title: Meditations of a Modern Warrior, Vol. 2 (Volume 2)
author: Paul Higgins
description: Paul 'Rock' Higgins is a Certified Master Anti-Terrorism Specialist who has worked in the executive protection industry for the last twenty two years and has been employed as an executive protection operator for a high profile businessman and his family. Paul also provides company's and company employees with anti-terrorism training while developing operating procedures helping mitigate risks and threats from many forms of attack. Paul has taught all forms of response to attack strategies, tactics and techniques to over 500 bodyguards working on low to high risk operations. While serving in the military Paul instructed close quarter combat for troops going up against Russian Spetsnaz Special Forces. Paul is a graduate of the Professional Bodyguard Association and has been involved in close quarter combat teaching civilians, bodyguards, military and law enforcement personnel since 1978. Paul is an ex-military CQC instructor, holds Blackbelts in various combat systems, is a registered self-protection instructor with the British Combat Association, an instructor with the Self-Defence Federation and an ABA assistant boxing coach. Go to www.vipatacticaltraining.com for information on training programs or contact Paul at paul@vipatacticaltraining.com
zlib_text: # CHAPTER 1
  
  
  _Present day …_
  
  
  FROM THE DEPTHS OF MEDITATION came a man’s voice.
  
  
  _“You’re running out of executioners, Baron!_ ”
  
  
  Starkiller opened his eyes. He knew that voice. It tugged at parts of him that
  had lain dormant for a long time—or never genuinely existed at all, depending
  on one’s viewpoint.
  
  
  He shied away from both memory and contemplation. There was no point wasting
  energy on either when his very survival was at stake. How many days he had
  been down the pit he no longer knew, but in that time he had neither eaten nor
  slept. His enemy wasn’t physical in the sense of a foe he could strike down or
  manipulate. It was himself—his fallible body, his weak mind, his faltering
  spirit. He would endure and emerge whole, or never emerge at all.
  
  
  Such was the life of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice.
  
  
  _“He is dead._ ”
  
  
  _“Then he is now more powerful than ever._ ”
  
  
  More voices. He closed his eyes and shook his head. Kneeling, he placed his
  manacled hands on the slick metal su