Chapter 20

Okuvad jerked awake, springing from his cot so quickly the rush left him swaying on the edge of a feint. He didn't know how long he'd slept. The ship had yet to enter the period of lights out, now calibrated to the natural cycle of Takodana. Rayjer remained on his bunk, not that Okuvad could use that as a measure of time. The clone wasn't likely to move around the ship much with so few people to visit. Rayjer assessed Okuvad with a concerned eye, and after weighing what he saw for a moment the clone also quickly removed himself from his bunk. "Trouble," the clone stated.

Okuvad held a finger up, asking Rayjer for a moment. He took a deep, steadying breath as he calmed his mind and searched his feelings for a sense of what had startled him from his sleep. He felt a presence on the edge of his senses, cold and shrouded. He looked Rayjer steadily in the eye. "My master approaches."

"Trouble. I'll inform the captain to prepare our departure," Rayjer said, rushing to the door.

"Rayjer!" Okuvad snapped, stopping the clone at the hatch. "Tell him to make it fast."

The clone nodded solemnly then bolted into the main corridor shouting alarm and banging on hatches. Hadron's remaining crew jumped into action the way only an experienced crew could. The captain quickly relieved Rayjer of his role and began barking orders from the aft section of the main corridor as he exited his own quarters.

"Inchinn! Get to the cockpit and initiate the startup sequence. I want Hadron engines hot in seven minutes. Rayjer, what in the stars is this about?"

"Unexpected company, Captain," the clone answered with all the snap and clarity expected from a professional soldier.

"Get to the armory," the captain commanded, unnecessarily. "Stelisto! Armory, now!"

Okuvad stepped from his quarters and caught the captain's attention with a quick upnod. "Let me talk to her before you do anything drastic," he pleaded.

The captain respond with an exasperated shrug and demanded, "Who in the stars is it? What's going on?"

He showed the captain his hands, trying to pacify him. "It's my master. She has found us." They stood staring at each other for a long moment, the captain's face unreadable. He shook his head as he turned away. He didn't give any orders to Okuvad. Not even a suggestion.

Okuvad found himself on Hadron's entry ramp, descending to the ground. The world glowed in the light of Takodana's setting sun; he'd nearly slept the day away. He stepped off as the ramp touched down and stood with his arms akimbo, feet apart and ready. Only then did he realize he'd given the captain the opportunity to leave all his troubles behind. Hadron could launch at any second, leaving Okuvad with his master. He squinted into the darkening forests and scanned for the familiar silhouette of Lai Stree approaching. She was close now. He could feel it.

"Do you wait for me, Apprentice. Or, do you guard this ship from my approach?" her voice called from the shadows.

Okuvad searched his feelings and found no answer, for her or himself. "I don't know," he called back in honest reply.

"You've done well in my absence. You acquainted yourself with these scoundrels, using them to escape our enemy. I'm proud of you, my young apprentice." Her voice had moved, seeming to come from the forest some hundred or more paces from where he first thought her.

"Our enemy?" he asked the twilight. "I've named no one my enemy."

"The Republic," came her voice from one place. "The Jedi," from yet another. "Our enemies."

Okuvad turned slowly from side-to-side, searching for Lai Stree. "How can you name them our enemies? We fled for peace."

Mocking laughter echoed from the forest. "Still a child. Naive. Innocent."

"That's no answer," he shouted back at Lai Stree. "I demand an answer: how can you name the Jedi our enemy?"

Lai Stree's laughter came to a harsh end, her voice snarling from the dark. "You demand? Who are you to make demands of me?"

"Why am I forced to?" Okuvad countered. "Truth should be freely given."

Her response came cold and quiet, seemingly whispered in his ear though he still could not see her. "They set themselves against me. Do you dare do the same?"

