AN1: Sorry for the long wait. Had some personal issue to deal with.
AN2: Rex got a bit more role in this chapter than what I first decided on, but it is better this way. He will have some other moments as the story progress. Regarding other characters I fear that Maris is kind of in the back with not a lot of moments of her own. I have some ideas for the future, but I would like to hear your thoughts on it.
AN3: Yes, I know that Korriban is Moraband nowadays, but I like Korriban better.
AN4: Please leave a review at the end.
Chapter Seventh
The shadow of Korriban
Rex turned out to be a decent teacher when it came to weapons or hand-to-hand fight. Harry never had any interest in any of it so the former commander had his hand full with him. The easiest part was the use of hand blasters. Harry shoot twice back on Earth, but realized that he didn't had the time or patience at that period of his life to learn how to use the. On Felucia he tried out his newly acquired DD-20 heavy blaster pistol with minimal improvement on his accuracy. The difference between Rex's and Aayla's help was clear to anyone with eyesight. Of course Aayla know next to nothing about blasters and Rex was something of a weapon fanatic, but Harry had to admit: Rex knew his stuff. That was apparent when they made a little 'contest' in the cargo of the Traveler. The three targets were lined up at twenty five meter from them. The 'contest' if you could call that as such was over in less than a minute. Harry sometimes didn't even got the targets' edge while Rex's only problem was where he wanted to hit his owns.
When it came to hand-to-hand the it only became worse for Harry. He never practiced martial arts, let alone those styles where the intent was to quickly and efficiently take down your opponent. Not necessarily alive. Harry had near superhuman reflexes and was one of the fastest man alive which was more than enough against any average man. Rex however was anything but average. He was both more skilled and experienced than Harry. It came to no one's surprise that Harry got his ass handed to him, badly.
So the 'contest' quickly became a training session. And let it be known: Rex was a harsh teacher. Despite the fact that Harry will probably only use these skills on very rare occasion he demanded the best from the sorcerer. After nearly a hour of learning how to grab, toss, hit enemy, how to fall Rex seemed satisfied if only a little bit.
Harry's next idea was one of those that the commander referred as Jedi nonsense. Harry decided that as the commander was quite the marksman and he himself was also skilled with the lightsaber they could try and combine both. Meaning that Rex supposed to fire on him and Harry would try and deflect the incoming bolts. Rex had a very bad feeling about it and had an idea of the reason for it in a form of a rutian twi'lek.
He was, of course, correct. They only started for about a quarter of a hour when the girls came inside. They all were distressed, obviously thinking that they really fought over some issue. When the cleared it up Aayla started ranting about "stupid, idiot males" who had "egos and competitive side of the size of a bantha" and were indeed only "smart as one", while the other three nodded along. Harry, himself could only stare wide-eyed at his girlfriend. When Rex finally decided to inject that he powered down the blasters so the shots left nothing more than a slight burn after then and a little numbness Aayla shoot him a look that left the veteran soldier shaking like a leaf. When she opened her mouth to berate him even more, Harry getting enough of that grabbed Aayla's waist, spun her around and silenced her with a kiss.
"It's alright, love. We only trained a little, nothing more. It was perfectly harmless." he said after broking off the kiss.
"I bet you wouldn't say that if I cut Rex's head off like I wanted the moment I saw this... 'training session." Aayla growled, a bit still put out by the display she seen before.
"Well, I suppose that's true." Harry admitted with a shrug "We will inform you the next time we decide to do something like that."
"You better do, because I didn't like it." Aayla replied "Seriously Harry..." she said after seeing that Harry still didn't grasped how worried she was "...it wasn't that long ago when the clones betrayed us. Seeing one shooting at you..."
"Fuck." Harry swore softly "I'm sorry. I didn't thought that one out, did I?"
"No you didn't." Aayla replied relaxing finally in Harry's arms "Next time we land on a civilized word you have to take me somewhere nice as an apology."
"Yeah, of course. Whatever you want love." Harry assured her.
"I will hold you on that."
Looking at the rest of the group it seemed that Ahsoka already finished chewing Rex out on their stupidity and now started talking about the news from the galaxy.
"I still can't believe it." Maris said "Why would they leave Kashyyyk?"
"What are you lot talking about?" Aayla asked as the pair joined them.
"There were some news that the wookies wanted to abandon Kashyyyk." Maris replied "I don't understand it. Kashyyyk is something more for the wookies than just a planet."
"It is." Shaak nodded along "I don't think there could be any reason for them to do so..."
"Maybe there is some-kind of poison or toxin which the Separatist released just like they said." Ahsoka reasoned.
"You don't believe that imperial bureaucrat than me." Shaak said "The wookies wouldn't leave Kashyyyk without at least trying to solve the problem."
"It was an imperial who said this?" asked Harry "And no wookie said anything about it?"
"Yes, they said that there is only some drawn out plans if some wookie would like to settle on other planet." Rex replied.
"I don't understand." Harry admitted "What could the Empire attain with this farce?"
"Perhaps..." Maris started, drawing all attention to herself "Perhaps, they want to steal the star-maps of the Claatuvac Guild without being found out?"
