Disclaimer – all original Star Wars characters in this fanfic (excluding my OC's) are the property of Lucasfilm and Disney.

Chapter 25 "Citadel Rescue – part 4"

Belderone Sector, Lola Sayu, Outside The Citadel.

The forces of the Kingdom managed to reach the wall with the entry point after cutting down the Demented and killing the worms. Anakin noticed that the task of getting the Padawans down would be far more difficult than he originally thought.

The underside of the platform of the entry point above the ledge on which they stood was really hard to spot from their position. Even if they were able to catch them with the Force, the Padawans couldn't simply just jump down because of the electro-mines, if they were falling closer to the wall, or at the end into the molten sulfur, they would be falling too far from them.

Anakin needed to find a quick solution for this problem or the Padawans wouldn't be able to survive this. Right now, however, they had other problems. All the Demented in the area heard the earlier fight and even the ones in the Citadel dashed through the entry point above them and jumped down towards the sounds of battle. Luckily, the majority of them were zapped by the electro-mines or landed in the river. Even the ones who managed to hit the ledge were crushed by the fall and the worms, who left the broken bodies, were quickly dealt with by the Knights.

The Demented, who were outside the Citadel, attacked the shields of the Sentinels, who stood their ground thanks to Plo Koon and Aritia, who stood behind the droids and held them steadily with the Force. The good news was that, there was only one way from which the Demented could attack them since the group stood on the ledge between the wall and the yellowish river and their superior numbers did not matter, the bad news was that their way back to the ship was cut off and they were in the open for any airborne attack.

The Knights ordered the Sentinels to not use their lightsabers just yet since the number of worms, which could leave the dead bodies could turn out to be to much for them to handle all at once.

"Any ideas?!" Ahsoka asked looking at Shaak Ti. The two Togrutas stood behind Plo Koon and Aritia and quickly pushed away any of the Demented that jumped over the line of Sentinels. "We can't keep this up forever!"

"We could push them one by one into the river, but it would take too long!" Ti replied.

"Then let's get rid of them in one swoop!" Anakin suggested, approaching the two. His eyes were fixed on the wall. "I'll tear down the pieces of the wall above them and push them into the river along with a part of the ledge, you need to pull the Sentinels back at the last second so that they won't be caught!"

"And how are we gonna return to the Silent Shadow with the injured and exhausted Padawans if you destroy the part of the ledge?!" Ti asked not convinced by Anakin's idea.

"We can cross that bridge when we come to it, but now, our only way back is blocked by them!" Anakin replied, pointing at the screaming group of humanoids. "And we can't risk one of those worms infecting the Padawans after we start killing those things."

"He's right!" Aritia, who kept her eyes on the Sentinels, seconded. "We can think about our way back more calmly without a group of these crazy creatures, breathing down our necks!"

"Agreed," Ahsoka nodded.

Shaak Ti also nodded in agreement and focused on the Sentinels along with the younger Togruta. Aritia and Plo stepped back while keeping their telekinetic hold on the Sentinels. Anakin extended his hands towards the wall and closed his eyes. An intensifying, trembling sound began to issue from above as the whole wall began to crack and the electro-mines began to detonate due to the motion. With a groan, Anakin pulled his hands down. The mines and large pieces of rubble flew down towards the ledge.

"Now!" Plo Koon screamed. He and the female Knights used the Force to pull all the Sentinels backward. The Demented in front, who were pressing against their shields, fell over and the ones behind them immediately trampled them, wanting to attack the Knights, but the avalanche simply swapped them into the river.

The number of rocks was so high that the ledge wasn't only destroyed, but completely covered up and the way back was blocked.

"That could've ended better," commented Ahsoka. "Now we need to deal with the rubble."

"I prefer it over the screaming and raging monsters," stated Aritia.

"At least now we have the time to think about a way to get the Padawans down safely," said Plo Koon.

"Why didn't we use the Silent Shadow?" asked Ahsoka. "Its teleporter can be set to a long-range mode to teleport a person directly aboard by locating its Force signature. Deiven told me he used it that way to teleport HK, my mother and your mother back on Tatooine before the clone wars. We could board it, fly over to the Citadel, locate the Force signatures of the Padawans and then teleport them aboard the Silent Shadow."

"Yeah, I already suggested that idea before the mission," replied Anakin. "Unfortunately, the ship needs to have specific data in its system to recognize the Force signature, which is a complicated process to input such data, and it only has the data of the four ArchKnights. Even if we were able to locate ArchKnight Zai'shira's Force signature, she can only bring two other people with her during one teleportation. So that won't work unless we would want to get only her. Still a good idea."

The human looked up and scratched his beard. "Actually..." Anakin trailed off and turned his head when he heard the sound of engines and felt Force signatures. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me!"

