Fully caught up here now like with the other sites. Enjoy:

  xRSxxRSxxRSx

  I sat in the co-pilot’s seat of Pre’s ship, idling just outside the Mandalore system. The viewport showed a sea of stars, the hum of the engines a low pulse through the durasteel deck. My armor felt snug against my shoulders, beskad sheathed at my hip, jetpack secured in the cargo hold. Pre stood at the controls, his helmet off, face lined with focus as he adjusted the nav system. The cabin was quiet, save for the soft beeps of the console and the faint crackle of our comms.

  “Kan’ika,” Pre said, his voice steady. “You said you needed time, did you find an answer?”

  The question had been where I was to carry out my Verd'goten. I had not known, so had meditated on the matter earlier in the day, and to my great relief, I had gotten an answer.

  A vision had came, of a gas giant, red and turbulent, and I knew what it was, I could recognize it like it was yesterday when I first watched A New Hope; Yavin, a planet that any Star Wars fan would have recognized. One of its moons hung in view, green and shrouded, its surface dense with jungle. A shadow had moved across it, its presence cold in the Force. An echo of a roar followed, primal and raw, then a shout of fury; human, filled with defiance. Silence fell, heavy and final, broken only by the sight of a figure standing in a clearing, a dripping blade of light in hand.

  I opened my eyes, the vision lingering. Pre watched me, his gaze steady. “Where?”

  “Yavin IV,” I said, voice firm. “One of Yavin's moons.”

  Pre nodded, no questions, and punched coordinates into the nav computer. The ship’s engines thrummed louder, and the stars blurred as we jumped to hyperspace, heading for the moon.

  xRSxxRSxxRSx

  I stood by the exit ramp of Pre’s gunship, the hull vibrating as we entered the atmosphere of Yavin’s moon. My armor was completely decked out, blaster holstered at my hip, my beskad sheathed on my back, a vibroknife strapped to my thigh, and my original sword on my lower back. My belt carried explosives: six low-yield detonators, one high yield thermal detonator, and two concussion charges. The repulsor jetpack was secured to my back, its weight balanced. A sealed pouch held the Holocron, pressing against my side. An emergency beacon hung beside it, ready to signal Pre for pickup. Three days’ worth of water in a canteen and ration packs were tucked into a satchel. Two small scout drones, each the size of a fist, were clipped to my harness for monitoring.

  My goal was to kill something big and to survive for 2 weeks.

  The ship rumbled suddenly, the air thick with recycled oxygen and the faint burn of hot metal from the engines.

  Pre’s voice crackled through my comms. “We’re above the landing spot.”

  “Loud and clear,” I replied, gripping the ramp’s edge, boots braced against the deck. My heart beat steady, the Force humming through me, and I was ready for action.

  The ramp hissed open, revealing the moon’s surface far below, a sea of green jungle under a gray sky, clouds heavy with the threat of rain. Pre’s voice came again. “Good luck.”

  I grinned under my helmet. “Any tips, buir?”

  “Don’t die,” he said, his tone flat but firm, a soldier’s command. But I could sense the very minute hint of humour coming from him. He knew I'd follow that order.

  “Affirmative, sir.” I stepped to the edge, took a deep breath, and jumped.

  The wind roared, slamming against my armor as I free-fell. My helmet’s audio receptors muffled the howl, the air rushing past in a near deafening surge. I let out a wild yell, the thrill coursing through me, my pulse spiking as the jungle closed in. The ground was a blur of green and brown, vines and trees tangling below. At the last second, I activated my jetpack, thrusters flaring blue with a sharp whine. The inertia dampener engaged, slowing my descent, and I landed with a firm impact, boots sinking into the muck. The shock barely registered, my armor and the Force absorbing the jolt.

  I then stood, scanning the jungle. Towering trees blocked most of the sky, their canopies thick with leaves and the vines draping across like curtains. The air was heavy, humid, smelling of wet earth even through my helmet, along with rotting plants, and something sharp. I cast out my senses, the Force opening like a floodgate. The feedback hit hard; the moon teemed with life, a pulsing, saturated web of it. Creatures moved in the underbrush, their presence sharp, some curious, others predatory. A distant roar echoed, faint but deep, stirring the Force with a ripple of danger.

  I unslung my carbine, gripping it low, and my head on a swivel. My boots crunched through the mud and brush, each step deliberate as I moved forward. The jungle was alive, and every rustle was a potential threat.

  With that, I waded the rest of the way into the jungle.

