Kim Possible: Quest for the Kyber Crystal

[dragonfang33]

Due to length of Chapter I'm posting it in sections

Kim Possible: Quest for the Kyber Crystal

By Dragonfang33

Chapter XXI
A Friendship in Flames

Location: Raging Wookiee Cantina, Kachirho Trading City, a few hours later

The tears that rolled down the child's face were ones of confusion and anger. One by one the cloaked figure cut down the bar patrons, a blue lightsaber clenched in the figure's hand. Yet what made the child's blood boil was the face that she saw beneath the cloak. Not long ago she had asked Darth Kira if she was an Angel, or an Elf? She soon had her answer; Darth Kira's blue blade sliced through the bar like the bar wasn't even there.

"Found you brat," Darth Kira snarled, her once emerald eyes had long since changed to a terrifying yellow, a long time ago those same eyes reflected love and friendship, now all they reflected was raw hatred. Darth Kira cracked a sinister smile as she brought her lightsaber down on the child, cleaving her in half. Kira let out a sinister laugh as she made her way out of the cantina.

"Weaklings," Kira said, turning back on the carnage she'd left behind. Blaster holes covered the cantina, bodies cleaved in half, or missing limbs. Kira couldn't have been more proud of what she'd done.

Darth Kira made her way toward the burning ruins of the Wookiee Village, and soon met up with her sister at the base of the .

"The Trading Post has been destroyed Mistress," Kira replied, kneeling before Shirus.

"You've done well Apprentice," Shirus replied, the sound of heavy boots slamming onto the dry ground filled the air; Valarium appeared out of the gathering mist like an angel of death. At his side were Boba Fett, and one of his bodyguards.

"Have you found it?" Valarium snarled.

"Not yet my Lord," Shirus replied, "but thanks to our new ally we have someone who may know." Shirus motioned for two stormtroopers to bring forth the prisoner. It was an elderly Wookiee dressed in the bright red robes of a Shaman.

"Tell me where the Ring is," Valarium snarled, the Wookiee looked at the Dark Prince, his eyes alight with fury, and defiance.

"TELL ME NOW," Valarium snarled, striking the Wookiee with his gloved hand. He spied something out of the corner of his eye; it was a Female Wookiee holding her infant sun.

"Shirus, Kira," Valarium ordered, "bring those two over here." The Dark Sisters grabbed the mother and her child and as hard as they could threw the mother at the Dark Prince's feet, the only thing the Female Wookiee felt was one of Valarium's wrist mounted lightsabers under her throat.

"TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW," Valarium shouted. The Shaman finally growled a response.

"Fett," Valarium said, "What did this weakling furball say?"

"He said," Fett replied, "the Main Temple in the Wookiee Village." Valarium cracked a sinister smile, as he plunged his lightsaber into the Female Wookiee's neck, killing her almost instantly.

"Shirus," Valarium ordered, "retrieve the Ring. Kira, once she returns, kill any survivors in village. For what my father has planned the Empire has no need of worthless furballs."

"As you wish master," Shirus replied.

The Wookiee Village of Kachirho was located around a 980 meters Worshyr Tree, only one of many that dotted the Archipelago. Once it had been a thriving Wookiee Community, but now it was in ruins. The bodies of the Wookiees who inhabited the village were scattered about, some missing limbs, others were barely recognizable. The scorched boards creaked under Darth Shirus and Darth Kira's boots as the sisters made their way to a large building in the center of the village. Outside stood a large wooden statue, carved in the shape of a Wookiee warrior, in one hand he clenched what looked to be a lightsaber, in the other he held a small ring.

"Easy as pie," Shirus said, with a sinister smirk to her face. Just as her clawed hand touched the Ring, Kira sensed a disturbance, turning around she came face to face with a small mob of Wookiees. Darth Kira cracked a sinister smile.

"I handle this," Kira said, as a blue blade emerged from her lightsaber hilt. The Wookiees that surrounded the pair were armed with just their fists and a few Bowcasters. Darth Kira cracked a sinister smile as she brought her lightsaber down on the first Wookiee, decapitating him. It was then that the Wookiees opened fire. Kira managed to deflect most of the Bowcaster bolts, yet she still had to learn how to deflect them back at the people who fired them; however one bolt brushed past her, cutting a small hole into her black mission shirt.

"Big mistake," Kira said, angrily, she leapt into the air, and brought her saber down on yet another Wookiee. The others did everything they could to try and halt the Sith Lady's rampage, but it was to no avail, with the Force; Darth Kira was twice as fast as any of the Wookiees. In the space of a few minutes the only sounds that were heard were the sounds of Wookiee bodies hitting the wooden walk way.

