When David finally woke up, his master had already left. He sensed the Rangers' anxiety and he realized that the battle would soon be fought. As he walked out the chamber, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he noticed the great flurry of activity that stormed the entire city. Men and women, mostly dark-skinned humans, were consulting maps, testing weapons, charging blasters, and saddling varactyls.
"Pardon me, sir. 'Scuse me. Beg your pardon", he grunted as he walked through the crowd towards his master's presence. No time to think about Triona, the dark side, or anything that so disturbed him during the night, he reminded himself.
He found Na-Ka in an intense conversation with Kayos' right-hand man, the captain who had captured them in the wastes. The two of them were pointing at various regions of map, which was projected on a small holoscreen on one of the tables. Master Jima turned to his apprentice, "Hello, David. I'm glad you could make it. As you can see, we're making our preparations to set forth on the war path. Captain, could you explain our situation to the boy here?" The captain cleared his throat, "We've managed to place the alien base on the map", at this he put his finger on a square region of the map, "And we've managed to estimate about three thousand or so troops. It's a small garrison force, not meant for overrunning the entire planet, just to control the civilized parts."
David nodded, "And how many Rangers do we have?" "Five hundred, give or take fifty or so. We can't take them on the field." "So we need to divert them", David said thoughtfully. "Exactly, we need to break up that force by outwitting them." "But what about their sensors?" David objected, "they'll see any attack coming".
Master Jima jumped in, "Kayos has sent men to retrieve systems from our ship. The techs have already disassembled your friend's ship-" His apprentice interrupted him, alarmed, "But that'll strand her here!" "This scavenging was her idea, in fact", the captain reassured him, "we'll be able to hook up a jamming signal. We're sending the jammer along with some riders to the front of the fortress, and they will trample up dust to trick them into thinking it's a frontal assault" "What about that giant sandstone formation at the back?" "That's where we'll attack. And even that has a diversion."
"What would that be?" David asked curiously. "That would be us, David" Master Jima explained, "During my scouting, I found a cavern underneath the hill, and there we'll sneak in and surprise them. We'll hold their attention, then the Rangers will ride in from above. Classic maneuvering." The Jedi master turned to the captain, "You know, captain, Master Obi-wan Kenobi and I used the exact same strategy at Orto. I led a detachment from the rear, Kenobi led from the front, and Skywalker took out their air support. I remember how the droid forces had a new model of crab droid, the-"
Sensing another long war story, David slipped away from the table. He went for the second and brighter of the two familiar presences. He saw her in the darker part of the vast room, talking to some techs. She seemed confidant, fresh, and her work clothes hugged her body just so…He smiled at her, waving as he walked by. She waved and smiled back at him. He was so enthralled he didn't notice the varactyl until it ran him over.
He heard her laugh as he struggled to his feet. She walked up to him and helped him up. Her grip on his hands made David almost swoon, but he composed himself. "So," he tried saying casually, "you're sacrificing your ship to save these Rangers. You could have escaped." Triona shook her head, "David, I won't leave my friends to death. I owe them, and you so much". "You're the best, Triona", he replied, "I, well…I I-I-I-" His stutterings were cut off by horn blare. "All soldiers report to the assembly area!" a herald cried, "Men, to your stations!"
"Hope things go well. We'll see each other again, I promise", David said. "Goodbye, Jedi Knight. Please try to survive", she replied. Then, without warning, he took Triona in his arms. They embraced for the first time, an act more involuntary than anything. David had never felt so swept away by emotion, not even after all the promotions and battles and chases that riddled his life. Triona pressed into him, "I know what you're trying to say, but we'll talk about it after the battle". They broke off their embrace, looked into each others eyes and parted wordlessly. Sighing, David was too emotionally drained to notice his master's worried gaze.
The vast assembly area was soon filled by the Aquillian Rangers, who seemed to have come in force. All seemed to be attired in long cloaks, some white, others blue. The glittering horde stood at stiff attention as Kayos spoke from a podium. David, Na-Ka, and Triona had just missed his first statement.
