A/N: Here we go, chapter 2. I gotta say…I am floored by the response to chapter one! Thank you everyone for all of your support!
A huge shout out to my two beta readers Dunstan Xenon and HowInMadHowie. Thank you both very much!
Also thank you to everyone whose reviewed or added this story to your alerts/favorites. Thank you all very much! And please keep the reviews coming! They really help to motivate me! Critiques are welcome, I just ask that you are polite with them.
Just a quick side note on ship sizes. For this story they will be referred to as thus in order from smallest too largest: fighter, frigate, cruiser, dreadnought, super dreadnought.
Chapter 2
Stepping into his mother's tent with Daphne, Susan, and Ginny right behind him, Harry made his way into his mother's room and immediately found the four chests laying out in the open; each of which were inscribed with their name on top. "Apparently your mother knew something was going to happen before we did." Susan remarked as she opened her chest. "Holy Merlin's beard."
Opening his own chest Harry stared down at the silver and black painted chest piece, greaves, gauntlets, and cuisse that were laid out within. Underneath the armor was a black robe and what looked like a semi-skintight undershirt and leggings.
"This…this looks like goblin wrought armor." Daphne breathed as she ran a hand along her own armor, which looked like a more feminine version of his own save for the dark green and black coloring. "And this cloak…Morgana…I think this is made from Basilisk skin!" Daphne was feeling the cloak's surface with a wide-eyed look.
"We can admire our armor later." Harry said taking charge of the situation. Not wanting to waste any time, Harry then stripped down to his underclothes and began pulling on the black leggings and undershirt.
"Harry!" Ginny gasped. "We're still in here!"
"You grew up with six brothers Ginny. I'm sure I don't have anything you haven't seen before." Harry commented over his shoulder as he rearranged the somewhat skintight clothing. "Now hurry up and get dressed. If it helps you can either go outside or I can keep my back turned. But hurry up."
Picking up the cuisse, he started clipping it around his thigh as he heard the rustling of clothes behind him. Keeping his back turned on his female friends, Harry slid his greaves and boots into place before picking up the gauntlets. He noticed that both of them had slots on the underside so that they could still wear their holsters as well. Picking up the chest piece he placed it over his chest and was just about to ask for help when the straps seemed to move with a mind of their own and secured the armor in place. 'Well…that's just convenient.' "Just so you all don't freak out the chest piece locks in place on its own." Harry warned the girls.
Picking up the cloak, Harry felt the outside of it briefly. It felt…almost leathery. But it was flimsy like cloth. 'Daphne's right…this is basilisk skin…Merlin. Is that what mother did with the thing after she killed it?' Throwing it over his shoulders, Harry did one last check of himself to make sure everything was in place. "Are you three decent yet?"
Hearing three affirmatives from behind him, Harry turned around and faced his fellow apprentices and his apprentice. Each of them had managed to put on their armor with little to no issue. Walking over to Ginny he helped her secure the gauntlets of her black and dark red armor before turning towards Daphne and Susan. "Let's go."
Walking out of his mother's tent, Harry and the girls were treated to the sight of Aela coming out of the tent that she shared with Remus. The female werewolf was dressed from neck to toe in steely gray camouflage colored armor and she was carrying a blaster rifle that was nearly as long as she was. The only decorative marks on the armor was a single black colored wolf's head adorning her right shoulder pauldron.
"Good to see that the armor fits." Aela commented while slinging the rifle over her shoulder. "Madam Nox commissioned the goblins and the best of the werewolf crafters to design them. Oh, and don't worry about outgrowing them too much. They have automatic adjusting charms layered into them. So none of you should need a new set for a while."
"You mean that this really is goblin made armor?" Ginny asked as she admired the gauntlet on her arm. "I just thought that Daphne was pulling the other one. You could probably buy half of Hogsmeade for the price of this set!"
"Madam Nox insisted on the best for her son, apprentices and her son's apprentice." Aela said, taking a step towards Harry and grabbing his armor to make sure it was securely in place. "Good to see that those little beasts are as good as their word. Now come, Madam Nox has already begun planning our attack." Aela turned around and led the group to the bridge.
Following Aela out of the cabin, the four made their way to the bridge. Once there they saw that everyone save for Remus were staring at the holographic map in the center of the bridge. Hermione was holding onto the baby Galen while Luna was sitting next to Nat. Both Kento and Mallie were standing right next to the holographic display and were pointing at what was being displayed. Instead of showing a map the galaxy like usual, it was showing an image of two large ships and one extremely large ship.
"Bee-Bee-eight was able to enhance our long range scanners enough to pick up this image of the coordinates I was able to extract from Harry. There appear to be two cruiser class ships and one dreadnought class if my memory serves me." Nox explained as she felt the new arrivals enter the bridge.
Turning towards the voice of his mother, Harry nearly missed a step as he saw her. Or rather what she was wearing. He wasn't quite sure how or when, but his mother had changed out of her usual attire. She was now wearing a tight black corset piece of armor that left her shoulders and arms bare save for a pair of long black armored gloves on either arm. Her lower robes were split up the middle of both legs, showing off her armored legs underneath. And on her back she wore a black cloak that nearly touched the floor. All in all…she looked every inch what he thought a Lady of the Sith would look like ever since she told him about them.
"That's right." Kento nodded leaning forward. "I recognize this dreadnought. It's the Dauntless. Served aboard her for a short time just before the Clone Wars broke out. She's heavily fortified and carries at least three full squads of soldiers at all times for defense measures."
"Is there a way inside besides the large hole on the underside of the ship?" Harry asked bringing everyone's attention back around to him and the girls.
"Whoa…bloody hell Harry!" Ron gasped. "You four…whoa. Bloody well wicked! Do we get armor too?"
"Not yet." His mother said flatly. "That is their Guardian armor. You will receive a set once you've proven yourself ready." Nox's tone wasn't cold but it was all business and made Ron quiet down his enthusiasm.
Taking a step towards them, Mallie looked over all of their armor carefully. "It almost looks like the old Jedi Guardians' Force armor that I've seen in the history holo's in the Jedi library. When it existed that is."
"Good. I was working from memory when designing them." Nox nodded before turning back to the holographic display.
"I take it that goes along with this long story you still have to tell us?" Kento asked rhetorically. "Never mind. It can wait. But yes Harry, there is another way in. Thank the Force I actually took time to study the ship when I was onboard all those years ago."
Stepping up to the holographic display's control console, Kento zoomed in on the largest ship and a specific section along its side. "All ships have at least one auxiliary access hatch. If my memory is right…there should be one right about here. And it should put us fairly close to the detention center as well." Kento pointed to the display and tracing his finger to the detention center in question.
