Sacrifice

The rain slowly fell upon the open fields of Corellia. Animals of all sorts ran for cover in the deep forests, while some stayed out in the fields like the nerfs. The familar noise of a hover-vehicle could be heard in the distance, approching the herd. With being so close to the source of the noise, the nerfs didn't respond and continued to graze in the rain. A flash of lightning followed by the drumming noise of thunder roared over the fields. The hover-vehicle stopped at the only building in area - it was the Volvic family mansion. The house was only a few years old and was built with bricks to give it an older look.

Souru quickly turned the hover-car off and ran inside to get out of the rain. He shut the giant door into the main living area and rested against it. His long platinum blonde hair was soaked and stuck to his clothes and the door. "I'm home, and by crikey, i'ts wet out there," Souru said as he ringed his hair out, causing a small puddle to form in front of him.

Tenshi appeared at the top of the stairs in a flowing blue dress. Her hair hung down lower than Souru's and was a nice brown colour. "Thats good, but you... umm... kinda forgot something." Tenshi pointed at the door as Souru turned to look at the door. He hung his head in shame as he remembered that he was supposed to pick up Arekaderu and Shikuku at the spaceport.

Three hours later, they were sitting having dinner in the huge dining room in the Volvic mansion. "So Souru, your transformation against Kai that one time was pretty cool. I was wondering - where did you get your black wings from?" Arekaderu asked before eating the piece of nerf sausage he had on his fork.

"To be honest I'm not really sure where my black wings came from. I've always had them and don't remember my parents telling me anything about them. Could be because of my past or anything else, who knows, they're pretty cool" Souru said - with a full mouth of his half-eaten nerf burger. "I could try to transform again, and that might tell us something about it" Souru said, with his mouth full of burger still.

"NO - IT'S OKAY!" everybody said, knowing the possible outcome if he transformed. Jacen had finished paying for the house and wouldn't like to pay for a new one if Souru transformed.

" 'kay," Souru replied with the burger at his mouth.

An hour after they had all finished dinner, Tenshi and Shikuku were in the kitchen washing dishes. "He still doesn't know about his evil transformation, does he?" Shikuku asked Tenchi regarding the earlier outburst during dinner.

"No - if he found out about the destruction, he caused he wouldn't be able to live it down. It's safer this way, but there's only one problem - they won't let him in the training center back on Coursant. That's why we asked you two here - so Souru and Arekaderu could train with their sabers," Tenshi explained.

"How's the baby? You must be a few months into the pregnacy by now. Is it a boy or girl?"

"Not really sure yet - too early to tell right now. But the baby's really healthy and will be okay."

"That's good to hear." The girls continued to talk about babies and cute baby clothes and stuff like that.

The guys were sitting in the living room in front of the one-hundred-inch-screen TV, watching podracing from Malastere. The odd time they would hear giggles and "awwww"s from the kitchen. "You better watch out - once you have one kid, they always want a few more," Souru told Arekaderu, referring to Arekaderu and Shikuku's daugther Sukiesu.

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special news report. A giant ship or spacestation about the size of an old Trade Federation battle ship has appeared in orbit around Corellia and is demanding that..." The signal was consumed by static.

"...Hello Souru, I'm waiting for you up here. If you do not show up, Corellia goes bye bye. You have three hours..." More static.

"...and the weather stations predict more rain and..." Souru turned the TV off after watching the news report and Kai's threat against him. "Tenshi, Arekaderu, Shikuku, you guys are coming with me. We're going after Kai, and I'm going to make sure this is the last time he threatens us. Even if it means sacrificing myself in order to do it," Souru told everybody as he headed for the door. He stepped outside and got soaked. "Where is that umbrella when you need it?" Souru asked himself aloud.

"You left it in the car," Tenshi responded.

"Oh."

"How much longer 'til we dock with his ship?" Souru asked Arekaderu as they left Corellia's atmosphere. They flew an old smuggler's ship they had borrowed at the space dock back on Corellia.

"I'd give it about another two minutes. Just relax, Souru. He's not going anywhere - he knows you're coming," Arekaderu said as he flew the ship closer towards Kai's mammoth ship. Kai's ship, an old Trade Federation ship, hung lifeless in space. It had the appearance of a doughnut with a bite taken out it. In the center was the control station, which looked like a giant ball with an array of antennae and sensor dishes that protruded from the top of the the ball.

"We're here," Arekaderu said as he brought the ship in for a landing.

"Alright - let's go and finish this once and for all," Souru told the others as he grabbed his lightsaber handle from his belt and headed out the door.