"As for the attack, the high command and I", at this Kayos gestured at the tall soldiers that had been there at the meeting, "will lead the main assault. A diversionary force", he pointed at Triona and a few engineers and Rangers that stood at her side, "will keep their sensors scrambled and make them think that we'll attack from the front. A third prong, consisting of the two Jedi here, will create an additional distraction for the garrison by riding through the caves behind."
A ranger raised his hand, "Sir, reports indicate that the invaders number in the thousands while we are only but a few hundred. What if even the divided forces prove too numerous?" Kayos' expression turned grim, "If that happens, we must disperse across the wilderness. We do not have the defenses to halt them, even for a little while."
The truth sank in; the attack was the only hope for Aquilae. If it failed, the planet would fall. David's determination rose, he would do it for Aquilae, for the Rangers, for Triona, for all those besieged by the invaders. A scaly hand being placed on his arm snapped him back into reality. "How well do you ride?" Master Na-Ka asked him. "Good enough to fight." "Good. We'll battle on foot once we get deep enough in"
Kayos continued his speech. "We must act as quickly as possible. Lieutenant Moril, are you and your techs ready?" Triona saluted along with the other member of the group. "They are, sir", Moril saluted. "Get to your steeds, and may the Force go with you!" As they marched out, Triona gave David one last glance. It was a look that communicated hope and reassurance. David nodded slightly in reply. And then she was gone.
David's parting thoughts were interrupted by Kayos. "Jedi, are you ready as well?" Na-Ka bowed deeply, "We are. We but await your order" David bowed alongside his master. "Go, and may the Force shield you as it has before", the captain ordered. At this, the two Jedi moved out into an adjoining corridor, searching for the stables.
The stables were larger than those David had seen elsewhere, and it almost seemed as big as the assembly area. But the mounts are bigger by far, he reminded himself. The stablehand had already saddled up on a huge red female varactyl. He nodded to master Jima, opening another varactyl's gate. "You'll be riding Cawslaw, master Jedi. The boy will make due with Patai here.
Patai turned out to be the black and green male that David had…commandeered during the last evening. He smiled tentatively at the haughty varactyl, who snorted at his old rider's approach. Na-Ka patted Cawslaw on the head, scratching behind her feathers. She rumbled in contentment as the old Jedi leapt to his seat. David had started to bond with Patai, but he knew that the small ride he had taken would be no substitute for a true battle.
As they rode out, David heard the clamor of the rest of the Rangers as they came for their own mounts. He reached into the Force…Triona and the engineers had ridden away to the East, while the aliens were concentrated in the South. He sighed, remembering that the hill complex lay in the far West. "Yah!", he urged Patai on, struggling to keep up with his already speeding master.
Patai picked up the pace, and soon was alongside Cawslaw, who wailed a greeting. "Master Na-Ka, can we fit through that crack?" David asked. "No, but there is a larger cavern underneath. It's darker, and I think I sensed a lot of lower lifeforms, but it's wide enough to maneuver."
"You think?" David grinned. "I was busy", Jima answered, pretending to be insulted. The two Jedi soon found themselves among the rocks that lined the back of the base. "Remember, if we see anything dangerous, try to mask yourself", the old reptile reminded the young warrior, "I'll give the signal to attack when the time comes." "I know, I know", the boy answered, "Stealth is the most powerful weapon". He smiled, remembering a song from an Earth musical, one which his father had sent to him for his thirteenth birthday. "With catlike tread, upon our prey we steal-" he began to sing loudly. Na-Ka just sighed.
Moril led his men around the base, the squad numbering only a half-dozen. Triona was grateful they let her keep Moheet, who was now rumbling her anxiety keeping her at the speed she was running. Triona scratched her behind the head reassuringly, "Captain," she turned towards Moril, "what if they discover it's a set-up?". "Just as long as the Jedi time their attack right, we're safe", Moril sighed, "unload the device. Ranga, Podel, stamp up the dust cloud. It's time we sent the signal.
