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Description
It had been over five years since the man once known as Christopher Raine had set foot on the desert planet. He paused as he stepped from the small airship onto the sandy ground. The last time he'd come to this place, he had sworn the oath that still held him to this day. Ice blue eyes regarded the landscape without emotion beneath an ebony hood as four men dressed in black padded flight suits stepped off the ship behind him. One of the men moved to stand next to the dark jedi, his arms crossing over his chest. The man’s name was Owen and Chris respected him where as he never did the others. The man was quick with a gun and quite the craftsman. Two large tri-barreled guns were holstered at his sides. They were his creations and he’d named them jedi-slayers, for good reason. Each gun could release up to three slugs filled with hundreds of small round and jagged pieces of buckshot. The theory was that even the most skilled jedi would not be able to block all three rounds. Each gun could hold six shots. Chris knew first hand how potent the weapon could be… When Owen had shown his prototype to Lady Raine, to his horror, she’d turned the loaded weapon on Chris and fired. She’d wanted to see it first hand and what better way then to use it as a test for her padawan at that time. Chris had been going through the trails of knighthood and she was constantly testing him without mercy. As Owen watched in shocked silence, Chris lit two small dual-bladed lightsabres and deflected madly. In the end Chris still stood - shaken, weak, and bloody after only one round. The click of the empty gun assured Chris that his aunt and master would have kept shooting had Owen loaded more then one round. It took the rest of the day for Chris to pull the many sharp, small pieces of shrapnel out of his flesh. He was only too happy he’d worn armor that day.

Owen and Chris had gained mutual respect for each other over the years. When Chris passed his trials and attained knighthood, he was told to choose his servants. Owen was the first chosen and had gladly accepted. He quickly rose to become Chris’s lieutenant. Lady Raine had granted Chris the name Lord Vair. No one, including Owen knew his true name.

Moments had passed in silence and Owen finally glanced at his lord. “Sir…” He spoke bluntly. Chris shifted his gaze to his lieutenant and moved a gauntleted hand to point towards the far hillside. “It is there. Lets go.” Without hesitation the two stepped forward and the others followed close behind.

Chris let his mind wander as he walked. He remembered his first meeting with Lady Raine, here upon this very planet and he remembered the oath he’d sworn to her. He’d traded his life for the life of the woman loved. She would live and would not be harmed by Lady Raine or anyone under her influence. In return he would become her student and hers to command. He’d accepted the deal that day without question and had spent the last five years discovering the depths of his pain tolerance. He’d also learned to perfect the meditation his prior jedi master Shimistra had taught him. With all the blood upon his hands now and all his aunt had taught him of the dark side, the meditation was one of the only things that kept him from truly falling – it kept him neutral. His fighting skills had become quick, precise, and deadly. When he engaged in battle, he locked a part of himself away in his mind and his body moved silently, without hesitation. It was the only way he could do what he did without slipping forever into darkness. ‘One step either way is all it takes…’ his old master Shimistra had told him long ago. Each night he meditated and worked to burn away the darkness that threatened to consume him…at least enough to stay neutral and keep the balance.

“There is a cave ahead my lord.” Owen whispered softly, his jade green eyes narrowing, his voice bringing Chris back to reality. Chris nodded, “The artifact we seek is inside.” He silently slipped the long metal dual-lighsabre staff from its sheath across his back. As he concentrated, a few feet on each end of the staff retracted into the midsection. All that was left appeared to be a normal dual-bladed lightsaber. Owen slipped his guns from their holsters and took up a position next to the cave entrance, slipping on a pair of infared glasses. After glancing within, Owen gave a quick wave. “Shall we?” Chris grinned as he walked purposefully inside. The other three un-holstered their blaster pistols and followed close behind.

Further inside the cave, a woman knelt within a small room, her hand lightly brushing aside ages of sand and dust to reveal a small square tile etched with ancient script. She lay a hand upon the stone and concentrated, the stone groaned against her palm as small particles of dust twirled up into the air from the crevices along its sides. Slowly the stone began to shift then rise as her hand lifted above it. As it finally lifted free, the woman caught her first glance of the small metal cube in the opening below.

Chris stopped abruptly in the dark hallway. He felt Owen do the same. He knew his luitenant was sensitive to the force. He’d known it for a long time now. It was the grin he knew was spreading across the man’s face that disturbed him. They’d both sensed the presence of the jedi long before they’d noticed the door at the end of the corridor. Chris glanced at Owen and saw the grin that he knew would be there. “We are not alone sir.” Owen whispered ever so softly. Chris nodded. He could hear the anticipation in Owen’s voice. Chris knew not what the jedi had done to make this man hate them so, but Owen certainly enjoyed his attempts to destroy them. Chris moved subtely in front of Owen as they made their way silently towards the doorway.