  The trees thickened as I traveled deeper, their trunks gnarled and the roots twisting underfoot enough where I had to be mindful. The Force guided my steps, alerting me to uneven ground or hidden vines. A branch snapped to my left, and I froze, carbine raised. My senses showed it was a small creature, some kind of rodent, darting away. I relaxed slightly, moving on. The air grew heavier, the humidity clinging to my armor and condensation already beading on my visor. I wiped it clear.

  Pre’s words echoed in my mind, short and to the point. Don’t die. About as simple and direct as one could get.

  I checked my gear again. The Holocron was secure, and I would need Malgus' guidance when I was likely to forge my saber. The emergency beacon was a last resort, because I’d rather die than use it early. The rations and water would hold me for three days, but I’d need to find more if the trial ran longer. The explosives were a fallback, and I hoped I wouldn't need to use them.

  A low growl sounded to my left, closer this time. I stopped, crouching behind a tree and reaching out with the Force, pinpointing the source. It was something large, moving through the underbrush. My grip tightened on my blaster, my other hand hovering near a grenade. I moved forward, slow and silent, the Force guiding me through the jungle’s heart.

  Narrowing my eyes, I reached through the Force again and sensed it wasn't just something large, but was also predator minded. Best to avoid it or to go fast and loud.

  Before I could decide on the route of attack, it moved away, not paying mind to me.

  Shrugging at that, I glanced up at the tree nearest to me, I mag locked my blaster to free up my hands, coiled the Force around me, and leaped up to one of the branches close to 30 or so meters up. I stuck the landing, getting a better vantage point and I looked around some more.

  I tapped my bracer, activating the holo display. A map of the moon’s surface flickered to life, pieced together from scout data and my own scans. I scrolled through it, noting rivers, clearings, and a cluster of ruins marked as a temple. My gut tightened at the sight of it because I knew what was likely to be there; Exar Kun’s presence lingered there, and I was going to avoid it like the plague. His power could dominate and crush my mind in seconds, so I tagged the temple as a no-go zone, my finger jabbing the display. Fuck all the way off with that. The Verd’goten was dangerous enough without stumbling into that of all things.

  I dismissed the holo and moved, leaping to the next tree. The Force guided my jump, my body a blur as I landed on another branch, gripping the bark to steady myself. The jungle pulsed below, alive with tons of unseen threats. I kept moving, tree to tree, my jetpack unused for now. Each jump was calculated, the Force sharpening my balance, though twice I slipped on some slick moss, my boots skidding. Though thankfully I regained my footing before falling.

  Hours passed, the sun sinking until the sky darkened to a bruised purple. I leaped to a thicker branch, pausing to catch my breath. Night was falling, and the jungle would shift with the nocturnal hunters waking. I needed to stay sharp.

  I crouched, closing my eyes, and dug deep into the Force. I took a slow breath, letting it flow through me, invigorating every muscle, sharpening every thought. My mind honed to a blade’s edge, my will imposing order on the Force’s chaos. The exhaustion from hours of leaping faded, replaced by clarity. I could go days without sleep now, my senses heightened to catch any predator trying to sneak up.

  I opened my eyes, the darkness not a barrier to my sight. My visor showed a clearing ahead, maybe a place to rest or hunt. I leaped again, moving through the canopy, my boots finding purchase on each branch. The Force continued to guide me, warning of weak limbs or unsteady footing.

  Another hour passed.

  I slipped again, the large branch I landed on slick with sap. My boots slid, my heart lurching, but I shifted my balance to regain my footing, scowling and then running again. I landed on the next tree, cursing under my breath.

  I paused on a wide branch, checking my holo map again. The temple was far to the north, still tagged red. I marked my current position, a rough path forming in my mind. The Force tugged me west, a faint pull, like a whisper of intent.

  Whatever I was meant to hunt was there. I leaped again, the Force carrying me through the dark.

  The jungle’s life pressed harder now, a greater number of the nocturnal predators waking and out and about. A distant roar echoed, not the one from my vision but close enough to raise my hackles. I drew a blaster, keeping it low, and moved faster, leaping from tree to tree. Something was out there, watching. I could feel it in the Force, a presence stalking the edges of my awareness.

  I landed on another branch, crouching low and the joints of my armour creaked faintly. The Force gave a faint whisper, warning me of movement below. I held still, blaster ready, but it didn’t climb. Not yet. I marked its path on the map, keeping west.

  I leaped again, the jungle swallowing me up in its embrace, the night alive with danger. My senses stayed sharp, the Force giving me sight and sense where I otherwise would not have it. Whatever waited, I’d face it.

