Star Wars: Red Dawn/story

The following are the chapters of Star Wars: Red Dawn.

Chapter 1- Little Trouble on Big Kashyyk
[Day: 24- Month: 9- Year: 36 ABY- Time: 0051]

Bryn Fulcron eased his way out of the hut, taking care not to wake any of his friends in adjacent tents. It was a beautiful night, and he was eager to join Lowbacca and the others in their hunt for the intruder.

They'd only been on Kashyyk for three days, and it was already one of Bryn's favorite planets. In his short time here, he'd journeyed to the Shadwlands with Lowie (earning distinction among the Wookiees for his fight with a deadly Tarentatek), visited Chewbacca and Anakin Solo's memorial, and become an informal memeber of the tribe.

And all this while still looking for Tarc Bryn thought smugly. Te ex-Jedi had been spotted, supposedly, on Kashyyk talking to a group of Trandoshan slavers. That, more than anything, was the reason Bryn wanted to go hunting tonight.

He met up with Lowie on a two-kilometer long platform that also served as an auxilary landing pad for the city of Rwookrrorro. The gallant Wookiee Jedi howled his greeting to Bryn, as did several other Wookiee hunters, whose names he hadn't gotten a chance to remember. Zekk, Valin and Doran were also there.

Valin and Doran exchanged nervous looks, and Bryn knew why. After the incident on Mandalore, they we beginning to wonder whether or not it was even possible to find Tarc Rethcoe.

"Lowie," Bryn called out to his friend. The Wookiee strode up to him slowly, nodding as he came. "How about we split into two groups. Valin, Doran and some of your men go off on a 'hunt', while you, me, Zekk and a few of your best men do the real fighting." The wookiee stood back, almost offended at Bryn's suggestion.

"No, no, listen," Bryn continued. "Valin and Doran are afraid. They need a morale boost. If Tarc is actually here, I don't want them to see what I do to him..."

Lowie growled something about that sort of talk not becoming of a Jedi, and Bryn replied.

"You know what he did to my family, what he did to Bryt. When I fight him, it won't be as a Jedi, it'll be as a man. YOu can't tell me you wouldn't do the same."

The Wookiee seemed to agree. He asked who should be split into the groups.

"We'll have three. I'll lead one, you'll lead one, and Zekk will lead one. That way it seems like we're covering all our bases, right?"

The Wookiee growled his assent. Soon after, Bryn stood to one side with two Wookiees, a big one whose name Bryn could hardly pronounce, and Fahraak, an older Wookiee who Lowie said had served in Galactic Civil War. Bryn nodded to both of them and was preparing to leave when a streak of blond hair hit him full in the chest, nearly knocking him over the precipice.

Tahiri had a devilish grin on her face, and a wild look in her eyes.

"How can you go fighting and not invite me, Bryn?" Bryn put his hand on the back of his head sheepishly.

"Well, you see, I-uhh, I didn't know you were awake, Tahiri." He wasn't a very good liar.

Tahiri put her hands on her hips, seeing through his bluff.

"You have to let me go, Bryn. With you, and your two friends here."

"Now wait a minute here, Tahiri, what makes you think I'm letting you go?"

Tahiri smiled at him smugly. "Because if you don't, I'll wake up Jaina and Bryt..."

Bryn threw his hands up in exasperation.

"No, no, no, no, let's not get hasty now! If you really want to go, then you'll have to keep up with me." Giving a small wink to Fahraark, Bryn leaped off the platform, the Wookiees right behind him. Tahiri ave a short gasp of surprise, and then followed them into the night...

Chapter 2- Duel In the Trees
[Day: 24- Month: 9- Year: 36 ABY- Time: 0123]

Bryn landed on the gigantic branch, finally stopping his descent. Fahraark landed next to him, amazingly graceful for his size. The other Wookiee landed a little less elegantly, nearly snapping the branch in two. Tahiri streaked down a few seconds later, panting heavily form the chase.

Bryn chuckled at her. She shot him a look that said something like "Jaina's still up there, you know." Bryn stopped laughing, and then got serious.

"All right, guys, there's an intruder somewhere in this area, and we're gonna find him. What I didn't tell you earlier was that this square mile was where he was spotted. Lowie made sure that I be the one who finds our little guest."

Most sentients would be a little perturbed that thier leader had withheld such pertinent information, but two Wookiees and Tahiri Veila weren't most sentients.

Tahiri immediately got serious, and Fahraark, who Bryn didn't think could get any more serious, got angry. The other Wookiee seemed happy, and BRyn felt sorry for anyone who wanted to get in his way.

"Here's the plan. I'll take the right side and make a ring around the entire area. I'm pretty sure it's me there after. You two will make a beeline for the middle, and then take duplicate routes through the remainder of area." He nodded at each Wookiee, who nodded back in turn. Then he turned to Tahiri.

"I'm sorry, you can't follow me, and I don't care if you tell Jaina. I need you to stay here, and secure our exit. I know it sounds boring, but look at the bright side."

Tahiri, arms crossed in defiance, didn't seem to care what the bright side was.

"You get to be the first one to react in casse I actually do find someone."

She grinned as Bryn backflipped off their branch, soaring downwards. Little did he know how true that statement would turn out to be...

-

Tahiri laid down on her back, staring up at the scant few stars that could be seen this far into the Kashyyk canopy. It really was peaceful here. A slight breeze blew a lock of her hair into her eyes. She batted it away. Wondering whether or not she would ever get to fight, she heard a Wookiee roar sear into the night.

She had no idea which one it was, just that it had been closer to were Bryn was than where she was.

He'll probably handle it.. she thought disparingly.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, Tahiri's comlink came alive with Bryn's voice.

"Not sure what it was, but it killed one of the Wookiees. I think he had an amphistaff. It's alright, Tahiri, stay there, I'll handle it."

As much as Tahiri had felt a jolt of excitement at the word amphistaff, she felt an equal amount of dissapointment at Bryn's comment.

"Of course you'll handle, Bryn dear, you always kriffing handle it." she brushed the hair out of her eyes again.

"And why is it SO WINDY!!!" she yelled uselessly into the darkness, until she heard the sound behind her.

It was a harsh, grating sound, one that almost sounded like...breathing.

