The Force Eternal (Chapter Four)

As the hyperspace lines moved past them, the Antar Mega battleship Star Guardian moved at speeds often reserved for ships hundredths of times its size. The engine design, created by a then young Captain Ganell Dekorr, revolutionized star travel for the Antareans. It made the then-slow ships of his people into the hotrods of the universe. Their ships, which took weeks to reach other systems, now could do it in days – or, if pushed, in hours. This allowed the Antareans to spread into the stars, create new ties with the Galactic Republic and its members and join the other races among the stars. Their influence grew and many other planets in their sector found staunch allies in the Antareans. For his creation, Captain Dekorr was promoted and placed in charge of the very first battle group of starships for the kingdom.

All of which mattered little to the latest heir of the House of Rexor and the throne of Antar Mega, Jann Duvey. As he toiled on a tool bench in his private quarters, Jann kept his concentration on the task in front of him – the forging of a new light saber. This task could take days for a trained Jedi and any improper move would leave him a bloody stain on the floor. He had begun work on the new saber several weeks before, but had never had the time to finish it. Now, before his next major battle with the Sith, he sensed that he would need it. And on a more personal note, Jann believed that he needed a more honest weapon than the half-sawed weapon he had taken from a Sith Knight many years before.

The pieces were finally all in place. All Jann needed to do was seal the saber’s chassis, taper off the battery-end and the saber-end and make sure that all his work had paid off. He carefully managed the piece of the saber and began to seal it off.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” a voice behind him spoke.

Jann spun around to an empty room. He looked around and began to wonder whether or not his mind had begun to play tricks. He returned to his work and sealed off the first third of his new light saber.

“I asked you, why are you in such a hurry?” the voice spoke again.

Jann, now a tad irritated turned to his still-empty room. He calmed himself and began to feel with the Force and sensed a presence in the room with him. Someone he had known once before was with him again.

“Andari?” Jann opened his eyes perplexed, as his mind and his feelings made a connection. Before his eyes, a blue spirit manifested itself. The vision was that of an elderly man, clothed in the robes of a Jedi. Old, yet full of vitality, wise, and with a big smile on his lips. This was Andari Effenli, Jedi Master.

“Andari Effenli,” Jann spoke out loud. “I can’t believe this. I had read about meetings between living and dead Jedi Knights, but this…. I thought you had to be some great Jedi for this to happen, like Luke Skywalker?”

“Well, your name may join his one day,” spoke the visage of Andari, “but for now, my question still stands. Why are you in such a hurry?”

Jann looked at his old partner and replied, “I think you know by now. The Sith approach Coruscant. It looks like we are headed for some sort of endgame.” Putting aside his new weapon, he continued, “We must all be there.”

“Good reply, but it’s not the whole truth, is it? I mean, there are enough Jedi to face the Sith’s attack. And as you must know by now, not all ends are final.” Pausing, the elder spirit added, “Be honest with yourself.”

The Jedi Knight stared into the spirit of the Master and slowly released his answer. “Darth Masterna will be there…. I need to be there as well.”

Smiling, Andari’s spirit looked on and casually said, “So, this is all about Ulric.”

“How can you still call him by THAT name?” Jann shouted, full of rage and resentment. “He lied to us, tricked us, used us and almost destroyed us. That man is no longer Ulric Tronos. He is not my master anymore!” The Jedi turned and stared into the lines of hyperspace.

The ghost of Andari walked toward his former partner and looked at him hard. “Whatever you carry inside, Jann Duvey, you must release it before you reach Coruscant. That anger, that rage must dissipate before you face Darth Masterna…or you will fall just like he did.”

“You know nothing about me,” replied Jann, fighting back his emotions. “You stood by me for a few days. That does not give you insight into my mind or my soul!”

Andari’s spirit sighed and looked at the man who stood before him. “In all you’ve said, you are wrong. I know of you, who you are, where you come from. I know why you’ve remained a Jedi and why a betrayal like Ulric’s was such a tremendous blow.” Taking a moment to let Jann’s emotions subside, he pressed on, “But even if I did not know you, my advice would still be the same: Let go of your hate. See with eyes unclouded by fear, by anger, by resentment. You must give up the dark shadow that you carry. If not, it will consume you and you will have failed as a Jedi and as a man.”

