Chapter 24
Duel of the Fates I
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"Oh, looks like someone over there is thinking."
One moment the allied fleet was remaining in position, trading fire, and the next they were firing up their engines and rushing to meet his vanguard head-on. Someone seemed to have taken the time to study the schematics of the Lucrehulk Heavy Freighters, and saw that their weapons were mainly long ranged turbolaser batteries. The best logical course would be to close the distance and engage them in close quarters combat, something the smaller ships of the Allied fleet would excel at.
The Allied navies Starfighter squadrons, orders given and numbers augmented with Jedi Delta-6's reformed and slammed right into the droids. They were moving and engaging at a level of organisation and intensity he had not come to expect from a surprised and demoralised enemy, unless they had some outside help, probably in the form of a handful of Jedi adept at battle-meditation.
Soon the two vanguards met, with the smaller Cruisers and Carriers soon got in amongst the much larger Federation warships. His vessels didn't dare fire their main weapons, the danger of friendly fire was too great, so they relied on what little close-quarters laser and ion cannons they had, and the overwhelming number of Vulture droid reserves disgorging from their hangers. Janus was confident that these small picket ships would soon be overwhelmed.
If they didn't have a Star Dreadnought amongst them, that is.
The Mandator speared into the vanguard ships, near endless banks of medium turbolaser batteries firing continuously at the vessels slowly encircling her. Small detonations scattered across the Lucrehulk's hulls, but such a large target was also a double-edged sword, and their main turbolasers opened up in response. Slamming against the military grade shields with impunity.
But the Star Dreadnought and her escorts did not slow, instead they continued to plough through, which made Janus pause for a moment. Soon enough an answer to his question flashed through his mind and he grinned.
Someone had remembered that this ship was the central control hub for the entire fleet. If it was knocked out of the battle then all of the droids on the surface would cease to function, and while the droids in orbit would still fight they would lose their central command and start to operate independently, unit cohesion would break down to basic protocol to individual vessels and the allies would emerge victorious.
However.
"All ships fire upon that Star Dreadnought!" Janus ordered. The B-1's who had taken over the functions of the bridge turned their heads and listened. "Target shield generators first, then weapon banks. All other ships are inconsequential, ignore them. If we cripple the Indomitable then victory is ours!"
"Roger, roger." The lead droid intoned before transmitting the orders to the entire fleet.
Who thought of that? He had studied all Commanders in the fleet and on the ground who could cause him trouble, and most of them were below notice but three. In orbit there were two who were brave enough to order such an assault, Corellian Commander Jaz Saltt and the infamous Jedi strategist Oppo Rancisis. On the ground his only concern was Jedi Master Even Piell, all others were young and inexperienced with no battle honours to their name.
"Choose another three ships and send them forward." Janus ordered, then frowned as he caught himself. Was he so worried that he would weaken the force that would bring his vengeance to life? He was, it may take a little longer but as long as it was completed he didn't care. "The rest are to continue as planned."
"Roger, roger."
They wouldn't be able to last much longer.
Dooku eyed what men he had left, and didn't like what he saw. His Jedi and troopers had managed to fight their way to the hanger. They had lost a few men along the way, but they had been able to hook up with the remnants of two platoons of Corellian Defence Corps who had managed to retreat to the hanger and hold their ground. The third platoon had been wiped out before they could make it.
That left him with five Jedi including himself and Qui-Gon, and about twenty three men. That was twenty three out of the original sixty, and half of them were wounded in some fashion. Many could still hold a blaster, but half of them would not be able to walk much less run.
They had managed to setup a defensive perimeter within the hanger, creating a large three way defensive barricade in front of the two main entrances. They had withstood two major attacks by the droids, and they may be able to withstand another, but that would be it.
"Doesn't look good." Qui-Gon allowed, leaning against one of several crates they were using for the makeshift barricade. He had taken a glancing hit to his thigh, not bad enough to stifle his movement but by his occasional grimace it did hurt. "Any plans?"
"None." Dooku replied, still standing with his unlit lightsaber in his hand. His presence alone, tall and proud and undefeated, was the only thing keeping the morale of the troopers and Jedi surrounding him up. He didn't feel it but that wasn't the point. They needed to see him. Without it they would have given in to their end long ago. "Having second thoughts?"
"Yeah," Qui-Gon allowed as he used the crate to gain his footing. "I miss the temple. I miss meditating with the Knights and bickering with my apprentice over what we'll be having for lunch. I miss being harried by Younglings and apprentices and arguing with the High Council over the most trivial things. What can I saw? I just liked riling them up."
Dooku shook his head and chuckled.
"What?" Qui-Gon asked, brow furrowed.
Dooku waited until he had his moment of insanity under control, raising a hand until he was ready to speak. "I remember feeling the exact same way when I trained you and Vosa. I would always reminisce about the temple and wish for its peace when I was in a fight."
A raised brow from his fellow apprentice. "Always?"
"Always." Dooku affirmed, then his smile vanished and he sighed. "Galidraan changed all that. Until this moment I never thought I would think that way about the temple again."
Qui-Gon sighed. "Glad to know a prolonged near death experience has changed your mind."
A pregnant pause. "I don't remember you being this difficult."
"I learn from the best."
A laugh, a true laugh which startled all around them. "I should have expected that."
"You should have, really you should have." Jinn replied with a melancholic smile. "You're losing your edge, Master."
Dooku took a deep breath, regaining his composure before glaring at the doorway. "Another waves coming."
"How many?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Too many." He replied, lightsaber snapping to life.
Jinn ignited his own weapon, their fellow Jedi followed suit just as the troopers took their positions on the makeshift line, rifles aimed and ready. "It was a pleasure, Master."