  The trial demanded nothing less.

  xRSxxRSxxRSx

  Nothing. Fucking nothing.

  The hunt was a bust, the animal being hardly larger than a fucking horse and a prey animal at that judging by the furry creature's blunt teeth. Nowhere near the quarry I required. So I left it be eaten by whatever lucky scavenger happened across it and I would find something else to hunt.

  I decided to set up for the night. The branch where I was currently situated was wide, sturdy enough to hold me. I mag-locked my carbine to my side, unclipped my helmet, and pulled it off. The humid air hit my face, warm and heavy, carrying the scent of moss and earth. I clipped the helmet to my harness and reached for my satchel, pulling out the canteen. I took a swig, the cool liquid cutting through the jungle’s stickiness, then sealed it back. Grabbing a ration pack from my belt and tearing it open, I bit off a chunk, chewing slowly, the taste bland but functional like others I'd eaten in both this life and my old one. Three days’ worth would hold, but I’d need to hunt eventually.

  Maybe I shouldn't have gotten angry and been spiteful about the damn animal.

  I leaned back against the trunk, the bark scraping against my armor as I looked up and down, sensing the world around me. My mental and physical fortification from earlier held firm still, the effort letting me go days without sleep, and my senses were on high alert.

  I popped my helmet back on, the HUD flickering to life, and checked my surroundings visually and through the Force. Still clear. The jungle’s pulse was steady, but the Force tugged faintly, like a whisper of intent. I settled in, blaster in hand, ready for whatever came next.

  My mind drifted then, as I looked around at the planet. This planet was in a way, the Bethlehem of the Star Wars universe. Not the birthplace of the messianic figure of the setting, but the catalyst of the dating system, an event that occurred at the location and changed the course of history.

  Before and After the Battle of Yavin.

  And, just like so many other planets that were movie original, authors loved to stack more shit into specific planets like Tatooine and here. The rebel base, but also where an eldritch Sith horror resided, and the location of Luke's Jedi Temple had been.

  Speaking of my now never to exist nephew, the thought of Luke felt… odd. As a kid, he was my preferred Jedi and I loved the books of that time frame.

  I let out a scoff, my ass firmly planted on the branch with my left leg curled up to my chest. If only I had been reincarnated as Luke, what a sight the galaxy would have been. Trained under Kenobi instead of planning to fight and kill him, even more powerful than I could be now, and a redhead that would try and fail to kill me before ending up in my bed. And with plenty of conflict to satisfy my desire for combat.

  But alas, this was the waking world in which I lived. No need to cry, and no need to dream.

  Me from before would've been disgusted with what I had become. Not even a dark sider, because I know what I am. No, it was the banality of my cruelty in the corps. Or… fuck, I let out a genuine snicker as a random, stupid memory rose to the forefront of my mind, spurred on by memories of service in North Africa.

  It was a memory of when I was discussing things with Samuel, the resident pagan of our squad, with the tattoos, sterling silver mjolnir necklace, and so on. He had loved Star Wars too, and we had discussed it out of profound boredom when on patrol.

  He, without any hesitation, when talking about reincarnation, said he'd have fucked Jaina even if he were Jacen. He was a fucking menace…

  And I missed him.

  I missed so many people, and it hit me with a clarity now that hadn't been the case for quite some time. I had always been on the move, training, fighting, preparing, and active for quite some time non-stop. But now, I had nothing but my own thoughts and the Force sharpening every thought and sensation sparking through my being.

  I shifted on the branch and cast my senses out again. The jungle had shifted with nightfall, the nocturnal animals now awake and moving. The Force hummed, alive with their presence, and I detected the sharp, darting pulses from smaller creatures, while heavier thumps came from predators stalking below. A low growl echoed, distant but close enough to raise my guard once again.

  Leaning back some, I adjusted my grip on the blaster, settling my shoulders against the tree. The night was long, but I was ready. The Force kept me sharp, my mind perfectly clear. Now, I just needed to wait out the night and get started again tomorrow.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  xRSxxRSxxRSx

  Day 3 broke with the jungle's heat already rising up in a horrendous fog, the air thick and wet as I pushed through the underbrush. I'd hunted for two days, following the Force's pull, killing smaller beasts for food and avoiding the temple's shadow. Rations were half gone now, water low because I hadn't filled it today, but the Force kept me going, its flow a steady burn in my muscles. Now, I was dead sprinting, the Force enhancing every step, my boots pounding the muck as I evaded what was currently pursuing me.