"But even if we do dock there it won't matter." Mallie continued. "As soon as we break in they're going to know we're there. And they'll send everything they have to stop us. Then there is also the simple matter that they could simply jump into hyperspace once we're onboard as well." Mallie frowned looking at the display of the Dauntless.
"Then we disable their engines." Nox said. "This ship is equipped with an original idea of mine. I modified a bunker buster to detonate with an ion pulse. A single shot to their engines will disable them and prevent them from running."
Rubbing at his chin, Kento nodded. "In theory that would work. But they would have to have their shields lowered and that would assume that we can even get close enough to even hit the right spot."
"No problem there." Tonks said from her spot in the pilot's seat. "I've activated the stealth system and Remus has those disillusionment runes going. So we can just waltz right on up without them even knowing that we're there."
"I take it this…disillusionment rune thing is some type of new stealth drive? Or is it one of those 'long story' things." Mallie asked with a raised brow.
"Long story." Harry, Ginny, Daphne and Susan all answered as one.
"Right…we'll if nothing else it will be an interesting conversation." Kento shrugged before turning back to the projector. "But there is still the matter of the men inside the ship. Not to mention the reinforcements the other ships will no doubt be sending out against us. They have to know that we'll be heading for detention center...and they'll be waiting for us with everything they've got."
"Then go after multiple targets."
Everyone turned as one towards the one who just spoke up. And to his credit Ron actually managed to hold everyone's gaze for a moment before awkwardly looking away. "I – uh. I mean it makes sense right? In chess everyone knows you're going after the king. So you launch multiple attacks so they don't really know your intentions. Or at least where you're going to be truly attacking from."
Nox was the first one to react. "I knew that there was a genuinely good mind behind that expression." She said making Ron blush for more than one reason. "Ron is right. And I've already tasked Remus with creating our means of escape based on us splitting up. Once we enter the ship Bee-Bee will tap into the nearest terminal. Once in he'll locate the detention center, the communications hub, and the ship's reactor.
"Harry, you will be taking Ginny and Mallie with you to the detention center and rescue our captured Jedi. Kento, you will be taking Daphne and Aela to the communications hub. I want you to destroy and all records of us ever being there. And Susan, you and Bee-Bee will be coming with me to the reactor core. We're going to destroy that ship to prevent them from coming after us."
"It's a sound strategy." Kento nodded. "Unfortunately though, there is one not so tiny flaw. How exactly are we going to get out of there? Both the communications hub and the detention center are dead ends. One way in and one way out. And by the time we got to either the reinforcements from the other ships will have arrived and cut off our retreat."
"That's where these come into play." Remus spoke from behind them.
Turning around, Harry watched as Remus entered the bridge carrying three arm lengths pieces of rope in his hands. "And…what are these? How are pieces of rope supposed to help us escape?" Mallie asked as Remus handed her and Kento one of the lengths of rope.
"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise." Nox responded with no small amount of humor in her voice that made Harry smile. "What's the activation phrase Remus?" she asked as she took took the last piece of rope.
"Ashara hold." Remus answered. "You'll have to coordinate your retreats. Can't have you coming back more than one group at a time. Trust me…the last thing you want is to be landing on top of one another."
"Nox, we're exiting hyperspace now." Tonks called out.
Turning back around at the sound of Tonks' voice, Harry watched as the blue vortex of hyperspace disappeared and they were left staring at three much, much larger ships than their own. "Bloody Morgana's cunt." Tonks swore looking upwards as they passed beneath one of the ship's his mother had dubbed a 'cruiser'. "Those things are a lot bigger than they looked on the display. Well…if nothing else we can confirm that the stealth and disillusionment charms are working. Don't even think those shielding runes would do us much good against the firepower of those things and…alright there's the big one. Kento, where am I going?"
Walking up to behind Tonks' seat, Kento pointed towards the largest ship. "Halfway down the port side of the ship. Two-thirds of the way up. That's where the auxiliary access hatch should be located."
Flying the ship in the direction Kento pointed out, Tonks nodded once she spotted the hatch. "Alright I see it. Bringing the ship back around towards the engines."
Turning the ship around, Tonks flew them back towards the rear of the ship. "Alright…tell me where I'm aiming."
"Just above the thruster to the right of the center engine." Kento said pointing. "Hope this weapon of yours works Nox. If it doesn't…we won't get a second chance at this."
"It will work." Nox responded confidently. "Tonks lock on and fire at will."
Nodding, Tonks reached out and activated the firing control. Standing side by side with his friends, Harry felt a rush of excitement, fear and trepidation surge through him as the reality of what they were about to do started to sink in. "Missile away." Tonks announced as she watched the missile fire.
Watching out the viewport, Harry clenched his fist in an attempt to keep them from shaking as the missile flew towards the ship. "Impact in three…two…one."
The missile impacted the ship just above the thruster that Kento had pointed out. After a second delay a blue shockwave emerged from where the missile had hit and the engines all flickered and died out leaving the ship dead in the water. "Huh…actually kind of amazed that it actually worked." Kento remarked sounding genuinely impressed.
"Try not to sound too amazed Kento." His mother said shaking her head. "Tonks bring us in. Those of you who are staying behind prep the medical bay for a critically injured. Astoria, keep an eye on Nat while we're gone. Kento, Mallie, Harry, Susan, Daphne, Ginny and Bee-Bee with me."
Walking side by side with his mother, Harry followed her towards the airlock in the ship. A moment later he felt the ship shudder as it connected with access hatch. "Kento, Mallie and I will enter first." His mother said, snapping her wrist to the side and drawing her lightsaber. "The rest of you follow once we've cleared the entrance. Understand?"
"Yes Master."
"Good." His mother nodded as she started to turn around only to stop. "One last thing. Every person on that ship wants to either kill you or capture you so that you can be tortured. Do not hesitate because they will not. Understand?"
"Yes Master." Harry and the others replied as each of them drew their lightsabers out of their holsters.
Reaching forward, his mother pressed down on the switch to open the door. On the other side was the sealed door that lead into the ship. With a snap hiss Nox's lightsaber ignited. "Red?" Mallie and Kento both asked looking down at her blade.
"Questions later." His mother said drawing her wand in her left hand. "Right now…we have one of your Jedi to save."
With that she pointed her wand towards the door. "Bombarda maxima!"
The next few moments were without a doubt the fastest, and slowest, moments of Harry's life. The moment the door blew inward his mother and the two Jedi were sprinting forward almost faster than he could follow. Red blaster bolts filled the air as the three of them ducked, weave and deflected their way down the hall. Harry was felt awestruck as he watched his mother and the Jedi cut down nearly a dozen men in white armor without hesitation and without mercy.
