Destiny Eclipse/Chapter XII

--6 ABY – 3 Months After Xander is accepted into the Order--

Jedi Temple – Sparring Chambers
Xander concentrated on the glow of his lightsaber, the sweat on his face gleaming, as he struggled to remain upright. Vikro watched him from four paces away, his breathing still regular, and no sign that he had spent the last hour duelling Xander.

Xander stumbled momentarily, pressing his back against the wall to take a deep breath. Suddenly, without warning, Vikro dove towards him, lightsaber pointed at Xander’s heart, the blue blade cutting through the air viciously.

Xander ducked under the blade, weaving so that he ended up behind Vikro’s back, and swung hard at Vikro’s unprotected skull. Vikro whirled, disarming Xander in an instant, and tapping him gently on the neck with his blade to signify the end of the duel.

“Very impressive,” Vikro said, smiling, “For one who has just begun, you show great potential in the art of Ataru.”

“Thank you Master, I have been practising every night,” Xander said, smiling gratefully.

“Come, young one, I believe the Council has a mission for us,” Vikro said, motioning to the door to the sparring chambers. Xander summoned his lightsaber back to him, and clipped it to his belt, the lightsaber staying a moment longer than would be usual in Xander’s left arm, and Xander felt a twinge of sadness as he was again reminded of the disaster on Lorta, and what had led to his left arm being severed by a Sith.

All around the pair, other students parried with their Masters. Here and there, Nautolans trained with Kel Dors, Devaronians with Mon Calamari, the variation in species in the Temple brought about a sense of peace and tranquillity, everyone knowing that their place in the Jedi Temple was assured.

The doors to the Council chambers hissed open, and Abba stopped speaking. Xander had a sinking feeling they had been talking about him, and from the looks many of them were giving him, it didn’t seem to have been about anything good.

“Xander, we have watched your progress over the last two months, and are quite pleased with how you are adapting to this change in your environment. However, some grave concerns about your... family... have been brought before us that needs to be addressed,” Rive said.

“What do you mean?” Xander asked with confusion, “My Mother was a Jedi Knight, my Grand Father a Jedi Master, the Force-“

“Yes, that’s the problem,” Koras interjected smoothly, “You don’t know your family history very well, do you?”

“Well, no, not really,” Xander admitted, gazing at his shoes, partially embarrassed that they seemed to know more about his family than he did.

“Quinlan Vos was a great Jedi Master in the times of the Clone Wars. Early in the conflict, he was sent into Count Dooku’s forces as a Double Agent for the Jedi Council. However, to prove his loyalty, he had to commit terrible acts, and in dark moments the Coruscanti Council believed he had become a Triple Agent. Towards the end of the war, Quinlan seemed to embrace the dark all together, cutting off all ties with the Jedi, and siding with Dooku. Only at the very end, in the dying months of the war, did he assume his correct place on the Jedi side,” Abba said.

Xander opened his mouth, as if to speak, and then closed it again, unsure of what to say. He had never known that his Grand Father had, at one point been a... a... Dark Jedi. The Council had always reacted to the news that he was Quinlan Vos’ grandson with great surprise, yes, but excitement as well.

“What does this mean?” He ventured forth.

“We are sending you and Vikro on a mission. It seems a new General has taken command of the Sith Forces, a General Revenous. Recent reports have suggested he has attacked Naboo, and indeed our communications to the planet have been lost. We need you and Vikro to travel there and assuage the situation,” Shatterpoint said.

Vikro stepped forward, speaking for the first time, “What if the Sith forces are still on the planet? It could prove quite dangerous. It is Xander’s first mission, and to expose him to such danger could be quite... well... dangerous.”

“The Council has made its decision. Whilst reports indicate there was an attack on Naboo, no information suggests the Sith remained on planet. These are grave times,” Rive said, leaning forward in his chair, “The Sith have attacked several planets in the Outer and Inner Rims, and before long they could attack Bakura itself. The Dark Side clouds their ambitions. Tread carefully, and may the Force be with you.”

“And you,” Xander and Vikro said simultaneously, bowing, and turning, and leaving the room.

Jedi Temple - Padawan Quarters
“So it's some kind of big mission, huh?” Lyn asked as he watched Xander hastily stuff belongings into his bag.

