An Unwilling Student

[Jabhar Darnor]

Though the stars shone brightly in the sky above the planet Dinzo, the night was dark. This work well to the young Exile’s advantage as he made his way through the lightly forested area that he had found himself in. He was wearing his attire to full effect, his armour equipped and his mask in place under his black hood to cover his face. Jabhar Darnor had been following this trail for some time now, and he was sure to be getting close to the crash site. He had seen the small transport vessel go down only a few hours earlier, and he would have paid it no mind under most circumstances. He could not tell from the distance that he had been at during the crash, but he assumed it was some sort of simple mechanical failure. Most of the crew was probably dead from the unplanned landing, which was something that Jabhar was counting on due to the presence he had sensed at the last moment of the ship’s descent.

There had been an undeniable presence of a Force user on the vessel, and moments before the crash had occurred, Jabhar had felt the pull in the Force some an individual aboard the ship attempting to lessen the blow of the crash. Whether or not they had been successful remained to be seen, but Jabhar needed to know what, or who exactly was being transported by an individual with such capabilities. And so he had set out into the forest, ready for a fight but expected a pile of burning corpses. His own lack of a speeder or ship of any kind meant that some kind of local authorities had certainly arrived on scene before him, but they would make no difference. He would get the information he needed, and they would not stop him.

The smell of smoldering debris was finally growing stronger, and Jabhar figured that he was probably getting close to his final destination. As he made his final approach up to the vessel, the young Exile too a moment to peek over a small ridge toward the crash site and gauge the danger present. He could no longer sense the presence of a Force user, and so he assumed that they had died in the aftermath of the crash. What he could see however, was a group of men and women pulling other people and equipment from the wreckage. There were many bodies that were covered nearby, but there were at least a dozen individuals that seemed to have escaped from the wreckage with their lives. Taking a moment to listen, Jabhar gathered what information he could about the crash. Two gentlemen passed close enough to him that he could hear what they had to say.

“I still can’t believe she sacrificed herself so that we could survive. I didn’t even know that she was a Jedi.” Jabhar’s ears burned with mention of the Order. It seemed that the Force user, a woman who had stowed away on the ship under false pretenses, had given her life for these people. Typical Jedi weakness…Jabhar thought to himself as he continued to listen to the pair. “I had no idea either man. What do you suppose is on that datapad they found on her body?” Once again, these men had given the young Exile all he needed to know. That datapad needed to be in his hands, and he was tired of being stealthy. He waited patiently for the pair to pass right by him before he stood up, in all of his fearsome attire, and dispatched the men quickly and quietly with his vibroblade. Their throats were slashed before they could utter a word, and Jabhar was still undiscovered. Though that would not be the case for long.

As he stepped forward from the edge of the area and into the crash site proper, Jabhar could see the ten remaining survivors turn their heads toward him, their gazes a mixture of confusion from some, and fear from other. Oh, how he loved to see their fear. One of the women, clearly a leader of some kind called out to him as he moved forward, toward the group. “Sir, I must ask that you stay back from the crash site. We have sensitive information here that I cannot allow you to see.” The tremble in her voice was unmistakable, and Jabhar continued walking forward. In response, the woman pulled out a small blaster from he hip, her had shaking with fear as she pointed it toward the Exile. “I-I’m warning you. S-stay back for I’ll shoot.” But Jabhar was unfazed. He had a mission to accomplish, and this woman would not stand in his way. “Fine then!” she shouted, finally finding some resolve in her fear as she discharged two blasts from the weapon.

It was as if the world slowed down for a moment. As the bolts of plasma flew toward him, Jabhar already had his hand on the hilt of his lightsaber, which he ignited without hesitation. The crimson blade lit up the space around him as he swung the blade in defiance, deflecting the blaster bolts in two directions, each toward a different bystander whose lives were cut short in that moment. Their muffled screams had barely left their lips as they fell to the ground, burning wounds in their chests from the redirected blaster fire. The rest of the crowd seemed paralyzed with fear as Jabhar deactivated his lightsaber and lifted his right hand toward the woman who had fired at him. She instinctually dropped her blaster as he hands darted toward her throat. She clawed at the invisible grip that began to close her windpipe and lift her into the air, but it was to no avail.

The remaining survivors around the scene looked on in horror as their former leader begged and pleaded for her life for a few more seconds, before a sickening crunch could be heard around them. Her throat was crushed, and with it, he life was ended. Tossing her aside like a used piece of trash, Jabhar turned toward the remaining men and women whose mouths remained agape at what they had witnessed. The all appeared to be simple travelers, probably ones who had expected to refuel on Dinzo and then move on to their destinations. Instead, their lives were forever changed. “Go,” Jabhar commanded, not bothering to utter another word before turning toward an area where scavenged supplies had been piled up. He could ear the shouts as the rest of the survivors fled into the woods and he was left alone. He wasted no time and began picking over the contents of the pile, searching for the datapad that had been mentioned before.

It did not table him very long before he found what he was looking for, and after connecting it to his own datapad, he was able to break the encryption on it and access the data. It appeared to be a series of old Jedi records that were being transferred, probably to a new location where the Jedi were holding up. Unfortunately, he could not find that information, but one file did catch his eye. The file was entitled “Ander Arriston” and contained information on a man who had left the Jedi of his own accord. Due to the time in which he left, it appeared that the Jedi had kept tabs on him in order to ensure that he had not left to join his own brothers and sisters in arms, the Exiles. This man appeared to be living on Corellia at the moment, rather than helping in the fight against the Jedi Order. Jabhar could not help the grin from spreading onto his face from under his mask. If this man was not with the Exiles, then he was against them; Jabhar had finally found a new target…

SOME TIME LATER...​

 

[Odric Arriston]

In the Bela Vistal area, Corellia. The home of Wa'ra and Ander Arriston with their son, Odric.
Late morning, His mother and father have the day off.​

The teen heard whispers that morning, Odric was his name and, while getting out of bed felt aggravated. This wasn't the first time he'd felt like this so it wasn't so strange, his mother said it was because of his age, adolescence. She was mostly right by chocking it up to simple youth but, these whispers that he heard are in fact a connection to something greater than himself. Little did he realize that upon him was a change, both in himself and the path before him and as he woke to his mother calling him through to the kitchen, that change had already begun.

"Odric!, Breakfast is made so come through." there was a pause for a moment while Odric dizzily opened his eyes and groaned, "NOW!" she yelled snappily.

'Uh oh' he thought, that was his mother's angry voice which meant that she and his father were having some kind of dispute. He rolled out of the bed and swung his legs around, a big yawn again as he stood up. He was a relatively pale boy, not overly skinny but showed promise of being well built in his future. Brunette hair and blue eyes with a strong jawline like his fathers, quite a catch at his age even if you account for the abnormal greyish tinge to his skin. He stumbled down the stairs from his room, entering the lounge and then walking through the arch into the kitchen, his father was sat at the table reading a book and talking to Wa'ra.

