Call of the Dark Side (novel)/Chapter 1

Chapter 1
The Star Destroyer Avenger floated silently in the emptieness of space, the reddish brown globe hovering beneath the grey hull of the massive starship.

Four Tie Fighter starfighters dropped from one of the docking bays of the Star Destroyer. They were followed close behind by a Lambda class shuttle. The five craft moved in formation toward the surface of the planet. The sense of urgency the pilots demonstrated in the ships movements showed that this was not a friendly visit.

On the surface of the planet, the Jedi could feel the presence of the Dark Lord of the Sith approaching. As he reached out with the force, he could sense the darkness approaching. He would be here soon.

Arden Shan trotted out to the front entrance of the ruined temple and looked into the hot Astrouine afternoon. He could see the contrails of five ships heading their way.

"Kyros!" He shouted, fastening his lightsaber to his belt.

A teenage boy walked briskly out to the elder Jedi. "Something is wrong isn't it master?" He said only half questioning. "I sense it too."

"Your senses are correct Padawan. Run now and get my other lightsaber. You may need it today."

Kyros Lucidiine gulped as a twinge of fear overcame him. He looked up and saw the ships approaching.

"Kyros..." Shan said. "There is no emotion..."

"There is peace," the young Padawan replied. He nodded, then turned and ran back to the temple.

The craft set down about 100 meters from the old copper coloured stone temple. The TIE Fighter Pilots were the first out of their ships, they came out with blaster pistols drawn, creating a perimeter around the five starships.

The ramp of the shuttle lowered and six stormtroopers trotted out onto the sand. They were followed by perhaps the most dreaded figure the galaxy has ever known. The Dark Lord Darth Vader. Four more stormtroopers followed him out of the ship.

Vader led the stormtroopers up to the ruins, where a man and a boy waited on the stone platform surrounded by stone columns. Both held lightsabers in their right hands. Vader immediately noticed the boy.

Much passion in that one... and fear. He could be more dangerous than his master.

Darth Vader ignighted his lightsaber, the snap hiss startling the air around them. The squad of stormtroopers surrounded the two Jedi.

"You were one of the most difficult to find Arden, but you know you could not have escaped me forever." Vader said in a mechanical tone.

"It was never my intention to run traitorous Sith." The Jedi replied calmly. "I only intended to delay you until I was ready to face you on my own terms. You may be the chosen one Vader, but you will not find me an easy victory."

"We shall see." Vader said coldly.

One of the Stormtroopers flinched, it was such a subtle thing that it would have been barely noticeable to the naked eye. Yet Kyros Lucidiine sensed it and saw that soldier as a threat. And it was a threat he instinctively acted upon. In a flash, his yellow lighsaber ignited and slashed across the helmet of the trooper. No sound escaped the white mask other than the pieces of plasteel armor that sizzled as the dead body fell to the ground. A laserblast rang out as a red bolt went straight at Lucidiine's head, but an instant before it hit, the lightsaber moved lightning quick into its path, deflecting it back at the stormtrooper. The blast knocked the trooper backward into one of the pillars and he fell to the floor clutching his abdomen.

Vader was upon Shan quickly, lashing out repeatedly at the Jedi Master. Shan deflected the attacks, but could do little to counter with the mess of laser fire around him. He deflected several laser bolts at Vader but the Dark Lord easily absorbed or turned them aside.

Meanwhile, Shan's apprentice used a force push to fling the blasters out of the hands of two stormtroopers. He leaped several meters into the air, over the heads of the two weaponless soldiers, and landed in front of them as they ran for their carbines. They stopped when Lucidiine landed and raised their hands in surrender, but the Padawan's face contorted in anger.

"You cowards!" He shouted. "Damn cowards! Fight me!"

They didn't move.

"FIGHT ME DAMMIT!" He screamed. Still the soldiers said nothing.

Lucidiine closed his eyes. "YOU WANT TO FIGHT ME!" He shouted.

Suddenly as if a switch went off, the two stormtroopers lunged at Lucidiine. The lightsaber flashed and the helmets of the two soldiers fell to the ground with the heads still inside.

Arden Shan winced. "KYROS NO!" He exclaimed. He turned to see his Padawan standing over the two bodies. His face still twisted in anger. The other stormtroopers had retreated back, knowing they were outmatched by the young Jedi.

