In a Galaxy far, far away...
Star Wars: Clone Wars
Fear the Dark Side
War has erupted throughout the Galaxy.
The Republic and Separatists forces wreak much havoc with death tolls counting in the billions mounting every day.
The Republic for the first time in month undertake a aggressive strike at the Separatist world of Ruusan, hoping to deny the Separatists a stronghold in the Mid Rim and safeguarding the security of the Republic's capitol, Coruscant.
The Jedi Council have send Master Verge and his Padawan Sareesa along with one Arc Trooper to find and destroy the Separatist base, along with the Mysterious Dark Jedi who oversees it...
If there was no vacuum in space, one could've heard the explosions above Ruusan's orbit.
Republic Acclamators, large arrow head shaped vessels which served as their battleships, fired their deadly turrets on the enemy fleet.
The Separatist fleet consisted mostly of Lucrehulk core ships resembled a flattened ring shaped hull with engines in the stern, docking claws at the bow, and a detachable core ship in the center, save a few Destroyers which resembled in shape like the Republic's Acclamators.
The Republic fleet slightly outnumbered the enemy and fired heavily upon the Core ships.
The Republic Admiral, a human woman by the name of Lan Onasi. Her stern face and voice demanded respect of her men and despite her sex, she was able through hard work to get where she was today.
The Admiral sipped tea from her mug as she inspected the battle from the bridge. However two brown robed individuals entered the room, turning the heads of some of the crew.
'I never saw a Jedi before...' one of the bridge crew said to his colleague.' What are they exactly?'
His colleague, a green skinned humanoid, threw his palm against his face.
'Didn't you go to school?' he asked. 'Jedi are individuals who can manipulate the Force, they can do all kinds of things AND they wield light sabres.'
'I knew that...' the man coughed.
'Marsk, Jenko!' the ship's XO glared. 'Get back to work, we're in a war here!'
'Sir yes sir!' both replied as they got back to their monitors.
The Jedi walked up to the Admiral who put her mug down.
'Master Verge, what a surprise to see you here.' She smirked.
'Is it safe now to disperse the troops to the surface?' one of the Jedi asked.
He was a man of age, greying hairs graced the side of his brown head. All though slightly scarred by the year and a half war and the toils it demanded. With him was a blue skinned alien who seemed more youthful, in her early twenties one could guess. All though she had no hair, since the members of her race has appendages coming from the back of their heads called lekku's, she was quite a beauty.
'I will tell you when it's safe Master Verge.' The admiral said.' If we launch the invasion right now we will lose half our transport ships before they even hit the atmosphere.'
'If we do not leave now the dark jedi could have escaped.' Verge countered. 'He or she might have valuable information for the council about the whereabouts of Count Dooku.'
'That will be all Master Verge.' She glared and went back to watching the battle outside. 'Tell C wing to move more to the stern and do a broad side assault at target Sector 5 G.'
Verge sighed and walked off the bridge with his padawan in tow.
'Master.' She asked. 'Why are you so hard pressed on finding this Dark Jedi?'
Verge gave her a faint smile. 'These Dark Jedi were once like us my padawan, they are lost from the rest of the flock, if we can find him or her we can bring them back to the light side of the force.'
She nodded. 'Have any of these dark jedi the Republic have encountered go back to Coruscant?'
Verge shook his head. 'But that does not mean we cant stop trying.'
Sareesa knew her master withheld information from her, probably on the council's behalf.
The best thing she could do was simply nod and listen as she tried to figure it out by herself what secret they were hiding from her.
The ship turned abruptly as a big explosion was heard.
Verge and Sareesa fell to the ground continued to turn to the right, nearly capsizing.
'By the force, what's happening?' the padawan helped her master get up to his feet.
'Seems we've been hit by something...'
Admiral Onasi growled as she saw the battle was turning against them. Out of nowhere several of her ships, including hers, were hit by something and several Separatist ships warped in the system from Hyperspace. It didn't help the ships that were hit were sitting bantha's.
'I thought you said there was nothing ON the planet except ruins!' she shouted at her XO.
'So did the scanners!' the fish like second in command said. 'It's a trap!'
