Star Wars The Old Republic: The Hero Of Tython

ACT 1 FATE OF THE JEDI

PRELUDE

BALMORRA - TWO LIGHTS IN A DARK PLACE

0 DAYS BEFORE THE TREATY OF COURSCANT

The rain battered the damp grassland of Balmorra; the noise of rain crashing against the armour of dead soldiers – both Republic and Imperial – echoed through the vast valleys that were still smoking from the cascade of heavy weapon fire that hadn't ceased since the war broke out. From the capital city, Sobrik, a young Zabrak peered out their new window (a hole in the wall from a misfired plasma cannon) to see a blur of lights and flashes... the last Jedi and Sith of the planet had come face to face.

A series of force powers left both the Jedi Padawan and Jedi Master standing side by side, facing down their opponents – a Sith Assassin and Master who had temporarily retreated to regain their breath. The Jedi Master reached out to his Padawan to comfort her: 'Effrideet. You are doing well. Just remember your training and remember that there is no death... there is the force.'

'Honestly Master Andari? I would seriously prefer not to die right now. There's this Tanwa house on Courscant – they serve the best HuloFry in the galaxy and I am craving some righ-'

She was cut off by her Master's Icey gaze, who began to kneel and meditate in anticipation of the inevitable onslaught.

'Fine Master – but these Sith are wounded, and we can't afford to back down.'

'Patience is a true sign of a Jedi Master, youngling.'

'Sorry Master, I just tend to run short on patience when ugly red people are actively trying to murder me.'

Effrideet ignited her blue and yellow lightsabers – blue in her right hand and yellow in her left. A hallmark of both a sentinel.

'You waste too much time seeking conflict Effri, your talents as a Watchman are bordering on extinction. You would be better off saving yourself a little bit of conflict.'

'Master please, I'm soaked, and I sense the Sith are returning – I'm no good to the order dead, am I?'

'With any luck, I will not be around to find out.'

Master Andari rose slowly to his feet and took a deep breath before reigniting his purple lightsaber.

'They are here. Remember your training.'

'The force is with us, Master.'

Both Jedi changed their stances and readied themselves as crimson blades appeared in the rain – their wielders invisible in the torrid weather. They hastened their approach in to a sprint and the duel recommenced. The clashing of sabers in the rain was the only thing visible in the melancholy landscape. The Jedi found themselves with the upper hand until Effrideet's aggression went too far – the Sith assassin parrying her overzealous strike and slicing her sabers in half.

Just as the Sith's crimson blade was about to pierce Effrideet's heart, a flash of purple flew past her eyes; her master had thrown his saber to save her and had severed the Sith's torso. But when Effrideet turned her head, she saw her master's face. She saw her Master draw his last breath as the Sith Master stared Effrideet in the eyes as he prized his blood-red blade from Andari's body, which crumbled to the floor.

Effrideet froze as she stared in to her master's now-absent eyes. Only darkness remained where there was once light. She turned her gaze to the Sith, who had a smirk beaming across his face. Her pulse quickened. Her breathing was insatiable. Her eyes were going orange with rage. She let off a battle cry that could be heard from orbit and pulled the sabers of the fallen Sith and Jedi around her to begin her furious offensive in a blur of red and purple.