"I said no, getting angry won't change that fact." The mother after putting the food on the table looked at him, her right eye practically twitching with frustration. "I am a terrible cook, I know that, But the least you could do! Is put in extra money for food so I can practice!" .

There was a small moment of silence where she was breathing a bit heavily, they must have been at it for a little while because she was near fuming. "Waste of money, Waste of food" He said with a big grin as he looked at Odric, the boy himself grinning a little bit.

This served nothing but the purpose of making his mother angrier, muttering under her breath as she dished a plate up to Odric's side of the table, a plate that seemed to have, Egg? on it. Odric was unsure as he sat at the table, for a moment he felt something pulling him but he was unsure what it was, shaking the feeling off. A cup filled with fruit juice was placed next to him by his mother who was still walking around with a 'huff' in her step. His father, Ander, As always seemed to be perfectly calm, Odric would expect nothing less from a former Jedi.

"Father, What's the most fun you ever had as a Jedi?" he said with an expression of curiosity and hope, Odric's father knew that his son wanted to be a Jedi despite his attempts to sway him from it. "I was not a Jedi for fun Odric, and telling you stories of the Jedi won't serve any purpose." Wa'ra sighed, rolling her eyes as she did what she could to scrape the burnt egg off the pan, wishing she'd spent as much time home with Odric as Ander has, maybe Odric wouldn't have his head in the clouds if she'd had.

Their son was starting to get a little bit annoyed, already aggravated by something he couldn't explain. He had finished the egg, it was kind of burnt which only served to lessen his mood as he tried to get rid of its taste with the fruit juice. He'd drank all of it and then near slammed it on the table, expressing his discontent with his father's reply. In doing this, both parents immediately called him out for being rude. "You're letting your emotions rule you." Was all his father said, His mother on the other hand, "Really? That's all you're going to say to him when he acts like that?" she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice while Odric was trying to walk out. "Odric back in here right now, Put your dirty dishes away cause I'll be damned if I'm playing the good 'housewife' for you too."

Odric felt weird, his emotions out of control as if driven by something, panting as he just stood there, his mother was getting increasingly angry as he did nothing. "Did you hear what I just said!?" his mother snapped again, Ander was watching Odric a little closer this time, sensing something was off despite him cutting himself off from the force. Odric turned around, a face that was holding back his rage, his mother went instantly from angry to concerned, motherly instinct kicking in. "Honey...what's the matter?" she said, endearingly as a mother should when they are worried. Odric saw this and despite knowing his mother was worried, he snapped back "Whatever, FINE!, You want the dishes done!" the teenager said while stamping his feet towards the table, reaching out to grab the cup but, he wanted so much to just throw it, to smash it to make a statement, that cup... *SMASH!!*

The cup was smashed against the ground having been pushed off the table, Odric didn't really recognise what had happened, thinking he must have shoved it off the table in anger. He looked at his hand, an expression of shock and shame mixed in one, a tear almost forming in his eyes as he looked at his parents. ""I'm sorr-..." He cut himself off in a pause, hesitating to talk "Odric...calm down" His father said, having seen what his son had done. His mother was unable to talk as she just looked in shock too, a drop in her jaw. Odric looked at his mother and father, both looking at him in not anger but, surprise as if they were more shocked than he was. "I didn't mean, t-to do that..I'm sorry.." Odric said while unable to cope with their looks, turning around and running upstairs into his room, "Odric no!, It's not your-!" the slam of the door that made Ander stop talking, Odric went over to his bed and sat down. He was fourteen and yet still so childish and naive, he loved his father so much and he just did that to them.

Odric's face was in his hands feeling sorry for himself, after pushing past it with what little maturity he had he reached out, grabbing and sliding in a couple of earpieces, just, listening to music to drown the thoughts out.

"You saw it didn't you." Wa'ra said to Ander, looking at him with a look of worry and anger over her child, their son. "Yes, The cup flew." Ander replied with a calm reply to which coaxed anger from Wa'ra, "It didn't just fly Ander! It was pushed without him touching it!" , Ander took a deep breathe in through his nose. "I know." He said, coaxing an even louder and angrier statement from his wife, "He hadn't TOUCHED IT!" .

Ander himself was starting to get angry and for the first time in a long time, he too shouted. "I KNOW, WA'RA!" , standing up in a loss of his own temper, "YOUR SON JUST USED THE FORCE AND THAT'S ALL YOU SAY!" . Ander slammed his book on the table after closing it, "HE DIDN'T USE THE FORCE, ... His emotions did, They ruled him for a split moment..." Her husband said, his voice descending in pitch as he trailed, worry coming over him. "You know what he needs... Like it or not, Honey, you have to teach him now." Ander's face curled up as he perished the thought, but he knew she was right. "It's not that simple... I'm not..." . Wa'ra could see her husband struggling with what he had to do, she went to him, locking her arms around him in an embrace, pulling his head to her shoulder to rest. "I know Sweetie, You cut yourself off, but he needs a teacher right now and you need to be strong." She lifted his head off her so that he could look into her eyes, sorrow in his.

"We need to be strong, Together, ok?" Ander dreaded that this day would come but, Wa'ra made anything seem possible if given the chance. "Ok, I will do it not just for him, but for you too love."

With the outburst over and the new obstacle to face, Ander set out on a trip up the mountain to the tallest part of the range, the highest rock. Meanwhile, back at the house, Wa'ra had gone to comfort her son.
​

Odric raised his head at the knock at the door, turning his head away as he sat in silence, already under the impression that his father left because of how mad he was. "Honey? Open the door it's me, your mother." she said in an almost too endearing way, Odric could tell she was playing the 'I'm your loving mother' card. "Go away!" Odric said without meaning it, conflicted from being in his room for an hour with nothing but his thoughts. "Come now, Your father and I are not mad at you, we're just worried, please open the door?"

Odric looked defeated, as if won over by the need to seek affection and forgiveness. He opened the door to let his mother in and then sat back down on the bed, Wa'ra walked in and looked at the state of her son's room, electing not to bring it up at this point in time. "How ya doing lil-ric" she said, teasing at his childhood nickname, he paid not much mind and actually found it a little bit comforting. "I didn't mean to break the glass..." he mumbled trying to remain 'cool' while giving his mother an apology. She sat down beside him and gave him a big hug, squeezing a little too tightly for his liking. "I know sweetheart, your father knows too." She said reassuringly, releasing her grip on him. "Really?" he said in an attempt to be further assured. "Really." his mother said in reply with a warm, inviting smile on her face.

The two talked for a bit there in his room, she went downstairs first and started finishing up the dishes, Odric gave in and came downstairs to give his mother a hand. After the dishes were done the two sat down in the lounge across from the window, looking out at the mountain, it was after a minute of silence that Wa'ra began to speak. "When you broke the cup, did you feel anything?" she said in a straight to the point fashion. Odric was confused by the question, his knack for always being the smartest person in the room made this question feel all the more nerve-wracking as if taking a test. "Angry, But I felt sorry straight away!" he said in an abrupt and awkward manner. "Not what I meant, I meant did you 'feel' anything?" she said again, this time with new emphasis.