'Really?' she retorted as she grabbed the device to commune with the ship. 'Patch me through to the rest of the fleet!'
The communication's officer nodded as he punched in the buttons. 'We're live Admiral!'
'This is Admiral Onasi, all ships hit by the enemy direct your canons to the planet's surface and send everyone you have on these locations, the rest fall back to friendly space and gather whatever help the Republic can spare, that is all!' she slammed the device down.
'You heard the Admiral, pass the word!' the Mon Calarami shouted as he did his duty as XO./
The Jedi moved to the hangar bay as the commands of the admiral sounded through the ship.
'All hands leave the 'Rancor' at once!' the announcer shouted. 'Repeat, move to the escape pods or the gun ships!'
More explosions rocked the ship, both Jedi dreaded the four words the announcer was about to say.
'We have been boarded!'
'A boarding party...?' Verge said to himself.
'They must know we are here Master.' The Twi'lek said. 'It's the only reason why.'
He nodded and ran with her to the hangars.
Before they could turn around the corner, they were greeted by blaster fire, narrowly backing off.
Verge held his arm over his padawan as he took a peek around the corner.
The corridor was filled with large black metal cladded droids who aimed their blasters mounted on their arms toward them.
'Super Battle droids...' Verge growled. 'They must've known we would hit their coreships first, without them their normal battle droids wouldn't operate.'
'What now Master?'
He sighed and took his light sabre from his belt. 'We fight our way through.'
The padawan nodded and grabbed hers. The two leaped out and activated their weapons as they slashed their way through the metallic foes. The blasters meant nothing as the Jedi deflected them away as they used their jedi skills to sense where the lasers would hit.
The last droid fell down as it was cut in half.
'Clearly these were not updated.' Saleera smirked.' I had a harder time taking these down on Mettalorn then these lot.'
'Arrogance leads you to the dark side my padawan.' Her amster reminded her.
'So does impatience.' She smirked still as they moved down the corridor.' That's what Master Yoda said.'
'Master Yoda says many things, it's wise to follow advice from Master Yoda, but it's even wiser to follow your own wisdom from time to time.'
'Wouldn't my wisdom be in this case by following master Yoda's advice?'
'Now is not the time to discuss philosophies my padawan, we have-'
He stopped mid sentence as he held out his hand again in front of Saleera.
'Master?'
'Shhh...' he whisperd. 'Can you feel it?'
'Feel what?'
'Close your eyes...focus in the Force.'
She nodded and followed her mentor's advice. A small moment later she shivered.
'It feels...cold...dark...'
'It's the dark side...our prey is here.' He said. His eyes widened and he pushed his learner aside just before a stream of dark lightning hit the Jedi.
Sareesa looked up as a dark robed figure slowly walked towards them. The temperature seemed to drop the closer he near. Verge quickly got up and drew his light sabre.
'You don't have to do this!' he shouted as he activated his weapon.
The dark jedi did not reply.
Verge continued.
'You were a Jedi once, remember your roots, cast away the shackles of the dark side!'
The Dark Jedi merely stood there as if he was not listening.
'Last chance!' the Jedi shouted. 'Call off the attack and I promise you will not be harmed!'
The sinister figure looked up as his red eyes seemed to drill through Verge's soul.
'..So be it.' The man said and charged.
The dark jedi moved unnaturally, as if he/she was made out of mist.
The yellow sabre went through the figure several times, but not once did it lay a hit.
After a moment the villain merely grabbed the Jedi by the neck and lifted him up like he was made out of air.
Sareesa slowly got up as her master was thrown across the corridor.
She wanted to draw her green light sabre, but froze as the dark jedi passed by her. The villain's very presence was frightening, unnatural, the very embodiment of the fear of the dark side.
The Dark Jedi's hands moved to it's belt. He drew two hilts from it which ignited a red light sabre beam each. Verge slowly got up and attacked, his strikes were easily parried by the dark jedi. Deep down Sareesa knew her mentor, the man responsible for destroying over a thousand droids in one night, was merely being played at by this dangerous stranger.
As verge fell to his knees exhausted the stranger merely stared at him.
