Silverlight Rising Part I: ForceFall

Chapter Two: The Silverlight

The Jedi Council hung on every word as I articulated the details of Yavin 4. Master Reeva Alix’s face was mortified while the other masters reserved their expressions for the end on my tale. I pause for a second to regain my composure and to collect my thoughts. I had to convey something almost indescribable to a group of individuals who stood for reason and typically don’t indulge the possibility of something unnatural.

I let out a haggard breath, a headache was starting to percolate behind my eyes and I could feel exhaustion taking its toll. I open my mouth to begin again when one of the masters holds up his finger. “Yes?”

“I am Master Bim Seto…I’m fairly new to this council, transferred from Coruscant along with Master Vis Jarabus.” Bim’s voice was formal and genuine. “While I understand you are not finished explaining the circumstances with which you have decided come here. I wish to address the outburst between you and Master Qin.”

Given the outburst between Halish and I, it was understandable. I stare at Master Seto’s face; it’s rare seeing a Cathar so far from home and as a Jedi master no less. The Cathar is not known for their level tempers. Yet something about Bim Seto struck me odd. His dark brown and black striped fur culminates into a lighter brown well-kept mane framing his chiseled face. He has a proud posture and yet he seemed calm and trustworthy.

Master Vis Jarabus nods her head gaining my attention. “Yes, I agree with Master Seto, as important as it is for you to finish telling us of this being. I feel that we must first be enlightened as to how you and Master Qin know one another.”

Master Jarabus glances at Master Seto then back at Halish Qin. Her lips tightly pursed and hands’ resting in her lap, to be honest it wasn’t difficult to stare at her. The teal of her skin almost glowed against the monochromatic council chamber and her head tentacles were neatly wrapped around her neck. I have heard of her exploits in this long war, she is known for her swordsmanship, wielding duel cobalt lightsabers as if they was second nature. I feel a sting in the back of my head, I had wanted to fight her once…before all this.

Halish Qin remained quite staring at the floor as he had been since Master Alix’s intervention several minutes earlier. Alix grimaces and glances to her left “Master Urv? You’ve remained quiet this entire time. Do you have something to say on the matter?”

Grand Master Dan’dak Urv sat at the center of the Council and for all intents and purposes ran things for the Conclave on Dantooine. He was ancient and wise attaining the rank of Grand Master decades before the rest of his council members were even born. Over his life span he has seen the conflict between the Jedi and Sith consume worlds and destroy entire civilizations. He doesn’t speak much but when he decided to say something it is usually imperative that you listen. He has not moved the entire time I’ve been here with his pale gray fingers intertwined in front of his mouth.

Master Urv looks at Alix and grins. “Master Seto, Master Jarabus…” his voice was slow and calming. “The young Sith before us use to be one of our very own. Years ago He and his brother Kavin Gordon fled the conclave and joined the Sith academy. Master Qin was their teacher and I presume Atlas’s unexpected return has reopened some past scars.” Urv looks at me and smiles.

“Thank you master.” Bim Seto says “But what of the boys claims of abuse at the hands of Master Qin?”

Master Seto and Jarabus look over at Halish for a response, but he remains quiet and still. “Those are serious allegations, not only from a Sith but a former student.” Jarabus presses.

“We will investigate the Young Sith’s accusations at a later time.” Master Urv states. “For now let’s continue with his story.” He motions to me but Master Seto and Jarabus remain fixated on Qin.

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The temple chamber was dreadfully silent after the creature proclaimed its return to the living. I studied it features carefully…it belonged to no race we have ever seen before. Its skin was reddish purple with specks of glistening silver refracting light as the creature moved. It stood six and a half feet tall with a muscular but not brutish build. A line blue bristly hair reached from the top of its head tapering to a point at its lower back. In a way it resembled a bipedal Kath Hound with long arms that stretched past its waist probably allowing it to run on all fours if necessary. The entire creature’s body resembled that of a beastly monster, but it was much more than that.

The way it carried itself was more reserved with an unexpected formal elegance. Its complexion was smooth and flawless and its face was not beastlike at all but more disturbingly humanlike with a few major differences. The first being a small second pair of eyes which were situated just above and slightly further apart from each other. At first they’re not very noticeable mainly because they’re completely black and never seem to blink a contrast from the being’s main eyes which were completely blue with yellow and white irises which seemed to glow. Its facial features were sharp, broad and pointed but well-proportioned with the rest of its body. Ultimately though it’s most drastic feature was a set of dark ribbed horns extending from the creature’s forehead, swooping back and to the side in a tight spiral culminating into menacing points. All in all, the creature was a perfect hybrid between physical form and intellectual presence.