As he watched the three move down the hall, Harry noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. A lone man in white armor was slowly leaning out from an opening between Harry and his mother while raising his blaster.
Harry didn't even think. Stepping fully into the ship he reached out with the Force and pulled the man in armor towards him while at the same time activating his dark purple lightsaber. The man in white managed to get out a single strangled yell before he was impaled through the chest on his lightsaber.
Pulling his lightsaber out, Harry let the corpse fall to the ground. Turning around he saw that Daphne, Susan and Ginny were all staring at him with wide eyes while Aela was staring at him with respect.
"Well done son." Turning back around Harry saw that his mother and the two Jedi had cleared out the hall. "Bee-Bee, there's a terminal up here. Plug in and find our lost Jedi."
Beeping an affirmative, Bee-bee rolled forward towards the terminal his mother was standing before. Once the droid plugged in Harry and the others stepped into the ship fully. "Seal off the entrance Bee-Bee." Nox ordered, to which BB-8 beeped and a force field appeared over the blown out door. Lifting up her arm, Nox activated her comm. "Tonks, we're in and the door is sealed. Pull back and stay hidden."
"Good timing Nox. Got about a dozen fighters that are flying circles around us right now. Thank Merlin Remus got those runes right. No I am not doubting your skills Remus I just – oh shut up! I'll pay you later and – oh no. This thing is still on isn't it? Well um…good luck everyone. Stay safe."
As his mother let her arm fall down, BB-8 started beeping widely. "What is he saying?" Harry asked looking up at his mother.
"He says that he's located our objectives." His mother stated plainly. "The communications hub is down the corridor to the left and two decks down Daphne, Kento and Aela that one is yours. Susan will follow me. Harry, your objective is to the left and three decks up. Keep communications open and-" BB-8 started fidgeting and beeping and whistling. "Uh. Well it appears that we are not the only intrudes on board. Bee-Bee just finished accessing the ship's logs. Apparently an hour ago they received a call from a bounty hunter saying they had a Jedi for them. Only when they brought the ship aboard it was completely empty." Nox was musing the irony of the situation.
Closing her eyes, Harry could feel as his mother reached out through the Force. After a moment he felt her pull back as a smile slowly appeared on her face. "Hmm…so we meet again."
"Who is it?" Mallie asked looking around for any more opposition.
"Truthfully, I don't know." His mother shrugged. "But if you happen to run across a Rutian twi'lek, let her know that she still owes me for saving her life from her troopers back on that jungle planet. Now move out. It won't be long until reinforcements arrive."
Everyone split up into their predetermined groups and started to move off. "Harry. Wait."
Harry stopped and turned around to face his mother. Stepping up to him, she placed a hand on either of his shoulders. "I can feel your anger over what is happening to this woman son. Use it. But don't let it use you." Nox spoke softly looking into Harry's eyes.
Gripping his lightsaber tightly, Harry nodded. "Yes mother."
Sitting on the command deck, the Second Brother staggered his feet as his ship was rocked violently. "CT-4561. Report."
The clone sitting behind ship's support terminal on the bridge began pulling up multiple screens. "We've been hit by some sort of ion pulse my Lord. Weapon type…unknown. Origin of attack…unknown. Both cruisers are reporting in…neither saw anything nor are any of their scanners picking up any ship. My Lord, it's probable that the attack originated from a stealth ship and they reentered their stealth after they- ah!"
"I did not ask for your thoughts Trooper." Second Brother growled as he used the Force to lift the clone off of his chair by his throat before dropping him back down. "Keep your opinions to yourself and report only what I tell you to."
"Y-yes…my Lord." The clone coughed while rubbing his throat.
"My Lord!" Another trooper shouted from the other side of the command deck. "Report from auxiliary access hatch three. The ship has been breached. Report is that there's one – no. Three Jedi have entered the ship and – sir…we've lost contact with the troopers in that sector."
Leaning back in his seat, Second Brother rubbed at his chin and felt a smile come over his face. He thought that he'd been given a gift from the Force when the Ahsoka Tano had been delivered to him by the bounty hunter. But now…now there were three Jedi on board his ship as well. Lord Vader would be most pleased with him when he arrived. "Are they heading for the detention center?"
"Yes sir. Wait." CT-4561 said, his hands moving frantically over his controls. "They've split up into three groups' sir. And…and there appear to be more than just the original three sir. They're destroying the cameras as they go. But last image sent shows that there at least two Jedi in each group. One older and one younger."
Now the Second Brother really did smile. At least three Masters or Knights and three Padawans. Lord Vader was sure to grant him the position as Grand Inquisitor now. "Where are they heading?"
"Our tactical analysis suggests that they are heading for the communications hub, the reactor core and the detention center my Lord." Another trooper shouted out.
Closing his eyes, Second Brother stretched out his senses as he tried to feel out the opposition. 'Hm, strange. There seems to be some sort of cloak over them blocking them from my view. But…but I can still sense their power. The strongest seems to be heading to the reactor core. But…but there is another. Young. Not fully trained. But incredibly strong. That one will make for an excellent apprentice.'
Standing from his seat, Second Brother straightened his robes. "Reinforce the garrisons within the communications center and the detention center. Kill the elder Jedi should they resist. But I want the young ones captured alive. I will deal with the Jedi heading for the reactor core myself."
Blocking another blaster bolt, Harry used the Force to pull the trooper that fired it out from behind his cover before using his wand to cast a powerful reductor curse right into the man's chest. "That seems to be the last of them." He breathed while lowering his lightsaber but not deactivating it.
"For now." Mallie concurred while stepping past him and checking around the next corner. "But more will be coming soon. We need to hurry."
Harry made to follow, but stopped when he saw Ginny staring at the trooper that she had killed. Stepping up to her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ginny?"
"I – I've never killed anyone Harry." Ginny said quietly. "How…how do you do it Harry?"
There wasn't any need for her to clarify her question. "Because he tried to kill me and you, Ginny. I don't enjoy killing. But if it comes down between someone who's trying to hurt myself or those I care about and them. Then I won't hesitate to end them."
Nodding, Ginny sniffed loudly before purposefully turning her back on the body. "Right…let's go."
Running down the corridor the two managed to catch up to Mallie just as she entered another corridor and skidded to a stop. "Troopers!" She cried, her lightsaber moving constantly to deflect the red blaster bolts that were flying towards her.
