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The Greatest Sith... That
Never Lived
Posted by: Darth Danno
12.13.06 12:01am
Previously:
CHAPTER V: A PADAWAN FLEES
TATOOINE: @ 1,980 BBY
Padawan Kafforl Birso tore through the back alleys of Mon Eisley
like he was an Iktotchi possessed. His Master's final word to
him running over and over through his mind...
"RUN!"
He turned left down one corridor
and right down the next. How long had he been running? He wasn't
sure. He just knew he needed to get away, to get to some safe
haven where he could stop and think about what to do next. Another
thought in the back of his mind kept nagging at him also. He
wasn't sure if it was that, or this sudden and extended burst
of adrenaline was what was making his head pound. He knew he
shouldn't have abandoned his Master, even though he was ordered
by him to do so. Never slowing to catch his breath, or to glance
over his shoulder. He knew he would have to rest soon, even if
it was for a moment. Not even the Force could sustain him for
this length of time. So he started looking for a place to hide,
but the surrounding walls of the alleyways gave no sanctuary.
Rounding another corner, he tripped over a Dug sleeping off the
previous nights libations. Birso tumbled to the ground, gashing
his left knee in the process. He ignored the pain as he scrambled
to his feet once again and resumed his pace.The Dug awoke with
a start and shouted some profanity at the fleeing form. What
exactly he said, Birso didn't catch nor care, he just kept his
pace. Kafforl wasn't even sure where exactly he was anymore.
Could he actually get back to the spot where he left his master,
Jona Hant, to fight that...thing, whatever it was? His wounded
knee throbbed with displeasure at all this exertion.
Salvation came in the form of
a small alcove to his left. Fifty feet from the alcove's entrance
was an old, wooden door. The door was locked, but at least the
alcove offered a place to duck out of the way to catch his breath.
Birso slumped to the ground with his back pressed against the
door, his hand on the hilt of his lightsaber. Any moment, his
Master's attacker may round the corner. The edifices to his left
and right were too tall, so even a Force jump to the roof was
impossible. He could use his lightsaber to break down the door
if necessary, but not knowing who or what inhabited the domicile
beyond, he didn't want to take the chance. This was his fight,
no need to endanger innocents. He tried to focus the Force, to
see if he could sense his enemy's approach. The everyday sounds
of a nearby marketplace were all he could register. For the moment,
he was safe. His knee had stopped bleeding, but would need some
attention to avoid infection, especially in these unsanitary
conditions. Mos Eisley, after all, wasn't known for it's cleanliness.
Hard to keep things clean with all the sandstorms that came in
on a regular basis.
Kafforl allowed himself a moment
to close his eyes. What should he do now? Get his bearings and
head back to their ship? Once there, should he just leave, or
contact the Council and request immediate assistance? Perhaps
he should backtrack, locate Master Hant, and together go against...the
Sith? Was that who, or what attacked us? Thinking back, going
over his knowledge of the Sith, this being who charged at them
out of nowhere was certainly dressed like a Dark Lord. Flowing
black robes and a dark hood covering his head and most of his
face. Plus they wielded a lightsaber, with a crimson blade. Yes,
he concluded, this was definitely a Sith. Quite a brazen one
to attack two Jedi...well, one Jedi and a Padawan. Plus he did
it in broad daylight, right in the middle of a Mos Eisley main
thoroughfare. He thought, the Sith are few. Those that remain
are all in hiding. Knowing full well the Jedi are out there...waiting.
Obviously this Dark Lord had no regard for secrecy. Perhaps he's
a rogue, he considered. Only one attacked us, not six, or four,
or even two. I am skilled in lightsaber combat, he reasoned.
No where near the same caliber as Master Hant, but even he said
my ability to use Shii Cho, the first form of lightsaber combat,
showed great promise. It was wrong for me to leave my Master,
I know he would not have done the same were our roles reversed.
Kafforl opened his eyes and rose
to his feet. His legs ached, but at least the pounding in his
head had ceased. He stretched, and used what he had been taught
to regain his focus. All that remained was to settle on a plan
of action. Closing his eyes once again, he called upon the Force,
using it to obtain the whereabouts of his master. The image that
appeared made Birso shudder. He saw the black-clad figure standing
over the fallen body of master Hant, laughing as he poked holes
into the Jedi's torso with his lightsaber, his body now resembled
some crater-filled asteroid. Birso shook the picture from his
mind, while the rest of his being filled with rage. My Master
is gone, he thought. There was no need to desecrate him so. He
must be avenged.
Kafforl took off from the alcove
at a good clip. Using the Force to guide him, he navigated the
back alleys with ease as he made his way back. About three-quarters
of the way, he heard a voice calling to him. Birso stopped and
glanced around quickly, seeking to determine the source. It took
him a few moments to realize the voice was inside his head...Master
Hant!
"Stop, Padawan!" The
voice spoke to him. "Revenge, hate, emotion...these are
paths to the Dark Side."
"But Master," the Padawan
thought, "We cannot let this Sith get away, especially after
what he has done to you. I cannot allow this."
"It is not your decision
to make," Master Hant replied. "What has happened to
me is over and done. Nothing you do now can bring me back. This
Sith is very skilled in the Dark Side. I'm afraid your abilities
would be no match for him."
"But Master Hant,"
Kafforl pleaded, "You said my abilities in Shii.."
"Listen to me Padawan,"
his Master commanded. "The best thing for you to do is to
get to our ship and head back to Coruscant. Inform the Council
what has happened here. They will know the best course of action.
If you were to confront the Sith now and die, the Council would
have little knowledge of what transpired." Who knows what
the Dark Lords may be planning, or how many lives may be in danger.
You must get help!"
"He had no right to mutilate
your body so!" Birso shot back. "I never should have
left you...I am a coward." The Padawan dropped his head
in shame.
"Listen to me Kafforl,"
Master Hant implored. "Your dedication to me is admirable.
It was an honor to have you as my Padawan. You left because I
commanded you, there is no shame in that. I knew going into the
battle I would lose. Not for my lack of ability, I just had never
encountered this kind of evil in a sentient being before. He
was going to stop at nothing to end my life. I could feel the
rage resonating from him in waves. It was like he existed just
to defeat me. He needed to kill me in order to go on. I didn't
understand it, no have time to meditate on it. I needed to give
you time to get away though, to get back to the ship and leave
Tatooine. If you face him now, you will lose, and all I gave
up to protect you will have been for naught." Master Hant
paused a moment, letting the words carry their intended weight.
"Once I had gone to be one
with the Force, there was nothing he could do to hurt me. He
can and will still hurt you though, unless you leave now!! If
you wish to honor me, you will do so by honoring my request."
With that, the voice was no more.
Birso took a moment to re-acclimate
himself with his surroundings. If he kept going straight, he
would encounter the Sith, and they would settle things once and
for all. If he took the alleyway to his left, he could make his
way back to the docking bays and to their ship.
He could still feel the Sith,
standing over his fallen Master, beckoning him to face him. He
could also feel his Master, beckoning him to do the opposite.
"This one's for you, Master."
Kafforl said aloud, more to himself than to be heard by anyone
else as he hurried down the left alleyway.
Darth Danno
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