Okuvad ignored the accusation, refusing to let her provoke him. "The Jedi didn't set themselves to anything. They're only reacting to the orders of Chancellor Palpatine. We're no threat to the Republic. We've done nothing but search for knowledge and wisdom." He was pleading by the end, and he dipped his head in shame for the briefest moment. With his eyes off the treeline his instincts cried out, some primitive part of him that feared things lurking in the dark. He quickly looked to the forest once again, beads of a cold sweat breaking out on his skin.

Lai Stree's mocking laughter came once more. "The very essence of power." The laughing stopped with a sigh that swirled through the forest as wind. "You don't see it, do you?" she asked haughtily. "But, then, that's why I chose you. Because the thought would never occur to such a sweet child."

Frustration threatened the well up inside Okuvad, but he refused to surrender to his emotions. He inhaled crisp dusk air to cool his anger. "You'd rather run in circles than give me an answer. Why won't you reveal yourself?" Her answer came in actions rather than words. His keen eyes found her as he scanned the forest edge. Squatted near the edge of the clearing, her vague outline a black spot splayed against the deepening hues of the forest. Her eyes shined rufescent in the final rays of the setting sun. "Are you a threat to the chancellor?" he asked her.

"Threat?" Lai Stree crooned. "He fears no threats, but he will not abide a rival. There can be only two, and I sense he has at last found the apprentice he sought for so long. That leaves no room for me, or you."

A shiver trickled down Okuvad's spine. He'd tried to give her every benefit of the doubt. He'd seen the pieces already but refused to put them together holding onto the hope he erred, the hope things could return to the life he knew. Hope that did not exist. He had only one more question to ask. A question he didn't want to ask and she wouldn't want to answer, but Madam Kanata's advice rang in his ears. "On Utapau, how did you escape the Jedi?"

The dark shape of Lai Stree stood, a slight movement for her stocky legs. "I tire of your games and this planet. End this silly charade and come to me."

The Force flowed through Okuvad. He extended a trickle of will to his side and felt his lightsaber slide quietly from holster to hand, the salvaged hilt an imperfect fit but comforting nonetheless. "I'll only ask once more. How did you escape the Jedi?"

Lai Stree's lightsaber ignited in her hand, bathing her in red light. "How do you think?" she snarled.

Okuvad ignited his own blade, the silver beam wrapped in perse tendrils shining like sun-kissed amethyst. "You're not the master I'm looking for," he accused.

Lai Stree's answer was nearly a growl, beastial and filled with rage. "Then what use are you?"

Okuvad lept, propelling himself forward with the Force. Lai Stree vaulted to meet him in a clash of blades, argent and crimson. The impact sent them spinning as they crashed to the ground. Okuvad twirled his blade desperately hoping to catch Lai Stree off balance from the fall. Her lightsaber danced in her grotesquely long fingers, blocking his attacks. He swiped first for her face hoping for the quick kill, and when she pushed that attack up and over he continued the arc around and down to cut back for her legs. She blocked that with a swipe so hard it spun him away. He caught himself on the backstep and thrust hard, hoping to surprise her rushing in. She anticipated that move, too. Lai Stree touched his blade with her own and whipped them both in a tight circle. Overextended and off balance Okuvad failed to counter and watched in horror as his lightsaber spun free of his hands, deactivating and tumbling into the dark.

Okuvad shrieked, "Oh, sh-" cut off as her thrust of the Force sent him sailing backward. Panicked, he failed to right himself. He struck something unyielding, bones in his sword arm and shoulder shattering with the impact. He'd have screamed if Lai Stree's push hadn't knocked the air from him. Okuvad rolled onto his back and found himself staring up at Hadron's hull. She'd thrown him into one of the massive hydraulic arms supporting the entry ramp. A breathless scream escaped his lips-barely a whisper-as he impotently tried to will the ship and crew to flee. The air above him erupted in fire. He rolled his head to follow the length of the ramp up to the opening in the ship. Rayjer braced himself against the recoil of his cannon, the barrels spinning out a continuous stream of plasma bolts. To one side crouched Stelisto with a blaster carbine while the captain stood on the other with his pistols, each firing fast as their weapons were capable. Hadron's crew fought for him, the three laying down enough firepower to cut through a whole company of battle droids.