Stepping back, he continued, “I see in you the same potential for greatness I saw in Ulric; the same capacity for goodness towards all. But you will never become anything if you don’t let that scar heal. Was Ulric’s betrayal tragic? Yes! I felt it worse than you. To you, he was a teacher, a man to emulate and admire. To me, he was my pupil, my apprentice, my….

Pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts, Andari added, “He was like a son to me. Someone I raised as a part of me since he was a child. I saw him take his first steps, say his first words, and no one was prouder than I when he entered the Jedi Order as a Knight. And for him to betray us – betray me – like that? Yes, I have all the requirements I could ever want for hating him. But I find myself unable. Perhaps because I’ve passed beyond or maybe because I still see the goodness of his soul. I cannot bring myself to hate Ulric.”

“Then you are better than I,” said Jann, giving the ghost a hard stare.

Sighing, Andari looked at Jann and spoke, “It is not about being better. It’s about being true to who you are. And no one – not even Ulric Tronos – can change that…unless you let it.” As the spirit began to walk away, he continued to admonish, “Don’t give in to your hate. Air it out and dispose of it – or you will never live.”

The spirit of Andari Effenli then disappeared, leaving the startled Jedi amazed and angry. What the ghost had spoken had merit, this Jann understood. But his mind was in turmoil and his heart was as the base of a waterfall. He needed to disseminate his feelings and what he knew to be true. Just then, the chime outside his door rang.

“Come on in,” he asked and the door opened. In stepped Krokukkon, his longtime partner and friend. As the Wookie entered and took a seat, Jann began to reflect upon him. Master Ulric had trained both of them; both had felt his betrayal deep. Yet, in all these years, Jann never felt he had reflected on the impact that it had had on his friend. Jann watched as his partner took a deep sigh and began to ask him a question. Krokukkon’s deep rumbles resonated throughout the room – and on Jann’s ears.

“I’m not sure, partner,” was his reply. “I still haven’t thought that far.” The Wookie’s gruffs and roars were loud and clear. Jann stood thinking for a moment, before answering, “You’re right, I never did think about that. I wish I had though. But with everything that went on, I’m not shocked we never spoke about it.”

Like this went their conversation, on which they aired out their feelings, their fears and their hatreds. The purge that these two longtime friends had needed for such a long time finally came to pass.

**************************************************************************

In another part of the ship, Serania Burtell stood and quietly gazed upon hyperspace. She was trying to harden her resolve and make herself ready for the conflict that was to come. In the reflective shield, she saw another person enter the hall where she stood. At first, she thought it might be a guard or either one of her Jedi partners. Then, the figure stood beside her. It was Adea J’Brar.

“It never ceases to amaze me,” stated Adea. “Space travel, it’s so exciting.”

Serania stood there, giving a hard stare at the reflection of the former Sith Lord. Adea sensed this. “Why do you hate me?” she was finally forced to ask. “Is it because I was once a Sith Lord?”

“Among several reasons,” came the terse reply. Serania had not bothered to look back to explain herself.

“Well,” said Adea, in a calmer tone, “I’m no longer one. So, I think you can stop hating me for that.” An angry sigh was Serania’s answers, to which Adea could do nothing but smile. “I guess you also dislike me for trying to kill you back on Coruscant all those years ago.”

“Another plausible reason,” said Serania as she turned to leave the room. She had decided to listen to the criminal’s voice no more when Adea said out loud to her, “Or could it be because you’re jealous of me?” At that, the Jedi Knight stopped and closed the door that she had opened. With a laugh, she turned and faced Adea. “Jealous? Of you? Please explain that crazy idea.”

Adea, glad that she had gotten to the stubborn Serania, stood up and faced her. “You’re jealous of me because Jann is spending all of his time on me, an evil criminal, instead of you, a righteous, goody-goody Jedi Knight.”

Serania threw her head back and laughed. “You think I’m jealous of you and Jann Duvey?” Adea stared at her with all her eyes could give and waited for Serania to finish her laugh before asking, “Woman to woman?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” came the reply, “not as a user of the Force, not as a Sith Lord, not as a warrior or a criminal. Woman to woman, you want me to tell you what I believe is the truth?”