The Jedi continued into the darkness, the only sound was the singing of the boy, "-Come friends who plow the-" a gesture from the Jedi master silenced him. They rode a little further into the cavern. The green alien picked it up first. "Tanks." David nodded, although he could barely hear the sound of war equipment being rolled into position. Patai seemed to agree. He snorted, and David paused to pat his beak. A new sound rose. Machinery. The invaders were indeed preparing to strike. Several new sounds joined the pounding. "Master, do you think we should-" Jima cut him off.
The older Jedi reached around one rock. He gestured. David, and his mount, stuck their heads in front of the Jedi master. They both saw the rows of cyborg troops leaping into metallic tanks under an overhang, square vehicles covered in metal pipes and plating. A huge gun stuck out of each one, flanked by two other barrels on the sides. Patai uttered a moan. "I have a bad feeling about this," David muttered.
"David, we have to be very quiet," Master Jima reminded him, as his arm went for his lightsabre. "They're going to charge out and attack the city. I hope our friends up there are ready," the green alien continued. He took a moment and stared out into the army. "Let's go," he whispered.
The army began to move, the force of troops aligned in front of the tanks. With a loud roar that echoed throughout the cave, blue engines lit up and propelled the larger equipment, huge vehicles with many guns, towards the clear sky ahead. The Jedi continued to move, the reptilian mounts creeping quietly with the army.
The army moved out with a roar. David steadied his ride as his master gestured. They rode on a rock overlooking the troops leaving the overhang. Na-Ka stared quietly. After a moment he lowered his arm. With a war cry the old Jedi pushed his mount forward. She ran from her post and jumped into the battle, her long tail knocking over soldiers as they went, screeching as the army reacted. David leapt from his mount and landed on the ground, his lightsabre already ignited. His master had left his mount, which had run and joined his while her rider had joined the battle. The old Jedi master swung as the invaders shot, bolts of bright lightning bouncing off his lightsabre.
"They're distracted," he commented. "I know. We have to keep them away from the city," David added, as a bolt came close to his face. He fought closer to the front of the fight. The cyborgs fired at him as he went, but he fought on. There had to be a way to see their allies…
Several invaders stepped back as Na-Ka fought after his apprentice. A new group of cyborgs came up, bearing glowing shields and staffs. He stabbed one in the legs and struck another in the head and leapt after the young student. One large soldier raised his yellow baton on the Jedi master, and found his arm sweeping through empty air as the green Jedi leapt away.
David was staring at the rocks of the city in the distance. He could see several shapes moving near a patch of earth exposed to the air. He smiled as the shapes of lizards kicked at the dirt throwing large clouds of dust into the oncoming invaders. He closed his eyes. He could feel Triona on a hill as she activated a small device that would enable them to block any signals from the enemy…
A yellow bolt of lighting landed near his feet. The young Jedi ignited his sabre and swung at the birdlike alien that had fired with its huge gun. The trooper turned and ran, and was hit by bolt from another gun, deflected by the Jedi Master's blade. David raised his weapon, and found himself face to face with another bird alien. It screeched and raised its weapon. A quick slash from the boy's blade cut it down where it stood. "Good work, David," Na-Ka said as he swung at another invader. "They're setting up the dust," David gestured towards the haze in the distance.
Several solders raised their batons on the young Jedi. He swung up and across, sending them reeling in pain as the blade cut through metal freeing them of their threat and the invaders of their arms. Jima nodded as he watched his apprentice cut through another enemy. He quietly spun his blade, stabbing into another enemy as it was taking aim with its rifle. One of the tanks fired on the Jedi, but they rolled out of the way, letting the blast wipe out a squad of the infantry.