Vader used the distraction to slice his red blade through the arm of the Jedi Master. His arm and lightsaber fell to the stone. At this, Lucidiine suddenly came to and fell to the ground. "Master!" He cried out. "Master I am sorry." His eyes welled up with tears as his Jedi instructor stumbled back from Darth Vader. He looked at the Dark Lord, then back at Kyros. "Run my son!" He blurted out. "Run now!"

Vader moved in for the kill. As he lashed his blade toward the injured Jedi, the blade in the severed arm suddenly ignited and shot upward into the path of the red blade. Vader looked to see Lucidiine with his arm outstretched, his eyes closed. The blade held up telekinetically.

Vader put his hand out toward the apprentice. Kyros suddenly found himself writhing as blue arcs of energy wrapped around his body. Vader's Force lightning dropped the Padawan learner to the ground in an instant.

The floating lightsaber landed in the left hand of Arden Shan who used it to slice at Vader, the yellow laser cutting three fingers off of Vader's robotic arm. Vader's Force lightning abruptly stopped and he clutched at the wounded hand.

Shan again fired his yellow blade out at Vader, but the Dark Lord moved quickly, deflecting the blade and and pushing him aside. As Shan stumbled, Vader sliced at Shan's back, burning him severely. Shan fell to his knees, but he would not give up. He again lunged up at Vader, and nearly struck him, but the Sith master again deflected his attack and sliced at Shan's right leg, taking it of above the knee.

Shan finally fell to his stomach in agony, his concentration with the force finally expended, unable to keep away the pain that writhed through him. Vader momentarily looked down at his prey, before casually slicing the blade across the neck of Jedi Master Arden Shan, snuffing out the life of the man who once vowed to his Master, Ti'Amun'ti that he would stop the carnage wrought by the traitorous Lord of the Sith. He failed in his quest, and his last thoughts before his death were that he also failed in training his apprentice. He had only trained a boy who brought death like the man he promised to stop.

Vader whirled to see Kyros Lucidiine struggle to his feet. He stepped toward the frightened apprentice, yet realized instantly his underestimation of the boy. He dove aside as Arden Shan's lightsaber ignited again and sailed past Vader, slicing part of his cape off.

The Jedi weapon found its way to Lucidiine who caught it, turned and ran into the depths of the temple.

Vader got to his feet and followed methodically after him, following the trail of emotions that Lucidiine left in his wake. The six remaining stormtroopers took positions on the platform, two tending to the injured trooper while the others covered the gathered near the entrance.

Vader searched the dark chamber, his mechanical breathing echoing through the large hall. Vader noticed the Sith statue turned over on the floor to his left. Strange, he thought, that a Jedi would use a Sith temple to train an apprentice. Perhaps appropriate that he would have an apprentice full of fiery emotion.

"The force is strong with you, young apprentice..." Vader said. "But you are not a Jedi."

From deep within the chamber, there was a scraping sound. Vader ignited his lightsaber, but continued to walk calmly forward.

"I sense much fear in you. You are right to be afraid of me." The Dark Lord taunted.

There was a sound like something metal against rock to the right of Vader, he turned just in time to see a yellow blade illuminate the area. Vader instantly launched his own saber at the darkness. The two beams of light collided and both went scattering into the dark, the light deactivating as they landed. Vader straightened, realizing he could still sense the boy's presence. Before he could retrieve his weapon, he spun with his injured hand out, only to see the second yellow blade chop through the remainder of it. Vader stumbled back as the exposed wrist of his cybernetic arm sparked wildly. The Sith master groaned in agony, but turned the agony into rage as he violently shot blasts of force lightning out at the boy. Though he was able to absorb some with his lightsaber, much of it got past his defense and caused the boy to fall. Still he fought, lunging at Vader through sheer will and emotion. Swinging wildly at Vader and screaming incoherently, the Dark Lord marveled at the raw power the boy posessed. The force lightning continued to pour from Vader and it actually lifted Lucidiine off of the ground. As smoke began to pour from his clothing, the apprentice finally gave up the fight and released his grip on his Jedi weapon. Vader in turn ceased his assault, yet using the force, kept him floating two feet off of the ground.

"Impressive... most impressive." He said.

"Just kill me and get it over with you bastard!" Lucidiine hissed.

Vader circled the teenage warrior.

"Oh no... I have plans for you... my young apprentice." Vader said mockingly.

Lucidiine felt his fear return.