"...H-hello?" Tahiri asked, turning to face whatever was behind her.

"Do-roik Vong Pratte!" it screamed at her, leaping out of the abyss. Tahiri screamed and threw up her arms in defense. The world went black...

-

Bryn felt Tahiri's fear almost before he heard her scream. He immediately turned towards the sound, activiating his comlink at the same time.

"Fahraark! Get back to position one, now!". He pocketed the comlink, activating his lightsaber at the same time. Bryn turned, running up the side of a giant worshyr tree.

After using the Force to balance himself, Bryn leaped straight upwards, landing a mere 10 or so meters from where he'd left Tahiri. He ran to her, finding her unconscious and alone. Her lightsaber was missing.

Using the Force, Bryn awoke his former lover, hoping she was alright. Her eyes fluttered open, still full wide frmo shock. She focused on his face, calming in a couple seconds.

"Bryn...what happened?" she asked him, accepting his hand to pull her up.

"No idea," he replied, still scanning the treetops for movement.

Forget one intruder, there could be a whole legion in these trees. he thought to himself.

While still contemplating whether or not to retreat, Bryn heard a snap-hiss and felt the lade of a ligthsaber pressed to his neck...

"Get up, Jeedai," a coarse, guttural voice spoke out. Bryn stood up slowly, eyes locked on this shadowy figure. He came into the light...

It was a Yuuzhan Vong, heavily scarred, lips curled in a menacing grin.

"My name is Luko Jamaane. I am Yuuzhan Vong." the alien continued to speak, cutting off Bryn or Tahiri when they tried to reply.

"You shamed my people, you Jeedai scum. I was once a respected warrior from the Jamaane caste. I was fourth in line to become warmaster, but you, you Jeedai had to ruin it all. you had to expose my uncle fro the fraud that he was..."

Tahiri gasped. "Your uncle...Shimrra?"

Luko grinned, a sham of a smile that brought a chill down Bryn's spine.

"Yes, shaped-Jeedai, the Supreme Overlord!"

Luko continued to tell of his exploits during the war, finally coming to rest on why he was here now.

"That's why, when the Rethcoe Jeedai apporached me, I was interested. He told me I could retain my honor. By killing you, Jeedai Fulcron."

Bryn's face hardened, his eyes burning holes in his new opponent.

"I am told you are a great warrior, one of the best of your kind. So am I. Fifty honor duels I have won, never having been knocked off my feet. So worthy am I in the eyes of the Gods, that I will fight you on your own terms. I will fight and kill you with your own Jeedai abomination, the lightsaber."

Bryn's eyes widened in shock, and then he withdrew his own ligthsaber, igniting it in an elaborate salute. He nodded to Tahiri, and then to Luko, who took a few steps backwards.

"Now we begin, Jeedai. We begin the end of your life!"

-

Tahiri backed away as the two opponents began to trade blows at each otehr with their lightsabers. The cobwebs were starting to clear in her head, and she began to wonder if Bryn could beat this savage Yuuzhan Vong warrior.

''I didn't even hear him coming..."

They moved closer towards each other, each re-adjusting his grip on his lightsaber. Bryn glancd over at Tahiri, and winked at her. Then, without warning, he flung his lightsaber high into the air. Startled, Luko took a pace back, eyes following the descending blade.

In the time it took for the Yuuzhan Vong's eyes todart upwards, Bryn pulled out his second saber, activated it, and swung it at his opponent's head. Amazingly, Jamaane was able to react and got Tahiri's yellow blade up in time.

Tahiri blinked as sparks descended from the clash of energy. Bryn raised his hand, calling his first lightsaber back to it. H eignited that blade as soon as it touched his palm. He then broke off the stalemate and saluted Jamaane again.

"Impressive," Bryn commented. "Most people wouldn't have even seen that coming." He nodded to Jamaane again, and Tahiri could tell that the Yuuzhan Vong warrior was shaken. He hadn't expected Bryn to be that fast.

They began to battle again, ligthsabers blurring in circles, never meeting for more than a split second. As far as Tahiri could tell, the Yuuzhan Vong was holding his own against Bryn, but she knew Bryn hadn't even broken a sweat yet.

One look at Luko Jamaane and Tahiri could see that he knew he had no chance at winning this fight.

''Then why is he still fighting. What is he waiting for?'' she felt the second Force presence almost too late. It was dark and twisted, filled with undbridled power, power on a scale she'd only felt once before...

"Nyax..." she whisepered under her breath, and then shook her head slowly.

''Irek Ismaren died on Coruscanr, and besides, this presence feels more...controlled. Like it's waiting for something.''

She tried to call out to Bryn in the Force, but one look from him told her he had felt the mysterious presence as well.

After a lull in the fighting, Bryn lowered his guard, ad began to speak.

"Why dont you tell your friend to reveal himself?".

Jamaane was taken back for a second, and then composed himself.

"Of course, Jeedai can use their Force to sense one another...Vey well, Jeedai, why don't you tell me where my friend is, and I'll let you fight him."

Bryn closed his eyes for a second, and then began to speak.

"I don't know where he is, but i know who he is, if he can truly be called a man." Bryn paused, and then began again slowly.

"His name is Kar Vastor. He is a refugee from the planet Horuun Kal, hi slast known whereabout. His was captured, alive, by the Jedi Master Mace Windu in 22 BBY. He escaped from the Jedi Temple during Darth Vader's purge three years later."

Jamaane seemed stunned. "How could you tell that much from him?" Tahiri seemed stunned as well.

Bryn laughed. "I can't read minds like that, you fool. I just know my history. Tell Kar Vastor that next time he wants to follow me, he should take better care to hide himself. I'd recognize that ugly mug anywhere, I loved listening to his story back at home."

As Bryn continued to laugh, the Force darkened with anger and embarrassment. Whoever this Kar Vastor was, he certainly wasn't very happy. Tahiri tried to get a pinpoint on his location, but he was very slippery. Then, all of sudden, she felt him...above her.

"Bryn, he's-", but before Tahiri could finish her scentence, a dark form crashed down through the underbrush, knocking Tahiri off her feet. She rolled up to her knees, taking a defensive stance.