"Yeah, it was weird." Odric said, now actually thinking about it, wondering about it. It seems as good as he was in his physical activities his wisdom was still greatly lacking, he couldn't work out that it was a manifestation of the force. Not having ever felt it would be an excuse this time, his mother couldn't help just look at him while he sits there, puzzled. "Next time you are getting that angry, Just tell us ok, We spoil you and we baby you but, we love you and we care for you. So you need to tell us when you're like this otherwise we can't help." He thought about what she said, her words were comforting, so much so that he was a little angry at himself for not telling them how aggravated he was, but it was ok now. "Ok."

He was looking out the window, It was just after midday, the sun was just passing over the center of the sky. "Can I go out with friends?" He said in honesty as if everything that had happened today was just a small quarrel. She felt it wise though, Normally no but, this time yes, he'd need to get some fun in before his father got back. "Alright but be back before dark. I don't care how much your father taught you, it's dangerous to be out alone at night. Besides, I have some work stuff to do."

His mood changed almost instantly, "Thank you!" he said, the boy standing up and rushing to his room to get ready leaving his mother there. "Aaaaand there he goes." She said rolling her eyes as she went to do her own thing, compiling information over at her work desk, she worked as a go-between for many important companies. Odric had washed up, changed his clothes and fixed his bed hair before leaving through the front door. "Goodbye mom!" he yelled, her hand up in the air doing a half-assed wave for him to see before he shut the door.

Odric ran down the hill across the metal road and further until he hit another similar looking property to his, knocking on the front door. The door was opened by a Twi'lek woman and at first glance she would seem nice, but, being the 'bad influence' on her children that Odric was, this woman didn't much approve of their friendship. Minn Yon and Keer Yon, his two friends were brother and sister, Keer being the male and Minn being the female. "ODDY!" , Minn said, practically crash tackling him though not that Odric minded, Keer stepping out the front door with a laugh. "To be taken down so easily by my sister, Shameful!" Keer said smugly. Odric didn't mind, in truth, he had a crush on Minn Yon, though the two have never gone out. When considering his penchant for being a show-off or 'never back down' one would question it but, the truth wasn't that he feared rejection, it was much more pathetic than that. He'd already asked and been rejected many times by Minn, thinking that a show off like him was just joking in order to tease her, she never thought of him like that.

The three friends played in the sun for the majority of the day, while atop the mountain peak Ander was reconnecting himself with the force. While it is not as strong as when he was a Jedi, his connection, all the same, remained powerful. While his father polished off years of rust from his abilities, Odric had returned home before dark, he and his mother enjoyed a nice dinner before she instructed Odric to go to bed early, insisted more like. Despite numerous objections Odric finally gave in and went to sleep in the early night, now morning, it was time.
​

Odric felt a shake, his father had both hands on him gripping his shoulders to wake him up. Odric nearly jumped in his bead but as he woke he open and closed his eyes to fix their focus, setting his sights on his dad. "Father? What is it, did I oversleep?" Odric said drowsily, Ander walked over to the door that was open, beckoning him a request as he stepped down the stairs. "Training uniform then come downstairs." His father said leaving Odric confused. Odric looked outside to see that it wasn't even that bright out but because his father had come at such a time, it was probably serious. Many thoughts went through his head as he got into his physical training gear, thoughts like 'Is he mad about yesterday?' or 'Is he worried and wants to train me to let off steam?', Thoughts that would do nothing but speculate as he headed down the stairs.

Ander was at the front door, also open, as soon as Odric was in view he walked out without looking back, his demeanour was starting to scare Odric a little bit. "Come with me." his father requested, the thoughts and questions becoming too much for Odric to stay silent. "Why? What's wrong, Father where are we going!" Odric said while hurriedly exiting the house, closing the door behind him as a sort of scared adrenaline began to wake him fully. Odric followed his father as they descended down the hill towards the mountains, quickening into a jog to attempt to catch up to his father who was already way ahead of him. "Father, Where are we going?" He asked, "Father?" he said again, slowly catching up with him. "Dad!" he said, shortening the distance between the two as Ander walked down the hill at the speed of a power walk. "Is this about yesterday! I didn't mean to break the cup it was an accident, Mother already said that you weren't mad at me, was she wrong!"

He managed to catch up and was now walking alongside his father, panting "Dad, Seriously." he said between breaths, at this point, he figured his father would reply in his own time, Odric reluctantly becoming quiet. The two, Odric following his father walked through some passes, staying close but, his father didn't speak and so neither did he. They walked for about an hour until, through the passages, slants and some walkways, came out onto a plateau of sorts between some of the mountainsides. Odric couldn't see past the stone sides of the surrounding mountains, one or two ships here or there in the sky but mostly clear. For a well-populated planet, this was a very unpopulated area?. "This is a very dangerous place, unstable, landslides occur here often which is why I chose it."

"Chose it for what, how could such a dangerous place be chosen for something." Odric said letting his wit get the better of him, standing some space behind his father. "This place is like your emotions, emotions too can be dangerous." his father said which lead Odric to roll his eyes. "I knew it, you're mad about the cup, I promise I won't do it again now can we go back home." , said with a very obnoxious ring to it but ultimately pacified by Ander. "I'm not mad about the cup, now please come sit down, legs crossed."

Oddly that seemed pretty specific, Odric's eyebrow raised in confusion. The boy walked over and sat next to his father, legs crossed with his hands in his lap. 'This is so degrading' Odric thought, thinking that he was seen as immature or being belittled for his actions yesterday, made to sit down in such a manner while his father just stood there. "Ok I get it, control my emotions, I will talk to you guys more about-" prattling on as Odric was he was cut off, "Eyes closed." Ander said, loudly cutting Odric off. "But this kind of treatment is so, Patroni-" Odric said while being cut off again, an equally toned calmness from Ander again. "Eyes, Closed." his father said, as if his word was final.

Humiliated but curious, Odric complied with the request. Ander stepped out and away from Odric, speaking in a calm voice that would allow Odric to focus on what he was about to do "Now breathe and remain still, do not speak."

Odric did as such, breathing in and out, not much different from what his father taught him to do before in training to fight, always breathe and maintain focus. "This place is dangerous Odric, like emotions if it gives into it, it will crumble." Odric continued to breathe and found himself reliant on what his father was saying. "Rage is a river, torrential and can be strong, if you let yourself, you will be swept up by it." Ander said, reminding Odric which brought shame; shame for what he'd done the day before. "If that water was to remain still, calm, peaceful and reflective, then emotions could not sway. This place is dangerous, like your emotions if it crumbles, it will cause destruction." Odric felt that his father was repeating himself. Was it for a reason though? Was it to enforce to Odric to not give in to his emotions? "If this place was to remain calm, peaceful, unmoved by the world around it, untapped by emotion or rage, then this place would never be dangerous. Think of this place, you are like it and unlike it."