  They'd come at early dawn, a giant pack of reptilian dog things, with scaled hides the color of mud, jaws full of jagged teeth, eyes yellow and slitted. Twenty or so, I couldn't tell from quick sensing, their howls a rasping chorus that cut through the trees. I'd killed three with an already partially collapsed tree that I brought the rest of the way down with the Force, but they were relentless and pissed, their pack oriented minds driven by hunger, claws tearing the ground up as they chased. The Force kept me ahead, my legs moving in a blur, dodging vines and roots that could trip me.

  The jungle blurred around me, leaves slapping against my armor, and mud splashing under my boots. My jetpack stayed off to save energy, the explosives on my belt rattling with each stride. The pack's howls grew closer, their breaths heavy, claws scraping bark as they leaped after me. I felt their intent in the Force, a wave of feral hunger, but I stayed ahead, the Force pumping through my body, turning fatigue and need into fuel and winging my feet.

  I cleared over a creekbed in a single bound, the water shallow and muddy below, my leap Force-assisted to gain extra distance. I stopped on the far bank and pulled my beskad, the blade sliding free of the mag-lock with a smooth movement. The pack surged across, their scaled forms splashing through the stream, water flying. I dashed forward, snarling, shifting to the side as the lead one lunged, its jaws snapping. Its claws screeched against my armor, scoring the plate on my shoulder, the vibration jarring my arm. But I sliced clean through its flank, the blade biting deep, disemboweling it in one motion. Greenish blood sprayed, the creature's guts spilling as it let out a rasping screech, its body crumpling to the mud.

  I twirled, the Force guiding my spin, and blasted another back with a wave of my hand. The invisible push hit it like a wall, sending it tumbling into the creek, water splashing as it thrashed. A third leaped, snout snapping out at me. I slashed across its muzzle, the blade sinking in, blood spattering across my armour and visor as it yelped and recoiled, its face split open. I then pulled my pistol, shooting twice at another, the bolts hitting its hide and scorching the scales. It yelped in pain, but the thick skin held and it didn't drop. It shook off the pain, snarling and circling me.

  I holstered the pistol, obviously being useless against them, and gripped my beskad tighter, relying on the blade and my agility.

  About seven more closed in, their howls rising, saliva dripping from their jaws. I broke into a sprint again, gritting my teeth as I gained distance, the Force pushing my speed beyond normal limits. My boots pounded the ground, mud flying, trees whizzing past. The pack pursued, their claws tearing through the underbrush, branches snapping underfoot. The jungle seemed to close in, vines hanging low, roots twisting up to snag my feet. I leaped over a fallen log, the Force carrying me farther, landing with a roll to keep momentum. Their rasps grew fainter but persistent, the pack's endurance matching my own.

  I weaved through a thicket, the leaves slapping my visor, the Force warning of a root ahead. I jumped it, keeping my pace. The thrill burned hot, my breaths coming steady despite the run thanks to the Force. The pack was smart, splitting to flank me, their howls coordinating. I sensed one cutting left, another to the right, trying to box me in. I veered sharp, the Force guiding my turn, and broke through a wall of vines into open ground. The creekbed was behind me, the jungle opening to a stretch of ferns and scattered trees. I pushed harder, the Force surging in my legs, but the pack was gaining.

  One jumped onto a tree, claws digging into bark with a screech, then launched at a different angle than I thought and it landed on my back before I could dodge, slamming me to the ground hard. Mud splashed, my faceplate hitting the muck, and the impact drove the air from my lungs. Its weight pressed down, claws raking my jetpack, the metal groaning loudly as I failed to get out from under it, being driven deeper into the muck. I twisted and yelled out a cry of fury, my beskad sinking into its gut, the blade piercing deep through scales and flesh before I felt it scrape across its spine. It screeched, feral rage and pain flooding through the Force, a hot wave that made my teeth clench, its agony mirroring my own determination. Greenish blood poured over my arm, sticky and I almost feel the warmth of it spilling over my fingers.

  I shoved it off, muscles straining despite the Force amplifying my strength, and my blade dragged down as the crushing weight was suddenly gone now. The creature rolled away, thrashing with its guts trailing. I pulled the beskad free, the blade dripping blood. I rolled to my feet, seeing the pack surrounding me. Multiple yellow eyes locked on, circling me, growls and snarls low and threatening. They were cautious now, the dead ones a clear and open warning, but hunger drove them and I wasn't looking to be a meal.

  I snarled, “Come on!” and grabbed one mentally through the Force, my hand clenching like I was crushing down on something within my grasp.

