Before I begin my last episode-based chapter for this story, I would like to explain a few things to the authors/readers who reviewed my last chapter.
First, we have mpowers045, you don't need to worry. Robert won't let the dark side take control of him. The anger and bloodthirsty rampage he went on during the last Arc was not only related to his past that Cassie told Ahsoka about, but also to a terrible ordeal he went through after the death of his friend and her family. In fact, after this chapter I will be focusing on having him overcome the darkness inside of him and come clean about the ordeal.
Next, we have 1049. Ahsoka will confess her feelings to Robert, but not yet. I am building up for that part and it will occur at the end of the story. I want to dive deeper into Roberts back story and have him prepare for his 'great trial'.
Now with all that out of the way, its time to begin. Disclaimers are the same as before, Enjoy.
Chapter 21: A Friend in Need
January 14th 2019, 20BBY
Sundari, Mandalore
0400 hours
Normal point of view
A month had passed since the liberation of the Kiros colonists and the fall of the Zygerrian slave empire for a second time. In that month many more republic bases and garrisons all across the galaxy had either fallen to the separatists or suffered heavy casualties from the attacks.
The Expendables, Lagoon Crew, Erik, Fenrir and the Republic were rushed off their legs trying to retake the ground lost to the separatists on planets such as Agamar, Boz Pity, Raxus Prime and others. But for Robert, he was sent to Mandalore for a meditative retreat for a few weeks. His actions during the missions on Kiros, Zygerria and Kadavo had left both the Jedi council and military command concerned for about his recent change in behavior. Many a Jedi would say it was a phase he was going through after the incident on Umbara and losing three of his squad mates, while others say it was due to the fact that the memory of him nearly being sold into slavery was the cause. But whatever the reason, both Master Yoda and Count Dooku sensed a growing darkness in him.
He arrived on Mandalore a day before the new year and was welcomed by Satine who was made fully aware of his heritage. While he wasn't a full blooded Mandalorian, Satine and her nephew Korkie treated him as one of their own and he was given a room to stay in the royal palace.
Most days he would accompany Satine on her visits to the local hospitals, recreation centers, orphanages and schools. Other times he would be in the prison questioning the former Prime Minister of Mandalore, Almec who used the black market to bring in much needed supplies for the people of Mandalore after being cut off from their supply lines by the Republic. He even had the gal to sell tea tainted with Slabin which was then distributed across Mandalore, causing a sudden illness in all those who drank the tea, most of which were children.
Eventually, he was caught thanks to the efforts of Korkie and Ahsoka, was exposed and arrested for his crimes against his people. His intentions, however noble they were led to his downfall and betrayal of his long-time friend. Hearing that several children died before the antidote was discovered made Robert question if Almec was really doing this for his people or himself and make a steady profit.
A few days later, members of the separatist senate arrived with commando droid guards and Robert feared that the separatists were trying to take over Mandalore, but Satine assured him that they were on her world in the attempt to renew the peace proposal between the republic and the separatists, a proposal that was started by the late Mina Bonteri and Padme.
He nearly caused the peace talks to end before they even began and would have been responsible for more deaths. Quickly he apologized to the senators and felt terrible.
Days past after the arrival of the separatist senators and the Republic senators arrived with Ahsoka and a detachment of Senate Commandos as security. Even Senator Chuchi was among the senators and accompanied by Fenrir and Lycan. He was happy for the couple and hoped to see their wedding one day.
After spending the day with Satine visiting the rebuilt memorial that was destroyed by Death Watch, Robert was sound asleep in his quarters. But just four hours into his sleep, the nightmares began. The sound of electroshock treatments, screams of children and sound of gunshots echoed in his mind. The images of children being injected with a formula of some kind came into view and he watched helplessly as he was injected with the same formula and was led into a large room where he was tested in all sorts of different situations, each one a violent scenario.
He shot up from bed, sweeting uncontrollably and looked around. "It was only a dream." He said to himself wiping the sweet from his brow. Despite it being a dream, he couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something about his past. "What's happening to me?" he asked himself before falling back to sleep.
Unknown to him, Ahsoka had sensed the disturbance and was starting to become more worried for her friend.
