A.N.
Oh, the suspense!
We all know Kim's situation is not very good at the moment, and I can't promise you it's going to get any better. Meanwhile, Ron has a little surprise for everyone.
Read and enjoy!
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Chapter14- Imperial Pursuit
"This sector is clear." The static voice muffled from within the shining helmet of the storm trooper. He and his comrades cautiously moved through the urban streets, scanning every corner, every street for their target from the time they stepped off the landing shuttle. The target's description is a young red headed girl with green eyes and an athletic build. At the same time their job is to keep Ron Stoppable safe, no matter what the consequences. Even if it meant harming unarmed civilians.
They navigated into a narrow path between two tall buildings. The littered alley had a couple of people walking back and forth, no one seemed to mind the repulsive overflowing trash compactor on the side, a tiny brown cat, or at least it used to be brown, scratched a bag beside the compactor open and let it's contents leak on to the ground, staining their gleaming white feet with what might've once been an gravy.
"Ugh," whined one of the men as he lifted his foot and grimaced under his helmet, "what's a man gotta do to keep a reputation!"
"You gotta keep to your duty, man!" snapped Ron, "Now get to it!"
"Yes sir." The man stomped his white boot back on to the puddle of gravy, making a grotesque splash that caused the liquid to stain most of his legs, "ugh…"
They stepped out of the alley and on to a wide empty street, pedestrians were everywhere, but Ron showed no concern and he marched smugly, his black robes flowing. The storm troopers spread wide, studying everyone's faces, their guns close to their sides. The crowds steered clear and then winced when they noticed Ron's grey skin and metallic hair. Rumors of dark sorcerers had spread to Middleton, and those practically served as propaganda for the Empire- instilling fear, and thus order. Ron found no trouble feeling the peoples' emotions now. It seems that confidence is a key part when it comes to using the force, and no more did he feel confident than when leading a platoon of Imperial soldiers and storming with them through city streets. An eerie sneer made its way on to Ron's face- he could easily get used to this.
They made it through the town and were now approaching Middleton Park. Towering over the trees stood a Chicken Walker, directing its guns right at the crowded streets, it was doing a good job of warning anyone who seeks to cause trouble here of the consequences. But they probably already know trouble is brewing elsewhere, as if the storm troopers and the sorcerer weren't enough to signal that.
When finally under the shade of the trees Ron signaled for them to halt by raising his arm- they did so in a split second. Performing a quick scan of the area, storm trooper protocols, and it was clear, but nonetheless they remained motionless as ordered.
"What is it, sir?" the platoon captain asked.
Ron closed his eyes with his hand still raised in the air, a tremble in the force, light, distant, almost invisible- something familiar. He opened his eyes and brought his hand down, looking at the captain with the corner of his eye.
"Kim." Ron muttered in a serious tone.
"Sir?"
"Spread out- through the park, move!" he barked.
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Kim had placed her speeder bike in the park last she remembered, a narrow long tube-like metal, two handle bars on the top, one large ion engine on the back and a nose gun powerful enough to rip a hole through the heaviest armored storm trooper. Its speed can only be compared to a formulae one race car.
It's a sweet ride!
Making her way back from her house, she could not get over that moment she had with Ron. Why wouldn't he answer her call? Why is he being so stubborn? Does he still look at her as an enemy?
Coming closer to the park now, Kim could spot the Chicken Walker taking up most of the sky above the trees, exactly beside the library where she last saw it and not far from the park. She's near.
If only Kim could contact her master and pass on to him what she discovered, but all communication has been jammed…It's no big though, all she needs to do is get to the shuttle waiting for her on the outskirts of the city and…
Danger- I sense danger.
Looking over the street from where she's standing, and just a little past the trees she spotted them running towards her, a couple of storm troopers in her eyes, but she could sense more, a lot more running with them. She couldn't make out the number, but she could estimate around twenty.
"There she is!" the storm troopers' trademark cry calling on his comrades to follow.
Kim's eyes narrowed on them- time to go mission mode…
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Ron didn't follow them, he knew she's way too clever for a bunch of storm troopers to stop her, but of course he'd have to do this himself, just not yet though. He needs to see what she's capable of.
He watched from a clear field in the park, sitting on the bench there as his platoon made a dash through the distant woods on the other side of the field, sprinting with all their might and training, guns by their sides, calling on all the loyalty in their hearts to not disappoint their superiors.
And as they scrambled out of the bushes, almost stumbling onto the street in a messy formation, they narrowed their guns on her and stood waiting for her response- which never came.
"Don't move, or we'll shoot!" warned one of them in a rather aggressive voice, while the others began to fix their battle formation by strafing from side to side, but not for one second moving their eyes away from their cool and watchful, hooded target.
"Keep your hands clear by your sides," yelled the captain, distinct from the other by the brown patch on his shoulder, "You're under arrest by the emperor's orders."
She still didn't move, her hands tucked under her sleeves and clasping her hands across her chest. The captain motioned for two of his comrades to cross the street over to her. They hesitated for a moment, and finally began to move- until a quick smile shot at them from under the hood.