  I smashed its will to pieces, the creature convulsing as its mind fractured like glass under a hammer that was my will. It dropped, twitching randomly. The others rushed, jaws snapping as they lunged with claws extended. I triggered my jetpack, thrusters flaring with a roar, shooting up into the air. The wind howled, the ground falling away and the pack was now below me. I then shot downward, the Force guiding my aim, and sank my blade hilt-deep into another's skull as I landed on top of it at full speed. The strike crunched through bone and sank half the blade through its head and the creature collapsed in a heap, its body going limp like a puppet with its strings cut.

  I straightened and pushed another with a TK blast from my off hand, the Force hitting it hard enough to slam against a tree, the trunk cracking with the impact. The beast slumped, bones broken and it didn't get up. I then hopped off the one I killed, Beskad raised and ready for more.

  The remaining five scattered, howls turning to yips as they fled into the underbrush, tails low. I looked around, beskad dripping, chest heaving, the Force still humming in my veins. The thrill faded, leaving the ache in my back where I had been thrown to the ground.

  I wiped the blade on a giant leaf, getting as much of the blood off as I could before I sheathed it on my back, and scanned the area. The dead lay scattered, greenish blood pooling in the mud, the air almost thick with the scent of death.

  I took a breath, the adrenaline easing, and moved on.

  The sun climbed higher, heat building under my armor despite the AC. I leaped over a fallen tree, the Force carrying me, and landed with a soft thud. The pack's attack had cost time, time I couldn't afford to lose. I checked my bracer's holo display, the map flickering. The temple was still red-tagged, far off. My position blinked, the path ahead dense but open enough for speed.

  I sprinted again, the Force enhancing my strides, dodging vines that could snag my feet. The jungle's sounds returned, birds calling from the canopy, insects buzzing near my visor. A distant roar echoed, its presence a faint ripple in the Force. I ignored it, focusing on the pull. The ground sloped down, the muck giving way to harder soil, trees thinning slightly. I leaped to a low branch, using it to swing forward, the Force guiding my grip.

  Hours passed, the sun peaking and starting its descent. My breaths stayed steady, the Force keeping any fatigue at bay. I slipped once on a slick root, my boot sliding, but I righted myself before falling with a scowl. I landed, weapon raised and scanning for threats. The jungle was alive, but nothing pursued. The Force's tug intensified, a steady beat like a drum echoing the beats of my heart.

  I was close.

  I reached a clearing, the ground soft with grass, trees circled around it. The pull stopped here, the Force quieting. I crouched at the edge, carbine low, senses cast out.

  What was I brought here for?

  It wasn't a special area, just an area with no trees and what seemed to be a few weathered rocks from where a building was at. So I wasn't sure what it was, or why I felt the pull to come here.

  Creeping slowly, I stayed alert as I looked around and reached out with the Force, my hand outstretched and index finger up to sense better. There was something negative in the air, and it was stronger here than before. But why would I feel the need t-

  Suddenly, the roar I had felt before came back… and it was coming towards me from the east.

  “Shit.” Was all I could say as the presence suddenly seemed to explode out, making me almost stagger from it as it cast a shadow of darkness over my senses that had me stepping back suddenly. The ground beneath my feet rumbled, and I realized that whatever was coming towards me was beneath my feet.

  It was a trap. Whatever pulled me here was a damned trap!

  The Force suddenly screamed a warning and I darted to my left, practically flying forward as something large and snake-like ripped up from the underground and sent dirt, water, and plants flying with a loud boom.

  Whirling on my heel, I looked up at it and my eyes widened in shock, the closest thing to dread almost overwhelming me at the sight of the monstrosity in front of me.

  It was huge, easily over 100 meters long of what was visible, extremely broad, and resembled a ridiculously huge snake on steroids. Its eyes were a glistening molten gold, and its scales a dark purple.

  Dirt and debris clung to it as it looked around, slowly falling off as it adjusted to the light.

  It sniffed for a moment, before it immediately turned to look at me. Its jaw unhinged, revealing rows of teeth and a mouth big enough to bite a speeder in half, and lunged forward at me.

  I shot to the side, barely avoiding it as it clamped down on the spot I was at, tearing into the earth with a loud snap and its body whirled and writhed, part of it hitting me before I could dodge in time and I was sent crashing to the ground.

  Scrambling to my feet, I activated my jetpack and shot up into the air, avoiding another bite that tore into the ground where I was just at, my boots skimming against the crown of its head from my narrow evasion. I hovered above it for only a split second, my HUD lighting it up fully, and I pulled my Beskad, shooting down full force and driving it into this fucking thing's head.

