Star Wars: Rebels: Obscured Ambition
Disclaimer: Star Wars Rebels and all Star Wars characters and Lore are not my property, as they are all owned by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company.
A/N: I imagine most if not all of you are both aware of and bummed that the next episode of Rebels isn't to be released until November 5th. So, here's a little something to tide you folks over in the meantime. Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Price of Power
The only somewhat safe access point to the Caverns of Kresh was located on the northwestern edge of the Valley of the Dark Lords. Named for the ancient Dark Lord of the Sith, Ludo Kresh, after his failed bid for dominance over the ancient Sith, his rival ordered that his tomb be built far from sight of the older, more revered Dark Lords who were laid to rest in the valley. And so it was decided the tomb would be constructed deep inside a natural cave system, which was only sparsely illuminated by sunlight seeping through holes on the surface above. Centuries later, another tomb would be built nearby, the final resting place of Darth Bane, the intended venture point of the three Inquisitors and the ancient assassin droid accompanying them.
"Assessment: It would appear my thorough work in eliminating non-sentient meatbags in these caves has provided us a trail to follow back outside; the probability of losing sense of direction has now been significantly reduced. Addendum: You're welcome, associates of the master," HK informed both Jerec and Starkiller as-a-matter-of-fact. Jerec ignored the declaration, while Starkiller chose to humor their mechanized companion.
"Yes, very good. Thank you, droid," as the younger of the two Human Inquisitors finished, the group neared a deep and dark chasm just ahead of them. A natural rock bridge was their only way across. The Evocii leading them, the Grand Inquisitor, spoke up next.
"The few traces of maps I've been able to piece together regarding this place have led me to conclude we will find the entrance to the tomb we seek across this drop. Onward over the bridge, one at a time if you please," his tone as he spoke was just below commanding. One by one, his subordinates obeyed, and he went last following HK, who was analyzing their surroundings as if scanning them. He spoke up again as the group all met up on the other side of the chasm, two doorways to separate tombs coming into view around them, one to the left, and another to the right.
"Commentary: Relaying the optical images from my photoreceptors to my central processing core has given me strong impressions that I've definitely been through these caves before. The tomb on the left of the bridge is not the one we seek; it is the tomb of Ludo Kresh," as the ancient assassin droid finished, Jerec stepped forward, silently concentrating on the aforementioned tomb through the Force.
"I'm not sensing any traces of a powerful artifact in that one anyway, which means either the droid is correct, the energies in the tomb are blocking my senses, or the objective has already been taken by looters," the blind Inquisitor looked over as the saw his superior step forward. Nachtgeist clarified while Starkiller observed in silence.
"Darth Bane was no fool, he recognized the immeasurable importance of the only holocron ever constructed by Revan. I doubt anyone unworthy seeking it would emerge from this place alive. The tomb we seek is on the right, then. Well done, HK."
"Acknowledgement: Thank you, master. A pleasure to be of service, even if the task at hand does not involve delightful termination."
Once the group stood before the entrance to the tomb on the right, the three Inquisitors reached out through the Force, their combined power more than sufficient to unlock the heavy double stone doors blocking their way. Slowly, the doors grinded across the floor and the ceiling of the doorway as they slid open, revealing the faintly-lit final resting place of the Dark Lord known as Darth Bane.
"Be mindful, my esteemed cohorts. In places such as these, not everything is as it seems," the Grand Inquisitor warned his teammates. And with that, the four moved inside.
Elsewhere in the Outer Rim of the Galaxy, the Ghost dropped out of hyperspace over Nar Shaddaa. The city-moon was bustling with incoming and outgoing starship traffic as per usual, but fortunately Hera and Kanan did not have to wait for authorization from local space traffic control; the local supplier sympathetic to the Rebel cause had a lease on a landing pad near their shop. And of course, little attention is given to private business if it does not concern you on "The Smuggler's Moon".
The supply depot which had hovercarts of crates loaded with provisions, including ammunition, ready for loading and transport to Atollon was in the same neighborhood as the local refugee district in the northeastern boroughs on the moon. Perhaps by stroke of fate, or sheer coincidence, a few familiar faces caught sight of the Rebel starship as it flew overhead on its final approach. Hera and Kanan hadn't even set foot off the boarding ramp when their welcoming party came into view for Hera, but it was only at the sound of the voice of the one leading them that Kanan found himself taken aback with surprise.
"I thought I recognized that ship! Kanan Jarrus, remember me? Hey, what happened with your eyes? You okay?"
