Judgement of Illumination

[Jayce Vitulas]

"With my spider Droids at the ready, tell me Dark Jedi, What makes us so different?"

The question rang in Jayce's head for a good long minute. It's not like he didn't know the answer, he was never asked his opinion on the subject before. "The difference between the Jedi and myself is very simple. I live by the force. I take in all that it has to offer and I use whatever it gives me. When I'm angry, I channel the power and use it. If the darkside wasn't apart of the force, then I nor the Sith would use it. It's the balance. It keeps us together and can drive us apart because it wills all that is created. If Jedi don't see that, then my ideas of you being slack jawed idiots is confirmed."

It was clear that Valara was puzzled by this. She understood what he meant but never heard someone actually verbalize it. The aura around Jayce seemed to be in harmony and it was unclear why.

What is it with this boy? Valara thought to herself. She began to pace and look at the two gentlemen. "I see. So what exactly did you come here for? Seeking more power to conquer the galaxy with? Perhaps your Sith friend here, conned you into looking for artifacts to use. Maybe you are his puppet and you do not realize it." Her tone was very shrewd. She wanted Jayce to turn on Kevros and leave his body decaying in the waters outside of her room.

"To be honest, I hardly know the guy. Unfortunately for you, we had a deal. He would help me retrieve the book containing Emerald Lightning and wouldn't take it from me." Jayce was not impressed with her tactics. It was sloppy the way she tried to turn him on Kevros. If Valara wanted to kill them, she should have just tried the lightsaber that was hanging off her belt.

The droids were ready to fire. Jayce was not very skilled in blocking blaster fire. It was all on Kevros to stop them.

"Now you, Sith. What is your purpose here?"

 

[Orion Darkstar]

"The dark side is far from corrupt, you Jedi always seem to think we are in the wrong. You've failed the order Valara, and you're angry about it. I can sense it deep within you. The echoes of the force do not lie to those truly aligned to one side of the force. Emotions shouldn't be locked away, they should be manifested into power, elegance, and freedom."

Kevros cleared his throat, his right arm reaching for his saber. The droids arched upward even more as they aligned their turbo blasters at Jayce and him.

"Peace is a lie. Valara even you know that, the Jedi have abandoned you. It has left you weak in your resolve."

Kevros weaved his way into her mind, hoping to convert her to the dark side with ease. However, she proved stubborn and confused. Jayce began to explain his reasoning for entering Valara's temple of solitude. Electric Judgement, a form of light sided Sith lightning. Although not as effective as the dark side, Kevros was intrigued.

"Valara I seek the records of a male force user by the name of Kilik Voss. A member of the Temple of Illumination during the times of Mace Windu's reign here. If you can't help, I'm sure the books sitting nicely in their respective places will do just as well."

Valara shook her head her hand swiping through the air as the droids opened up, the emitters of their guns lighting up with a orange canvas. The bolts came in a rapid succession, Kevros stepped back quickly. The wooden floor below chewed away from the orange plasma left from the impact. His saber ignited as he swiftly defected the next incoming shots, sent directly back at the two droids to his upper left. The droids shields kicked on and the bolts dissipated, the smell of burning metal filling the room.

Stretching his free left arm in a outward manner he reached for the two droids to his left, carefully focused on the bolts coming from the right. The tendrils of the force wrapped around the two droids, the sensation of tangible metal made his hand yearn for more power as he yanked backwards, a small grunt escaping beneath his mask. The droids flew through the air a slammed into the tables behind him, just barely missing Jayce.

"Enough!" Kevros yelled, his hand tightening around his hilts

The two remaining droids continued their fire, Kevros preforming acrobatic dodging as he deflected a few more shots. This time the trajectory was aimed for Valara. Her movements were quick, a vibrant purple stretching through the room as she swatted the measly threat out of the air. An odd choice for Jedi, had she already abandoned the ways of the Sith for Jayce's restricted path?

[member="Jayce R. Vitalus"]

 

[Jayce Vitulas]

"Enough!" Kevros yelled with the intensity of a thousand rancors. Jayce was in awe. He shook off the excitement of the battle and cleared his mind. The sound of blaster shots rang through the room. Jayce calmed himself and began to reach for his saber. With an elegant twirl in his hand, he ignite his weapon. The blade leaped from the hilt with a fiery red, then a crossguard formed out of the sides of the hilt. Jayce's beloved red crossguarded lightsaber was in the fight.

With a deep inhale and exhale, "This is where the fun begins." Jayce was off. With incredible speed he ran up the side of one of the walls and ran on it as if it was the floor. The droids started to target him and he jumped from the wall right in front of Valara. Jayce quickly somersaulted away and left two turbo shots rushing right for the Jedi. Valara force blocked the blasts. She seemed amused with the Dark Jedi's techniques.

The two droids where almost standing still. Jayce looked at his surroundings. He used the force to grab the bookcase that was sitting at the entrance and flung it at the droids. They started to fire at the slab of wood heading their way. From behind the burning lumber, Jayce was waiting. He cut the spider droids like they were made of paper. Landing in front of the northeast wall, Jayce stood there as the droids dead carcasses dropped onto the ground.

"You know. I'm starting to think the Jedi are in love with useless things. A code, temples and now droids. What a waste of time and effort." Jayce looked at Valara, snickering.

