Chapter 4
BK-7392: Bravo
Falleen surface
18:40 hours
"Move!" Ahsoka yelled, suddenly panicked "Go! Quickly!"
"Leave the guns!" Fancy yelled to us
We bolted for the stairs, intending to go down them, but somebody was already waiting for us. An old man, with a balding head and a white beard, wearing old robes and a cape, a lightsaber in his hand. Although he appeared to be very old, something told me that his age wouldn't be holding him back.
"Dooku," Ahsoka said, activating her lightsaber "You move quickly, for an old man."
"Lower your weapons," He said to us, activating his lightsaber "I'd hate to have to kill you all."
Something clicked inside me, and I lowered my weapon, but quickly raised it again, realizing I wasn't required to follow his orders. Those stupid Kaminoans had done something to us, and we followed every order without hesitation, and it was sometimes confusing on who to follow.
"You're outnumbered," Gunrack spat at him "Lower your weapon, and we just might take you prisoner."
"You're in no position to make threats, clone." He said calmly
He said the word clone like it was an insult, and I supposed it was. Something we, actually all clones, were very touchy about was our identity. We hated being treated as if we weren't men, as if we were just some expendable droid, like our lives didn't matter. Just because we were cloned from Jango Fett didn't mean we weren't individuals, and it struck a nerve with us if somebody said otherwise.
"Master Skywalker is on his way here now," Ahsoka said confidently "I may not be powerful enough to defeat you, but I can hold you until he arrives."
"When he does," Count Dooku laughed "He will find only your bodies."
Ahsoka jumped at him and we fired, he deflected the shots and blocked Ahsoka's lightsaber. As they battled on the stairs, a squad of super battle droids marched up the stairs behind him and opened fire on us, we scattered to cover and fired back. I struck one in the head and he tumbled down the stairs, but four more were close behind.
"Commander!" Arrow yelled, watch your back
Ahsoka kicked Count Dooku backwards and he tumbled over the railing, landing on the staircase below us. Ahsoka jumped down after him, leaving us to finish off the battle droids. She sliced three more as she fell and then vanished from our view, but we could still hear their lightsabers clashing below us.
"Come get us you stupid clankers!" Gunrack yelled at them, firing
We mowed down five of them and a few more came up the stairs, but it was looking to be the last wave. A quick glance to the battle below us showed the droids retreating from the base and the clones, led by Generals Skywalker and Kenobi, now swarming in. We moved down the staircase to gain some ground, firing downwards at the advancing droids. I struck two and the other four went down easily, leaving only one super battle droid at the bottom, firing rapidly at us.
"I can't get a shot at him," Arrow said "He's firing exactly where we'd step out."
"Somebody needs to draw his fire." Gunrack said
"Cover me," Clip said, ducking down "The second I'm out, start shooting."
Before we could say anything, Clip rolled out into the open, narrowly avoiding the blaster bolts. They went right over his head and the droid paused for a moment to adjust it's aim, and we took our chance. I dove out behind Gunrack and we opened fire at the droid, striking him in several different spots at once.
"Quickly!" Fancy said as a massive crash sounded from the lobby of the building "Something tells me Commander Tano's in trouble."
We hopped the railing down the stair case and bolted into the lobby, where Ahsoka had been knocked unconscious and Count Dooku was bearing down on her. We only had a split second to act, and we all fired at him. He deflected the first few bolts, but one got under his guard and struck him in his sword arm. He cried out in pain for a moment before having to switch his lightsaber to his other hand, and Clip rushed him. We continued to fire while Clip swung his weapon, almost striking him.
"Is Clip doing what I think he is?" Arrow asked, still shooting
"Ahhh yes he is." I said, nodding
Clip grabbed Commander Tano's lightsaber and turned it on, swinging at Dooku. I wasn't sure if there was some sort of penalty for a clone taking a Jedi's weapon, but I was sure it would be overlooked considering the circumstances. Clip kept close enough in that Dooku couldn't try to use to force without getting his hand chopped off, and we continued to fire. Clip swung, Dooku deflected, Dooku swung, Clip ducked. Clip handled the lightsaber well, but I knew he wouldn't last long if we didn't take Dooku down quickly.