"So not the Drama," Kira replied, as she deactivated her blade. As she made her way back, one of the Wookiees suddenly grabbed Kira by the leg, and with his last bit of strength did something most Wookiees never did, he delivered his final words in Galactic Basic.

"Blood for Blood," the Wookiee snarled before he became one with the Force.

"You've done well my apprentice," Shirus replied.

"Thank you Mistress," Kira replied, as she licked the Wookiee blood from her glove.

Location: Tomb of Rowwark

The light from Ron's lightsaber was the first light to penetrate the cob web covered tomb in almost 33 millennia. For the Humans who had entered the tomb Rowwark was a rarity a Wookiee Jedi, but over the course of three years Kyle had learned plenty about Rowwark, and knew that like his own ancestor Cale Wolf, Rowwark had been one of the four Jedi chosen to hide the Kyber Crystal, unfortunately the location of the Crystal itself was lost when those four Jedi died, the only clues left were the Rings Kyle and his friends had been searching for.

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In the center of the large room, was a massive gray stone sarcophagus, inscribed with Ancient Wookiee Runes. Around the sarcophaguses were four lit torches, arranged in a square pattern.

"Ron give me a hand," Kyle said, as he approached the sarcophaguses.

"And look at, AND THEN TOUCH, Giant Monkey Bones," Ron replied, "No thank you." Kyle simply groaned.

"I thought we were passed this whole afraid of Wookiee's thing," Kyle snarled.

"NEVER TRUST A MONKEY KYLE," Ron shouted, "I thought you knew that."

"Hay kid," Han replied, "placing his hand on Ron's shoulder, "you might not want to say that, because it's not wise to upset a Wookiee." Tarfull and Chewbacca by this point were eyeing Ron with rather mean looks to their eyes.

"You see that's why I have Rufus," he pulled Rufus from his pocket; "nobody worries about upsetting a Naked Mole Rat."

"That's because," Han replied, smugly, "Naked Mole Rats, or what ever he is, don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they're insulted, Wookiees are known to do that. And by the way that thing is just disgusting."

"Hay," Rufus replied, putting his tiny fists up, "um put um up." By now Ron had other things on his mind, he looked at Chewie and Tarful, and just by their movement they looked pretty angry at his comments.

"I see," Ron added, "I apologize." he struggled to get the last two words out.

"Okay now that we've got that out of the way," Kyle replied, "maybe someone could give me a hand with getting the lid off." The two Wookiees made their way to the sarcophaguses, and with all their strength removed the lid. Kyle activated one of the blades on his lightsaber and peered into the sarcophaguses.

"It's not in there," Kyle shouted.

"What," Ron replied, as he raced up and reluctantly gazed into the sarcophaguses. It was true, the only thing that remained in the sarcophaguses, were old bones, and a wooden lightsaber hilt. The silence that filled the room was suddenly broken by the sound of Joss screaming.

"KYLE," Joss shouted, as she raced through the archways at the far end of the room, "RON COME QUICK SOMETHING'S HAPPENED TO THE VILLAGE."

"Calm down," Kyle replied, "now tell us what happened?"

"It's burning," Joss replied, "both the Tree Village, and the trading center they're burning."

"What do you mean they're burning?" Han asked, but before Joss could give her reply both Tarful and Chewbacca raced from the tomb, and as fast as their legs could carry them, headed toward Kachirho. While it took the others a while to guess what had just happened, Han knew that something was terribly wrong.

Location: The Ruins of Kachirho, an hour later

The group couldn't believe their eyes. The village and the trading center were in ruins, with fires still burning in a few parts of both the city and the village.

"By the Force," Ron said, as he placed his hand on a Wookiee child, "not even Giant Monkeys deserved this." Ron turned to face Tarful and Chewbacca, he could see tears of rage, and the look to Chewbacca's face was one of absolute hatred, Chewie let out a loud shout, but Ron noticed that the look on Tarful's face was one of more concern, then rage.

"Han," Kyle said, "do you think you Tarful, and Chewie can check the Wookiee Village? we'll check around the Trading Village. Contact us the moment you find out anything."

"Fine," Han said, hesitantly, Han couldn't put his finger on it but the tone in Kyle's voice hinted that something was very wrong. As Han, Tarful, and Chewbacca made their way toward the burning ruins of the Kachirho.

"Uh Kyle," Ron asked, "Why are you having them check out the Village?"

"I don't want those two Wookiees around when we view the Cantina's security system," Kyle replied, "and my other reason is look at some of the bodies." Ron flipped over a Duros Spacer, and saw that he what looked like a slash shaped burn across his chest, as well as the fact that he was missing an arm.