"So you are a Sith. Your lightsaber is a clear sign of where you allegence is placed." Valara looked horrified. She believe him to be a Jedi who dabbled in the darkside. Not a Sith like Kevros.

"Oh no, I'm no Sith. My favorite color is red, so it was by luck that I found this lightsaber in a Jedi temple. Maybe its previous owner was a Sith, but he's dead. Finders keepers." Jayce began to look proud as he weaved the lightsaber around.

Jayce looked to Kevros to see what the next part of the plan was.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

Her frustration showed through as Jayce sped along the walls dismantling her useless droids. She had lost her way, it was more apparent now than ever.

"Valara you can't turn back now, give into your anger. You'll be free from your own mental contemplation." Kevros enticed her his red humming saber swiping through the air as he twirled it forward. Side stepping to the side he watched her lose control, flipping the table over with great force. The food she once savored, splattering onto the floor. The dishes, shattering as the tiny clay pieces skidded across the ground.

"I will not allow you two to ruin my plans!" She screamed, her eyes a visceral yellow. The hate slowly consumed her, dangerous for a exiled Jedi. Without proper training her anger would be her downside. Valara opened her mouth, a high pitched scream amplifying around her. The force began to swirl inward as she exhaled.

Toppling the bookcases over, Kevros was sent flying backwards, slamming into the far side of the stone wall. His back cracking from the impact, his shoulder guard lodged into the crumbling structure. Kevros had to move fast, but he was stuck. Valara already followed up with a telekinetic move. Large stones aimed for him as the cloud of smoke from the initial impact cleared. His shoulder guard refused to allow him freedom. The first stone striking his knee, a sudden shrill of pain creeping to his side. The second more weighted rock, just missed him as it smashed into the wall, tiny pieces of stone falling onto him. The last boulder sized stone would kill him, Yanking with his last attempt he slipped under the giant boulder and rolled out to safety.

Trying to stand his knee burned, he could feel the blood dripping from the wound Valara had created.

"Promising." Kevros said to himself, the fallen Jedi shifting her focus towards Jayce.

[member="Jayce R. Vitalus"]

 

[Jayce Vitulas]

Watching Kevros being flung like a child's play thing, Jayce wanted to see how this would play out. He sensed that Kevros was a strong force user but it seems that it was nothing compared to Valara.

Jayce looked at Valara and she looked at him. "Okay then. I see that this will involve some effort." Jayce was prepared for a duel, ever since he met Kevros on the outside of the temple. The two twisted and turned. Looking each other down to their very souls. It became a dance. In a split second, the sabers clashed. Valara had finally revealed her lightsaber. It was a bright violet, coursing with unstable energy. Clearly, Valara has been using a cracked crystal and hasn't replaced it in her time of exile. The two Jedi began to weave their lightsabers in a stunning display of lights and sparks. Jayce trained himself in

Shii-Cho and Vaapad but he still had much to learn.​

Valara had enough. She believed herself to be an adept duelist and was not ready to submit to someone she believed to be inproperly trained. Lashing out, she began to swing vigorously. Jayce knew this was the darkside taking its hold on her. He looked into her eyes. Valara's irises looked like yellow suns, burning with violent fury. The violet blade came crashing down on Jayce's lightsaber. They locked and stood there, trying to overpower the other. Jayce was beginning to lose the fight. Valara was becoming stronger with the darkside and her hatred was winning the duel.​

"Okay then. Two can play at that game!" Jayce screamed, his eyes began to change from his electric blue to a pale yellow. He was tapping into the darkside. The losing battle began to shift. Leaning closer to Valara, she began to kneel backwards. Jayce pushed and pushed, until the crossguard was inches away from Valara's shoulder. Trying to fight it, the red haired woman began to screech.​

The blazing heat of the guard was arriving closer to its desired spot. It buried itself into Valara's right shoulder. Screams echoed through the tiny room and out across the watery floor.​

 

[Orion Darkstar]

Kevros watched as Jayce clashed sabers with Valara. She seemed to have the upper hand, her resonating aura tainting the library with little effort. Almost over powering Jayce, something changed. The Dark Jedi let out a war cry, his eyes changing to a dry yellow as he forced Valara's saber back. His strength had increased, better yet he caused her physical pain. The cross guard beams of heaping plasma, slipped into her shoulder, like a hot knife through butter.

The scream from her lungs sent a chill up his neck, Kevros was ready to get back in the fight. Something was wrong, Valara had lured Jayce right into her trap. Kevros shifted his gaze to Jayce's feet, the stone slab below him pressed into the ground waiting for the release to fire poisoned spikes. Jayce couldn't move, as Valara pushed away from Jayce she examined her flesh wound. Blood pouring out onto the floor, the black crust around the wound slowly cauterized, allowing her to medicate herself after the fight.

"You foolish Imbeciles, you'll find nothing here!" She exclamined, her legs shifting and her knees bending.

Valara's amethyst saber rose above her head, her free hand taunting Jayce to walk forward. She changed her lightsaber form, a clear adept in the arts of combat at close range. Unsure of his ability to match her, Kevros yelled out to Jayce.

"The traps, your standing on the trap! Don't move Jayce!"

Kevros jumped into the air, his crimson blade flipping along with him. His knee wound had gone numb, his connection to the force stronger now more than ever. he concentrated on the frustration of his current disadvantage. He would have to rise above Valara to prove his worth. Landing inches from her his saber slashed diagonally towards her face, the buzzing sound of the saber slicing through the air was like music to his ears.