The next morning, the delegates of both sides began the peace talks in the throne room. Tensions between the two sides were high enough already and it appeared things could take a turn for the worse. "The Republic recognizes the tragedy of war. But there is nothing we can change that has already occurred." Padme said to the separatist senators.
"Say it aloud before this gathering, as representative for Chancellor Palpatine, that you declare without reservation the Separatist state legitimate." Voe Atell argued before turning her attention to Robert. "I would like to hear what the Lone Wolf has to say about this." She added.
"I'm not one for politics senator, but if you ask me I think the Separatists should be a legitimate state. Might end the war a lot quicker and without more bloodshed." Robert sighed. He couldn't understand it, Dooku was all set for peace and then the separatist traitors in the republic senate come and ruin the peace proposal between both sides and worse, resulted in the death of Mina Bonteri, the senator that opened his eyes to the truth.
"I have something to say about the legitimacy of the Separatists." A voice called out. Everyone turned to see Lux Bonteri walk towards the group. The separatist senators were shocked to see him here. "You didn't mention that Lux Bonteri would be here." Ahsoka whispered to Padme. "I didn't know." Padme replied.
"Did you know?" Ahsoka asked Robert. "Don't ask me. No one ever tells me anything." He retorted before looking to Lux. "I stand before you, son of Mina Bonteri, loyal separatist, senator, a patriot and a friend." He said before smiling towards Ahsoka and Robert. "It has come to my attention that my mother was murdered by Count Dooku in cold blood." He stated.
The separatist senators were outraged by this accusation and Lux was removed from the meeting, despite the pleas from Satine. Ahsoka didn't want to see her friend killed so while the meeting continued she, Fenrir, Lycan and Robert went to Lux's aid.
As Lux was lead towards the Lander that brought the delegates to Mandalore, Ahsoka and the others stared at the ship and began to come up with a plan.
Lux however was brought into the ship and was pushed to the ground by the droids that brought him aboard. "Those are some rather strong accusations you have levied against me." Dooku stated as his projection turned around and faced Lux. "You know what you did, Dooku." Lux said coldly.
"Do I? I have done a lot of things, young man and choose to remember them in order of importance. The death of your mother is not one of them." Dooku stated.
"I will have my revenge." Lux vowed. "Why would I murder your mother when the goal of peace is what I want as well?" Dooku asked. "I know about the secret meeting you and mother had with Senator Amidala, Skywalker's padawan and the son of my last padawan. If I were still the same person I used to be, I would have been the one to state that your mother was murdered." Dooku said causing Lux to look surprised.
"You know of the change I went through after Scarif. I do not wish for this war to continue, I want it to end just as much as you do. The death of your mother has ruined that goal and I am afraid I have been ordered to reunite you and your mother. For what it's worth, I am sorry, kill him." Dooku said sadly before his projection vanished and the two commando droid guards prepared for the kill.
Suddenly the doors opened and Ahsoka and Robert took down the droids with the force and hand-to-hand combat. "Ahsoka? Robert?" Lux asked in surprise. "Questions later. Now would be a very good time to leave." Robert said as the trio left the ship and ran towards the lift. "Artoo fire up the engines, we're leaving." Ahsoka ordered into the commlink. As the group ran out of the ship, Robert ran forwards and headbutted a commando droid while Ahsoka pushed another one over the side of the landing pad.
"Never headbutt a droid. It hurts like hell." Robert said as he followed Ahsoka and Lux through the palace as the other commando droids fired at them, shattering the glass as they did. "Captain Taggert, we have incoming Clankers." Ahsoka commented as they reached the landing area where the GX1 Short Hauler light freighter/yacht called the phoenix was waiting and pointed in the direction of the hostiles.
"We'll cover you, sir." Taggert replied and he and his men opened fire at the droids the moment they arrived at the landing area. "Fenrir lets go." Robert shouted. "I will stay and help clean up the mess. Take Lycan with you." Fenrir shouted as he unsheathed his Vibro-Sword and looked back. "I'll catch up with you guys." He added before slicing a commando droid in half as one senate guard was killed just as the ship took off.