"That Duros wasn't killed by Blaster fire," Kyle replied, "only a lightsaber makes that kind of marking." Ron knelt down by the body.

"You think Shirus or Valarium did this?" Ron asked.

"No," Kyle replied, "this doesn't seem like Valarium or Shirus's style at all."

"Who," Ron asked, confused, "who could've done this?"

"That's what I hope to find out by viewing the Cantina's security system," Kyle replied.

The interior of the Raging Wookiee Cantina looked no different, bodies were struin about the interior, some were left in tact, others had been sliced apart. Blasters were struin across the blood covered floor, some were still clenched in the hand that had fired the gun's last shot, others were scattered about, sliced in half.

"I don't think it's wise for Joss to see this," Kyle said, as he tried to activate the hologram projector.

"You guys aren’t getting rid of me that easily," Joss replied, "after all I'm ready to take on the person who did this."

"You were warned," Kyle replied, as he finally was able to get the hologram projector switched on. The blue image that appeared was one of Cantina patrons firing their blasters at an unknown intruder. One by one their blaster bolts were deflected back at them, wounding or killing all they came into contact with. It was then the assailant came into view, the figure was cloaked, but it was clearly armed with a blue bladed lightsaber. As it cut down one patron after another the hood covering its head fell away, revealing a familiar face Kim Possible.

For the group gathered around the hologram projector only Kyle was able to control himself, because he'd been through this not once, but twice before. But for Ron the image was too much to bare, he stood there watching, wishing he could just tear his eyes from his head, or that the Force would strike him down where he was standing.

"It can't be," Ron said, refusing to believe what he was seeing, "it can't be." He watched as Kim's lightsaber sliced through the bar, and with a look that seemed almost joyful, watched as Kim killed the girl in cold blood.

"I can't watch anymore," Ron said, turning away from the hologram. As bad as it was for Ron, it was even worse for Joss. Ever since that horrible night in Middleton, Kim had become more then just her cousin, Kim was the closest thing she had to a mother. Joss bolted from the cantina in tears, not wanting to believe what she'd just seen.

"I'm afraid," Kyle said, but he was soon interrupted, by Ron.

"Don't say it Kyle," Ron replied, with tears in his eyes, "I know what you going to say and I'm begging you please don't make me keep that promise."

"I'm afraid," Kyle continued, "you'll have to."

"Let me fight Shirus, or Valarium," Ron pleaded, "I can't fight Kim."

"You told me once," Kyle added, "that at times friendship is more powerful then love."

"She's like my sister," Ron replied, "I can't do it."

"Kim Possible has betrayed us," Kyle said, "yet I sense that somewhere inside that monster we saw she still exists. That's why I'm asking you to keep your word."

"But I can't," Ron replied, "I've always been the sidekick; I mean I can barely hold my own against one of Valarium's stormtroopers, let alone fight Kim."

"You've saved us more times then I can count and you've proven to me that you’re not the clumsy doofus everyone made you out to be," Kyle replied, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, "I have complete confidence in you and your skills."

"Thanks," Ron replied, the two warriors began to make their way back to the Raven's Sun

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Location: The Raven's Sun, a few hours later

Joss was sitting near the chess table, for the past few hours she had been crying her eyes out. For all who had seen that hologram it had affected her the most, in many ways Joss felt she was to blame for Kim's fall. 3PO and R2 tried to comfort her, but she would hear none of what they tried to say.

"Statement:" HK47 said, entering the main hold, "the master and one of the meatbags has returned." Kyle and Ron both made their way into the hold.

"Master Stoppable," 3PO asked, "what happened? Where's Mistress Possible?"

"You don't want to know," Ron replied, as he made his way to the cockpit.

"Master Wolf," 3PO added, "Mistress Joss is quite upset about something, I think you'd better talk to her." The only sound that Kyle heard was Joss bolting toward the Raven's Sun's crew compartment.

"Why me?" Kyle asked

"Statement:" HK47 replied, "because the little meatbag said, you're the closest thing she has to a father."

Location: Crew Compartment, Raven's Sun

Joss fell face first onto the bed, and began crying her eyes out; she looked up, and saw a photo that had been taken when Kim and Ron had visited the Ranch a few years back.

"You okay," Kyle said, entering the room, "look I'm sorry you had to see that."

"It's okay," Joss said, whipping a tear from her eye, "after all it was my fault Kim went bad, I idolized her too much."

"Joss," Kyle said, sitting beside her, "it wasn't your fault Kim turned evil, if anyone's to blame it's me. I was her master and I didn't train her well enough."