“That’s all they said. Naboo has been attacked by the Sith, and we have to check for survivors and help people get back on their feet. The Council doesn’t believe the Sith will still be there, but Vikro has his own opinion on the matter,” Xander said, pulling on his boots.

“I wish I could go with you,” Lyn sighed despondently, “The most fun Kavar and I have had is checking on some locals who had trouble with a speeder.”

Xander laughed, “Don’t worry, I’m sure your time will come. In fact, they probably only gave us this mission because of my status, if you know what I mean.”

Lyn nodded. Word had spread like wildfire around the Temple that the Grand-Son of Quinlan Vos was being trained by Vikro, who was somewhat of a hero amongst the Padawans. Rumours of his past adventures were whispered furtively over lunches, and, amongst the more far-fetched of them, people claimed he had died twice only to rise from the dead. Xander had quickly become initiated in Padawan customs, making many friends with Lyn’s help, ranging from Krasin Lyell, to Urwen, who he had much of from Lyn, who had bunked with him before his promotion.

“Well, anyway, I hope you make it back in one piece, I don’t want to feel like I’ve been here so long – having had to have gone through at least three room-mates,” Lyn said grinning.

“I’ll try and keep that in mind,” Xander said, rising and clapping Lyn on the back. Over the last couple of months, he had formed a bond of sorts with Lyn. Nothing that could ever replace what he and Jysek had shared, but still, something that he would enjoy getting used to. The two had talked quite a bit, and Lyn had helped Xander learn his way around the Temple, and to get to know everyone.

But now his childhood had ended, and Xander Vos would become a man.

Naboo – Keren Destroyed Starport
“The entire town has been destroyed, barely anyone survived,” Xander said, to Vikro, shaken at the sight. The two Jedi had landed in Keren to find a blazing trail of destruction. Men, women and children lay slaughtered, the typical lightsaber marks marking the work of Sith. “This used to be beautiful, the city stretching into the horizon, the sun would glisten as it struck the dewy grass on the plains, and the waterfall was a beautiful symphony of nature,” Xander said with sadness, gazing at the city now, chunks of the ground blown away by orbital bombardment, and much of the hills collapsed.

“You’ve been here before?” Vikro asked, surprised.

“Yes, Master I came here when I-“ Xander broke off, his eyes widening in realisation. “No!” He turned, and sprinted in the direction of the mountain range, putting on a burst of speed aided by the Force.

“Xander, wait!” Vikro roared, turning and chasing after him, but Xander already had a sizeable lead, and was much faster naturally than Vikro let alone with the Force.

Naboo – Keren Mountains
Xander stood in the entrance to his Grand-Mother’s grave, speechless to the atrocities he saw. The grave was all but destroyed, lightsaber carvings had sliced through the cave walls, collapsing the back of the cave. It stank of urine, and Xander reeled in disgust at other atrocities the Sith had committed that he would not name.

“No!” He shouted, furious at the Sith, and for what they had done. He drew his lightsaber, igniting it and swinging it madly into a tree on the outcrop of the mountain, just out side the cave. The tree gave way, tumbling over the edge and into the smoggy depths below.

“Xander?” Vikro asked, breathing heavily as he finally caught up to his Apprentice.

Xander whirled, lashing out at Vikro, unable to recognise him as an ally, only seeing red in his anger. Vikro countered, drawing his lightsaber and blocking Xander’s strike. In a swift move he disarmed his Apprentice, catching the deactivated lightsaber in his left hand, and putting both on his belt.

Xander launched himself at Vikro, battering the man’s chest with his fists, though doing no real damage. He begun to sob, his deep breaths racking his frame.

“Why?” he asked, sobbing into Vikro’s chest.

“Xander, you used the Dark Side, just as the Council believed you would, you must be careful. This is why the Old Republic took its Jedi Padawans at a young age, and didn’t allow attachments. You must learn to accept, and let go of your pain. Your Grand Mother died long ago, her bones are dust. All they have destroyed is material memories of her, when all that really matters is that you know that she has gone to the Force.”

Xander took a deep breath, and nodded, “You’re right Master. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do what I did, its just, I got so angry, and I needed to lash out, and there was this power, just waiting there, almost begging me to use it.”

“Never give in to that again,” Vikro said sharply, “That path leads to the Dark Side. It is quicker and easier than the path we traverse, but once you travel down it, you can never pull away.”