Valara swiftly blocked, then another attempt came for her chest, this time Kevros lunged, his arm straightening carefully precision on the organ damage that would incur. Valara was taken back by his speed, barely capable of parrying it to the side as she went to force push him away, only this time Kevros simultaneously did the same. The two force pushes imploded at the center the energy of the force exploding with immense impact as Valara was sent into the pillar nearby. Kevros jumped, his feet slamming into the ground, bending to keep himself upright.

This was his chance to free Jayce from the trap, gripping for the scrap metal on the floor from the previous assault droid he pulled it towards Jayce. The droid hovered over Jayce until he moved at which point the droids mass would replace him.

Once Jayce was set free from his mistake, Valara would have her hands full with the two promising students, of the force...

[member="Jayce R. Vitalus"]

 

[Jayce Vitulas]

Jayce watched the droid over his head. "This is going to take some pretty good timing." With a nod to Kevros, Jayce force jumped forwards. The droid fell quicker than a stone plunging into the ocean. Jayce landed right in front of Valara, who was in critical state after the massive force push.

"Valara. You are out classed in this fight. You could barely handle me, let alone the two of us." Jayce looked to Kevros. The insidious mask looked right back at him. Jayce redirected his gaze back to Valara. "If you give up now and give us what we want, I swear no more harm will come to you."

Valara looked at Jayce with much anguish and despair. This battle was to be one of great honor and humility, but she failed. The young red headed woman was in disbelief at the words that were being spoken to her. They were a knife right to her very heart. Every ounce of her being was crumbling. She looked up at the Dark Jedi, tears in her eyes. "As long as I live, I will never stop protecting this temple. You will get no glory here. If you strike me down, no one will care. I was once a padawan in the Jedi order, the apprentice of Master Flynt Ravac. Together, we controlled a small squadron of Republic troopers, are duty was to cleanse the galaxy of the Sith and bring balance to the force. But as the battles kept going, I began to lose control of my abilities. My connection to the darkside was growing stronger and I couldn't help myself. Master Ravac tired to convince the Jedi Council to let me stay, but they banished me. I came here, hoping to correct the wrongs I have made. I have been here for two years, waiting. Then you two show up and plan to take what I have guarded in all of that time. I will not allow that!"

Valara sprung up from her pile of debris and lunged at Jayce. He turned his head, disappointed in her choice and reason. Jayce's lightsaber came from the side of Valara, cutting from her right rib cage to her left shoulder blade. The red haired Jedi grew silent as her body landed onto the floor. First her lower half, then her upper.

Jayce just stood there. Quiet. Slowly, he twisted his head towards Kevros, a tear dripped from Jayce's face. It wasn't his first kill, but it was the most difficult.

"There is no death, there is only the force." Jayce said those words with great bitterness.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

It was the end of the line for Valara.

With Jayce free from her lackluster traps. The two of them could easily take her down. Only Kevros wasn't needed. Jayce wasn't going to allow her the time to react, possibly afraid of Valara's skill to dispatching one of them. Kevros would have jumped to kill her just as easily, only the stinging burn of his knee wound began to fester. The tiny gravel dug underneath his skin forcing his blood to thicken and coagulate. Kneeling on his healthy knee he watched Jayce closely.

It seemed the Dark Jedi was hesitant about the kill. Killing came way too naturally to Kevros, his tainted mind always yearning for the next challenge to overcome and defeat. Jayce finally followed through, his saber striking at Valara's rib cage, opening her body like a peeling banana. The red beam of energy stopped at her shoulder, lifeless and leaning, Valara fell.

Inspecting his ruined knee he deactivated his saber. Still held tightly in his hands he moved his fingers oddly around it to lift his pants. The white skin underneath revealed his toned leg and then his knee. The blood dried and the gravel inside it cause a stunning sensation of pain. Grunting, he ripped his black cloak, wrapping the tattered cloth around his knee. The library fell silent, and worse the lights slowly dimmed, the only real light coming from Jayce's saber. The consistent hum of his weapon made Kevros think, the idea of such a valuable weapon to a Sith or Jedi had become a well learned asset.

Rolling his pants back down and over his ankle he hid his wound. Kevros' emerald eyes slowly locking with Jayce's. The drop of condensation on his face told Kevros one thing, Jayce was passionate about taking lives. Something Kevros never experienced, in a way Kevros was almost jealous of Jayce. Being able to feel such a connection with those that he came across even in death made Kevros contemplate on his actions in the past. Although without his cruel, cold, intelligent and twisted mind he wouldn't be alive today. Standing he shook his head, the wound wouldn't prevent him from combat, but in its current state time would wear him down.

***​

​

The warmth left the library, seconds was all it took for the four men in full trooper gear to quietly make their way in. The temple of illumination had more than one entrance, with blueprints in their possession they found their way into the ancient structure. Each well equipped with blaster rifles, grenades, and trained in the arts of war, the four troopers made way towards the library. Straggling behind was a old man, loose robes hanging over his frail body. The first trooper turned to look at him and bent his arm upward, clenching a fist telling his men, and the old man to halt.