"Possible, very possible." Shaak said pursing her lips together "I don't think they will force the issue, not for a while at least."
"Claatuvac?" Harry asked.
"One of the galaxy oldest and most influental navigator guild." Aayla replied "It is said that their ancient star-maps describe routes long forgotten which can reform all we know about space-trade."
"Sound valuable."
"An entire campaign was fought to keep them safe." Ahsoka said.
"If I know something it is that Gumbaeki won't allow that data to fall into the wrong hands." Shaak said with certainty.
"Well that's good I suppose." Harry said "Now if you don't mind I have to take a shower."
"He looks good with sweat." Shaak remarked with a small grin, as they looked at the man retracking form.
"He sure do." Aayla replied with her own grin "And you know what? He looks even better with nothing on!"
"Oh my, Aayla!" Shaak exclaimed with mockingly raising her hand before her lips "How daring of you!"
"Please, as if you didn't checked him out at the beach!" Aayla replied with a tinkling laugh "Well, I think I should also retire to my cabin."
"But don't you and Harry share a cabin?" Maris asked confused. Aayla let out another giggle as she walked -skipped- out of the cargo hall. Shaak and Ahsoka hugged the confused zabrak girl between themselves cooing at her, while Rex also walked out shaking his head.
Later in the cockpit they assembled again. Just in a few minutes they will exit the hyperspace at Korriban. Harry's first though was the Mars. It was mostly russet, with some smaller-larger spot of white and brown, and a very few greenish brown ones. It was a very unsettling word, but it wasn't from it's physical appearance.
"Somehow when I look at it I find myself a little nervous." Rex said. His face was a mask, but his eyes betrayed the true scale of his feelings.
"It prove how much the Dark Side engulf this planet that even a non force-sensitive can feel it." Shaak said from the com-seat . All of them held themselves rigidly, all of their attention on the planet.
"This is what you felt when you faced Ventress?" Rex asked Ahsoka quietly.
"No. What you feel is nothing compared what we can sense." Ahsoka replied who sat before Shaak in the co-pilot's seat "And Asajj is very complicated person."
"I still can't believe you would work with her." Rex murmured.
"Working with Ventress?" Shaak asked sharply looking at her with narrowed eyes.
"She isn't that bad." Ahsoka defended the former Dark Jedi "She was only lost and lonely. Dooku capitalised on that and twisted her."
"Just like Aurra Sing." Aayla said slowly as she piloted the ship towards the planet, slowly entering the strtosphere.
"Who is she?" Harry asked.
"A Jedi padawan who became a bounty hunter. I fought her on Devaron." Aayla replied "I think I still have the dress I wore on that mission. I'm sure you would love to see me in it."
"She and Bosk help some Mandalorian kid last I heard." Rex spoke up.
"Well, you must tell me about that adventure the next time we can rest. " Harry said then, remembering her mentioning those merceranies, if his memories served him right he asked about them "About Mandalorians... Don't they had to do something with the clones?"
"He was the generic temptale of the clones. Some would consider him our father." Rex replied.
"If we are talking about clones, we got another message from Jool." Shaak said "It seems that Sidius don't want to leave the cloning technology in the hands of the Kaminoans."
"That's surprising." Ahsoka said.
"Not really." Aayla replied, while piloting the Traveler "I don't think that Sidius would trust them with his army."
"The Kaminoans weren't against him as Chancellor." Rex reminded her "I don't think they would have any problem with him being declared the Emperor."
"Perhaps they don't like the fact that he deceived them?" Maris wondered aloud.
"Not likely. They are practical. If their contact is fulfilled then that's it. They could careless about the purpose of the clone army as long as they gain from the making of it." the commander argued.
"Perhaps, that was what happened." Harry said after thinking it over "If this Sidius is anything like the bad guys from my homeplanet then he is egoistical and power hungry. I would bet that he didn't want to depend on his army's manpower supply by a semi-autonomous government. Even if they would happily serve him."
"The Kaminoans are highly intelligent." Shaak said catching on what was Harry's concept "Sidius exhibited all this quality when he ascended as Emperor. If the Kaminoans could calculate what he would do with them when his powerbase is set..."
"They would plan something against it." Ahsoka finished it.
"Whatever happened, now it came down to Kamino being under siege by the fifth armada." Rex said as they entered the atmosphere. Harry looked out in one of the side window.
"What happened here?" Asked Harry seeing the countless craters in the planet surface. Some were only ten or so, but some where hundreds if not thousands meter across.
"Orbital bombardment." Ahsoka said "I seen a few from space but never on this scale."
"Neither did I." Rex nodded along.
"The Battle of Korriban. It was fought at the end of a millenia long war." Shaak said "I heard that the Jedi and the Senate did everything in their power to break the Sith's power, but..."
The surface seemed oddly bipolar. Some were scarred beyond nature's help, others were nearly untouched by either war or time. Luckily for them the Talisman should be in one of those area near a mountain range. It was a little valley, only a couple of miles away the largest peak. The palace of Muur was a grand structure and at least half of it was inside the cliff behind it. Outside it looked like a great aztec pyramid made out the same sandy brown and red granulite as the mountain.
