Chapter 3
The Oracle circles Vroxil before pushing a body out of the way and sitting down facing the fire. Intrigued, Vroxil does the same but faces the Oracle, staring at him, wondering what he knew that was so important.
The Oracle raises his hands to the fire and rubs them together. He’s an old man, entering the winter of his life. His face pale, worn down, his voice groggy but strong. His hair long since turned Grey.
’What I will tell you, you may not like.’
’Just tell me, I want to know.’
’You, Vroxil Brizit, have to make a choice.’
’What choice?’
’The choice that will determine whether you live…or die.’
The words freeze Vroxil, what choice would he have to make? His mind is racing, but comes to a sudden stop when the Oracle begins to speak again.
’The Order of the Force has turned on you, they are now all against you… even your wife has turned against you.’
’You know of my wife?’
’Yes Vroxil, I know of your wife, and your son… And I regret to inform you that your suspicions are correct, she and the one you call Nexius are having an affair.’
Vroxil’s eyes water but his face remains expressionless. He had long believed she had been unfaithful to him. His suspicions now realized he felt no sadness, just anger and resentment.
’When you return to your academy you will be forced to make that choice…’
’What choice?’
’The Council plans to arrest you on suspicion of dark side abuse.’
’But… I have never…’
’It is obviously just a ploy to get you out of Nexius’ way so that he may do what he has long planed. He has grown attached to your wife, he wants to take your wife as his, and assume the role of Mikeman’s father.’
’Mikeman?’ Vroxil whispers under his breath, the thought of losing his son to Nexius was almost more then he could bear.
’Nexius has already planted the seeds; he has brought the rest of the Council evidence of your apparent misdeeds.’
’But…’
’I’m aware. He has falsified reports and bribed witnesses’
’Why?’
’Isn’t it obvious? Search your feelings. He’s fallen to the dark side and he fears you will become stronger then he and will lose his stranglehold on the Academy. And most important of all… he envies your life and wants it for himself.’
’What… What do I have to do?'
’You will have to decide whether to give in and take the punishment… Or destroy the Academy…’
’What? Why the whole academy? I don’t…’
’The Academy has fallen under his rule. They will be with him, on his side…’
’I don’t know…’
’Why do you think he sent you on this mission? A mission a Knight could do. Sending a Councilor is overkill. He wanted you out of the way so he could put his plan into action.’
’I…’
’He will destroy you! He is intent on taking your life away from you.’
Vroxil sits in stunned silence trying to make sense of the information he was receiving. Was it true? Was this Oracle right? Was Nexius a Dark Jedi? Will he return home to be wrongfully charged or even killed? He doesn’t know what to think, his mind flooded with information he can’t even begin to understand.
Suddenly it all clicked. He knew what he had to do. He would not let his life be wasted, Nexius would not take his life, would not be his downfall.
’You know what you have to do. You must give in to your anger Vroxil. It is the only way to defeat him, to defeat all of them.’
Vroxil drops his head and stares at the ground, his entire life flashing before him, every moment leading to the next, all of which leading to this. Images of Vroxil and his wife flashing through his mind, his blood begins to boil, the anger begins to run through him. His breathing becomes erratic, his body trembling. He looks back up at the man who has just thrown his world upside-down, sweat slowly falling down his face.
’Let’s go.’
Chapter 4
A large blue drape hangs from above a pair of large stone grey doors. The night sky rests on the drape reflecting the emblem imprinted on it. A Jedi symbol is etched in white, the wording underneath reads; ‘The Order of the Force’.
The drape doesn’t move in the calm night, acting as a portrayal of the temple it decorates. It’s a humid night at this temple, a neighboring village showing the distant memory of a sandstorm. The humidity is uncomfortable, feeling almost the same as if the sun were still raised in the sky but still the Jedi within the walls have managed to fall asleep.
Not everyone is asleep on this night. Vroxil stands alone outside of the temple; sitting on the top of many steps is leading into the enclave.
His head in his hands, his blond hair in between his fingers, he sits shaking on the steps, sobbing with his whole body. His blue eyes bloodshot from crying, the tears fall off his face hitting the ground like raindrops.
Slowly he begins to pull himself together and rises to his feet, the sobs turn into a fit of laughter almost instantly. He removes his saber from his belt and turns around facing the temple, his eyes fixated on the blue drape. The tears from his eyes seem to change from sadness to anger.