'Sareesa...' he did not look at his padawan. 'Run...get out of here, now.'
The Dark Jedi placed it's sabres near the Jedi master's neck. With one brutal move it sliced Verge's head off.
'Master!' she cried out as her mentor's body fell to the ground.
The dark Jedi held out his arms as more lightning erupted from itself and hit the fallen Jedi's body. The genderless voice cried out in pleasure as the body seemed to shrivel until it turned into dust. The twi'lek covered her eyes from the gruesome spectacle.
The Corridor's light flicked on and off until they all exploded, save the emergency lighting.
The Dark Jedi stopped it's ritual as it exhaled. 'Souls...' it's cold voice whisperd. 'Need more souls...'
It turned around to Sareesa who slowly moved back.
She gasped as her back hit something. As she turned her head she saw it was the chest of a Clone trooper, a white plated human soldier with a T like visor who served as the Republic's canon fodder. It was not just any Clone trooper, but a ARC, Advanced Recognisance Commando, who had a blue kilt and visor which marked him a lieutenant.
'I will devour your soul...' it whispered as it neared again.
The Clone took out his rifle and loaded it. 'Come get some.'
He moved the padawan aside and shot round after round into the dark jedi who seemed to back off with every hit.
After he unloaded his clip he grabbed a grenade from his poach and threw it at him.
'Get down!' he tackled the twi'lek to the ground as the device exploded.
The soldier stood up and helped the padawan get to her feet as he dragged her off to the next corridor. He threw her in as he slammed his fist on the button, closing the door between the corridors.
Sareesa took a moment to find her breath.
'Find your place in the Force.' He told her.' Find your link to it and let it fill you with calmness.'
'You all right ma'm?' the clone asked as he loaded his weapon.
The padawan nodded. 'Yes...yes I'm fine.'
She looked up at the trooper. 'You saved my life, thank you.'
'I did what I was born to do ma'm.' he checked the rifle one more time. 'I'm sorry about your master.'
The Twi'lek nodded sadly. 'He is with the force now...that's all that matters.'
Both jumped back as a red light sabre penetrated the door as it slowly made an opening.
'The escape pod is close, this way ma'm!' the trooper said as he led the padawan through the corridors of the ship.
The two ran as fast as they could, closing doors behind them. But Sareesa could feel the darkness nearing, it was following her. The Arc trooper placed his hand on the side of his helmet.
'This is Arc 605, is anyone left, over?' he said in a calm controlled voice. No reply. 'This is Arc 605, is there anyone there?'
'I think we're on our own...' Sareesa panted from the running.
'This is Admiral Onasi, I got you on my monitor Fiver, who is the other person your travelling with?' the voice of the admiral sounded through the Trooper's helmet.
'Just me and the young Jedi, Admiral.' Fiver said.
'You know the admiral, 'Fiver'?' the padawan raised her brow.
'Outer Rim campaign.' Fiver replied. 'Where are you Admiral?'
'We're at the last escape pod, two decks above of you, the droids are coming so get here cannot hold on for much longer.'
'Understood, Arc 605 out.' The clone broke off contact and led the jedi to the lift.
The duo got inside just as the dark mist began to sip in from the last door.
'Fiver!' Sareesa shouted.
'Hold on.' He said calmly as he pushed in the button.
The doors of the elevator closed just as the last corridor door opened, revealing the form of the Dark Jedi.
The villain ran towards them, sabres down as the elevator doors closed, the elevator itself going up.
'Praise the force...' the padawan sighed of relief.
The elevator suddenly stopped halfway to their destination.
Fiver pushed all the buttons, receiving no reply.' To soon.'
Both jumped as a red lightsabre penetrated the elevator floor.
The clone trooper fired into the floor to where the jedi could be.
'I cannot hold him off for much longer.'
'Wait, I have an idea!' Sareesa said as she activated her light sabre.
She made a hole in the elevator's ceiling and used her force push to blow it open.
'Hold my waist!' she said.
'Come again Ma'm?'
'Hold my waist or we die!'
The Clone immediately did as told as the red light sabre returned.
Sareesa tapped into the force, letting it flow through her body as she jumped into the air.