"You meddlesome clones!" He yelled in frustration, taking another shot at Clip
Clip deflected and came in, looking for a kill, but Dooku blocked the blade, pushing Clip back. I let loose a quick, three round burst, hitting his leg with one. He yelled in pain again and took a desperate swing at Clip, missing his face by inches.
"Dooku!" A voice yelled from the door way
General Skywalker stormed into the lobby, followed by Kenobi and several clones. Dooku knew he was outmatched, and he kicked Clip backwards, sending a wave of lightning at the four of us. We took it full on and we were thrown backwards, pain wracking out bodies. I looked up just as Clip swung at Dooku one more time, and Dooku ducked under it, and slashed Clip right in his chest.
"Clip!" I yelled, trying to push myself up
Skywalker rushed Dooku but he was already going up the stairs, attempting to escape. Even for an old man, with a wounded arm and a leg, he moved pretty quickly. Rex and Cody rushed to us help us up while a medic ran to Clip and another to Ahsoka, checking them out.
"Clip!" Gunrack called, pushing Rex out of his way
We all ran to where he was collapsed, Commander Tano's lightsaber still clutched firmly in his hand. The medic pulled his helmet off and felt his pulse, trying to save him. There was a burn mark on his chest where the lightsaber had slashed him, and I already knew it was too late.
"I'm sorry," He said, looking back at us "He's dead."
"Clip, no!" Arrow said, kneeling next to him and shaking him "Come on you stubborn bastard! You can't die on us!"
Ahsoka was coming to, and she crossed the room to see what was happening. General Kenobi stood behind me, watching, pity in his eyes. General Skywalker came down the stairs, looking defeated, and he headed over to where we were all gathered.
"Arrow," Fancy said gently "He's dead, he's gone."
Arrow stood, glaring down at Clip's body, like he was trying to force him to come back to life. It didn't feel real, Clip, the guy we had grown up with, trained with, fought with, he was dead. General Skywalker put a hand on Arrow's shoulder, nodding at him. Arrow picked up Clip's body and looked at us, pain written on his face, as I knew it was on all of us.
"We'll make him pay," Arrow said "Won't we."
"Of course," Gunrack said angrily "We'll get him, and he will face clone justice for what he's done."
"And what exactly is clone justice?" General Kenobi asked
"Execution," Cody said "A very slow and painful execution."
"I'm sure the Republic wants him as a prisoner." Ahsoka reminded us
"Then they had better hope that the Jedi get to him first." Rex shrugged
"Captain, notify the fleet," Skywalker said to Rex "Let them know we've taken Falleen."
Master Shaak Ti
Lightspeed: On course to the Dagobah system
09:00 hours
I felt the fear and confusion in Malakai's mind, and I felt him trying to control it as best he could. It was difficult for him, I knew that much, as he had never been to the Dagobah system and had no idea what to expect from it. I left him alone to his thoughts, letting him focus on the task at hand, and calm himself. We were going alone, no clones or other Jedi had been allowed to come with us. I left the ship on autopilot and had come back to meditate, and I could sense the system getting closer and closer.
"Master?" Malakai asked suddenly
"Yes?" I asked him, looking up from my meditation
"What's on Dagobah?" He asked "What's there specifically that makes it different from all the other training we did?"
"This planet harbors a great connection to the force," I told him "Good, as well as evil. It is there that you will face your worst fears, the most powerful enemies."
"I thought we were facing our worst fears when we were training to become padawans." He said
"You faced your worst fears as you knew them," I explained "Here, you will face things you didn't even know you were afraid of."
"Sounds fun." He sighed
"We're coming out of lightspeed," I said, looking out the cockpit "When we land, keep your mind guarded. Things lurk in this planet, if they sense your fear, they will attack."
"Yes, Master." He said as we came out
The planet loomed in front of us, and I slid into the pilot's seat, while Malakai sat down in the co-pilot's seat. He checked the scanners, and seemed surprised for a moment, as though he couldn't believe what it was that he was seeing.
"Yes?" I asked him, amused
"The scanners are dead," He said "They've just gone completely down."
"This planet does strange things," I said "Worry not, we're going to be fine."
We entered the atmosphere, and I used the force to guide me through the fog. There were nothing but trees and water for miles, no way for us to land, and I sensed that we were going to have to move to another part of the planet.