Aayla landed in front of the great steps leading to the middle and most likely the main gate. After a brief talking, they decided to leave Rex behind as backup. He was the less experienced concerning the Force and someone must remain here watching for pursuers. Taking the first step at the soft sand and rock surface was bizarre for the girls. For them it was as if they walked into a swamp filled thick fog. They couldn't feel anything clearly in the Force unless a very close. It stressed them immensely, filling them with a sense of danger. Harry fared slightly better as he didn't opened himself up to the Force, despite Shaak and Aayla insistence, as the girls. But even he could feel his body stiffen even futher than in the ship.
Walking up towards the entrance they looked at the statues lined up on either side. Most were human, some humanoid and few more alien, to at least Harry's eyes. The style only added a to it as it only used rough forms. The material they used making them varied greatly: bronze, gold, marble, obsidian just to name a few. They wore simple armor and weapons.
Stepping inside the palace they arrived in what at first glance seemed as the continuation of the outside, but these sculptures were much more detailed if still a bit minimalist. Just from the greater care of how they were made Harry theorized that they were Sith Lords instead of the warriors outside.
"The structure and decoration is unlike anything I have seen in the Archive." Maris said in wonder. She was the most enthusiastic about history and legends in the group.
"I have seen some statues like that in Palpatine office." Shaak replied with a scoff "Back them I didn't know what they represented."
The walls bore artwork telling the old Sith Empire's history and even ancient Sith legends. There were carvings and frescos of battles fought ages ago. The most glorious victories along with their greatest defeats. Lords and champions rise to power and how they had fallen. Conquering numerous words across the galaxy. Both Harry and Maris would have loved to remain and study them, but time was of essence.
The hallways were wide enough so they all could walk next to each other if needed. Harry and Shaak led them followed by the two younger girl while Aayla brought up the rear. Even with their briskly space they needed time to arrive in their first real chamber thanks for the long and twisting path. It was hard to navigate at first with so many of forks and offset.
It was a throne room, presumedly Muur's. A large throne of black obsidian of the finest quality sat on a high platform. It had a square base and everything else was square on it. Aside a bit of decoration on it's armrest it remained in the minimalist style the furniture of palace seemed to bore. This of course also included the long table and the surrounding seats as well. The table was a marble slab sitting on two simple straight pole of metal which were on two bent metal pole in half circle form. In the middle there was a twenty centimeter wide dome of a holo projector. The chairs were also made with the same principle in mind. It had a circular stem with a rather thin metal holding the also circular seat. The back-rest which was cut in half the middle while the end was cut at approximately sixty degree. The walls of the hall was finely decorated unlike either the table or the seats. It's carvings so exceedingly Harry could nearly see the master working at it for weeks if not months. Of course he could hardly knew that it took two master of the art nearly a year to complete the whole chamber.
"Alright this looks like some kind of audience or conference room." Aayla said, carefully stepping inside. Maris and Ahsoka didn't had this restrain and went to study the walls. Harry and Shaak stepped on the platform and started to work on the throne's electronics integrated with the palace's own communication and computer system. After few minutes they could get the map of the entire palace appearing in mid-air above the table.
"The vaults are on the third lowest floor." Aayla pointed out the section on the three-dimensional map.
"And there is a lift behind the throne room." Maris said.
"Let's hope we can find that talisman soon." Shaak said as they moved to the turbo-lift.
The ride to the hearth of the complex was uneventful. When they stepped out the lights turned on. They made their way into the main vault directly ahead in a straight line from the lift. Sadly this section was just as zigzag as the main one. After only taking a few meters Harry stop.
"What is it Harry?" the girls also stopped seeing him turning around looking at every corner.
"I felt like if someone was watching us." Harry said softly "I felt it since we got off the Traveler, but I thought it was just the Dark Side."
"It is. Harry..." Shaak tried to reassure him.
"No! Shaak, my instincts never failed me in my life." Harry said. Glancing at the girls he could see their perplexed expression. He sighed "I... apologies. It's just that I'm sure that there is someone watching us and drove me crazy."
"It's alright." Shaak, as usual, was the first to regain her cool "It's matters not if we won't be bothered. Let's move on, but stay alert."
The path to the vault was made in silence. All of them breathed a sigh of relief as they arrived before the doors of Muur's vault. Luckily the mechanics of the gate was still functional. The vault was larger and emptier than what Harry envisioned even with the large door leading into it. There was several pedestals in it but only a select few were occupied, most with weapons of defeated foes, mainly lightsabers but there were other things as well as gold bars. Harry's interest was in the triangular pyramid crystal device on the central platform. He recognized it from Aayla's tale as a holocron, a storage of phenomenal quantity and quality of data. Only a true master of the Force could create and use it to it's fullest capacity. Being in the center of the vault convinced Harry that it was pretty important.
"I don't see the amulet." Aayla said glancing at the objects in the chamber.
"It isn't here." a frustrated Ahsoka said softly.
"Well, this was your idea in the first place!" Maris said from the side with a frown on her face "Any other great idea on our next move?" sarcasm dripped from her voice.
"So it's my fault?! You are one to talk as you don't do anything. If you wouldn't just stand there, but perhaps even help a little we could do something!" came the togruta girl answer.
