And so we begin the next chapter. This next one will contain a bit more action this time around, and will also begin yet another big change for the story and the multiverse as a whole. With that said, let's dive right in.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, Halo, Bionicle, Mass Effect or anything else that appears in this story.
The holographic feed of the Coruscant raid cut out, leaving the command center in silence for a moment. The news of the criminal raid hadn't reached the Republic fast enough to stop it, and all they could do was watch the aftermath.
"This has to end." Mata Nui turned to the head of their intelligence branch. "Do we have any leads on where their forces could be?"
"We may have caught a break." The director responded. "We have received a coded message that should allow us to track Omega, at the very least."
"Are we sure we can trust them?" Ackar asked. "This could very well be a trap."
"We've checked the message thoroughly and done some preliminary reconnaissance." The Director replied. "It checks out."
"I shall prepare a fleet to respond." Thrawn interjected. "If this is true, then we cannot pass this opportunity up."
"There's one other thing." The Intelligence head said, causing a few looks of confusion.
"What is it?"
"They're apparently asking for... Thor Odinson to be part of the attack."
...
The forces of the Shadow Collective and Banished returned from their Coruscant raid triumphant, meeting up at their rendezvous point in deep space. Gathered in the darkness was a substantial fleet of Banished and Shadow Collective vessels, with Omega and the Enduring Conviction dwarfing all the rest.
Inside the former capital of the Terminus Systems, Darth Maul returned to the main bridge of the station, with Atriox trailing behind him. The two then entered their private conference room where the Shadowed One and several of the Shadow Collective's major officials were waiting. The conference room door closed before Atriox spoke up.
"That was mistake."
"What are you talking about?" Maul laughed. "We brought the capital of the Galactic Alliance to its knees. I'd say that mission was a resounding success."
"And it will only cause the Republic and First Order to increase their efforts to take us down!" Atriox snapped. "All that accomplished was painting an even larger target on our heads."
"You were the one who went along with it." The Shadowed One pointed out, drawing a growl from the Banished warmaster.
"I was willing to raid the planet, not set it on fire like that!" The Brute countered, slamming a gauntleted fist on the table. "That was going too far."
"You do have a point." The Shadowed One turned his gaze to the Sith Lord. "I have been wondering if your newfound state has affected your mind."
"Are you questioning me?" Maul's eyes narrowed, sending a glare that would've chilled a lesser being. The Shadowed One was less than impressed.
"Yes, I am."
"And so am I." Atriox crossed his arms. "We are not your subordinates, Maul. Don't forget that."
"Then perhaps," Maul took a deep breath. "we should all take a step back and calm ourselves."
"I'm afraid that there is some other news to attend to." Rook Kast stepped out from the corner, drawing all eyes on her. "We have noted some strange behavior from Vestara Khai."
...
"Are you sure they got the message?" Vestara asked, scanning the area with the Force. "I'm pretty sure they're going to notice this time."
"It has been sent." Kilo responded. "With any luck, they'll be on their way. In the meantime, we just have to be patient."
"Right, patience." Vestara muttered. "That said, it might be a good idea to avoid the scene of the crime."
The two of them quietly made their way out of the communications room, with Kilo disguising himself as a Blue Suns guard. They were making their way through the building, exiting the front door only for a dozen Mandalorians to immediately land in front of them. Seconds later, half a dozen Jump Pack Brutes did the same.
Weapons were drawn as the two of them were encircled, cutting off any chance of escape. And from the shadows of an alleyway, Darth Maul walked out, followed slightly behind by Atriox.
"Hello Vestara." Maul growled. "It seems you've been keeping secrets from me."
"What are you talking about?" She replied. "I only-"
"Don't bother." Atriox snapped. "We know what you have been doing."
"We offer you a place at our side and you sabotage us at every turn." Maul gripped the Keshiri Sith in a Force Choke, leaving her gasping for air as she was lifted off the ground. "Such a disappointment. I may have even offered you a chance to become my apprentice."
"Excuse me." All eyes turned to Kilo as he spoke up. "Um, I know this is supposed to be an intimidation tactic, but you might want to consider all possible options. She's certainly more valuable to you alive."
"You're her co-conspirator?" Atriox asked, but Maul just snorted.
"If you insist." He looked at the Mandalorians. "Kill him."
The response was immediate, as blaster fire lit up the circle. But to their surprise, the energy bolts passed right through Kilo's body. The illusion vanished, and Kilo reappeared behind Maul to punch him in the back of the head.