She looked around, realizing that neither Bryn, Kar vastor, and the Yuuzhan Vong Luko Jamaane weren't on the platform. She glanced over the edge to see...

-

Bryn turned, blocking an awkward strike from Luko Jamaane. The Yuuzhan Vong Warrior then glanced off a worshyr tree, putting him into an uncontrollable spin.

Kar Vastor's attack had knocked the three of them off the platform, sending them plummeting down through the canopy.

Bryn felt Vastor behind him andflipped his lightsaber over his shoulder to intercept the blow. Vastor fought with specially enhanced vibro-shields, that could deflect ligthsabers.

The blow pushed Bryn to the right, giving him an opportunity to reach out for a vine. He grabbed it, put let go immediately to stop his shoulder from tearing. He only needed to slow himself down. About a hundred meters down, or so, Bryn oculd see the canopy come to and end at a large fern field, one taht would likely stop their descent.

He turned his body back around, finally coming face to face with the massive Vastor. The man was built like a tank, his aged face showing signs of wear. He was shirtless, and his eyes were dark with rage.

''Mace Windu must have been quite a Jedi to take this guy out..."

Vastor snarled before lashing out at Bryn again. Luckily for the Jedi, Vastor was obviously not used to fighting in mid-air, and missed badly.

Bryn, who was just as inexperienced in this kid of fighting, was able to succesfully parry only because of his better control of the Force and smaller size. He spun lazily with the parry, bringing his boot around to Vastor's face. He put all his effort into the strike, and Vastor didn't show a mark.

Yeah, Windu was quite a Jedi indeed...

Realizing the ferns were approaching quickly, Brny used the Force to slow himself and Jamaane down. The Yuuzhan Vong was misguided, and didn't deserve death...

Bryn hit the boughs hard, driving all the air out of his lungs. Vastor, somehow, landed on his feet, although quite sloppily. Jamaanefell screaming with a thud, obviously knocked out cold.

Bryn grasped at his chest, trying to regain his breath. It was no use, Kar Vastor was upon him now, an animalistic grin marring his already fearsome visage.

A small, blond streak slammed into Vastor's shoulders, driving him down into the leaves. Tahiri had followed them. Vastor growled in rage, plucking the young Jedi off his shoulders.

Small one... Bryn heard his voice growl through the Force. ''You shall pay for that. Pay in blood!''

He held Tahiri at arms length, massive hand clutched over her face. She struggled and moaned, trying to use the Force to free herself. Bryn still couldn't breathe. Vastor simply squezed harder, causing Tahiri to scream in pain.

Vastor pulled his other hand back, aiming the blade at Tahiri's throat, intent on removing her head from her body.

"NOOO!!!" Bryn bellowed, rising shakily to his feet. The Force crackled over his knuckles. Vastor grinned savagely at teh Jedi, using his free foot to deliver thunderous kick at Bryn's chest.

Bryn caught the massive man's foot in his hands, stunning the giant Vastor. Tahiri still struggled uselessly in his hand.

"You...don't...hurt...her..." Bryn said through gritted teeth. Rage began to build up in his soul...

He dropped Vastor's foot, and summoned up all the power he could, leaping at the larger's man's chest.

Vastor tried to pull Tahiri into the way of the strike, but Bryn used the Force to slam his arm back where it was. Kar's eyes widened in shock.

Bryn pulled his right arm back, forming it into a fist. He then slammed that fist into Vastor's chest.

The night around them exploded into color, as Bryn used the sheer power of the Force to punch a hole through Vastor's chest, releasing his hold on Tahiri and slamming him into the gorund, motionless.

Tahiri gasped for breath nest to Bryn, as he recovered himself and helped her to feet. There were red finger marks all around where he had held her. Her eyes were bulging in fear. She tried to say something, but Bryn shushed her and hefted her onto his shoulders. As he prepared to leave, Bryn saw, impossibly, Kar Vastor rise to his feet.

Bryn took a step back in horror.

No one could live through that! He ried to run, but Vastor used the Force to block him off, actually ripping off a peice of the nearest worshyr tree to impede the Jedi's path. He had them cornered, until...

A crude, Wookiee made spear flew through the night, burying itself in Vastor's shoulder. The man cried out in pain, spinning around to find his new attacker. Fahraark descended through the night, aiming his bowcaster at the massive Dark Jedi.

He began to fire, aiming all his shots at Vastor's head. The insane Dark Jedi used his vibro-shield to deflet them back at the Wookiee, a few finding purchase. The Wookiee howled in pain, crashing into the ferns.

Kar Vastor marched off, quite jittery, towards his new prey. Bryn, still hefting the stunned Tahiri on his shoulders, summoned up what little energy he still had, and unleashed it in the most powerful peal of Force Lightning he had ever, and would ever, unleash upon another being.

It hit Vastor square in the back, throwing him to his knees. The beastly Dark Jedi gritted through the pain, slwly rising back to his feet. After a few seconds, Bryn lowered his hand, sweat pouring off his brow. He was spent.

Kar Vastor wasn't. The mammoth of a man turned back around, once again focsuing on Bryn. Bryn fell to his knees, his vision already blurring. vastor got to within two meters, and then stopped, perhaps slently showing Bryn a measure of respect.

Whatever he did, it cost him his life. Fahraark had recoverd, and now stabbed vastor through the back with a Wookiee vibroblade. The Dark Jedi glanced down at the wound, sneering in pain. He began to turn around, trying to finsih the Wookiee once and for all. It appeared that even Kar Vastor had underestimated the strength of a Wookiee.

Fahraark hefted the massive man up off the ground, using nothing but pure strength to hurl Vastor off the edge, sending him down into the darkness...

As far as Bryn could tell, the next level was at least two miles down, a fall that hopefully, even Kar Vastor wouldn't survive.

Chapter 3- Neurotoxins
[Day: 28- Month: 9- Year: 36 ABY- Time: 1230]

After Fahraark had brought Bryn and Tahiri back up to Rwookrrorro (he left Luko Jamaane there to rot), the Jedi spent the rest of the day recovering (and getting a mouthful from Jaina).