Once they were clear, Ahsoka contacted Anakin who was informed of the situation by Padme. Ahsoka quickly explained the rest of what happened as Robert went to check if any hitchhikers had gotten on board the ship with R2 and Lycan. Lux quickly apologized to Anakin about ruining the peace talks. But when Ahsoka mentioned he would be safe with the republic, Lux had his doubts.
No sooner had Anakin's transmission ended and Ahsoka was instructed to bring Lux to Coruscant, she found herself on the receiving end of Lux's blaster pistol. Lux told Ahsoka he had a plan, while he wouldn't join the republic there was a group on Carlac that was as he claimed noble and allied with his cause. Ahsoka wasn't going to agree to this so Lux had no choice but to stun her, moments before Robert returned to the cockpit.
After lying that Ahsoka was exhausted from the events that had just occurred, Robert and Lux went to the ships mess hall and talked. "So, let me get this straight. When you were five years old, you and your preschool class were abducted and were ransomed back to your parents, but the kidnappers were going to sell you and the others into slavery?" Lux asked surprised.
"Yeah, its true. Those fuckers never did get the money, my aunt Cassie saw to that. But the ordeal was a lot to bear for a five-year-old who was into Thomas the Tank Engine. Not even watching a model of a British Rail Class 42 'warship' diesel-hydraulic locomotive fall into a barge full of sludge could make me forget." Robert said.
"So, I take it you and Ahsoka were responsible for the rescue of Kiros colonists?" Lux asked. "Yeah, we did, and we blew up one of their processing stations on their home world and in another system. I love the smell of death in the morning." Robert said to a surprised Lux. "Okay, so I noticed Ahsoka looking at you with what I assume you would call a 'school-girl crush'. Has she mentioned anything about it?" Lux asked changing the subject.
"Even if she did, Anakin would have gotten her to remember that she is a Jedi and such attachments are forbidden as the code states. If you ask me it's a bunch of horseshit, falling in love is not a sign of darkness but light. To fall in love with someone is a good thing and the only bad that can happen from it is if someone evil tries to use it to their advantage. If someone did that to me, I would rip their arms off, then their legs, then their nuts, rip out their eyes and feed them to the bastard, disembowel them and drop a grenade down their throat and watch them explode into a bloody red mist. That will send a message to anyone who fucks with me." Robert explained.
Lux was taken aback by this. "I didn't think you were that violent. I thought you only fight droids and the occasional pirates." Lux said.
Robert sighed. "Your right. I have just been going through a lot the last few months. The events on Umbara and the slaver incident are still fresh in my mind and I am afraid that something from my past is starting to haunt me. I've been having nightmares, I don't know about what but I always see myself strapped to a table and being injected with some kind of serum of formula by these guys in lab coats. I don't know what it means." He admitted.
"Well it won't change who you are." Lux admitted.
"I sense you are determined to get your revenge, tell me do you have any proof that Dooku was behind your mother's murder?" Robert asked. "I know Dooku ordered it." Lux stated coldly. "That's where we have to disagree." Robert said before he yawned. "I don't know about you, but I can feel about forty winks coming on. I'm gonna hit the sack, you should do the same." Robert said to Lux before going to one of the quarters on the ship and laid down on the bed.
Roberts point of view
Ever since those nightmares I hadn't had a decent sleep. But after six hours of sleep I felt refreshed.
As I stretched out my arms, Ahsoka ran into the room looking a bit disoriented and a bit angry. "What's up with you?" I asked.
"Lux stunned me and brought us to who knows where and hid my lightsabers somewhere on the ship." She explained. I looked to my waist and found that mine were still with me. "What the hell is that kid thinking?" I asked aloud before Ahsoka told me that wherever we are it was covered with snow so I grabbed my leather jacket and followed Ahsoka who had put on a dark blue coat with the hood pulled over her head. I didn't know who Lux had made contact with so I hid my sabers inside my jacket as the two of us walked over to Lux.
