Chapter 10
They didn't not slow their run as the two Mandalorians, briefly suppressed by the North, came out of cover to fire. Kai-Kwon's blue blade was lit and deflecting bolts in the same movement. Akaavi left the cover of the light show in front of her to throw her vibrostaff like a javelin at the helmeted head of the green armored Mando to her left. The seven foot harmonically vibrating staff hit the smaller Mandalorian with enough force to crumple him against the back wall of the corridor. A second later Kai-Kwon had gotten close to slice through the DC-14 blaster of the gray armored Mando while slamming his head into the wall with his free hand. As they moved further down another pair of Mandos entered from the far end but were quickly blown backwards and upwards as the Jedi released a torrent of Force energy down the corridor.
Down below the Convors were given the cover they needed to disembark by a free firing Corso in the bottom turret. They split into a team of two and a team of three before heading in different directions, each with a bag of thermal detonators.
Up above on the top story Akaavi led them right to the base's CIC. It was clear from the light numbers there that the diversion on the bottom floor was working. Akaavi announced their arrival with a blaster shot from her sidearm into the head of a Mandalorian watching the firefight in the holding cells area on a vid screen.
The Mandos, as ever, wasted little time wondering what had happened to their comrade and qickly turned and began firing at the only place the shot could've emanated from given the movement of their recently deceased fellow. They would've been quick enough to hit almost anyone else.
Kai-Kwon vaulted into the middle of the CIC and landed right in the middle of the three defenders, his free hand sending the Force into the floor. He watched it reverberate around him, knocking two of Mandos back across consoles and tables in opposite direction. The nearest man fared far worse, as he went straight up into the ceiling and made the telltale sound of a breaking neck.
It was the kind of timing only the Force could arrange. As soon as Kai-Kwon stood up the lift was announcing its arrival. The doors opened and Artus Lok immediately recognized danger. He raised his blaster as he stepped out only to watch the barrel melt away in a blue flash. Before he could react another blue flash materialized into a burning blade just below his chin. The smell of superheated ozone singed his nostrils and he followed the blade to the tall long-haired Jedi who handled it from beside the lift.
"Tell them to throw out their blasters and come out with their hands up" Kai-Kwon spoke slowly.
Artus looked him over and Kai-Kwon could tell he was mulling over whether to tell his men in the elevator to shoot the prisoners. But after another moment he deflated. "Do what he says".
A second later two deeces came flying out and clattered on the grated floor. The blasters were followed a moment later by two well armored and red caped Mandos.
"Get 'em out" Kai-Kwon said a bit louder and Akaavi came out from behind the other side of the lift doors. The Jedi could see the regret in the face of the big dark skinned Mandalorian. He knew now he should've fought.
Akaavi came out leading a bruised, battered, but smiling Kira and a bruised, battered, and sneering Taneer T'Laht.
Kai-Kwon brought up his wrist comm. "Azi, call them back. Once they are on board start the climb".
"You got it cap". She knew better than to ask for details before the OP was finished.
Akaavi let the pair out of their stun cuffs and transferred them to Lok's bodyguards. Coming up behind Lok she grabbed his arms roughly. "Give 'em to me or I'll break 'em".
The Mandalore acquiesced but never took his eyes off Kai-Kwon. "You gonna let her do this Jedi?"
The question caught him offguard but he tried not to show it. He didn't want to admit he didn't know what he was talking about but before he could say anything Akaavi kicked him in the back of the knees and Kai-Kwon had to disengage his light saber to keep from shaving off the front half of the man's head. She continued down the line kicking the other two Mandos in the same fashion until all three were on their knees in front of the lift.
"Akaavi what are you doing?" he asked as the floor shook beneath them. The Convors had detonated their explosives to cover their retreat back to the True North.
"Akaavi?" he asked again.
"What do you think I'm doing? This dikut killed my Clan mother. Nearly wiped out my entire clan." She spat on the ground in front of him as she circled the trio like a nexu circling an injured bantha.
"And they'll pay…on Coruscant".
"I'll not have him live out his days playing dejarik in some Republic facility".
"Akaavi you're with the Republic now".
"that's where you're wrong Jedi. The Republic is with Mandalore now" she said with a sneer and pulled her sidearm again, needlessly checking the power cell in order to build up the anticipatory fear.
Kai-Kwon looked to Lok. "Go on boy. You'd have to kill her to stop her and we both know you're not gonna do that…so let's not waste any more time".
Kira began pulling him away. Akaavi looked to the emaciated Dornean still behind her. "You want to help me with this?"
Taneer hesistated only briefly before picking up one of the DC-14's on the ground.
"Taneer" Kai-Kwon said.
"Think about it Deo. We let this poodoo live and he escapes? Mandalorians will be too busy fighting each other to help us end this war" Taneer managed to answer without ever looking at his friend.
"It's not the Jedi way" was all he could think to say.
Now the green-skinned alien did look his friend in the eye. "I'm not a Jedi Kai…and you don't know what we've been through".
He finally looked to Kira but she wouldn't meet his gaze. The comm on his wrist broke through the unspoken pain and shame. "They're onboard and we're headed to you".
Kira began to pull him away again.
"Put my bucket on would ya?" he heard Lok ask behind him.
He watched Akaavi bend over to grab the red and gold helmet on the floor. In the corridor they heard three blaster shots. The pair of Jedi got back out onto the hangar catwalk as an open lift full of Mandos moved between the fourth and top rings of the hollowed out volcanic hangar.
One arm around Kira he began deflecting bolts from below with the other as they moved out onto the loading platform. Return fire came from behind them as Taneer joined them. The lift stopped off to their left as the North rose up below them.
"Can you jump?" he asked Kira, tucked into the crook of his arm. She nodded and the three fell twenty meters onto the top of the freighter. They heard a pounding to the right and looked to see Corso in the top bubble turret. He pointed to the maintenance hatch and shot them a thumbs up before opening up on the edge of the platform the Mando team was just starting to peek out from.
As Kai-Kwon guided Kira and then Taneer into the hatch he heard Akaavi's voice come over the hangar PA. She was speaking Mandalorian but Kai-Kwon had learned enough to know she was telling the survivors there was a new Mand'alor.