"I've got sights on her, Sir. It's not good General." The trooper said, shaking his head in dismay.
"What do you mean, Commander Varus?"
"I mean she's dead Flynt." His voice fell low. "I'm sorry sir there isn't much we can do, we're too late."

The Jedi Master Flynt Ravac was familiar with loss, but this became an immediate spear to his heart. Trying to hold back his shock, he squinted and moved passed the four troopers as he ignored the command of Varus' orders. Stepping into the library he found himself on the second level, the only thing catching his attention was a lonely saber below. Red with a unstable source of energy sprinting out from its crossguard design. Master Flynt Ravac knew as soon as he saw it that Valara had met her fate too soon. Shifting his gaze to the once great apprentice he taught everything to he grimaced, his blue eyes slightly forming tears. He couldn't allow it, the tears, the sensation of the dark side was quickly suppressed. Lucky for Flynt he concealed his force aura from the force user below.

Swallowing the pain, he turned to his men, Commander Varus, a one of a kind specialist in the field of battle. His knowledge of imperial plans, tactics and discipline was more than valuable to the republic. Alongside him was his demolition expert, Kale Waters. Kale had a strict rule, never play with his explosives, ever. Besides that one interesting quirk Kale could blow through any defenses, not only that, his skill with a slugthrower was impressive. The oldest of the four troopers was a veteran from the other side, Jeremy Riens. Jeremy was only in it for the killing, which the imperials provided for him, up until he realized the galaxy would be worse off. With a family to feed back on the planet Chazwa, he always seemed to be an understanding soldier and constantly followed orders. His one invaluable talent was his aim with a blaster rifle, one of the best in business. The fourth trooper while quiet and young hadn't be introduced to Master Flynt, the war had made him absent of the new recruit. Careful not to be heard they spoke quietly.

"Who's the new guy?" asked Flynt.

"Oh, you mean Roman? Young kid, fresh outta camp." Kale said.

"Yup, found him in the streets of Nar Shadaa, poor idiot almost crapped his pants when those slack jawed assassins went for him. Turns out the little pip had some really valuable information. On the other side of course." Jeremy said glancing over to the Commander. Master Flynt shook his head, the odd story almost made him forget his dead apprentice below.

"Hey." Pepped up the newbie. "I didn't crap my pants."

"Yes you did kid, now what's the game plan general."

Commander Varus stopped Roman before things got outta hand. His troopers were good but every squad had their downsides. This group brought a whole new meaning to rowdy. Waiting for Master Flynt the group ducked lower. Flynt wasn't sure how to take care of the situation, if the force user below was alone, he could easily rid him, especially for his transgressions against his old apprentice Valara. That idea however wasn't going to work, the man below wasn't alone. Flynt calmed his mind as he reached out to feel a dark source of energy. Two against one wasn't something to take lightly, even if he was a master. Turning to his troopers he spoke, his eyes peering through the balcony rails.

"We'll wait to strike, standby boys it might be a bit." Flynt said, the calming force embracing him just enough to keep himself from being detected.

In time they would strike, for now they were Flynt's prey...

[member="Jayce R. Vitalus"]

 

[Jayce Vitulas]

​The room was stale. The smell of death and burning flesh was stinging to the nostrils. It was quiet now. The battle was loud, agonizing and vile, to the now proclaimed, Dark Jedi. The stone floor draped in blood, mechanical parts and now, a sad young Jedi girl. Jayce was disgusted.

How could this woman throw away her life? What was it all for, really? A few books? An artifact or two? I don't understand you Valara. I just don't get it.

Cold, alone; these were the feelings in the room. Even with Kevros wrapping his knee, Jayce felt like he was the only one there. He had never taken a life that was full of passion. She dedicated herself to the order and they threw her away because of the darkside. In his eyes, the Jedi were scum who only saw evil in everything that had to do with emotion. Be a drone or die, the Jedi's code. The sick melancholy of it all. Jayce's rage was building to the point where he almost lost himself.

Inhale. Exhale. His irises began to change back to their normal electric blue finish. The darkside was a beautiful thing. It gave you limitless power but at the cost of your soul. It was still the force, it was the balance. Never one, without the other.

Jayce flicked the switch and the lightsaber extinguished. "Let's start looking. I don't want to be here anymore." The search would be cut short.

Master Ravac was standing on the balcony, watching the two force users, his face was pale. His eyes gazed onto the corpse that was once Valara. The ideas of a man who watches someone he considered family die, is not pleasant. Pain, misery and death was all Ravac wanted for the two men who massacred his student. With a great ferocity, Ravace jumped off the balcony and landed on the far east corner of the room. Jayce looked with utter shock. "You killed my padawan. I was coming here to take her back to the Jedi Council. You.. I will end you both where you stand." The rage that Ravac was emitting was intense but he spoke in a very calm manner. Like a great storm on Kamino, his aura was unfathomable.

Jayce twirled his lightsaber once more and ended its rotation by pointing it at Ravac. "Any closer and I will destroy you, filthy Jedi. We came here seeking knowledge and we are going to get it. I already killed one innocent. Take one more step and you are no longer one, yourself." Jayce was angry and tired. He wanted off this planet and never wanted to come back. The grimoire was his only goal. Nothing else will stand in the way.