Serania scoffed and put her hands on her hips, as if to say whatever. “Sure, woman to woman.” Adea simply looked at her and fleshed out her statement. “I think that some part of you is deeply infatuated with Jann Duvey. He pushes some incredibly hidden button that you sought to keep forever buried. He attracts you, not as a fighting partner or as a fellow Jedi, but in some baser and simpler way.” She gave a smile as Serania began to blush. “I’m right, aren’t I? You see in him not the great warrior that he is, but the man. And that forces you to think long and hard about what you are and what you are doing.”

The Jedi Knight, blushing with resentment, turned and faced away from Adea. “What could you possibly know about such things? You don’t know Jann or anyone else that deeply to know the full truth! I don’t think you’ve ever lov…felt feelings for anyone else!”

Adea, the former Sith Lord, tried to keep her smile down. “I won’t ask what that last word originally was. As for what feelings I’ve had or not had, you’d be amazed as to what I’ve felt. In my lifetime, I’ve been terrified to my bones, lonely to soul and angry to the depths of my very self. I’ve also experienced love, happiness and laughter, if you can force yourself to believe such things.” Noticing she had Serania’s full attention now, she stepped closer to her and continued. “As to my personal feelings for Jann, well, those are my affairs. But they tell me that you see me as some sort of rival and that is why you hate me. You can’t believe that what you are and what I was don’t automatically force Jann into your arms.”

Serania’s face was bright red. What Adea J’Brar was saying struck some deep and hidden nerves. She tried to calm herself and managed to contain the emotions that were about to spill out of her. She looked down and then back at opposing figure. In every instance, this woman was her opposite. And yet, they had both arrived at this point thru the work of one person. Now she stood here, ready to do battle with her again, not for justice or peace – but for one guy.

“Tell you what,” Serania finally said, “we will put all of this behind us – for the moment. We will go to Coruscant and face your former allies. When we have beaten them, then we will finally settle this little dispute on who gets the great Jann Duvey. Agreed?” She stretched her hand out. Adea took it and shook it. Both looked dead into each other’s eyes and smiled.

“Agreed.”

***************************************************************************

Meanwhile, another starship was also on hot approach to Coruscant. This one pretended to be a cargo ship, full of refined parts. In reality, its cargo was much more sinister and dangerous – it carried the last part of the Sith's army. Thousands of warriors, aptly trained and prepared and all willing to sacrifice themselves and each other to the Dark Lords of the Sith.

The aforementioned lords stood in their command center, when the news finally came in.

“My lords,” a Sith Knight approached and, bowing low, handed Darth Belian the report. Belian, read it and crumpled the papers in his hands, an ugly image painted on his young face. Turning, Darth Rahn and Darth Masterna easily discerned the outcome of their attack on Yavin Four.

“Impossible,” said Rahn, “How could we have lost twice in a row? Even the Jedi are not that lucky?!”

“It seems that it was not the Jedi who gain the spoils this time, Lord Rahn,” replied Belian. “The attack went as had been planned. Yavin’s Academy laid bare for us to destroy. The ones who stopped the attack were the armies of the king of Antar Mega.”

“Antar Mega?” asked Rahn, savoring the words, trying to suck some meaning from the name. In the background, Darth Masterna had stepped back and allowed himself a moment’s surprise. From the look in his eyes, he had made the connection.

“Why should that world aid the Jedi?” asked Rahn, noticing Masterna’s eyes. “Lord Masterna, you seem to know the answer.” Bringing himself back from his reverie, Darth Masterna looked at his equals and gave a chuckle. “The reason is that the heir to Antar Mega’s throne is a Jedi.”

“How can that be?” pushed Darth Belian, sensing some other meaning to Masterna’s words. “Jedi children are taught from the earliest of ages. They are not allowed to have constant contact with their parents. Who is this heir? How do you know this?”

“The heir was my former pupil, Lord Belian. Jann Duvey.” He calmingly stood and explained. “When the world of Antar Mega – an ancient kingdom far inside the once-unknown regions of space – finally joined the Republic, they allowed the Jedi to test for possible Force users. Among the strongest in the Force was the eldest son of King Jorg Rexor. In a gesture of good will, he did allow for his son to be taken by the Jedi. To hide his identity, he was given the last name of his mother, Queen Leanna Duvey-Rexor. So the boy became Jann Duvey.”