"At least you admit that alone you could do nerf shit!" Maris answered.
"Aayla! We don't know what is in that casket! Must you always be that reckless!?" came Shaak irritatted voice from the corner, where the two older Jedi stood in front of a rusty, old metal casket. The Jedi Master had her arms crossed, clearly unimpressed with the Twi'lek girl suggestion.
"Perhaps you could do something faster than a bantha for an exception for once!" Aayla hotly replied "You always wwant to wait and wait a bit more! Sometimes you have to do things right away!"
Harry could feel himself getting angry. What the hell they thought they are doing!? They didn't had time for any of this nonsense! He should just shut them up and them take the lead as it seems only he could keep a level head in this kind of situation. He stepped next to them and was just about to tell them to shut up, when he stopped himself. Why the hell should he do just that? It would only make matters worse. He imagiened how they looked from the outside and felt his frown deepen. Maris and Ahsoka arguing? The two girl hit it off immediately they met, forming a sisterly bond. Shaak and Aayla complimented eachother on the other patience and assertiveness respectively. He reached out to the Force. The Dark Side was so thick it nearly choked him. For a second he couldn't even move. His power surged forward and burst through the chamber. The girls blinked at each other as the stress was literally lifted up from them.
"What happened?" Maris asked confused.
"We were trapped in some kind of Sith sorcery." Shaak said "Aayla, I'm sorry for my words."
"Just as me." Aayla said.
"Me too." Maris said it to Ahsoka who hugged the zabrak girl to herself.
"What have you found here?" Harry asked Aayla trying to steer the conservation into other path.
"I don't know." the Twi'lek girl replied shrugging her shoulder "There could be anything inside of it."
"Let's open it." Harry said as he pushed the opening button. It gave a soft hiss as the door slid open and a humanoid shape stepped outside of it. The humanoid figure stepped out of the shadow revealing it to be a droid. The next moment all of their lightsabers were out and ignited. The droid made no move of being threatened or aggressive.
"Greetings. I'm the caretaker of the vault, M2-S3." came a metallic voice from it.
"Greetings. We came here searching for a Sith talisman. Can you help us?" Ahsoka asked.
"If you search for the Amulet of Master Muur then you won't find it here."the corner.
"Can you tell us where it is?" Ahsoka asked it.
"It shoul be in the tower of the Master." the droid replied "It's in a stasis casket since nearly four thousands year."
"How are you even functioning?" Aayla asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"My Master made me to last several thousand year if need, using Sith alchemy. Added to the fact that I was also in a storage until you stepped into the vault means I'm in peak condition."
"Sith Alchemy?" Harry asked intrigued at the notion of the most advanced transfiguration form on Earth.
"It is outside of my programming." the droid replied in it's metal voice "But the data storage there has sufficient information on the subject."
"Then we should take it with us." Harry said glancing at the tetrahedron form of the Sith device.
"Are you sure Harry? Sith artifacts can corrupt the minds of their user." Shaak said warily looking at the holocron.
"I think we will have the strength to stop before too late." Harry said.
"Should we even be tempted by it." Aayla said.
"They always tempt us." Shaak replied, frowning at the lack of concern shown by the younger Jedi knight.
"There won't be a problem. Not if we can destroy it before anything happens." Aayla shrugged. Harry's comlink chipped at the moment.
"Boss this is Rex. A Venator just dropped out of hyperspace and we got three Sentinel and a squadrom of Vs coming." Rex's voice was collected a testament to his training and experience.
"Girls lets move! We got company!" Harry said as grabbed the Sith holocron and tossed it into the bag on Ahsoka's shoulder. With little to no care for M2-S3's protest for the theft they ran out of the Vault straight to the turbolift.
Rex turned the comlink off as he watched the Sentinel and it's guards approach on the sensor. He could make out the insigma of the 501th Battalion. So, he will have to fight against his own men. Just what he wanted!
He quickly made his way to his cabin getting his phase II clone armor on. He slid the two hand blasters in their holster and grabbed his DC-15S blaster. While he preferred the pistols their short range would be quite the hindrance for him in this situation. Taking several grenade with him he gone down to the cargo hold.
With little to no options he opened the hold's door and crouched down behind one of the crates in the front. He could see the first squad coming up the ramp, slowly, gun-stock to the shoulder. Three at the center, the first a bit more forward and two other at the sides. Then the second half, four forming a half circle as they made their way after their comrades. The YU-410 had a fairly large cargo bay for it's size and Rex wanted to capitalze on that.
The first shot got the sergeant of the squad on the neck, the weakest link in the armor's design. But the clone troopers were trained well. The first four returned the fire while the three other carried the sergeant behind one of the crates on the side. The last one also went with them but he radiod in, requesting back-up. Rex couldn't help but feel strangely pleased with their cautation as he defilade behind the crate again. Even with an entire squad against him they felt the need for aid.
Nearly immediately he sprung up and started to fall back to the next crate. He got one of them in the shoulder forcing him to drob the blaster in his hand. The next wasn't that lucky: he was hit in the stomach, then as he started to fall Rex shot him again this time on the chest area. This was when the two who carried the sergeant off joined the lone survivor from the first wave.