"Maybe if I'd been a Jedi too," Joss added, "maybe I could've stopped her."

"Listen," Kyle replied, "you're destiny is on a different path from Kim's, what happened to her wasn't your fault." Joss pushed Kyle's hand away.

"Yes it was," Joss replied, whipping a tear from her eye, "maybe you should've left me to die back in Middleton, so far I'm just getting in the way. You have no idea what it's like to lose your mother to a horse riding accident, and then to watch your dad die in a hall of gunfire. You have no idea what it's like to cry yourself to sleep at night"

"I don't know about that," Kyle replied, "but I do know what it's like to lose your parents. More then that I know what it's like to cry yourself to sleep."

"Is this suppose to make me feel better?" Joss asked

"Look," Kyle replied, "by the time I was your age I was an orphan. I lost everything and everyone I ever carried about in one day." Joss looked at the Force Knight with a confused look to her face. But for Kyle his mind began to fill with images from the Black Guard's attack on Taurus, the explosion of a modified Thought Bomb, the sounds of Blaster Fire coming from his home, and worst of all returning to find the bodies of his parents, it was an image he couldn't bear to see.

"How is that even possible," Joss asked, "I mean a Jedi Knight never fails?"

"I only wish that were true," Kyle replied, "but beneath our powers and skills we're still human, still capable of making mistakes and learning from them. Believe me I know."

"Yeah and those powers of yours are what make you guys so cool," Joss replied, tears began welling up in her eyes , "I mean if I had powers like that I could've stopped Kim from going bad."

"Joss you have to understand," Kyle added, "The Force maybe powerful, but it is also dangerous. The Dark Side is always there, always whispering to you and in my case more likely to take control. In the end you alone chose what path you follow, no one can chose it for you." Kyle whipped a tear from Joss's eye. She looked into the Force Knight's blue eyes.

"I guess what I'm trying to say," Kyle added, "is that it wasn't your fault, nor was what happened to your dad your fault," Kyle paused for a brief moment, "even someone who's fallen as far as Kim has can still be brought back. It's impossible for the Light Side to be driven from anyone, the same way it's impossible for the Dark Side to be driven away." Joss looked at Kyle with a look to her face that clearly stated she didn't know understand a word of what he'd just told her.

"Excuse me," Joss asked, confused

"I'm trying to say," Kyle replied, "that there is a chance that we can turn Kim back." Joss's face suddenly lit up, but the look of joy was suddenly replaced by one of concern.
The silence of the room was soon broken by the sound of Kyle's communicator activating.

"What," Kyle replied, Joss couldn't hear the reply, but she could tell that it was urgent from the tone of Kyle's voice, "I'll be right there." Kyle turned to leave; he turned to face Joss, "I've got to go."

"Wait," Joss said, grabbing Kyle by the sleeve of his coat, "May the Force be with You, daddy." Kyle couldn't help but smile.

Location: Bridge of the Raven's Sun

"Kyle," Ron said, handing him the communicator, "it's Han," the angry snarls of Chewbacca and Tarful could be heard in the background, as Kyle grasped the communicator. The only sound that broke the silence of the bridge was the cracking noise Kyle's leather gloves made as his grip tightened on the communicator.

"Raven's Sun," Kyle said, into the communicator, "go ahead Han."

"Things are pretty bad up here," Han replied, "the whole village has been whipped out, worse Chewie tells me who ever did this made off with something very important."

"Did Chewie or Tarful specify what?" Kyle asked

"The Ring of Rowwark," Han replied, "I guess it was true that the Wookiees removed it from the tomb after the Czerka Corporation arrived." Kyle didn't reply he didn't need the Force to tell him that Kim's betrayal had cost them the last Ring.

"Thanks," Kyle said, "tell Chewie and Tarful, we'll find the person who did this, and make them pay." Kyle didn't wait for the reply, as he placed the communicator on the control panel. Kyle's face was as white as a sheet; the eerie silence that filled the cockpit was broken only when Ron finally spoke.

"If Kim gave Valarium the Ring," Ron said, "they could be anywhere in the Galaxy."

"No," Kyle replied, a hint of fear to his voice, "there's only one planet left, the planet where the Kyber Crystal is. Korriban." The tone in Kyle's voice was one Ron had never heard before, for the first time ever Ron detected fear in the Force Knight's voice.

"It's just another planet isn't it?" Ron asked, when Kyle didn't answer, Ron knew something was wrong.

"What's wrong with this planet?" Ron asked

"Korriban is a graveyard for the darkest of the Sith Lords still whispering within their tombs." Kyle replied, "A source of pure evil that has spawned threats through out the millennia."