"Hey Lux, where the hell are we and what did you do with Ahsoka's sabers?" I demanded as Lux turned around. "You two should have stayed on the ship." He stated as the roar of jetpacks was soon heard and I pulled out my DL-44 and held it tight as six figures in dark black Mandalorian armor landed and surrounded us with their wrist blasters aimed at us. The last figure was a female given the shape of her figure and her armor was colored light blue and gray. "Hey kid, you're late." The female said bitterly and that's when I noticed the mark on her helmet. "Deathwatch." I heard Ahsoka mutter under her breath.
"You with the blaster, lower it." the woman said. "Why should I?" I asked. "Because there is no reason for hostility's." Lux said as he walked forward towards the women. I didn't know what Lux was playing at so I followed suit and holstered my pistol. "Sorry about that, my bodyguard is bit jumpy these days." Lux explained. Bodyguard my ass, I am only here because Lux had some ridiculous plan that involved these whack jobs. "Did you get us what we need?" the Woman asked. Even though I couldn't see her face I knew that this was Satine's sister, Bo-Katan, who unlike Satine wanted to return Mandalore to the ways of the past.
"I have the information with me." Lux answered. This information he spoke of had me more confused than Curly trying to shut off a shower. "So, if he's your bodyguard then who is she?" Bo asked.
"I'm his… I'm his betrothed." Ahsoka admitted quickly and held Lux's arm. "Right." Lux admitted playing along with Ahsoka's plan. "Hey this is the first I've heard of this, I just got hired two weeks ago." I said trying to resist the urge to facepalm myself.
"Betrothed?" Bo asked before she grabbed Ahsoka's chin and looked at her for a few seconds before getting behind her. "Little skinny, isn't she?" she asked before smacking Ahsoka's ass. "She serves her purpose." Lux admitted stopping a potential fight from breaking out. Bo than looked at me. "You got a name?" she asked me.
"John Marston." I replied thinking of the first name that came to mind. I then noticed Artoo and Lycan exiting the ship, the later with Ahsoka's sabers but quickly hid them when Ahsoka shock her head. "The Loth Wolf is with me." I said quickly.
"We leave now. The snow is coming." Bo said shoving past Ahsoka.
"What have you gotten us into?" Ahsoka whispered angrily to Lux. "It's all under control." Lux replied as a RGC-16 speeder pulled up flanked by two Balutar-class swoop bikes.
"These are the Death Watch. They're Mandalorian terrorists, they'll kill all three of us." Ahsoka whispered before another Mando questioned why we were stalling. Ahsoka tried to stay with the ship but was brought along. "I need to send a message. Leave me a speeder and I catch up." I said and entered the ship quickly.
I activated the communications system and sent a distress call to Erik and Fenrir. Since they had experience with Death Watch I knew were going to need some help. I quickly returned to the speeder and hoped on.
As the speeder flowed the rest of the terrorists, the driver spoke to me. "I like that jacket kid, where'd you get it?" he asked. "I bought it the last time I was on Coruscant. Before the war. Cost me over five-thousand credits." I lied quickly. "I have never seen a jacket like yours before. Must be a very expensive one." The driver added as Lycan ran ahead of us. "The Loth Wolf, you found him Lothal?" the driver asked.
"Yeah, been with me for three years. Why all the questions?" I asked. The driver than explained that there were two bounty hunters, one of them a Mandalorian with a pet Loth Wolf who has been disrupting their operations for some time after Mandalore kept its neutrality. Since then they have lost quite a lot of their weapons. I knew he was talking about Fenrir and Erik but said nothing to keep my real identity a secret for the time being.
When we arrived at the camp, I saw Death Watch members shooting the ground underneath a couple of beat up droids for a few laughs. Artoo was tasked to fix up the broken droids while Bo ordered the three of us to wait in one of the tents.
"Don't ruin my plan, okay?" Lux asked. "Plan? What plan?" Ahsoka and I asked at the same time causing us to look away from each other.
"This is a holotrace device." Lux began gesturing to the device on his wrist. "It can identify the origin of any holo transmission, I knew if I accuse Dooku of murder, I would be brought to face him, well, it worked and now I know Dooku's exact location. If Death Watch moves quick enough we can him is that enough of a plan for you two?" Lux stated to us.