The Crusaders headed to the obscure Imperial outpost known as Alion, which was on a list of planets Tarc Rethcoe had been known to visit. The Imperial Base (and only lading area) was dilapidated and ancient, with crumbling structures surrounding it. Bryn brought the Eye down slowly, fearful that the dilapidated lnading pad might give way. It was a long way down, for the pad was situated on the verge of a gigantic cliff.

Bryn gathered the Crusaders outside of the station, splitting them up into 4-man teams whom he ordered to search the entire base for clues to Rethcoe's whereabouts. After a short search, Bryn began to think that the trip was nothing more than a wild-bantha-chase. Before leaving, however, he decided to check one final room in the back of the facility. What awaited him was shocking.

The room was filled with dozens of the Empire's most heinous interrogtion devices. After searching through the room's databanks, Bryn found a single message. He activated it, taking a step backwards as he did. The message greeted him by name. Confused, Bryn called in the rest of the Crusaders. What he heard on that screen would make him wish he hadn't.

The message was from Tarc, and its contents told of a planet named Sleheyron, which was were Tarc was hiding. After that seemingly helpful tidbit, Tarc continued to inform the Crusaders of what he would do to them if the ever arrived.

"First, Fulcron, I will take your precious freinds, Veila, Solo, Zekk, Ramis and Horn, and I will trap them in a small cage. On the table will be an assortment of potions and toxins. If they dont drink them, they will be crushed by the room A.I. If they do....well I wouldn't want to be them, trust me."

After a short pause, Tarc continued. Bryn glanced at each of the Jedi Tarc had mentioned, seeing an blank, angered expression on each of their faces.

"As for your sister, Bryt, I will keep her for my own devices. See you soon...old friend". As the message faded out, Bryn decided that he would very much like to kill Tarc Rethcoe.

Calming himself down, he asked the rest of the group if they wanted to proceed with the plan. They all agreed.

"So be it, then," Bryn said.

"If Tarc wants to die, then I'll oblige him".

After a short pause, Bryn continued.

"If he doesn't...well, let's just hope he wants a quick death..."

Chapter 4- Lead a Horse to Water...
[Day: 4- Month: 10- Year: 36 ABY- Time: 1335]

Bryn blinked slowly, trying to calm his nerves before The Crusaders landed. He was far too anxious to get down there. He needed his head to be clear, he needed to be at full capacity, incase Tarc was actually down there.

There was the planet Sleheryon. It was a barren, volcaninc wasteland, but it had been known to be used as an emergency base for many different factions, most notably the Hutts. Bryn was pretty sure that Tarc wasn't on the planet, due to the fact that his former Padawan was adept at getting his enemies to go exactly where he wanted them to. Bryn knew he was more than likely leading The Crusaders into a trap. He just hoped it wasn't one that would cost them all their lives.

He looked to his right, noticing Jaina. She looked tired, but content at the same time. He knew that wherever he went, she would follow.

''I just wish she wouldn't though. This is my fight, she really doesn't need to be involved.''

Jaina noticed Bryn lokoing at her, and she gave him a smile. He tried to return it, but he could feel how fake it was on his face.

"Bryn, what is it?", his ever-perceptive sister asked him, coming to his side.

"Should we even be doing this?" he asked her bluntly, ready for the worst kind of response.

"Of course we should, dear. Tarc has to be stopped." She squeezed his arm or support.

"No..." Bryn shook his head, trying to re-phrase the question.

"Should you even be here. You, Tahiri, Bryt, Zekk, everyone. I think I should be doing this by myself. After all, it's my fault to begin with."

The look on Jaina's face turned hard.

"Bryn Fulcron, I love you, but if you ever, and I mean, ever say anything like that again, I will knock you from here to Coruscant." Bryn recoiled in surprise. He tried to reply, but she was on a roll now, backing him into a corner with her accusing finger.

"I would never think of letting you do this on your own. Never," her eyes pleaded with him.

"And as for everyone else. They volunteered to do this, Bryn. Maybe they shouln't be here, but they are. And it's for you. They trust you." Jaina stopped, her eyes returning to a kind, unaccusing state.

"But do you trust me?" Bryn asked quietly.

Jaina didn't even hesitate.

"Yes." she answered. She then embarced Bryn, letting him decide when to let go. She kissed his cheek firmly, and then gestured towards the red looking planet below.

"It's part of what being a leader is all about. You have to know your own limits."

Bryn sat for a few seconds, contemplating she had told him

Bryn then signaled to the rest of his Crusaders, no, his friends, to land on the planet. They were coming, whether Tarc was there or not. They had to...

Chapter 5- The Planet of the Dawn
[Day: 7- Month: 10- Year: 36 ABY- Time: 1802]

Bryn stepped out slowly as the landing ramp descended. He always had to come out first.

I guess it's a family trait. He thought slowly. He advanced towards the doorway in the distance quickly. If the Red Dawn didn't know they were here before, they do now, now that they had landed a dozen ships right outside their front door.

So much for subtelty Bryn thought.

The landing pad was situated in a small ravine, only a modest defense tower and the structure they were advancing on there to greet them. Bryn was by no means an expert, but it definitely had the look of a secret base to him. They would never had found it if it weren't for the coordinates Tarc had given them on Alion.

Bryn paused at the entrance to the facility, wondering why the Dawn hadn't shown themselves yet.

''They know we're here. Why don't they come out. I hate slinking around like this...''

Almost as if they had heard his thoughts, a dozen DawnBringers leaped down from the scaffolds of the facitily, landing in a circle around Bryn.

"You are not authorized to be here, Jedi." one said in an ultra-masculine voice. It approached him slowly, vibro-staff at the ready.

"Oh really?" Bryn replied, using the Force to heft the droid off the ground.

"Tell me something I don't know," Bryn grunted, flinging the droid into the wall, its torso caving in from the pressure. The Dawnbringer fell to the floor, smoldering. The other eleven droids all brandished their weapons, their "eyes" turning a nasty shade of red.

Bryn activated both of his lightsabers. As soon as he did, he heard Jaina call out to him.

"Bryn! It's a trap. There's too many!"

Bryn turned towards her voice, realizing his folly. The valley was filled with DawnBringers, their numbers probably in the hundreds, if not thousands.

Bryn shouted out to the rest of The Crusaders. "We can't beat them here. Not like this. Get back to the ships!"