"Are you talking about an evil planet?" Ron asked

"Not exactly," Kyle replied, as he engaged the Raven's Sun's engines. The small freighter streaked into the black emptiness of space, its destination, a planet deep in the Outer Rim.

Location: Black Guard Staging Area, outside the Tomb of Marka Ragnos, Korriban, Horuset System

It's been said that of all the planets in the Galaxy, none was more darker or evil then Korriban. This lonely isolated planet, pulses with the Dark Side of the Force, as though it had been born from the blackest depths of the Dark Side itself. Its barren windswept surface was dotted with the ruins of the ancient Sith Empire, and the remains of a Jedi Civil War era Sith Academy and what at one time had been a thriving settlement known as Dreshda. But of all its wonders, the darkest secret Korriban holds is the Valley of the Dark Lords, the final resting place of the many Dark Lords of the ancient Sith Empire.

At one time Korriban was considered a second capital of the Sith Empire, now it was a barren waste land, it's great tombs plundered, the once grand Empire that placed it in eternal darkness has long since crumbled into the pages of history, its native animals driven to madness by the Dark Side that flows through the planet's surface like a virus.
The last person to lay eyes upon the Tomb of Marka Ragnos had been a young Jedi named Jaden Korr, who soon after sealed the tomb off for what he'd hoped, would be an eternity. But for Valarium, the rubble that blocked the entrance to the massive pyramid was only a minor inconvenience.

"Foolish Jedi," Valarium said, to himself, as he used the Force to move the rubble, he turned to his escort, which consisted of Boba Fett, Darth Shirus, and Darth Kira, "Come." The group had just barely made it into the pyramid when Darth Shirus stopped.

"Wait Master," Shirus said, "I sense something," her trademark grin crept over her face, "it seems we've got visitors." Valarium suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Relax my Lord," Kira added, "Shirus and I can handle anything Wolf and Stoppable have up their sleeves."

Location: Raven's Sun Landing site, Outside of the Valley of Dark Lords

Kyle Wolf and Ron Stoppable, three years ago they had fought a duel of their own. For Ron it had been an attempt to avoid holding onto the past, for Kyle it had been an attempt to try and move into the future. In the three years since that night, a bond had formed between the two warriors, a bond formed of respect, and honor.

The only sounds that broke the eerie silence of the main hold were the sounds of Kyle and Ron preparing their gear, for the two Jedi they only needed one thing each, their lightsabers. Ron's hand was trembling as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt; time and again he tried to convince himself that the person he'd seen in the holocron on Kashyyyk wasn't Kim, but someone else.

"Fighting a friend is the hardest thing you can do," Kyle said, breaking the silence, "trust me on that."

"I know," Ron replied, "I just never expected my friendship with Kim to end this way."

"The future is never set in stone," Kyle added, "I know there is still good in her, and if anyone can bring that out it's you." Ron didn't answer.

"I also feel that maybe I owe you an apology for taking Kim from you," Kyle added

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"No," Ron replied, "That duel should not have happened, it only happened because of me and no one else. I didn't respect Kim's choice, and I nearly got us both killed. If anyone apologizes it's me." Kyle simply smiled.

"Now you're talking like a Jedi," Kyle replied, before turning his attention elsewhere,

"HK47, you know the lay of the valley?"

"Statement: Oh I do indeed master," HK47 replied.

"Good," Kyle added, "then you're coming with us, and with any luck you can practice your marksmanship on a few Imperial bucket heads."

"Joyous Statement: Oh I do hope so Master," HK47 added.

"R2, 3PO," Kyle ordered, "Make sure Joss stays safe, or you answer to me."

"Very well Master Wolf," 3PO replied, nervously, R2 simply whistled his reply.

"What do you mean if I went with them I'd scream like a little girl?" 3PO asked, "R2-D2, just because I'm fond of going into a fetal position and crying for my mommy when ever there's danger doesn't make me a coward." As R2 and 3PO entered into one of their trademark arguments, Kyle, Ron, and HK47 made their way out of the ship. The moment Ron and Kyle set foot on Korriban's desolate surface; they were both over come by a massive surge in the Dark Side.

"Sheesh," Ron said, "what is this planet Dark Side central?"

"No," Kyle replied, "only those who are buried here were," he turned to face HK47, "move out." The group slowly made their way into the valley. For some the massive pyramids, and enormous statues that dotted the valley's walls ranked as some of the Galaxy's greatest art treasures. But to others they were memories of one of the Galaxy's darkest eras, and the men whose remains the pyramids contained, and the names the men bore, names like Marka Ragnos, Naga Sadow, and Tulak Hord, are cursed by billions of beings for the untold suffering their wars of conquest had unleashed upon the Galaxy.