"This is not some idealistic political group. They will take the information and kill you." Ahsoka replied strictly. "I knew you wouldn't understand. But 'John' does." Lux said in shame.
"Dooku didn't kill your mother. I spoke with him on Rhen Var after the events on Umbara about Krell and your mother's death. He never ordered it. My money is on Gunray or another member of the separatist leadership. They want the war to continue, not Dooku. If you kill him in cold blood, you're no better than Grievous." I stated. "Revenge will not bring back those we have lost, is that understood." I added.
"I thought you would understand what I am going through." Lux said in shame again.
"He does. But the Death Watch are murders sworn to destroy Jedi. You don't know what you're doing." Ahsoka said before Lux pulled her in and kissed her just as Pre Vizsla-entered the tent.
"Am I interrupting something?" the leader asked as the two 'lovers' broke their kiss. "We were just…" Lux began before Vizsla ordered Bo to take Ahsoka away. "Him too." Vizsla said pointing to me. "I am his bodyguard so I will stay outside the tent." I said and left the tent.
I heard the entire conversation between Lux and Vizsla and it appeared that my words about Dooku not being the one responsible for Mina's death were starting to affect Lux. But Vizsla mentioned the scars he got from me and Dooku and from the sound of things, had been given the information.
When they exited the tent, Vizsla mentioned something about celebrating which caught me off guard and I bumped into a Death Watch member and my sabers fell out from inside my jacket. "Where did you get those?" the member asked pointing his blaster at me. I was about to pull my own blaster when Vizsla walked over and picked up my sabers.
"You killed a Jedi, didn't you?" he asked me. "Yeah, so what off it? The Jedi was wrong so I killed him and took his weapons so that I may have better protection against others like them." I lied as Vizsla activated my weapons. "Well you are certainly quiet the warrior. I think you may even give me a good challenge." Vizsla stated, deactivating my sabers and handing them back to me. "I think a one-on-one sparring match is in order. If you are up to it, Mr. Marston." The leader of Death Watch said and looked me in the eyes. "First off, call me John. Second, you're on." I declared before my stomach growled. "Food first, then spar tomorrow." I said and followed Pre and Lux to the main tent.
As I trudged through the snow, Lycan came up alongside me and that's when I sensed that Erik and Fenrir had arrived on the planet. "Go find them. Let them know where the camp is." I whispered to the Loth Wolf who then ran off to find his real owner.
A blizzard soon began and while the Death Watch members were enjoying the meal, I was plagued by a headache and soon saw another image of me when I was younger. This time I was in a cell and staring the wall intensely while a bunch of people were taking notes and observing what I would do. I was brought back into reality when Bo walked over and questioned why I wasn't eating.
Quickly I picked up the bowl of whatever this crap was and about to eat it when three Ming Po males walked into the tent. "Chieftain Pieter, I don't remember summoning you." Vizsla said as he stood up. Apparently, Ahsoka told me that the 'noble' group had abducted the women from a nearby village, stole their food and threatened them for too long. At first glance, Vizsla was going to hand over the women and leave the planet first thing in the morning and Lux actually believed him, but I knew better.
Later that knight, the blizzard had stopped and while everyone was asleep I went to find Fenrir and Erik. I must have trekked through the snow for about an hour before a couple of Death Watch goons spotted me and were about to escort me back when a set of two ten-inch blades pierced one of the terrorist's chest and the other fell with a head shot.
I looked up and saw Erik retract his blades and let the body fall into the snow. "Nice kill." I complimented as he pulled me to my feet. "Good thing you contacted us. Death Watch has been a plague on the Ming Po for some time." Erik said as Fenrir ran up to me. "Vizsla isn't going to keep his promise. He is going to torch the village and kill the weak. We can't let that happen." Bralor stated.
"I have an idea. If you two can set up a sniper position away from the village you can snipe the bastards right as they are about to torch the place. These people need to have a home to come back to." I stated. The two nodded and soon departed while I headed back to the camp with Lycan and fell asleep as quickly as possible.
Normal point of view
The next morning while the men of the village waited for Vizsla and his forces to return their women and food, unbeknownst to the villagers or Death Watch, Fenrir and Erik had set up the sniping position on the ridge about twenty-five yards from the village and were checking their equipment.
