Order 66: A Star Wars Story

The battlemaster's apprentice

Vader had leapt up to the catwalk where Serra Keto had just been, leaving the massive battle between many Jedi and clone troopers behind. Thirsty for more Jedi blood, Vader had successfully tracked Serra into a large sparring hall. Mainly used for Padawans training against their masters.
Anakin recalled spending thousands of hours in this hall, sparring his old Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan had defeated Anakin countless times during sparring, but Anakin had also defeated his master countless times.
Now however, was no time for a sparring match. Vader leapt from the catwalk and down onto the decorated marble flooring of the sparring room and met Serra Keto's piercing gaze.
    'I always knew you were a bad egg, Skywalker. Constantly disobeying orders, putting an entire mission at risk for one life. Hotheaded and a short fuse. You were doomed for this fate.' Serra hissed.
    'You and I are not so different, Keto.' Vader countered. 'You always disobeyed orders, you are hotheaded and bad tempered too. The only difference being, my destiny lies with the dark side, yours with death.' And with that, their battle commenced.
    Serra Keto was a powerful warrior who had defeated many foes during the clone wars. Her master was one of the most capable lightsaber users the Jedi had ever seen, and his talent had rubbed off on Keto.
    She had attacked with an overhead, reverse gripped strike that took Vader by suprise. He was on the back foot already and had to immediately adopt his ex-masters lightsaber form. Also known as Form III, Soresu. A pure defensive form that relied solely on defending until seeing an opening in their opponents attack pattern. It required great patience and a calm mind, something Vader and Anakin were not known for.
    Obi-Wan Kenobi was a Master of this form. "The Master" according to Jedi Master Mace Windu. Obi-Wan's defence was almost impossible to pierce. Kenobi was known to block as many as twenty blaster bolts... per second. On the HoloNet, many beings, including Skywalker himself had seen Kenobi surrounded by hundereds of droids and off of sheer defensive skill alone, was left unharmed whilst in the middle of a sea of destroyed battle droids. His defensive skills had also taken Dooku by suprise. Something not many could do to the overconfident and narcissistic Count.
Serra Keto's attack's were unrelenting and fuelled by rage, something that fed Vader.
Vader took this opportunity to think about things that enraged him. He remembered his mother on tatooine, dying from her weeks worth of torture. He remembered the feeling of unrelenting rage when he learned of Qui-Gon Jinn's death at the hands of Darth Maul. He remembered the countless beatings he received from Watto for simple errors. He remembered being lectured, embarrassed by Kenobi infront of Padme. He remembered the feeling of betrayal when Ashoka left the Jedi order... left him behind. These memories fuelled his rage, but recalling the possibility that Padme could die in child birth was what ignited true, unbridled anger within him. The woman he swore to save may not be saved? No. He had to save her, there was no alternative. Serra Keto was standing in the way of saving his love.
He countered a sweeping leg strike that sent Serra off balance. Her face changed from determined rage to pure astonishment. Her eyes widened and Vader's gaze met hers.
He was on the attack now. Executing his mastery of Form V with furiously fast and powerful strikes from every angle.
Clone troopers would talk about this battle months later. Recounting how they never really saw Vader at all. That all they saw was a flash of blue energy crashing against a flash of green energy desperately trying to keep up.
Vader kept pressing his attack harder and harder, flourishing his lightsaber in an effort to confuse Serra, and with each blow, he could feel through the clashes that Serra's grip was loosening and he could almost taste her fear. This provided him with the same amount of energy one may get from a caffeinated drink.
He's too fast, Serra thought to herself. She was clinging on for dear life. She had underestimated Skywalker. A fatal error on her part as he did after all, kill Count Dooku. Who was of course, one of the only beings in the galaxy that could contend with Master Yoda.
She had to change her stance to Soresu now, however, she was no Kenobi. She could not keep his unrelenting attacks from killing her for too long as the muscles in her arms began to ache greatly from the pummelling of Skywalkers lightsaber. Each blow knocked her more and more off balance. No opening in sight.
I have you now. Vader thought. It was true. It would take a miracle to save Keto now.
One strong overhanded strike, followed by one right swipe and left swipe finally disarmed her.
Her blade was sent flying in the air and deactivated before skidding across the marbled flooring of the sparring room.
Serra collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.
Panting heavily, desperately trying to catch her breath, she said: 'It seems I underestimated you, Skywalker.'
'Many do.' He replied, raising his lightsaber up for a killing blow.
Keto closed her eyes and accepted the fate that awaited her.
Vader could see his blade easily slicing through her neck, and her bodiless head rolling along the floor, neck cauterised from the lightsaber. However, that was not true to reality. Vader felt an immense amount of pressure hit him on his lower back and he was sent flying a few meters across the floor.
As he was sliding, he called upon the force whilst placing the palms of his hands gently on the floor, and then gave a sudden push. He lifted himself in the air, twirled like a myrak set on fire, and landed perfectly centered on both feet.
Turning around, he saw Serra Keto, and her master, Cin Drallig.
'The battlemaster and his insignificant apprentice.' Vader spat.
'I don't know what's happened to you, Skywalker, but this stops now!' Drallig barked.
Cin Drallig was the perfect warrior. He was older but not too old. He had long grey hair that was kept in a pony tail so it didn't get in his line of sight. He wore Jedi robes reminiscent of Mace Windu although the colour was much darker, near black but closer to dark brown. He was a powerful being, but his command of his lightsaber was truly impressive. The reason he was the battle master was because, he was the only other Jedi, along with Master Yoda to have mastered all seven forms of lightsaber combat. Most students were assigned to him for lightsaber training before being reassigned to a different master permanently.
Anakin remembered being tutored by him. He remembered Drallig's "golden advice" on lightsaber combat: "Dont concerntrate on "if" and "when." Concerntrate on "now" and always remember, never give in to your passion, always calm your mind. A calm mind always prevails."
Fool, Vader thought.
    'It is useless to resist, Drallig. Surrender, and I will make your death quick. However, I can not promise the same for your apprentice.'
    'Surrender? There are two of us! Are you deluded or just stupid?!' Serra hissed.
    'Calm yourself, Serra. Skywalker, don't go down this path. It will destroy you.' Cin had warned.
    'This path will grant me the power I need. You however, stand in my way.'