  Only for the beskar blade to skid off its skull and barely cut into the hide.

  I stumbled and fell off the beast as it thrashed in rage, its body twisting with a deafening screech that shook the trees. My boots slipped on its slick scales and I barely landed properly, the Force surging to steady my fall. My knees buckled as I hit the mud, the impact jarring my bones despite the armor's padding. Fear filled me, a cold cloak around me as I scrambled to my feet, sprinting with the assistance of the Force to propel my strides, dodging vines and roots as I plunged into the jungle because there was no way to kill this thing unless I kept running.

  The beast pursued, its massive body smashing through trees, bark cracking loudly as the trees shattered from the impact or were outright ripped from the ground. The ground shook behind me with each slither and I dared not look behind me for even a second. I leaped over a fallen log, the Force carrying me farther, but it was right on my heels, its jaws snapping close enough to feel the rush of air behind me. I zigzagged through the underbrush, vines whipping my armor, and mud splashing under my boots as I kept running like the devil was on my heels.

  I jumped a creek, the water churning below, and landed on the far bank, rolling forward to break the fall and I sprung back up. The beast slammed through, water exploding as its body hit the stream. I sprinted again, the Force burning in my legs. It smashed a massive tree in its path, the trunk splintering, falling with a crash that shook the ground.

  I took advantage of the slight opening, being about 100 meters out, and pulled one of my detonators and flung it directly at its face with the Force guiding my aim and strengthening me. The charge sailed right on target across the space between me and it and detonated on impact, engulfing its head in a flash of white and the explosion almost knocked the air from me as the concussive wave struck.

  The cloud of debris hadn't even cleared before I heard the screech, and I saw only a glimpse of it before I started running again.

  The side of its face had superficial scorching across it and drips of blackish ichor dripped from where a tooth had been destroyed, but it had otherwise done next to nothing. The hide was intact, both eyes still glinting with malice and rage, and it still felt like an unnatural thing compared to the rest of the planet.

  That grenade would have destroyed a tank and it only pissed the thing off!

  The dark presence of it flashed and it radiated rage and pain, letting out another roar and starting chasing after me once again without slowing down.

  'Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!’ Kept echoing in my head as I kept ahead of it, prepping and jumping up to a tree, the Force propelled me to a branch 20 meters up. The beast slammed into the trunk below, the impact shaking the tree, bark cracking. I adjusted to keep my balance and pulled my blaster, firing twice at its eyes. The bolts hit the scales around one, scorching but not piercing, the creature screeching as it recoiled. It thrashed, its tail whipping a nearby tree, the trunk splintering.

  I leaped to another tree's branch, the beast lunging, jaws missing by inches as teeth clenched down on wood with a sickeningly loud crunch. I shot again, aiming for the other eye, the bolt glancing off. It roared, pain flashing in the Force, but kept coming, smashing through underbrush. I dropped to the ground, sprinting, the Force pushing my speed to superhuman levels. It pursued, trees falling in its path, the ground trembling. I zigzagged, evading a bite that tore a chunk from the earth to my immediate left.

  Another opening.

  I flung a stronger detonator, the Force guiding it to its mouth. It detonated with a boom that would've shattered my eardrums without my helmet filtering the sound. The explosion engulfed its head, flames licking scales, but it shook it off, scorched but raging. I laughed, fear turning to adrenaline, and sprinted again, the beast right behind, its roars deafening. I leaped over the debris, shooting back at its eyes, bolts sizzling off hide. It lunged, and I dodged, a couple foot deep hole in the ground from it being ripped up from its mouth appearing right where I was, and there was a split second opening where I was but a few feet away from its eye, blaster in hand as I stared directly into its baleful sulphur yellow eye.

  Without an ounce of hesitation, I fired a bolt directly into its eye.

  The screech that came from it as it thrashed in agony would have almost certainly shattered my eardrums if I weren't wearing my helmet, and the Force screamed in warning of danger. I didn't jump up in time before its tail whipped out at me and struck me from head to toe, and I was sent flying, all the air leaving my lungs and everything going black. The last thing I felt was me suddenly stopping, a burning flash of pain in my side, and my vision and thoughts went blank.

  …

  I came to again gasping, every inch of my body feeling like a massive bruise as I shot up, my chest screaming in protest as the roar of the Force warning me of impending death was constant and I, almost blindly, activated my jetpack after fumbling the control before I sent myself flying backwards, my vision blurred but could see just enough where I saw the monstrosity I was fighting rip the ground and tree I struck apart in a single bite, glaring at me as it roared in fury.