Harry and Ginny didn't hesitate as they ran past Mallie and straight at the troopers standing at the opposite end of the hall. Drawing his wand, Harry shot a reducto curse at the first line of troopers sending them flying backwards into the second line. By the time they recovered Harry was on them, his lightsaber cutting down two as he spun while his foot came up and struck a third hard enough that Harry heard his neck crack.
Ginny was right behind him. As he finished his spin he felt her small hand on his back as she used him to vault herself over the heads of the troopers. While she was above them she slashed her wand across her body sending out a shockwave that scattered the troopers. Once she landed she pivoted as a trooper tried to lunge for her, only to receive her lightsaber across his back.
With Ginny on one side and Harry on the other, the two had effectively trapped the remaining troopers in a pincer maneuver. Any blaster fire that was sent at either was returned, killing one of the troopers caught in the middle. In a last ditch effort one of the troopers pulled out a grenade and armed it. As he made to throw it towards Ginny, Harry sent a quick cutting curse at the man, severing his arm as the grenade dropped to the ground next to his feet.
"Cover!" Harry screamed as he ducked low and held his wand above his head. "Protego maxima!"
The grenade took out the remaining troopers as a quick burst of fire and shrapnel engulfed Harry's shield. Once the flames died off, Harry dropped his shield and stood up. His eyes instantly searching for Ginny. Much to his relief, he found her standing from a kneeling position. Just like him, she had a perfect circle of damaged flooring beneath her feet. For a few seconds the two did nothing but stare at one another as they surveyed the carnage between the two of them.
"Whoa…sure am glad that we're all on the same side here." Mallie said, breaking the two of them out of their stupor. "According to the map Bee-Bee provided us, the detention center should be just down the next hall. Let's get a move on before more troopers show up."
Casting another look towards Ginny, the two nodded at one another before stepping in line behind Mallie once more. They didn't face any more opposition as they made their way towards the detention center. And once they were just outside their destination they discovered the reason why.
"Reinforced durasteel." Mallie muttered as she ran her hand along the large door that was preventing them from entering the detention center. "Made to withstand just about anything. Even a lightsaber will have a hard time cutting through this."
"So what do we do?" Harry asked desperately. He could feel the Jedi now more ever before. She wasn't being tortured…but she was suffering so much that it made Harry want to be sick. "We have to get to her. Now."
"Patience Harry." Mallie chided him as she opened the small panel on the wall next to the door. "Being hasty often causes more problems than it solves. Now I just need to – ah bantha shit!"
The panel Mallie was working on suddenly burst into a shower of sparks. "What happened?" Ginny asked, keeping her eye trained down the hall for any more enemies.
Waving her hand over the panel in an attempt to clear the smoke, Mallie took one look down and cursed again. "Those fuckers sent a surge through the system while I was working on trying to bypass the panel. This panel is completely useless now."
"So what do we do now?" Harry ask, his grip on his lightsaber tightening.
Stepping away from the panel, Mallie face off with the door. "Now…now we do this the hard way." She said just before she drew her lightsaber and thrusted it into the door.
As Mallie started to slowly move her blade in a large circle, Harry felt the slightest shift in the Force just as something landed softly behind him and Ginny. Pivoting, Harry brought his blade around ready to end whoever had snuck up on him. And was stopped cold as his purple blade was intercepted by a brightly glowing blue blade.
"Peace Padawan. I mean you no harm."
Ginny whirled around at the sound of the voice and Mallie pulled her lightsaber out of the door and turned around as well. "Aayla? Aayla Secura? Is that you?"
The blue skinned twi'lek's eyes shifted off of Harry and onto Mallie. As their eyes met the twi'lek took a step back and deactivated her lightsaber. "By the Force…Mallie! Thank the Force you're alive!"
"Same to you Aayla." Mallie responded while smiling. "But…what are you doing here?"
Aayla stared first at Mallie, then at Harry and then lastly at Ginny. "I assume the same thing that you are. I am here to rescue a friend. But…Mallie. Where did you find these Padawans? I don't recognize them from the temple."
"You're the Jedi that our Master felt earlier!" Ginny shouted suddenly. "Um, sorry about that."
"Your Master?" Aayla intoned. "Who are your Masters Padawans?"
"That's a long story, one best saved for a time when we are not fighting for our lives." Harry said sharply moving towards the door and plunging his lightsaber in so he could continue Mallie's cut. "But if you're really curious…then my mother told me to tell you something. She said to say that you still owe her for saving your life from your own troopers back on that jungle planet."
With his back turned to her, Harry didn't see Aayla's eyes widened nor did he see her nearly drop her lightsaber out of shock. "What? H – how do you…Mallie what is going on?"
"Like the kid said Aayla," Mallie said while plunging her lightsaber back into the door. "It's a long story. One that I haven't even heard yet. For now though…just cover our backs while we get this door open. You too Ginny."
Working in tandem, Harry and Mallie were able to slowly carve out a circle in the thick durasteel door. Once both had reached the other's starting point they pulled their lightsabers out of the door. "Push on three Harry." Mallie commanded, holding her hand out towards the door. "One…two…three!"
The carved out section of door took off like a shot under the combined push from both Harry and Mallie. As soon as the hole was cleared, Harry dove through the new opening, his lightsaber spinning around his body as he sent any shots fired at him back to their senders. Ginny was right behind him. Her green lightsaber a blur as she pounced gracefully across the terminals in the center of the room, and sometimes even across the guards themselves.
By the time Mallie and Aayla came through the opening every guard in the room was dead. And Harry and Ginny were already walking down the line of cells looking for their target.
As Harry neared the end of the row of cells, the steady pulses he'd been sensing in the Force suddenly reached their crescendo before ceasing completely. As he stepped in front of the last cell, which for some reason had its shield deactivated, Harry stopped dead in his tracks.
His sudden stop wasn't because of the fact that the woman he sensed wasn't human. Far from it in fact. Her orange skin with white markings and blue and white striped montrals, which marked her as a togruta if he remembered correctly, struck Harry as incredibly exotic and beautiful. Nor was it the fact that she was bound to a table with several spikes surrounding her body. No, what truly stopped him was the lone guard who was in the cell with her. He wasn't dressed like any of the troopers they'd faced before. Instead of white armor he was wearing a dark grey suit with several red markings on his chest.
"That is as far as you come Jedi." The man shouted as he raised his arm and pressed a button on his wrist band.
The moment he did the togruta started spasming violently as electricity arched between the raised spikes and across her body. Harry nearly dropped to his knees as he felt her pain through the Force. Immediately Ginny, Mallie and Aayla were at his side. The latter of which cried out, "Ahsoka!" Before taking a step forward. To which the guard simply pressed another button on his wrist making the togruta spasm even harder.