Slowly the jedi woman reached down and drew the artifact forth. The stone drifted back down into place as she examined the strange item. It was a holocron and she could feel the dark side eminating from it. It sickened her. She started to put it away when she heard the familiar sound of a lightsabre being ignited from the doorway behind her.

The dual-lightsabre Chris held had split perfectly down the center into two blades and then flared to life. The blades were the color of shadow except for the brief flash of azure light down the center which quickly faded. They hummed ominously as he stared at the kneeling jedi who’s back was to him. “I thank you for retrieving the artifact for me, jedi.” He whispered coldly. “For so kindly aiding me, I will see to it that your death is quick…”

The jedi’s eyes widened and her face paled. She’d recognized the man’s voice instantly as he’d called out to her. Slowly she stood and turned to face him. It had been just over five years since she’d last seen him or heard his voice. Five years with no word of his whereabouts. Five years of endless worrying. With deliberate slowness, she lowered the cowl of her robe and met his gaze. “You’ve already killed me once before, Christopher Raine.” The jedi known as Jelaket Darkwalker spoke in a soft whisper.

She could see nothing but his blue eyes beneath his dark hood…and they were so cold. Then something changed within their depths and she watched the recognition pass over him.

For a moment both stood unmoving and silent, then Owen aimed both guns at her. “Sir…?” He asked softly, his voice as cold as Chris’s had been a minute ago.

Ket watched as Chris slowly shut his eyes and she reached for her lightsabre, unsure what he meant to do. Her heart skipped beats as she watched his knuckles go white as he gripped his lightsabers. “NO.” He suddenly stated, loud and firm to his men. Then his head lowered a bit as he realized what he must do. Chris sensed Ket’s hand as it grazed over her lightsaber and could hear Owen’s fingers start to squeeze the triggers of his guns. There was a sudden hum as one of Chris’s lightsabres quickly lashed out, cutting cleanly through his lieutenant’s arms, severing them from the guns, then he jerked the blade back and severed Owen’s head.

“What the…” Was all the guard to his left was able to mutter in shock before Chris's second blade hummed through the air, cutting a path through his midsection. The two guards behind him didn’t even have time to take a step back as Chris twirled both blades and brought the unlit ends back against their chests. Only the momentary flash of azure light and the hum gave away the second blades as they ignited through the guard’s chests. Then all sound faded as all four blades retracted and he brought both ends back together, twirled the staff once until in lengthened and sheathed it across his back. It had all happened in under a minute and he’d barely moved.

Jelaket wasn’t even aware that she’d taken a step back, but her eyes had widened and were fixed on the dark jedi in front of her. There was a soft thud as both bodies finally slumped to the floor behind him. She watched as he slowly opened his eyes.

He felt only a momentary twinge of regret as he saw Owen’s head resting near her feet. He could not let her be harmed. His love for her was the only thing that kept him from falling completely, from losing himself forever to the darkness. She meant everything to him and he’d killed a man he’d come to respect without a second thought, simply because he knew the man would have harmed her.

She didn’t know what to say, her hand shook as it slipped from her lightsaber. She was too shocked to say anything. She'd just watched him slay four men in under a minute. Her lips parted to say something..anything, but she could find no words. Unbidden, a single tear traced a slow path down her cheek.

Chris moved closer and with a gentleness she could not believe a man could possess after such an act, gently wiped the tear from her cheek. His fingers lingering for a moment against her skin as if hesitant to break the contact. Her hand moved, her fingers curling around his. She felt him tremble at her touch.

He wanted to tell her why he’d killed them. He wanted to explain that he would die for her if it was required - but he could not form the words. Her mere touch had rendered him speechless.

Her free hand moved up to his hood and slowly lowered it. Her breath catching in her throat as she laid eyes upon his face for the first time in over 5 years. His black hair had grown long and he wore it tied back, though a few small, wild curls lay lazily upon his forehead.

Chris didn't know what to do as she reached forward and slowly lowered his hood. He could feel the tremble in her hands and hear the catch in her breath as she looked upon him. Her lovely hazel eyes were filling up with tears and he could not bear the look upon her face. That subtle mix of shock and horror still present from what he’d done earlier. He drew away from her slowly and turned, leaving her with but a whisper, “I’m sorry…it should not be like this.”