Most of The Crusaders did as he commanded, reaching their ships before the advancing droids could get to them. The few droids that did, were cut down or similarly dismembered. Seven ships lifted off and blasted off the planet, escaping with ease since Sleheryon boasted no planetary defenses to speak of.

Bryn turned back towards the onrushing droids, intent on destroying as many as he could. This was his fight.

Doran Tainer tried to grab his friend by the shoulder and steer him onto the Eye, but Bryn used the Force to throw the larger man backwards, bellowing at him to leave. So Doran did. Without looking back, the Jedi left Sleheryon.

Bryn saluted the onrushing droids, knowing that Jaina was still behind him. He chanced a glance, one that revealed to him that Zekk, Tahiri, Bryt and Octa Ramis had joined her, forming a defensive wall between the droids and their ships.

"Go!!!" Bryn bellowed, trying the same trick he had on Doran, to no avail. Jaina used the Force as a counter-measure, throwing her husband to the ground.

"Don't you ever learn?" She chided him, helping him to his feet.

"We aren't leaving."

Nodding slowly, Bryn turned towards the droids, who he finnaly realized were wielding tranquilizer guns and rifles set to stun. They wanted The Crusaders alive. A mishceivous grin worked its way on to Bryn's face. This would be a lot easier...

Bryn called out to Zekk, leaping over the droid formation as he did. They tried to stop him, but he was too far into rythmn now. One foolhardy droid tried to cloe Bryn off with an upward swipe, one designed to flip the opponent onto their back. Bryn simply left his feet, planting with his right hand. He swiveled his body, bringing his left arm forward. He deftly activated his lightsaber, sweeping the droids legs out form under it. He pushed off with is right hand, twirling the rest of the way and coming to a perfect landing, other lightsaber activated.

He smirked at the remaining droids, daring them to attack. Which they did. Bryn took a step backwards, spinning each lightsaber until they were perpendicular to each other, the perfect stance for dealing with a horde of enemies. Chuckling slightly, Bryn went to work.

-

Jaina took a quick step backwards, cleaving off the arms of the attacking DawnBringer. It backed away quickly, but not before a stab from Zekk finished it for good.

This is almost too easy, she thought to herself. They were fighting pretty well. Herself, Zekk, Tahiri, Bryt and Octa made quite a team. She took mental notice of where each Jedi was, sending encouragement to them through the Force.

Bryn, on the other hand, was at least twenty meters ni front of the rest of them, fighting a horde by himself.

And winning... Jaina remarked, slightly shocked at her husband's fighting prowess. He was twirling and flipping, caught in a never-eding dance of death. Severed limbs and heads flew from him, like he was t he eye of a particularly violent metal storm. She could feel little form him in the Force, a sign that he had withdrawn into himself.

Jaina gasped as Bryn leaped into the air, cutting down a descending DawnBringer. Before he landed, however, a second, massive droid rushed up to meet him, catching a glancing blow with its 'foot'. Bryn was sent sprawling to the ground, rolling to a stop in the dust.

Jaina began to run towards her husband, but maniacal laughter stopped her in her tracks. Bryn got to his feet, cackling like a madman.

"Finally! Some worthy competition!" He called out to the large droid, his eyes full of bloodlust. Three DawnBringers emerged from the melee, intent on taking Jaina down. She hadn't seen them. She was trapped.

All three droids stopepd suddenly, floating in the air. Jaina felt a surge of power from Bryn, and all three droids were pulverized! Bryn had used the Force to crush them. He laughed again, shortly, and flung the remnants of the three droids into their fellows, shredding even more of the deadly robots.

Bryn twirled his lightsabers behind his back, decapitating antoher onrushing droid.

He's lost it! Jaina thought suddenly. She tried to use the Force to find the man she loved, relieved that, underneath the surface, he seemed to be the same.

Then she realized what he was doing. He was retending to have lost his mind, in order to draw the droids to him!

He's trying to get us out! Jaina thought into the battle-meld, hoping her fellow Jedi would understand her. Zekk looked towards her quizzically, having just cut down a droid. She looked towards Bryn, his eyes slwoly meeting hers. He nodded slowly.

He's going to sacrifice himself...

-

Bryn gestured towards the giant battle-droid. Daring it to attack. He couldn't put up this charade forever, and this droid was the biggest threat to his friend's escape.

It feels good, Bryn thought carelessly. ''Dying for the ones you love. I wonder if Anakin felt this way, right before the end.''

The droid reared up to its full height, displaying a brightened panel that was obviously a last message to its victims.

BEHOLD THE POWER OF BETA-PRIME. KNOW THAT IN YOUR DEATH, THE NAME OF SCIENCE HAS BEEN FURTHERED. TAKE CARE IN THE DIVINE BEYOND.

Below that was a smaller, more personal message.

It's been fun, Bryn. It was signed by Tarc Rethcoe.

As tired as he was, worn out as he was, Bryn couldn't help but smile.

''Seems like you won, old friend. Maybe you did, maybe you didn't.'' Bryn smirked, withdrawing the Thermal Detonator he had pilfered from Mandalore. HE activated it, intending to use the Force to hold it in place. HE would die, but his friend would live on.

And knowing Jaina, she won't rest until Tarc is dead. Bryn thought to himself.

He released the Detonator, simultaneously using the Force to hold Beta-Prime in place as well. Bryn closed his eyes, hearing Jaina and the others call to him in the Force.

Run... he sent back, slowly becoming one with the mystical energy field.

Just as the timer was about to go off, Bryn felt something go...wrong. The detonator felt...farther away. Bryn re-opened h is eyes to see that Beta-Prime had used a booster jet to dislodge the grenade from Bryn's grasp, throwing into the adjacent wall. Bryn cursed silently as the grenade exploded, covering the sky in white light. He thought he saw a form in front of him as the world faded into darkness. It did't matter now, it was all over...

-

Jaina screamed noiselessly as the explosion engulfed her best friend.

She covered her eyes as dust slammed into her, then reopened them, looking for Bryn. Panicking, she realized she couldn't see him. Anyhwere. He was gone...