Ravac wasn't having it. He stood tall, looked at Jayce and stared. "You killed her? Okay. You first." The aura began to grow with vigor. The Jedi raised his hands high into the air, then brought them half way down his torso. Lightning shot from his fingertips and coursed through the air. It collided with Jayce, knocking him half way across the room. He laid there, immobilized. The irony would hit him hard once he woke up. He sought after the knowledge of "Emerald Lightning." Ravac gave him Electric Judgement.

Ravac whipped his head to the side. Kevros was in view. "Next." That was Ravac's only word.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

Everything seemed to calm down since Valara was found eating her hearty meal. Unfortunately it was her last. The damp air had all but concluded the fact that the temple was clearly tied to her presence. The coldness of the chamber from before swept in. Nothing not even a needle could be heard, everything fell silent, too silent.

"Let's start looking. I don't want to be here anymore."

Kevros nodded towards Jayce, the idea that he was so emotional over someone that planned to kill him, seemed odd, at least to Kevros. There were just some things that couldn't be explained. Rifling through the useless shelves of the library he spotted a few volumes of interest. Snatching them with little effort he opened them, one had little information about what he sought after, the other completely useless. Opening the third volume he found a small sheet of paper, stained and white. Ink seemed to trace around the corners of it until numbers were revealed.

"66 L?" Kevors said aloud. His voice trailing off the walls to create an echo. "Any luck over there?" Kevros asked.

Instead of a response he was greeted with a new voice. Calm and fierce the Jedi Master Flynt revealed himself. The force was incredibly soaked in the lightside, a master far beyond Kevros' capabilities. Worse yet a tiny glimmer above was spotted, troopers rustling around for cover. Flynt called out Jayce, Before Kevros could jump into the fray of it all; lightning, viridescent and splintering with a crackle struck Jayce. Pushed to the center of the room with proficiency, Jayce fell unconscious. The static green washing over Jayce's body one last time before it fizzled out.

Kevros stepped back before grabbing the piece of paper and shoving it into his cloak. Kevros' hilt taunted him, ready for battle. Only now the Jedi master had troopers in the distance that seemed to wait for his order. Kevros was in a dangerous situation, debating on the approach in his head he stood still. The Jedi Master eager to strike him down as he gained speed. The force shifted his movements, almost becoming a blur. Flynt ignited his saber, the swooshing sound it made as he ran caught Kevros off guard. Force speed was an impressive feat, something the Sith hadn't fought against.

With little time to react to the Jedi Master, Kevros lifted his arm from his cloak. A small device resting in his hand. A smoke bomb, it was the perfect plan. Only now he would have to dodge a ruthlessly fast attack from Flynt. Without his lightsaber. Clicking the middle button on his device he jumped backwards, but to no avail, the Jedi Master pushed forward still, the daunting hum of his lightsaber drifting through the air and into Kevros' left shoulder. The sudden pain, made him scream, his voice deep and groggy. In a way the Jedi Master helped him as the device fell from his hand and exploded.

The hiss of the inner chamber from the device let out a dark grey smoke, only Kevros couldn't move, Flynts saber tip finally releasing from his skin. With his right arm he viciously swung at the illuminating green light heading for him once more. The sabers clashed, repelling off one another like magnets refusing to coincide.

***​

The clicks from the impact worried the troopers above, hoping that Flynt would be okay.

"Darn! The smoke is in the way of my shot commander! I can't cover the general." Jeremy yelled, his blaster rifle propped up on the rail of the balcony waiting for the smoke to dissipate.

"Guess that Sith knew we were here all along, smart. I haven't seen an f-11 smoke bomb in ages, brings back memories." Kale said, it was only natural given his background of explosives and grenades.

"Relax Jerm, Flynt can handle himself." Commader Varus reassured him, looking down at Jayce's unconscious body he shrugged. "Hey Roman, keep an eye on the other one. Jerm, Kale, let’s move. Roman here will be our cover."

Kale looked to Jeremy and shook his head, the sound of his ventilated sigh coming through his helmets communication device.

"I heard that." Roman said, mad about their doubt in him. "Regardless I got your back Commander!" He shouted showing his militaristic training through and through.

Varus, Jeremy, and Kale slowly moved to get a better shot, but the smoke was too much. To get even a chance they would have to find a way down to the second floor. Jeremy was no stranger to what he needed to get the job done. Grabbing at the Commanders shoulder for attention he spoke.

"Sir we need to get down there, and fast." The loud clashes of the lightsabers below made him antsy to kill another Sith. "I don't think we are gonna get a shot up here and if we do Commander, we have crap pants back there to cover us." Even though they thought Roman was too fresh to get the job done they had to trust his instincts.

"Very well, Jerm. You and Kale find a way down there. I've got another Idea." He lightly chuckled. Turning away and then back to his men, "Well move it, go!" He urged them on, his eyes shifting to the large chandelier above. Waiting till he was alone he amused himself. "Well aren't you just the perfect chandelier."

***​

Kevros could feel it deep within the Jedi before him, he was strong, calm, and at his core saddened. The ripples of the force could tell a simple force user like Kevros everything he needed to know. His shoulder was forming a intense numbness, a side effect from a saber gash. That didn't matter, what did was how he was going to handle the next few swings the Jedi already was thinking about. Sweeping at Flynt’s legs he jump, Kevros able to extend his wounded arm and physically push Flynt back.