He mutters something under his breath and begins walking towards the stone doors, saber clenched in his hand. Pushing the doors open he walks down the Entrance Hall, the blue carpet under his feet leading his way towards the Main Hall.
Within minutes the Academy is in chaos, the bodies of the dead younglings litter the floor of the temple. Knights who tried to stand up to the rogue Jedi Master lay lifeless beside them.
Death engulfs the Academy, the screams begin to die down as the Academy becomes barren of life.
The temple slowly decays around Vroxil as he walks up and down corridors, the walls around him are buckling while the ground shaking violently.
He makes his way up the elevator shaft to the top floor and makes his way into the Council Chambers. There he finally meets eye to eye with the man he has come to hate more then anyone.
Nexius, surrounded by his fellow Councilors Site and Duleagle.
’Vroxil, what are you doing? Why are you killing innocent members of this Academy?’ Nexius speaks, his voice deep and authoritative as always.
’I’m not letting you get away with it, Nexius! I know your plan, I know what you wish to do, I will not allow it!’
’Vroxil, what are you talking about? What plan!?’
’Don’t! Don’t patronize me! I know, Nexius!’
The door elevator doors swing open and Vroxil swings around. As he turns he sees her walking off the elevator, a young woman, his wife, her long red hair flowing down her Jedi tunic.
’Vroxil! What’s going on?’
’You! I’ll deal with you yet.’
’Vroxil, I don’t understand. What’s going—‘
’Don’t you dare, Megan! I know what is going on! You’re in on it too.’
With haste Vroxil spins back around and charges at the Councilors who ignite their blades and prepare to fight. The Council doors shut and lock, Megan cannot get it to open. She struggles with the door as she hears the sounds of sabers clashing from beyond the door.
Suddenly everything goes silent. The doors open and a single figure stand in the doorway, his eyes cold, soulless, almost completely inhuman.
Megan looks into the Council Chambers and sees what’s left of the Council laying lifeless on the floor.
’Vroxil… Why?’
’You know why.’
’I… I don’t. What…’
’Goodbye, Megan.’
Vroxil raises his hand to Megan’s neck and begins choking her, lifting her off the ground he looks into her eyes. She struggles against him, but he throws her back. Her head connects with the wall with a sickening thud. She fights to stay conscious as Vroxil ignites his blade. With a single swipe of his blade a shriek echoes through the Academy before once again falling silent.
The silence is broken once more by laughter. But to Vroxil’s surprise, it isn’t his but the Oracles.
’You saw?’
’The whole wonderful thing.’
’Then it’s done?’
The oracle cracks a smile once again and looks at the battled and worn Vroxil. ‘No, it isn’t done.’ A saber ignites, the humming bounces off the walls of the now empty Academy. Vroxil looks at the Oracle who has just drawn a blade.
’I don’t understand,’ Vroxil says, his rage faded, his body trembling.
’You have done what I needed you to do. You have successfully destroyed the prophecy.’
’Prophecy?’
’You are a simple minded man. Everything I told you was a lie. The Order had never turned on you. Just the opposite.’
These words rip through Vroxil more then any saber could.
’The prophecy, the true prophecy read that a Jedi Master and his two sons would lead the Jedi to great victories. I believed that Jedi to be you...’
’Sons?’
'Yes, she was to have another son. She may have even been pregnant with him when you struck her down..’
’So you made me…’
’And now you will have no choice but to join us and complete your fall.’
’What…?’
’You don’t suppose the Jedi will allow this to go unpunished. You killed nearly 30 Jedi tonight; you are marked for death now.’
Suddenly everything fell together in Vroxil’s mind. All the lies, the tricks, everything he had done. He knew the Oracles words were true, his life as a Jedi was over. He had no choice but join the Dark Jedi’s or face punishment and the end of his life.
’We’ll need to get…’
’He’s on his way back now. I sent word of his mother’s death to Endor.’
’Then let’s go, and never look back on this place.’
-------------------
’And that’s what I did. For 14 years I forgot about the Order of the Force, Megan, and the prophecy. Then Mikeman told me about the possibility that she was alive and had indeed had a son…’
’You mean he’s…?’ Chris says looking at his mother, all the information racing around in his head.
’Yes, Christopher… He’s your biological father.’