The Sith went down, dropping Vestara in the process, before anyone could comprehend what had happened. Atriox was the quickest to react, but he was still to slow. As he raised his mace, Kilo hurled a knife into his knee, causing the Banished chieftain to stumble.
As his momentum carried him forward, Kilo wrenched the Brute's mace from his hand and hurled him at the guards, knocking several Mandalorians down. A follow up shockwave from Chainbreaker knocked the rest of them down.
"I believe that's our cue to go." Vestara didn't need to be told twice and the two traitors made their way through a dark alley just as the leaders recovered.
"Do not let them escape!" Maul shouted, as more Mandalorians took off in pursuit. Meanwhile, Atriox turned to the leader of the Shadow Collective.
"It's probable that our location has been compromised." The Brute said. "Our best option is to scatter our forces before the First Order or Republic show up."
"You wish to run?" Maul snarled. "Are you really so afraid?"
"I will do what I must for the Banished." Atriox replied. "And I'd rather be cautious than be wrong. I suggest you consider doing the same."
"Do what you will then." The Sith snapped. "My guards will not hinder you."
With a final glare between them, Atriox turned and left, leaving Maul alone in the middle of Omega.
...
Elsewhere, the search continued for Vestara and Kilo as it seemed the entire station of Omega was put on high alert. Two Eclipse troopers, one an Asari, and the other a male Salarian made their way past a throng of Zann Consortium soldiers as the search continued. Once the two soldiers were out of earshot, the Salarian spoke up.
"You know it would've been really nice to know you could do this before now." The distinctly female voice coming from the Salarian would've been off putting to anyone listening.
"You never asked." The undeniably male voice from the asari was even more off putting. "We'd better avoid attracting attention though."
Vestara was about to reply when her danger sense spiked. She Force pushed Kilo and then leapt to the side, but wasn't fast enough to avoid the knife that buried itself in her shoulder. Grimacing, Vestara tried to pull the knife free, but the handle broke off, leaving the blade stuck in her.
"I must say, I really liked the design of your people's shikkars." A female voice appeared from above them. "So I had a few made for myself." Lariska dropped down to the ground, barely making a whisper as she landed. "I am impressed. Force users have some interesting abilities to account for." Vestara hurled a bolt of Force Lightning at the Dark Hunter, who casually flipped aside to avoid it, then hurled another knife into her hand. "Still, I was hoping for more of a challenge."
"Perhaps I can assist then." Lariska turned to Kilo, who had already dropped the illusion around himself. "If you really want a challenge."
Saying nothing else, Lariska hurled multiple knives, but Kilo dodged them with ease, and retaliated by throwing a number of his own. One managed to find its mark, impacting and getting stuck in the Dark Hunter's arm. Lariska dispassionately pulled it out of her mechanical arm and flexed her fingers to ensure it was working properly, while simultaneously flipping to avoid another dagger from Kilo.
"What are you, anyway?" She casually asked, hurling yet another knife which was avoided once more. "You look human, but no species on record has shown the abilities you have."
"You won't find me on any of your records." Kilo replied. "I must say though, I am impressed."
"By my fighting skills, I assume?"
"Hardly." Kilo chuckled. "How you're attempting to stall for time and keep my attention." The odd soldier spun around and hurled yet another knife into a shadowy alleyway, which directly landed on Sentrakh's Rhotuka launcher.
Lariska tried to capitalize on his distraction by closing the gap, but Kilo turned in time to catch the Dark Hunter by the throat. But she still had a knife in hand and stabbed it in Kilo's chest... only for the blade to bounce right off his clothes and skin.
Before she could utter anything else, Kilo slammed her into the ground, leaving a small crater from the impact and knocking her out. That victory was short lived when a wall of crystalline Protodermis blocked the path forward, as the Shadowed One emerged from a side alley.
"Very impressive." The Shadowed One said. "You defeated one of my best Dark Hunters." He looked towards Vestara as she was starting to rise to her feet. "And all without help from that Sith girl."
A couple dozen soldiers began filing into the street from inside the buildings, a motley collection of mercenaries, pirates and all around scum surrounding the two traitors. Four Mandalorians also flew down from the sky as Darth Maul made his way through the crowd, his eyes settling on Kilo and Vestara.
"Vestara certainly didn't get this far without help." Maul's eyes narrowed. "So you have been the mastermind behind the most recent acts of sabotage."
"Guilty as charged." Kilo grinned in spite of everything. "I must say, it took you longer than I expected to figure it out."