All the other Knights turned their heads to look in the same direction and spotted two large gunships closing in on their position. "This is bad!" said Plo Koon. "We're out in the open!"

"Shields!" Anakin screamed towards the Sentinels, who quickly formed a straight line along the ledge.

"Got any more ideas?!" Shaak asked Anakin.

"Actually... I do, thanks to Ahsoka," assured Anakin. "And I even know how to get the Padawans down from the entry point!"

"Should I be worried?" Shaak asked again.

"I'll use the Force to throw both you and Ahsoka towards the gunship, which you'll hijack and fly close to the entry point," explained Anakin. "We would use the Silent Shadow for that, but in this situation, we have no time. The Padawans won't need to jump down, instead, they'll board the gunship and you'll take them to the Silent Shadow."

"What about the other gunship?!" Ahsoka asked. "I don't like the thought of being shot down!"

"We'll take care of it!" assured Plo Koon.

"Here they come!" announced Aritia.

The gunships flew towards the ledge and immediately turned sideways towards the Knights. Anakin actually recognized the old Amphibious Interstellar Assault Transport/infantry gunship models or simply AIAT/is, which were used by the Republic's Judicial Forces before the clone wars.

Painted red and black, the gunships were propelled by a pair of oversized sublight engines, and with 31.5 meters long, 12.5 meters high, and a 30-meter wingspan, they could carry either 350 cubic meters of cargo or 50 troops. They were also capable of landing on water.

Their hatches opened and troops in full black armors and armed with blaster rifles unleashed at the Knights. Luckily for them, the gunships weren't at full capacity. The shields of the Sentinels deflected the majority of energy bolts, but some flew past them and at the Knights, who began to deflect them with their lightsabers.

Immediately after, three yellow-plated orb-shaped probes flew out of the gunships and began to fly around the ledge, keeping a good distance from the fight. Ahsoka spotted them and guessed those were some kind of reconnaissance droids.

As the troops kept firing from a safe distance, two Esh-Kha, who stood behind them, pushed through and jumped towards the ledge with use of the Force. They landed behind the line of Sentinels and dashed towards Shaak Ti and Aritia with their vibroswords.

Shaak leaned back, avoiding the swing and quickly countered with a precise thrust with her blue-bladed lightsaber. The Esh-Kha leaned to the side as the blade grazed the armor on his shoulder. When he attacked again, the Togruta simply wanted to cleave his sword, but her energy blade was blocked by it.

"Cortosis-weave," Shaak Ti realized. It was a frugal swordsmithing technique commonly used on high-quality vibroblades and other melee weapons in order to make them able to withstand lightsaber blows. Since the amount of cortosis required for such effect was very little in comparison to a full cortosis alloy blade, the lightsabers didn't short out on contact.

The red-skinned Togruta created some distance between them with a backflip and took a Makashi opening stance. She held her the hilt of her lightsaber with her right hand, and at her side. The humming blade was pointed down, and her feet were shoulder width apart. The eyes of the Togruta turned yellow and she growled at the larger alien, snarling her canine teeth.

At the same time, Aritia fought against the second Esh-Kha and discovered that his vibroblade had the same effect. With her Ataru movement, she danced around the taller alien and avoided his deadly vibrosword swings.

Deflecting the energy bolts, Plo Koon and Anakin quickly moved towards Shaak Ti to help her, while Ahsoka dashed towards Aritia.

The High Atmosphere of Lola Sayu, The Dark Fear, Command Deck.

The Dread Masters observed the whole battle thanks to the probes, which flew around the area near the Citadel. The recorded images from each probe were being sent to the large, divided screen in the command deck of the Dark Fear and the two Dread Masters could watch as the Knights fought against their forces.

"Using the cortosis-weave on the vibroweapons of the Esh-Kha was a good move. Our forces can effectively fight the Knights of the Kingdom, but they're stronger than we expected," pointed out Styrak.

"Indeed," agreed Tyrans. "Their group lacks in numbers but makes up in skill, especially the Chosen One. He'll be a problem since he became stronger than in the memories of Count Dooku and Master Billaba."

"Master Shaak Ti and Master Plo Koon are also stronger," said Styrak. "We fought the Kel Dor on Felucia and he seems more aggressive than before. The fact that they survived the encounter with the Demented is proof of their combat ability. The squads we have sent won't be enough to deal with them."

Tyrans crossed his arms over his chest. "This would be an interesting obstacle to crack if time would be on our side, but it isn't," stated the Dread Master. "The Republic will be here soon and I don't want to divide our forces for a fruitless effort if the Padawans are going to end up rescued by the Kingdom. If we won't get the Padawans for ourselves, then we'll simply destroy the Citadel along with them."