"Sheesh," Ron said, as he looked upon one of the statues, "they should call this place the Valley of Ego."

"They may have been driven by ego," Kyle replied, "and they may have walked and thought like men, but beneath that they were vicious mindless monsters, with a thirst for power that couldn't be quenched, a thirst for power that plunged the entire Galaxy into almost 5000 years of seemingly endless war. But bad art isn't what worries me." Ron noticed the change in Kyle's voice.

"Okay what's in these tombs besides the Kyber Crystal?" Ron asked

"Statement: My creator, Darth Reven," HK47 replied, "once told me that the spirits of the Dark Lords still haunt their tombs." Ron's face suddenly turned white.

"You mean we've got to fight ghosts as well as the Black Guard?" Ron shouted.

"That's about the size of it," Kyle replied, but before he could finish his statement, both he and Ron were over come by the strongest Dark Side surge they'd ever felt.

"What's going on?" Ron asked, "I can't seem to pinpoint where this surge is originating from."

"There's only one place," Kyle replied, pointing out in front of them, "there, that's where the Kyber Crystal is hidden." He was pointing at a crumbling pyramid, in front of which stood a massive statue of a Sith Lord.

"Statement: My sensors are picking up two meatbag guards Master," HK47 replied, "oh may I please reduce them to burning piles of blood and guts master?" Kyle pulled out a pair of electro-binoculars, and peered through, he could clearly make out the image of two black armored Imperial Stormtroopers standing outside of the entrance.

"Take them out," Kyle ordered, "but do it quietly."

"Joyous Statement: Oh it warms my core to see such blood lust in you master," HK47 replied, as he raised his rifle. The droid gazed through the scope, and got a bead on the first trooper, slowly he pulled the trigger, and the gun roared to life, firing a bright red bolt of energy, that only took a few seconds to reach its target. The trooper didn't know what hit him, as the blaster bolt struck his helmet at the side, and passed through to his brain, killing him instantly.

"1305," the other trooper said, as he walked over to see what was wrong, but before he could react, a blaster bolt tore through his chest.

"Stay here," Kyle ordered, "and deal with any others."

"Statement: Oh I do so look forward to that," HK47 replied, as Kyle and Ron began making their way up the stone stairway.

When Kyle and Ron finally reached the landing they were greeted by a lone figure, clad in all black.

"Shirus," Ron said, as he reached for his lightsaber, but just as his hand reached the hilt, Kyle stopped him.

"Get moving," Kyle said, "she's mine." Ron didn't argue, as he made his way past Shirus, whose ice cold gaze was fixed on Kyle.

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"Still playing Valarium's attack dog," Kyle asked, "what's wrong, still unable to walk without someone holding your hand Possible?" Through the Force Shirus burned like a blast furnace.

"YOU UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER," Shirus snarled, as she engaged her crimson bladed lightsaber.

"Understand one thing," Kyle replied, as he separated the lower portion of his lightsaber, and engaged it, "your brothers and Drakken may have been afraid of you," he assumed a fighting stance, "BUT I'M NOT."

Ron had just entered the main passage, when the sounds of Kyle and Shirus's lightsabers crashing into each other filled the cave.

"Looks like I'm on my own little buddy," Ron said, as he stroked Rufus's head. Ron made his way down the dark tunnel; he could feel the Dark Side growing stronger, the further into the tomb he went. After a while he came to a narrow stone bridge, about fifty feet below the bridge ran a river of red hot lava. But for Ron, the lava was the least of his worries. On the far end of the bridge stood his opponent, Darth Kira.

"I figured Wolf would send you," Kira snarled, as she removed her hood, "pity I'd hoped the two of you would join me." The first thing Ron noticed was that a raven colored streak, the same color as Shego's hair had appeared in Kim's normally fiery orange hair.

"Never," Ron replied, "I'll never turn to the Dark Side, not even for you Kim, and Kyle would make the same choice." The look to Kira's face became even less Human, as she made her way onto the bridge.

"You don't know the Power of the Dark Side Ron," Kira replied, Ron barely heard what Kira was saying, he felt the Force tugging at his pant pocket, almost instantly Rufus flew from Ron's pocket, and as soon as he struck Kira's gloved hand, she clenched her fist tightly around the tiny creature.

"RUFUS," Ron shouted, as he reached for his lightsaber.