The combined fire power had Rex on the defensive for a little while. That was when the three changed tactic. Two, presumedly those who got there later started to move to the side, trying to flank Rex. It was a good plan. The only problem was that Rex was experienced thus expected it and had time to set some trap onboard. The exploison caught the clone on his right side in the back. Rex didn't need to look. The clone's back was most likely ripped open by the blast. He just prayed that Harry could restrain General Secura from killing for getting scarps on her new Z-95 'headhunter'. That Jedi was worse than Ahsoka when it came to her ships and that was saying something!
His thoughts were interrupted by the clone closing in on his left. He quickly disregarded the blaster and fired off two barrage of plasma from his hand-blasters. He was just quick enough: the clone's shoot was only inches away from his head. His however was spot on. The first four got him in the chest and got three other in his face. The last one started to back off realising that whoever was behind the clone armor was good enough to be one of them. Rex's concern wasn't him. As the lone clone hide where his sergeant and com officer were four figure came up the ramp. They were running, instead of cautiously walking up firing at Rex's shelter. The clone commander murmured a series of curses so long and bad, it would make even the worst pirate in the Outer-Rim impressed.
This four was also an entire squad. While regular clones operated in squads of nine led by a sergeant, the special forces did in four men cells. It was said that one squad of clone commando would equal a platoon of regular clone soldiers. What made matters worse was that Rex could recognise them. They were the first squad in the Torrent Company, which Rex led since it's foundation till he deserted.
"Captain Appo." he greeted his former comrade as he leaned over to fire at the man going to the right, Attie.
"It's commander now, Rex." Appo's deep baritone filled the cargo bay as they returned his fire.
"That's commander Rex?!" came the surprised shout from the clone trooper, either the com officer or the corporal "What the... fuck!" as the signature sound of metal hitting flesh came from there.
"Shut the fuck up! He was declared traitor and lost all his titles! Got that?!" Rex shook his head. Boro was as aggressive as ever.
"But he is..." there came the next slap.
"The next one will be a blast to the head!" growled Boro out.
"It seems that you enjoy smacking your subordinates down, Boro." Rex called out even as he fired at the three other member of the squad.
"He needs to learn his place!" Boro shouted "just as you! Traitor!"
"What would you have me do, Boro?" Rex asked back, as all of them ceased shooting "Should I just hand the Little One over to the Empire?!" all of the clones fallen silent as they remembered their petite Togruta commander.
"She would serve Lord Vader." Appo said at last. Rex actually snorted at that.
"Yeah, sure. You believe that as much as I do. If she wanted to do that she would already be at his side."
"It doesn't matter..." Boro was interrupted by the corporal.
"Commander Rex! Please, sir reconsider it! If you surrender I'm sure that Lord Vader would..." his plea was cut short by a shot of Boro.
"Enough of that." the clone commando said "We have our orders. Today clone trooper, CT-7567 will die by the finest of the Torrent Company."
Rex could hardly believe what he witnessed. There were public execution among the clones, but only after being brought before the court-martial. Of course never released to the media. The political backlash would be catastrophic after all. But even the most disfunctional clones were better than this. Clones only killed one of their own on direct command and sometimes even that was questioned.
He couldn't really digest it as the 'finest of the Torrent Company' started to advance. Rex was forced to retreat as his former comrades made their way from behind one crate to the other one at a time while the other three covered for him.
He got lucky. It had nothing to do with skills or experience. While he fall back again, to the last crate before the door leading to the other areas of the ship he let loose of another barrage of blaster fire. He caught the right leg of the one on his right side. Time seemed to still in that moment. All of them watched as the trooper fall and with a loud thumb landed on the hangar's floor. Rex quickly shoot him in the chest again silencing him forever.
Rex knew that the hard part was starting from here on. After he took out one of their member Appo and the other two will be on the edge. There was only one advantage in Rex's hand: he could use the ships' inner sensors while his pursuers couldn't.
His pursuers parted as they got behind the door. Appo went to the cock-pit, Boro to the other cargo bay while Nax went to the residential area. Rex himself was in one of the hidden compartment. When Nax made his way into the first cabin, Rex's own he quickly made his way behind him. Nax turned around just as Rex came near for his vibroblade to strike. Nax stepped back and raised his blaster but nefore he could fire it off Rex quickly kicked it out of his hands. Nax was quick to draw his own vibroknife. Rex didn't wasted time. Close quarter fights were no place to hesitation. Nax, or rather Nax Jr., was an enemy even if he reminded him much of his close friend. The two circled eachother, stabbing and slashing at the other. Rex went for a quick stab but Nax leant to the side as he counter-striked his former superior. Rex played hesitance as he staggered back drawing the clone in. Before Nax could do anything Rex striked out like a snake, stabbing him in the heart.
Looking at the holo projector on his wrist he could see that Appo was near the cock-pit and Boro was still in the cargo-bay, searching it troughly out. His next target was Boro. He was hotheaded and the easier one to deal with in all accounts.
Boro was still there, with his back turned to the doors, as he slid in seemingly content to wait for him.