"Stay back! All of you!" The guard shouted. "I press this button again and she dies. Painfully. Now step back."
With no clear option left to them, Harry motioned for everyone to take step back. "Good." The guard smiled as he deactivated the torture. "Now drop your lightsabers. Do it now! Or she gets another round."
Gritting his teeth in anger, Harry held his lightsaber hilt out to the side and let it fall from his fingers. Three more hilts joined his on the floor as the other's dropped theirs as well. "Good," the guard smiled, still keeping his finger on the controls attached to his wrist. "Now you boy, kick them over to me."
'For Merlin's sake Harry think!' Harry cursed at himself as he slowly nudged one lightsaber at a time towards the guard with his foot. 'There has to be something you can do!' But every idea that came into his head had to be instantly discarded. If he made any move at all the guard would move his finger down that last crucial inch and the woman, Ahsoka, would be electrocuted. 'But what if he couldn't move?'
That thought sparked an idea. It was reckless…but if he was fast enough then it could work without risking any harm to the woman, Ahsoka. He could feel through the Force that she was already at her limit.
Wiggling his toe under the last lightsaber, Harry flipped it up at the guard's chest. As the guard moved to catch the hilt, Harry snapped his left hand off to the side and he felt his holly and phoenix feather wand drop into his hand. In quick succession Harry fired off a silent full body-bind curse which hit the guard making him freeze in place. He then hit the wall behind the guard with a sticking charm before banishing the guard into the wall leaving him frozen and hanging two feet up the wall.
Holding out his hand, he summoned his lightsaber back to himself. With four quick slashes Harry sliced through the binds that were holding the girl, Ahsoka, in place. She was completely incoherent. She didn't even stir as Harry grabbed hold of her and lowered her to the ground.
Placing his hand on her forehead, Harry reached out with the Force and tried to get a feel for her injuries. What he felt nearly made him lose his stomach. She had only a few external injuries, mostly bruises and a few odd cuts. But internally…she was a complete and utter mess.
"Oh no…" Aayla gasped as she knelt down on the other side of Ahsoka and began feeling her just as Harry had done. "Hang on Ahsoka…we're here to help you. Just hold on."
Flipping his lightsaber over, Harry removed the cover on the small hidden compartment and removed the moleskin pouch that he hadn't used since his first year. "How bad is it Harry?" Ginny asked as she knelt next to him and grabbed hold of Ahsoka's hand.
"It isn't good." Harry responded, his voice heavy with fear as he frantically shoved his hand up to his wrist in the small pouch searching for the small vial he kept within.
"We have to get her to a bacta tank immediately or I fear that we will lose her." Aayla said, her voice thick with emotion as tears formed in the corner of her eyes. "I – I can't lose her too. Not after…not after everything that has happened. Please tell me that you have a tank on your ship."
"No we don't." Harry said as he pulled out the small vial and eyedropper filled with phoenix tears. "But I have something far better."
"How in the Force…how did you do this?" Mallie gasped as she poked at that guard that was stuck on the wall. "It's like…it's like he's frozen…how did you do that?"
"Later." Harry said harshly while drawing the dropper out of the small vial. "I need your help Aayla. Open her mouth for me. We need to get a few of these drops directly down her throat."
Aayla stared at him for a moment clearly confused by the request, but her need to help her friend quickly overrode her confusion and she carefully used both hands to pry open Ahsoka's mouth. Hovering the dropper over her lips, Harry squeezed three drops of the clear liquid directly into her throat.
Putting the dropper away, Harry moved quickly to close her mouth before moving his hand down and begun to gently massage her throat in an effort to get her to swallow. As soon as she did the tears took effect. Her skin, which was covered in black marks, quickly returned to a healthy orange coloring. Her breathing evened out and she stopped twitching.
Not quite believing what she was seeing, Aayla hands started checking Ahsoka over while at the same time Harry could feel her using the Force to try and once again diagnose her.
"She's…she's okay." Aayla said slowly, almost as if she didn't quite believe it to be true. "How? What…that should've been impossible."
Putting the stopper away, Harry couldn't help but grin slightly at the twi'lek Jedi. "As my mother is so fond of saying Jedi. Something is only impossible if you believe it to be so." Leaving one arm wrapped around the togruta's neck, Harry activated his comm link.
"I'm here Harry."
"We've found the Jedi mother. She's…she's hurt bad. I've administered treatment and she's stable enough for us to take her back to the ship."
"Good. Return immediately."
"Yes mother." Harry responded before looking up and spotting Aayla. "And…and we also ran across that other Jedi you told us about. She's with us now."
"Good. Take her back as well. Susan and I are just finishing up here. We'll rendezvous back on the ship in ten minutes."
"Acknowledged. Heading back now mother."
Deactivating the comm link, Harry turned towards Mallie. "Time for us to leave. You still have that length of rope right?"
Nodding, Mallie pulled out the meter long length of rope. "Right here…although I still don't get how this is supposed to get us out of here. Wait…is this going to be like that teleportation technique your mother used back on the asteroid colony?"
Taking the rope from a steadily whitening Mallie, Harry carefully tied one end around the unconscious Ahsoka's wrist before handing the other end off to Ginny. "Sort of." Harry confirmed as Ginny pulled the rope taught.
Staring at the rope, Aayla frowned. "Teleportation is impossible."
"Only if you believe it to be so." Harry smirked as he grabbed hold of the rope. "Now grab hold. Unless you want to stay of course."
With a slightly shaking hand, Mallie hesitantly grabbed hold of the rope with Aayla copying her actions a moment later. "Alright…hold on tight. The first trip is never really pleasant. Ashara hold."
Stepping over another corpse in the communications hub, Daphne stared down at the man who'd just a minute prior had been firing his blaster at them while screaming at the top of his lungs for them to die. "Don't let your sorrow over your actions consume you young one."
Glancing up from the corpse, Daphne stared at Kento, who was currently working at a nearby terminal while Aela kept guard from the entryway. "I'm not sorry."
And she wasn't. Having come from a quote-unquote dark family, Daphne had been raised knowing that she would one day more than likely have to take a life. A fact that had been reinforced the moment she agreed to become Master Nox's apprentice. So no, she wasn't sad about the deaths. "This one here," Daphne said, nodding with her head towards the corpse next to her. "He was filled with rage…and glee at the chance to kill us."
Moving across the small room, she prodded at another man in white armor that had taken her lightsaber through his chest. "And this one…he felt neither hatred nor glee. Killing us was simply his duty. That was it. But unlike the other one…he lacked any other emotions than his sense of duty."