"Get back in the fight, Commander!" Rayjer bellowed. "We can't hold her long!"

"Flee," coughed Okuvad, too weak and too late. Lai Stree's lightsaber became an impenetrable shield, spinning deftly in one hand as she reached with the other. She tried the clone first. Okuvad saw his cybernetics sparking and straining against her will as Lai Stree tried ripping him from his perch with the Force, but Rayjer had learned his lesson from Okuvad. The clone's magnetized feet remained firmly rooted to the ramp's thick durasteel.

So she took Stelisto. The Du screamed as he flew through the air. Lai Stree barely interrupted the dazzling display of blocking to swipe at him as he flew past. The flicker of red passed through the length of his body, and a twitch of her offhand sent the halves disappearing into the forest. Just like that, Stelisto was gone. Rayjer learned that lesson, too. The six-barreled monstrosity of a weapon dropped to his feet and mechanical hands shot out to catch the captain before Lai Stree could tear him away. Rayjer twisted toward Hadron's interior and-with a backhanded toss-threw the captain as far into the ship as possible.

Lai Stree had her opening. The Force filled Okuvad as he sprang to his feet, broken arm flopping useless at his side. He hadn't seen his lightsaber land, but he felt the call of the kyber crystal within. As surely as the crystal had drawn him to Utapau he now called it into his working hand. Again he lept into the oncoming path of Lai Stree, stopping her before she could reach Hadron's ramp. She unleashed a barrage of attacks as she screamed in rage, but Okuvad surrendered himself to the Force letting it guide his hand. Anger fueled her strokes, each cut impacting his blade like a hammer. His blocks came a fraction ahead of the attacks as she tried battering him down, the Force feeling like a living being guiding his parries into perfect position. Lai Stree wouldn't fail to recognize his wounds and weakness. Even submerged in the grace of the Force he wouldn't be able to counter her for long. His wounds would inevitably slow his efforts and she knew it. Okuvad grimaced and feigned a stumble backward. Lai Stree took the bait! The thrust came for his heart, a kill move. Okuvad countered with the same whipping parry she'd used against him. A crimson lightsaber tumbled into the night. Triumph!

Lightning erupted from Lai Stree's gnarled fingers. Okuvad's body contorted with electricity that wracked his body and sent him reeling to the ground. He screamed as he felt the shattered bones of his arm and shoulder tearing into spasming muscles. He screamed and screamed and screamed, and the louder he screamed the harder she laughed. Then it stopped, and Okuvad gasped for air.

"Too dumb to see, too weak to fight. The perfect little stooge." Okuvad's vision blurred and spun. He couldn't see his lightsaber, and Lai Stree's attack had muddled his senses. He couldn't maintain his feeling of the Force to sense anything with it. He could see his master. She stood over him with her arm outstretched, but not pointing at him. He followed the line of her arm to find Rayjer fighting against her thrust of the Force. The clone snarled like an animal as he pushed against her will, his magnetized feet and her power locked in stalemate. The clone leaned into her will, his body at an impossible angle as though he struggled against a great wind. Enraged, he slammed his mechanical hands into the ramp and tried launching himself forward with the power of his four limbs. He didn't move.

Lai Stree tore her eyes from Rayjer and looked down on Okuvad with disgust. "You almost convinced me you could be useful, that I should give you a chance." She shook her head with contempt. "Look at what you've become. Allies with this thing," she said with a nod toward the clone. "Fighting for the Light like some pathetic Jedi."

He couldn't fight her. He couldn't overpower her. He was broken and beaten, defeated beyond doubt. "Im sorry," he cried to his master. "I'm sorry. Have mercy!" he pleaded, rolling onto his knees and good arm, groveling at her feet. "I didn't understand your power," he swore, lying his head on her feet as he prostrated himself before her. "Have mercy!"