The space gave him time to analyze the Jedi's next attempt at ending his life. Things would just get harder as he fought, but worse. His knee began to intensify as he relied on the weight of it during their duel. Only Flynt stopped his barrage, hiding himself in the smoke, his lightsaber vanishing as quickly as Flynt.

"You are strong, I've underestimated the light side." Kevros couldn't find Flynt through the vast abyss of smoke. It proved useful against the troopers, but Flynt was now using it against him. Holding his saber firm he waited. Silence reached the room only for a split second.

"I am as strong as the force allows. You. You are blind to the truth, the merit of the Jedi. I can't. I won't allow you to live any longer. Not as blind as you are!"

Towards the end of Flynts speech the sudden activation of his jade saber sprouted through the dark grey smoke, Kevros focused on the force. His mind gripping at his tantalizing words, ready to manifest another effortless force push. The palm of his hand flicked upward, his gloves constricting his palm. The force spoke to him, this time with accountability. A massive burst of invisible air, escaped his hand. Flynt jumped before meeting its damaging power. Kevros swiped his saber through the smoke, slicing through it, the smoke slithered around him. Reaching for the Jedi's foot he missed as Flynt landed behind him.

A Smile reaching the old man’s face.

[member="Jayce R. Vitalus"]

 

[Jayce Vitulas]

Darkness. It's all that Jayce could see. It was quiet. He had been knock unconscious by the fearsome Jedi master. He remembered that much. Reaching for his saber to light the gloomy path, he noticed it was no longer there.

"Great. I'm still knocked out, this is a dream." This has happened before. Jayce recollected a time where he was tracking a bounty hunter. Ross Bishop. On his search, Jayce found Bishop and cornered him. The bounty hunter was prepared for this and let loose a set of tiny explosives that blew Jayce right off his feet and into a river. He almost bit the bullet that time. He woke up on the shore a day later. He never found Bishop again. Jayce hoped he would, just to see the look in the man's eyes when he sees Jayce's improved skills.

In every dream, there is no aspect of time. You simply wait to wake up. What happens in the dream, is based on the person's mind. This wasn't a normal dream however. It was a vision. And if the force has taught Jayce anything, visions are always bad.

He was looking out the window of a star ship. The cosmic scenery was glimmering with the stars that were light years away. His body aches. It felt like someone ran him over with a star destroyer. The vision showed him holding a book. It was blank on every page except one. The page had ink running off it, 66L. He had no idea what that meant.

The vision was fading. This was a sign that Jayce was waking up. It was time to escape with Kevros.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

The dark smoke found its way even further into the room, the device finally releasing the last bit of fog. Although the device wasn't just meant for obstructing the troopers view, it was a signal device as well. A tiny flashing red light suddenly making its relevance deep in the cloud of smoke. Kevros turned to the Jedi, his ability to jump through the air without being caught by his saber made Kevros question if he could take him. If only he had more training before encounter such a behemoth in the light side of the force, he would be able to manage better. Before fully turning to Flynt, Kevros caught a blinking red light to the side. He knew it would only take a few minutes for his small crew to arrive with the interceptor, only the smoke would need to find a way to the sky. While the device had already pinged his location, being concealed in the library walls wouldn't help.

Flynt rushed forward, his left arm bent backwards, saber in hand, until he released it forward. The green beam of light lunged towards Kevros. The force allowed him to predict Flynt's movement this time, allowing him to push the green blade away. Gaining the upper hand Kevros force jumped through the cloud of smoke, deactivating his saber. Landing farther away from Flynt he crouched low, hoping he would have time to find a way to get the smoke out of the library and into the air. Only someone had beaten him to his own game. The high pitched noise of a gun reached his ears, the Jedi's team of troopers couldn't have seen him in the smoke. Kevros looked around trying to find the source of the shot. A orange laser zipped through the air above, smashing into the ceiling. It became apparent that whoever was shooting wanted him dead. The chandelier above must have weighed a ton, slightly dropping it stopped, loosely hanging in the air. One more shot and the ceiling would open wide and the chandelier would come crashing down on him.

Aware of the troopers plan Kevros sneaked away, rifling through the smoke. Flynt still looking for him.

***​

​

Commander pulled the trigger, the loud chime of the emitting orange plasma making him smile underneath his helmet. The shot was accurate, the chandelier slightly loosening. The chains holding the metal fixture on the ceiling barely holding it in place. The crack from the first shot needed one better placed shot. Aiming down his sights, he fired. The ceiling ripped open, light shining in from the sky above. The bronze chandelier plummeting to the ground with force. The loud crash splintered the wood of the floor, bronze metal pieces exploding throughout the room. Glass shattering in every direction. A sudden spark from the wires that held it together began to flare up, fire catching to the floor.

The flame rose higher as the library began to burn. After the destruction of the other half of the Temple of Illumination, fire was the last thing this place needed. Regardless Commander Varus rose his fist to the air and laughed.

"Take that, you filthy Druk!" Varus shouted, cheering his own achievement on. Trying to see if he caught the Sith below off guard he scanned below, the steady smoke, and fire making it hard to get an answer. Pressing on his helmet he chimed in to Kale and Jeremy. "I started a fire, hurry it up men. We'll need to get out of here soon."

Kale and Jeremy made their way down the spiraling staircase they had just found. Reaching the bottom of the steps they got word from Commander Varus.

"That doesn't sound good." Kale said as he rounded the hallway corner, the flickering light of the fire proving his Commander's order. "Son of a Bantha! He really did it!"