Odric felt a strange sense of understanding at the contradictive statement, he is like it in that his emotions will cause destruction, but he is unlike it because, if he learns to be calm, peaceful, then this place will be nothing like him. "I think I understand, father."

Ander couldn't help but feel proud, it was also a bit funny that despite being told not to speak, his son spoke, but he would let it go. "Good, Now son, Go back to that feeling, the raging river and the calm pond, The sliding land and the still ground, tell me, what do you feel." Ander was very concerned at this point but, controlled his emotions to allow his son the freedom. He wanted to know what path his son's feelings would take him. "Stretch out, what do you feel." Ander said again, bringing his son closer to a reply. Odric's eyes remained closed and he was almost entranced, feeling the ground underneath him, the air and breeze, he could feel so much just by breathing like this, the river and the pond, the land and the ground. "They are the same, but different, all part of the same thing..." . Ander could sense some struggle in his sons understanding and so, guided him further into his reach. "And inside it, and around it, and through it, not a thing, stretch out and search your feelings."

Odric felt a sense of clarity, inside them, inside everything, around everything, through everything, one with everything... "A force..." he said, his father smiling but with some shame on his face. "Yes, Now close it out, push that force out, let it leave you completely." Ander said, trying to get his son to cut himself off. Odric's understanding, this feeling felt, like it should have always been there and then his father, 'what, push it out!'. Odric immediately snapped out of it, looking at his father with anger again but this time he controlled it. "What, Why! Why am must I push the force out of my life!" Odric said standing up, walking over to his father ready to shove him but, remembering the cup, did not. "Because you aren't ready for it son, Because it will destroy you if you let it, and I can't let that happen."

Odric stared at his Dad, rage building up but, pushed back again by self-control. "No, I'm going to be a Jedi, a better one than you ever were!!" His hurtful words stung his father as he ran off, Ander just looked down at the ground, thinking. Odric had run most of the way to his families home, he didn't want to see the face of his father or his mother. Odric decided at that time to run off, to go somewhere he could hide, somewhere he could think, somewhere he could make sense of things.

Odric had initially gone to his friend's house but, their mother turned him away at this time of the morning. With his thoughts causing a storm in his head, Odric headed towards a park and sat, leaning against a tree as he pondered what everything meant. Ander had made his way back home to his wife and is just now opening the door.​

"Where's Odric?" Wa'ra said looking worrisome, having been up ever since Odric left with her husband in the morning, sitting on the lounge chair. "He isn't home already?" he sighed, breathing in through his nose, out through his mouth. "He'll be back, He needs his ID to go to the transport terminal if he wants to run away." Ander said with a low tone, a voice that showed both frustration and anger at himself. "What? Why would he run away, ... What happened?" his wife said with a dissatisfied expression. "I helped him to feel the force." Ander said, not wanting to say what happened next.

"And then?" Wa'ra, with a desperate inquiry. "And then I asked him to cut himself off from it"

Ander looked ashamed, defeated, opening himself back up to the force had left him prey to all of his emotions and it had been so long since he was in tune with it, he could feel the conflict within himself. Wa'ra got up, walked over to an old chest of drawers and pulled a drawer open, from it she took a wrapped item, cylindrical in shape. She closed the drawer approached Ander, holding it out for him as he stood in the doorway. "Take it, I don't care about your old order, I care about our son and right now he's lost." His eyes on the cloth wrapping, knowing full well what it was. "Take it." she said one more time while inching it closer, a mother and father who cared for their son, he took it in hand.

She stood back and watched as he unwrapped it, the shine of its outer casing, the emitter at its top, the weapon of a Jedi, Ander's lightsaber. Holding it in his hand Ander felt nostalgic, activating it he could feel a connection with it again as the light blue energy ignited from its top creating the saber. It hummed as he held it, that very hum louder and faster as he moved it from side to side smoothly, left to right. He de-activated it and then looked at his wife, opening the door and closing it behind him.

Ander searched for a while, Tracking his son through the force, feeling the conflict inside his son now that his own conflict was calm. He approached the park, lightsaber tethered to his belt as he walked across the grass of the park, "Son." he said warmly, approaching his son with a smile, eager to see the happy face of Odric when he would tell him that he'd train him to be a Jedi. That...is when it all changed, for something dark had come to show true despair, Ander stopped and started to think, sense, feel...

 

[Jabhar Darnor]

As Jabhar Darnor stepped from the spaceport, he pulled his hood up and over his head to better hide his face. Anonymity was key with what he was attempting to do, especially on a planet as highly populated as Corellia. But with all of the people that would be around, he also could not risk wearing his mask. It would draw a great deal of unwanted attention, and for this mission to be successful, he would have to appear like any other traveler. It was for that reason that the Exile Templar found himself striding toward a transit service wearing only his dark tunic and robes; no armor was on his body for fear of alerting authorities. His lightsaber was tucked within the sleeve of his robe, and he prayed that he would not have to pass through any kind of checkpoints where he was going. “Take me to Bela Vistal,” he mumbled to the droid that was piloting the transit speeder. He then leaned back in his seat and waited to arrive, each moment that passed adding to the anticipation that was building within him.


The trip was not a very long one, which Jabhar was thankful for. He knew that the longer he spent on the planet surface, the higher the chance there was that he would have to fight his way out. Not that he did not relish the chance to crush his enemies, but operating this close to the core was dangerous, not only for him, but for any other Exiles that may be around. The last thing that they needed was to be further divided; their low numbers were a detriment enough to the effort against the Jedi Order, and infighting would only make things worse. If the other sects found out that a Templar upset the governments of the Core Words…well he would not have a easy time dealing with the repercussions. And so, with his hood pulled up and his robes around his body, Jabhar made his way to what was apparently the home of his target: Ander Arriston. As he approached, he knocked lightly on the front door.

“Hello,” he called out to anyone who may be able to hear him inside of the home. “I’m here to speak with Ander Arriston. Is he here?” There was no response for a moment or two, and despite his better judgement Jabhar began to think of blowing the door down and storming in. Fortunately, before the impulse could take over him, he heard a woman call out back to him. “I’ll be down in a minute.” The Exile let sound a slight sigh of relief as he heard footsteps approach the other side of the door. The mechanical whoosh of the door sliding open was a satisfying one, and as he looked up, Jabhar found himself face to face with a woman he had not seen in the former Jedi’s file. “Greetings,” Jabhar said, giving a slight bow to the woman. “I’m looking for Ander. Is he home right now?” The woman looked back to him curiously, her eyes moving up and down his body as she obviously sized him up. “No I…I’m afraid that he is not here right now. Can I take a message for him?” Jabhar glanced at the ground for a moment, weighing his options. The woman was clearly suspicious of him, and even if she did not know exactly where he was, she most likely had some idea of where he might be. He shook his head for a moment, knowing that he could not wait around for the Jedi to return. He had to move, and get off of this planet as soon as possible.