“Though they gave him up, they did require to be kept up-to-date on all the major events of the child’s life. He grew up knowing nothing nor did anyone outside the Jedi Council know. I only learned of this after I chose the boy to be my apprentice. We flew out to Antar Mega and I met the royal couple. They had sired other children, but the difference in age was great. He was thirteen and they were four or three.”

“In any case,” concluded Darth Masterna, “Duvey’s father must have died and now their kingdom finds themselves with no heir ready save the son they have never seen. So they snatched Duvey and it was he who led their armies to stop our attack.”

Considering all that Masterna had spoken, the other two Sith Lords pondered their situation. Finally, Darth Rahn spoke, “So we have gone in the matter of days from having a grand Sith army to being reduced to a few thousand warriors. Is that correct?” Anger was seething from his metallic frame and from within Darth Belian’s robes. “Perhaps we should rethink your strategy, Lord Masterna.” The last statement carried much venom and disdain.

Darth Masterna let the feelings pass by before answering. “You may be right, my lords. However, to pull back now will only enhance the bitterness of our earlier defeats. I still believe that we can triumph. By destroying the base of operations for the Jedi’s Order, we will strike the greatest of blows to the Republic’s confidence in these overbearing monks. We still hold the initiative. I say we use it while it is still ours.”

The other two Dark Lords looked at one another. Doubt had begun to creep into their minds and hearts. However, they knew Masterna to be right. Abandoning their campaign was never an option.

“Then lead on, Lord Masterna,” was Darth Belian’s answer. “We have enemies to destroy.”

**************************************************************************

Most people on Coruscant would remember that sunset as being one of the bleakest and darkest they had ever seen. For some strange reason, the sun just seemed to disappear from their sky without any warning. It was as if the night could not wait to begin. Darkness engulfed the majority of the capital. If ancient seers had predicted the end of all time, most would have agreed.

In the bowels of Coruscant, the ten-thousand-warrior-strong army of the Sith prepared itself for its grandest and boldest move – an assault on the Jedi stronghold itself, the Towers of Coruscant. Destroyed by Emperor Palpatine during the Sith’s greatest days, the Towers had been slowly, but surely, rebuilt as a form of thanks to the work of the Skywalkers and how they had managed to hold together the Rebel Alliance that had toppled the Sith. Now, one thousand years later, here were the Sith ready to topple the Jedi structure down – this time, for good.

In the center of the crowd, stood the Sith Lords. They had made sure that the hundreds of ships that carried their most important cargo had not fallen to some bureaucrat’s idiocy. The Army of the Sith had taken the cargo holds of some of the largest and most powerful trading and cargo vessels that were available. Under the cover of many companies and worlds they had masked themselves. Then, using their abilities, the warriors had managed to elude any detection by either the Jedi or the Inquisitors. This process had taken months to plan and days to execute. And now, the process had shrunk to mere moments. Darth Belian used a platform to elevate himself and his equals high above the crowd.

“Brothers in the Sith,” he spoke. “The time for our triumph is at hand and the Jedi’s time has come to an end. Their reign ends this very night. Now, arise from the ashes of old and strike down all those who oppose you!”

With that, he ignited his light saber and pointed to the numerous transport tubes that would take the Sith above. The mass of warriors broke apart in unison, thundering towards the various tubes. They were all in a hurry to reach the upper city levels, as their rage had been unleashed and they wanted to kill a Jedi, any Jedi.

All of the Jedi.

**********************************************************************

Darth Belian turned to face his partners and the present Sha-wan Merkat. It was to his faithful knight that Belian went first.

“Congratulations, Sha-wan, you have served the Sith well. Now, as we stand in our moment of triumph, know that your name will be recorded in our history as one of the instruments of the Jedi’s demise.”

The Sith Knight bowed his head. “I serve the Sith,” he said. “And I would like nothing more than to punish those who have destroyed my brother in arms, Nekki.” He said this with rage in his eyes. Darth Belian smiled.