"The power to rule Ron," Kira added, as her grip on Rufus tightened, by now Rufus had begun to swell up as Kira's grip became even tighter, "the power to command the very forces of life and death. I can feel it in you Ron," Rufus was struggling to break Kira's grip, his eyes had become red with blood, and small amounts of blood began oozing out of his skin, "anger, hatred, aggression, the power to," by now Rufus's tiny body couldn't take the force of Kira's grip any more, and almost instantly the upper portion of his body exploded, showering Kira's glove with bright red blood. With a sinister grin to her face, Kira tossed the lower half of Rufus's body into the river of molten lava.

In front of her Ron burned like a fusion torch, at one time he called this monster his best friend. But now that was in the past. Yet despite the rage he felt at Kim, he was able to keep himself under control.

"The Power to destroy everything you once carried about," Ron snarled, by now his eyes were alight with fury, yet he kept repeating to himself over and over, a Jedi knew when to keep a cool head.

"Oh please," Kira replied, "that Naked Mole Rat meant nothing to me, the same way you mean nothing to me." Ron couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Yes," Kira replied, as she licked Rufus's blood from her glove, "you and that abomination were never anything to me, just distractions, the only reason I put up with you was it looked better for me," Kira gazed at Ron, her blazing yellow eyes almost burning a hole through him, "but for old times sake I'm giving you a chance to join me."

"And if I refuse?" Ron snarled, Kira couldn't help but laugh.

"Refuse," Kira said, "I'm now more powerful then you or Kyle. I'm more powerful then even my sister or Valarium, once I get the Kyber Crystal I can overthrow Valarium and his father, and if you and Kyle join me, the three of us can rule the Galaxy."

"Rule the Galaxy," Ron asked, "Kim; you're a hero, a Jedi. Your allegiance is to the New Republic to DEMOCRACY." Kira face suddenly hardened.

"Don't make me kill you," Kira snarled. At last Ron drew and engaged his lightsaber.

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes," Ron said, "I will do what I must."

"You will try," Kira snarled, drawing and engaging a crimson bladed lightsaber, "if you're not with me, then you're my enemy."

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The Dark Lady leapt over Ron's head and almost at once they crossed blades. The Dark Side and Light Side flowed from the two warriors like a blast furnace, their moves matched each other perfectly, yet for Ron every move he made, the stronger Kira seemed to be. For a good ten minutes the two titans of the Force battled each other on a rock bridge suspended over a river of lava. Their seemingly unbreakable friendship was a thing of the past, in this fight it was Kim Possible vs. Ron Stoppable, Jedi vs. Sith, Light vs. Dark winner take all.

Kyle Wolf and Darth Shirus, at one time they had been a perfect match, at one time they had shared a dream, to be together forever. To Kyle Wolf that dream was ended by an act of betrayal, for Darth Shirus that dream had ended when she kidnapped a GO City Politician, maybe even before then. At one time she was known as Rachel Possible, at one time she'd been a hero, but that was in the past, she was Darth Shirus, Valarium had not only given her the power she'd long craved, he'd given her purpose.
The two gladiators kept crossing blades, green on red their moves matching each other perfectly. Kyle Force Jumped onto the top of the tomb, with Shirus in hot pursuit. Once again the two warriors crossed swords. Shirus managed to dodge one of Kyle's moves, and just as the Force Knight brought his blade around for another pass, she Force Pushed him off the top of the tomb. Fortunately Kyle had been able to use the Force to land near the entrance. As Shirus jumped down, Kyle managed to catch her off guard, and was able to take the offensive, but no sooner had he done so then Shirus turned the tables yet again.
Many had thought their friendship was permanent, unbreakable, and incorruptible. To the two warriors who faced each other on that bridge that friendship now meant nothing. The two warriors knew each other inside and out, though Ron was far more skilled, Darth Kira proved to be far more powerful. Kira attacked Ron with the ferocity of a ravenous wolf, their lightsabers crashing into each other faster and faster. Slowly Kira gained the upper hand and forced Ron into a retreat, though she was unable to score any hits on her opponent. It took only a few minutes to drive Ron into the wall at the far end of the bridge.

"You are beaten," Kira snarled, as she held her crimson blade under Ron's neck, “it is useless to resist."

"You should know by now Kim," Ron replied, as he Force Pushed Kira away, "I'm full of surprises." As Darth Kira regained her footing, Ron quickly sliced off a large chunk of rock and proceeded to jump from the ledge. Ron landed on top of the rock just as it landed in the lava river.

"Impressive," Kira replied, "Most Impressive." Kira immediately followed Ron's maneuver, slicing off a rock from the underside of the bridge, and proceeded to jump from the bridge.

