The ship carrying the rescue team sent to find Solin Malice landed on Malachor V. The team exited the ship together, scanning around for any signs of life. While they looked around, Sabe' spotted what appeared to be a building of some sort.
"Look over there," he said pointing. "That's probably the Dark Jedi academy. Solin is most likely in there."
"Yes, I believe I can feel his presence," Elocin said wisely. "It would do us well to remain cautious and stick together while we are in there. Keira, do you think you will be able to use your Battle Meditation in there?"
"Not if there are swarms of Dark Jedi," Keira answered. "I find that the Battle Meditation is useless when there are so many of them in one area. However, I think with the six of us, there shouldn't be a problem."
"Still, it wouldn't hurt to have Battle Mediation on our side," Elocin replied. "Okay, let's move in." Elocin turned to Y'not and Bazila. "You two, how are you planning on covering us?"
Because Y'not only communicated in his native Wookie language, Bazila spoke for the both of them.
"We each have two swords and a blaster rifle and blaster pistol on backup," she answered. "Y'not also has brute strength and can tear most enemies to shreds with very little effort."
Y'not growled proudly. Elocin spoke again. "Very good, now let's stop talking and get inside that temple."
With that, the group made their way towards the temple. When they reached the front doors, they found the door was sealed shut. The four Jedi walked closer to the door and lifted their hands up, concentrating heavily. Together, they slowly broke the door, breaking it apart far enough for them to enter the building. They entered the temple and were immediately surrounded by a large group of Dark Jedi. The Jedi smiled and ignited their lightsabers, Keira's blue, Ngema's Magenta, Sabe's yellow, and Elocin's orange. Y'not and Bazila quickly drew their swords and the rescue group attacked the Dark Jedi. Elocin fought close to Y'not and Bazila and noticed that they were taking down Dark Jedi a lot faster than the rest of them. Within minutes, all the Dark Jedi that had surrounded them lay dead. The Jedi deactivated their lightsabers, but kept them held.
"I had a feeling that would happen," Sabe' said. "But, we can't linger here for too long, we've got to keep moving if we are going to find Solin."
The group then proceeded down the hallway. As they made their way deeper and deeper into the academy, they found several more swarms of Dark Jedi. They killed each Dark Jedi that confronted them in quick, small battles. After they defeated the tenth wave of Dark Jedi, Keira spoke.
"I can sense that we are getting closer to Solin," she said. "I think we only have one more room to cross before we find him. I also sense that there is something, some barrier we will have to overcome in the next room. Are you all prepared to keep going?" The group nodded. "Okay, then let's move."
They opened the door leading to the next room. The door behind them closed and they ran toward the other door at the end, which happened to be open. When they got close to the door, it suddenly shut. They stopped running and turned around as they heard someone laughing and approaching footsteps. A man, wearing red robes of the Dark Jedi was walking toward them, laughing hysterically and clapping as though he were congratulating them.
"Very good, my friends," he said in a dark voice. "You've made it this far trying to get to your friend, well done."
"Who are you?" Keira demanded.
"I? I am Lord Tobos, third in command to Lord Nacluv."
"Where's Solin?" Sabe' asked.
"Your friend is in the next room," Tobos answered. "However, I will not allow you to pass."
"You won't have to," Elocin said, igniting her lightsaber. "You three!" she shouted to Sabe', Keira, and Ngema, "Get to Solin, go!" With a wave of her hand, she opened the door to the next chamber and then force-pushed Tobos back. Sabe', Keira, and Ngema ran out of the room and Elocin shut the door behind them. She, Y'not, and Bazila then cautiously approached Tobos, who was slowly getting up.
"Excellent work, Jedi," he laughed. "You may have let your friends pass through, but they won't survive the next chamber."
"Oh, I sense that they will," Elocin replied, smiling. "They have survived your master before and will do so again."
Tobos cackled. "Oh, he's not in there, Jedi. Your friend Solin is in there, waiting for them. He's turned over to our side and is ready to prove himself to our master, Lord Nacluv." With that, Tobos quickly drew out his own lightsaber and ignited a crimson red blade. With a battle cry, he leapt forward and started attacking Elocin who blocked all of his attacks. Y'not and Bazila drew their swords and started trying to attack Tobos from behind. Tobos laughed again. "You think you can defeat me?"
Meanwhile, Sabe', Keira, and Ngema made their way into the next chamber. They walked down a narrow walkway toward the center of the room, which they guessed was the very heart of the academy they were in. As they approached the center, they noticed a hooded figure, clad in a black cloak, sitting there mediating. When they reached the figure, he stood up and turned around, lowering his hood. It was Solin.
"Solin! Are you okay?"
Solin laughed, but it was not the laugh they used to hear from him. Instead, it was an evil laugh, full of hatred and malice.
"Of course I'm okay, Keira."
"What have they done to you?" Sabe asked.
"They didn't do anything to me, it was Vulcan who convinced me to turn to the Dark Side."
"No, Solin, tell me it's not true!" Ngema cried.
"Yes it's true, I am no longer a Jedi," Solin replied. With that, he raised his hand and blasted force lightning at Keira, knocking her to her feet. She lay on the ground in agony for a few minutes before getting back up again. "You see? If I was a Jedi, I would never have done that."
"But Solin," Sabe' said. "You know what you are doing is wrong, you can sill come back to the Light Side."