“Do not worry, your vengeance is the Sith’s vengeance. Now, come with us. Stand at our side.”

The Sith Lords descended from their speaking platform and walked towards a private transport tube that Sha-wan Merkat had prepared for them. As they boarded, no one noticed the single solitary figure in the shadows moving towards the transport tube nearest to them.

*****************************************************************

Even the nastiest and most dangerous denizen of Coruscant knew better than to step between the mass of Sith warriors and their intended target. It was like a wave, pouring out of all the transport tubes and elevators, surging from deep within the planet itself to wash it all away. Covered in black, lightsabers at the ready, the Sith warriors madly ran for the Towers. An invisible fury propelled them towards their goal. As they approached their destination, the large waves started to converse and merge into even greater waves of warriors. When a transport tube opened to reveal the Sith Lords, who took the lead, the warriors cheered. They were close now, the walkways and ramps leading into the Towers themselves before them. Their triumph was sealed.

Out of nowhere, huge beams of light illuminated the Sith army. As one, the trained warriors stopped in their tracks. They looked around and saw thousands upon thousands of Jedi Knights standing before them, behind them, and around them. It appeared like the whole of the Jedi Order had been called. And they were right.

The Sith was trapped.

The warriors looked around and then focused on their leaders, the Sith Lords. The three of them stood, just as shocked as their followers were. How could this have happened? The Jedi were everywhere and it seemed like they would have to fight their way out. Ten thousand Sith versus one hundred thousand Jedi. Everyone noticed as the Jedi parted and allowed a small party to approach the Sith Lords. In its center was Master Ebbo Zommo, and with him were the Jedi Council, Serania Burtell, Adea J’Brar, Krokukkon and Jann Duvey.

The Sith Lords and Sha-wan Merkat walked the distance that separated them from the Jedi’s party. Stopping a few steps before each other, Master Zommo could only look on the face of Darth Masterna, who looked right back at him with hate. Masterna’s eyes said it all: This had been his plan and it was now in ruins.

“You know the truth,” spoke Master Zommo. “You are surrounded, unable to escape, incapable of destroying us. You are defeated. Submit now and you may walk out of here alive.”

Darth Belian threw his head back and laughed darkly at the Master’s terms. “Surrender? You must be out of your mind, Jedi. We will do no such thing.” Saying that, he removed his light saber and prepared to fight. Darth Rahn and Darth Masterna followed suit and with them their warriors also prepared for battle. Master Zommo raised his hand and said, “Wait! We need not let all die. There may yet be a simpler way out of this!” The Sith Lord just stood there, waiting to see if it was a ruse or not. “You,” he continued, pointing to Darth Belian, “do you speak for the whole of the Sith?”

Belian replied, “Yes, I do.” Master Zommo, determined in his actions, drew his light saber and said, “Then, I challenge you to a duel.”

No one could believe what they had just heard, least of all the Jedi Council. They all turned and stared at their leader, who seemed bent on this. “If you win, we will allow you to leave. If you lose, you will command your forces to throw down their weapons and surrender.”

Darth Belian searched the Jedi Master’s emotions for a glimmer of what the Zabrak was actually thinking. He turned to Darth Masterna and asked him, “Does he actually mean this?” Masterna looked into his comrade’s stance before answering, “Yes, he means this and he will abide by his word.” Then, coming closer to Belian, he whispered, “But we don’t have to.” Stepping back, Masterna smiled, leaving full understanding of his meaning with Darth Belian.

Meanwhile, the Jedi could not believe this turn of events. Serania approached her former teacher and questioned him as he removed his robes. “Are you sure about this, Master? That Sith Lord is more cunning and dangerous than he appears.”

“She is correct,” said Adea, stepping forward. “That one, Darth Belian, is treacherous and wicked. He will not stop until you are dead.”

“Master,” pleaded Serania, “at least let me or one of the other Jedi do this. You don’t have to.”

“Why, Serania Burtell,” reproached Master Zommo with a smile, “would you have me running away from our enemies – from my duties as a Jedi?” Serania simply blushed and stepped back. She knew that Master Zommo wanted this fight. To protect his Jedi, to try and save some of those Sith from death, Jedi Master Ebbo Zommo would risk himself to save the rest. Serania knew that’s what made them Jedi – and what separated them from groups like the Inquisitors.