Ron peered through the steam and gas of the lava, slowly Darth Kira emerged, like a demon rising from its fiery lair. As the two rocks drifted into range, Kira and Ron once again crossed sabers.

"This ends now," Shirus snarled, as she brought her saber down, near Kyle's head. Kyle managed to move just in the nick of time, and immediately drew the other half of his lightsaber. Shirus growled in pure anger as she charged toward Kyle, just as she neared him, Kyle spun kicked her in the face.

"You still have much to learn Rachel," Kyle replied, as he reconnected both halves of his saber. Shirus didn't reply, her yellow eyes were alight with fury in its purest form.

"Rachel Possible is dead," Shirus snarled, "there's only Darth Shirus."

"Good," Kyle replied, as his eyes began to glow bright yellow, "saves me a lot of guilt for killing you." This time as they crossed swords, the two warriors were overcome by their desire for revenge on the other. Every swing Shirus made, Kyle managed to block, with one of his blades. As Shirus came in for yet another attempt, Kyle discharged a bolt of Force Lightning, sending her crashing into one of the pillars that formed the entrance to the cave.

"A lucky shot old friend," Shirus said, as she discharged a burst of her trade mark green plasma, which struck Kyle in the chest knocking him backward, "but not good enough." Shirus reactivated her lightsaber, but just as she approached Kyle to deliver the final blow, she heard Valarium's voice echoing in her head.

"But Master," Shirus said, "I can."

"NO," Valarium replied, "LEAVE HIM FOR NOW, AND REPORT TO THE CRYSTAL ROOM."

"Yes Master," Shirus snarled, as she turned to face Kyle, "you got lucky, but the next time we meet I'll finish what I started today." Shirus deactivated her blade, and raced toward the entrance, disappearing into the darkness.

Kyle slowly got to his feet; he held his hand over a gash Shirus's lightsaber had cut into his shoulder. With all his strength Kyle made his way into the tomb.

The sounds and furry of Kira and Ron's lightsabers crashing into each other filled the darkness of the tomb, as the two warriors continued their battle. As they fought, Ron searched Kira's blazing eyes for any trace of the woman she'd once been, but the more he looked, and the deeper he probed, he came to understand Kim's fall more, the more he came to realize he'd failed her as a friend, when she needed him the most, he chose to ignore the obvious signs. Maybe if he'd intervened, helped Kyle train her, helped her control her jelousy, maybe the events that were now unfolding might never had happened.

"I have failed you Kim," Ron replied, "I have failed you." Kira's reply was swift and cold.

"I should have known you and Kyle were plotting to deny me true power," Kira snarled

"Kim," Ron replied, "Kyle loves you, the same way you love him. Search your feelings Kim you can't kill me, any more then you could kill him or Joss. Just let go of your hate and jealousy." Kira would have none of it, as she brought her blade up to continue the fight.

"This is the end for you old friend," Kira replied, "I only wish it could have been otherwise."

"I know," Ron replied. Once again the sounds of two lightsabers crashing into each other filled the dead silence of the tomb, as the two warriors continued their battle Ron noticed out of the corner a second bridge spanning the river. Using the Force Ron managed to leap from the melting rock, and just barely reached the bridge. As Ron pulled himself up, he watched as Darth Kira leapt from her own rock. Kira landed on the bridge just as Ron stood up, it was then that Ron noticed something, on Kira's belt was the lightsaber her father had given her back on Earth. As fast as possible, Ron Force Pulled the second blade into his free hand, and engaged it.

"I'm rather impressed," Kira replied, "but you underestimate me." As she charged at Ron, for a few moments the two warriors were locked in a stalemate, but then Ron found an opening, he managed to duck as Kira brought her blade around, and at the right moment brought one of his blades up, slicing a crescent shaped gash into Kira's cheek, in the same spot were he'd injured Darth Shirus back on Yavin.

"YOU SON OF A," Kira by now was so enraged she could barely see straight. She attacked Ron like a wild lion, and with one swift movement, cut his left hand off. As Ron screamed in pain, she Force Pushed him over the edge, causing him to drop her father's lightsaber. Ron barely had enough time to grab onto the edge of the bridge, before Kira approached him. Standing over him like a vulture gazing over its kill, she raised her saber high over her head.

Stay Tuned for: Epilogue: The Kyber Crystal

PS: Well here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for. Sorry this took so long, but this chapter had to be perfect, and this is as good as it's going to get. PSS: Joss calls Kyle daddy only because he’s a father figure to her, not because he’s her father.

[dragonfang33]

Yes this is the story in which Rufus is killed, so enjoy, I look forward to getting somefeed back