"Which one did you kill? Let me guess it was Nax, wasn't it?" he asked as Rex walked towards him.
"Does it really matter to you?" he asked back causing Boro to shrug.
"No, not really." he admitted. "To be honest, I won't regret killing you." he confessed.
"Yes, I was able to see that from earlier." Rex snorted.
"I am one of the best in short distance firing in the regiment. Do you stand a chance against me?" he arogantly asked out, his hand resting on his pistol holster.
"And I was the best if you remember." Rex reminded him.
Boro, lighting fast, turned while getting the pistol out than fired. Rex rolled to the side, leaving a present to the other to face. The flashbang went off in the next moment. Rex was prepared and closed his eyes, but his ears still rang. Boro was blind and deaf. He didn't even see the blasts that killed him.
That was when Appo rushed in the door, Rex used not too long ago, holding his DC-15S at the ready. He didn't say a word on seeing one of his subordinates dead, nor to Rex himself and opened fire on the kneeling form of his predecessor. Rex returned the fire running towards his opponent. His two trusted handblasters made their job. The first burst caught Appo in the shoulder the next plowed through his chest piece. Only after his opponent went down did he notice his two wound. Appo's first shot grazed his leg, but it was swallow at worst. Perhaps that's why Appo didn't fire as soon after it: he thought Rex wouldn't be able to move as fast with a leg wound and he surprised him enough to put an end for him. But even with the suprise Appo was good enough to shoot him in the left shoulder, more than likely aiming for his heart. He tried at it and had to bit back the painful groan. He won't be able to use his left arm to it's fullest for at least two weeks.
As he made his way to the cock-pit, he started to plan his next move. He was sure that if the first squadron of the Torrent Company was there then General Skywalker... Darth Vader was there as well. He still had a hard time to adjust to this. He showed the thought to the side for now. The others were in danger and he will have time to think about it. Now came the the hard decision. With his wounds and Vader being here he would be no help on the ground at best and liability at worst. The only route was to flew the Traveler up and extricate the group from the top of that temple-palace-thing. The problem was that he wasn't sure if their shield could take the combined fire of a squadron of V-wings while he couldn't fire back. Sitting in the pilot seat his answer came in the form of Maris and Shaak 'dancing' their way to the Traveler, cutting down every clone trying to stop them. In two short minutes the girls stood in the entrance of the cock-pit.
"Rex, we need to fly to the top now! I will pilot the ship while..."
"No can do, General. I got hit in the shoulder. Quick movements are impossible for now." Rex interrupted her.
"Fine, then me and Maris will take care of the fighters."
When the group of five arrived at the peak of the palace Harry was a bit surprised. The building was huge by Harry's standard, but he wasn't prepared for the sanctuary of Muur to be this large. The chamber was nearly as large as the cargo bay of the Traveler. It was nearly identical to the audience chamber in the hearth of the palace. Over looking the lack of table and the raised platform for the throne and the large terrace looking over the valley there was one very outstanding difference: a black coffin in the right corner.
They had little time for looking around and honestly there was few things in the room to begin with. The metal casket was nearly two and half meter long with a square base. On the front it was straight up two foot then gently curved to its end where it was easily a meter in height.
"What could this be?" Harry asked the girls.
"It is obviously somekind of coffin or casket, but I do not know it's purpose." Shaak said.
"Should we open it up?" Ahsoka asked.
"What if there is a Sith Lord in there?" Aayla questioned.
"We don't know that!" Ahsoka argued.
"Well, what else could there be?" Maris asked stepping away from it.
"I don't know but nothing says that it must be a Sith in there!" Ahsoka replied.
"Hey, girls! There is something here!" Harry shouted as he looked at the side of the throne's platform towards the black machine. The girls stepped beside him and looked at the fist sized orb on it.
"I don't know." Shaak and Maris said at once, but both Ahsoka and Aayla looked at it with furrowed brows.
"I feel like I had seen something like that somewhere, but I don't know where." Aayla said.
"It looks like the messenger droids, but it's a bit smaller than normal and I don't see any repulsor for it to move with." Ahsoka opined with her hand on her chin.
"Maybe a predecessor?" Aayla guessed back.
"Only one way to find out." Ahsoka said as she lifted in his hand. Before the girls and Harry could start to berate her for her impulsiveness a little holovideo started to play out. It only showed a young man, maybe Ahsoka's age with lightly curling, brown hair and brown eyes.
"If you hear this Stranger, than my mission to help Jedi Knight Celeste Morne failed. I'm Zayne Carrick Jedi Padawan, falsely accused of killing my fellow Padawans. The truth is that a group of Jedi Master comited the atrocity. I do not know why they did that on that day, but it matters little in the current situation. I don't have time to tell you all which lead to this. Celeste Morne is in the casket behind me. The Muur Talisman, a fearsome Sith artifact attached itself to her when she saved me from it. To protect us and herself from it we locked her away in this Sith device. It's a torture device, but it also keep the body intact. I beg of you, free her of it's influence. May the Force be with you, Stranger!"
"Well, that was interesting." Harry said as the holovideo ended "Your thoughts?"
"We should help her!" Ahsoka immediately declared.