As more and more alien soldiers poured into the battle, David grew less and less restrained. Thought after thought of what these troops could be doing to Triona if the attack failed entered his mind. With each thought, he slashed with such force that some of the foes stumbled. Na-Ka felt the dark side grow around his apprentice as the boy charged into the mass of the aliens. Still, they were supposed to be drawing the attention of the invaders…
Kayos was the first on the ridge, his steed braying throatily into the wind. He turned around, seeing the rest of the Rangers assemble. Captain Seshego rode alongside, bearing the ancient standard of Aquilae, "Captain, we await your orders." Kayos' reply was swift and quiet, "Try to keep as silent as possible. Stealth is our best weapon."
Seshego nodded, then rode back to inform the others. The caravan of Rangers rode forward, following the path taken by the Jedi. The spectrum-ranging varactyls grumbled, but stern words prevented them from crying out. Their angle of approach was chosen so to cause as little disturbance as possible. Kayos frowned at the thought of what Morill's group and the Jedi could be facing at the moment.
The steep slope of the sandstone hill was unusable for building on, and the Asurin had brought no construction vehicles. They didn't even set up a watch, so the Rangers climbed their silent way up, unopposed. Just as they reached the summit, Kayos signaled a halt. The riders in front waited briefly for the rest of the army to catch up, while Captain Seshego surveyed the area with his macrobinoculars. Moril and the girl were true to their word, and they could see the aliens exiting their fort and spreading across the plain. The Jedi were just as impressive, as the distant thrum of lightsabres and the sharp snarl of the energy blades cutting through metal suggested.
When the last riders came into position, Kayos stopped and took out an ornate silver weapon, long-unused. With a smile he ignited his sabre. Its bright purple blade crackled into life, and then Seshego joined his captain. One by one, then in groups, the entire army of Aquillian Rangers ignited their lightsabres. Yellow and green, blue and red, orange and violet, the lightsabres caused a musical chorus of snaps and hisses. Then the Rangers rode forward as one.
They roared a battlecry as they sped like an avalanche of stone, joined by the brays, screams, and roars of their now-excited varactyl mounts. One of the fortress's turrets swiveled towards the Rangers, but they were too fast and spread out to track accurately. Chain-lightning arrows sped at the cavalry charge, but they only tore into the rock, blasting smoke and gravel into the air. But the undeterred Rangers kept charging, and with a spring they were upon the cyborgs. Blaster bolts and lightning blasts filled the air, claws and sabres clashed against batons and shields, and the Battle for Aquilae roared into being.
The sun crept over the huge tiled dome of the Jedi Temple as the man guarding it entrance stood watching. He had felt something terrible a few hours before. Luke had agreed with him about that. But he was busy with Kyp, who had returned from his mission in the Outer Rim with bad news. Whatever it was, even the older Jedi of the Order were not to know it, but he did not care. He closed his eyes. A darkness was creeping over the galaxy. His brow creased as he felt something else. A cloudy presence but a familiar one. The darkness was right here?
He opened his eyes and saw the familiar face of Zavos staring at him. The man's face had become darker and angrier. His hair was in worse shape than it had been when he had left Coruscant some time ago. That was it, he had gone to find the Sith lord then disappeared he remembered. He must have news.
"Is Master Skywalker in?" Zavos interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes, he's busy right now…" the middle-aged man responded.
"Alright," Zavos nodded, and moved towards the door. He reached right past the man, who stopped him and asked him the question that had been bothering him for days. "Did you find the Sith lord?"
Corran Horn never had time to react. He barely had time to note the red blade slicing into in his shoulder and slashing across his chest. The man had been a fantastic pilot in his prime, Luke had told him, but he was no match for the skills of the Sith. Darth Hodak smiled. Corran had never been skilled with a lightsabre, and now, lying dead he would never be. The body fell to the ground. His blue-bladed lightsabre lay at his belt, unused. Hodak bent down to pick it up. Two guards in white armor raised their staffs. Hodak waved behind him. A pair of tall droids bearing electrostaffs whirred to life. In a second the men were down. Now he would deal with the rest of the Jedi. Hodak paused as he walked towards the doorway. He smiled, "Oh, I definitely did," he told the Jedi lying on the ground, then he walked into the halls.