Tenshi followed behind Souru, and after her was Shikuku, and bringing up the rear was Arekaderu. Tenshi had her lightsaber in hand, and the couple behind her held DL-44 Blast-Tech blaster rifles. They left the hangar bay and headed down a dimly lit hall; it was so quiet that they could hear a pin drop. They came to an intersection about one hundred meters from the hangar bay doors.

"Which way should we go?" Tenshi asked as she looked down the hallway they had started on and the one that branched off to the right of the group.

"Kai will most likely be on the bridge, so I'll go there. You guys go take out the engine room to destory this ship. If you don't hear from me after you destroy the engine, get of the ship and head back to Corellia. Hopefully we all make it out of here," Souru said confidently.

"But what if you don't? Will you be okay?" Tenshi asked, worried that they might not all get off the ship. Souru placed his right hand under chin and gently tilted her head up to kiss her. They kissed and finished in a hug.

"Don't worry - I'll be okay. I'll make it off before it blows," Souru told her as he hugged her.

"Okay. Just don't get yourself killed, hotshot - make sure Kai is the only one who dies," Tenshi said before she kissed him one more time and broke the hug.

"You guys get going - the sooner the engine goes, the sooner we can get back home and get some rest," Souru said, pointing in the direction of the engine room.

"Alright, let's go. Good luck, Souru, and may the Force be with you," Arekaderu said, and he started to run down the hall.

"Good luck, Souru," Shikuku said and started to chase after Arekaderu. Souru looked straight down the hallway towards the bridge as Tenshi started to head after the other two. He smiled as he felt her concern for him.

"Don't worry, this isn't the end of the road for me. I'll make it off this ship somehow. Now, go - they need you."

Tenshi ran up to him, and they kissed again. "I love you."

"I love you too." Tenshi ran down the hall after the other two. "Even if I die trying, I'll get off this ship."

Souru pushed the open button on the control panel next to the giant door that lead to the bridge. The doors slid open slowly, as if they had not been used in many years. He stepped though the door way and onto the bridge, which was as dark as the hallway. Suddenly all the lights on the ship flashed on, temporarly blinding Souru. He heard a laugh from the middle of the bridge, and right away he knew it was Kai.

"Welcome, Souru. I hope you like my ship - stole it myself," Kai said, stepping closer towards Souru. "Leave Corellia alone, Kai. Take me - I'm the one you want, not the planet," Souru demanded, rubbing his eyes till he could see again.

"Leave Corellia alone, you say. What makes you think I'm going to listen to you after you ripped my arm off and blasted me with that puny energy attack! Don't worry, Souru, something with the name Corellia in it will die today, even if it means destorying the planet, your wife, or even destroying you..." Kai stopped as he approached Souru. Kai brought his right hand down hard on the back of Souru's neck, causing him to tense up and fall face-first to the grating on the deck, unconscious. "Brother."

Tenshi ,Arekaderu and Shikuku had just entered the engine room when the lights flashed on, blinding them all. The lights for the most part were on the roof. It was a large circular room that was open in some spots, and in the other spots were grey transperisteel wall panels. In the middle was the reactor, which was protected by a hourglass-shaped container. The top of the reactor facing the top of the ship was left open and was a bright green. A couple minutes after the blinding light, the three were able to get their eyesight back. They looked over the engine room and noticed several catwalks leading out into the heart of the ship. The heart of the ship surrounded the engine room, with catwalks and other structures. Looking at the engine room from a catwalk above made the room look like it was suspended in the air.

"Does anybody else think the engine room was to easy to find?" Arekaderu asked, still rubbing his eyes.

"I agree, it was too easy. It's as if..." Tenshi cut herself off in midsentence when she felt pain coming from Souru, as if he had been hurt. She continued. "...He's hurt, Souru is hurt. We have to help him. Yavin VI Jedi Force Power, Make UP!!!" Tenshi yelled as she turned into Sailor Yavin VI. She stood there in full fuku, waiting, while the other two transformed.

"Ralltiir Power Make UP!!"

"Mon Gazza Knight Power, Make UP!!"

The two senshi and one knight stood, looking in the direction of the bridge and listening to the Force to see if Souru was okay. "We have to go help him!" Tenshi started to run back the way they came.

Tenshi, stay and destroy the engine - don't worry about me. I will be okay.

Tenshi stopped dead in her tracks and turned back towards the engine room. She pulled out a small pack of timed mines from the back of her fuku and proceeded towards the reactor. "Let's take out this engine, guys," Tenshi said, handing a couple mines to the other two.