Like a hawk calling on the wind to lift its wings into the sky, Kim's arms spread out and called on the force to lift the two storm troopers.
"What the…" the two white men found themselves levitating in the air, trying to desperately make sense of this situation, but before they could do so a one thousand ton lorry came down the road at lightning speed, shrieking against the tarmac by Kim's control, and erased the two from everyones' field of vision.
The storm troopers' shoulders drooped in awe and Kim found room to mock, "You should look both ways before crossing the street!"
"Impressive KP," a voice came that made every nerve in her body twitch, "very impressive…"
Ron in a frightening new body tone and strikingly matching black attire came stepping through the bush, "And yet I must say you could've probably done that a lot better."
Kim's eyes widened with horror, "Ron- what? I-I don't understand…"
"What's there not to understand?" Ron chuckled gesturing at the storm troopers around him, "you could've easily taken out the whole platoon instead of just two of them…"
The men gave each other a glance of horrid awareness and took a couple of steps away from their current position.
Kim desperately shook her head, "No, I mean what are you doing with them…they're Imperials!"
Ron, putting on a false act of bewilderment and took a peak at his white clad compatriots, "Ah! You mean my new legion of terror?"
Kim said nothing, heart broken and confused, she couldn't believe what's become of her best friend. Ron cackled as he began to take steps across the street, "Haven't you heard yet? The Empire is the new black!"
Kim grimaced, "No Ron! The Empire only means to…"
"Bring peace order, yeah, yeah- I've heard it all before!"
She scowled and began to take steps back as Ron got closer.
"Are you scared Kim?" Ron's smile slowly began to fade; he had that look of a predator trying to elude its prey, "huh? You don't like how I look in black?"
"Be careful Ron you know I've got mad moves with a light saber…"
Ron's eyes widened as did his smile, "Oh! You think I want to kill you, Kim? Come on, you know I would never hurt my BFF!"
"Then what do you want, Ron?" She kept her hand close to her hilt, just in case.
Ron, on the other hand, put his hands on his hips, pushing his chest out and let a pompous smile show itself, "I'm here to pick you up- the emperor is inviting us to his party, remember?"
"Yeah, well you can tell him I've made other arrangements," Kim's sarcastic sweet voice emphasized, "You can send him my regards, though!"
"Hmph…you're no fun," Ron made a quick gesture with his finger, "Set for stun!"
In the blink of an eye, Kim's crouch posture became a sprint for her life, taking on a platoon of inexperienced storm troopers is one thing, but when they're lead by a Sith acolyte that's a totally different story. Calling on the force to give her speed she's going to have to find another way to get to her speeder bike.
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Dan sat in the lower levels of the Rebel headquarters. His eyes focused on a tiny stone chip, tiny bits of hieroglyphics carved on it. Doctors Venture and Quarrel, his two fellow scientists discovered it had broken off a larger stone slab, that probably fell off a larger ancient artifact within the palace.
As the tiny machine in Dan's hand scanned the chip he let off an irritated sigh. The more he discovers about the Sith the more question popped in his head. And yet, he always feels like he's getting closer to discovering the secret behind his existence in this new galaxy, and perhaps the secrets behind the Sith's true powers.
"How's' it coming along, master Jedi?" asked Venture.
"Hmm," Dan removed the goggles off his head and sighed while taking a glance at the curious doctor, "I think we might've misinterpreted the entire prophecy, doctor."
"What do you mean?" asked Venture.
"Well, I didn't find anything new about these spirits, but there's certainly a mention of a doorway. Perhaps it refers to 'the unopened gates'."
"And?" the doctor impatiently asked.
"I believe it leads to my home galaxy."
Venture stuttered as he found difficulty regaining his composure before he spoke again, "You mean, there's a portal that leads to another galaxy?"
"Not just a portal. It's a machine, built to control the portal. Somehow the Ancient Sith found a way to open it and seal it."
Venture stroked his beard, "my wife said 'break the spirits and seal the unopened gates'. Perhaps we need to look into these spirits and see what they refer to."
Quarrel flipped through his notes and looked at his companions, "Didn't Ron mention something about ghosts in that cave we were in?"
Ventures' eyes widened, "Which later became a palace for The Empire!"
"Lets' not go off track, my friends. The key to all this lays with whatever 'breaking the spirits' refers to. He turned his attention back at the chip, "I hope Kim's search brings up something we can go on."
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A squadron of Tie Fighters soared over the skies of Middleton, roaring at a spectacular speed, only inches away from chipping the rooftops of the buildings downtown. Their hunt for a robed girl on the run won't go without avail, at least not without the overshadowing Star Destroyer, with its long range scanners and sophisticated jammers at its disposal.
The Ties came in low over the street Kim was running on, their guns locked on her, ready to fire when given the order.
No where near breathless, but most certainly feeling overwhelmed, Kim sprinted around the town. Her plan to find the other way into Middleton Park so far seems to be working. Except for the part with the Tie Fighters, that was not necessarily put into calculation.
Ron wouldn't want me dead, She thought, I know he wouldn't.