"The pleasure was all mine, my former apprentice." Dooku replied with more than a little melancholy, falling into the Force just one last time, out of habit, to see the approaching enemy droids. He had done so before, to warn the soldiers around him of how many and where they would strike from, and only did so now out of habit.
"Make ready!" Jinn shouted.
His eyes snapped open. "Hold!"
"Master?" Qui-Gon asked, brow furrowing as his call seemed to shake awareness into the Jedi and troopers around them.
"Hold fire!" Dooku shouted. "Hold your fire!"
The doors opened to a firefight, blaster fire flashed across the hall. A droid seemed to be retreating across their firing line but was felled by a blaster bolt out of sight. The troopers aimed down their rifles, tense as the Jedi prepared to hop over the barricade and charge. Only the orders from Dooku stopped them from firing or charging.
A single figure appeared before them, making a run into the hanger. She was followed by many more either decked in the robes or light armour of Naboo Self-Defence Forces. They were taking up positions anywhere cover could be found, behind pillars or against walls, exchanging fire with droids just beyond their sight.
Over the din of combat the Queens voice bellowed loud and clear. "Get to your ships!"
Several dozen robed figures barrelled through the hanger entrance, making a beeline for the racked N-1 Starfighters to their right. One was unlucky as a blaster bolt slammed into his chest as he was running through the doors. Another fell as the security troopers waited for the pilots to rush through before following them in a tactical withdrawal.
"Close the blast doors!" Gunray, armed with a pistol, shouted over the din. "I take it you have private codes for them, your majesty!"
"Yes." The Queen bit back, obviously annoyed. "Input the date democracy came to Naboo, last two digits of day, month and year by the domestic calendar!"
"Yes, your highness!" One of the handmaidens responded.
Dooku was already hopping over their makeshift barricade, Qui-Gon hesitating for a brief moment before following in his wake. They stalked the distance between the two forces, passing by the pilots as they ran to their fighters. "Your highness, so nice of you to join us!"
"Master Dooku." The Queen acknowledged.
"I thought I told you to make a run for safety." The Jedi Master admonished, but there was no vehemence in his statement, only that of a tired old man who fully expected his order to be ignored.
The Queen shot him a dirty look. "And leave my people yet again, I refuse to do so."
N-1 Starfighters were already taking off from their racks, hovering just over their heads before turning and blasting their way through the exit with a flare of their ion engines, one after the other. He had never taken the time to look at the vessels before, but was amazed by their sleek and beautiful design, sharp and deadly in appearance.
"How many pilots?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Thirty eight." The Queen replied.
"With thirty eight fighters we may be able to tip the air war over Theed." Qui-Gon allowed. "If we can gain aerial superiority it will help us in the short term."
"We will not be using them for aerial superiority." The Queen replied grimly. "We will be sending them into high orbit to knock out the Federations flagship. That ship also serves as a Droid Control vessel for all Federation forces in the system. If we can knock it out we'll be able to disable all droids on the planet and stop all communications between their capital-ships. With that gone they'll fall back on basic defensive protocols which means-"
"Which means that they will prioritise the survival of their mother ships instead of the fleet as a whole." Dooku interceded, looking a little impressed at the young Monarch. "Worst case we'll be dealing with them one at a time but best case they will scatter, correct?"
"Correct." The Queen allowed.
Qui-Gon and Dooku exchanged a glance. "How close are the internal systems to the Delta-6?"
"The systems are similar." Gunray allowed.
"We will be going up with the squadrons, then." Jinn asked before sighing. "You don't need to answer. I know that's where we're going."
"What are you talking about?" Amidala scowled.
"Janus is the key." Dooku answered, as grim faced as his apprentice. "In order for this plan to be successful we need to find and defeat Janus. If he survives and escapes then this will repeat on every world he goes to until he is dead or the Republic crumbles. We need to destroy the architect to make sure this disaster doesn't repeat itself more than it already has."
"But we need you here!" The Queen replied tersely. "We won't be able to take back the palace without you and if we can't take back the palace then we won't be able to take the city. The troops will be slaughtered without your guidance."
"There are already several Jedi as able to lead as I." Dooku admonished. "And there are others able to lead. You are stronger than you think, your highness."
"Me?" She asked, face paling.
"Yes, you." The Jedi Master nodded, calm and sure in a way Amidala felt she would never be. "Push past your doubts and lead your people to victory. We will deal with the threat above, you will reclaim the palace for your people and for the Republic. Have faith in yourself. You have a sound mind and good people around them. Trust in them and in yourself."
She didn't answer for a long moment, free hand clenching into a fist as she thought. "That is unfair, Master Jedi."
"War rarely is fair." Dooku placed a hand on her shoulder as he spoke, making her eyes meet his. "Stand up, face your enemy and fight!"
She closed her eyes and nodded after a pause which seemed to last an eternity. "Very well."
Dooku turned to his former apprentice. "Qui-Gon."
"Yes?"
"We're going."
His stride was soon matched by his former apprentice. "Well, this will be interesting."
"Yes," Dooku agreed. "It will."
"Well," Saltt shouted over the din, hands gripping onto the holotable for balance as another explosion shook the superstructure. "We're right in the thick of it now!"
That they were. The fleet had just smashed through the vanguard vessels of the Federation navy. Their smaller Cruisers and escorts plunged into the fray, mixing in with the larger capital-ships. The Indomitable was right behind them, masses of turbolaser banks and ion cannons firing at will. Already the lead Lucrehulk was drifting away, small fires dotting its hull as its engines fizzled and died.