"Master, I feel something," Malakai said "I feel...cold."
"Where?" I asked him
"To the left," He said "Thirty clicks I think. I feel something, like a presence. One I haven't felt since I was nine, so long ago."
"It appears we know where to start then." I said
I steered the ship to the left and kept going, waiting for Malakai to tell me when to let down. He sat in the chair, his eyes closed, and I could sense his mind racing and feeling the area around him. I wondered if maybe his feeling had passed, but now I sensed it too. Malakai was right, I felt cold, anger, hatred, a lust for power.
"Here," He said, opening his eyes "Right here."
I set the ship down, tearing through the fog. The feeling was getting stronger, and I knew that we were in the right place. Malakai would have to go in alone, and I would wait by the ship. Something was biting at me, something I couldn't quite put my finger on, I would meditate on it while Malakai was away. The ship passed through the fog and I saw a clearing below us, plenty big enough to land. I felt a small jerk as it touched down on the planet floor, and I killed the power.
"Come." I said, rising
Malakai followed me outside the ship, and into the cold Dagobah air. I could see my breath in front of me, and that feeling was getting much stronger. This was a very dark place indeed, and it was exactly where Malakai needed to be.
What if this place corrupts him? I found myself wondering What if he comes back and he has turned to the Dark side?
I pushed the thought aside, Malakai was strong with the force, much too strong to be corrupted easily if at all. Sure he wasn't as strong as Master Yoda or Anakin Skywalker, but he was much more balanced than Skywalker, which was why the council hadn't sent Skywalker here.
"You must go into the forest," I said, pointing to a small path that led into the surrounding forest "I will be waiting for you."
"How do I know when to come back?" He asked
"You will know," I told him "Trust in the force. In this forest, you will be tested, you will be tempted, but above all, the Dark side will try and seduce you, you must resist."
"So I'm going in at the risk of falling to the Dark side," Malakai said skeptically "And I'll just magically know when I've passed my test?"
"The Dark side is dangerous," I warned him "And it is not to be taken lightly, when you return, you will be much stronger and wiser with the force."
"This had better be worth it." He sighed, steeling his nerves
He turned away from me and headed into the forest, staring straight ahead. I headed back inside to meditate, maybe I could figure out what that feeling was. I wondered if maybe I should have gone with him, a Jedi like him falling to the Dark side wouldn't be a very good omen.
Malakai
The feeling was getting much stronger, and I could no longer feel Master Ti, which made me feel very much in danger. It was comforting feeling her light and knowing she was there, but now I couldn't feel her at all, it was like she wasn't even on the planet with me.
"What exactly am I looking for?" I wondered out loud
"Typical of the Jedi," A voice boomed out, making me jump "Send you out, never knowing what you might face, not even knowing what to look for."
Well, there's a start. I thought
I looked around, looking for the owner of the voice. A tall figure stood behind me, wearing old black armor and a strange mask. I had seen pictures of them and I recognized exactly what it was, ancient Sith armor. He didn't draw a lightsaber, and I felt no need to draw mine.
"Who are you?" I asked him
"Darth Revan," He said "I too was once a Jedi, just like you."
"And you fell," I finished, remembering the stories "You were beaten in battle by a Sith Lord, and your war torn mind was easily corrupted."
"Corrupted?" Revan asked, amused "No, young Jedi, enlightened. I was shown the true ways of the force, I was given power, great power."
"It seems we have differing views on the true ways of the force," I said "So, are you here to tempt me with the Dark side?"
"No," Revan said "This is not my intentions, no I come with a warning. You remind me much of myself, young Jedi, I take pity on you. If you continue down this path, you will not like who waits for you at the end."
"Who?" I asked
"He is not who you once knew," Revan warned me "He has been dubbed Darth Redeemer."
"Who?" I asked "By the force, don't keep me in suspense."
"I will not tell you," Revan said "Just know you have been warned, if you continue, they will try and tempt you. If you continue, he will engage you, and you will set in motion events that you may not be able to handle."
"I'll take my chances." I said, turning away
"Very well," Revan sighed "I warned you, continue at your own peril."