"You're empathic?" Kento asked, glancing up from his work.
"Slightly more complicated than that." Daphne responded before moving over to another armored man. "And this one…he felt exactly the same as the other one. A sense of duty. And that was it."
"Not necessarily surprising considering those two are clones." Kento shrugged making Daphne turn back towards him.
"Clones?" Daphne repeated in horror.
Nodding, Kento resumed his work while he talked. "During the war instead of drafting people into the army, the Republic paid to have millions of clone troopers breed to serve as their front-line soldiers. It was actually one of the reasons Mallie and I left the Order and the Republic. The Republic was supposed to stand for freedom, yet they were breeding clones, forcibly aging them and then throwing them out into the frontlines as soon as they were ready."
Tilting her head to the side, Daphne used just a slight touch of her power on the former Jedi. "That wasn't the only reason as to why you left."
Pausing, Kento looked up at her sharply. "Okay…that is one freaky power you have their young one. But yes, that wasn't the only reason we packed up and fled. The other was because we just learned that Mallie was pregnant. And not only would the Jedi Council have come down hard on the two of us…the Jedi were also being carted off by the Republic to act as generals for their new clone army. So…we left. And in hindsight…it was a damn good thing we left too."
"Why?"
Moving over to another terminal, Kento pulled up another screen and began working once more. "No one is exactly sure as to why…but towards the end of the war just as the Republic was on the verge of defeating the Separatists four member of the Jedi Council, including the battlemaster Mace Windu, went before the Supreme Chancellor. The Chancellor claimed that they came to assassinate him so that the Jedi could take over. Bunch of bantha poodu if you ask me.
"The Jedi were all killed by the Emperor's new right hand, Darth Vader. After that…the Supreme Chancellor...well Emperor declared the Republic disbanded and named himself the new Emperor of the galaxy. And his very first act was to order that every single Jedi be killed. And that is exactly what happened. The clones, who'd been serving with the Jedi since the beginning of the war, suddenly turned their blasters on their generals. There was no attempt at taking them into custody or anything. They simply cut down every Jedi they could see. And the Jedi, who'd come to depend on the clones, didn't even realize what was happening until it was far too late."
Sighing Daphne remembered the memory her master shared with them when they left Earth. Kneeling down next to one of the clones, Daphne removed his helmet so she could see his face. "Why would they turn so quickly on those they'd been serving under for years? Even if it was an order from this Supreme Chancellor. Wouldn't they question the order?"
"Well…that's the thing." Kento sighed as he deactivated the terminal. "In order to have the 'perfect soldier', the clones were bred to obey any order without question. But still…I don't know why they would turn on the Jedi so quickly. No one does."
The sound of blaster fire cut off what Daphne had been about to say next. "I hate to interrupt this little history lesson." Aela growled as she leaned out from her cover so she could fire down the hall. "But are you almost done yet? Our friends have regrouped and are heading right towards us."
"I'm finished." Kento replied closing down the last terminal before pull out the length of rope Remus had given them before they boarded. "So now I suppose is a good time to tell me just how this little length of rope is supposed to get us out of here."
"You'll see soon enough." Daphne replied before activating the comm link on her wrist. "Master this is Daphne. Kento, Aela and I have finished wiping the records of our attack here and are ready to extract back to the ship."
"Good. Pull back at once. Susan and I will be right behind you so make sure you clear the landing zone immediately."
"Understood Master. Daphne out." Taking the rope from Kento, she moved around the room so that she was standing next to Aela. "We all need to be holding onto this."
Giving her a curious look, Kento reached out and grabbed hold of one end of the rope. Aela took a moment to pull a grenade from her belt and throw it down the hall before grabbing a hold of the other end. "Let's get out of here. Oh, and Kento. Make sure that you turn your head away from both myself and Daphne. The first trip is usually more than a little rough. Ashara hold."
Kento started to ask a question, but before he could Daphne felt the familiar pull at her navel and then the three of them were gone.
Letting out another wave of Force lightning, Nox twisted her wrist and used the lightning to stop the hearts of the troopers standing guard before the reactor door. Behind her, Susan's lightsaber hummed as she swung it clean through another trooper killing him instantly. Nox was actually quite impressed with her apprentice. Susan had been more than a little hesitant after her first kill, but soon after Susan had found her determination and hadn't hesitated since.
Waving her hand at the door she used the Force to blow the door off of its slider and across the large cavernous reactor room. Stepping out onto bridge like platform, she deflected the two blaster bolts that'd been aimed at her right back at the last two guards that were hiding behind the console in the center of the platform.
"Huh…a large spider web formation platform over the reactor core…you would think that engineers would've become more creative over three and a half millennia." Nox mused as she looked around in the reactor room.
"What was that Master?"
"Nothing Susan." Nox said turning towards her apprentice. "Just amazed at how little has actually changed since my time. Now come. There should be a terminal in the middle of this platform. That is where Bee-Bee will need to attach himself if he's to override the reactor."
Deactivating her lightsaber, Nox led Susan and BB-8 across the bridge like platform towards the large center area. "Here's the main console." Nox started running her hand along its length. "Bee-Bee, plug in. Susan, help him wherever you can."
One of Bee-bee's mechanical arms came out and gave her a salute before rolling up and plugging into the console. Next, Susan stepped up and bit her lip as she stared down at the controls. "Master…I'm not really sure what I'm doing here."
"I know." Nox admitted. "But you've spent more time studying technology than either Harry or Daphne. Learn from Bee-Bee, he'll tell you what to do. In the meantime, I sense that we are about to have a visitor."
Leaving Susan and Bee-bee to their work, Nox slid both her wand and her lightsaber into their holsters before walking a few meters down the catwalk in the opposite direction from which they came. Just as she came to a stop, the door in front of her opened and a human man dressed completely in black walked into the reactor. "Ah, Jedi. Glad to see that Order 66 hasn't dulled your senses in the least. Although…I must admit I don't recognize you. And I'm sure I would remember a Jedi Knight or Master as beautiful as yourself."
"Don't try to flatter me boy." Nox said shaking her head. "You don't have the power, nor the correct parts to interest me in the slightest." Nox sneered.
"Hmm, humor. Amusing. I thought that was all but outlawed within the walls of the Jedi Temple." The man said stepping forward. "You are an interesting one Jedi. You should know…I too was once a member of the Jedi Order. Until I was cast out for slaughtering an entire village of smugglers. And their families. After that, the Emperor found me and showed me the true power of the Force. The power of the dark side. And now, I am the Second Brother of the Inquisitors."
"And I am supposed to be impressed?"' Nox asked as her comm link started beeping. "Hold that thought for a second." Nox dismissed the man as if he was unimportant.