"You could never be a worthy appren-Rrraaaaaiiiiiieeeeeeee!"

Lai Stree screamed as Okuvad's teeth sank into her leg. Her concentration faltered for only the barest fraction of a second, but Rayjer had the fastest reflexes credits could buy. He hit her harder than a charging Wookie. Okuvad tasted blood in his mouth as the impact tore Lai Stree away, leaving only a shred of flesh between his teeth.

CT-19-8412 wrenched his hand free of the clinging remains of the creature's chest, flicking the lingering bits of gore from his cybernetics. "Messier than killing clankers," he complained to no one in particular. He turned to his commander, ringlets of smoke rising from the poor boy. "Commander," he asked, "can you stand?"

"I feel terrible," the commander wheezed, spitting trace's of the creature's blood from his mouth. "Help me to my feet."

CT-19-8412 placed his hand in the armpit of the commander's uninjured arm and lifted gently as his mechanical limbs allowed. He maintained a steady pressure as the commander slowly pulled his legs under him and rose. He waited patiently while the commander wobbled slightly trying to find his balance. "Sir, we need to get you to the medbay."

The commander held up his good hand trying to place his soldier at east. "I only need a second."

"You can take your second while you're marching to the medbay, or you can take your second waking up in the medbay with all these injuries AND a sore jaw."

The commander groaned his defeat. "Fine," he barked. He held his hand out and CT-19-8412 watched uneasily as a deactivated lightsaber hilt floated from the dark into his outstretched fingers. He carefully slid the device into the leather holster hanging from his belt. "Lead the way."

CT-19-8412 made his way up the ramp slowly to avoid agitating the commanders wounds. They'd nearly entered the ship when the commander stopped and once more held out his hand. The creature's lightsaber came tumbling out of the dark to land in his hand with a meaty smack. "I'm keeping this," the commander said.

"A trophy?" CT-19-8412 asked.

The commander shook his head. "I don't know. A keepsake, maybe. Something so I don't forget."

They left the captain where they found him, crumpled unconscious against the corridor bulkhead. He was still breathing with no signs of bleeding or broken limbs. He thought the captain likely had a mild concussion from his impact inside the ship. He'd wake soon enough. The commander took priority for immediate care. He managed to reach the medbay under his own power, though CT-19-8412 needed to lift him onto the bed. The commander gingerly tried manipulating his damaged arm while CT-19-8412 rummaged through the psychotic doctor's storage for supplies. He palmed a hypodermic injector filled with a few choice ingredients. "Commander, this should help until we can find someone to fix you up." He didn't wait for an answer, injecting the cocktail into the boy's thigh.

"Youch!" the commander cried, jumping slightly from the injection. "If I wasn't already in so much pain I'd complain about tha-whoa. Got shot of the good stuff…" he slurred as he sank into his slumber, arm and legs splaying outward on the bed.

CT-19-8412 left the commander behind and stomped his way to the cockpit where the ship's clanker pilot and sole conscious crewmember busied themselves at the controls. "Status report!" he demanded of the pair.

"CT-19-8412, as a mere passenger of the ship you do not carry the authority to demand a status report," the droid pilot chirped.

The skeletal being in the copilot chair chastised the droid, "Dani, this isn't the time." He didn't turn around as he continued the boot sequence for the ship. The engines hadn't even fired yet. CT-19-8412 realized the fight below had lasted barely more than a minute, though it felt like an hour. "Rayjer, is Jocque still alive?"

"He is. The commander, too."

Inchinn knew how to read between the lines. "Poor, Stelisto," he said quietly. The Givin shook his head dramatically, "No time for that now. I need Jocque in the cockpit. Comms and the HoloNet are going nuts."

"The captain's out cold. Update me while you get us off this planet," he demanded.