The creature looks around the chamber, studying all the details. It takes several breaths and exhaling loudly stretching is body flexing every muscle group individually before glaring at the Inquisitors. “To what cycle are we presently located in!?” It demands in a booming tone but it sounded like a combination of voices all speaking in harmony like a series of whispers combining to make a singular voice. The Sith Lords stood quietly motionless with various looks of shock and awe painted on their faces. The creature grimaces “Did you not understand my enquiry, usurpers!?” It says in a surprisingly annoying tone. “Or is it because this primitive language does not suffice in conveying my request?” It mocks looking around the room at the rest of us.

Kavin clears his throat “What do you mean by cycle?”

The creature looks at him with a quizzical glower. “So you do converse, it is no matter I will soon find out…Judging from the state of things it has been several since I last walked this side.” It frowns and sniffs the air. “What is that stench? It smells of corruption and death…the VulDuun has been abused here.” he growls looking at the rest of the Inquisitors. “What have you done!?” He takes several steps toward the inquisitors. Although I couldn’t determine the creature’s actual sex, based on its features I’ve decided to consider it a male.

Instinctively the Lords assume fighting stances activating their lightsabers causing the creature to stop. “Back veil beast!” Darth Jarus commands in his typical arrogant tone.

The being straightens and grins. “So the slaves have attained the VulDuun, how ironic. And this one.” he motions towards Jarus “Seeks to challenge the Jurif!” He lets out a noise that I could only equate to a laugh.

Lord Jarus bares his teeth with malice and lunges for the creature slashing wildly at him. The creature easily dodges his assault laughing in-between bouts making Jarus attack even more brazenly. “Hold still you bastard!” he shouts releasing a bolt of Force lightening at creature.

In an instant the being had Jarus by the throat holding him high above his head. “You dear use the VulDuun against me!” The creature yells slowly squeezing Lord Jarus’s neck.

The other Inquisitors jump into action collectively Force pushing the beast across the chamber and into the wall with earth shattering power. Jarus falls to his knees quickly retrieving his saber and prepares for another assault with the rest of the Inquisitors. Myself and the rest of the apprentices draw our lightsabers waiting for our master’s call to battle.

The creature pulls himself from the wreckage of the wall, lightly dusting off its shoulders. Then immediately launches toward the five lords with ferocious intent. The fighting was so fast it was difficult to follow; but it was obvious the being’s battle prowess was like nothing I’d ever seen. No matter what the Inquisitors did, they couldn’t touch the creature as if he could predict their every move before even they knew themselves. I could tell the beast was enjoying himself and even toying with them which only fueled the Inquisitor’s anger making them fight harder.

This continued for several minutes with the creature vaulting all over the chamber as if gravity had no hold on him. His technique was amazing able to use the Force to slightly shift his body in midair with ease, but there was more to it as if he had an understanding of the Force we didn’t. We’ve utilized the Force as a tool for millennia, even letting it flow through us. There are even legends of becoming immortal though the Force. But as I watched this creature maneuver around arguably the most powerful Sith Lords that ever lived I realized that we mistakenly believed that we had mastered the Force, even assumed that we truly commanded it with our will. My thoughts quickly culminated into a decisive and disturbing conclusion…that even the collective strength of the Inquisitors was no match for this higher being.

My theory was validated moments later with Darth Gilkiv being the first to fall. The creature had just dodged a duel attack from my brother and Malitrix with an elaborate mid-air roll. Defecting Lord Axum’s saber throw with a Force barrier so strong it actually curved the saber’s blade. Coming to a forceful landing right in front of the unexpected Gikiv, by the time the lord realized he was in danger the creature had already blasted him with a Force enhanced punch so precise and powerful that it left a hole about the size of my fist in his chest. Gilkiv immediately collapsed to the ground screaming for his apprentice as the other Inquisitors continued their assault. His apprentice was frozen in terror at the site of her master’s agony. She understood what had to be done but she either couldn’t move or she wouldn’t. In the end Darth Gilkiv demise was similar to how he lived his life, insignificant and agonizing.

The fight continued for some time after Gilkiv’s death and it seemed like the being was getting winded by all the acrobatics, allowing the remaining four Sith Lords to close in on him. But what I soon realized was much worst. At this point he beast had probably gotten bored with the fight and instead of defensively dodging and vaulting around the room he assumed a more offensive tactic. There was a lag in the fighting where the four Inquisitors squared off with the creature. While the inquisitors showed signs of battle fatigue, their stances didn’t suffer from the exhaustion. But the being seemed unaffected by the lengthy fight, not even showing signs of losing its breath or increased pulse. Lord Jarus show the most weakness though; sweat was trickling down his face and into his eyes causing him to wipe them every few seconds. His stance, while still being precise was starting to waver under the strain.

