi. I feel their weakness. And my collection has demands of it’s own.”
“A’Suri is right,” adds Kardan. “There may be plenty of opportunity yet for you to satiate your need relieve them of their lightsabers. And when the time comes, have some sense about you. I want to question one. I want to... play with one.”
Jaren grunted but nodded in acknowledgement. He removed his data pad from his belt. It had been programmed with the location of the artifact. It would appear it lay in a temple, not far from the battle before them. With any luck, he may yet get a chance to join the fight.
A’Suri whispered, “Quiet you fools. We have company.”
A squad of Mandalorian crest the hill and begin firing. Jaren smiles. He activates the lightsaber. His is the only one that doesn’t glow red. The tranquil blue beam disguises the fury of the man who wields it. It shines brilliantly, a fitting effigy to it’s previous master, Jaren’s Jedi Teacher. It was the first lightsaber to enter his collection. And it was his favorite.
The battle didn’t last long. The Mandalorian were outnumbered and outmatched. The Sith showed them no mercy. Each one died, brutally and painfully.
Jaren began canvassing the bodies, grabbing vibroblades and assorted weaponry.
A’Suri eyed him with a certain amount of disgust. “You collect trophies as though you were proud of this battle. These things were weak. You are pathetic.”
Jaren glared at A’Suri. “You best hold your tongue lest I add your lightsaber to my collection.”
A’Suri simply smiled. “Might I suggest you add some lightning to your collection instead.” Sparks of electricity emanated from her fingers. Jaren was not scared but he did not push the matter further. The force was strong with her but he would have his chance.
The group began heading in the direction of the temple. The terrain was lush and hilly. All this greenery was unpleasant to Kardan. He preferred the reassuring feel of concrete or metal under his feet. He was a child of the streets. It was only recently that he saw his first tree. A pathetic thing. Unable to talk. Unable to protect itself. It was just there. Wasting the force that flowed through it. He doubted he would ever be fully comfortable with all this nature.
Just then, Kardan heard something. Something big. No, not something. Two somethings. Two scout walkers appear before them.
“Now that’s more like it”, uttered Jaren as he starts running towards the first, slicing its leg enough to give it a wobble but not enough to topple it over. Kardan went to attack the other but missed. A’Suri focused on the driver of the walker, using the force to fill his heart with terror while muttering something about feeding his soul to the dark side. The driver, gripped with fear, stopped the walker. His partner on the turret, however, began firing at them. A’Suri considered her actions and decided that perhaps it would have been better to target the man with the gun. A couple of shots from Kardan’s gun, however, remedied her mistake.
She turns on the other walker. Jaren is still trying to attack it’s legs with his lightsaber.
“You fool! Must I do everything myself?”
She raises her hands and the driver begins to levitate, but only for a moment. She hurls him at his partner on the turret with enough force to bring down a star destroyer. They explode raining blood onto every nearby surface. Even their bone is liquified to marrow at the force of the impact.
“Excellent,” says Jeran. “This should speed our travel.”
Given that both walkers were heavily damaged, A’Suri expresses reservations about traveling in them. After some discussion, she reluctantly agrees. They continue their progress towards the temple. They soon clear the wooded landscape and find themselves facing the ziggurat they seek.
Some movement in the shadows at the entrance draws their attention. Mandalorian figures cloaked in darkness draw back into the shadows as three Jedi make their presence known.
The Sith can sense the power of the Jedi Knight. The can also sense that the other two are merely Padawan learners. Jaren can barely contain his glee at the thought of teaching the younger ones the true power of the force. Kardan eyes the Twi’lek leader longingly, thoughts of slowly severing her brain-tails dance through his head.
“Leave now and we will not harm you”, yells the Twi’lek.
A’Suri draws her lightsaber. “Leave? No, I’m afraid there will be no escape here today. Not for you. And not for the two Padawan puppies who have yet to be weened from the teat of their Jedi bitch.”