"Concentrate fire upon single ships. Starboard and port weapon crews are to aim for the closest enemy. Turn those bastards to molten slag!" Commander Huros roared. "Show them the firepower of a Star Dreadnought!"
"I want bomber squadrons making runs at the next line of capital-ships. Red Flight is to support the bombers. Blue and Green flight expand your defensive screen and engage those fighters with extreme prejudice!" Dumas ordered. "Advice transports they may begin their run for the surface. Black Flight is to shield them!"
The order had barely been given before the transports peeled away from their places at the rear of the fleet and made a run for the surface, smaller flashing lights of Black Flight forming up in four craft diamond formations around them. The main force didn't seem to notice them, but the small taskforce the enemy had in reserve did notice, fighters launching from their hangers. Black flight immediately turned to engage, but they were outnumbered by at least three to one.
"May the Force be with you." Rancisis intoned before turning back to the battle at hand.
Another blast struck, causing the ship to shake violently. A shadow falling upon them as one of the Lucrehulk Freighters fired its thrusters to bring it up and over them, its ventral turbolaser batteries opening up in streams of crimson. The shields on one of their smaller escorts failed, explosions dotting its surface before an explosion broke it in two, sending debris and people into the vacuum of space.
"We've lost the Surprise!" Dumas cried.
The Surprise, a CR-70 Corellian Corvette, one of the Corellian contingent of the fleet, fully crewed and armoured. A hundred and fifty men had just perished either in the searing flames or in the cold vacuum of space. Another ship, this one a larger Dreadnought Cruiser, was holding, but only just, another volley would implode the shields and another still would pepper the armoured hull.
"All dorsal batteries turn your fire on the ship above, aim for main weapons batteries. Pummel it!" He shouted.
There was a brief cease of fire, but then a storm of crimson turbolaser and blue ion fire flashed forth, a withering barrage which struck the underside of the Federation Capital-ship with apocalyptic force. The shields withstood the first barrage, but crumbled in the second and by the third volley the hull had been pierced, internal detonations could be seen on the scanners and the Heavy Freighter was rattled by several powerful internal explosions, one of which blew off one of its winding arms.
"Message received from transports." Saltt said from beside him. "They managed to break through. Black flight held them off long enough. They've broken atmosphere, cut off all communications and are hugging the ground. ETA to Theed approximately five minutes."
Rancisis let out a sigh of relief. "Finally some good news."
The Commander grimaced as the command deck shook again. "It'll all be for nothing if we don't break through."
He couldn't help but agree.
The battle was won.
Yoda sat on one of the upper steps at the mouth of the temple, gimmer stick held with firm hands as he surveyed the battlefield with tired eyes. The battle wasn't completely won. There were still pockets of droids causing havoc in the temple, including those Dark Jedi and assassin droids which were leading them, but the main force had been defeated at the steps and in the main hall. It was just a matter of mopping up the remnants.
But it didn't feel that way.
Yoda sighed, gnarled three digit hand rising to rub his face. The main hall and the main steps were littered with the sparking wrecks of droids, both skeletal B-1's, carapace armoured Droideka and even those robed assassin droids which they didn't have a designation for. There was also the still forms of Jedi littered amongst them. Early estimate put their casualties at sixty, but many knew it was much higher.
At least sixty of his students, and at nearly nine hundred Yoda had taught every Jedi alive at some point. The dead which were being reverently lifted and carried away were his students, his children, his kids. He had watched over all of them since they were little bundles you could hold in your arms. Each dead face reminded him of a baby, a toddler, a youngling, a Padawan who laughed at his antics and listened intently to his lectures.
At that moment, with that thought, Yoda felt so old.
"Master?"
Shaak Ti hovered over him, her robes discarded and blackened marks from near misses could be seen on her tunic and pants. He reached out with the force, and felt her bone-weary tiredness, her indecision and a deep sorrow which would rival the deepest sea. He felt this from many. "Sit with me, will you."
"Yes, Master."
She sat on the step heavily, almost as if she would have collapsed otherwise, a far cry from the regal and elegant figure she had become in her adult years, and a vast distance from the wide eyed and inquisitive child he had taught what seemed like several lifetimes ago. He reached out and took her hand, and found to his sorrow that it was quivering.
Yoda gave that elegant hand a comforting squeeze before letting go and using his gimmer stick to force his bone weary self to his feet. His students, his Jedi, looked to him for guidance, and they needed it now more than ever.
The code taught detachment from earthly things, but Yoda had always broken that rule, for there was one thing that he cherished and loved above all else. That was his students, his family, his Jedi. So many had perished ever since that girl and her comrades had fallen into their lap. There was even a small, traitorous part of him who wanted to blame them for this series of events which killed so many. But he knew better. If they had not come and interrupted their enemies plans the outcome would have been far worse.
He had seen as such.
Master Ti got to her feet and followed him, and she was soon joined by several other Masters and Knights, all of whom Yoda knew by name, as he descended the corpse riddled and cracked stone steps of the temple towards the ship landing in the middle of the clearing. Its wings folding into themselves as its landing struts landed with the dying embers of the engines and hisses of steam.
The cockpit opened and a single figure rose from it, cloaked but not hooded. A head of long sandy hair and beard in the midst of going grey was the first thing Yoda saw. The fighter craft was already surrounded by a crowd of Jedi as the figure stepped off the canopy and landed smoothly on the stone pathway leading to the temples steps.
Yoda felt what many around him did. He felt power, strong yet tempered, in the Force. This Human felt like a Jedi Master equivalent in raw strength to Master Windu or Koon, and yet he was a Jedi that many of those around him would be unfamiliar with, the same way as Rey felt unfamiliar when he first met her in the Council chambers.
