The wind gently rustled the tall blades of grass in the fields. It had just rained, and a light fog was present over the landscape. Insects scurried about the muddy trail as Jyanis Iquis'corp'ioninj, better known as General Scorpion, trudged slowly on. Plenty of room for change on the farm planet, but it still looked as exactly as he remembered it.

For once he could pass as a civilian, wearing a dark grey cloak over his combat attire, not branishing any weapons. He would never carry weapons in such a place, purely out of respect. His family's homestead was just over this hill. There it was, the same rectangular shape, with the same dome rooftop. The weather had taken its course, and the walls were cracked and crumbling. The dome looked as if it would implode upon the brush of a feather from a passing bird. So many memories.

He rounded the building and got his first glimpse in almost twenty years at his parents' graves. At least the weather had not done as much damage here, having been shielded by the house. He looked down at the tombstones standing proudly...

...At his master's side, watching the decrepid shuttle lurch forward into the cavernous hangar, deep within the mountainside lair of The Darkness Keeper. Only twenty-three, and his master had declared his training complete, but he still had one final test for him.

Jyanis eagerly anticipated the arrival of his parents, having not seen them in so very long. The door on the small ship opened, and his father peeked cautiously out, not knowing what to expect. His eyes found his son and he looked at him with beaming pride. His mother stepped down with her hands clasped in the joy of seeing her son again. They both ran forward, but promptly slowed when The Darkness Keeper stepped forward to greet them. They returned the greeting and The Darkness Keeper went on to talking.

"Your son's training is now complete, you should be very proud of him. He's excelled at everything I've trained him in."

His father smiled and the Dark Lord continued.

"There's just one more test."

With that he raised his concealed lightsaber and sliced through Jyanis' father into his mother, fatally wounding them. Jyanis stood firmly in surprise, and his master simply flicked off his weapon and proceeded to walk away. Jyanis shuddered with rage, drew his lightstaff, and screamed like one of the damned. He lunged, and the Dark Lord turned and parried, a look of amusement on his face. Jyanis attacked again and again, and each time his blade was almost effortlessly defended against. He was beating him back though, and the Dark Lord was awfully close to the ledge above the rocky depths below. Very soon though, he fell back onto the protective railing, and he knew that he should end this. He reared his lightsaber and came down with a clean swipe at Jyanis' head. Jyanis ducked and sidestepped, then arched his shoulder, bringing his own blade across the Dark Lord's neck, severing his head. The evil master's head fell into the darkness below, and was followed by his body.

Jyanis stood there, flowing with rage. He turned, his expression saddening, and walked back to where his parents lay, leaning over...

...And placing a flower beside each tombstone. Straightening himself, he looked at the graves.

"I'm sorry I did not visit. I'm sorry for everything."

He walked back into the fields, once again enclosing himself with self-hatred. A hatred of the darkness that mutated him, but with an ambition to conquer it somehow.