"Kavir… Kavir Oslan is that you?! By the Force, we thought you died on Ord Mantell!" the shock was evident in the voice of the Jedi Knight, and Hera recognized the name from what she learned from her crew about the mission in the aftermath. Indeed, the young freedom fighter had been regarded as deceased, fallen to his death from the stolen gunship high above the capital city as the Seismic Bomb demolished it. She also didn't miss the various scars on his face and left hand, or his new cybernetic right arm. Perhaps noticing the rogue Twi'lek pilot eyeing his artificial limb, he explained to the both of them.
"You were almost correct in that assumption. I blacked out when I fell inta' what was apparently a building in the process of collapsing. When I came to, my right arm was trapped under the rubble, almost all my bones were broken, and I was bleeding pretty bad. Woulda' died right then an' there, but the boys 'ere pulled me out," he gestured to his companions with a thumb over his shoulder before continuing, "Sadly, they had to amputate my arm on the spot, with nothin' to dull the pain even a little. Hurt like a son of a bitch, lemme tell you. All of us were in pretty bad shape, but I suppose I had the worst of it. We stayed underground for a few days until activity in the ruins died down, and escaped to the countryside. One thing led to another, and eventually we smuggled our way offworld, and wound up here with the other refugees. Black market doctors are a serious pain, but at least we found a couple here that know their stuff. We're all that's left of the resistance from Ord Mantell."
Hera was the first to speak after the two Rebels absorbed the tale of survival, folding her arms over her chest as she regarded the group of battered resistance fighters before them with a bemused smirk.
"You guys are looking to join the Rebellion, aren't you?"
"Yes ma'am, we certainly are! Our home may be firmly under the boot of the Empire, but we ain't gonna let that stop us from fightin' for her freedom in any way we can!" Kavir gestured to himself and his companions with both his hands, and they either smiled or grinned as they nodded in agreement.
"I'm certain we can bring you gentlemen into our ranks. As Captain of Phoenix Squadron, I'll give you your first assignment now; help Kanan and I load the crates from our supplier around the corner onto the ship. Can you manage that with your new arm, Kavir?" Hera asked.
"Won't be no problem at all, Captain. I know the place you're talkin' about. All right boys, let's get to it!"
"I'll catch up with you boys in a bit, I need to make sure the Ghost is secure on this decaying landing pad," the rogue Twi'lek pilot informed the others, who left after acknowledging her.
As the group made their way over to the supply depot less than a block away, Kavir supported Kanan, helping the blind Jedi find his way.
"So that Twi'lek is your pilot?" the blonde resistance fighter asked curiously.
"Yeah, she is," Kanan replied simply.
"Damn, you lucky Jedi, you," Kavir's remark earned him an annoyed glare from the blind Jedi Knight, "What?"
Meanwhile over in the Mid Rim, Inquisitor Garnac and Inquisitor Barris had made their way to the Imperial embassy in Ahto City, and found that at the discretion of the ISB, a submersible and trooper escort had been prepped for them in advance. Their destination, the partially-flooded remains of an old deep ocean research station that was abruptly decommissioned and lost over three and half millennia prior. Granted unrestricted access to the ocean floor with their takeover of the planetary government, the Imperials employed professional oceanographers who were able to move freely without any interference from the reluctantly-compliant Selkath. These experts were successful in locating what remained of the old facility, and the ISB had been sent in to investigate and secure it. Something crucial to Operation: Infinite Horizon was among the research material lost with the station, and it was up to the unlikely partners in the Inquisition to uncover and retrieve what that was. At the launch pool located behind the Imperial embassy, Garnac and Barris watched as their escort boarded their vessel ahead of them, and they were briefed on the situation down below by a familiar face from the ISB. Agent Kallus addressed the two Dark Side users respectfully and informatively.
"The majority of the facility has been crushed or broken apart by centuries of deep water pressure and rust, but the most secured section, the laboratories in the center of the station, are still accessible. At the request of your Grand Inquisitor, we've deployed a portable fusion generator to power up any electric systems still in operating condition. Bear in mind, what's left of the complex has broken from its foundation supports and is lying unsecure near the edge of an undersea cliff. All accessible, interior portions that are still in once piece are flooded, up to the waist in some locations. Simply put, what remains of this place is severely unstable, and your safety cannot be guaranteed, Inquisitors," upon processing the words of their host, Garnac was first to speak up.
"Hah! The more danger the better! Any warrior worth half the honor of going into the field fears nothing!"
"Ignore him, he's… being his usual self, actually. Regardless, we will approach this with all due caution. Thank you for briefing us, agent," Barris gave her own reply more formally.
"Very well. We have a pilot droid programmed with the latest maps of the ocean floor ready to take you and this squad to the facility. Best of luck for your mission."