Erik had brought the Canadian C14 Timberwolf bolt-action sniper rifle which he equipped with a more enhanced sniper scope, suppressor, bipod and ten-round box magazine for long range shooting. For medium range combat he brought a C8 SFW carbine which he had modified with an Eotech Holographic sight, Thermold polymer magazine which held forty-five and forward hand grip for increase control. Fenrir on the other hand had configured his DC17 ICWS to sniper mode and peered through the scope.
"Wind resistance is low, so bullet drop won't be a problem for you Erik. Death Watch hasn't arrived yet but we need to be on alert." Fenrir said to his partner. "Don't worry. It's like I said on Naboo, I am a good shot with any weapon. Slug-thrower or otherwise." Erik remined his partner just as Lycan's fur went up and the group spotted two RGC-16 speeders carrying the women of the village escorted by two Balutar swoop bikes. "Targets approaching." Erik said as he opened the bipod and set up for battle.
Down in the village, the speeders came to a stop and Vizsla landed in front of the chieftain. Pieter was grateful at first but soon became concerned when Death Watch forces landed on the roofs of the village buildings. "I am a man of my word. Here is your granddaughter as promised." Vizsla said and shoved Tryla to her grandfather.
"I told you they were noble." Lux whispered to Robert and Ahsoka. But he was wrong.
The second Tryla was in her grandfather's arms, Vizsla ignited the Dark Saber and stabbed her in the back. While Ahsoka ran to try and help the girl Vizsla ordered his men to attack the village. "What are you doing?" Lux asked in surprise. "Never let the weak tell you what to do. Welcome to Death Watch." Vizsla explained as his forces began to burn the village to the ground.
Robert had enough of acting and within seconds of Vizsla's order, unzipped his jacket and pulled his blaster out and fired at one of the Death Watch members that was burning the village. He then turned to Vizsla. "You call me a weak one, but you attack the helpless. You're the weak one." He stated.
"So, 'Marston' is the Lone Wolf. I didn't recognize you with the scar on your face, but it doesn't matter now. KILL HIM!" Vizsla ordered and two of his followers charged towards Robert with their blasters blazing. Robert however backflipped and avoided each shot from the terrorists and on the final flip, fired his blaster nailing both attackers in the chest with a single bolt.
One of the flame thrower troopers was hit by a pole that Ahsoka had thrown after deciding to take action and killed the trooper before attacking several other Death Watch members with another pole only for it to cut in half by Vizsla before she was wrapped by several cables and subdued. "Now what do we have here? I think we've caught ourselves a Jedi." Vizsla stated. "Drag her back to Camp. Bo, take care of the Lone Wolf and then return to Camp." Vizsla ordered.
Bo nodded and took several of the other Death Watch personal and went after Robert.
From their position, Erik and Fenrir each killed two Death Watch flame troopers and were about to target another when they noticed a swarm of Death Watch members flying towards the other end of the village. "Looks Robert had been compromised. We better go save his ass." Fenrir joked and switched his blaster to rifle mode and followed the terrorist fliers with Erik and Lycan close behind him.
The wind didn't hamper his vision, but Robert kept on running away from the village. 'Let them focus on me and forget the villagers. To many have died already." He thought before Bo landed in front of him flanked by eighteen other Death Watch members. "You really had us fooled child." Bo began and used her own cable to pull Roberts blaster from him.
"I know who you are and what you did for the duchess. I would say thanks if she wasn't dragging our name through the mud." She added.
"You use the acts of terrorism to make a point. Such actions tarnish the very name Mandalorian. We are warriors, but this is dishonorable. I would never condone the actions you have taken today and neither would my mother." Robert stated as he spotted Erik, Fenrir and Lycan in the tree line on the right.
"What, are you saying you are Mandalorian? You aren't, you're from a back-water planet." Bo spat to him. "That's were you are wrong. I am Mandalorian and so was my mother. She was a Jedi and I am something more. She would be disgusted at these actions so would your sister." Robert retorted.
Bo had enough and raised her hand ordering the other terrorists to raise their blasters and prepare to fire. "Anything you want to say before we blast you?" Bo asked.