A’Suri allows the force to flow through her, to consume her. She raises her hand and sends a furious arch of lightning at the Padawan closest to her. Surprisingly, the young Jedi raises his lightsaber and is able to negate the barrage. A’Suri, embarrassed at her apparent failure, is enfuriated.
Seeing the failed display, Jeran openly mocks her. “Your weakness betrays you A’Suri. But fear not. Keep practicing on the apprentice, I’ll take care of the Knight.” He runs forward, his eyes sternly set on the Twi’lek Jedi.
With a speed that both surprises and excites Jeran, the Twi’lek darts forward with lightsaber drawn. He allows the Dark Fury to consume him and strikes with the passion only a Sith knows. The weapon slashes her side, cutting and instantly cauterizing the wound. She is visibly shaken by the ordeal.
Kardan moves forward and draws his blaster, firing two shots at the other Padawan. The Padawan barely dodges the blaster fire and moves towards A’Suri to assist his Jedi brother. Drawing upon his limited knowledge of the dark side, he attempts to Force Grip her.
“Such a clumsy knowledge of the force. Allow me to teach you, young apprentice.”
She raisers her hand and he begins to lift slightly from the ground, clawing at his neck. He makes gurgling, choking noises as he gasps for breath. A’Suri listens to the melody of his pain, relishing every note.
The Jedi Knight feeling the suffering of the Padawan behind her calls upon the force and throws Jeran away from her. He feels the desperation in the way she wields her power. Her senses her resolve is beginning to shake and her training is beginning to wane. She isn’t fighting with the cool collective mind of a Jedi. She’s letting her fear and passion guide her actions. That is the realm of the dark side. That is the realm of the Sith.
Seeing his original target incapacitated by A’Suri’s hold on him, Kardan moves towards the other Padawan, firing his blaster. He snarls in rage as his shots miss their target yet again.
Jeran moves quickly, raising his lightsaber over his head, empowered by the fear of the Jedi Knight. As he approaches, she once again retains control over her emotions. A calm serenity washes over her as she accepts her coming death. Jeran senses this disgusting display of control and strikes with perfect hatred. The Knight falls dead before him.
The Padawan not slowly choking to death slashes at the Kardan. He quickly deflects the attack and plunges his own blade into her her chest. It lights her ribcage with a warm, orange glow. Only a Sith lightsaber can produce this effect. It pleases him greatly. He stares into the eyes of the dying Jedi, watching as the hints of life slowly drain away.
A’Suri slowly walks to the last remaining Jedi. “Your fumbling attempts at using the dark side have betrayed you. You can, however, be taught. I feel your fear. I feel your hatred. Draw upon your feelings. They will give you power. I will show you the way. Become my apprentice or you will know death.”
With foolish bravery, the young Jedi declares, “I will never walk beside you. I would rather die than be a slave to the dark side.”
“Fair enough,” smirks Jeran as he decapitates the boy.
“You incompetent fool!” screams A’Suri. She raises her hand and his lightsaber goes flying. “I was looking forward to watching Kardan break him!”
“I seems to have dropped my weapon,” snickers Jeran. “Oh look, he had a lightsaber. I’ll just take that one.” He smiles.
Suddenly, she senses a powerful presence invading her mind. She sees a faint, partial image of the lower half of a man’s face. He is speaking to her.
“Leave now. You will find only death inside”.
“If I leave now, I will find only death at the hands of Darth Bare.”
The other two look at her, puzzled. She dismisses their questions before they have a chance to be asked and walks into the temple. The other two look at each other and follow.
The interior of the temple is truly ancient. Strange markings and destroyed statues lay all around them. Before them stand a larger group of Jedi. A’Suri immediately recognizes the man standing near the back as the one in her vision. He is a Jedi master. She can sense his power. Before him are two Jedi Knights and 3 Padawan Apprentices. She feels fear but draws upon it.
“You should not have entered this place. Your mere existence is a desecration of the force. We will spare you but you may no longer leave of your own accord. Surrender and we will bring you before the Counsel to face your crimes.”