"Take your time." Second Brother shrugged. "I'm in no rush. It's not like you and the others have anywhere to go."
Activating her comm, she raised it up to her lips. "I'm here Harry."
"We've found the Jedi mother. She's…she's hurt bad. I've administered treatment and she's stable enough for us to take her back to the ship."
"Good. Return immediately."
"Yes mother. And…and we also ran across that other Jedi you told us about. She's with us now."
"Good. Take her back as well. Susan and I are just finishing up here. We'll rendezvous back on the ship in ten minutes."
"Acknowledged. Heading back now mother."
"That boy…I take it that he is the other powerful Force presence that I sensed?" Second Brother asked as Nox deactivated her comm. "Interesting. He called you mother."
"Yes he did." Nox nodded. "And I can already tell your train of thought. You want to turn him into your apprentice so you can battle your superiors and take their place. So predictable." Nox rolled her eyes.
"Your son will join me." Second Brother growled, drawing and activating his red lightsaber. "After I kill you, he will realize just how powerful I am. And how powerful I can make him. And he will join me. After all…my reinforcements have already arrived and are converging on both the detention level and the communications hub. There is no escape from this ship. And besides…Darth Vader is on his way. And there is no escaping from him You have no way off this ship. Surrender. And I promise you that your death will be quick. Resist. And you will suffer extraordinarily before you die."
Raising an eyebrow at how cliché he sounded, "Oh Force," Nox sighed rubbing a hand to her forehead. "Is that what I used to sound like? Oh boy…no wonder Ashara often said I needed to get some new lines. Susan. How much longer?"
"Five minutes Master."
"Good." Nox said, rolling her neck. "So I have five minutes to find out just how good you are…Inquisitor."
Second Brother's face twisted in rage as he held his lightsaber perpendicular to his body before activating the other end of his saberstaff before it started whirling around in a circle in his hands. "Your arrogance will be your undoing Jedi!"
Nox didn't even bother to draw her lightsaber as the wannabe Inquisitor charged at her. She simply raised her hand and deflected his strike by condensing the Force around her hand into a small and powerful shield. "You'll have to do better than that, child." Nox smirked as Second Brother stared at her with a twinge of fear.
Crying out, he spun around and launched another attack. Which she once again deflected with her bare hand. "That's…that's impossible!" The Inquisitor shouted as he took a few steps back from her.
Sighing, Nox rubbed at her brow. "As I have often told my students. With the Force, something is only impossible if you believe it to be so. Now come little boy. I wish to gauge your power. I can't do that with you just standing there with your thumb up your ass." Nox mocked him further to rile him up more.
Snarling, the Inquisitor held his lightsaber off to one side and thrusted his hand out towards her. Nox felt the rush of the Force hit her, but she simply countered it by putting one foot back and battering his pathetic Force push aside with one of her own.
"Do you recognize that sensation that you're feeling?" Nox asked as she took a single step towards the Second Brother. "It's fear. You're completely rank with it. It's in your every move. Now…let me offer you a counter offer. Lay down your blade and surrender. And I promise you…I'll make your death quick."
Deactivating his lightsaber, the Inquisitor put the circular blade back onto his back. "I have become more powerful than any Jedi could possibly imagine! Now…die!"
Nox was relatively surprised as the Inquisitor held his hands aloft and managed to create a small bout of Force lightning. But that surprise quickly turned to disappointment as she caught it in the palm of her hand. 'This level of power is pathetic. Hardly even more than an Acolyte's level. Pfh. Harry can create a stronger Force lightning attack and he's a third this one's age. Whoever trained this 'so-called' Inquisitor in the dark side surely did a piss poor job of it.'
Deciding that she'd seen enough, Nox used her free hand to send a Force push at the Inquisitor. As her attack struck the Inquisitor he lost control of his Force lightning and Nox was able to condense the attack into a small sphere of power in the palm of her hand before casually throwing it off to the side where it destroyed one of the reactor turbines.
"Well…you truly have been a disappointment." Nox sighed as she drew her lightsaber but held off on activating it. "I've seen all that I needed to see. Time to die…Inquisitor."
"Don't patronize me Jedi!" Second Brother shouted as he pulled out his lightsaber again. "A Jedi could never hope to understand the amount of power that I've gained! You are nothing compared to me Jed – ah!"
The Inquisitor starred gasping as he stared down uncomprehendingly at the blood red lightsaber that was sticking out from his chest. "Who ever said I was a Jedi?" Nox smirked whispered into the man's ear.
Gasping, the Second Brother looked up at the image of Nox that was standing before him. Slowly the image disintegrated until there was nothing left. "You don't understand, do you?" Nox whispered into his ear as she rotated her lightsaber in his back. "It's okay. It's not your fault. It's your Master's fault for not training you correctly. Farewell Inquisitor."
"Y – you…you're Sith!"
With a quick jerk of her wrist, Nox sliced through the Inquisitor's chest and pushed him off of the ledge and into the spinning turbines below. Sliding her lightsaber back into its holster, Nox made her way back towards Susan. "That was incredible Master!" Susan said completely awe- struck once Nox drew level with her. "How did you do that? He was just staring ahead blankly the entire time!"
Staring down at her apprentice, Nox gave the girl a slight smile. "While he was talking I used legilimency to break through his pitiful mental barriers. Then I cast a powerful confundus charm on him to make him believe I was still in front of him when in reality I had apparated behind him."
Biting her lip, Susan risked a quick glance over the edge of the platform. "But why did you hesitate for so long Master? You always taught us to end a fight quickly and decisively."
"Because I was curious as to just how powerful these so called 'Inquisitors' really are." Nox admitted patting Susan on the shoulder. "Now just because I dragged the fight out doesn't mean you get to dragging yours out as well. Your rule still stands. End a fight quickly and for the love of the Force…never ever monologue. It is far too cliché."
"Yes Master."
Hearing a beeping coming from her comm link, Nox activated the device. "Nox."
"Master this is Daphne. Kento, Aela and I have finished wiping the records of our attack here and are ready to extract back to the ship."
"Good. Pull back at once. Susan and I will be right behind you so make sure you clear the landing zone immediately."
"Understood Master. Daphne out."
Deactivating her commlink, Nox pulled out the meter long length of robe from her belt. "Let's head out Susan. Bee-Bee, make sure you hang on tight little guy. I've actually started to grow quite fond of you and would hate to lose you in the Void."
Giving an affirmative beep one of Bee-bee's robotic hands came out from its body and grabbed hold of one end of the robe. Once Susan hand grabbed hold as well Nox active her comm link again. "Remus are we clear for return?"