The half-dozen Magna droids walked into the entry hall. Hodak pointed. The droids ran off towards the stairs. Zero-Five founds itself in a hallway, the rest of the group, along with the man who led them, behind it. It looked with electronic sensors for the target. There was no one in the dark hallway. A green blade struck at it as the owner dropped from the ceiling. Master Aqinos swung again, his first blow deflected by the speed of the droid. The droid waved its staff. Purple sparks flashed from its end. Aqinos gasped as the staff struck at him. His yellow face cringed at he struck with all his strength with his lightsabre. He felt the staff slip past him and strike him in the abdomen, then felt nothing at all. Zero-Five turned and picked up the deactivated lightsabre. It walked back into the halls.
Zero-Seven swiped at one Jedi as she swung with her yellow blade. A green-skinned non-human, she had trained for years at the Jedi Temple. She had waited for years to fight an opponent. This droid was far more than she could handle. She struck and cheered as the droid's left arm sparked. The right one picked up the staff and jabbed. Her expression turned to horror as it stabbed. The staff and its glowing end spun its way around her lightsabre and slashed her chest. Zero-Seven studied her for a moment, and picked up her lightsabre. None of them noticed a little astromech droid slip away from the brawl and disappear into the shadows.
Lord Hodak walked into the well-lit meeting room. Five Jedi sat in chairs and stared as he walked into the room. One of them tried to speak. He found the bearded man's neck against his blade and pointed. Two Magna droids walked in behind him. The other three Jedi ignited their lightsabres, white, green, and purple. Hodak pointed. One droid slashed the man on the left before he could move. The green-skinned alien in the center moved, and locked weapons with the Magna droid as it moved towards him. He spun his green blade, and gasped as the droid spun its staff at an even greater speed. Hodak walked over. He grasped the Rodian's throat from behind in a grip of iron. A stroke of his lightsabre killed him before he could turn around. The Jedi on the right swung her lightsabre and fell as the other Magna droid struck her legs and finally slashed her back.
Hodak walked towards the stairs and proceeded. He walked up the stairs and reached a doorway in the decorated walls. It was empty. He stared for a moment out the windows between the tall pillars across the hall.
David continued to cut down invading troops. His blade slashed left and right. He closed his eyes and let the Force flow through him. It guided him to each chest, barrel, or leg before he could see it. His head ducked as bolts of lightning came close to him, but he barely noticed. He could feel the strange foes as their presences glowed in the Force. It took a movement so slight he would not have seen it to fell each one as it tried warily to attack him.
Another bolt of lightning landed at his master's feet. With a swipe the young Jedi took out the attacker, his heart concentrating the on pain it would have caused the old Jedi. Something he could not allow. He felt several bird-like beings behind him. He spun and raised a hand. They lifted and landed hard against the stone, by hands they could not see wielding a weapon they could not react to.
Na-Ka frowned. The boy did not do that often, only when in fear or anger. David locked weapons with another soldier, and punched it in the face, heedless of the pain. The Force was with the young warrior, but the fear and anger that motivated him could only mean grave consequences. Jima finally relaxed when his apprentice let himself go into the inner peace of the Force.
David felt Triona. She was still safe. He opened his eyes and looked. Most of the enemy around him was gone, fleeing the blade that he held in his hand. Others were lying dead on the ground. He could see vehicles racing towards the large cloud in the distance. There was also something strange. Several bolts of color were waving around in the distance. Purple, orange, green.
"I see the Rangers are facing these cyborgs themselves, in their own way," Na-Ka smiled as he looked at the many lightsabres in the distance.