After the two Inquisitors took their seats in the submersible, the craft's engines hummed to life and in the next moment it was off, bright headlights projecting out to help guide the way down into the watery darkness. The descent took some time, as the remains of the facility were a considerable distance on the ocean floor from Ahto City. Perhaps it was the sudden decrease in temperature affecting his cold blood, or simply sheer boredom, but either way Garnac fell asleep, his snoring much to the chagrin of his reluctant partner who sat beside him. Finally to her relief, the stricken wreckage of the old research station slowly came into few, the silhouette faintly visible only thanks to the headlights on the submersible. As delicately as possible, the droid piloted the small craft into the only launch pool still intact and in serviceable condition.
Even this part of the station was more flooded than it should have been, the water level at least a couple of feet above the rim of pool. The headlights illuminated the portable fusion generator, placed on stands to keep it dry above the water beneath it. The squad of troopers were the first to disembark, the sergeant activating the generator so the droid could make use of magnetic docking clamps to secure the submersible, which easily remained their best chance at a safe departure. Elbowing the male Trandoshan awake, startling him in the process, Barris then exited the craft with Garnac in tow. With electrical power up and running in any systems still in working order, one of the troopers activated the ceiling lights, finally providing sufficient illumination for their surroundings. Even so, not every light was functional. This combined with the fact that the water was up to the knees gave the abandoned station an ominous appearance and feel.
"Sergeant, you and your squad keep this area secure. My associate and I will scour the laboratories for what we seek," Barris informed the lead trooper.
"As you wish, we'll await your return and keep the comm channel open," the sergeant acknowledged in reply.
"Let's get this over with, cold bloods like myself weren't meant to wander around on the ocean floor," Garnac slightly shivered as he growled, attempting to brush off his obvious discomfort.
"What happened to you not fearing anything?" the Mirilan Inquisitor couldn't contain her meanly-spirited mirth and condescending smirk in response.
"Oh please, shut up would ya?!" the Trandoshan Inquisitor gave his retort immediately. And with that, the two headed further inside the sunken research station.
It wasn't long before they had wadded their way to the main laboratory. The severely-decayed skeletons of multiple Selkath were strewn about the room, most of them strapped to operating tables. However, it was the rusting metallic emplacements attached to some of the partially-dissolved bones that caught the eyes of the Dark Side users. Barris walked over to get a closer look while Garnac inspected some long-forgotten surgical instruments on a cart that lay mostly submerged off in the top left corner of the room.
"These are cybernetic implants, grafted augments based on their prominence in the cranial region plus the joints," the female Mirilan Inquisitor deduced.
"The process with which they were applied doesn't appear to have been a pleasant one; I can't find any pain-dulling chemicals anywhere. Still, is this what the leader is after?" the male Trandoshan Inquisitor questioned.
Barris appeared to disregard the query of her teammate at first, as she silently, cautiously laid a gloved hand upon the rusted implant on the broken skull that lay back on the table below her. The long-broken cybernetic piece, which had been out of working condition for millennia, initially felt cold to the touch. Within a moment of laying her hand on it however, Barris felt her eyes widen as the metal suddenly warmed beneath her fingers. She felt the Force within her hand synchronizing with latent energy inside the implant, and she understood at last.
"These weren't just any cybernetic augments… they resonate with the Force! Whatever material they are made from must have a strong affinity to it," as she spoke, Garnac wadded over to her and touched one of his bare claws to the implant on the knee of the decaying skeleton.
"Yes, I feel it as well! The Force is alive in these implants! But isn't such material extremely rare? Not even holocrons have this kind of energy in their structure."
"Exactly, on both counts. This has to be what the Grand Inquisitor needs from this place. We'll take as many as we can safely carry on the sub back to the surface," the former disillusioned Jedi Padawan stated.
"Sounds good to me," the orphaned, scarred Trandoshan agreed.
Across the Mid Rim back on Ovoo IV, Dodonna had convinced his would-be rescuers to help him release other political and military prisoners who had also been locked up in Cellblock G-9. This small group of humans and aliens alike armed themselves with blasters taken from fallen troopers. The unconscious ones were moved over to the previously-cleared cells and locked up. Finally with the task at hand completed, the teenage Mandalorian spoke up.
"We should get moving; we'll need to make our way back to the surface and infiltrate the central security tower, steal a ship, and shut off the portal ring to get through the shield," upon hearing the planned course of action, the veteran general felt the need to clarify an important matter for them.
"I'm afraid all but one of the ships kept in the hangar bays in the tower are not hyperspace-capable; only the shuttle used by the warden himself has a hyperdrive. We'll need to secure it before they fly it out of here to keep it from our reach, which they will do."