The beast picked up on this and flashed a snide smile towards Jarus. He hadn’t been alive for more than twenty minutes and he understood how to taunt his enemies. Jarus’s anger mounts and he attacks without the other Inquisitors, slashing aimlessly at the creature. The creature simply grabs Jarus’s hand, saber hilt and all and crushes it with a simple motion. Jarus screams in agony, provoking Lord Axum and Malitrix go to their fellow’s need but the creature pushes them away with a wave of his hand. Kavin dodges the Force attack, leaping high above the beast coming down with a powerful strike. My brother’s hit was so powerful it caused shock wave to emit form the impact kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

I quickly waive away the cloud revealing the outcome of my brother decisive strike. Jarus’s body was limp with his head and torso mangled from being too close to the shockwave’s epicenter. Kavin’s clothing was torn and shredded from the strike; I could tell he invested everything into the attack hoping that it would work…but it didn’t, the creature was unscathed glaring at my brother with a mixed look of excitement and shock. He was holding my brother’s crimson lighsaber blade with his bare hand as if it was nothing. Kavin looks at me, although he maintained a strong pose I could tell from the fading red glow of his eyes that he was shaken. He and I knew in that moment there was nothing left…the fight was over.

The creature tilts his head twisting the saber’s blade until it shorts out causing my brother’s hilt to explode in his hands. Kavin falls to his knees as Lord Axum and Malitrix assume their battle stances. The other apprentices including myself activate our sabers gaining the creature’s attention. But my focus was on Kavin, he was calm and unusually content as if he was at peace with what was about to happen. He notices my intent and subtly shakes his head with disapproval.

The creature tosses Jaraus’s broken body to the side, ignoring my brother for the time being. He lifts his hand up with the palm facing the ceiling of the ruined temple. Several moments later the same silvery mist that the being was born from begins to form in his hand condensing into a crystal. He lifts his other hand using the Force to grab shards of stone and metal from around the chamber, piecing the fragments together making a lightsaber hilt with silver crystal within it. He inspects the hilt, tossing it from hand to hand getting use to the weight finally activating the pulsating silver blade.

The creature takes several steps away from my brother swinging the sword around before turning to face us. “Let us resume.” He says assuming a sword stance I had never seen before.

Axum and Malitrix both launch forward followed closely but the apprentices. I leap upward in order to study the creature’s technique when I feel a force push throw me out of the chamber. I land in the corridor and quickly turnaround only to see my brother forcing the doorway to collapse. “No!” I shout as tons of rock and debris filled the opening blocking me from the battle.

“Run, brother!” I hear Kavin’s voice in my ear like a whisper.

“I can’t…Why would you do that!” I demand

The whisper returns “There is no time, seek out the Jedi tell them what happened here.” Kavin’s voice sounded as if it was getting further away. “Run!” he demands. The temple began to shake violently causing parts of the corridor to crumble.

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

“A part of me wanted to stay, even though I knew there was nothing I could do but at least I would’ve died with my brother. But Kavin’s last request was to warn you…so here I am” I finish my story with a loud exhale, adjusting my stance in a failed attempt to relieve the numbness of my lower legs.

The council was quiet for some time, most simply looked off into space scrutinizing every detail when Master Alix stood up abruptly. “May I be the first to extend my deepest condolences to you for your brother’s sacrifice?”

Sacrifice…a word not typically associated with a Sith but to me Kavin was more than just a Sith. I nod my head in appreciation, I didn’t expect this to be so difficult but everything was still fresh in my head. “Thank you.”

“This is all simply apocryphal, it has to be. A being of such immense power would be felt through the Force. There must be a mistake.” Master Jarabus interjects in a high voice.

Bim Seto nods his head in agreement running his claws through his mane. “I do believe that you encountered something. It’s just two farfetched and frankly impossible for a creature to possess that much power.” He adds.

It was expected that they wouldn’t necessarily believe me, and truly they had no real cause to. I was the enemy the fact they even agreed to see me was a miracle. The masters begin arguing amongst themselves about the details of my story attempting to rationalize the truth of it. This continued on for several minutes when a familiar sensation comes over me. The room falls silent and Master Urv stands, decades of training couldn’t hide the fear that was present on his face. I quickly turn around feeling my heart sink at the sight of the creature behind me.

He was standing with his arms behind his back and a look of content on his face. “Greetings” he says calmly adjusting the set of gray robes he was wearing. “I will be the first to vindicate this Usurper’s tale.” The creature takes a few steps towards the center of the room.

Master Urv steps down from his pedestal. “What is it that you came here for?” I have never seen Master Dan’dak Urv move so swiftly, his talk and thin pale body almost floated down from the council platform with controlled ease.

The creature smiles and looks at the rest of the masters. “I thought it was obvious.” He says holding his arms out. The rest of the masters look at one another then back at the creature. “You truly don’t realize?”

“Are you here to help us?” Halish says quietly.

The being looks at Halish and begins to laugh. “Help you!? You pretentious usurpers have squandered this gift, why would I be here to help you?”

“Who are you?” Master Urv asks.

The creature looks at Dan’Dak Urv and grins. “In my native tongue I’m called Xyon-Kray Jurif’VulDuun, but in your pitiful language it means Silverlight, Seeker of the VulDuun and I’m here to take back the gift you have mistreated.”