David looked at his own master and nodded. The green alien was stooping. His eyes opened wide with panic. With a groan the Jedi Master stumbled forward, his apprentice taking a hand and resting it on the old Jedi's body. Suddenly, a shudder passed through him as well, as if someone had struck him from behind with a block of ice. Recovering, David looked around. No one came to help them. He put his hands to his mouth and whistled. A large blue creature came bounding over the rocks, landing near the two Jedi. She smelled the old reptilian Jedi Master and whimpered.
Na-Ka staggered upright, breathing heavily. "Master, what happened?, his concerned apprentice asked him. "I felt a disturbance in the Force. It's still going on. Jedi have fallen. It's not the first time I felt this." David nodded in recognition. He had been told of the previous incident in the Temple. Cawslaw nudged Jima with her huge head, being completely confused by the humanoids' babbling. "No, Cawslaw, I can recover. I'll whistle you if I get in a real situation", the master calmly reassured his loyal steed.
"Now, David, we have a battle to win," The two Jedi ran off towards the clamor of war.
The tanks roared into the battle just as the Rangers were slashing their way to the center of the base. Asurin and Aquillian alike dove for cover as giant bolts of lightning tore apart the base the tanks were trying to defend. A wave of riders charged the tanks, dodging and weaving among the maze of destructive energy. A varactyl fell to one of the beams, flash fried into carbon. Another rider charged onto one of the tanks, the beast's weight causing the machine's main cannon to swing to the side, blowing a hole in its partner.
Around the massive war constructions, the Asurin and Rangers dueled furiously. The Rangers were more skilled, and their weapons were longer and deadlier, but the energy shields gave the cyborgs additional defense. That, added to their overwhelming numbers, made it even.
Captain Kayos was in the middle of it, leading charge after charge into the enemies' ranks. He struck down yet another invader, then stopped to asses the situation. Varactyls and tanks squared off, and the Rangers stood their ground against wave after wave of troops. On the walls and roofs of the complex, birdlike riflemen exchanged shots with Ranger fusiliers. The avians fell back, allowing the Rangers to fire on the surprised cyborgs.
Kayos turned to aid a Ranger being attacked by two foes at once. When he resumed his overview he saw Seshego lead a knot of Rangers that clustered around the standard. His thoughts turned to Moril's group. Did they get away? Were they fighting for survival? Had they been cut down?
Judging by the smoke and clamor in the distance, Kayos remembered the Jedi and how their strategy had been undermined. Never had any of the planners considered the vast numbers of the aliens. They could fill the plain and the fortress and still have enough men for attacking Kabylia.
The Rangers had read many documents telling of clever ways to outwit a foe, but the situation had forced the fight into a headlong slogging match. There was no maneuver, no ranks or lines of battle. All was a pitched mess of Rangers and cyborgs moving up and down the aisles of the compound, shifting and swirling like a displaced current. The warriors on both sides stepped over the bodies of their fallen comrades, giving all their attention to the fight at hand.
The aliens fell back, unable to bring down the Aquillians. The Rangers cheered and Kayos had to restrain many from following the retreating invaders. A low rumble confirmed his suspicions. More tanks had arrived, a few bearing scorch marks. If Moril's team had fallen, they had sold their lives dearly. He feared that the girl from the outside had perished, and that the Jedi had also been overwhelmed.
No matter, he assured himself. If he spent all his time pondering the direst possible outcomes, then he would not have deserved the leadership of the Rangers. He merely reignited his sabre and led a group of rangers to cover. There was nothing even the best-trained, able Ranger could do against such enemies.
As he lay in wait, Kayos was startled by one of the tanks exploding. He looked up from a fallen pillar. Sure enough, one of the tanks was firing on its mates, taking out two others in quick succession. The rest rounded on the turncoat, obliterating the apparently mad driver. Out of the wreckage leapt two figures. They were too swift to be Rangers. The Jedi had joined the battle.