"Master Skywalker." Yoda asked, gimmer stick tapping the ground as he spoke.
The old man looked at Yoda for a moment in astonishment, as if denying what his own eyes saw, before shaking himself and bowing his head low. "Master Yoda."
He tapped his shin with his gimmer stick. "None of that, yes?"
A blink of surprise followed by a melancholic smile. "Yes, Master."
Yoda did not know him, but at the same time he did. The memories he had managed to sift from his daughter had shown him a second hand version of events, and he hoped he would gain a first hand through him, but that was for later, should they both survive. "Over, this is not."
"Yes." Luke agreed, head turning towards the Senate building, multiple trails of smoke rising from the mushroom shaped structure. "It is not."
"Talk later, we will." Yoda smiled crookedly. "Yes?"
There was a moment of hesitance before Skywalker bowed. "Yes, Master."
"Good, good." Yoda nodded before turning to the still assembling mass of Jedi. "Volunteers, I need. Thirty Masters. Reclaim the Senate, we will! Step forward, those who wish!"
Every Master stepped forward, and Yoda sighed, tapping his gimmer stick against the stone in thought. "Choose I must, then."
"If I may ask, Master." Luke said lowly as he knelt beside the diminutive figure. "My daughter, what news?"
"Safe, she is." Yoda replied. "Feel it I do. Meet her again, you will."
Luke nodded, a brief glimpse of relief flooding him as he rose to his feet. "Thank you, Master."
"Thirty Masters will be chosen," Master Drallig called to the crowd. "The moment you hear your names called get to your ships and wait for instructions. All others are to report to senior Guardsmen and clear out what's left of enemy forces in the temple!"
"To your ship, Young Jedi." Yoda intoned. Luke nodded and jumped back onto the canopy with a force propelled leap, hopping into his cockpit just as it closed.
"Poe, Finn. Go into the temple and make sure Rey is alright." Luke ordered over the comm.
"What about you?" Poe asked.
"I'll be fine. Just go!"
"You don't need to tell us twice." Finn replied. "Good luck, General!"
"Yeah, you too."
One by one the thirty Jedi were called, and one by one they left the crowd and rushed up the steps towards the hanger bay where their ships were docked. Within ten minutes several Delta-6's and small transports were leaving the hangers and hovering into positon beside those already in the air. Soon the small flotilla of a single X-wing, a modified YT-1300 Freighter and six Delta-6's swelled to ten Delta-6's and a half dozen light transports.
"Master Skywalker." Gallia's voice echoed over the com. "We've just been advised you are in command. Give the order when ready."
Luke hesitated for a moment, shaking his head. "Will do. All units move out."
It wasn't the Jedi who were the first on the scene. The first was a squadron of A-6 Interceptors decked in the colours of the Judiciary, flying high before swinging around and diving as one, striking at the Federation air defence forces as much as they could with laser cannons.
They were soon joined by a trickle of Judiciary and Defence Force fighter and interceptor squadrons, engaging the shell of droid defences piecemeal. Every time a successful strafing run was engaged they chipped away at the air screen, until it became a chaotic battle of droid Vultures, STABs and armoured hover tanks taking on an enemy which was only getting stronger with more and more Defence Forces entering the fray.
By the time the taskforce of Jedi and allied ships were approaching all they could see was plumes of explosions and flashed of laser cannon fire. Luke flicked a few switches on his ships comm. "All ships form a wedge formation. Keep the transports safely in the middle, defend them at all costs. Is that understood?"
A chorus of agreement crackled over the communications array, and with a melancholic feeling of being a squadron leader in the Rebellion again Luke gave an order he had not given in nearly thirty years.
"Lock S-foils into attack position!" He called to his comrade in arms, and R-2 happily obliged. Soon his snubfighter was in the lead, laser cannons the first to fire and the signal for the Jedi all around him to open up as well. "All units engage, I repeat all units engage!"
They did. The Delta-6's and the Millennium Falcon opened up with laser cannons the moment the Vultures around them noticed their approach and moved to intercept, several of them were blown out of the sky as the formation smashed through the sphere they had setup and made a beeline towards the senate.
Soon droid fighters were on their tale and the Delta-6's scattered leaving the transports alone but the droids made a crucial mistake. They didn't go after the fighters who got in behind them and started picking them off, several Vultures became balls of flame before the remainder broke off pursuit to engage the Delta-6's. Luke knew the droids would make that mistake. Their goal was to stop any reinforcements from reaching the senate and providing aid, so being machines they would ignore escorts and go for the transports.
The result was several droid fighters destroyed, and the remainder either peeling off to escape or to engage the Delta-6's which left the small transports free to approach the main senate buildings. Soon they were joined by a handful of Jedi piloted craft who had managed to disengage from the skirmish, not many but enough.
"Temple leader to flight," Luke called into the comlink. "Let's take the senate back!"
A series of clicks was the sign of agreement.
The Command ships fighters were launching just as the Naboo broke orbit.
"All squadrons report in." Jinn ordered, flicking the last few switched for his Starfighters weapon systems.
"Alpha Flight, reporting in!"
"Echo Flight, reporting in!"
"This is Bravo Flight, reporting in!"
"Victor Flight, standing by!"
"Delta Flight, reporting in!"
"All fighters move into attack formation." Dooku ordered as the last flares of orbit dimmed away, leaving the starry expanse of space before them. "Alpha through Delta Flights engage the fighters. All other wings target the mother ship. Your targets include communications arrays, shield generators and heavy weapons batteries."
"Roger, Group Leader." Bravo Leader responded. His response was echoed by the other squadron leaders of the wing. "Engaging now!"
