A Jedi's Tale - The Story of Jay Lyon

Duel On Sullust

Some time has passed since the Battle of Bespin, Luke and Mara Jade left to learn more from the Jedi and Luke wanting to know more about his father and how he came to be. Jay has some lingering doubts from both the Coruscant Mission and the Duel on Bespin. He kept the memory of the mission and the battle, the fates of Tilana and Kalifia, deep within his thought.

Shortly after the Battle of Bespin, the Siege of Inyusu Tor, also know as the Battle of Sullust, is underway, which was part of Operation Ringbreaker. Although Inyusu Tor was liberated, there are number of firefights happening on multiple fronts. To help The Rebels fighting to liberated Sullust, Rebel & Allied command sent Jay, Mollbry, Master Windu, Leyla, Echore & their clone units to help. They also sent the Republic Freedom Fighters as reinforcements, along with mulitiple divisions of Allied troops. Among the troops that are with them, is Rebel General Ame Thando, who now commands a unit of her own and trained them like Master Windu's 187th Legion. Attached to the Republic Freedom Fighter is Orange Squadron. The members of Orange Squadron, Cete Boolvis, a rebel fighter pilot with really long red hair with traits simliar to Tenten and Meesh Adranes, a Rebel Pilot with traits similar to Anko and Naruto; being loud, stubborn, and prone to acting without thinking. Both proven their worth in battle. Messh was promoted to Colonel and Cete was made a Captain at The Battle of Vrogas Vas. With their plan in place, Jay and his corps, with their reinforcements, moved out to Sullust. Along the way, Mollbry noticed Jay feeling down. She also sensed his doubt inside him. She heard about what happened to Tilana and Kalifia during the mission on Coruscant. She went to comfort him, telling him what happened wasn't his fault and can still save her from the Dark Side and from herself. Jay know she is right. But, deep down, it won't be an easy task to free Tilana from the Dark Side. Then, Fives enter the room and told them that Sullust is coming up. Using a modified plan left off from his battle on Muunilinst, Jay would have Alex & Keeve reinforce Companies of the 61st Mobile Infantry. Sakura and Echore would put intense pressure on both flanks of the Imperial Lines while Jay and the rest will meet with the commander of The 61st, along with Imperial Defector Everi Chalis.

Once they landed, the troops began to deploy. Jay and the others met with Chalis, Numb and Acting Captain Hazram Namir. He also met with members of Cobalt Laborers' Reformation Front & Sullustan resistance, telling them we are here to help out. According to comm channels, Imperials were mounted troops to take Pinyumb. Jay told the troops of Alex's command to dig in and prepare for battle, which they did. When Imperial reinforcements arrive and began landing their troops, The Second Battle of Pinyumb had begun. To help pressure The Imperials, Jay sent Hash Regiment, and Senth Brigade to reinforce the fighters on the front lines. In case the Empire breaks through, Jay and Mollbry placed troops in and around the city of Inyusu Tor, dug in and prepared for any attacks. Jay sense presence. A familiar presence he knows all to well coming from the southwest. At first, he thought it was Vader, coming to help his troops. But it wasn't Vader. Jay heard, through my agents in the Empire, he was searching the truth about his son and daughter. Mollbry felt it too and she saw him move away from the center and from away from everyone. Jay signaled her to stay back and stay with the others and protect them, which she did. Reaching the top of the hill, Jay looked around to see where the presence is coming from. Then, Jay saw who was coming. It was his fallen apprentice, Tilana Vermi. Yachi Renohana was on Sullust too, but she didn't engaged in battle, only to monitor Tilana and report. According to a Rebel Agent, Vader had sent Tilana, now christened Darth Fury, to fight me and help retake Sullust. Jay had mix emotions about Tilana. He was glad to see her alive, but upset to see her on the Path of The Dark Side.