"It's not so simple Ahsoka." Shaak replied softly.
"What do you mean, Master?" Maris asked.
"She was under the artifact influence since at least a thousand years." Aayla replied "It would take an exceptionally strong mind not to succumb to the amulet."
"Even if this is the case we can only get the talisman if we open the casket." Harry replied back as they moved to the device "And we should at least make sure that this Celeste Morne have a clean death."
"I don't want to push anyone, but the Sentinels will land shortly. I can see them." Ahsoka informed them as she looked out from the balcony, pointing to the rapidly approaching shapes on the sky.
"Then we don't really have a choice, do we?" Harry asked as he pushed in the opening button.
The casket top lifted up revealing the woman inside. She was beautiful, as all Jedi Harry had the fortune to meet. She was human with a body closely resembling Aayla's in it's form. Her textile clamp, ebony hair reached the small of her back if not lower. She wore light armor with shoulder plates, fingerless gloves going till her upper arm. Her chest piece left her rift bare. Her pants also bore several plate of armor on the side of her thighs.
Her eyes flashed open and all of them stepped back in fright. Her eyes were flame like, filled with anger and fear. They were lucky as where Harry and Aayla stood only a moment ago a blue lightsaber's blade sweep through.
"She is possessed by the amulet!" Shaak shouted as their lightsabers were ignited.
Celeste quickly rolled out her prison for the last thousand years and rushed at the nearest opponent, Shaak. Thankfully the Togruta Jedi Master was seasoned enough that she didn't froze as Maris did, whom Ahsoka dragged back several paces from the enraged Jedi. Aayla and Harry jumped in the fray.
Celeste trust her blade at Shaak who gracefully twirled out of the way, but didn't used her momentum to kill the other woman. She studied her opponent, who was distracted by the arrival of Harry and Aayla . The Twi'lek slashed at her with both sabers, but Celeste ducked under the two blades and Force pushed the advancing Harry away. The only male in the room could feel his breath being stolen away as he flew across half the room to land heavily on his back.
Satisfied that she took out one of her assailants for the moment Celeste turned to the Shaak-Aayla duo. Aayla was the first to attack being angry even if Harry quickly got on his feet. Celeste utilized that her eyes flashed towards Harry's form for a second. If not for Shaak quick save Aayla would at least lost one of her arm, possibly her head by Celeste's slash.
That was when the two younger girls joined them. With Ahsoka and Maris, they started to keep Celeste on the defensive.
"Master she..." Maris said to Shaak, who nodded back.
"Yes, I know. She fight against the talisman."
"Master, we will need to help Rex." Ahsoka shouted over as she battled Celeste just as she twirled out of the way and kicked her in the side.
That was the moment when the side of the chamber opened up revealing a staircase. And two squadron of clone troopers. The next moment the turbolift also opened letting out a squad of them.
"Drop the your weap... arrgh!" the clone couldn't finish his order as let out a scream of pain filling up the chamber with it's sound . Harry could hear it: the bones as they broke then reformed, the skin being ripped open as the muscle grew. The phase II armor fallen of as the muscle snapped the band holding it together. Only a few moment passed but in the place of the soldier stood a monster. Larger than most human, it was a hulking mass of muscle, razor sharp teeth and claws. It's hideous head looked at the Jedi. It' eyes socket disappeared, but it's nose became huge and had two holes on it's snout. Looking around Harry could see two things. One, all of the clones were in similar state. And two: Celeste and more importantly the Muur Talisman obviously had something to do with it. The Talisman glowed and Celeste arm was outstreched towards the monsters.
"Now, we know what the tale meant by 'raising and controlling' an army." Harry said as the course of battle turned against them. The mutants jumped on them or rushed at them straight. Thankfully they behaved no better than any animal or even less. They charged blindly at you making it easy to roll out, jump back or merely just step back from their way. The problem was that they were fast, powerful and though as nails. Celeste herself seemed content to step back and watch their fight with the beasts. Harry bisected the second mutant charging at him, the first being beheaded, then stabbed down the one who nearly slashed open Ahsoka's back.
"Vader! He is here, on the planet!" Ahsoka whispered. Harry felt his eyes widen. They weren't really prepared to fight with the second most dangerous man in the galaxy. He quickly came up something resembling a plan.
"Maris! Shaak! Go down the stairs and help Rex then get the Traveler up and pick us up on the balcony!" Harry roared to the girls closest to the stairs.
"Are you sure?" Shaak asked back. Harry turned and stabbed another monster attacking from behind as he roared back.
"Yes! We can take care of this. Go!"
Maris and Shaak jumped towards the stairs immediately. The three monster jumping up to intecept them were hurled to the side by Aayla as Ahsoka got in the way the four other running after them.
"Why would they take the stairs and not the turbolift?" the Togruta girl asked the man in charge.
"Vader will most likely will use that." Aayla replied as she slashed at two monster cutting off one's arm and the other's head "And hopefully they can jump down somewhere along the way so it will be easier for them to reach the Traveler." she stabbed another beast then did a backward somersault over the back of another one.