"Set them for ten minutes - that should be long enough." Tenshi placed the first mine on the side of the reactor. After the last mine was set, the count down begun, sealing someone's fate.

Souru shook his head as he woke. It took him two seconds to remember where he was and what was going on. It was Tenshi who had woken him after she said she was coming to save him, but he sent her a Force message to tell her he was okay.

"Good morning, Brother - it's about time you woke up," Kai said from his postion in front of the the main viewport.

"What did you call me? There's no way you're my brother. It's just like like when you first attacked us, and you acted as if you were my father. Your not going to fool me, Kai, so cut the crap," Souru snapped at Kai as he got up from the floor.

"You are wrong once again, Souru. I am your brother. Why do think that I want to be the Corellian Knight? There's only one way to become the Corellian Knight, and that is through bloodline. Father chose you because you had a good heart. I, on the other hand, did not because... well... I'm ever. And I also killed him and Mother - you were safe because you were hiding. Oh - if you happen to transform the wrong way and kill me, you'll be no better than me, so I would watch it if I were you."

Souru laughed. "You're lying, Kai. They were killed by a Dark Jedi - there's no way you could have killed them."

"Oh really, Souru? Maybe this will be more convincing." As Kai finished his sentence, a video appeared on the viewscreen. It showed Kai killing Souru's parents; his mother reached out for Kai, but he knocked her hand away before blasting her. Kai had called her "Mother"; she had called him "Son." He really was Souru's brother.

"You... you... killed them... you killed your own parents... you bastard!! You are no brother of mine - you killed our own parents." That put Souru over the edge; he transformed the wrong way and faced Kai. "It's over."

"You're no better than I am now, Souru. You're going to get yourself killed," Kai informed Souru as he grabbed for a concealed blaster in his right pocket.

"Try it, Kai - it's not going to work. You're finished - you should..." Souru stopped himself as he received a message from Tenshi.

Souru! Turn back now! We only have a few minutes left. Transform the right way - it's the only way...

Souru responded by transforming into the right Corellian Knight. His giant black wings parted, causing his hair to be blown slightly by the wind. In his right hand was his lightsaber, unignited.

"Well, if it isn't Angel Boy. Going to blow me away with those wings of yours? Follow me - I have something to show you," Kai said as he started to walk towards a door in the middle of the bridge. When it opened, Souru could see that there was a giant room beyond the door. Kai stepped out into the middle of the catwalk they were on and pointed down to a room that looked like it was floating in the middle of the giant room. It was the engine room. "Your wife and friends are down there." Kai withdrew and threw his blaster down towards the open reactor; it vanished on impact. "I'd be careful if I were you - you will get vaped if you fall in there." He withdrew his own lightsaber from his belt and ignited the bright yellow pillar of energy and got into a battle stance. "Let's do this."

Souru ignited his ruby-red blade and got into his own battle stance. The two great powers were going to face off for one last battle. Only one would win; the other would die.

Souru decided to use his best attack on Kai; it required a lot of speed and accuracy. He started to run towards Kai, his saber in his right hand and held in front of him. Souru threw his feet out in front of him and started to slide on the floor towards Kai's legs. Kai knew the attack and let Souru continue with it. As he slid between Kai's legs on the floor, he brought his saber up towards Kais right thigh. Souru thought he had suceeded, but what he didn't know was that Kai would counter his special attack. The yellow blade pushed the ruby-red blade out of the way with enough force to knock it right out of Souru's hand. It fell into the darkness, never to be seen again. The yellow blade continued its pass and stopped as it came upon Souru's mask. It was if time stopped as the mask shattered into thousands of pieces. Souru quickly threw his head out of the way but was still burned by the closeness of the blade. He got up quickly behind Kai and swiped at his head to wipe off sweat and some blood.

"That's one for me," Kai laughed. Quickly Souru brought his right foot up to knock Kai's saber out of his hand, sending it into the darkness. Kai threw himself towards Souru, but he was able to grab him and flip him over onto the catwalk, closer to the reactor.

Kai got up to his feet and looked over his left shoulder at the reactor below. "Not bad, not bad. You are doing great. All you have to do now is throw me into the reactor and gets this whole thing over with..." Kai laughed. "...but I doubt you will." In the blink of an eye Kai disappeared, reappeared in front of Souru, grabbing his enemy's lightsaber, disappearing again, and finally reappearing behind Souru to jab the ruby-red saber through Souru's upper chest cavity, piercing his left lung. Souru looked down painfully at the smoking hole in his chest, then fell to his knees.