As he glanced back up to the woman, the hate in his eyes must have been evident. She took one step back before Jabhar raised his hand, throwing her with the Force into the wall behind her. As he held her there, he stepped into the building and shut the door behind him before throwing her across the room into a table. “You need to tell me where he is right now.” He stepped forward into the house, staying on the opposite end of the room as the woman; he knew she could not escape him. She panted as she crawled backwards across the floor until she his a wall. “I will never tell you where he his. He will be far away before you can ever hurt him.” Shaking his head, Jabhar strode further into the room and pulled out his small vibro dagger. “I think you will find that you, my dear, are mistaken.”

A FEW MINUTES LATER

Jabhar was sure to clean and sheath his dagger before he exited the building, destroying the locking mechanism as he stepped out to buy himself some more time. As it turned out, she actually did not know where the man was, only that he was trying to find his son somewhere nearby. With that knowledge in mind, Jabhar closed his eyes, channeling his rage and hate toward the Jedi into his senses, and reaching out and searching for the beacon of peace that he expected to find. It was not long before he did find such a beacon of calm, but it was the sensation that was near to the Jedi that eh found far more interested. The pulsing sense of conflict that emanated from another being, the Jedi’s son perhaps? Jabhar smiled as he began heading in the direction of the Jedi that he had been waiting to kill for some time.


As he arrived at the park, Jabhar could not help but be slightly disappointed by the venue of their meeting. Not too far off from him he could see the Jedi striding toward a boy sitting against a tree. But the area was open, and a lightsaber battle in a place like this would be less than ideal. A bold approach would be the only one that could work here. Stepping into the park area as well, Jabhar closed the distance between the himself and the Jedi before he could reach his son. “Ander Arriston,” Jabhar said to the man’s back, loud enough to sound forceful but quiet enough that only he and maybe the boy could hear him. “We are going to leave this park and move to a less populated location, or these bystanders will not survive. Do you understand me?” He paused for a momet before adding, “Oh, and the boy is coming too.”

 

[Odric Arriston]

And now, their fateful meeting ​

Ander fell to one knee, his hand coming up to cover his face as he felt a dark presence. Had he not been trying to sense the conflict within his son to locate him he wouldn't have noticed it... the dark side. "Son, You need to wait at your friends hou-" He was saying but, the feeling of his wife not being there, she'd been killed, it was almost enough to bring Ander to tears. "...Wa'ra..." Ander said quietly, Odric began to stand up at the tree seeing his father act strangely, approaching him with not just caution but some desperation, a desperation to help despite his own inner turmoil. "What's wrong dad, are you okay?" Ander stood up, standing tall as his lightsaber flicked off his hip and into his right hand. "Odric, you should go to your friend's house now." Ander said while turning around to face the man with dark emanating from him, having sensed him all the way to their location. "You..."

Ander had; had problems in the past with those who followed the dark path, he himself threw away the force instead of being part of their corrupted views. Ander knew he should have just fought him in this park despite their being bystanders, ultimately it would save his son and it would most likely save him with the help of law enforcement. Odric was lost in confusion and worry as the man in the dark cloak arrived, still stood there in trance at the enemies presence. "No he is not, ODRIC NOW!, GO!" He yelled, Ander's eyes grew to express an emotion that he didn't think possible, hate towards the dark Jedi. Odric was shocked where he stood, "Yes... Ok" walking around his father with every intention of going to his friend's house, but something weighed on him. "Let the boy go and I'll come with you, this is between us... And you know why." Ander started walking around the exile, keeping himself between his son and his enemy, like a shield.

"Don't even think about it. There is an abandoned field that way, You walk there and I'll follow. I won't involve anyone else... This is my battle." Ander was hoping that his words would convince the Dark one, lightsaber in hand you could tell Ander was serious.

 

[Jabhar Darnor]

Weakness…

Jabhar could feel it the moment the Jedi crumpled down to one knee. It was pathetic. This man who was supposedly one of the most talented knights once upon a time, now cowered before the might of the Dark Side. As the boy began to approach, Jabhar could see a new resolve enter the shell of a Jedi that was before him. The need to protect the boy was equally as pathetic. Though the way his eyes leered toward the Exile showed that there might truly be a flicker of power in this man. There was a hate in his eyes born from the loss of his wife who Jabhar knew without a doubt Ander knew was dead. As he shouted his retort to the Templar’s command, lightsaber in hand, Jabhar could not help but let a smile cross his face.

The boy was being protected by the father, and because of that and the public venue, Jabhar knew that he could not actually follow through with his threat. It mattered little though. The conflict in the boy was like a lighthouse shining brightly in the Force. Jabhar would find him after he had dealt with the father. “Very well, Jedi. Though I know now why you shed that title so long ago. I can see it, the hate that is boiling in your eyes and in your heart. Is it because of your wife? You should have known that being with her made her life dangerous.” With that, the Exile turned and began to make his way toward the field that the man had mentioned. He was not worried about an attack from behind. As angry as this man was, he most likely held some semblance of the Jedi honor that was instilled into the fools from the moment they began their training.

The walk to the field took longer than Jabhar had hoped. He was already ready, just in case he would have to pull out his own lightsaber to defend himself. But his assumption held true for the entirety of their journey to the abandoned field. Jabhar had to give the Jedi credit; nobody was around for miles. “And now we are truly alone.” He said slowly and quietly as he turned around to face the soon to be dead man. He continued to speak as he slowly began to shrug off his cloak, letting it fall onto the ground. “I have come here to kill you, for though you claim to be no Jedi, you are no true Exile. You will fall here and know, knowing with certainty that the Dark Side will consume not only the other Jedi, but your son as well.” With his cloak removed, his face could be seen; a lightsaber burn across his left eye and down his face showing clear evidence of the resolve that the man had.

With that, Jabhar reached across his body and lifted his lightsaber from his waist. He held it in his right hand and letting his shoulders loosen for a moment. “If you want to stand a chance, I would use that rage that I can see in your eyes. Perhaps then you will survive for more than mere moments.” The hum of the lightsaber igniting was crisp and clear. A crimson light that shone from the blade that was hungry for blood.

Jedi blood.

 

[Odric Arriston]

The rage that Ander felt, suppressed by the teachings he'd received all through his training in childhood, this man could not shake him. The mention of his wife just made his resolve that much more grounded, Ander could not allow this man to leave the planet alive. Odric had heard what the man said, looking back but choosing not to say anything and instead began a quick run towards the house that his friends resided at. Ander, during this time, following along behind the darkened exile gave him a nod or two here or there to show him the direction, slowly making their way through the suburban area towards an abandoned field.

DURING THEIR JOURNEY TO THE FIELD ​

Elsewhere while Odric's father and the stranger were going, Odric went to Minn's and Keer's, Knocking on the door heavily as he tried to get in. "Hello!, Please help me!" Odric pleaded while making a racket at the front door. Once again like the last time, his friend's mother opened the door but this time of the morning she looked angry, annoyed even. "I already disliked you but at this time of the morning I draw the line, Leave now and never see my children again you disgraceful troublemaker." Her door slid closed almost too quickly, Minn was upstairs having heard it all while Odric was trying to hold back the anger and tears. Minn, making sure not to wake up her brother began getting dressed in some warm clothes to follow Odric.