Robert raised his head. "Yeah, if I were you I would have checked your surroundings before landing." Robert said and dropped to the ground. The moment he did, blaster bolts and 5.56mm armor piercing bullets soared from the tree line and cut down six of the terrorists while Lycan burst through the tree line and pounced on another and grabbed the terrorist by the neck with his mouth.
Bo was about to take off when Robert tackled her and knocked her helmet off, revealing her red hair and light green eyes. Bo closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable, but it didn't happen. Instead the sounds of weapon fire faded and she looked around to see all of her men were dead.
Robert than pulled her up and grabbed her neck. "I could kill you right now." He said cruelly. "But I need you to deliver a message. Tell your boss that I am coming back for my friends and he better be prepared to fight. Think you can do that?" he asked.
Bo nodded and Robert let go of her neck. "Try anything and I will kill you, regardless of who your sister is." Robert added as Bo picked up her helmet and flew back to camp. "Time to get to work." He said as Fenrir's ship touched down behind them.
(Rambo gear up theme begins)
He took off his jacket and his civilian attire and grabbed his robes. As he slipped on the breast plate over his bodysuit, he tied the robe off and attached the bare metal guards to his wrists and knees.
He then attached his lightsabers to his belt and walked out into the snowy environment. "You two get to the ship we took to get here and wait for us." He instructed the duo, who nodded and soon he dashed back towards the Death Watch camp.
(Theme ends)
Back at the camp, a storm was raging as Artoo finished repairing the damaged droids as Robert arrived before Death Watch returned. "Artoo, we got a problem." Robert began as the sound of jetpacks roared through the air above the camp and the two watched Ahsoka being dragged into one of the tents. Artoo then asked the droids if they would help him rescue his friends and they agreed. "I'll draw Vizsla out. With him occupied you can sneak in and give Ahsoka her sabers back." Robert said to the Astrodroid who beeped in agreement and told the other droids what to do.
Inside the tent, Ahsoka still bound by the cables of the four Death Watch members sat on the ground as Vizsla paced by Lux who was held back by another Death Watch members.
"Now, Lux Bonteri, this does not look good. This does not look good at all, I asked you to join us in good faith and you bring a Jedi and the Lone Wolf into our camp." Vizsla said summarizing the situation. "They weren't supposed to be here and the Lone Wolf is gone. Please let her go." Lux begged, but the Death Watch leader didn't care.
"I'm afraid that's not an option." Vizsla stated and unsheathed the Dark saber. "I believed you had honor, but your just murderers! Your no better than Dooku!" Lux snapped.
"You call us murderers? Yet it was your own lust for revenge that made you seek us out." Pre remined him. "I wanted justice for my mother's death." The onderonian boy said in rage.
"And you shall have it. But the Jedi are no different from Dooku and she will pay for their crimes against Mandalore." Vizsla answered and activated the ancient lightsaber, its black blade coming to life and brought up to Ahsoka's neck. "So, you see it's not murder at all. Its like you said, its justice." He stated and was about to sever Ahsoka's head when Bo came into the tent.
"Sir, The Lone Wolf is on his way here." Bo said. "Do not worry yourself, once I am finished with this Jedi we will be leaving." Vizsla said and once again prepared to bring his blade down on Ahsoka.
"VIZSLA!" a voice shouted from outside the tent. Annoyed that his attempt to kill Ahsoka was interrupted a third time, the former governor of Concordia stepped out of the tent and saw Robert standing in the middle of the storm with several terrorists training their blasters on him. "I challenge you to single combat." Robert declared, taking his sabers from his belt and activating them.
Vizsla just laughed and walked past the terrorists that had surrounded Robert. "Last time we fought, you gave me this scar and I was forced to retreat." Viszla remined the young soldier. "And since then I have gained more skill in bladed combat then I had then. I think it would increase your fear amongst the galaxy that the leader of Death Watch, killed the Republics greatest soldier and took his lightsabers as a trophy, don't you?" Robert said.