Revan vanished, leaving me alone. I hadn't felt anything from him, and he was definitely unlike the legends of Sith I had heard, who were known to be ruthless warriors. It felt so unlike what I had heard of them to simply show up to warn me, I was a Jedi, shouldn't Revan hate me? I kept walking down the path, looking around, prepared for another ancient Sith to show himself.
Calm yourself, A voice in my head said You must tune your senses, keep yourself focused on the task at hand.
Who are you? I thought, exasperated Another Sith?
No, The voice said My name is Qui Gon Jinn.
Master Kenobi's old master? I asked Aren't you dead?
Yes and no, He said I can't explain, as I don't quite understand it myself. However, when you return to the Jedi temple, it is crucial that you tell none that I spoke to you.
But you haven't even told me anything yet, I thought It's hardly even worth mentioning.
I am simply here to guide you when you need it, He responded Listen to the force, and you will come away much stronger than before.
After that, he went silent. I felt the presence getting stronger, and I wanted so badly to turn back, but I couldn't. Despite how much danger I knew I was in, I needed to finish this, and figure out who Revan was talking about.
"Stop Jedi!" Another voice boomed "And face me!"
This time, the Sith appeared in front of me. He wore ancient Sith armor and had a scarred face with cruel eyes, and he stared at me with intense hatred. I didn't recognize him, but he looked as if he knew who I was. I knew that the sarcasm I had used with Darth Revan wasn't going to fly with this guy, but then again, visions can't hurt me.
"And you are?" I asked him
"Do you not recognize the greatest Sith warrior to ever live?" He demanded "I am Darth Bane. I am a legendary Sith warrior, I created the rule of two."
"A master and an apprentice," I said "To keep the Sith from destroying eachother, you created the rule of two."
"So you have heard of me," Bane said, taking a lightsaber from his belt "Good."
"Everyone at the temple as heard of you," I said, also drawing my lightsaber "You saved our greatest enemies from total annihilation."
"Good, good," He said "Put your lightsaber away, boy, it will only make things worse for you."
"You can't hurt me," I said, keeping my lightsaber in my hand "You're a vision, you aren't real."
"Is this what the Jedi would have you believe?" Bane laughed "That I am dead? That I can do nothing to harm you?
"You are, and you can't." I said forcefully
"You're a fool," He laughed "The Jedi can do nothing for you, you will never reach your full power as a Jedi, but as a Sith, you could be the most powerful of our order."
"Your order is dead," I said, activating my lightsaber "It hangs by a thread, with the deaths of Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku, it will die and fade away permanently."
"You are much more strong willed than the last of your kin I met," Bane said, activating his lightsaber "Impressive, if you will not be turned, you will be killed."
He rushed at me and swung his lightsaber, aiming for my neck. I deflected the blade and slashed his chest, scoring a direct hit. I was surprised at how easily I had just beaten the greatest Sith warrior ever known, but then again, he was only a vision and meant to scare me. Had that actually been Darth Bane, the real Darth Bane, I'd be dead. Without a sound, he vanished into a cloud of fog.
"Your fear betrays you," His voice echoed "You will die here, if you will not turn to the Dark side, it is the only thing that can save you."
I deactivated my lightsaber and looked around, making sure he didn't appear behind me. I wasn't entirely sure that visions couldn't hurt you, especially when powered by the Dark side, but I definitely wasn't eager to find out.
"So I've resisted the Dark side," I muttered "And yet, I don't feel like I'm done."
"That's because you have yet to face me!" A voice yelled suddenly
"Oh what now?" I demanded, frustrated with these stupid Sith visions
That feeling got overwhelming all of the sudden, and somebody dropped down from the trees a couple feet in front of me. He wore black robes and a black cloak, with his hood pulled over his head. Something felt familiar about him, but I couldn't place it. I felt his anger, his hatred, and his confusion.
"Who are you?" I asked him
"I am Darth Redeemer," He said, drawing his lightsaber "I already know who you are, Malakai Wolshor."
"How do you know who I am?" I asked him, readying my lightsaber as well
"We go way back." He said, lowering his hood
When I caught sight of his face, my heart dropped. I knew exactly what Revan was talking about in that instant, exactly what he had meant about not liking who I would find. This had to be a vision, a trick of the Dark side, something, anything.
"Darmik?" I asked, completely and utterly shocked "You're alive?"