Jaina sprinted towards the smoldering crater Bryn's grenade had left behind. The peices of dozens of droids were left there, some of them sparking. She sifted through the remains, looking for any sign of Bryn. She could find nothing. The noise of metal scraping metal caught her ears, and she turned around.

The big droid, the one Bryn had sacrificed himself to destroy...was still alive! It was missing a peice of its right arm, and had been baadly burned, but it was still alive. Jaina felt rage build up inside of her. She tried to find the other Jedi, her closest friends, but as far as she could tell, they had all been incapacitated.

He...he died for nothing! Jaina though bitterly. She could feel anger building up inside of her. The big droid stumbled forward, sparks flying from its limbs. It extended a hand towards her, trying to capture her as well. She couldn't find her lightsabers. It didn't matter. She would take this thing apart with her hands if she had to.

The droid, with surprising quickness for its condition, swiped its good arm out at Jaina. In a flash of speed, Jaina leaped over it, coming to rest on a pile of destroyed DawnBringers. She summoned up the Force, unleashing it in a peal of Force Lightning, one that caught the droid sqaure in the chest, burning a hole through its chest. It fell to the ground, smoldering.

Jaina lowered her hands, her eyes stinging with tears that would never come, tears for a man whom she would never see again. Then, suddenly, she felt a surge in the Force. It was...below her. The hill she was standing on gave way a little, and Jaina realized what it was. It wasn't a hill, it was a Force Bubble!

She used what little energy she had left to heft peices of the rubble away from the pile, finally gaining a glimspe inside. Bryt was underneath it, eyes white with power. She was shielding something. Using the Force to disengage the bubble, Jaina slowly slid the younger girl's unconcsious body away. There was Bryn curled up in a ball. He was batered and burned, but he was alive!

''She...she saved him. She got to him. I...I don't know how she did it, but she did it! He's alive!''

In her euphoria, Jaina failed to notice the smattering of still-functioning droids. One aimed at her back with a stun gun, and fired. Jaina didn't even feel pain when the bolt hit her, she hadn't even felt it coming. She hit the ground hard, unconscious before impact.

Chapter 6- Fervor
[Day: 8- Month: 10- Year: 36 ABY- Time: 0509]

Bryt opened her eyes, slowly. She didn't know where she was. the last thing she remembered was...

"Bryn" she called out into the darkness. She felt a prescense next to her. Panicking, Bryt tried to kick out at her attacker, only to find that her legs had been bound. Without warning, the lights came on.

Her 'attacker' was Tahiri. They had been chained to a wall, along with Zekk and Octa. they were all bruised and battered, with blood stil trickling from untreated wounds. The room they were in was a dark, sinister color, and various devices of torture were arrayed throughout it, like trophies.

Before her eyes could even adjust, a metallic whirring sound appeared out of nowhere and her binds released themselves, sending her to the ground. The other Jedi fell in much the same way.

They all got up, slowly, rubbing their wrists. WIth that, a cakling, eerily familiar voice started speaking to them from the loudspeaker int he right corner.

"Welcome, Jedi, friends of Fulcron...Crusaders. Let me be the first to officially welcome you to Sleheryon: The PLanet of the Dawn." the voice paused for a seconds, and then continued.

"My name is Tarc Rethcoe, and I believe that you people have been hunting me. I never was one for small talk, so I'll make this short. You are all mine now. Fulcron fell for my trap perfectly. I was hoping on capturing your entire group, but due to Bryn's sacrifice, that will be impossible."

Bryn tried to close her ears to block out the voice that had haunted her nightmares, but almost as if he had sensed it, Tarc began speaking even louder.

"You will not escape from this room. It has been designed specifically for you, and should begin contracting upon itself...now" a metallic clunk reverberated throughout the room, and the walls began to close inwards, slowly but surely.

"You can thank your fearless leader for getting you into this predicament. Jaina didn't want to land here, she thought it was too dangerous. But Bryn was so obsessed with finding me, that he forced her to do it. To be honest with you, I have no qualms against the Jedi. Just Bryn. In case we don't see one another again, and believe me, we won't, allow me to send to you a most fond farewell. Goodbye..."

Bryt opened her eyes as soon as the voice had stopped issuing from the speaker, and then immediately began to panic. The other three had disregarded the message as soon as it had started, and were searching for a way out of their chamber. After a couple of minutes, they gave up. Their only hope was that Bryn or Jaina were still alive, and could escape whatever vile experiments Tarc had set up for them.

Knowing Tarc, Bryt thought to herself. It won't be easy.

But knowing Bryn,, she thought with a smile, It will be quick.

-

Bryn awoke suddenly. He tried to open his eyes, but they wouldn't obey his command. He could feel something dripping down his face, warm and bubbly.

It's probably my blood... he thought blankly. He tried to rememeber what had hppened, but to even think made his head hurt. He reached out with the Force, and as soon as he did, it overflowed his senses, and he remembered everything. His eyes flung open and he dropped to the ground. The blood hadn't been flowing down, it had been flowing up. He had been hanging upside down.

Bryn stretched his legs and arms, trying to will feeling back into them. He was in a small square, brown room with one dingy light showing him his surroundings.

He felt tired, but still rested. His body felt...strange, like he had been injured severly and never actualy treated.

That's kind of what happened... Bryn thought as he rememebred the events that had transpired before...whenever that was was. It could be hours, days, even weeks since then, he had no way of knowing. All that mattered know was finding Jaina and his friends, and escaping the planet. If Tarc Rethcoe was there, then maybe Bryn could go out of his way and kill him too.

Bryn found a bit of clothing to wear in one of the corner lockers. Before he left the amazingly unlocked room, Bryn heard a beep from the door console. Tarc's smiling visage appeared, causing Bryn's nostrils to flare up in anger.

"Now, now, Bryn, you can't be that angry. Everyone's stil alive." Tarc laughed to himsef, and then got serious.

"Listen to me, Fulcron, and listen well. I have Tahiri, Zekk, Ramis and your little harlot of a sister locked in a room approxamately one mile from your location. I'll even download the coordiantes to the datapad you just picked up."

Bryn was slightly shocked at the word mile.

How big is this place? he thought to himself.

Almost on cue, Tarc replied.

"Its big enough to suit my desires."

Tarc smiled, and then continued.