"No, my former master. I don't know that what I'm doing is wrong. I think it's right. And now, I am going to prove myself to Vulcan by killing you!" Solin shouted before throwing off his cloak and drawing out a lightsaber. Keira noticed that it was the same lightsaber he had as a Jedi and guessed right before he ignited it that the blade had changed. Solin ignited a blood red blade before letting out a bellow of fury and leaping toward his former comrades. The Jedi quickly ignited their lightsabers and dropped into battle stances. Solin aimed for Keira who easily blocked his attack and pushed him back with her body weight.
Back in the chamber outside, Elocin, Y'not, and Bazila continued to fight Tobos valiantly. Tobos was equal in power to all three of them on his own and didn't seem to be wearing down at all. In one swift move, he kicked Elocin over and then faced Bazila and Y'not. Quickly, he force-pushed Y'not back as far as he could and advanced on Bazila. Bazila defended herself against Tobos, but started wearing down quickly. Elocin got back on her feet and advanced on the Dark Lord. Tobos then swung his lightsaber and made contact with Bazila's leg, causing her to fall to the ground. Y'not howled in rage and ran toward Tobos, both his swords raised to kill. Tobos turned toward Y'not and lifted a hand in a choking matter. Y'not stopped, dropped his swords and clutched his throat - Tobos was force choking him.
Elocin then caught Tobos' attention by speaking to him. "Tobos!" he turned to face her, still choking Y'not. "Dodge this!" With a wave of her hand, she flung a table at Tobos who jumped out of the way to avoid it.
"You filthy Jedi!" Tobos shrieked, and started advancing on Elocin. He didn't notice that Y'not had quickly recovered and was slowly and stealthily following him. Elocin smiled and deactivated her lightsaber. Tobos raised his and smiled his evil smile. "Do you give up, do you want me to kill you now?"
"No, you won't be able to," Elocin said, laughing now.
"What do-" Tobos started, but before he could finish, Y'not had grabbed him from behind. The Wookie growled in anger as he lifted the struggling Tobos off his feet. Tobos dropped his lightsaber and made to use a force power against Y'not but Y'not quickly wrapped his hand around Tobos' neck, returning the favor of being chocked. Bazila got up with help from Elocin and limped over to Y'not who cooed at the sight of his partner. Y'not kept Tobos held by the throat until he fainted and then dropped him.
Solin continued his attack on his former friends. Even with their own individual powerful talents, Keira's fighting skills, Ngema's command over the force, and Sabe's combination of the two, the Jedi were still almost nothing in power compared to him. Solin then quickly kicked over Sabe' and turned his attention to his former apprentice and her own apprentice. He laughed evilly and force-pushed Ngema far back, knocking her against a wall. He then leaped toward Keira who put up a vicious counter-attack. The two fought one-on-one while Sabe' ran over to Ngema and helped her up. Suddenly, Keira kicked Solin in the chest and knocked him back, sending his lightsaber flying ten feet from him. Keira then pointed her blade at Solin's throat. Ngema and Sabe' relit their lightsabers and stood next to Keira, their blades pointed at Solin. Solin had a panicked look upon his face.
"Now Solin," Keira said. "You will come with us and turn away from the Dark Side forever!"
Solin laughed again. "No," he said in his most evil voice. "No, no, no, YOU WILL FAIL!" With that, he unleashed a wave of the force and pushed the three Jedi all across the room. He then quickly grabbed his lightsaber and ran along the pathway leading to the adjacent corridor. The Jedi quickly recovered, lit their lightsabers, and ran after Solin, using force speed to try and catch up with him. Solin blasted open the door with an almost lazy wave of his hand and ran into the corridor. He saw Tobos lying on the ground and noticed Elocin and her companions. Quickly, he force-pushed all of them out of his way with one movement of his hand and ran to Tobos. He kicked Tobos awake, who jumped up instantly, calling his own lightsaber to him. A red cloud of smoke then appeared around Solin and Tobos, signaling that they were going to force-apparate out. Solin then shouted, "WE'LL MEET AGAIN, MY OLD FRIENDS!" as Sabe', Keira, and Ngema ran into the room. He then laughed again and disappeared with Tobos.
Sabe', Keira, and Ngema came to a halt right as Solin disappeared. "NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" Keira screamed.
"It's okay, Keira," Elocin said. "We now know what's become of Solin and we can try to stop him and turn him back with the approval of the council to go after him."
"But he won't turn back!" Keira cried.
"Don't say that, Keira," Sabe' said soothingly. "There is always hope for anyone who has turned to the Dark Side, even someone delved so deep in it as Solin or Vulcan."
"Now, we must move," Elocin said. "We have to get out of here and report to the council what we found. I also what to report to them that I have found two possible candidates to join our Order," she finished, gesturing at Y'not and Bazila. "These two have shown strength equal to many on the Jedi Council and they would both prove to be valuable assets. Now, let's move out."
The group left the academy, not encountering any Dark Jedi along the way. When Ngema pointed this out, Sabe' offered an explanation.
"Solin will have sent a message to them, ordering them all to get out while we stayed in the building," he explained. "It is likely that he fears all of our powers against him and that's why he escaped with Tobos."
They made their way toward their ship. Once on board, Sabe' advised everyone to relax and heal any injuries they had. Keira went back to her room and sat down on her bed. As she sat down, she thought about what might happen to Solin if they met again and wondered if it was possible that he could be saved….
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