Inchinn hesitated, and he worried the often unsociable alien might ignore the order. Inchinn tapped one bone-white finger on the console in a steady beat before deciding. "It's all bad news," he said at last. "HoloNet News reports the Jedi have turned on the Republic. They attempted to assassinate Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Attempted and failed. Palpatine has been declared or declared himself emperor-that part isn't clear-and the rumor on comms is the clone army is now hunting Jedi across the galaxy."

CT-19-8412 whispered under his breath, "Order 66."

"What did you say?" Inchinn asked quickly, turning stiffly to look at his passenger.

"Nothing," he answered. "Get this ship in orbit." He stormed out of the cockpit, shaking his head in confusion. He needed space and time to think but found himself back in the medbay, standing over the boy who had done so much for him. He looked down at the boy who had treated him like a human for the first time ages. The boy who'd thrown himself at pirates and that creature to defend this ship and crew. CT-19-8412 barely felt the weight of the DL-44 in his hand. He'd never seen Okuvad do anything that warranted execution. He felt something inside him, something that wanted to dominate him and control him. A thing he'd always known was there but never admitted. The thing the clones never spoke about but all knew, sharing sidelong glances and hidden glares behind the Jedi's backs. But, Okuvad wasn't like those Jedi. The compulsion tested his resolve. He knew, that for one of them to live the other must die.

The cool metal of the blaster pressed against warm flesh.

Jocque woke to find himself in a crumpled heap upon the deck. Pain throbbed throughout every millimeter of his being. Gingerly, he set to righting himself, slowly twisting and turning until he sat with his back to the bulkhead and his legs stretched in front of him. Something important had happened. Or, was happening. His head slumped to his chest as he tried to remember, one hand shielding his eyes from the bright lights of the corridor. He peeked through the tiny slits between his fingers trying to find something to jog his memory.

His eyes fell on the shapes of his pistols on the deck near him. He collected them slowly, one at a time. He holstered one pistol across his belly easy enough, but he couldn't fit the blaster into the other holster while seated. Groans filled the corridor as he used the wall to shimmy back to his feet. He prodded carelessly with the pistol trying to find the holster, nearly dropping the thing before it finally slid into place. Why had he-?

A memory returned to him with a snap. A firefight! Outside the ship! That thing battling Okuvad. Stars, it murdered Stelisto! Jocque tried his damnedest to make his brain work again. They had been outside… He looked to the entry ramp and found someone had raised it, setting the locks for flight. Had he done that? The corridor was empty and awash with white light. Sunset. He could remember the sun had set when they were fighting, but the white lights were still on. Overriding the night cycle was a manual action; someone was still alive.

Phwam! The report of a blaster discharge echoed through the corridor. The volume of the shot sent Jocque's head whirling dangerously, and he nearly collapsed from the throbbing assault on his senses. "That came from the forward end of the ship," he told himself, trying to talk his body into cooperation. "Do something, you idiot!"

Jocque stumbled down the corridor, one hand pressed against the bulkheads and hatches keeping him from keeling over. All the hatches were closed except the medical suite and cockpit. Inchinn stepped into the galley, stiff legs and arms jerking hurridley. "Get back in the cockpit and do"-Jocque couldn't remember if he'd ordered the Givin to do anything-"whatever you're supposed to be doing."

He stumbled into the open hatch of the medical suite, expecting that thing Okuvad had fought waiting to cut him in half. He found Rayjer instead, standing to one side of the medical bed casually twirling his blaster back into the holster on his thigh. The smell in the compartment turned Jocque's stomach, and he slumped a shoulder against the hatch to keep his feet. Okuvad was on the bed, arms and feet splayed in utter relaxation. Jocque searched the boy looking for signs of…

"What have you done!" Jocque screamed in terrible realization. "What have you done!"

CT-19-8412 studied the body of the traitor Jedi-justly executed per the will of Emperor Palpatine-before turning to the captain, confused. "What do you mean, sir? I'm a soldier," he answered, "and good soldiers follow orders."