Pushing him to the side Jeremy ran passed him, yelling as he ran into the bottom level of the library.

"Kale I'm going in! Tell my wife I love her!" Jeremy said, in fact he always said it before diving into action.
"Oh shut up already!" Exclaimed Kale.

Jeremy ran into the cloud filled library, flames snapping at his feet. From where he stood he was directly under Commander Varus and slightly to the left of Jedi Flynt. Gripping tightly on to his E-11 Blaster Rifle, he walked into the smoke. The bow of the gun rested against his left shoulder. His left eye squinting as he waited for his thermal sight to find Kevros in the dark cloud. Breathing heavily he continued his search.

Kevros had to stay still, getting caught by Flynt, over a trooper was a chance he would take. When he thought all hope was lost he heard a high pitched fuzzing in his ear, his communication device from the interceptor came to life. Not being able to respond, he listened intently. Waiting to devise a plan.

***​

​

Taric chimed in from the moving interceptor, the two stormtoopers aboard dressing themselves for extraction. Gearing up as he talked, Taric was urgent.

"Kevros, sir." Taric seemed calm even though the signal meant danger. "We are coming in, our scanners picked up five, sorry sir six others near your location. T minus three minutes, over and out!" Taric increased the volume of his voice at the end, amping himself up for a fight.

He hadn't been on the battlefield in six years. it wasn't cause he wasn't able, he was just old and not as fast as he used to be. Turning away from the screen on the interceptor he turned to his stormtroopers.

"CT- 12. VZ-330." He paused for a moment and continued. "We have work to do boys."

The pilot chimed in as she slipped around the bend of the mountains that hid the destroyed temple.

"Taric sir, we have smoke, approximately five clicks away. Get ready for extraction!" She was commanding and talented at flying. Her only downside was landing.

"You heard Beth, get your gear on faster!" Taric shouted to his brainwashed troops.

Soon the Temple of Illumination would have more than it ever asked for.

[member="Jayce R. Vitalus"]

 

[Jayce Vitulas]

Noise was seeping back into Jayce's ears. He could hear the sounds of blaster shots and lightsabers buzzing. Bits of stone hitting the floor made it shake and the vibrations from the impact, shook him awake. The Dark Jedi still couldn't see however. A mix between blurry vision and smoke clouded his eyes. The electric judgement made his body weak and vulnerable. He was sensitive to everything right now, the force was in disarray. Every pulse, every sound, everything he saw; was amplified. Jayce tried to calm himself and regenerate what he could for now. He needed to use the force to sense what was going on around him. Eyes were on him, he could feel that much. Roman was still on guard and had his rifle pointing right at Jayce's motionless body. Jayce laid there, making it seem to the pair of unwanted eyes that he was still down. The force was swirling around him, he tried to control it the best he could. The balcony needed to be destroyed. With its destruction, it would not only create a distraction but also take one man out of the fight.

Jayce made a fist, partially open. It was meant to simulate him holding a rope. Since Roman could only see the right side of Jayce, his left hand was free to sneak about. Bending the force to his will, Jayce began to pull. Roman began to feel the vibrations of the balcony slowly being pulled off the wall. He didn't understand what was happening and looked down at his feet. Cracks formed. They splintered off one another and grew bigger. Feeling the vision leaving him, like a spotlight moving past an area of a prison, Jayce moved. He turned both of his hands into claws and pulled them towards his body. The veranda was shacking even harder now. Roman was getting tossed around like a puppet in a play. He fell on his rear and felt the whole thing breaking down around him. The Rookie fell through a hole, the result of the splintering cracks. He fell first, landing on his hands and knees. Then, the debris came falling down after him. Roman was able to dodge most of the big ones, but a medium sized chuck hit the top of his helmet. He fell, then another medium piece landed right on his visor. The debris made a pile around his body. If the balcony chucks killed him, he might have not felt anything. Unfortunately for the poor newbie, they didn't.

Jayce watched as the balustrade seemed to have killed the young trooper. It was time for the next phase of the plan, escaping with Kevros. Jayce looked around, smoke still clouded the air. It was fading but still effective. Using the force, he began to scan the area.

BANG*

The ceiling collapsed and a small squad of storm troopers began firing down onto the floor below. Jayce took this opportunity to force jump onto the surface world. As he landed on the green, lively grass, an old man yelled at him.

"Hey, you! Where is Kevros!?" It was Taric, Kevros' commanding imperial officer.

"He's down there, we were exploring the temple together. He needs help! Go NOW!" Jayce was screaming at the man, who looked concerned for Kevros' well being.

"We will try an assist him the best we can. If he doesn't make it out, neither do we." The Commander replied.

"Okay good. I can't fight in my current condition but here, take this." Jayce handed Taric a transmitter frequency. "When you find him, give him that. I have much to talk about with him. It's really important." Jayce ran off back to his ship, The Raptor's Claw. It was an Incom T-85, that was small but effective. Jayce needed to get off this planet. The Jedi Master was too strong and if he saw Jayce standing and alive, Ravac would finish what he started.