"FINE!... You-..." He trailed off, remembering what the stranger said about his mother. Odric ran home as fast as his legs could take him but it didn't take him long. Arriving at the door he tried to open it but it was broken, a few more times he tried before he went around back and climbed in through his bedroom window. He swung his door open and came down the stairs quickly, then, his eyes widened and his face showed horror. In that house, there was a scream, a yell or a cry, one couldn't really describe it as the pain that went through Odric at that time, was more than his heart could bear. His mother, her appearance, her lifeless body was all it took in this day to completely ruin his idea of how the universe works. An awakening of sorts to what he doesn't know.

FACE OFF ON THE FIELD​

Ander stared at the exile, the mention of them being alone and his talking seemed to take up the time. His talk of Jedi, Exiles, Rage, all of which to Ander seemed very pointless indeed considering they were about to kill one another. "Talk is meaningless, it became so when my wife was taken. Indeed I feel more lonely but right now I am not a Jedi, I am a father, I am a husband." The force, steadily growing with his emphasis on his emotion, his rusty control of the force being taken by his previous experience and his willingness to give himself over to it to maintain balance, the grass to turn straight near enough to his feet, the pull of it towards him. "You threaten my son..." The force continued to well up inside him, Ander was breathing in and out, focusing it. "You murder my wife..." His lightsaber ignited not even a moment after he spoke 'wife'. "You have broken my family." The lightsaber raised and he poised himself into a lightsaber form, Makashi, left hand rising as the lightsaber sits on his right side, that left hand gripping just below his right on the handle. "Only by ending you will I end the suffering."

With his stance complete and his right foot planting did the battle start, off in the distance he could feel Odric's anguish, blocking it out of his mind so as not to feel Odric or be distracted. With willpower hitting its precipice he would make sure this Exile would not twist his mind or grasp him, rushing in what can only be described as a crusade to destroy the dark Jedi.

Ander rushed forwards, closing the distance of around five meters before making use of his studies on the contentious opportunity. Targeting the least defended area of his enemy, from Ander's right he swung his lightsaber of the blue chrome down and then up towards the mid-region of the Exile's left side. His right leg behind him grounding and hie left elbow raised in order to use the Makashi duelling style effectively. The intention was to deal a deadly blow to his opponent's abdomen.

MEANWHILE​

Odric was angry, steeped in fury and lost to his grief. He stood up, fear for his father, anger at his mother's loss, right now as Ander charged on the Exile Odric was now set in his goal. Odric felt a rush of his emotions and rushed over to the door, each attempt at opening it lead him to lose his temper until he finally, with his emotions hitting their critical point, all he could think was 'Open!' with all his will, slamming his palm against the door which crumpled it and sends it forwards onto the ground. The force was strong in that movement, the doors very frame broke from the slide area and forced it to slide along the ground away from Odric. It was at this time, Odric began running towards the field that he knew his father was talking about, Minn had seen Odric in this state, electing to follow.

AND NOW, A DUEL OF SABERS​

 

[Jabhar Darnor]

With each word that left the Jedi’s lips, Jabhar could feel the anger building within him. Despite the control that the man thought he held, Jabhar knew that he would give in to those emotions before too long. Otherwise, Ander would be cut down in mere moments. His shaky control of the force was evidence enough of that. The man was breathing deeply, focusing the Force within him while Jahar simply stood still. His lightsaber was ignited and pointing toward the ground at a forty five degree angle; Jabhar was preparing his stance for the oncoming fight. Regardless of the way that this Jedi fought, Jabhar was in his element. He had been trained by his father to use Shien and Djem So, making him very effective against any groups of enemies that would come at him with blasters, or foolhardy Jedi that would confront him alone.

Ander’s lightsaber finally ignited, and Jabhar’s grin faded as he focused on the blue blade. His opponent raised it above his head in the Makashi form, an elegant way to duel, but far inferior to his own techniques in one on one combat. The battle would be over quickly, and Jabhar would be victorious. Then as suddenly as he had fallen silent, the Jedi rushed toward him, and closed the distance. Jabhar had to admit that he was impressed with the man’s speed, but it would be useless when he was off balance. As the blade of the Jedi’s lightsaber dropped toward him, Jabhar saw the direction change into an upswing toward his abdomen.

To counter, Jabhar lifted his lightsaber up, turning it toward the oncoming blade before smashing it down on the Jedi’s weapon with a great deal of force, intending to both block the strike while also putting Ander off balance. Then, he swung the up from the blocking position into a horizontal slash, intending to bisect the Jedi in one strike.

The battle had begun in earnest, and only one of the men would walk away from the field.

 

[Odric Arriston]

The clash of lightsabers could be felt by many who dare to meditate on it for no lightsaber battle would be as justified on planet Corellia, the failed strike from Ander only served to strengthen his resolve in finishing this battle. Ander may have been rusty but he was far from weak or unskilled, upon his lightsaber being knocked down and Jabhar using it to switch direction and swing horizontally at Ander. Ander's left hand at the lightsabers bottom, would rotate and push counter-clockwise, using the force caused by the exiles defence to create his own. The blue and red collided with one another, Ander's light in an arc swung up and around until it was facing down, parrying the exiles strike while Ander himself stepped to the left with his right foot.

After his parry, ricochet and swing clockwise up and down in an overhead strike to the exiles shoulder, the intent was to create an opening with the strike. Hawkbat's strike, Ataru form, when either blocked or parried, the following attack is to use natural body gravity and movement to readjust the lightsaber for a powerful thrust, a stab intended to impale the enemy. That is what would happen in this quick lightsaber motion, in the order of 'swing-strike'.

There was a well of emotion inside Ander's mind which he was quelling at this time, fighting off the anger, the rage and the suffering. Odric well on his way to this fighting field in a sprint while Ander was risking his life. Odric was so welled up with emotion he didn't even look back If he'd had he'd see that Minn was following not too far behind.

The force could feel this conflict, the early morning's wind started to pick up, with each swing of the lightsaber did it ready itself.

 

[Jabhar Darnor]

Jabhar had not felt the clashing of another lightsaber in some time. The Jedi and Exiles both had been so scattered for the past year that he had found himself slaughtering bounty hunters wanting to make a quick buck more tat fighting actual battles against real opponents who could present him with a proper challenge. The man before him had crumpled so easily with his mere presence at the park, but now it seemed that resolve had set in. No doubt the pain of losing his wife was causing true emotion and passion to well up within him. It was the only thing that made sense given his response to the Exile’s attack. The parry was well timed, and had Jabhar not practiced the art of lightsaber duels as much as he had, then he would not have expected the next attack.