As they watched the battle, they witnessed as the two Esh-Kha were slain by the Knights's teamwork. Skywalker extended his hands towards the two Togrutas, who dashed towards the edge of the ledge and pushed them with Force towards the gunships.

"Bold and risky strategy," commented Tyrans.

The Togrutas boarded one of the two gunships through the open hatch. The aircraft began to buckle and spun around. The troops were being tossed out of the aircraft and into the river below. The other gunship turned towards the first one and was about to open fire, but Skywalker lifted a large piece of rubble and hurled it at the gunship, hitting and damaging one of the sublight engines.

As the engine exploded, the AIAT/i spun around and fell into the river of molten sulfur.

The humans aboard the Dark Fear looked anxiously at the Dread Masters, fearing their reaction and anger. "S-Should we dispatch a-another squad my Lord?" asked the officer.

"No, it's time to visit our enemies and give them a taste of despair before ending their lives," replied Tyrans. Both he and Styrak turned around and left the command deck, leaving everyone with great relief.

Lola Sayu, Outside The Citadel.

Anakin watched as the hijacked gunship flew towards the entry point. Everything was going well... almost too well. He could feel the Force signatures of the Padawans and ArchKnight Zai'shira closing in, but he was feeling uneasy.

Aritia felt Anakin's emotions. She approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder, but before she could say anything, the two of them and Plo Koon felt great darkness closing in on them.

When they turned their heads, they spotted two darkish-red lights and two Dread Masters, who emerged from them. The Knights immediately reached for their lightsabers and activated them. "So you finally decided to face us!" Anakin stated.

"Yes, you should feel honored," replied Tyrans.

"Oh, I'm shaking from excitement!" mocked Aritia.

"Not yet, but you will be shaking in fear," Styrak said with a sinister tone.

"Don't act so high and mighty!" Anakin said with a smirk. "We know that your powers only grow the more of you are together, but there's only two of you now!"

The two Dread Masters chuckled evilly and suddenly, four darkish-red light began to appear right next to them. "Care to count again?" asked Tyrans. "You were right with only the first part."

"All of us are connected unlike any Jedi or Sith," stated Raptus, who's voice felt like it was made from needles, which pierced one's mind.

"We feel each other's pain and misery..." said Bestia.

"...and we can aid each other at any time..." said Brontes.

"...to fight as one," said Calphayus.

All six Dread Masters stood before the three Knights, who felt their terrifying presence and assault on their mental barriers. "Attack them!" Anakin ordered. The Sentinels turned around from the edge of the ledge and moved towards the Dread Masters with their shields raised and lightsabers ignited, but the six Sith Lord simultaneously extended their hands towards them. With one powerful shove, they sent all Sentinels flying along with dust and pieces of rocks into the yellow river.

"That's not good," said Aritia. Both she and Plo Koon had to brace themselves despite the fact that the telekinetic blast wasn't aimed at them.

Anakin growled under his nose and dashed towards the Sith Lords. The closer he got, the more the air around him became colder and the mental attack got stronger. If it weren't for the training Avelon put him through after his loss against Darth Zannah, he would've been defeated in seconds.

Calphayus reached for his saberstaff and ignited it. When the cyan-colored energy blades emerged from the hilts, the Sith Lord set up his red barrier around him and the other Dread Masters. Plo Koon noticed it was much bigger than the one on Felucia.

"Anakin, don't get inside the field!" warned the Kel Dor. Anakin heard Plo and stopped a few inches before it. He noticed that ground beneath it began to emit steam and even rocks started to decay.

Styrak ignited his purple-bladed lightsaber while Caplhayus began to rotate his saberstaff. Tyrans raised his hand and began to execute gestures while speaking in an old Sith language.

Anakin noticed that an orange circle with strange symbols appeared under his feet. "Anakin!" Aritia screamed. Reacting quickly, he jumped to the side at the last second. A tall column of fire erupted from the circle. "Damn Sith magic!" said Anakin.

Both Aritia and Plo ran up to the human. "My head is killing me!" admitted Aritia. "I can't focus on anything else than on my mental barriers! How do we fight them if we can't even concentrate on our Force abilities?!"

"We can't attack head-on, they got no openings and the longer we wait, the weaker our mental defenses become," stated Plo Koon. "This is a really bad situation."

Bestia raised her head, sensing the Padawans and the ArchKnight, who reached the entry point and began to board the gunship. "The Padawans," she announced. The other Dread Masters also raised their heads and looked at the aircraft above them.

"Don't even think about it!" Aritia exclaimed and shot Force lighting towards the Sith Lords. Styrak, however, simply caught it with his blade.

"Your struggle is futile," pointed out Raptus. His body began to glow in a violet-dark color. "Your death is inevitable."