"You've been here the longest, old man. What would you suggest we do?" Zeb asked, firmly but respectfully. Both Ezra and Sabine nodded, interested in hearing the same as well. Chopper and the other freed prisoners waited in silence.
"We should split into two groups, each one tasked with one objective so we can accomplish both simultaneously. I'll take these prisoners and secure the bay with the shuttle, A-1. We'll need to borrow your astromech so he can power up the ship for us. We'll have it ready to go the moment you three arrive. Make you shut off the projection ring and disable the controls so it stays off. See if you can disable the power to the anti-ship turrets that will without a doubt try to shoot us down. The main control room is just a couple floors above the hangar bays in the tower, so reaching us once you complete your task shouldn't be too difficult," upon hearing the assessment and strategy of the old general, the Rebels agreed it was the best course of action.
"As good a plan as any," Zeb stated. Ezra nodded before looking over to their mechanized companion.
"All right, Chopper, once we breach the tower, you'll go with Dodonna and the others. You clear on that?" Ezra smiled as the astromech immediately chimed in binary response, confirming he understood.
"Then it's settled, let's go! The mines are our best bet for a straight shot out of here," Sabine reiterated the escape plan from earlier. The aging veteran then stepped forward to offer his hand as a guide.
"We can show you the way from here, we've all been thrown in that miserable place to dig at all hours of the day."
With that the team of Rebels, their older ally, and fellow escapees began making their way from the cellblock, and out to face the rest of the mission that lay before them. They were completely unaware that the ESRTF was well on its way to intercept them. Meanwhile, with every squad of troopers they had to face, Ezra felt his frustration grow, and Sabine didn't miss the changes becoming more and more clear in the young Padawan of whom she cared for. Neither she, nor he, or anyone else present would be prepared for what they would face next. The struggle of life and death, when made abundantly clear, has a habit of bringing out either the best, or the worst in people.
Down in the dark reaches of the Caverns of Kresh, within the forbidden expanses of the tomb of Darth Bane, the three Inquisitors and the ancient assassin droid continued to navigate their way with Jerec guiding them. The stone halls were dimly lit by archaic but ever-burning wall torches, and only occasionally slightly obstructed by ceramic jars placed off to the side. The male Human Inquisitor, blind since birth, specialized in seeing through the Force with his Mind's Eye rather than his physical ones. Before his defection from the Jedi after the fall of their Order and the Old Republic, he was a Knight who had been tasked with locating ancient Force relics for safekeeping. It was little surprise that after being enlisted into the Inquisition that he found himself once more facing similar work, but this time seeking these relics mainly for the power within as desired by his superiors, often specifically the two Sith in charge of the Empire. Of course, he sometimes chose to keep some lesser relics for his own purposes, a fact his superiors were aware of but chose to ignore as long as he fulfilled his duties to them. This included the Grand Inquisitor, who trailed behind him with both HK-47 and Starkiller in tow.
"Are we any closer, Jerec?" the Evocii Dark Side master inquired with his cohort. Another moment of silence passed before the man in question came to halt at the center of a four-sided room.
The single corridor they had been following now split into three directions around them. Jerec silently raised his right, gloved hand, splayed open, signifying he required further quiet as he focused through the Force. Starkiller monitored their surroundings while the Grand Inquisitor peered in the direction on the hall to the right as Jerec slowly turned his head, still focusing closely and intently. Finally, the blind Inquisitor spoke up.
"This way… we will find what we seek in the burial chamber."
"Figures. Based on my own studies, Darth Bane coveted that holocron more so than even the one he eventually crafted himself," the Grand Inquisitor stated.
"Another relic for another day, perhaps," Starkiller added as he and HK followed the two older Inquisitors down the hall.
It was another pair of twists and turns before the four finally arrived in the circular chamber that held the rectangular sarcophagus in the middle. The sarcophagus was flanked on both sides by twin human-shaped statues standing with their arms crossed acutely over their chests, fists out by the sides of their featureless faces. The walls were lined by multiple torches, providing faint but sufficient viewing light in the chamber. A stout and narrow, pyramid-like sculpture stood on the other side of the chamber, above the final resting place of the former Dark Lord. From a distance, it might be mistaken for a large holocron, but as Jerec kept his sightless focus on it, Grand Inquisitor Nachtgeist understood.
"It's in there, isn't it?"