The three squadrons pushed forward, passing by Echo and Victor squadrons as they engaged the droid fighters head on. Soon the space between them and the enemy flagship was flashing with beams of energy and blooms of flame. The two squadrons broke through, within the range of their short range weapons screen, juking and jerking as plumes of flame snapped into existence all around them.
"Echo and Victor squadrons engage. I repeat Echo and Victor squadrons engage!" Dooku ordered as he turned his ship into a steep dive towards the nearest satellite dish.
His fighter swerved low, hugging the armoured surface, juking and jerking before coming into position. A squeeze of the trigger sent a duo of proton torpedoes flying which smashed right into the dish with an explosion of flame and debris. Jinn's fighter followed suit, firing another duo of torpedoes right into the same spot Dooku fired. The satellite dish was encompassed by a mass of flame and debris, stem collapsing around her.
"Well that's a nice start!" Qui-Gon sounded over the comlink.
Dooku smirked. "We are only just beginning. Second and third waves begin your attack runs!"
"Yes Commander!"
Another four N-1's fell away from the main attack unit, making their approach towards the next two communications arrays on the hull. Soon a few laser cannons began flaring as the fighters moved into attack formation. They were halfway there when a small formation of fighters appeared on their radar screen.
"Damn it." Dooku scowled as he watched the craft appear on screen. "Reserve craft intercept those fighters!"
"Copy, Group Leader!"
Three N-1's soon appeared behind the Vultures, nose mounted laser cannons firing once they were in positon. One of the fighter craft became a fireball of debris, the others broke away and scattered. The rest of the attack unit finished their run, blasting the second and third dishes into burning balls of slag before pulling away.
"We're going to need to make a run for that hanger bay!" Jinn's voice echoed over the comm.
"Agreed."Dooku replied. "Group Leader to Squadrons. We're making our run for the main hanger bay. Bravo Leader is now in command. Victor Flight is to cover!"
"Roger, Group Leader." Bravo Leader responded.
"Roger, Group Leader." Victor added. "We're right behind you!"
"You heard him, Qui-Gon." The old Jedi grimaced as a near miss shook his fighter. "Align with me. We're going in."
"Yes, Master."
The two fighters gunned their engines, circling around for a clear path to the hanger. Several Vultures gave chase but were soon picked off by three N-1's, laser cannons flaring as they swooped by. The enemy fighters scattered, but were coming around to engage the strafing Starfighters. The two Jedi continued to accelerate, juking and jerking as they dodged the defensive cannons, and then they punctured the ray shield and were in the hanger, passing by racks of fighters and transport ships.
"We may find landing difficult." Jinn quipped.
Dooku grimaced. "Who said anything about landing?"
He heard a sigh over the comlink. "I had a feeling you were going to say that."
"Find something big and juicy to crash into."
"The Naboo are going to be very angry with us."
"They'll get over it." Dooku shrugged.
He found a nice target in the form of a transport craft in the rear and turned his fighter right for it, just as it encompassed his screen he pulled on his ejection lever. The canopy blasted away, a brief bout of intense inertia as his bucket seat took off and then he was airborne. Dooku undid his crash webbing, used the Force to jump clear, somersaulted in mid-air and landed in a roll and a crouch.
The N-1 crashed right into the transport in an explosion of debris and flame, and the transport lost control, hitting the thick durasteel walls with a loud and final crash. The explosion which followed shook the hanger's very superstructure, but the Jedi Master didn't even glance behind his shoulder to admire his handiwork.
Qui-Gon had found a far better target. He crashed his N-1 right into the air traffic control tower, a large open foyer of computer banks protected by transparisteel window panels. Once flesh and blood crew manned that control post, organising and governing the hanger. Now they were full of droids whose wish was to kill them, so neither would lose any sleep over it.
He ran into his former Apprentice near the exit, droids were on both of their tales, giving chase, firing blasters which both men had to spin on the run and deflect with their lightsabers. They had just passed the opened blast doors when Qui-Gon shouted over the chaos. "Well, we're here. Now what?"
"Find Janus and end this!" Dooku replied.
"Sounds so easy." There was more than a little sarcasm in Qui-Gon's voice. A half dozen B-1 droids were rushing them, but neither Jedi slowed their step. Instead they broke out into a sprint, blades flashing as they both cut through the metal bodies and deflected any blaster fire which was too close for comfort without even a slack in stride. "I'm guessing he'll be on the bridge."
"Very astute." Dooku quipped.
"This is like Gamma Station all over again!"
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic!"
Rey advanced, lightsaber in her one good hand as she deflected blaster fire away. She was one of a group of half a dozen senior Apprentices and young Knights, led by the Pau'un Guardsman, forming a rough semi-circle around a pocket of battle-droids. They closed in slowly, methodically, each one focused on defence and deflection. The droids were falling not by combat but by their own blaster fire being deflected back at them.
As they had approached the main chamber their small number of six Jedi had slowly swelled into dozens as more and more joined their ranks. By the time they had reached one of the inner chambers leading to the great hall they were near thirty strong, and they had rushed right into a remnant of some fifty B-1 battle-droids. Under the leadership of the Guardsman they had managed to split the enemy, force them into corners and squeeze.
The droids had been cut down to a third of their original number, with no losses to them. It looked like they would mop them up without much trouble.
Then the assassin droids fell from the ceiling, blades gleaming in the low light, and their plan of containment crumbled. Rey watched as blades cut through the flesh of the Knight beside her, blood spatter flashing before she brought up her lightsaber to parry a vibroblade aimed for her head. She glared right into a pair of red eyes and then she was backpedalling, frantically sidestepping and dodging vicious slashes and strikes.
