Axe to a Tree

Furi rushed forwards, stabbing with his lightsaber. I easily swatted it to the side as Nefarid followed up.

I swing my right blade back to the right. My left blade followed as it was now attached. Nefarid's chop was blocked and Furi was forced to jump back in an effort to keep his head.

Nefarid took a step back as well. They both eyed me with great caution. They knew the same thing I did.

I frowned. "Even the two of you are no match for me. Why delay the inevitable?"

Nefarid's eye started darting around the room as Furi twirled his lightsaber and resumed his assault. I met him halfway as Nefarid circled around to flank me from behind.

Furi chopped at me with his lightsaber. I quickly sidestepped and stabbed at him. He pulled his lightsaber back up and deflected the stab.

Nefarid then slashed from behind me. I kicked out at Furi with my left foot as I spun around and held my lightsaber vertically to block the slash.

Furi stumbled backwards a few stops as Nefarid and I were now stuck in a deadlock. I overpowered him after about a second and spun my lightsaber to slash at his legs. Nefarid quickly recovered and blocked the slash with an outward slash of his own.

He then lifted his saber in the air and chopped at me. I raised my lightsaber and blocked the chop with my left blade.

I heard a scream from behind me as Furi attempted to strike me from behind. I pushed Nefarid's lightsaber to the right as I spun around to block Furi's attack with my right blade.

With Furi completely unguarded, I stepped forward once more and stabbed at him. This time, my lightsaber pierced right through his chest.

His lightsaber fell from his hand and deactivated as it hit the floor. I turned my head towards my other opponent just to see him running towards the door. I couldn't catch him now.

I then turned towards my padawan. He was currently sitting on Thana's back as he watched me fight.

I scoffed as I pulled my lightsaber out of Furi and deactivated it. "Show off."

Sirius shrugged and stood up. "Skill issue."

I rolled my eyes as I twisted my hilts to detach them. Then I clipped them back to my belt before turning to Furi who was now lying in the filth on the floor. He was laughing as his life force dwindled.

I furrowed my brow. "What's so funny?"

Furi grinned as he looked up at me with resolve in his eyes. "My master will destroy your pathetic guild."

I looked around at the intoxicated men cowering in fear. "We'll see."

My eyes remained locked with his as one final breath escaped his mouth. He was dead, but not for long. He and Thana would respawn. Nefarid was wise to escape.

I held out my hands and pulled the two now dead Sith's lightsaber into my palms. I opened a pouch on the back of my belt and place them inside. Then I glanced at my padawan before turning towards the doors. "Come."

Sirius nodded and followed behind me quietly.

I walked up to the caged window. The man behind it was shivering in fear. I pulled my claim ticket from my pocket along with a few credits. "Our blasters, please."

The man paused for a few moments, but then pulled the blasters from under the counter. He then slid them through the window.

I clipped my rifle back to my vest and slid my pistol into its holster. Then I stepped through the already open doors.

Aside from the unsightly dead body and the passed-out Forest personnel, there was no one. The streets were now empty.

I smiled at the fact that we were now outside of that wretched place. I tapped my ear. "Alpha 1, what is your heading?"

Tomas quickly replied. "Enroute to objective C."

I nodded. "I'll see you there."

I tapped my ear once again and started walking North. The two of us walked in silence for a few minutes.

Glancing at my padawan, I noticed a displeased expression on his face. With a sigh, I let my curiosity win. "What's wrong?"

Sirius remained silent for several seconds. "Master, how are you so powerful?"

My eyes widened as I fell into deep thought. Upon truly thinking about it, my growth was extremely freakish. In just a year and half, I was able to equal a fresh Sith Lord in combat ability. Most Jedi begin training as toddlers and will never reach the level I was on.

I thought back to before May of 2054. Prior to the game coming out, I didn't even know how to hold a sword, let alone use the force.

I smiled wryly. "Well, I'd have to chalk it up to luck."

Sirius furrowed his brow. I could feel his confusion and dissatisfaction with that answer. "How could you call this luck? I, for instance, was an experienced sword practitioner prior to becoming your padawan. I've only come so far with the force due to you."

I shrugged. "The only fighting experience I had prior to all this was an MMA class I took in college. Other than that, I think it was my luck in being selected for the expedited officer training course."

Sirius was now curious. "Officer training course?"

I sighed. "Ah, I never told you about that."

Sirius nodded. "Yes. You have failed to mention it."

I smiled. "Well, aside from being the place where I met Violet, I experienced several lifetimes worth of combat and leadership in the span of a week. I learned how to fight, shoot, and lead without lifting a finger. Unfortunately, something changed, and they had to shut it down after just a few months of operation."

Sirius shook his head. "That still doesn't explain your talent as a Jedi."

I nodded. "No. No it does not… I have no explanation for that."