Description
It had been over five years since the man once known as Christopher Raine had set foot on the desert planet. He paused as he stepped from the small airship onto the sandy ground. The last time he'd come to this place, he had sworn the oath that still held him to this day. Ice blue eyes regarded the landscape without emotion beneath an ebony hood as four men dressed in black padded flight suits stepped off the ship behind him. One of the men moved to stand next to the dark jedi, his arms crossing over his chest. The man’s name was Owen and Chris respected him where as he never did the others. The man was quick with a gun and quite the craftsman. Two large tri-barreled guns were holstered at his sides. They were his creations and he’d named them jedi-slayers, for good reason. Each gun could release up to three slugs filled with hundreds of small round and jagged pieces of buckshot. The theory was that even the most skilled jedi would not be able to block all three rounds. Each gun could hold six shots. Chris knew first hand how potent the weapon could be… When Owen had shown his prototype to Lady Raine, to his horror, she’d turned the loaded weapon on Chris and fired. She’d wanted to see it first hand and what better way then to use it as a test for her padawan at that time. Chris had been going through the trails of knighthood and she was constantly testing him without mercy. As Owen watched in shocked silence, Chris lit two small dual-bladed lightsabres and deflected madly. In the end Chris still stood - shaken, weak, and bloody after only one round. The click of the empty gun assured Chris that his aunt and master would have kept shooting had Owen loaded more then one round. It took the rest of the day for Chris to pull the many sharp, small pieces of shrapnel out of his flesh. He was only too happy he’d worn armor that day.

Owen and Chris had gained mutual respect for each other over the years. When Chris passed his trials and attained knighthood, he was told to choose his servants. Owen was the first chosen and had gladly accepted. He quickly rose to become Chris’s lieutenant. Lady Raine had granted Chris the name Lord Vair. No one, including Owen knew his true name.

Moments had passed in silence and Owen finally glanced at his lord. “Sir…” He spoke bluntly. Chris shifted his gaze to his lieutenant and moved a gauntleted hand to point towards the far hillside. “It is there. Lets go.” Without hesitation the two stepped forward and the others followed close behind.

Chris let his mind wander as he walked. He remembered his first meeting with Lady Raine, here upon this very planet and he remembered the oath he’d sworn to her. He’d traded his life for the life of the woman loved. She would live and would not be harmed by Lady Raine or anyone under her influence. In return he would become her student and hers to command. He’d accepted the deal that day without question and had spent the last five years discovering the depths of his pain tolerance. He’d also learned to perfect the meditation his prior jedi master Shimistra had taught him. With all the blood upon his hands now and all his aunt had taught him of the dark side, the meditation was one of the only things that kept him from truly falling – it kept him neutral. His fighting skills had become quick, precise, and deadly. When he engaged in battle, he locked a part of himself away in his mind and his body moved silently, without hesitation. It was the only way he could do what he did without slipping forever into darkness. ‘One step either way is all it takes…’ his old master Shimistra had told him long ago. Each night he meditated and worked to burn away the darkness that threatened to consume him…at least enough to stay neutral and keep the balance.

“There is a cave ahead my lord.” Owen whispered softly, his jade green eyes narrowing, his voice bringing Chris back to reality. Chris nodded, “The artifact we seek is inside.” He silently slipped the long metal dual-lighsabre staff from its sheath across his back. As he concentrated, a few feet on each end of the staff retracted into the midsection. All that was left appeared to be a normal dual-bladed lightsaber. Owen slipped his guns from their holsters and took up a position next to the cave entrance, slipping on a pair of infared glasses. After glancing within, Owen gave a quick wave. “Shall we?” Chris grinned as he walked purposefully inside. The other three un-holstered their blaster pistols and followed close behind.

Further inside the cave, a woman knelt within a small room, her hand lightly brushing aside ages of sand and dust to reveal a small square tile etched with ancient script. She lay a hand upon the stone and concentrated, the stone groaned against her palm as small particles of dust twirled up into the air from the crevices along its sides. Slowly the stone began to shift then rise as her hand lifted above it. As it finally lifted free, the woman caught her first glance of the small metal cube in the opening below.

Chris stopped abruptly in the dark hallway. He felt Owen do the same. He knew his luitenant was sensitive to the force. He’d known it for a long time now. It was the grin he knew was spreading across the man’s face that disturbed him. They’d both sensed the presence of the jedi long before they’d noticed the door at the end of the corridor. Chris glanced at Owen and saw the grin that he knew would be there. “We are not alone sir.” Owen whispered ever so softly. Chris nodded. He could hear the anticipation in Owen’s voice. Chris knew not what the jedi had done to make this man hate them so, but Owen certainly enjoyed his attempts to destroy them. Chris moved subtely in front of Owen as they made their way silently towards the doorway.