Both master and apprentice hit the ground running, as the surviving tanks tore up the metal pavement with deadly rays. The Jedi leaped again, onto another tank. This time the other armored war machines hesitated. Na-Ka gestured at Kayos, who signaled an attack. The Rangers burst from their cover, swarming the tanks.
One by one the alien tanks died deaths of a thousand cuts. The lightsabres easily cut through the thick composite armor, the vehicles tipping over, falling apart. The startled pilots and troops inside barely had time to raise their weapons before the Rangers cut them down.
David joined his master in leading a charge of Rangers when he felt a disturbance. Triona was in danger, he felt her fear. He whistled for Patai, then rode crazily through the battle. The cyborgs stumbled out of the way as the mad Jedi plowed through their ranks. Patai howled as he scrambled over the burning tanks and building, over the battle raging below.
The gates were still open when David rode out, scanning the plain frantically. Sure enough, there was Morill and the others, riding frantically to escape a tank bearing down on them. The tank fired on them, knocking Triona and another rider off. They barely managed to cling on to the skirt above the magnetic treads of the steel beast. A sidehatch slid open, and the two disappeared into the tank.
David was furious, yelling out his rage at the heartless aliens. The tank turned its attention, and its turret, to the young Jedi. Patai screeched to a halt, his rider's eyes widening in terror and realization of the odds. The varactyl reversed direction, the tank in hot pursuit. Blast after blast slashed into the dirt and grass, sending columns of smoke into the sky.
The tank drew alongside the Jedi, one of the birdlike crewmen climbing out of the top hatch and taking potshots at the boy. David deflected the blasts then leapt onto the tank's turret. With a slash the Vice Admiral took out the rifleman, then cleaved the turret's barrel in half. The remains of both crewman and gun fell out of the tank and were ground into powder by the tanks magno-treads.
The top hatch swiveled open, a crested metal head peering out. Led by their golden commander, a dozen cyborgs poured out of the tank hatch. Soon the air was filled with the crackle of batons against a desperate, fast lightsabre. David leaped around the tank, but the numbers of his enemies kept him on the defensive. The situation was out of his control, but it never was in his control in the first place.
Inside the vehicle, two birdlike riflemen stood watch over the two prisoners. Triona peeked outside the viewport. "How's your Jedi doing?" her older companion asked half-skeptically. She did not share the girl's optimism about the situation. "He's trapped", Triona whispered in terror as she saw a lean troop carrier, filled with alien soldiers, slide alongside the tank.
The older technician frowned, then, when one of the cyborgs fell down the hatch onto an avian guard, sprang into action. She dove for the guard's fallen rifle, Triona following her lead by tackling the other guard. The guard proved strong, however, and recovered quickly, pushing his assailant into the wall. Triona was not out of options, however. In a flash of inspiration, she aimed her high-power laser pen at the avian. The blinded guard was disarmed by the girl and taken out by his own rifle's butt, crumpling to the floor.
Triona saw her chance, and activated the manual controls of the side cannon. It was a simple squeeze-trigger affair, and her attack on the troop carrier was devastating. Its explosion sent pieces of metal and alien through the air. The technician, however, was still struggling against the avian. As she activated her lightsabre and impaled the other guard, the cyborg knocked the weapon out of her hand.
A blow from its baton laid the technician on the floor, but as it prepared a coup de grace, Triona picked up the fallen sabre. A furious, cumbersome duel ensued, both combatants cramped for space. The mechanical brain of the vehicle panicked, and swerved into a pair of speeder bikes. The impact knocked the Jedi off the turret, with David barely managing to cling onto the other side gun. He sensed Triona inside, desperate and in the throes of combat. He looked down; the deadly treads below dissuaded his mind from wandering,
The gun swiveled, trying to dislodge its unwelcome passenger. David tried to leap up, but the flailing batons kept him at bay. They struck the gun, sending sparks into the dust and smoke. To make matters worse, a bike swerved over, intending to smash the boy against the metal side. He barely wiggled out of the way, knowing that a second pass would certainly finish him.