  My finger stayed on the trigger for my jetpack, and I kept sailing back for several seconds before I finally stopped, letting myself fall to the ground in a controlled fall.

  Stopping with my jetpack, I gasped and coughed, tasting the familiar metallic of blood as my left side screamed in protest at even breathing. I had to have had broken multiple ribs, it hurt too much to just be fractures. Everything spun and my ears rang, and even grasping ahold of the Force proved difficult to.

  Grasping, desperately, at the basic pain control techniques I had learned under Malgus, I took a wet breath and the Force responded to my will, a cold and then hot burn landing across my side, before it faded to nothing but a severe ache. I could function, I could survive.

  That was when I realized my blaster pistol was gone, and I cursed loudly.

  I pulled another detonator, priming it to be flung again and I saw my quarry come straight towards me again in a roar of snapping trees, knocked aside rocks, and the feral screech coming from it that I met with a howl of my own.

  I would not die this day. The Dark Side whispered, caressed, and I felt the glacial touch across my mind, draping over my shoulders like a cold balm on all the blazing pain of my injuries, and my mind cleared completely as I drank it all in, exhaling in a single, shuddering breath.

  My beskad was pulled from my sheath, gripped tightly in my right hand, my knees bent, my muscles coiled like a predator's ready to pounce, and my lip curled into a snarl.

  In a gold and black blur, I shot forward, my boots crunching into the ground as I was sent howling forward with the Force screaming in my veins like a gale force hurricane ripping me apart and fusing me together in a cycle of endless rage and desire.

  The distance closed and I slid fluidly under the snap of its jaws, knees sliding across mud and grasses, my beskad slicing up and scoring a wound on where the jaw hooked into its head. No time was wasted as it hissed and I darted right, to the side where I shot its eye out, and went to stab at the empty socket…

  Only to realize the eye was still there, bloodshot and injured, but still intact.

  Before I could disengage, it whipped its head around and swatted me aside. I barely managed to tuck my arm to brace my bad side before impact, and I was struck. My feet left the ground involuntarily for the second time in rapid succession and I was sent crashing into a puddle. Pain blazed through my ribs again and my arm where I had tried to protect myself.

  Thankfully, the detonator was still death gripped in my hand.

  I was already up on my feet in moments, almost dizzy from the pain that I fed into the Force to loop back to me and leaping up and above it, barely dodging its attack that sent all the water and mud I had landed in flying in different directions as it smashed into where I had just been.

  The arc and trajectory of my leap was calculated in my head in a fraction of a second, and I saw the chance.

  I dropped the detonator on top of its head while I was above, then shot to the side with my jetpack and went full speed, the detonator going off and I felt the hot gust of air. I then flew back, hovering for a moment before the jetpack shuddered and a warning came up that there was damage to the internal systems, and I looked down to see that the damn thing was still alive, scorch marks across the head now and it was looking around like it was disoriented.

  I took the opportunity and shot forward, disengaging the jetpack while shooting forward and through the smoke cloud and shattered trees, I landed Beskad first against its side, the momentum enough where my blade sank halfway through into the flesh of the neck.

  It screeched and tried to fling me off, to try and bite me, but I held firm, my shoulder joint screaming in protest as it kept trying to shake me off. It stopped for a split second, and I grabbed another detonator, I couldn't remember how many I had left, and flung it up at its mouth it was open, hoping to rip the fucking things jaw loose.

  It chose that moment to fling itself at the ground to try and crush me, and I was forced to let go, falling to the ground and avoiding it from crashing down in me like an anvil on an insect.

  The detonator exploded then in a flash and blast of heat and air, doing only minimal damage and the giant serpentine creature shifted further away, probably thinking I was still on it.

  I rolled to my feet and felt for how many detonators I had left and looked down. I felt and saw only two.

  I used the Force and violently yanked at my beskad to pull it out of the thing's neck from over a hundred and fifty meters away. The blade tore free with a wet rip, whistling through the air as I guided it back. I caught it handle first, the grip slapping into my palm, the blade covered in black, sticky, tar-like blood that dripped from the edge.

  I charged forward, leaping into the air while it tried to gather itself, the Force guiding my path like a arrow. My jetpack flared, thrusters pushing me higher, the wind roaring past my helmet. The beast's head loomed, its damaged eye bloodshot and weeping ichor as I came down with a shout. I jammed the blade hilt-deep through it, the beskar blade sinking into the socket with a crunch, black blood spraying across my visor.