He returned to the Raptor's Claw, dizzy. The jade lightning that splashed his body with energy, had taken its toll. Rest was needed. The force would heal his crippled body but it would require time. He hoped to hear from Kevros soon. The vision can't be ignored.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

Taric spotted the Dark Jedi in seconds, unaware that he too was on their side. Aiming down his sights until the conversation started. Jayce had informed him the Kevros was still down below, cornered and in the worst way. The black smoke from the originating fire lifted from the hole in the top of the structure. The temple had its bad days behind it, at least so everyone thought. The flames below lifted catching fire to anything it could reach. If Kevros was below, the living conditions were getting worse by the second. Nothing was visible as Taric Slipped his helmet on and waited for the interceptor’s rope from above.

The churning sound of the Interceptors engines roared a few feet high. The steel like rope was flimsy as the pilot above opened the hatch and let it fly. The first stomtrooper latched on to it and jumped into the fiery hell below, following was his subordinate, VZ-330. They were quite well trained, despite how rude Taric had been to them in the past, they were efficient soldiers. Every task they seemed to succeed at made them more valuable as time when on. The glistening white of their normal armor sunk below as Tairc took a breath and followed.

The first trooper landed, quickly firing his pistol in the direction of a vibrant green light, Flynt wouldn't be getting to Kevros if they could help it. The steaming heat of the entire room was immediately apparent. Wood crackling as it burned a hole in the floor with ease. Vz-330 aimed as he landed finding the republic trooper Kale and open fired. Following came Taric as he rushed into the thick smoke and hell of it all. Without communication they got the job done. Backing away from Kale's position Vz-330 continued his fire. The beams of red light scraping the walls hoping to hit his target as he backed up into the dense smoke. Taric rushed, almost in a flurry tripping over a large stone on the ground. Thankfully he was fine, his eyes shifting to the coughing figure ahead, Kevros.

***​

​

Kevros was engulfed in the smoke, the mix between the smoke device he let off and the natural black ashy smoke combined filled his lungs. Flynt was gone, the green saber that his men shot at disappeared. Kevros was straining, his lungs tightening as he gasped.

"We'll get you out sir!" Taric yelled, gaining ground as he grabbed onto Kevros. Realizing his age would slow them down he called out for his other trooper. "CT-12! Pick him up I can't move him, I got your six! Vz-330 look out! They can't see us but their shooting!" Beams of all colors zipped passed them, the firefight had become more chaotic then they had panned.

Soon they would need to escape. Kevros couldn't move as his body lifted to the air like magic, his eyes slowly closing as the soldier carried him to the extraction wire. Beams of light ricocheting off all the stone layered tiles below. Lucky for the whole crew, the republic troops had their own hide to look after, estimating where they might have been in the dark cloud of toxic Vz-330 shot aimlessly. Clipping Kevros to the wire, the three of them made it, each grabbing hold as they waited for Taric's word.

"Beth pull us out, now!"

As they rose Taric saw the Jedi in the distance, his saber activating as he made his way towards them. With a spunky muster of his own begotten strength, Taric lifted the center of his belt and pulled the string as the Interceptor yanked all of them out and quickly, escaping the fiery pits below. Taric left a nasty gift for the pursuing Jedi. A frag grenade, if the fire wasn't going to do the job, that sure will.

The interceptor beamed through the archways of the sky as Kevros and his crew escaped, the clutches of death grasping at Kevros, the galaxy proving its consistent dangers.

***​

​

Jeremy couldn't find the Sith in time, in fact he had no time. The beeping of his communication device seeped through.

"We've got company! I repeat, Company! Newbie is down I'm going after him!" Yelled Varus, his steady footsteps rushing to the young Roman.

"I'm taking heavy fire! Stormtroopers! We gotta get outta here!" Kale said, the beams of red scrapping the walls nearby from the shots fired.

"You've gotta be kidding me! Flynt!?" Jeremy raised his voice in dismay at the fact he wouldn't get the kill. All that mattered now was getting out alive and finding Flynt.
"I'm fine Jeremy run back to the ship!" Flynt exclaimed.
"Right away, Sir! Don't be a hero Flynt!"
"I won't be! Just run and keep firing!"

Jeremy booked for the others, all of them meant to convene with Varus and Roman. Flynt left behind. Reaching them all he spotted Kale, he had made it out of the tiny corridor, something that was a feat in itself. Patting him on the back they made their way out of the library and through the winding maze of the temple to the surface. Worried for Roman's life they rushed to the ship, waiting for them a few hundred yards away.

Flynt watched as they ascended, rushing for the group that saved the Sith. He noticed at the last subsequent moment, Taric left him a grenade. The small chime of it dinged three times before Flynt braced for the impact. The explosion swallowed the temple as he rolled and slammed into the far side of the wall, the breathing mask he had put on when the smoke started releasing from his jaw line. It’s why he wasn't affected by such an environment, flames and all. His saber became loose as the explosion destroyed the east wall. Barely making the dodge from Taric's ruthless gift he now had a new exit. Using the destruction to his advantage he force sped himself to safety.

His eyes focused on the aircraft, flying away in the distance, the force shrouding him with regret. Shaking the thought of it all, his anger almost got the best of him. The light side however taught him to suppress such things. Forgetting the escapees he rushed back into the temple. Snatching the lifeless body of his old apprentice. She deserved a proper burial, tightening his grip around her he moved through the treacherous flames, his mind filled with clarity, and his soul broken for his own faults.

One thing rang true in his mind as he made his way back to the ship with Valara's body.

There is no death, only the force....