"Anyways, Fulcron, I have your precious Jaina locked in an interrogation room appoximately one mile, the other way. I'd say you have about ten minutes before your friends are crushed by the collapsing room I've put them in, and about twenty until Jaina breaks. You've got a very interesting choice to make...I'd make it."

Bryn immediately began to leave the room.

"O, by the way, old friend, I've released an entire killsquad of my best Gammorean slavers in there with you. They're just itching for a fight with the legendary Bryn Fulcron. Here's to next time, old chum."

Tarc closed off the channel in a cackle of laughter, and Bryn shot off into the complex.

-

Bryn ran faster than he'd ever run in his life. His muscles were burning in protest, but he ran faster. He leaped around a corner, trying his hardest to reach the room where his sister was. If he was going to have any chance of saving everyone, he had to go there first. They had a time limit. Jaina didn't. He knew she would hold out as long as she could, and Bryn felt that that was significantly longer than Tarc was giving her credit for.

He thinks she's weak... Bryn smiled slightly. He sped up a flight of stairs, drawing ever closer to his sister and his freinds.

He checked the datapad, stopping to rest for a few seconds. He was about a third of a mile away. Cursing to himself, he began to sprint in the direction indicated. A guttural noise stopped him in his tracks.

Two Gamorreans rounded the corner in front of him, conversingly as freely as he'd ever seen two of their kind talk before in his life. He was too tired to fight, and time was of the essence. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, Bryn jetted up a side stairwell, one tht add at least a couple of minutes to his time.

-

Jaina opened her eyes, and immediately recieved an electric shock. She gritted her teeth and re-opened her eyes, a single tear running out of her left eye.

She took quick stock of her situation. She was bound to an old pillar, arms and legs held out by rope. She could see a security camera tucked in one of the corners.She wasn't naked, but the small amount of clothing she was wearing left very little to the imagination. The room she was in was dark and musk, and a single figure stood in front of her. A figure in a long, hooded Jedi robe.

Tarc

Almost as if she'd thought his name with such contempt that he'd heard it, the former Jedi smiled, baring a row of blindingly white teeth. He said nothing, just gesturing to a clock on the wall. It had three hands, each one marked in a scrawling, looping writing.

The first, and longest, said. Time until Bryn succumbs to the maze of this facility, and appeared to read somewhere around two hours.

The second, and middle hand, read Time until you are broken and made my new apprentice, and read around twenty minutes. Jaina tried to laugh, but he mouth was bound.

The third, and shortest, read Time until Bryt, Zekk, Octa and Tahiri are crushed into oblivion, and read ten minutes.

Frustrated, confused and infuriated, Jaina tried to use the Force to feel out to Tarc, maybe trying to incapacitate him. He felt it coming, however, and blocked her feeble attempt. Then he raised his hand, and white hot Force lightning washed out the world.

-

Bryn slammed around the corner, nearly losing his footing. He was dripping with sweat, and running on empty. He could use the Force to carry his feet, but something told him that he would need it later, when he found Tarc.

Checking the datapad, Bryn realized he was right down the hall from his sister's room. A single, heavy door stood on the hallway's right side. He called his siter's name. Fervent pounding from the other side affirmed that it was occupied.

Bryn checked the door and triggered it's release mechanism. Tarc's chiding voice answered him.

"No, no, Bryn. You have to answer my riddle first."

Pausing, Bryn crossed him arms and gestured for 'Tarc' to begin.

"What room with no windows or doors walks in the night, grows in a day, and is found where there is death and decay?"

Bryn sat thinking to himself. It made no sense. Bryn struggled to find the answer, growing frustrated. A small timer Tarc had set up tinged, and his former friend's voice returned, with a condesending tone.

"Aww, did little Brynnie find that one too hard? The answer was a mush-room. Mushrooms. Don't worry Bryn, you have two more tries left. I'm not unfair, am I?"

Bryn started to speak, but Tarc cut him off.

"I am alive without breath, I am as cold as death. I am never thirsty, ever drinking. I am all in mail, but never clinking. What am I?"

Bryn struggled with this one as well. What is all in mail but never clinks?

I'm going to get really tired of this really fast. He thought frantically for the answer, but for the second time in as many tries, the buzzer rang before he had any inkling of the answer.

"The answer, Bryn, was a fish." Tarc replied.

"Last chance, Bryn. This is your last chance to save your friends."

Tarc began again. Bryn sat down and began to meditate. Maybe the Force would help him with this one...

"They are dark, and always on the run. Without the sun, there would be none. What are they?"

Bryn concentrated as hard as he could, hoping that the Force would help him. He began to lose patience, and started to panic. He only had ten seconds left!

Then suddenly, without even thinking, Bryn realized that he'd known the answer the entire time. He remembered hearing this one before!

What was it? Bryn thought frantically. He looked at the timer.

3...2...1...

"Shadows!" Bryn yelled, suddenly remembering. Th timer stopped with less than half a second left.

Tarc's voice returned, sounding congratulatory.

"Congratulations, Bryn. You finally got one. Very well, have your friends. Just remember. As soon as this door opens, the walls will move two times as fast. Have fun, Bryn."

The door swung open, and Tahiri immediately spilled out of it, obviously having been listening the entire time.

"Sorry, Bryn, I knew the second one, but he said that if we'd helped you, he make the walls crush us outright."

Octa came out next, as did Bryt and Zekk. Bryn glimpsed into the room. the walls weren't even moving.

"They stopped moving once you showed up."

Maybe he wants us to escape... Bryn thought. Realizing that Jaina was still trapped, Bryn told the others to get back to the ships and leave, and that he'd meet them all outside. He had somewhere to go...

-

Jaina gritted through another burst of Force Lightning. She had lost all track of time, just hoping against hope that Bryn would make it to her in time...

"He won't show, Jaina." Tarc's voice called out to her. His voice sounded...strange, almost metallic. Jaina had no time to ponder it, however, because he poured another burst into her.

Just then, she finally broke through with the Force, getting a grasp on Tarc.

With a start, she realized what was going on. Tarc still had another trap in store for his old nemesis...

-

Nearly dead on his feet, Bryn checked his datapad. He hadn't even made it back to where he started. He normally would have problem running two miles, but he'd had to stop and fight a few Gamorreans on the way, and they never went down smooth...