Taking out his lightsabers, Jay asked "What has Palpatine done to you?" "He gave me power to destroy you, master." She coldly said as began to draw your weapon. Jay noticed she still has her own clipped to her belt. "I warned you numerous times about Anakin and now you have a spinning image of him." Jay began. "Now, you have let Palpatine twist your mind and becoming the very thing you swore to destroy." "Spare me of your enemy Jedi words, Jay." Tilana retorted. "The Emperor have showed me the truth and lies about the Jedi. I don't fear the Dark Side as you do; or any other Jedi for that matter." Turn to facing the battle on the outskirts of Pinyumb, Tilana finished by saying "The Empire will wipe out The Rebellion and bring peace, freedom, justice and security to those who have none." "Even as going far as to eliminate the past?" Jay asked, thinking the Empire will go as far wiping any reminder, or any fragment, of The Republic and the Jedi. Tilana said coldly "If it needs to be done, yes; to cleanse the galaxy from Jedi or Rebel Treachery." "You brainwashed fool." Jay retorted "My allegiance is to the Republic & to the Jedi Order; as well as Democracy!" Slowly clutching her fist, and gripping her lightsaber tightly, she countered "If you don't stand with the Empire, then you will die." "It's a shame I can't get you to listen to reason; thanks to Palpatine and his minions." Jay replied. "I will do what needs to be done; to stop you." "You will try." She replied, quoting Anakin. At that moment, Jay activating his lightsabers. Tilana followed suit and jumped at her former master. Using the leap as a fulcrum for a vicious overhand, and as if they were recreating Obi Wan's fight with Anakin on Mustafar, Tilana unleashed a flurry of attacks and rapidly gained ground on Jay, driving him to the edge of the platform. Jay attempted to rally, working his way around Tilana and away from the brink, though the Inquisitor easily held off his attacks and kicked him soundly in the chest, sending the Jedi flying backwards. Jay managed to recover and land on his feet, but was again driven back by Tilana's vicious frenzy. Their duel lead them to a refinery and away from the cities of Inyusu Tor and Pinyumb where they continued to fight. Eventually, their duel came to a lava river. Jay jumped on an landing on a large repulsorlift platform and Tilana jumped on a Imperial Panning Droid; directing the collector toward Jay's platform, resuming her attack. Slashing at Tilana, Jay began another bout of bladework with the Inquisitor before breaking off. Jay tried apologizes and again to reason with Tilana one last time, only to receive more empty threats and pro-dark side rhetoric. Tilana leaped above Jay and onto the platform and attacked. Jay countered as Tilana gave another flurry of swordplay. As they locked blades, the platform neared the shore, allowing Jay to disengage and leap to the higher ground, borrowing Obi Wan's tactic. "You've lost, kid!" Jay warned her "I have the high ground!" Blinded by rage and arrogance, Tilana leaped at Jay, blade angled for the kill. Trying to replicate Kenobi's move to Maul back on Naboo. However, she left herself open, allowing Jay to sever her left arm and both of his legs with a devastating strike. Dropping her Inquisitor lightsaber and her Jedi lightsaber, Tilana rolled to the brink of the lava river. Her Inquisitor Lightsaber fell into the river, melting away. Attempting to crawl up the shore with only her cybernetic arm, Tilana only slid perilously close to the lava. Tilana turned her gaze towards Jay. Her eyes change from brown to Sith orange.

"I raised you like a daughter!" Jay shouted down at what was left of Tilana who writhe at bottom of the slope of rocks and black sand at the edge at the lava river. "I trained you to fight the Empire, not join them; to bring the Force back into balance! Not leave it in darkness!" An anguished Jay retrieved Tilana's Jedi lightsaber while tearfully expressing his regrets, shame, disappointment and reiterating that he had loved her like a friend. After he retrieved her saber, Jay turned to her one final time, still writhing in agony from the wounds received from my attack. Looking up to Jay, he heard scream, which still haunts Jay to that day. "I HATE YOU!!!". She roared, keeping her eyes focus on the departing Jay. Stopping in his tracks, Jay looked one last time to the face of the ruined, seething monster that was his friend. "You were like a sister to me, Tilana." Jay said, holding back tears "I loved you.". Then, her body burst into flames from the intense heat from the river of lava and was burning alive. Her screams were a mixture of anger and pain as the flames engulfed her entire body. The last thing I saw before leaving her was the chard, disfigured body. Despite her obvious pain, Jay could not bring myself to kill the her, believing that her ultimate fate would be determined by the Force, and doing so, even to euthanize the ex-Jedi, would only cause the Jedi Master himself to start down the path of the dark side. He left Tilana to whatever end she was destined for as the flames slowly calmed down from the immolation. Coming to a boiler, near the city limits, Jay was overcome with emotions, like before on Coruscant after the Fourth Great Ninja War and began to cry. Like Obi Wan, he was responsible for her fall to the Dark Side. But, he blame Palpatine for brainwashing Tilana, making her becoming an instrument of evil, like Anakin when he became Vader.

When Jay arrived in town, he learned of the Imperial Defeat to take Pinyumb and the number of prisoners they have. Jay congratulated everyone for a job well done and fighting for the Rebellion and for freedom. On board the Venator George Washington, Jay spoke to Mollbry alone on what happened. She comfort him, again telling him that he wasn't his fault. When Jay's fleet disappeared, another ship came out of hyperspace. It was Palpatine's shuttle, carrying Vader, a squad of stormtroopers and Death Troopers, an officer & Palpatine himself, who traveled to the planet surface of Sullust. In truth, Tilana survived, thanks to the Power of the Dark Side. The flames burned out and she began to climb, with her cybernetic arm, up the Sullustian ground. The ground scrapped and torn her roasted third degree burnt flesh. Using what strength she had, she moved away from the lava river. Her powers kept her from blacking out. Only her powers of her hatred toward Jay kept her alive. Tilana's blackened torso went completely limp, allowing darkness to sweep over her. Vader looked at Tilana, reminding him of his failed attempt to destroy Obi Wan back on Mustafar years ago. She was taken to the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center on Coruscant for treatment; given cybernetic limbs, a respirator and full body life support suit for the rest of her life. Darth Vader took her under his wing, taking her as his apprentice. Tilana Vermi is gone. Now, she is Darth Fury, Dark Apprentice of Darth Vader; vowing vengeance on Jay and killing him. Jay took some time away from the Rebellion following the duel, just to take his mind of what happened. He traveled to Ahch To to clear his mind and reconnect himself to the teachings of the Jedi Order. With help from Yoda, Obi Wan, Qui Gon & Jeffian, Jay felt like a new man. But, the memory of Sullust will be in his mind, along with Tilana and her fate.

Like Anakin, when he became Darth Vader, she became devoided of love for anyone and unable to feel the touch of anything through her gloved, cybernetic fingers, Darth Fury was ready to embrace the Dark Side of The Force. And so, she did.