She jumped from side to side of the elevator shaft until they came to their floor.
Again the young jedi used her light sabre to slice the door open.
She stepped in first, followed by the Arc trooper. Fiver grabbed the remaining grenades from his pouch and threw them down the shaft in a bid to slow the dark jedi down even further.
'Go, now!' he said as he fired a few rounds in the shaft before following the young jedi to the escape pods.
When they approached the pods, blaster fire seemed to reign in that area.
Fiver reloaded his rifle as he opened the door.
Admiral Onasi and a few of her bridge crew fired their hand blasters at the oncoming wave of super battle droids, taking cover behind whatever they could find.
Sareesa force pushed the battle droids away before she came in and cut them down, Fiver shot the others down.
'Took you long enough to get here.' Onasi stood up. She glanced at the two.' Where's master Verge?'
'KIA Admiral.' Fiver replied. 'Enemy jedi tagged him.'
The admiral paused for a moment.
'I see...we need to get going, more of them will be coming soon.'
'Admiral!' the second in command pointed to where the elevator was, mist starting to fill the room. 'Environment systems are down!'
'Negative.' Fiver said. 'The enemy jedi is coming, everyone inside, now!'
The crew quickly entered the capsule with Fiver closing the door.
He turned to the pilot. 'Punch it.'
'Aye-aye.' Marsk replied as he launched the escape pod.
Sareesa sighed of relief as the pod dropped toward the planet. At least now the Dark Jedi couldn't follow her. Onasi glanced outside and sighed as she saw the last of her ships either retreat or get destroyed.
'The 'Rancor' was my 1st ship I ever served on...' she said. With a cry she slammed her fist against the wall of the pod. 'Damn Republic spy agencies, they said the Seps didn't have enough time to build a anti cruiser canon!'
'Introduce me to your contact.' Fiver placed his hand on her shoulder.' I wish to slap him.'
She calmed down almost immediately. 'I will...'
The escape pod crashed to near where the others were. As the group made their exit on the green plains of the planet, they saw huge chunks of debris crashing down on the planet. Sadly most of them were from Republic vessels.
Onasia grinned as a gunship landed near them, it was a fully armed gun platform, with a complete arsenal of weaponry that consisted of three anti-personnel laser turrets, two forward-facing, one covering the stern hatch; two top-mounted mass-driver missile launchers fed by rear-mounted ordnance belts and commonly loaded with short-range homing missiles, HE (high explosive), HEAP (high explosive armor-piercing), and APF (anti-personnel fragmentation) rounds; four composite-beam, pin-point laser turrets, two of which were automated bubble-turrets located on either wing; and eight light air-to-air rockets stowed on the underside of each wing.
A clone trooper jumped out after the doors slid open.
'Admiral Onasi!' he saluted. 'We made a base camp twenty clinks south from here, far away from any Sep or Clanker activity.'
'Good.' Onasi said as she stepped in the transport ship. 'Any information of how many of us got out?'
'Only 25% of the crew on the 'Rightious', 'Doubtless' and 'Batha's Horns' made it out Admiral, 60% of the Rancor since the ship was not attacked as much unlike the others. We have several fighters and walkers as well plus supplies'
'That is about 25 000 troops, Admiral.' Fiver held on to a handle as the ship left of, his hand on Sareesa' shoulder.
The jedi smiled a little.
'That'll last us until the Republic come in blasters blazing.' The Xo said. 'Still, why did so many of the Rancor escape?'
Sareesa's mind went back to the dark Jedi, how he drained her amster's life force, how it wanted hers.
She was about to tell but felt Fiver's hand squeezing her shoulder. When she looked up she saw him shaking his head, as if he was saliently saying she shouldn't tell them.
She nodded and let her mind doze of, she was tired...so tired...
Back on the Rancor the Dark Jedi held Verge's light sabre, admiring it.
'Sir.' One of the droids said. 'All the ships safe this one have been destroyed and searched...no other Jedi made it out alive.'
'Nooooo...' it whispered as he gazed at the droid. 'There is one...'
As he passed the droid it fell apart in a dozen pieces.
'And her soul will be miiiiine...'
TBC
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