Suddenly, Bryn had an idea. Why go through, when he coudld go over?

He took a step backwards, using the Force to throw a nearby console through the ceiling. There had to be a ventilation shaft somewhere. Checking his datapad, Bryn stopped with a start. The dot representing Jaina's position wasn't there. It had disappeared. He realized angrily that Tarc had removed it, leaving Bryn completely in the dark about where his wife was.

Not completely in the dark, he thought to himself.

I still have the Force.

He dove deep into the Force, deeper than he'd gone for a long time. It felt like...plunging into a pool of freezing cold water after being out in the sun all day. He was completely refreshed.

Bryn used the Force to find Jaina, and task made much easier now. He could feel her, in pain, about two miles away. He scoffed at the fact that such a distance had seemed so far away to him just a few seconds before.

Bryn leaped up through the ceiling, using the Force to propel himself to a landing on the story above. He was a little closer now, and the same story as Jaina.

Deciding he could use a good run, Bryn let the Force guide his feet. He was like a blur in the shadows, like a starship among Banthas. He absolutely flew down the hallways, using his own wake in the Force to topple any obstacles in his way, including a few unlucky Gamorreans.

In a matter of minutes, Bryn had already reached his destination. He had reached it so quickly since he no longer cared for such illusions as walls and ceilings. He simply took the straightest possible path to Jaina. He calmed himself, trying to save some energy. He still didn't know where Tarc was...

He could feel Jaina, however, and she seemed to be trying to warn him of something...

What it was, he would't grasp, because a nearby moniter switched from some sort of default screen to an image of Jaina, strung up against a pillar. She was battered, bruised and burnt, her body hanging lifelssly. Bryn knew she was still alive, but seeing her like this broke his heart. She seemed to notice that the camera was on her, and weakly raised her head towards it. Her eyes, usually so full of life, seemed dark and listless, like her very essence was being driven out of them.

She stared straight into the camera, into Bryn's eyes, and mouthed his name. Suddenly, a dark figure walked into the camera's view. It remained facing towards Jaina, away from the camera. Saying something Bryn couldn't quite hear, the figure poured Force Lightning into Jaina, causing an audible scream to emit from her.

The scream caused Bryn to cover his ears in agony. He could feel Jaina's pain. The blood boiled in his veins. The eternal calm that had once resided in him had been replaced by a raging storm. Bryn bellowed in rage and started for the door he knew lead to Jaina.

He opened it to find a long hallway, lined with Gamorreans and DawnBringers, all of them waiting for him.

It didn't matter. An army of Yuuzhan Vong Slayers could have been waiting, and he still would have reached Jaina. He destroyed every single one of them savagely and brutally. In a matter of minutes, the hallway was littered with blood and servo oil, broken bodies and droid parts laying like roadkill on a highway. Bryn reached the door at the end, barely pausing before wrenching it off its hinges with the Force. What he saw haunted him for the rest of his life...

Jaina had been unbound, and was trying with all her might to get away from the shadowy figure, who was approaching her at a slow, menacing pace. She was crying, feebly holding her hands up in defense, almost groveling for Tarc to let her live...

Jaina locked eyes with Bryn, and immediately began to talk to him, trying to tell him something important...

He didn't listen. He leaped with all his might at the figure, Tarc, slamming into the man and throwing him into the wall. Before Tarc could even attempt to get up, Bryn was on him, pummeling him with vicious punches and kicks. Tarc tried feebly to block his face, but a vicious right cross from Bryn, shattered his cheekbone, causing him to slouch to the ground. But Bryn wasn't done with him yet...

Bryn kneed him in the chin, snapping his head back and causing his teeth to clack together, a few flying at at perverse angles. Tarc kept his head back against the wall, possibly trying to feint death to stop Bryn's assault. Bryn was smarter than that. He grabbed Tarc by the throat, lifting him completely off the ground. Bryn held him there with one hand, listening to him choked and garbled attempts to beg for his life. Jaina began to scream.

After about a minute the sounds stopped. Bryn lowered the body and used both hands to throw Tarc's carcass into the pillar he had strapped Jaina to, a sick crunching sound that was obviously the man's neck breaking emanating from the impact. Bryn kicked the man a few times to make sure it was dead. Then he spit on Tarc's body for good measure.

Bryn rushed over to his wife, who was now silently crying in the corner, her battered body curled up in defense. He reached out a hand to her, which she recoiled from in fear.

"I'm not here to hurt you, love. It's me..." he pleaded to her. Her answer shocked him.

"I know who you are..." she replied, her voice weak with exhaustion.

Bryn sat back, puzzled. Anger still boiiled in his veins, but the Force was starting to leave him. He hadn't realized how tired he was...

"Look at yourself, Bryn." Jaina said suddenly. "Look at what you've done."

Bryn looked down at his knuckles, split open and bent in disgusting ways. His hand was most likely broken. He realized that there was blood on his face, and it wasn't his own. He hung his head in shame.

Bryn stammered. "But, Tarc...he was-"

"That wasn't Tarc!" Jaina replied, her voice failing her as she collapsed to the ground.

Bryn recoiled in shock, and then slinked over to the body, checking to see who it actually was.

The face was battered and bruised, and broken in more than one place, but it obviously wasn't Tarc.

Bryn felt like a balloon that had just been popped. He had just killed an innocent man, for Bryn could see a control device around the man's neck, and fake lighting shooters from his sleeves. He was a puppet.

Bryn crawled back to Jaina, wrapping her in a hug. She cried softly into his shoulder, her sobs coming in hiccups of pain and sorrow. Without saying another word, Bryn lifted her up into his arms and left the room, without ever looking back.

--

After meeting up with the others, Bryn found his way to the landing zone, trying to get to their ships. Little did he know, another legion of DawnBringers was waiting for him. Before either side could strike a blow, seven ships landed on the platform, scattering droids like tin cans. The rest of The Crusaders leapt out, herding the droids into a corner and swiftly defeating them. Doran Tainer led the charge. Bryn smiled as the larger man apporached him, trying to apologize for leaving before. Bryn said nothing, simply collapsing to the ground.