"Landing site's clear Nox. Come on home."
"We're on our way. Ashara hold."
Feeling the familiar pull from her navel, the reactor core disappeared in a swirl of colors. At the other end of the rope BB-8 started beeping away frantically as the droid experienced his first, and judging by what he was saying last, trip via portkey. A split second after their trip started it ended with Nox and Susan landing gracefully on their feet and BB-8 landing with a heavy thump.
Inside the cargo hold of the Ashara Nox saw that Daphne and Aela were both standing beside a bent over Kento, who was currently in the process of emptying his stomach.
"You're the last one back Nox." Remus said taking the strip of rope from her. "Harry, Mallie and that blue woman ran out of here as soon as they arrived back. Harry was carrying someone in his arms. She looked pretty bad."
"Harry will take care of her." Nox said back as she moved out of the cargo hold and towards the b. Inside the small room, Ginny was sitting in the co-pilot seat while Tonks was still in the pilot's seat. "Everyone is back aboard Nymph. Get us out of here now."
"Yes ma'am." Tonks nodded as she began plotting a course.
"Master…this radar shows how many ships are around us…what does this one do?" Ginny asked pointing at a side monitor next to her seat.
"It's a smaller long range scanner." Nox answered moving over towards Ginny. "It's mainly used to detect incoming ships just as they are about to pass out of hyperspace. Why?"
Narrowing her eyes at the small screen, Ginny's face slowly started losing its color. "Because according to this Master…five ships are about to drop out of hyperspace directly in front of us."
As soon as she finished speaking, five ships appeared almost directly in front of them. Four of them were roughly the size of the cruisers while the five was undoubtedly another dreadnought.
"Merlin's balls." Tonks gasped looking up as the ships slowly passed overhead. "Okay…I think we can safely say that the disillusionment charms work like a dream. That…and I need a new pair of knickers."
As the largest of the ships passed overhead Nox felt a dark and incredibly powerful, presence pass with it. 'One of the last two Sith Lords. Hmm…interesting. The sheer power of this one…incredible. This Emperor choose his right hand wisely.'
"Nypmhadora…open a channel to that ship."
Whipping around in her seat, Tonks stared at her with wide eyes. "What?"
"I want to leave them a recorded message before we leave." Nox repeated while staring up at the large ship directly overhead. "Audio only."
Sharing a confused look with Ginny, Tonks hesitantly turned back towards her. "Um…can I ask why?"
"Because I want to reiterate my promise." Nox answered simply. "Plus…it would be just rude of us to waltz in and steal one of the Empires prisoners without letting them know who it was that just screwed them over."
Standing on the bridge of the Decimator Darth Vader watched as his ship exited hyperspace. As his ship slowly started turning, Vader felt a feeling surge within him that he had not felt in a long time. Excitement. Ahsoka Tano had been captured and delivered to the Second Brother, who had immediately contacted him. Ahsoka Tano had been an extraordinarily gifted apprentice under the tutelage of Anakin Skywalker. Under the tutelage of Darth Vader…she would become a weapon without equal. A weapon that Vader fully intended to use to bring down the Emperor when the time was right.
"Lord Vader. We are receiving a communication from one of the escort cruisers supporting the Dauntless. The ship is under attack by Jedi my Lord."
Turning his head slightly, Vader cast a cold glance at the ensign who'd just spoken before turning back to the viewport just as the Dauntless came into visual range. There was no outward damage visible to the dreadnought. Nor was there any evidence to a battle around the ship. "Hold the fleet at the position and raise the Dauntless. I want to know just who is attacking them."
"Yes Lord Vader." The same ensign bowed before turning back to his terminal.
Staring out at the three ships, Vader extended his senses trying to feel who was trying to steal his future apprentice from him. 'Strange. There is nothing. No…not nothing. There is something out there I sense it. But it is…cloaked in the Force. I've never felt anything like it before.'
"Lord Vader! The Dauntless isn't responding to any of our hails my Lord."
"Lord Vader! We're receiving an encrypted transmission. It's an audio recording my Lord. Point of origin…unknown my Lord."
Keeping his gaze firmly locked on the Dauntless, Vader tried once more the feel for anything through the Force. But once again he came up empty No Inquisitor. No Jedi. No Ahsoka Tano. Nothing save for the strange feeling that he couldn't identify. "Allow the transmission to come through."
"Yes my Lord. Playing the message now."
"Well hello my little Sith Lord. My my…you certainly have moved up in the galaxy. Just a short time ago you were mercilessly murdering children. And now you're a full-fledged Sith Lord. Congratulations. You've officially hit rock bottom. Trust me…I know from experience."
Vader felt his body, the parts that were still organic anyway, stiffen as the voice rolled over him. It was the same voice that had entered his mind after he'd just finished purging the Jedi Temple. It was the same voice that brought him to his knees in agony. And it was the same voice that'd created the grain of doubt that allowed Obi-Wan Kenobi to defeat him.
"Just thought I would leave a friendly little message to let you know that the captured Jedi is now in my care. And I also wanted to take a moment to reiterate my promise to you. Train however you will Sith. Train whomever you will. Form whatever armies you will. Create whatever weapons you will. Even hide if you feel so inclined. In the end…it won't matter. You and your Emperor may have won the battle, but the war is far from over. And before it is, I will take everything from you. And only when you have absolutely nothing left in the galaxy will I allow you to die. As a true Sith always does. Alone. And despised by everyone around them. Farewell Sith."
The moment the message finished Vader felt a jolt in the Force and the strange sensation he was sensing was gone. "Track the message. I want to know-"
A bright flash of light came from the Dauntless as the ship exploded outwards taking out both escort cruisers with it. "Where did the message originate from?" Vader growled as he watched the ships burn.
"I – I don't know Lord Vader." The ensign who'd found the message stuttered as he worked frantically. "They must've been using some sort of cloaking device th – ack!"
Vader didn't even bother to turn around as the ensign suddenly grabbed at his throat as he was lifted a full meter off of his seat. Turning around, Vader marched past the struggling ensign and towards the Commander of the Decimator. "Commander send out your retrieval teams for any survivors of the Dauntless. I want to know what happened on that ship."
"Yes, Lord Vader." The Commander responded nervously as Vader marched past him and the struggling ensign suddenly stopped as his neck broke.
'I must inform my Master. He will want to know of this development.' Vader thought as he marched out of the bridge. 'Worse yet…the Force presence stole my best option for an apprentice. I cannot use one of the Inquisitors. Their loyalty is to themselves and the Emperor only. Who can I use?'
