A Jedi Master and his Padawan investigate a disturbance in the Force on a remote planet in the Outer Rim. Their search for the source of the disturbance will bring them face to face with an ancient evil...
Tropes:
- Aerith and Bob: Jedi Master Tajin, and his Padawan...Dan.
- An Aesop: Power is fleeting: eventually everyone loses their strength to old age. However, that doesn't mean strength is meaningless, for it allows those with power to protect those without. As such, there's more to life than power, such as friendship and kindness.
- Ambiguous Situation: If the Elder was a Sith or simply someone (once) associated with them is never clarified, and right before he dies (somehow turning into a pile of ash), The Elder blows up his ship so the Jedi have no clues.
- Ancient Evil: It's one thing to encounter a Sith or a simple Dark Side user. It's another story to encounter a Sith Lord from a time long before Darth Bane. According to Tajin, the Sith have been extinct for hundreds of years.
- Battle in the Rain: By the time Tajin has caught up to the Elder, it has started raining, and the drops of water hiss when they hit his lightsaber.
- Combat Pragmatist: The Elder dual wields lightsabers while Tajin only has one. Since he has a spare hand, Tajin is able to take one of the Elder's lightsabers to destroy it.
- Defector from Decadence: The Elder's dialogue to Dan implies that he left the Sith Order because he was tired of their inherent backstabbing ways, believing it only made them neglect their destiny.
- Dented Iron: As skilled as The Elder appears to be, it's clear old age has taken a toll on his body, which is how Tajin manages to kill him relatively easily. Tajin downright admits that had The Elder been in his prime, the battle would have turned out very differently.
- Do Not Go Gentle: The Elder admits to Dan and Tajin that age is taking its toll, and he'd rather die fighting a Worthy Opponent than simply fade into oblivion.
- Eager Rookie: Dan is still a Padawan but very eager at the thought of facing a darksider.
- Evil Old Folks: The Elder is clearly a darksider who wants to kill Jedi.
- Laser Blade: Why, of course. Tajin and Dan use regular green and blue lightsabers, while the Elder uses a pair of red sabers resembling katanas without the curve.
- Mythology Gag:
- Tajin uses trakata, a lightsaber style from The Jedi Path that makes use of the lightsaber's ability to flicker on and off quickly in order to bypass the Elder's defense.
- Lightsabers are shown to produce steam upon contact with rain, an effect previously seen in Star Wars: Clone Wars during Anakin's fight with Ventress.
- Near-Villain Victory: The Elder had defeated and critically wounded Dan and Tajin makes it clear he would have lost their fight had age not been a factor.
- Not Quite Dead: Dan appears to have been slain by the Elder, but as Tajin arrives, his eyes open.
- Old Master: The Elder is a villainous and deconstructed example. He is very old and clearly extremely skilled with a lightsaber, but his old age ultimately causes him to lose the duel.
- Seen It All: Tajin has a reputation among the Jedi as the most well-travelled, and gives advice about the sights and attractions of the Outer Rim planets to his Padawan.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: As both the Elder and Tajin point out, the Elder is no longer in his prime for their fight. The latter comments that despite the former's tremendous skill in lightsaber combat, to the point that not even hostile wildlife and a Padawan had any chance against him, it was time that ultimately did him in. Had the Elder been a few decades younger, Tajin would have died.
- Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Despite being injured, Dan manages to throw his lightsaber at the Elder, disarming him and providing Tajin with enough of an opening to deliver the killing blow.
- Worthy Opponent: The Elder senses Taijin is strong in the Force and seeks to challenge him, only lamenting that he couldn't have met the Jedi while still in his prime.