Aritia grabbed her head, dropping her lightsaber and screamed in pain. Plo Koon placed a hand on the side of his head and hissed as he fell to his knee. The mental attack was overwhelming. Anakin looked at the Firrerreo and quickly switched his sight back at the Dread Masters. "Shut up!" he screamed and raised his hands towards the wall. He spotted that the gunship began to move away from the entry point, which meant for him that all the Padawans were on board and he could act.

Once again rocks began to crack, and the remaining electro-mines explode. Anakin felt the pain and the Sith Lord's mental attack pushing against his defenses, but despite that, he moved his hands downward, pulling down the wall on the Dread Masters.

Bestia raised her hands and the whole pile of rocks and sparking mines stopped in mid-air. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me!" Anakin complained.

"Don't be too disappointed," Bestia replied with feigned kindness. "No one can match our power."

Suddenly, a concussion missile was fired from the AIAT towards the Dread Masters. The missile didn't hit them, but the ground before them. The explosion created a shockwave, which knocked over Anakin, Plo Koon and Aritia. The dark smoke covered the ledge and limited the visibility.

Ahsoka, who piloted the gunship, moved it closer to the ledge and turned it sideways. Shaak Ti and Zai'shira jumped from the open hatch of the aircraft and onto the ledge. Both Togrutas ran up to Anakin, Plo Koon, and Aritia, whom they found thanks to their passive echolocation. The three Knights were stunned by the explosion. Luckily, they weren't harmed.

"Quickly, get them and let's go!" ordered Zai'shira, who grabbed Aritia's lightsaber. Shaak Ti lifted the Firrerreo and leaned her on her shoulder. With the Force, Shaak lifted Plo Koon and leaned him on her other shoulder.

Zai'shira grabbed the heavier Anakin and placed him across her shoulders. The ArchKnight didn't plan on fighting the Dread Masters since she knew that their real bodies were not here. It would be a pointless risk and a waste of energy.

Jaydon observed everything from the gunship carefully. Cries and whimpers were being heard in the aircraft as the presence of the Dread Masters took its toll on the exhausted Padawans, who were scared beyond belief.

"Are you okay?" Grievous asked suspiciously, looking at the mercenary. "You seem to be calm despite the situation."

"The mental attack of the Dread Masters doesn't work on me because I have a cybernetic implant in my brain," Jaydon explained poking himself in the side of his head. "It makes me immune to any mental attacks or mind tricks. It is a useful thing to have against a Jedi or Sith, especially against the Dread Masters."

Grievous noticed Zai'shira and Shaak Ti quickly walking towards the gunship with Aritia, Plo Koon and Anakin leaning on their shoulders. When a strong gust of wind dispersed the smoke, Jaydon's brown eyes widened, and he quickly yelled. "Look out!"

Zai'shira turned her head over her shoulder and noticed that the Dread Masters stood in the same spot, unfazed by the missile and with small pieces of metal and rocks levitating in front of them. "Oh, shit! Close the hatch! Now!"

As the Knights boarded the gunship, it began to close the hatch in the same moment as the Dread Masters hurled the small projectiles towards the aircraft. The sharp pieces pierced into the metal, but some managed to flew into the gunship before the hatch could close completely.

"Go!" Zai'shira yelled and the gunship flew away from the ledge and headed back to the gap where the Silent Shadow was hidden.

Jaydon looked at his arm, that got hit by one of the sharp rocks. Luckily, since he had mechanical arms, he wasn't hurt. He simply pulled out the rock and tossed it on the floor.

"Is everyone alright?!" Zai'shira asked as she turned towards the other Knights. She widened her eyes in shock when she looked at Shaak Ti, who fell to the floor of the gunship with the dazed Plo Koon and Aritia. A piece of metal hit her in the back and its pointy end went through her chest. The Togruta's heart was pierced by the metal and she died on the spot.

Silence filled the gunship and only the sound of the engines was heard as everyone stared in shock at the dead body of the Togrutan Knight. Zai'shira didn't need to check the state of Ti, her senses told her everything. She was partially glad that Plo, Aritia and especially Anakin were stunned to the point that they really didn't comprehend what happened.

When Ahsoka landed the gunship in the same gap near the Silent Shadow, she quickly stood up and left the cockpit. The young Togruta noticed Grievous, who lifted and held Shaak's body in his mechanical arms. Ahsoka covered her mouth and looked at her mother, who meet her gaze and closed her blue, sorrow-filled eyes.

In silence, the Padawans, Jaydon, and members of the Kingdom left the gunship and boarded the Silent Shadow, where the ArchKnight used the teleporter to take them to Shili. While the mission was finished, the Kingdom paid a price for this victory.

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