Archie Ilaiah's Star Wars Quests: Book I: Vengeful Entity

Chapter 9: The Phantom Apprentice [Part 4]

Jedi Knight Archie Ilaiah

After such a long while.

And I've finally gotten to them.

I'm at the final steps of victory.

"Long time no see." I remark casually to the orange Zabrak twins. They're already wielding their weapons. Razer holds his lightsaber backwards before pointing it at me. Spear holds her curved double-bladed lightsaber. It reminds me of Ventress. Now would be a really great time to have some help from her. The hum from their lightsabers as well as the red glow fills the room.

"Traitor." Spear spits out blood.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You ruined Maul's plans."

"Oh, I plan to do more than that." I glare, gripping my weapons, but I release part of my grip. "What I'm going to do is the exact thing you tried to do to me."

"And what might that be?"

I ignite my cyan lightsaber and then the purple one. They step back a little bit. It's barely visible, but I know they backed up.

"I'm going to ruin your lives. And when you're out of the way, the galaxy will finally, finally live in peace."

"Still that fiery spit of hope." Spear grins, shaking her head. "You have the spirit of a true Jedi."

"I know." I spit at their shoes while they begin to circle me. I avoid eye contact by shutting my eyes.

"Well, I'm not sure about that, Brother."

"Don't call me that." My left lightsaber follows his movements. "Ever. We're not family. We never were. This is my home. This is my family. The Jedi are my family. The clones are my family."

"And you killed members of your family."

"That wasn't me. You know that. I know myself. I know even if I can't bring back my friends, I can honor them."

"Such a disappointment. I can't believe Maul thought of sparing you."

"He spared me so I'd kill you. He expects me to be his new apprentice. You're just your brother's tools."

They grit their teeth, but I know they know it's true. Razer lashes out and sends a burst of Force Lightning my way, but I realize it at the last second. I deflect it with my lightsabers. Spear attacks me from the front when Razer stops. Our blades are clashing almost every second—or sooner. She's enraged. Her eyes are the color of what mine were for a temporary time. Just as a Sith strives on a Jedi's alleged anger, I strive off of her's. They say it keeps you focused, but I learned that it keeps me distracted if I use it greedily.

I push Spear back in the darkness, but something funny happens. She and Razer run away.

Do I follow them? Do I run?

How's Ahsoka doing?

Is she okay?

Is she still alive?

Is Maul captured?

I trust my gut and follow them. A hole in the wall has been made, so I know that's where they've gone.

The polluted air meets my nostrils when I jump through. They're waiting out there. Death Watcher warriors are coming my way. I roll under one just to cut the girl in half. I raise a warrior, choking it, slashing the jetpack and sending it off the building. He cries, falling and falling until there's an explosion within seconds. One ship is sent to come near me. It fires continuously, making me dodge every time. Finally, I stop one blast in its tracks. I use all my strength to send it back. The pilot screams as the laser hits the cockpit window. It rockets beneath me and plunges down. The explosion rocks the building. Spear and Razer are just up ahead.