CHAPTER EIGHT
-Sarafur-
"We can go on about this charade forever," Shadow said, "but the result will be the same."
Lumiya dropped to the floor as the cloaked being flung a razor-like disk at her head. As it completed its course and started to head back for its master, she raised her lightsaber and sliced the weapon into two pieces.
"I will still win."
Much to her surprise, the disk's two halves rose up from the floor and began to spin around her head, buzzing like an angered nest of bees.
"It's a pity that I destroyed your lightwhip on Dxun," Shadow said as he dodged a wild swing from Carnor Jax's lightsaber. "Otherwise, this would be no problem for you."
"Who said it was?" Giving into the dark side, Lumiya called upon the Force and unleashed a blast of lightning, which instantly turned the disk halves to dust.
Shadow let out a dark, mirthless laugh. "Impressive...for a Sith. I still wonder how your kind have managed to live on for so long."
Glowering, Lumiya lunged at him, twirling her scarlet blade. The moment she was within a few feet away from him, he performed a backflip, flying over Carnor Jax, who had been attempting to attack him from behind. The two Sith stopped in their assault and turned to face Shadow, who was now standing at the entrance to the tomb's main chamber.
"Before I kill you," he said, "I must satisfy my curiosity. Just what exactly compelled you to follow a Shistavanen legend about a Sith Lord who couldn't possibly have been able to exist?"
"To see if the legend was true," Lumiya replied, watching the cloaked warrior warily.
"Ah, and is it?"
"Partly." She raised her lightsaber. "You won't live long enough to find out."
Shadow's cackling laugh rang throughout the crypt. "That is where you're wrong."
Simultaneously, the three combatants lunged at each other and the chamber was alive again with clashing blades.
-Mandalore-
The Mandalorian landspeeder came to a stop before a fort-like structure located on Keldabe's outskirts. Jaden and Starkiller's guide, who had yet to identify himself, stepped out of the speed and signaled for the two of them to follow him.
"I'll admit that it may not look like much," the Mandalorian said. "But I call it home."
"Is there any point in this little trip?" Starkiller asked bitterly. "The fate of the galaxy is at stake and you expect us to take a tour of your house?"
The Mandalorian grunted. "Trust me; you'll be glad you did."
The two Jedi followed him into the structure. Inside, the rooms were rather simple in design, with only a few pieces of furniture and other necessities present. The Mandalorian continued across the room and came to a stop before the holographic bust of a man Jaden did not recognize.
"Have you ever heard of the Mandalorian Excision?" the large man asked.
"I believe so," Jaden said.
The Mandalorian lifted the holoprojector's base up from its stand. "Then you have heard of Aran Cabur?"
"I can't say I have."
"Didn't think so." The Mandalorian stared at the holographic face and sighed. "He was our Mand'alor during those times. His clan were said to be the strongest of the clans, hence their name, Cabur, which is Mando'a for protector.
"As Mand'alor, he defended our world from the Old Republic and the Jedi when they attacked. He kept on fighting even when all hope seemed lost. As such, after he fell, he was known forever more as Mandalore the Valiant."
"So, what does this have to do with your lust for vengeance?" Starkiller asked.
The Mandalorian turned to him, his dark eyes burning with fury. "Aran Cabur was not just a valiant warrior. He was not just Mandalore."
He puffed out his chest. "He was my ancestor. And I am his last descendant, for my kin have fallen to an illness that has plagued our clan for centuries."
He stepped forward, looming over Jaden and Starkiller. "I am Atinar Cabur, heir to the title of Mandalore. And I will have my revenge."
Reflexively, the two Jedi ignited their lightsabers just as a dozen Mandalorian warriors lunged at them from the shadows....
* * *
Tick tock. The clock was ticking. Time was running short.
He had not anticipated the Mandalorian to pull this stunt. It was not his job to predict, only to watch, and wait. He was, however, confident that Jaden Korr would escape alive. He had to.
Tick tock. The minutes were trickling down like droplets of rain.
The conflict on Sarafur did not seem to be progressing well. While it was normal for Agent Shadow to toy with his targets, he did not usually let them live for so long.
No matter, he thought. If either of these incidents came to the worst possible outcome, he could always interfere in the most subtlest way possible.
Tick tock. The clock was ticking. Time was running short; his patience slowly wearing thin....
*
Author's note: I'm thinking about going through my past stories and replacing the chapter breaks (* * *) with location names.
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