Slowly the jedi woman reached down and drew the artifact forth. The stone drifted back down into place as she examined the strange item. It was a holocron and she could feel the dark side eminating from it. It sickened her. She started to put it away when she heard the familiar sound of a lightsabre being ignited from the doorway behind her.

The dual-lightsabre Chris held had split perfectly down the center into two blades and then flared to life. The blades were the color of shadow except for the brief flash of azure light down the center which quickly faded. They hummed ominously as he stared at the kneeling jedi who’s back was to him. “I thank you for retrieving the artifact for me, jedi.” He whispered coldly. “For so kindly aiding me, I will see to it that your death is quick…”

The jedi’s eyes widened and her face paled. She’d recognized the man’s voice instantly as he’d called out to her. Slowly she stood and turned to face him. It had been just over five years since she’d last seen him or heard his voice. Five years with no word of his whereabouts. Five years of endless worrying. With deliberate slowness, she lowered the cowl of her robe and met his gaze. “You’ve already killed me once before, Christopher Raine.” The jedi known as Jelaket Darkwalker spoke in a soft whisper.

She could see nothing but his blue eyes beneath his dark hood…and they were so cold. Then something changed within their depths and she watched the recognition pass over him.

For a moment both stood unmoving and silent, then Owen aimed both guns at her. “Sir…?” He asked softly, his voice as cold as Chris’s had been a minute ago.

Ket watched as Chris slowly shut his eyes and she reached for her lightsabre, unsure what he meant to do. Her heart skipped beats as she watched his knuckles go white as he gripped his lightsabers. “NO.” He suddenly stated, loud and firm to his men. Then his head lowered a bit as he realized what he must do. Chris sensed Ket’s hand as it grazed over her lightsaber and could hear Owen’s fingers start to squeeze the triggers of his guns. There was a sudden hum as one of Chris’s lightsabres quickly lashed out, cutting cleanly through his lieutenant’s arms, severing them from the guns, then he jerked the blade back and severed Owen’s head.

“What the…” Was all the guard to his left was able to mutter in shock before Chris's second blade hummed through the air, cutting a path through his midsection. The two guards behind him didn’t even have time to take a step back as Chris twirled both blades and brought the unlit ends back against their chests. Only the momentary flash of azure light and the hum gave away the second blades as they ignited through the guard’s chests. Then all sound faded as all four blades retracted and he brought both ends back together, twirled the staff once until in lengthened and sheathed it across his back. It had all happened in under a minute and he’d barely moved.

Jelaket wasn’t even aware that she’d taken a step back, but her eyes had widened and were fixed on the dark jedi in front of her. There was a soft thud as both bodies finally slumped to the floor behind him. She watched as he slowly opened his eyes.

He felt only a momentary twinge of regret as he saw Owen’s head resting near her feet. He could not let her be harmed. His love for her was the only thing that kept him from falling completely, from losing himself forever to the darkness. She meant everything to him and he’d killed a man he’d come to respect without a second thought, simply because he knew the man would have harmed her.

She didn’t know what to say, her hand shook as it slipped from her lightsaber. She was too shocked to say anything. She'd just watched him slay four men in under a minute. Her lips parted to say something..anything, but she could find no words. Unbidden, a single tear traced a slow path down her cheek.

Chris moved closer and with a gentleness she could not believe a man could possess after such an act, gently wiped the tear from her cheek. His fingers lingering for a moment against her skin as if hesitant to break the contact. Her hand moved, her fingers curling around his. She felt him tremble at her touch.

He wanted to tell her why he’d killed them. He wanted to explain that he would die for her if it was required - but he could not form the words. Her mere touch had rendered him speechless.

Her free hand moved up to his hood and slowly lowered it. Her breath catching in her throat as she laid eyes upon his face for the first time in over 5 years. His black hair had grown long and he wore it tied back, though a few small, wild curls lay lazily upon his forehead.

Chris didn't know what to do as she reached forward and slowly lowered his hood. He could feel the tremble in her hands and hear the catch in her breath as she looked upon him. Her lovely hazel eyes were filling up with tears and he could not bear the look upon her face. That subtle mix of shock and horror still present from what he’d done earlier. He drew away from her slowly and turned, leaving her with but a whisper, “I’m sorry…it should not be like this.”