The Clone Wars: Knightfall _ Vol 7.1

The Clone Wars: Knightfall _ Volume 7.1

Bright hues of Blue and Gold cascaded down from the high ceilings above the Sanctum, deep under the Jedi Temple. The colors trailed the pillars to the floor, rich ethereal blues ascending into the golden shine above; colors for which the Temple Guardians were renowned. The brightness serving as an eternal reminder to all Jedi who pass beneath, that light is the path of the resolute. The walls, though vacant of intricate design, were laden with very small stones that shift while glimmering. Not a single day looked the same in this room, the light forever altering as does the will of the force.

Alone in the spacious atrium, Master Guardian, Shakkra Kien, abounds towards his fallen Jedi nemesis, Anakin Skywalker. Seemingly alone, the pair clash in the center of the chamber! Blue and gold lightsaber blades flash brilliantly whilst hissing violently with each flurry of rapid strokes. The room morphs! The tiny, rare gems within the walls absorbing not only the gold and blue light of battling blades, but the white flashes from each saber assault. Glimmers dazzle every surface.
Master Kien remained silent through their contest of skill. His breath remained calm, nonexistent. Even in his near-blind state of fury, Vader was taken back by the tenacious skill of Shakkra Kien. On several instances Vader’s heavy brown robe met the singeing golden blades.

In darkness, the 501st waits with bated breath. Clone troopers on edge biding their time until signaled by the hooded figure to strike their killing blow. An odd aura developed among the troopers. Many felt justice for the thousands upon thousands of BROTHERS lead to their eternal fate by Jedi generals, many others following orders believing it to be the execution of oath and duty. Then there were the slight few who stood intermingled believing a horrible wrongdoing was being carried out. To this few, these orders did not make sense, but for the moment they were not in a position to oppose them; at least not yet…

Vader’s strokes fell well aimed, but were incapable to pierce Kien’s defensive vale. Again and again the embodiment of evil lashed out in offense. Raising his hands over his hood, Vader slammed his arms vertically down, but the Chagrian’s stamina remained boldly unwavering. Countering, Kien tightly gripped his dual bladed hilt forming a clenched fist. Squeezing, he force pushed himself from the floor – propelling the double blades at high speed to counter and flip. In conjunction, the guardian expertly used his blue blade, thrusting through the golden haze with sniping accuracy. Vader remained on his heels, retreating, his domain threatened.

Like a stone through a large pane of glass, Shakkra Kien had shattered Vader’s aggressive attack! At no point during the operation against the temple had the Dark Lord been threatened in such a way. Kien kept the momentum, plunging his blue blade towards each opening he saw available. If Vader’s passion was hot, Kien’s composure was ice cold with focus. Swiping left, he harshly drove Vader’s saber aside; following with a spiral high kick to his hooded throat! With a thud Vader’s shrouded body slammed against the floor. Not taking a moment to feel the pain, the sprawled figure reignited his saber, slashing it across the floor! Leaping backward in the air, Kien momentarily curled up as he spun backward. Rolling to his back before righting himself, Vader’s feet hit the marble with a pronounced, echoing click.

Before the echo finished bouncing off the immense walls, Shakkra Kien’s feet hit the deck from which he rebounded, hurling sprawled hands forward! A powerful force blast was unleashed, launching Vader again off his feet toward the darkness from whence he came minutes prior. Standing tall, the lightly robed figure continued Vader’s expulsion, “Betrayer, leave!...or be vanquished. The choice is yours, but not for long!”

Vader raised himself. Stretching his shoulders back then rolling his head to the side, “I’ll only leave when every last one of you is given an end!! Understand…your pride is here to bring this temple down upon you!”

“Pride has only been yours young one…” Kien challenged, nearing Vader who stood in the middle of a tremendous dark gap. Unyielding, Vader looked on. Kien was within a strike of the Sith whose saber was not ignited. “It’s not wise to lower your defenses Sith..” The guardian struck an aggressive stance, preparing his next move.

Vader raised his saber, a slight arrogant grin growing from the corner of his lips. With a click of the ignition switch, the blue blade extending slowly upward. As it did, the blade illuminated what stood behind him…rank after rank of clone troopers at the ready…