The downward strike was easy enough for the Exile to block, recovering from the parry quickly thanks to his training. His blade was horizontal above him as the blue lightsaber descended from above and clashed against his own crimson weapon. The flash of energy was beautiful to Jabhar, and only furthered his love for the battle. Ander readjusted his body, allowing gravity to assist him and switching his lightsaber form in an instant. Jabhar recognized the Ataru form, though it was one that he had not encountered many times. But even so, as his opponent’s blade shifted in the air and move to strike him in the abdomen, Jabhar reacted. He quickly stepped back with his left foot and twisted his body, causing the blade to miss him by mere inches, but presenting an opening against the Jedi. Moving with deadly purpose, Jabhar reached up with his left hand so that both hands gripped the weapon, and swung as if swinging a baseball bat at Ander, aiming such that he would be bisected at about chest height.

The heat of the blade that had nearly missed him was a feeling he had not felt in a long time, and for the briefest of moments Jabhar wondered his he was out of his league here. But Jabhar was no foolish Jedi who would push those thought away. No; instead Jabhar used that doubt, molding it into the smallest bit of fear that pushed him on. He would not die here. He had a great deal of work to do before he could die; and molding this man’s son into a weapon of the Dark Side was just the first step in the process. This man would fall, just as the Exile had said before they began clashing. He would fall along with all of the Jedi that dared to stand against the Exiles that they had foolishly pushed away so long ago. He would show them their weakness here and now by cutting down this fool that thought he could walk away from what he was without consequences.

Jabhar could feel his hate welling within him with each passing moment. This battle would be over soon.

 

[Odric Arriston]

The strike of sabers as they collide, crimson hate versing the skies balance, nothing could be so noble. The strike that Ander had made held true, detach and strike again only to miss by mere inches and as the swing of Jabhar's own lightsaber came upon him Ander fell back intentionally. Ander could feel the conflict within his foe, fear and repression, emotions clad in a box, fighting to get out and yet channelled into his battle against Ander. Ander, as he fell in a way, couldn't help but feel one with the force again, something he'd forgotten so long ago and yet, felt that it was right. It was like a freeze frame in that moment, Ander as his knees bent and his feet slid forward, normally one would just fall over but it felt as if in this very moment in time, Ander was falling into the force, surrounded by it, filled with it, taken by it.

As if slow motion, the rippling light of red travelled over him, past his face with the sparks and instability shimmering. The force, Ander used it to slide him forwards underneath the red lightsaber and after which his torso, lifted by that very force caused him to do a somersault. Ataru, a dangerous form that required fast-paced movements and acrobatics. As he somersaulted, his legs coming up into the air, the lightsaber of blue essence light, coming up, digging through the dirt and from Jabhar's angle would sweep uppercut towards his exposed back and shoulder. The force carried him and whether or not this strike would hit, Ander would land after the full front flip, swing his leg around and form the Ataru stance.

Odric had been running a while, having reached the abandoned area of fields he came up atop the hill and looked down at the fight. His father had just completed his feat of acrobatics but, while Odric didn't know it, his very presence would distract his father. "FATHER!". Odric was worried, welling with emotions he could not explain to the point where all he could do was cry out for his father. His mother had been killed, his father was in danger and most of all, the exile was the cause of all of it. Minn was catching up to Odric just as it was about to happen, the single event that would change Odric's life forever.

Ander became distracted, tied so strongly to the force one moment, in the state of prime but forcibly removed by his own heart, Ander's eyes shot to look at Odric. In disbelief, he was overcome by his fears, the thought that his son too, would fall victim to this exile overwhelmed him. "No.. ODRIC! GET AWAY NOW!" And in this, a brief moment where he was bare, vulnerable, exploitable and above all, weak. The force could not help Ander as he lowered his lightsaber unintentionally and, like another freeze frame, Odric could only watch as the worst was about to happen.

 

[Jabhar Darnor]

Or the briefest of moments, Jabhar was convinced that the battle was over. His blade was moving so quickly though the air toward his adversary that he was sure there was nothing Ander could do to stop him. He could already feel a sense of pride and accomplishment welling up within him, knowing that he would be able to take his boy away and train him as his own apprentice. He had never had a student before, but his father had taught him well. Jabhar would mold the boy into an instrument of destruction for the Exiles, and he would slaughter Jedi by the dozens with ease someday. But it seemed that his mental celebration had come to the forefront of his mind too early.

With the grace that only a Jedi could muster, Jabhar watched angrily as Ander bent backwards and the red blade of Jabhar’s lightsaber passed over him harmlessly. Even as he dodged, the Jedi thrusted himself forward and spun around, bringing his own blue blade up aggressively toward the Exile’s back as he summersaulted away. Not to be outdone, Jabhar swing his own lightsaber over his back without looking, pointing it perpendicular to the ground and blocking the swing at him effectively before turning to face his opponent who had already dropped into the Ataru starting stance.

Jabhar inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to keep his composure even as he focused his rage into the Force that flowed through him. He was done with this duel of blades, and the call that he heard from nearby was all he needed to take out his adversary. With his son now entering the field, Ander clearly lost his focus and let it show when he lowered his weapon ever so slightly. Not waiting to allow him to recover, Jabhar reached out with the Force aggressively, thrusting out at Ander in an attempt to send him flying onto his back which he would follow up with by pinning him where he landed. As he did so, he shouted out to the soon to be dead Jedi, stepping forward slowly, his lightsaber still drawn.

“And so, the great Ander Arristan falls before the might of the Dark Side of the Force. Know this, Jedi; as I said before, your son will be my apprentice. And he will slaughter Jedi like you all over the galaxy. You know it to be true. You feel his rage and anger, even now as I cut you down.” With that, he turned to face the boy that was looking on, the conflict within him clearly showing on his face. “Isn’t that right boy? You hate me, do you not? You wish to kill me here and now for what I did to your mother, and for what I am about to do to you?”

 

[Odric Arriston]

THE FINAL CONCLUSION ​

Odric stared, at this... foul person!. Ander had finally understood what that Jedi Master said all those years ago, having a family would not grant him happiness forever. As the force that he so trusted in sent him flying back, he could feel his chest winded, the air leaving his body in a gasping breathe and his lightsaber flying off not too far away. Ander still had plenty of fight in him but alas, Jabhar had pinned him with that very same force. Ander was trying to resist it, his mental power and focus being drained by the words that Jabhar used. He was telling the truth though, he'd felt the rage inside his son ever since the cup hit the ground and it was that very doubt that was preventing him from fighting off this force attack. "NO!"

Ander was frustrated, everything was being pulled down in front of him and all he could think about was his wife, the Jedi in the galaxy, his son, coming to an intrusive conclusion that, he'd failed. He couldn't fail though, Ander had to fight back, Odric's new call gave him some hope to do so. "FATHER! Odric ran down onto the field, behind him Minn had caught up and yelled to Odric as she saw the scene playing out in front of her "Odric don't!" In this moment, Ander knew, his son would indeed turn to the dark if he was to die here and with his emotions, as they were would inevitably end in his death today. But, as if clarity Ander knew of a way to help his son, to give him a fighting chance, Odric could almost hear it in his head as Ander now began to ignore Jabhar.
Serenity washed over him, as if it was part of the plan, if he was to die, he would die watching his son take up a lightsaber and fight. It was a selfish thought, yes, but he wanted to fool himself in that moment, with what little resistance he could muster against the force holding him down he wanted to see his son fight this man as a Jedi. Part of him wanted Odric to run but Ander Arriston was smart enough to know his son wouldn't. The force gathered and Odric knew to open his hand, the lightsaber, Ander's, flew over to Odric as Ander smiled.