Deigniting Souru's saber, Kai threw it down towards the engine room, where it landed and cracked the casing. Kai then walked around Souru so he was in front of him, and now he was closer to the reactor. "Smoking is bad for you, eh. I'd stop if I were you," Kai laughed as he looked down at the engine room where the others were.

Souru took this chance and put his hands together, wrists flat against each other, palms facing outwards towards Kai. "Ka... me... ha... me..." Kai turned to face Souru, his eyes wide in amazement and fear as he noticed the energy ball forming in Souru's outward palms.

"No... you can't... you won't!!!" Kai shouted - but it was too late.

"HA!!!!!!!!!!!" Souru pushed his palms towards Kai, sending the energy ball toward his chest. Kai tried to stop it, but couldn't. It connectd with his chest, causing him to back up against the railing which hung above the reactor.

Tenshi ran out onto the cat walk just in time to see Souru's blast impact with Kai's chest. She saw Kai stuggle to keep his balance. A few feet from Kai, she noticed Souru had been beaten pretty good. "Hey Kai, is he beating you up?" Tenshi yelled up at Kai in order to distract him. She caught his attention, and he turned to look down at her.

"Quiet, you. You all will die. You will..." He stopped as he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a smiling Souru.

"Too late now, Kai. I win." Souru then brought his right hand up in a fist to make contact with Kai's left cheek.

He stumbled back over the railing and fell towards the reactor. "I'M NOT THE FIRST, AND YOU DIDN'T WIN - I DID!" Kai yelled up towards Souru. He then fell into the middle of the reactor, dying for good, not able to come back at all.

The ship shook in response to Kai's body in the reactor. The ship was going to blow; they had to get out, and soon. With the combination of the reactor spazzing out and the timed explosives about to go off, they really had to get off the ship before it blew.

"Tenshi, get out of there! It's going to blow!!!!!!!" Souru yelled down at his wife.

"Hey guys, we gotta jet - this place is going to blow. Let's move!" Tenshi yelled over to the other two, who were still in the engine room. They headed back the way they came, but as they were leaving the engine room one of the higher catwalks fell, taking out their only way back to their ship. As they headed back out in the other direction, they could see Souru struggling to get back to the bridge. Tenshi stopped as the other two ran by towards the door. Souru looked at Tenshi and then at the engine room. He used all his energy to throw himself down towards Tenshi. His wings opened to their entirety as he glided down to pick Tenshi up. He dropped her off at the door. They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed.

"Tenshi, you have to go. I have to go back to the engine room to see if I can retrieve my lightsaber. Don't worry - I'll be quick. Before you know it we'll be back home drinking some Mountain Dew. Now go, please." He pushed a few pieces of loose hair out of her face, then lowered her head and kissed her one last time.

"I love you too". Souru then headed back towards the engine room one last time.

As he entered the room, he looked over at the timer - he only had one minute to find his saber and get out of there. He spotted it and picked it up in his right hand. While running back out towards the door where Tenshi stood, he tripped on the grating and fell hard to floor. He looked back over at the engine room and then back at Tenshi. "TENSHI!!!! GO NOW - I'LL MEET YOU BACK AT HO..."

Before he was able to finish his sentence, the explosives went off behind him, engulfing the room in flames. He tried to crawl towards the door but failed. He screamed out as the flames surrounded him. His right hand reached out in Tenshi's direction, but that too was surrounded in flames.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Tenshi yelled as Arekaderu pulled her back into the safety of the hallway.

"We have to go - he would want us to," Arekaderu told her.

She replied with tears in her eyes. "Le'ts go home." A few feathers fell, covered with fire, into the abyss, burning up before ever making it to the bottom. The room filled with flames, sending debris everywhere.

As for Souru, he was gone.

Tenshi, Arekaderu and Shikuku were able to get back to their ship and leave the hangar bay before it was engulfed in flames. Several minutes later and a far distance away, the giant ship exploded in a blinding light. When Tenshi looked out to where the ship was, she used the Force to see if she could get a reading from Souru. She couldn't - he was gone; Kai was gone too.

Shikuku put her right hand on Tenshi's shoulder to let her know everything was going to be okay. Tenshi just sat there, motionless; the world around her stopped. She remembered the times she had spent with him, the times they had fought in battle, their past life, their future. Souru had done the right thing. He sacrificed himself to protect his friends and loved ones. He would always be remembered.

But for now, the Corellian Knight was dead.