Lightning shatters the sky and strikes the spire atop the cloning complex towering before anyone who steps off their ship and onto the rain-slick landing platform. Kamino, the Planet of Storms, is known for its roiling seas and constant torrential downpour. The fall of the Galactic Empire hit the planet’s primary export of military cloning projects extremely hard, but the Kaminoans remained afloat, both figuratively with contracts to galactic warlords, and literally with the brilliant engineering of their iconic seaborne cities.

The initial landing pad is a wide circle designed to accommodate a variety of ships, and is connected to a series of other platforms as well. Every surface is slick with rain, but avoids flooding due to the sloped edges that allow the water to run off into the sea below and away from the centerpoint.

The cloning facility’s exterior is characterized by similar slopes, and raindrops rapidly transform into steam as they touch against the series of lightning rods around the platform, much like they would if they dripped onto a lightsaber blade.

History tells of the fateful encounter between Obi Wan Kenobi and renowned Bounty Hunter Jango Fett. The doors of the facility are sealed, which means that whatever challenge awaits you, will have to be faced in the heart of the omnipresent rainstorm.

The rain was coming down like translucent sheets. It looked so layered that it almost seemed suffocating. From inside her shuttle, it was so dark out that she could barely see out the windows, except for when the frequent lightning strikes flashed across the sky. Bright lights illuminated the large circular landing pad of the Kaminoan floating city, as the shuttle came down to land near the center of the pad.

The message from her Master to meet him there for training, was a bit vague. She couldn’t help but wonder why he chose this planet for a dueling session. It was constant downpour, the chance of getting hit by lightning was ever prevalent, and every metallic surface outside was slick. Master always has his reasons. Even if they are not always understood. She was about to don her cloak, but thought against it. She had some of her tribal clothing on under her uniform, now she took off the entire uniform, except her thin soled boots, before heading out into the rain.

Walking out she looked around for her Master, but seeing no other shuttle, she assumed that maybe she had beaten him to the planet. But she decided to look around some more, just to be sure. Reaching the edge of the main platform, she saw a tall dark cloaked figure standing on one of the smaller platforms. He seemed to be looking out at the sea as the waves swirled and crashed into themselves and the city complex. The lightning flashed again as she walked up to the figure, the wind blowing his cloak up and around revealing the armor hidden beneath. She recognized the brand new armor that Solas now wore. Standing at the ready with her saber in hand, she shouted against the raging wind, “Master, I am here and ready.”

Solas lifted his cybernetic left hand and slowly curled his fingers into a light fist before uncurling them as he turned his hand over. Tahiri watched her master, convinced that he had not heard her. She leapt down onto the smaller platform, which had a small area in the center that was set down a few inches from the rest of the platform. Walking towards her master she was about to call out to him again but she was cut off by the sudden activation of her master’s lightsaber. Surprised but not sensing any danger, Tahiri kept her own blade sheathed.

Solas turned slowly to his apprentice. He was proud of the young togruta, she had embraced his teachings and steeped herself in the dark side of Force. As the epicanthix stared at the girl, the words of Darth Bane speaking to his own young apprentice rang out in the back of his mind.

‘When your power eclipses mine I will become expendable. This is the Rule of Two: one Master and one apprentice. When you are ready to claim the mantle of Dark Lord as your own, you must do so by eliminating me.’

And while the Rule of Two has been abandoned, the basis of the rule remained true. An apprentice was only ready to hold the title of master when they were able to take it.

Tahiri watched the cloaked Sith turn to her, his eyes glowing within his hood. Time stood still for a moment as his presence washed over her. She had only a split-second to activate her saber bring it up in order block the powerful slash from Solas’ saber. The pair held their saber lock for a moment before the Sith Warrior unleashed a rapid-fire string of attacks. Consisting of wide swings and vicious cross cuts, mixed in with deft parries and ripostes, Solas’ pressed forward with a deliberate pace that kept Tahiri on her back foot.

Retreating the female Knight, knew that if she couldn’t stop his advance she would surely fall. She had confidence in her own skill with the blade, but until she could put some space between her master and herself she would never be able to bring out the benefits of her form’s acrobatic nature. After a short while she felt her heel make contact with the edge of the lower section of the platform. She took her chance and allowed herself to fall backwards avoiding a wide slash. Rolling backwards her natural flexibility coming into play as she pushed off the ground backflipping away from Solas. She landed in a crouch holding her saber in front of her body as she began to rock back and forth on the balls of her feet. Coiled like a predator ready to pounce she watched for her master’s next move.