Most of the Jedi had turned to face the new threat, and for a deadly split-second forgot about the surviving droids they had been herding in. These same B-1's opened fire, downing two Jedi from her group and another from the second that she could see. This was all seen on the edge of her vision, for her focus was on her opponent.
But she was fighting with one arm, and fatigue dulled her movements. A metal foot slammed into her midsection, blasting the air from her lungs and sending her sprawling. The assassin towered over her, blade over its head and she was just able to block the overhead strike before frantically trying to scramble back. Her cybernetic hand didn't move the way she wanted it to, she lost balance and fell on her side.
Then Obi-Wan was there, deflecting the stabs aimed for her side and throat before pressing on. He was joined by the woman with feathery blonde hair, Siri if Rey remembered, and together they forced the assassin droid back. One of them managed to cut off one of its limbs, and Obi-Wan used an opening to impale the droid right through its carapace chest plate. It fell over, sparking.
"Get up, Rey!" Obi-Wan shouted.
Rey cursed under her breath but complied, scrambling to her feet just in time to deflect a crimson blade aimed for Siri's back. It was one of the Dark Acolytes, expressionless mask encompassing her vision. He pressed forward, focus now on her as he put his weight into their deadlock. There was no way she would be able to match strength with only one arm to his two, so Rey was forced back, step by agonising step.
The Acolyte followed her, lashing out with arching strokes followed by quick slashes. She was just able to block and deflect each strike, but knew she wouldn't be able to keep this up. Obi-Wan and his comrades were now committed to their own duels and wouldn't be able to help her. The assassin locked blades, pushing her back in a test of strength. He seemed to revel in it, and Rey knew he was toying with her.
A thought came to her. She pressed forward with all her weight, waiting until she was sure he was doing the same and then she quickly backpedalled, and just as she thought he lost his balance for a crucial second. A quick slash cut him from right hip to left shoulder, and he fell.
Rey was suddenly given some room, and she gasped for air. The Healers had been right. She was still recovering from having her hand cut off, having a cybernetic replacement fitted which she couldn't use properly because she needed specialist physical therapy and time. Running head on into a battle at this stage had been foolish, more of a hindrance than a help.
Still.
She was here now, and she would do what she could.
That thought had just settled into her mind as she deflected a bolt from one of the droids which had managed to scatter when the assassins struck. She deflected two bolts, one into the rafters above and the other right into its chest. It jerked and fell. Rey then moved onto the next one.
There was a metallic crunch, and she turned just in time to see one of the assassin droids crumble in on itself like it had just been encompassed and squeezed within a giant hand. Five B-1's close by were thrown back, slamming into the far wall with shattering force.
It was Master Fey, honeyed hair and delicate robes flailing as the woman reached out with a single, demure hand. She had been famous as a self-imposed outcast and wanderer, so powerful in the Force that she had been known to never carry a lightsaber, or any weapon.
She sighed as she stepped further into the room, a flick of her hand slamming a droid into a nearby pillar once, twice, three times. Her voice was as smooth as silk as she spoke in a saddened tone. "How I dislike violence."
"Easy, Lady Fey." A man, fully hidden within his robes replied, an azure blade igniting in gloved hands.
"When one uses violence one has already lost, Master Antilles."
"How you haven't changed, Master Fey." An elderly woman of greying hair and stern bearing replied. "One can walk the way of peace, but sometimes violence is unavoidable. This is especially true in those who refuse to listen."
"So sayeth the Dark Woman." Antilles hummed. "Is that how you teach the young, Master Kuro?"
A huff. "I need not lessons in teaching from those who refuse to teach."
They were already stalking into the chamber in unison, bickering away even as another ten Temple Guards followed in their wake, golden lightsabers coming to life, illuminating the antechamber.
Rey saw the danger just as they were breaking into a run. There were several assassin droids in the rafters above them, led by the last two Acolytes. A warning was at the tip of her tongue, but she knew by the speed of their descent that she would never be able to warn them in time.
Her ears barely registered the clinking or armour and squeals of boots skidding to a halt, of the clicking of blaster rifles being aimed. A familiar voice echoed through the chamber, one which made her smile despite the situation.
"Smoke those Mother-!"
Blaster fire drowned out whatever the end of the sentence was, and a hail of crimson bolts illuminated the darkened chamber, downing several assassins and one of the Acolytes in mid-air as the Jedi turned and threw the rest into the wall above the entrance with a Force push powered by several dozen trained Knights.
Everyone turned. The Apprentices and Knights she was with, the Masters and Guardsmen who had just arrived. They all looked at the entrance to see a line of Judiciary troopers, smoking rifles held in their hands. Two men were in the centre, accompanied by a ball shaped droid and a young Twi'lek Jedi with her lightsaber in hand. Poe and Finn were still aiming down the sights of their blasters at the fallen droids and Acolytes, fingers on the triggers as they waited for any movement.
That movement never came.
Finn let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Just a second later, huh?"
"Yeah, just a second later." Poe agreed, lowering his rifle.
The tenseness slowly eased from the assembled Jedi, then Master Fey stepped forward. "You have our thanks."
"Indeed," Antilles intoned. "May we know who you are?"
"Who are we?" Finn smiled as he rose to his full height, blaster rifle hauled up onto his shoulder. "We're Sith-Hunters."
Poe looked to the heavens, as if asking the gods why. Aayla's free hand reached up to rub her face. Rey rolled her eyes, and she was sure BB-8 was making an insulting enquiry in beeps and whistles just out of her hearing.
"We're the only ones to kill a Sith to date, so it's our title!" Finn snapped at the little droid, who turned its head away and whistled.