Ander mouthed words as his arm reached out to Odric, an open palm and a smile on his face, only a Jedi could find peace in this moment, he mouthed the word 'Son'. Odric wanted to catch the lightsaber, his eyes fixed on it in distraction as it flew his way, seeing past it at his father it was like a slow moment. Jabhar's words dug deep, deeper than any blade and he was right, Odric did hate him, this lightsaber was a tool for him to kill the exile. Odric didn't know it but his father didn't want his son to fall that low, but, Odric believed his father wanted revenge just as he did.

And then it was, the story-like moment where everything came together.

 

[Jabhar Darnor]

All of the pieces were falling into place. The pain of Ander’s shout mixed with the anger and frustration of his son calling out in defiance was like music to the Exile’s ears. And as if to add to the already perfect situation, Jabhar noticed a young girl run up behind Odric, calling out for him to stop, begging him not to run headlong into his death. Little did she know that he would not be dying today. As he turned back to the Jedi, now only a few feet before him, he saw something that confused him. Ander’s face had been taken with a serenity and peace that he had only seen a couple of times before, on the faces of Jedi that he had watched his father kill. It was odd to Jabhar, for the man to be at peace knowing what was about to happen. “Foolish man. It is pathetic to see you smile wen you are about to-“

Jabhar did not finish his sentence. He was interrupted by the sight in his peripheral vision of the Jedi’s lightsaber flying toward his son, who caught it. For a moment, Jabhar was confused, but let out a short laugh when he saw the hilt in the hands of the boy who had clearly never held one before. “I hope your son is not as foolish as you. That way he won’t die here and now, as you are about to.” With no more words to say, Jabhar raised his blade in anger and cut down into Ander, slicing from his left shoulder down across his body to his right hip, severing everything inside of him in the process. The Jedi was dead, but now he had one last problem to deal with.

The man heard the blue blade ignite once again as he turned toward the boy, binging his own crimson saber up to meet Odric’s in a clash which he held. If he so desired, he could kill the boy then and there; but Jabhar had plans for the child. Holding his blade in place to stop the swing, Jabhar leaned in and smiled. “And now, Odric, you are truly alone. Your mother has been murdered, and your father has been slain at the hand of the Dark Side of the Force. You stand here, defiant with hate, but weak nonetheless.” He paused here, leaning in closer as he began to whisper to the boy who could not move lest he be killed. “You want to kill me, but you can’t now. You do not know how to focus your emotions. But I will show you Odric. Soon, you will be able to control that power you have been born with. The Force is a weapon. I will show you how to wield it!”

With that, he pushed back on Odric’s blade, sending him off balance before raising his left hand and pulling the girl on the toward them, holding her aloft between the duo. “Now, you will drop that blade and you will come with me. Otherwise, your friend here will die.”

 

[Odric Arriston]

Ander was bidding farewell to it all, he would soon meet his wife Wa'ra, he would become one with the force and return to the source of it all. A cringe of pain as the lightsaber went through him like a knife through water, Ander's face showed little signs of pain but as the light began to fade he caught one last image, one that would help him die happy, his son igniting the lightsaber, he looked like a Jedi...'fade from view', his eyes closed, his smile there, his body... still.

Odric indeed caught the lightsaber, his hands gripped it tightly using the experience his father taught him. "You... I'LL KILL YOU!" , Odric couldn't care less at this point if he was truly alone or not, reminding him of his mothers and fathers death only served to increase his anger. The Exile would feel it though, the rage that had built up in Odric was no mere rage, it was almost judgement. Odric leapt forwards, a descending strike as the lightsaber he held clashed with that of the exiles, red and blue once again in argument. "Shut up! I AM NOT WEAK!". He pushed all of his anger, strength and more, the force pushing and welling up in an overflow as he pressed against the lightsaber. Odric knew if he backed down and pulled his lightsaber back, the skill and speed of this person would defeat him... But he didn't care about that... Right now, Odric just wanted him dead! 'DIE, DIE, DIE!' was all that swelled in his head, completely forgetting about the presence of Minn who was shocked at the sight she saw.

Minn had tears in her eyes and a frightened for her life expression, she wanted to help Odric but she was paralyzed, frozen in fear. The Exile went on about weakness, power, the force as a weapon, the exile saying his name as if permitted just served to anger the boy. "SHUT UUUP!" He yelled before he was sent back, raising the lightsaber again to battle, Minn was in front of him now though and just as he was about to take a swing, the sight of her in that moment shocked him, stopping in his movements. "You... Bastard.."

He deactivated the lightsaber, dropping it on the ground and waited for the exile to release Minn, Odric eyes fixed on her, he couldn't let her die too. "Now let her go..." he said in demand, Odric's movement was naive but hesitant, all his anger and emotions right now was telling him to cut through her to get to him, in that way, the exile was right. Odric was weak, it was his the love of his mother that drew Odric and Ander here without help, It was Ander's care for Odric that resulted in him being defeated and lastly, It was Odric's care for Minn that stopped him from fighting now... His eyes glazed with rage.

 

[Jabhar Darnor]

Jabhar’s shoulder’s visibly relaxed when the boy deactivated his lightsaber; for a moment he thought he would have to slaughter the boy too. He would not have minded too much, but the boy would be more useful alive than dead. The chrome hilt dropped to the ground, and the Exile wasted no time tossing the young girl aside with disdain. She bounced across the dirt for a moment before coming to rest. He then pulled the blue lightsaber to him and deactivated his own as he stepped forward to Odric. “You see boy? I can keep my word if I so choose.” Those would be the last words that the young boy heard before Jabhar punched him in the head, knocking him out. He dropped to the ground, and Jabhar left him there to go pick up his robe from where he had dropped it early.

He was slightly annoyed by the whimpering that was coming from the girl as he took hos robe and obscured his face once again. “Quiet girl.” He said forcefully, staring her down for a moment. “Know this, one day Odric will return for you, of that I have no doubt. But when you see him next, he will not be the weak boy that let you get hurt today. He will be far stronger, trust me.” With that, he turned his back on the girl and walked over to the boy’s limp form. Sighing, he picked him up and threw him over his shoulder before turning toward the spaceport. The boy would make getting onto a vessel a little more difficult, but nevertheless, he had to make it out of the system as soon as possible. The Core systems were a little too populated for his taste, and now he had an apprentice to train.

Yes, Jabhar’s plans had just changed, but in that moment as he strode toward the spaceport, leaving the body of yet another slain Jedi in his wake and with a new weapon slung over his shoulder, he was sur eit had changed for the better…

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