  The screech that came from it was a high-pitched wail, piercing the air, its agony radiating through the Force like a wave of fire. It flailed violently, head smacking into trees, trunks splintering with each hit. The Force screamed a warning, and I went to let go, but it was too late. Its thrashing slammed me into a tree at full impact, my back and ribs going numb with agony. I vomited into my helmet, tasting more like blood, and my breath leaving me in a wheeze as my broken ribs burned like fire inside.

  Strength left me as I let go and crashed into the mud and muck on the ground amidst the ruined section of the jungle, face covered in my own mess, HUD flickering. My eyes looked up at a perfectly clear sky, big and blue. It looked like home. I couldn't get up, the pain too much even with crucitorn to dampen it. I couldn't breathe or see, something wrong with my left arm. I heard the weak and baleful wailing screeches of the serpent from a distance, and hoped it retreated away, so maybe I might force myself up. My chest heaved, each breath a stab, the Force distant now, its flow weak through the haze of pain. The sky mocked me, clear and vast, while the jungle pressed in around me.

  .

  Rolling over to my side in a keening gasp, I used my right hand and pulled my helmet off, coughing wetly and seeing it was mostly blood mixed with some vomit.

  That was a distressingly large amount of blood.

  I tilted my helmet, letting the liquid drain out onto the mud, the metallic scent mixing with the jungle's decay. I coughed again, the air hot and humid hitting my face like a slap. I blinked repeatedly, trying to get the world to stop spinning, the trees above blurring into a green haze.

  Was I going to die? Was death the price I would pay? Is this my end?

  The thought circled, but I pushed it back. I was too stubborn to die. It hurt worse when I died before, the memory of that old life flashing; the pain, darkness, rebirth.

  I still had a grenade left.

  Coughing out a wet laugh, the sound ragged in my throat, I had a final plan. Getting to my feet, I stumbled and fell to my knees, my vision swimming, the jungle tilting. My left arm hung limp, pain shooting through it with every twitch. I managed to put my helmet on, doing my best to ignore the pain and the feeling of blood and puke coating my hair, the mess sticky and warm against my scalp. The HUD flickered back to life, warnings flashing about damage to the jetpack and my vitals.

  I drew my vibro knife, the blade humming softly as it activated, its grip solid in my right hand. Pulling out another detonator, I clicked it, the ball of explosive power beeping softly in my palm. I knelt there, staring at the serpent while it still had my beskad lodged in its face, the blade protruding like a thorn. It tried to get it out, smashing its face against the few remaining trees in the general vicinity, and slowly seemed to try and ignore it, its one good eye scanning the clearing.

  It looked around, rolling around sluggishly from injuries, its massive body coiling and uncoiling, scales scraping the mud. It fixed its one good eye upon me, the sulphur yellow glowing with malice. I felt its intent, a dark wave in the Force, and I knew either through downfall or triumph, this would be the last exchange.

  For the first time since Pre had given me a new lease on a life with purpose, I completely surrendered to the Dark Side, being swept up in the icy torrents as the sheet of ice separating me from the full might of the darkness split, and I slipped between the cracks. My mind and all sense of weakness and pain vanished, nothing but ice and fire remaining, a cold burn that filled my veins and cleared my thoughts.

  My foe slammed down on where I was at, biting down, and my body responded, punching up with my left hand despite the agony, slamming the vibro knife with all the strength bone, sinew, muscle, and the Force could muster into its tongue as it reared up to swallow.

  It squalled as it registered the pain, blood skewing from the wound like a fountain, dark and thick. It jerked and pulled me up in its mouth, the only thing stopping me from being swallowed being my grip on the knife. My fingers that had once been an iron clawed trap wrapped around the detonator let go, and it disappeared down the thing's gullet.

  With an act born from instinct, I let go of the vibro knife too as it jerked its head again, the blade staying lodged in its tongue.

  The last thing I saw before I struck the ground again was its entire head snapping back as its belly bulged and its guts exploded out in a sizzling cloud of steam and blackish ichor that soaked everything, including me, around it. The rest of the blast tore from its throat like a gust of flame, scales ripping apart, flesh charring in the explosion's heat.

  The giant serpentine creature collapsed in a heap, its body twitching, the ground shaking one final time.

  I... I won.

  Everything snapped back into reality, the frozen fire of the Dark Side leaving me and my body felt weightless, pain crawling all across me like fire under my skin. I let out a gasping laugh at winning, the sound weak and bubbling with blood, before darkness claimed me and my eyes rolled back into my head. The jungle's sounds faded, the Force retreating to a distant hum, my body limp in the mud.