CHAPTER EIGHT
During his training under Jedi Battlemaster Kyle Katarn, Anakin had been considered one of the most skilled lightsaber duelists at the Jedi Temple. Even the more skilled duelists such as Masters Gaaraddik and Plun Kil had commended him for his skills in the Niman lightsaber form.
However, pitted against this phantom of Darth Vader, he was just as inexperienced as a mere Padawan. The Dark Lord of the Sith was ferocious and brutal with his attacks in the Shien/Djem So form. With every attack Anakin made against him, Vader countered it with something more powerful and enhanced by the Force.
And as if that was not enough to wear Anakin down, the Dark Lord's taunts would have to suffice.
"Your powers are weak," Vader said coldly. "Your moves lack coordination and focus."
As if to prove his point, he responded to a sideways slash from Anakin by hitting the Jedi's lightsaber blade hard enough to send it flinging from his hand. The Sith then summoned it towards him with the Force, holding both lightsabers in the Jar'Kai technique, crossed at Anakin's neck.
"Concede defeat," Darth Vader murmured, "and I might spare you as a reward for your dignity."
In spite of his tired body, Anakin felt the Force well within him. Was it determination that was provoking it? Or...ire?
Whatever it was, he released the built up power as a burst of pressurized air that launched Vader off his feet, the two lightsabers flying out of his hand. As the two weapons clattered to the ground, Anakin called his own back to him with the Force and it shot right into his hand. Igniting its azure blade, he then charged towards Vader, who still laid helplessly on the ground.
Just as Anakin raised his blade to strike the defenseless Sith Lord, the other forlorn lightsaber flew through the air and into Vader's right hand. The obsidian knight then activated its scarlet blade and blocked Anakin's descending one.
"I thought a Jedi was not supposed to give into his anger," the Dark Lord said quietly.
Before Anakin could respond, the Sith Lord unleashed a Force burst that pushed him into the air, rocking the cave's walls at the same time. As Anakin landed hard onto the ground, causing pain to shoot through his entire body, Vader rose to his feet and slowly walked towards his defeated opponent.
"Does my son's Jedi Order not continue to uphold the ancient values of the Jedi?" he asked. "Is the new generation not restrained from killing unarmed beings?"
Anakin cringed at the pain as he tried to speak. "But...you're not real. You...you're just a phantom."
"Am I?" Vader said quietly. He crouched down before Anakin, his loud breathing hissing into his ear.
"I may be dead," the Dark Lord whispered, his voice sending chills through Anakin's body. "But does that make me any less real than I was before my demise?"
Anakin did not reply, the pain in his back becoming too unbearable for him to even speak. As his consciousness began to fade, he heard his grandfather's final words.
"I was hoping that you would not completely live up to my name and make the same mistakes I did. I am yet to be satisfied..."
* * *
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Wallen glanced at Xemer as they walked off the ship. "You couldn't wait to say that until after we reached the building?"
The Kel Dor shrugged. "I figured that, by then, it would be an understatement."
As the three of them began walking towards the towering temple, Kane slowly began to stagger his steps, clutching his temple as if in pain.
"What's wrong?" Wallen asked.
"They're calling to me," the Jedi Knight murmured. "I can hear their voices."
Xemer's face creased with concern as he looked at Wallen. "Is he all right?"
"I'm fine," Kane said hastily, releasing his grip on his head. "Let's just keep going."
They began to cross the short, ruined street, stepping over the disembodied heads of long forgotten statues and nearly tripping over vine growths. Once they had arrived at the palace, which, to Wallen's suspicion, had an unguarded entrance, Kane lightly knocked on the door.
Not to anyone's surprise, no one answered.
Xemer made a noise which sounded like a scornful snot. "That is not how you knock on a door."
He moved Kane aside and began to bang rambunctiously on the door. "THIS IS THE GALACTIC ALLIANCE!" he cried at the top of his lungs. "OPEN UP IMMEDIATELY!"
Wallen gave his partner an admonishing look. "Are you trying to get us in a rut?"
Xemer raised up his hands, the closest he could achieve an innocent look. "Hey, at least it'll get them to notice us, which is what we wanted, right?"
Sure enough, the two large doors of the temple's entrance began to open, albeit slowly. Wallen was about to make a comment about the pointless drama when the doors finally parted fully to reveal an elderly female Woostoid.
"May I help you?" she asked, her quiet voice crackling with age.
"Yes, you may," Wallen said, speaking before Xemer could try another one of his 'techniques'. "We would like to speak with your...master."
The aging Woostoid stared blankly at him, her wrinkled face and black orbs for eyes betraying no emotion at all. "May you give me a good explanation on why you seek my masters' audience? Can you not give me a message to relay?"
Wallen folded his arms across his chest. "I am quite certain this will be worth his or her time. Tell them that it concerns a certain group of missing Jedi."
The Woostoid continued to stare without emotion, her eyes seeming to flicker between Wallen, Xemer, and Kane. Finally, her voice quieter than before, she said, "Wait here."
After the aged being had closed the doors while she went to get her master, Wallen turned to Xemer and smiled.
"See? Volume and forcefulness isn't always necessary to achieve the results you desire."
The Kel Dor lieutenant crossed his arms. "Calm and collected didn't exactly help us on Nal Yeshu-"
"That doesn't count," Wallen said, a bit too hastily. "Besides, that was thirteen years ago. How do you even remember that?"
Before Xemer could reply, the large doors opened back up again. However, instead of the old Woostoid, the three men saw a tall, burly man clad in black robes and crimson armor. Upon seeing the trio, a mirthless smile crossed his dark skinned face.
"Ah, it's about time you arrived. We've been expecting you."
*
Author's note: Yeah, I usually refrain from using all caps lock, but it just seemed appropriate for this chapter.
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