Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy A Fan Novelization

Chapter Seventeen - Katarn's Story

"Like I've told you before, I wasn't always the upstanding Jedi Master you know me as today," Kyle said, his dry humor never lost on Jaden. "Jan and I were mercenaries for the New Republic after the destruction of the second Death Star, this was after I'd laid my saber down. We went on this mission to investigate an Imperial outpost on Kejim that was reported to be doing some pretty nasty experiments on living subjects. Jan and I snuck in no problem and found that not all of their 'experiments' lived. I still remember the sight of all those poor souls in that laboratory... We also came across some strange green crystals in the lab." This detail tickled the back of Jaden's brain, but she struggled to figure out why.

"When we brought our findings to Mon Mothma, she told us these crystals were not dissimilar to Kyber crystals, and that she believed the experiments were being carried out by an Imperial scientist named Galak Fyyar, to see if he could infuse Force power into a living subject. Those poor souls in that laboratory were colonists from a mining world called Artus Prime."

"Artus... Like, Artusian crystals?" Jaden gasped, realization dawning. "That's what those crystals we confiscated from Racto's office were! That's why you looked so..."

"Shocked? Haunted? Yes, and more." Kyle looked down at the floor for a moment, the memory's weight was very heavy. "Jan and I went to Artus to investigate and discovered that a fallen Jedi named Desann, was the one behind it all and had employed Galak. He and his apprentice-"

"-Tavion?" Jaden ventured a guess.

"Tavion," confirmed Kyle. "They ambushed us at the mining colony where the crystals originated. I had renounced the Force at this time and didn't have my lightsaber..."

*

"I have a prisoner for you, Master Desann," Tavion said gleefully as she tightened the bonds on Jan's hands, nearly cutting off her circulation. Nearby stood her master, a large Chistori male. Lizard-like in appearance, his scaly skin a blend of yellow and purple pigments, he smiled as only someone with a snakey mouth full of sharp teeth could.

"Well done, Tavion. Secure her in the cargo hold, and prepare her for processing."

"At once, Master." Tavion shoved Jan forward up the ramp of the Imperial shuttle. Jan glanced about frantically, her peripheral vision catching sight of a familiar, beloved figure running towards her to save the day.

"Blast 'em, Kyle!" She shouted as she disappeared inside the ship with a final shove from Desann's apprentice. Hearing this name, Desann turned to take in the newcomer.

"Kyle? Kyle Katarn?" He paced forward to get a better look at him, squinting hard. "You? You're the legendary hero who destroyed Jerec at the Valley of the Jedi? You look like nothing more than a Bantha herder."

Kyle came to a stop, looking his adversary up and down, not impressed either. "Well, you look like an overgrown Kowakian monkey-lizard, so I guess looks don't count for much. Hand her over." He raised the blaster in his hand level with the Chistori's face. It'd be a clean, point blank shot.

Desann did not reply, but merely waved his clawed hand. Somewhere behind him, Kyle heard a great crash. When he turned he saw that a large metal bridge leading to some higher point above the mines had collapsed. Did he just use...? Kyle's thoughts raced to comprehend how much this adversary was capable of.

"You desire this woman?" Desann hissed, pulling an all too familiar weapon from his belt, its red glow illuminating his scaly face. "Come, take her."

"Aww, Sithspit..." Kyle muttered and opened fire. Desann's lightsaber easily deflected them away harmlessly. He then took to playing with Kyle, knocking him to his feet with the Force, taunting him for being a coward whenever he ran, dodged or hid.