The battle from the main hall of the temple had now entered this room. Dozens of Jedi and tens of hundreds of clones had now poured into the sparring arena. Blaster bolts were flying, some burning through Jedi, some deflected back into the clones and some burning into the statues and walls that surrounded the arena.
    'You are outnumbered. Surrender and die with dignity.' Vader growled.
    'You are one lightsaber wielder against hundereds, Skywalker. This will only go one way.' Drallig said.
    'I couldn't agree more.'
    Vader's blue lightsaber hissed to life and now he was making his way through the crowds of clones and Jedi, hungry for blood.
    Cin Drallig and a now re-energised Serra Keto made their way towards Vader in unison. Perfectly in sync with eachother. Much like Anakin and Obi-wan.
Cin Drallig's preferred form was, Form VI, also known as Niman. This form was mainly used for Jedi who a combination of the force with their lightsaber. It wasn't particularly strong in any lightsaber combat, or even in force, but when combined together, it made for a deadly form. The thing about Niman, was that it made using a lightsaber and the force at the same time much easier than it would with any other form. The most notable user of Form VI was an ancient Jedi, turned Sith, turned Jedi, called Revan. Darth Maul also implemented Niman with fighting against Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon during the battle of Naboo.
Vader dove into a tactical roll followed up by a lunging stab that was quickly dodged by the battlemaster, who leapt up in the air and landed behind Vader, who was now caught in between Drallig and Keto.
    'It seems you are cornered, Skywalker. You are no match for us both!' Serra said.
'Ah, Count Dooku believed he outmatched me. His head will be floating around in space somewhere now.' Vader said with a demented smile.
    Serra and Cin attacked at the same time with Cin aiming for Vader's neck, and Serra aiming for his hips. Vader foresaw this however and jumped, extending his body fully so both lightsabers passed by without catching him. One underneath and one above.
    After landing, Vader immediately grabbed Serra by the throat. She made an alarmed croaking sound. Cin Drallig then attacked Vader.
Vader deflected multiple strikes from Drallig's green saber before tossing Serra aside and using the force to push Cin hard enough to send him flying across the room and crashing into the halls beyond. Taking debris from the doors with him.
    'It seems I am no longer outnumbered, Keto.' Vader gloated with a smile.
    Serra jumped back to her feet and ran his fast as she could, using the force to enhance her already immense speed.
    Vader matched her speed, and then exceeded it. Both warriors attacked in blinding fury. Each strike from Vader was enough to shake the ground beneath the two of them and even sent nearby clone troopers tumbling to the ground.
    Two underhanded strikes followed by a reverse grip strike, then a downward stroke took Serra Keto off balance, exposing her arm. Vader took the opportunity that was presented and severed her lightsaber wielding arm from her body.
    Serra Keto screamed out in pain and fell to the floor in defeat.
    'I will not beg you, Skywalker!'
    'It makes no difference to me if you did.' Vader replied.
    That would be the last thing Serra Keto would hear before her head left her body in the same style as Dooku's left his.

    'No!' Came a roar from the exit of the sparring halls.
    Vader spun around to see Cin Drallig's tired and sad face. The Jedi Battlemaster was standing among a dozen dead clone troopers.
    'Don't be upset, Drallig. You will be joining her soon.'

To be continued...