Making it out of town, dashing right past Bueno Nacho at a speed she only recalled when she had those red shoes; Kim was about to cross the street to the park when a series of green energy blasts struck her path, forcing her to stop.
"What the?" She cried and looked up to see the Tie Fighters rocketing over her and veering off.
She scowled at them, but then loud metallic clanks caught her attention in the park. A huge explosion blew trees out of the park and cleared her view…the Chicken Walker was coming at her.
Its large feet stomped the ground and stopped at the edge of the park, its guns directed at her and a voice came from its speakers, "In the name of the emperor, surrender or we'll shoot!"
"Doubt it!" she lifted an arm over her head, igniting her light saber with it and took up a fighting pose.
"Put down your weapon, there's no need to fight." He ordered once more.
Kim glanced above the walker and spotted two Tie Fighters coming at her from a distance, she allowed herself a smile, "Oh, there is!"
"You have ten seconds to comply, little girl!" The officer was getting agitated. To Kim's right and left storm troopers were closing in on her. It won't be long before she finds herself surrounded.
Her plan would have to be perfectly timed.
The pilot within the walker nodded at the gunner beside him, "shoot to disarm only."
The Walkers' chin-guns came to life, a red energy beam stretched from its nozzles and impacted against Kims' green blade, and just as she had synchronized, the beams were deflected and struck the closest low flying Tie Fighter. Its' debris splintered at a catastrophic speed in many directions, even in the path of its fellow wingman, cutting through the windshield and critically wounding the pilot inside, causing his ship to crash directly into the Chicken Walker's head.
The spectacular fireworks provided a hazardous cover for her to dart into the park. The few storm troopers that made it close to her new entrance immediately found themselves under fire as Kim's speeder bike whooshed over their heads from within. None of them had a chance to lift their heads to fire at her, and by then she was already gone.
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Ron marched confidently at the scene of where the shootout took place. The captain of the platoon, a little dirt ridden, stood and gave a salute, "Commander Stoppable, I'm afraid the girl got away."
Ron smiled, "Good."
"Sir?" he gestured at the scene and looked back at his superior, "I don't understand. The casualties were also…"
Ron signaled for him to be quiet, "Doesn't matter."
His attention turned to a man dressed in a green outfit, "Mankey?"
"I placed the device on her bike just as you asked, Master Stoppable." His smile, and the solemn bow, was something Ron found very pleasing to see. Oh yes, power has a way of making dreams come true.
Ron turned back to the Captain, "Send the tracking signal to Vader and tell him it will lead them directly to the Rebels."
He clicked his fingers and directed the next orders to everyone around him, "let's saddle up boys, we have a battle to win!"
"Oh," Ron turned back to face Kim's old crush, "I'm going to need your help by the way!"
Josh grimaced, "me?"
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Kim's rage was fueled into the thrusters of the speeder bike, her grip tightened as much as it could, any faster and Kim could swear this thing would fly. She piloted her speeder into the Rebel Transport Shuttle, which immediately took off when she told the pilot that they were being pursued.
Moments later she sat in her sleeping quarters within the transport, her mind a whirlpool of emotions. Why did he turn? Why did he betray her? All this time, all those years, all their experiences together…how could it have brought them to this stage?
Nothing made sense anymore.
She put her elbows on her knees and rested her head in her hands. The anger that flowed in her veins slowly began to fade through her meditation. And soon, that anger turned to grief. She placed her head on her pillow and then grief made way for sleep.
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"Lord Vader!" Ned hurriedly paced into the chamber of his master. A hollow brick room, with two flames providing lighting on the walls.
"What is it Ned, can you not see I am meditating?" Vader agitatedly replied.
"A transmission from Stoppable," he straightened his back and smiled, "we have a solid lead to the Rebel Headquarters!"
Vader sat still; finally they can bring an end to the insurgence on the planet. Finally, they can make the fatal blow on the Rebels!
Vader sat up from his cross legged position, "Send a signal to the fleet to ready my shuttle." the two stepped out of the chamber and into the dark corridors of the palace, "Tell them to prepare to move as soon as we have a lock!"
Ned and Vader came to a stop and the dark lord glanced down at the petit young man, "Assign Ron Stoppable a Star Destroyer, he may label it as he wishes. He will lead the attack!"
"Right," Ned nodded and looked up at his master.
"Well?" Vader snapped, "What are you waiting for? Go!"
"O'right!" Ned saluted and marched off, "Apologies milord…" The tall robed man sighed as Ned's voice faded into the shadows.
This entire war was just one big puzzle. Everyone held different pieces, everyone refused to share. Sneakily and unhelpfully all factions pieced it together, trying to figure out each others' loyalties and where it dwelled. Even now, not even Vader knows who his allies and opponents really are. This battle is the final large piece to this puzzle. Everything will be obvious soon, and this war will finally end.
But anxiety still tugged at Vader's nerves as the last thought dwelled in his mind- the obvious fact that a whole new war resides at the end of this battle.
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A.N.
What horrid surprises lay ahead, I wonder?
Read to find out! Because this battle will be unlike any other I've written!