"Indeed… it's an archaic but well-crafted vault that can only be opened with the Force… one who has an advanced, superior knowledge of the Dark Side…"
"Observation: Based on those parameters, the master will have to be one to complete the task," at the words of their mechanized companion, both Jerec and Starkiller silently nodded and watched as their superior stepped forward to do just that. He reached out with his own gloved hand. He could feel the locking mechanism built into the top of the pyramid, which functioned as a lid. Slowly but surely he began to sense the tumblers rolling, and the top began to disconnect from the rest of the sculpture.
"It cannot possibly be this easy…" the Evocii Dark Side master mumbled warily, having trouble believing this would be the end of their journey. His suspicions were confirmed but a moment later.
"Indeed, it isn't..."
Immediately turning around in the direction of what was a disembodied, ghastly, and ominous voice, the three Inquisitors and the ancient assassin droid stood face to face with a dark, nearly-corporeal image of a human male, clad in ancient, orbalisk armored suit and mask with a royal purple cape. His bare hands were deathly pale, and his eyes nearly glowed in deep red as they narrowed in the direction of the four in front of them. An eerie, red-hazed cloud of dark mist that matched his glowing eyes seemed to permeate from where he stood. Jerec and Starkiller both drew and ignited their doublesabers while HK-47 raised his blaster carbine. Nachtgeist meanwhile stepped back over to his cohorts slowly, eyeing the specter before his team carefully.
"Hold your attack, all of you. We stand before the presence, or at least the image, of Darth Bane himself!" the Grand Inquisitor alerted the others sharply, and only HK didn't seem the least bit fazed by this news. Perhaps his programming wouldn't allow for it.
"You are correct, trespasser; it is never that easy. Power always has a price, and only the worthy can be prepared to pay it. Prove yourselves to me if you wish to leave with the holocron, or your lives!"
Nachtgeist drew and ignited his custom lightsaber in his right hand, simultaneously as the ghost of Darth Bane drew and ignite twin purple lightsabers in each hand. At once, the battle began. With a blast of Force energy, the ancient Dark Lord sent Jerec, Starkiller, and HK-47 off their feet and to the ground, stunning them as he lunged at the Grand Inquisitor, who drew and ignited his second saber to help counter the incoming attack. Twin purple blades and twin red blades surged and slashed back and forth, the two adversaries keeping up with one another blow for blow.
"You're strong… but you aren't Sith," the ghost of Darth Bane analyzed his still-living foe.
"I don't need to be granted the title of Sith Lord, all I need is the power of one," Nachtgeist retorted.
"You think yourself prepared for what such power entails?" as the specter spoke, he didn't miss the other three rising back up out of the corners of his eyes.
"There is no consequence I will not accept to ensure what must be done comes to pass," Nachtgeist felt his own eyes narrow in sheer determination at his words, and the shade of the ancient Sith before him didn't miss the conviction, either.
"There may be some worth to you after all... we shall see!"
With the weapons of the other Inquisitors and the ancient assassin droid readied once more, the four on one duel began in full. The raw power of the Dark Side surged in the very air around the combatants.
Meanwhile, back on Nar Shaddaa, Kanan and Hera along with Kavir and his team had finished loading the supplies onto the Ghost for transport to Atollon. With the work complete, outside on the landing pad Hera turned to address the former resistance operative as the last of his men walked back down the ramp, having just finished loading the last crate.
"This job was done in a fraction of the time thanks to you boys. Now, Kanan and I are going to meet with our supplier regarding the next pickup. You guys stay here and guard the ship for us until we return. And no offense, but I've locked down the controls in the cockpit."
"Aw, don't trust us, huh?" Kavir started in mock-hurt, but he held a lighthearted smile through the act, "Can't blame ya though, real fine vessel ya got 'ere, Captain Syndulla. Should we just wait out here?"
"No, you can all wait inside the main hold if you'd prefer. We'll be heading out as soon as we get back. Let's go, Kanan," Hera turned and began walking, placing her hand on Kanan's shoulder as she did so.
"Fine, fine," Kanan said as he allowed her to lead him.
As Kavir and his own crew boarded the Rebel starship, and the rogue Twi'lek pilot and the blind Jedi Knight walked out of sight, none of them caught sight of a figure that lay crouched in shadow up on the ledge of a building just off to the right of the landing. An infamous Mandalorian bounty hunter, clad in aged but durable armor with a jetpack mounted behind his torso, made sure his blaster rifle was fully loaded. He had been observing through the rangefinder on his helmet. His watch had just come to an end.
A/N: Well, I think you all can surmise that the next chapter is when and where the action kicks into high gear. I do hope you enjoyed this latest installment! I've already begun formulating Chapter 5. On another important note, I give my sincerest gratitude to each and every one who has reviewed, and/or has favored and is following this story. Your support is greatly appreciated. Again, thank you all for reading and have a good one. :)