More droids rounded the corner, only to be thrown back by a massive push of power. Plo Koon closed his fist, stopping the push and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily into his mask as he tried to regain some composure.
Behind him was a corridor of walking wounded leading towards one of many entrances to the Grand Convocation Chamber. There were three makeshift lines of defences, made up of old crates and debris.
When they had setup this position he had twelve Senate Guard, six CorSec, a wounded Jedi in Master Billipa and a Senator handy with duel pistols. Half of those were dead, and everyone else was injured in some form or another.
Depa Billipa still flanked him, lightsaber held tightly in her one good hand, and Senator Iblis had been hit by a glancing bolt in the shoulder but was still ready. His condition was mirrored by every other soldier in the line, all of them had been struck. Guard Captain Tophis had been killed during the second attack, his body half carried half dragged behind the second makeshift defensive line.
The short wave comlinks they had used for communication had given him a similar picture in every corridor leading the main chamber. It was a condition which seemed to repeat itself.
The surviving defenders had abandoned their positions, evacuated the Senators and aids they could to the Grand Convocation Chamber and had setup perimeters around it. Every Guardsman, Senator Security officer and aid with training in how to wield a blaster had been drafted and makeshift barricades had been setup in every corridor leading to the main chamber.
It hadn't been without loss, not with the speed of the droids advance. Many Senators, aids and non-combatants had been cut off, and many of those had been butchered from what horror filled chatter they heard over the short wave comlinks.
He had heard pleas of help they could not give, then screams of terror, and then silence. Horrible, deafening silence. Plo Koon would hear those voices and the silence that followed in his nightmares for years to come, he was sure of it.
It was only with the sudden quiet that he noticed Depa sway on her feet, shoulder slamming into the wall. "Master Billipa."
"I am fine." She muttered, hand reaching up to rub her forehead. Her eyes looked glassy. "I am fine. I just need a moment."
He reached out to her, hand gripping a handful of robes. They parted and he saw a black burn mark on the side of her stomach, a blaster burn right where her right kidney would be. She half collapsed then, but he stopped her fall and dragged her behind the first line of crates and debris, motioning over a medic who took one look at her and immediately pulled out gauge, Bacta wrap and a syringe of adrenaline.
"Move her back to the third line." Koon ordered, and the medic complied, calling over a few still mobile troopers to help him.
His thoughts slowly returned to Master Windu, and how much they needed another blade. He had seemed to be focused on a single point, and that was bringing Sidious to justice, all other concerns had seemed to be thrown to the wayside, which wasn't like the Second Chair.
"Master Windu, Mace." He whispered into his rebreather, so low no one but himself could hear. "Where are you?"
They needed him here.
"This doesn't look very promising." Senator Iblis quipped as he took her place, checking the power packs of his pistols. "We'll last another wave, but beyond that I cannot say."
"Have a little faith, Senator." Koon admonished, with a voice he himself had trouble believing.
"Oh, we need a miracle more than faith, Master Jedi." The Senator replied and he couldn't help but agree.
An explosion shook the walls, and Master Koon could hear blaster fire in the distance. It was hardly a new sound. The noises of explosions and blaster fire had been constant since they had setup their new defensive line, but this one felt different. It felt ominous.
A crackled voice confirmed his fears. "The enemy has broken through Corridor D, I repeat the enemy has broken through corridor D. Droids are swarming into the Convocation chamber. We need help I repeat we need-"
"Oh no." Iblis whispered as the line cut, face paling.
Master Koon had already spun on his heel and was storming through the barricades towards the chamber, quickly inputting the codes of the security console before pushing through the slowly opening doors. A few of the lesser injured Guardsman followed. They rushed through the winding corridors until they found an opening to one of the many Hover-Pods.
What they saw beyond was a melee of screaming people, swarming droids and blaster fire. People were running from the opening across from him, trying to escape, only to be gunned down by the advancing droids. A few were trying to use the hover-pods to escape, unclamping them to hover in the spacious centre, but the droids were also armed with rocket launchers and heavy blasters. One was struck, and fell, turning end over end, the inhabitants falling to their death with piercing screams.
Koon was already shouting at any who would listen to rush through the doors he had come from. The Senator from Ryloth saw this, and barrelled through his aids and security to get to him, shoving them past in a bid for safety. A blaster bolt struck him right in the side of the head and he fell to the ground.
One of his aids, a young woman, had been thrown over the railings during the senators desperate run for safety, and was hanging on for dear life. He rushed across the veranda and grabbed her grasping hand as she lost her grip. He looked down upon a beautiful young woman, with velvet skin and wide, terrified eyes before he pulled her back over the railings. He was amazed she hadn't been hit by the volley of blaster fire.
Koon kept his hand on the back of her lekku covered head, keeping her in cover as he shouted over the din for everyone to stay low and make for the exit. Many aids and Senators were running for the open doors, and across the chamber the process was repeating themselves as Guardsmen and security forces opened their doors and provided cover fire for those rushing towards them.
Koon rose to his full height and activated his lightsaber just in time to start deflecting blaster fire in earnest. He backpedalled as he did so, trying to hold the line for as long as he could as people rushed past him into the exit. A trio of Security officers and Senate Guardsmen were soon by his side, firing blaster rifles at the swarming droids both down the winding corridor and on several pods.
It was when the Guardsman was struck in the shoulder that Master Koon decided they wouldn't be able to hold and grabbing the injured man half carried, half dragged him through the door with the surviving security officers providing cover fire. There were still people out in the foyers and corridors, but they were either too far away or dying as they ran to them.