That was when the turbolift again opened up. There stood a giant clad in midnight black armor. Harry heard his companions tales about the man, once known as Anakin Skywalker. This man was imposing even with only standing there silent. Indeed, he was perhaps even more imposing than others as he just watched them. Harry, Aayla and Ahsoka jumped back to near the throne. Celeste actually did the same as the remaining monsters, one and half dozen, formed a protective circle around her. Harry could feel Darth Vader clearly in the Force and couldn't believe they didn't feel him just when he was that near to them. The Dark Lord was a storm in the Force, the Drak Side twirling around him. He was full of anger and hate.
There was movements on the stairs as a full platoon emerged again. The captain leading them saluted to the Dark Lord.
"Sir, two Jedi got away. They jumped through a hole, they cut in the outer wall."
The Sith Lord said nothing to the capitain just stepped forward.
"Ahsoka. Finally we meet again, my apprentice." his deep voice reverberated in the chamber.
"I'm not your apprentice anymore!" Ahsoka shouted at him. Vader wasn't offended.
"True. But now without the Jedi I can teach. Teach you the power of the Dark Side."
"I will never join you!" the Togruta girl seemed to lose her cool until Aayla laid his hand on her shoulder "Padme would never forgive you." she hissed to her former master.
The change in the Sith Lord was stiffened, the storm of anger and hate inside increasing and being joined by the sense of betrayal. For a moment he only loomed like a dark giant waiting to tear into his preys then turned to Celeste.
"Celeste Morne you will come with us."
The only respons was Celeste raising her arm, amulet shining on her neck as she turned five more clone into monsters. The fight started anew at once. Vader made a straight line to Morne while his reunite was busy fighting back the beast unleashed at them and firing on Aayla, Harry and Ahsoka. Vader was slow but steady, the beasts were flung aside. Celeste herself clashed with him. She was hard pressed, the Sith Lord's strenght was immense. She blucked under the pressure. Vader changed to one-hand grip and pointed his palm towards her. The Force push flew her next to the throne. Vader advanced again on her, but Harry got in his way. He slowed down the Sith Lord as they slashed and stabbed at each other. Harry had no hope to defeat the Sith Lord in lightsaber duel so he changed tactic. He jumped back and laid his hand on the floor. Just as on Trogan he tranmutated the floor raising spikes of stone at the Dark Lord. But Vader was prepared for them. He used kinetite, a sphere of restrained kinetic energy, to shatter the spikes. The distraction was enough for Celeste to make her move. She used all her power to Force Throw Vader across the chamber. Harry turned to thank the woman but was silenced by what happened next.
The Muur Talisman detached itself from Celeste neck and flew to Harry attaching itself to his forearm. The last he heard was Aayla's scream of terror and Celeste slumbing form.
Character info:
Harry Potter: Human. Wizard. Age: 28 (standard year) Main weapons: ?
Ripped out of his homeworld, he wants to start a new life in a galaxy alien to him. He is a fugitive accompanying Jedi knight Aayla Secura.
Aayla Secura: Twi'lek. Jedi knight. Age: 27 (standard year) Main weapon: lightsabers (Jar kai and Niman specialization), Force
One of the most promising member of the Jedi Order. Her headstrong and independent way caused great concern from some members of the High Council. Her main objetive is staying alive in the galaxy ruled by two Sith Lords while being hunted down as an enemy of the state.
Shaak Ti: Togruta. Jedi Master. Age 38(standard year) Main weapon: lightsaber (master Makashi and group specialization), Force
One of the twelve Jedi Masters who sits on the High Council to decide the fate of the Jedi Order. Famed for being one of the most serene and understanding Jedi Master, she is respected both within and outside the Order.
Maris Brood: Zabrak. Jedi Padawan. Age: 17 (standard year) Main weapon: lightsaber (Soresu and jar Kai specialization), Force
As a young padawan Maris Brood doesn't have much experience outside the Jedi Temple. Her master death also made the shy girl even more withdrawn. After the betrayal she only believe in the other Jedi and suspicious of everyone else.
Ahsoka Tano: Togruta. Jedi Padawan. Age: 20(standard year) Main weapon: lightsaber (Ataru specialization), Force
The former padawan of Anakin Skywalker was sel-exiled from the Jedi Order, being the twenty-first to do so in the Order's recent history. She was considered a very promising if more than little headstrong as an initiate, leading the Jedi High Council to believe, on Master Kenobi advice, that she would be perfect padawan to the Chosen one.
CT-7567/Rex: former commander in the Grand Army. Age: 32(standard year/appearance) Main weapon: dual DC-17 hand blasters
One of the few irregular clones, CT-7567 went trough special training on Kamino, becoming one of the best of the clones of jango Fett. The former commanding officer of the 501st regiment and the Torrent Company. He aided his Jedi general, Anakin Skywalker, helping him with battle plans and commanding the regiment when it's general went on one of his suicide mission.
Jagged Fel: Human. Royal Guard captain. Age: 22 (standard year) Main weapon: vibroblade, heavy blaster
The youngest captain of the Red Guard then the Royal Guard. He was considered talented even among the guards in flying, martia-arts, tactics and strategy. The rumours spreading among the military him being Palpatine's nephew disturbed various imperial officials in their political manuevering.