"How the hell are you so calm about this?" Vestara hissed, bringing a chuckle from Kilo.
"Because Lariska wasn't the only one stalling for time."
A beam of rainbow light punched a hole through Omega itself, coming from the depths of space. Its impact point was in the center of the manufacturing district, surrounded by hundreds of soldiers.
Maul and the Shadowed One turned toward the beam in confusion, as the Sith Lord ordered his soldiers to explain what was happening. One of the Death Watch soldiers brought up a holocam image of the event, leaving everyone to see what was happening.
"Oh, you're all in trouble now." Kilo smirked at the sight.
The beam soon shut off, having carved a pattern into the ground. And standing on that pattern was a bearded man with buzzcut of blonde hair, wearing black armor, a red cape and holding an axe in his hand.
Blue fire wafted off the axe as lightning began emerging from the God of Thunder. Ignoring the weapon fire that the Shadow Collective hit him with, Thor leapt into the air before bringing Stormbreaker down, wiping out a hundred soldiers and half a dozen vehicles with a shockwave of lightning.
The wave also knocked out any security cameras in the area, leaving a feed of static as all that Maul could see. Alarms went off all throughout Omega again, at a much higher pitch and frequency than they had been a moment ago.
Even from this distance, the sound of screams, explosions and buildings collapsing could be heard, along with massive electrical arcs that lit up the red ambiance of Omega. Maul turned to Kilo and Vestara, the former of whom still had a smirk on his face.
"What have you done?"
"Called for help. Honestly, I wasn't sure he was going to show up." Kilo admitted. "Apparently they did get my message."
The Shadowed One didn't bother to speak, and instead merely fired his disintegration eye beams at the two traitors. But it passed right through them once again, this time taking out a Mandalorian in the process.
"We'd love to stay and chat, but I believe you have bigger problems right now." Kilo continued. "Enjoy fighting the God of Thunder." And with that, the illusion of the two vanished, leaving the soldiers unsettled. Elsewhere, Vestara and Loki were approaching the main battleground, with Vestara having one question in her mind.
"What did you mean by the God of Thunder?"
"Exactly what it sounded like." Kilo replied, as the armor he was wearing suddenly became more regal, complete with a green cape. "I know him quite well to say it's the truth."
They reached a clearing where Thor was just finishing off the last of a platoon with Stormbreaker, leaving dozens of maimed bodies and wrecked vehicles on the ground as the axe returned to his hand.
"Wait, if he's the God of Thunder, then what does that make you?"
"The God of Mischief." Kilo replied, just as Thor finally caught sight of the two, his jaw all but hitting the floor. "Hello brother."
"Loki?" The smile on Kilo, no, Loki's face surprised Vestara, as did the sight of the God of Thunder rushing over and grabbing his apparent brother in a crushing hug, dropping Stormbreaker in the process.
"I thought you dead." Thor said, finally allowing Loki to breathe. "... again."
"In this case, I'm pretty sure I was dead." Loki looked over his brother's cybernetic eye and new weapon. "I gather that quite a bit has happened in my absence?"
"You could say that." Thor recalled his axe to his hand. "But what are you doing here?"
"It's a long story." Loki said, just as more guards began appearing and filing out of Omega's depths. A number of Banished soldiers were present in this wave, who hadn't left with Atriox when he evacuated. "But I'm glad you got my message."
"That was you?" Thor asked, as Vestara drew her lightsaber. "And let me guess; a friend of yours?"
"If you two are done with the reunion, maybe you can focus on this fight?" Vestara held her lightsaber in a combat position, not exactly willing to trust Loki's claim about his brother. "It's three of us against an army."
"Not quite." That was all Thor said before what he meant became clear.
An interdimensional portal opened behind Thor, as Republic forces began boarding the streets of Omega, and immediately began firing on the Shadow Collective forces. Similar portals opened up all over the station, while Republic ships began appearing in the depths of space around the Shadow Collective fleet.
"I brought reinforcements."
And that's the end of this chapter. I originally intended for it to be a bit longer, but I decided to cut it in half and let the actual battle between the Republic and the Shadow Collective take place in the next one. Which will hopefully be out sooner rather than later.
And yes, Kilo was Loki the whole time. Not that I was really subtle about it. Hell, the name 'Kilo' is an anagram for Loki, and the fake last name he had, 'Nosnido' is actually just Odinson spelled backwards.
Anyway, with that said, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and reviews are always welcome.