Master Koon closed his eyes and used the Force to close the doors, clamping the locks in place before shorting out the security consoles. He turned to find the corridor filled with people, scared and panicking people who were running past his men towards the corridors beyond. He didn't have time to warn them as blaster fire barraged from the crossroads, downing several people before the survivors turned back towards them.
"Everyone into cover, now!" Iblis roared into the mass of panicking people. "Do not get in the way of the troopers or you'll find yourselves with new holes in your heads! Anyone able to hold a blaster get one! There are plenty on the ground!"
"Fuse the doors shut." Koon ordered to the two nearest men. "No one else will be coming that way."
"Yes, sir!"
But there was. He and those men knew there were. They could hear constant banging on the doors, fists frantically slamming into the metal and people screaming with hoarse voices to be let in. Koon closed his eyes and gave himself to the Force to better see what was happening beyond. The people on the other end were being mowed down mercilessly, and if he ordered those doors opened the same thing would happen to them. Even with the split-second he thought of this he felt nothing but death beyond.
"Sir!" It was one of the senate officers, comlink pressed to his right ear. "I'm getting something!"
"What?" Koon asked, despondent.
"They're coming." The officer intoned, voice slowly rising. "They're coming!"
"Who?"
"The Jedi. The Judiciary. Planetary Defence forces. They're all coming!" He almost cried out in relief. "Planetary Defence and Judiciary are already engaging the enemy in the air, and the Jedi have managed to hold their temple and are assembling reinforcements. They're coming!"
There was a cheer from the mass of people.
"Help is on the way." Iblis managed.
"Hopefully. The trick is holding out until then." Koon replied.
The Senators response was to rearm his blaster pistols. "Well, let's hold out then shall we?"
"Well, isn't this infuriating?"
A sleek yellow ships flew right by the main viewscreen, almost as if it was mocking him. He had recalled several squadrons' worth of Vultures, and the defensive squadrons were holding, but it was the fact that they were targeting his communications arrays which really irked.
He had already issued all of his directives to the fleet, but it still annoyed him that he wouldn't be able to make any minor adjustments to the line of battle. They had taken out a few of them, which meant he had lost communications with the main force, but he still had enough power to give orders to the droids on the surface and the ships in orbit.
The ships in orbit were the most important.
An alarm claxon sounded, low and harsh. Janus turned to the main console around him, webbed hands calling up the security cameras for the area where the alarms went off. It sounded like an intruder alarm, but that seemed unlikely. Who would be able to infiltrate this ship on full alert with a battle going on overhead?
His answer came in the form of two figures rushing by one of his surveillance camera. He recognised one of them immediately as Qui-Gon Jinn, but the other was older, with dark hair and trimmed beard in the midst of turning white. He made a guess that the other one was Qui-Gon's Master, Count Dooku. If anyone was able to make it aboard during this chaos it would be them, one he knew to be tenacious out of memory and the other he knew from stories and reports.
"Ho ho." Janus smirked, rising from his chair. "Perhaps this is fate. I kill the last link to my past and a legendary Jedi Master to boot, what a perfect way to end it all."
Yes, end it all.
He had completed his personal mission. His Masters plans, and those of a millennia of Sith Lords, had been irreparably scuttled. The very Republic, and the galaxy as a whole, that he had grown to hate and loath would be torn apart. From the very moment he had set these plans in motion Darth Janus knew that once this personal mission of his ended he would find a place to die. Either by the blasters of bounty hunters or security forces, or by the blades of his Master or the Jedi he fought.
He felt it. His mind, though still sharp, was deteriorating. The longer he remained the more he seemed to lose. Janus had placed everything he had into keeping his focus, but the longer it dragged on the more he felt his grip on his mind loosening. With each day he had less control, with each day he felt rational thought become rarer and rarer.
Perhaps it was a side effect of the brainwashing his Master had implanted upon him. Perhaps it was a natural progression, a disease he did not know he had. Either way he would die, either here or elsewhere, it was just a matter of who would kill him.
He pressed a button on the control pad, an open speaker to the whole ship. "Allow the Jedi to pass. I will deal with them personally."
"Roger, roger."
He stepped from the console and stood in the centre of the chamber, lightsaber hilt in his hand, eyes on the open blast doors, waiting. The doors opened and two figures stepped through, lightsabers already ignited. The doors closed behind them, and locked in place. No one would enter, and no one would leave until he was either dead or he ordered it.
"Ah, Master Jinn… and Dooku if I am not mistaken." Janus spread his arms, sleeves peeling back to show his webbed hands and the unlit lightsaber held in his right. "Welcome!"
"You are under arrest, Lord Janus." Qui-Gin intoned, falling into a defensive stance. "Surrender and order your armies to stand down."
It was Janus now, not Jar Jar Binks. Through his sudden joy he whispered a single word. "Finally."
"Surrender, Sith." Dooku added, taking a cautious step forward. "It is two against one. You have lost."
"Oh, you overestimate yourself." Janus replied, voice low and ominous as he matching his opponents step forward. "I know of you two. Considered some of the best duellists of the entire Order outside of the High Council, could even be on the Council if you had just been more… compliant. But your knowledge, your strength, pales to insignificance when compared to the power of the Dark Side."
"We will see." Dooku responded.
"Oh yes, we certainly will." Janus chuckled, a low and gravelly sound. "Allow me to demonstrate the difference between you and me."
"Here he comes." Qui-Gon muttered urgently.
Crimson flashed to life with a snap, Janus knelt low, hands outstretched, room darkening, and a low howl in their ears. When he looked up his eyes blazed gold under his hood, and when he spoke his voice was not his own, low pitched and chilling. "Witness the true power of the Force, witness true strength!"
There was a roar, hollow and feral, and the Sith Lord surged forward in a blur of dark motion.