Stepping forward, Master Zommo bowed before the Sith Lord and announced himself ready. “I am Ebbo Zommo, Jedi Knight.”

“Very well,” replied the Sith Lord. “Jedi, I am Darth Belian and prepare to die.”

With that he ignited his light saber and leaped the five feet that separated him from Master Zommo. The Zabrak, however, was not caught flat-footed. He had already ignited his saber and had spun out of his place, so that Belian came down upon an empty spot. Guessing his opponent would do something like that, Belian turned as he landed and countered with an attack to Zommo’s head. The Jedi Master blocked the attack and with a swift move, lowered his opponent’s weapon. Belian took a quick step back and caught himself amazed at the abilities that this old Jedi Master possessed. He would not die quickly. Belian began to circle the Jedi Master, who had assumed a defensive stance. As he did, he spun his light saber around.

“Not bad, Jedi,” he taunted, “not bad. Let us see if you can keep this up.” With that, he entered the Master’s circle of defense and began to strike harder and faster than before. He had Master Zommo backing into the walkway’s railing. Belian swung to the left and caught the railing, but not the Jedi, who had moved aside and thrown a punch at him. The jab connected on the right side of Belian’s face and spun the Sith Lord back. Definitely stunned, he caught a trail of blood running from his mouth. This enraged Darth Belian who went right for Master Zommo. The Jedi Master leapt high above his head and swung at the Sith Lord, who blocked the attack. Parries and counters were exchanged as the two Masters tried to get the upper hand. Belian thought to distract Zommo with a low parry, but Zommo caught the Sith Lord’s saber and pushed it down, between his legs. As one tried to bring it up, the other kept trying to force it down. Like that they were for a moment, before Belian Force-pushed the Jedi Master away. As he flew back, Master Zommo managed to rotate and do the same thing to the Sith Lord, and Belian also found himself hitting the railing hard.

They both stood up and stared into one another, choosing stances for their next attacks. Facing off, the two warriors stood there, waiting for the right moment. Darth Belian, smile on his bloodied face, continued spinning his light saber. Not one of the Jedis, however, paid it any attention. Only Adea J’Brar was drawn to it, for some reason she could not determine.

“Are you ready?” asked Belian. “Are you ready to die?”

“You’re full of yourself, Dark Lord of the Sith,” replied Master Zommo, with as much taunt in his voice as there had been on Belian’s. “Let’s see what you can really do.”

With that, they attacked one another. It was in this instant, that Adea remembered and she desperately turned to Jann and tried to warn him. “Wait! He’s got--!”

Before she could explain, Master Zommo saw the swinging light saber of Darth Belian come right on top of him. He moved to block it and out of nowhere a blaster shot struck him in the shoulder. The pain and impact threw him hard on the ground. A second blast hit him in the stomach and he recoiled in pain. His light saber was kicked away from his hand as the Dark Lord stood triumphantly over the Jedi Master.

Belian looked at the Jedi, who were being held at bay by the Council. They would have rushed him had the fools in command not decided to stop their onslaught. He laughed at the poor fools – deluded and self-righteous to the end, he though. Well, he would teach them a lesson now.

“By your words, Jedi,” Darth Belian lifted his red saber as he spoke. Master Zommo could only hold his wounds and look at him. “You die and the Sith live!”

Before the saber could be brought down, however, a tall and dark shadow leapt from behind the Sith Army and ran Darth Belian through. Everyone – Jedi and Sith – were shocked at the sight. The shadow stood eight feet tall and towered over his victim. Darth Belian, amazed and in incredible pain, managed to look down at the light saber that had run him thru. It was completely and purely black.

“No,” he eked out as blood mixed with saliva. “It can’t be…”

He looked back and stared into the hood of his killer. Darth Rahn, terrified, could not move. Jann Duvey stood frozen in his spot as the hood was drawn back to reveal a face he never thought he’d see again. Adea J’Brar thought time had stopped forever.

The hood was pulled back completely to reveal the black eyes, dark grin and pale white face of Darth Vassoran, Dark Lord of the Sith.

****************************************************************************

Back to the main page.