"Stand down. The boy is mine." Vizsla said and activated his own blade and then lunged at Robert
(Feel Invincible by Skillet begins)
Vizsla attempted a high strike to take Roberts head off, but the Lone Wolf ducked and countered with sweep kick knocking the leader of Death Watch to the ground and attempted to bring both his sabers onto his opponent, but Vizsla rolled to the left out of the way and fired his wrist blaster the moment he got back to his feet.
"The same as always, no honor." Robert spat as he blocked each blaster bolt and sent them flying into a nearby crate. "It's like I told you before, honor is for the weak." Vizsla spat and used his wrist mounted flamethrowers and tried to roast Robert.
Robert leapt into the air and landed behind several Death Watch members and pushed them aside with the force but didn't kill them. "That's where you're wrong." Robert spat as Vizsla stepped towards him as the spectators just watched in awe.
"Highly unlikely boy, when I wield the very saber constructed by my Ancestor. After all the Jedi that have fallen by its blade, do you think you can defeat me?" Vizsla asked as his saber locked against Roberts. "I hold no illusions about taking you down, Vizsla. But might derail your goal by humiliating you." Robert quipped and swung his sabers to the right, breaking the lock and send Vizsla skidding back a few feet in the snow.
"I may know the force, but I am going to fight you with out using it. A true warrior fights his opponents on an equal playing field and I am a true warrior." Robert spat and deflected more blaster bolts from Vizsla's wrist blaster.
"You dishonor your ancestor by taking these actions." Robert said as he noticed Artoo enter the tent that Ahsoka and Lux were in. "If you truly wish to honor your family name, then abandon your goal of returning Mandalore to its old ways and surrender. I promise you will receive a fair trial." Robert added.
Vizsla just laughed. "Mandalore will return to its old ways and will once again be feared all across the galaxy." He retorted and fired his wrist blaster again causing his opponent to deflect each shot and used the advantage to soar over head and attempt another strike to Roberts head.
Quickly, Robert ducked and slashed at Pre's jetpack destroying it. "Now, it's a fair fight." The earth born quipped and charged towards Vizsla attacking with a form V strike just as Ahsoka, Lux and Artoo emerged from the tent.
(Song ends)
"You tricked me." Vizsla shouted as the droids that Artoo repaired started to fire on the Death Watch soldiers. "I never trusted you in the first place, so I had a back up plan. Face it, Mandalore will never return to its old ways. Not while I am here to defend its current ideals." Robert said as Vizsla soon turned his attention to the droids.
Quickly, the four boarded the unguarded speeder and fled quickly. A couple of Death Watch goons and Bo tired to stop them but both Jedi downed two of the attackers and left a frustrated Bo behind.
As soon as they returned to the ship, Erik, Fenrir and Lycan powered up their own ship and took off with the others following close behind. By the time they reached the atmosphere, Artoo informed them that the escape pod was activated and much to Robert and Ahsoka's surprise, Lux was the one who activated it.
"I can't go with you two, you know that." Lux admitted from behind the door. "So, you're just running away. The republic can help you and we can change things, the three of us demonstrated that today." Robert said a little disappointed in Lux's current actions.
"We make a pretty good team, don't we?" Lux asked. "Yeah we do." Ahsoka responded looking down to the ground. "Don't worry we will meet again, I promise." Lux said. "You just be careful ok. No doubt other separatist leaders will be trying to kill you and Death Watch won't forget what you did." Robert warned his friend. "I know." Lux said as the pod detached from the ship and entered hyperspace.
"Hey don't worry, we will see him again. I got a gut feeling about this." Robert assured his friend. Ahsoka just smiled and hugged him. For the first time since the events of Umbara and Zygerria, Robert felt happy being with his friend, but that happiness was about to come to an end soon.
Final episode-based chapter done. I have been wanting to use Feel Invincible for some time and I figured this would be the right time, though I feel the fight I did was a bit of a letdown.
Looks like Robert has another dark chapter of his past that even he doesn't remember. Will it affect him in the future? Will Sidious use this to try and force our hero to the dark side and will he or Ahsoka admit their feelings for each other, if Robert has feelings that is.
Find out as the story of the first Earth Born Jedi Continues in the next chapter. Please read and review and I will see you than.