Its screech was interrupted by a familiar wail. Cawslaw and Master Jima were riding to the rescue. A blow from Na-Ka sabre's slashed the bike's treads off, causing it to somersault into the dust. Another slash hit the treads of the tank, causing it to swerve violently towards the base at top speed.
Inside the jolt caused the soldier to accidentally trap its sword-arm in a compartment. It barely had time to turn and widen its electronic eyes before Triona struck off his head. Triumphant, she opened the side hatch, then dragged the unconscious Ranger to the side To her horror, she slipped, letting go of her companion. Fortunately, the Ranger was caught by Cawslaw, who gently put her on the saddle behind the Jedi master. Triona, relieved, clambered to the top. A quick glance saw that David was fighting off the six surviving soldiers.
Na-Ka leapt onto the tank, turning the tide. David slipped to the side as his master distracted the aliens. "Don't do that again", the young admiral grinned at Triona. The girl grinned back. "I promise not to get captured again", she replied sarcastically.
The tank, meanwhile was plowing through the base, wiping out other tanks, speeders, and any cyborgs that didn't scramble out of the way. To the Rangers, it seemed that either the driver was a turncoat to its army, or had come across a droid's idea of liquor. "What the hell?" Kayos cried, before diving to the side in terror, the Rangers following him in synchronization.
As master Jima fought the troops, their commander clung onto the sidegun as David did. He saw his chance to attack, and knocked off Triona, who fell onto the skirt. David roared and attacked the commander. The golden cyborg slammed his shield at David knocking the boy onto the skirt as well, in the process nearly throwing his love off completely. "Noo!" the young Jedi screamed stopping to find himself clinging onto her arm while trying to fight off the commander single-handed. He couldn't hold his own with only one hand, and it would be only a matter of time before he was struck down.
It was the apple of his eye that came to the rescue. Triona whistled, the same way that she used for Patai the last evening. Sure enough, the barking varactyl scuttled alongside. David locked eyes with her in amazement and gratitude. She had saved his life, just as he had set her free.
Triona leaped into the saddle, letting go of the boy's arm. Freed, David punched the surprised commander in the face. The cyborg staggered backward, raising his shield against the furious assault. By this time, Na-Ka had already finished off the rest of the aliens, and leaped off onto the faithful Cawslaw. His apprentice wouldn't budge, focusing his rage on the commander. Jima was terrified to sense his ward's fear turn to anger, then to abject hate.
The tank plowed on, approaching a massive communication tower. There was no way it could swerve in time, and neither combatant paid any attention to it. Na-Ka and Triona screamed at David, telling him to get off before he would collide with the tower. The boy was too busy dismembering the cyborg limb by limb, not turning to notice the tower before the tank smashed into it. A screech of torn metal slashed the air, and the tower fell on the tank, crushing it entirely under tons of metal and concrete. Tank, cyborg and Jedi all disappeared underneath the massive tower. Dust obscured everything as a grim silence descended on the battlefield.
Triona burst into tears. She had saved him, only to lose him again. Her problem with Zavos would only get worse with this death on her hands. She had lost him just when she liked him…Na-Ka put his scaly hand on her shoulder. "No," he shook his head, smiling, "he survived". Sure enough, a familiar cough broke the deadly silence. Out from the dust clambered out ViceAdmiral David M. Prus of the 303rd fleet, Jedi Knight.
He brushed off the rubble covering him before collapsing into the arms of Na-Ka and Triona. Both the girl and the old man took him up in an embrace. "We almost lost you, boy", Jima ruffled his apprentice's hair. "David Prus, you're the luckiest, canniest, and most reckless boy I've ever known. I don't know what I'd do without you", Triona squeezed him long and tight. David decided that Aquilae had to have the happiest ending to a battle in his entire career.