“Why of course, Jedi Master.” She had never before managed to convey the word Master in such a derogatory way. This pleased her.
“You mock me at your own peril, heretic. Drop your weapons and come forward.”
She smiles. Drops her weapon and walks forward. Jeran does the same. Kardan holds back.
When the two are within striking distance, Jeran tosses one of the many lightsabers he collected outside. A’Suri catches it as he pulls another from his belt. All three Sith activate their beams simultaneously.
“Have it your way,” says the Jedi Master.
A flash of lightsaber activity erupts as the groups engage each other. Jeran and Kardan both strike at one of the Jedi Knights, nearly incapacitating her. The Jedi Master focuses his attention on A’Suri and she feels her grip on the force loosening.
“No!” she screams. Her anger seems to re-establish her connection and she hurls the other Jedi Knight into him. He stands true against the blow but she senses it has caused a fair amount of pain. The Jedi Knight, on the other hand, screams in agony as her back breaks from the impact against his chest. She falls to the ground, nearly unconscious and moaning in pain.
He draws upon the force and A’Suri can feel that his knowledge of it is great indeed. The Jedi Knight rises, fully healed and advances upon her. She is able to deflect the volley of lightsaber attacks from the Jedi but one of the nearby Padawans seizes the opportunity to Force Stun her.
Seeing A’Suri outnumbered and sensing the struggle of the other group of Jedi, the master moves toward Jeran and Kardan. The two Sith are striking furiously at the Jedi and Padawan before them. The Jedi master enters the fray just as the Sith strike down the Jedi Knight. He is too late. She is dead and nothing can be done for her. Moments later, the first Padawan he is trying to protect is destroyed. Soon after the second falls as well.
The battle continues to unfold, the sound of lightsaber duels echoing through the cavernous temple. The remaining Knight continues to strike at A’Suri with the help of the last Padawan. A’Suri deftly dodges and deflects each blow. Instead of striking back, she continues to user her force powers to attack the master.
With all three Sith focusing on the Jedi Master, the battle begins to turn in their favor. A’Suri successfully holds him in place with a powerful Force Grip as the two Jedi strike at him with blow after lightsaber blow. The Jedi Master falls before their combined strength.
Without the more powerful Jedi, the remaining battle is a slaughter. A’Suri inflicts a serious wound on the Padawan, collapsing his lung with the power of the dark side. The remaining Jedi Knight fights valiantly but is no match for the combined power of Jaren and Kardan.
The Sith steady themselves, surveying their victory. A’Suri notices the artifact in the middle of the temple. She walks toward it and picks it up. She has no idea what it is but she knows it is powerful, perhaps the most powerful object she’s ever encountered.
Kardan walks to the rear of the temple, looking for any sign of the Mandalorians they noticed when first coming upon the temple. Jeran watches as Kardan walks into the shadows and turns on A’Suri who is mesmerized by the object before her.
She hears the lightsaber activate and senses the golden glow of the Jedi Master’s former light saber. She springs into action, dropping the artifact and flipping into the air behind her. She does not fly high enough and Jeran cuts her deeply. She is alive but she is badly injured.
She calls upon every last ounce of rage and hatred and funnels it into a furious burst of lightning that strikes Jeran in the chest. He flies across the room against a pillar near the entrance. He chokes up some blood and gazes at her, his face contorted in a mixture of surprise and anger.
His expression changes, his eyes widen, and he chuckles. In the same moment she watches hi die, she notices a sharp burning pain in her back and abdomen. She looks down and sees a red lightsaber beam protruding from her chest. For some reason, her final thoughts are of the orange glowing effect it produces in her ribcage and how much it disturbs her.
She falls to the ground with Kardan standing behind her. His lightsaber blade recedes and he picks up the artifact near A’Suri’s body. He takes one last look around the room, surveying the bodies strewn about the temple. He smiles and walks out.
