The Apprentice
A pod fell through Hoth's atmosphere, chunks of metal peeled away as the pod was seared with heat. The craft shuddered as it passed through the atmosphere and plummeted towards the frozen surface.
A half mile away, Luke Skywalker pulled on his Tauntauns reigns and brought the beast to a halt, the Jedi pushed his goggles up his head and glanced around the tundra, his face screwed up against the cold. A dull boom washed over him and he hurriedly retrieved his binoculars from his belt, he could see an impact zone, maybe half a mile away. Luke brushed the snow off his communicator.
"Echo three to Echo Eight, Biggs old buddy, you read me?"
"Loud and clear Luke, what's up?"
"I've finished my circle; I don't read any lifeforms."
"There aren't enough lifeforms on this ice cube for a pod-race." Luke chuckled. "My sensors are placed, I'm going back."
"Right, I'll be right after you, a meteorite hit the ground near here, I'm gonna check it out, shouldn't take long." Luke grabbed the reigns and was about to spur his Tauntaun on when it suddenly reared, thrashing and crying out. "Woah, easy there, girl, you smell something?" The hairs on the back of Luke's neck stood on end, the Jedi turned just in time to see a massive, clawed, white arm swing at his head.
##
Night was beginning to press in as the Millennium Falcon settled into its place in the dockyard, Han shivered as he stepped off the loading ramp and into the hanger.
"Captain Solo! Lieutenant-Commander Wren!" Sabine sighed as she and Han turned to see one of the Deck Officers running towards them.
"It never ends." The Mandalorian shook her head as Han nodded tiredly.
"Yes? What is it?" The Deck Officer was flustered.
"It's Commander Skywalker, he hasn't checked in." Sabine and Han exchanged a worried glance.
"Did you check the south entrance?"
"Yes ma'am, he didn't check in there either, Commander Marek went out looking for him a few hours ago, neither of them has come back." Han rolled his eyes.
"We're going to have to go out looking for them, are the speeders ready?"
"No sir, we're having trouble adapting them to the cold." Han grimaced; the smuggler turned to the Mandalorian; she pursed her lips as she racked her brains.
"We'll have to go out on Tauntauns." Han sighed; Sabine raised an eyebrow with surprise.
"The temperature is dropping rapidly Solo." Han nodded as he pulled his gloves on.
"Yeah, and my friend is out there." The Deck Officer shook his head incredulously.
"But sir, your Tauntaun will freeze before it gets to the first marker!"
"Then I'll see you in hell!" Han turned on his heel and marched off, Sabine raised an eyebrow, then she shrugged.
"Oh, what the hell? Wait up Solo!"
##
A gale crashed over as Galen as he forced his Tauntaun onwards, he could barely see a where he was going, all he could see was a never-ending whirlwind of snow.
"Luke?" The sound of his voice was instantly lost, snapped up by the fierce winds, undeterred he tried again. "Luke?!" The roar of the elements answered him, drowning out any answer he might have received. "Come on girl." The Jedi patted his Tauntauns neck. "He's out here somewhere." They trekked on, the wind clawing at them every step of the way, flakes of snow crashed into them, Galen grimaced against the sting on his bare flesh.
"Galen?"
"Luke?" Galen pulled on his reigns, pulling his Tauntaun to a halt, the Jedi peered hopelessly around him, why was he even trying? He could barely see the tip of his own mount's nose, let alone another person.
"My son."
"Father?" Galen's eyes widened, he swung his leg off the Tauntaun and dropped to the ground, taking the reins in hand he strode out into the blizzard, there was something out there, a soft glow in the storm. The Tauntaun reared violently and Galen was almost pulled off his feet as he struggled to keep the beast in check, then, all at once, the wind broke. Galen frowned, the blizzard was still raging around him, yet he couldn't feel it, the cold didn't even feel as biting. "Father?" The Jedi called out cautiously, barely hoping to hope.
"My son." The darkness was lit up with a warm blue glow as the shape of a middle-aged man in brown Jedi robes materialised before Galen.
"Father." Galen felt a smile spread across his face as he stared at the spectre. The Ghost of Kento Marek smiled under its hood.
"It's good to see you my son, you have made me so proud." Galen felt his chest tighten, the Jedi gulped, hoping it would curtail the lump in his throat, it didn't work. "You've become the man I always knew you could be; you have cast off the shackles of the darkness and truly come into your own as a Jedi." Kento's Ghost drew itself up to its full height. "You have a grander purpose my son, you have a mistake to correct." Galen nodded sombrely; knowing full well what his father meant whilst still not entirely trusting his voice. "When the time comes, the Force will give you the strength to do what you must." The Jedi felt an odd sense of foreboding run through him, he nodded once.
"I understand." The Ghost faded away, after a moment of silence; Galen was struck once again by the gale. Teeth gritted, the Jedi swung his leg over his Tauntaun and rode off into the storm. "Luke?!"
##
Luke Skywalker lay with his head in a pile of snow, the Jedi had awoken in an ice cave, his feet firmly embedded in the ceiling. Disorientated; he had managed to retrieve his lightsaber from a nearby snowbank and free himself, that was when the Wampa had come for him. The Rebels had encountered a nest of the ferocious beasts while they were surveying and excavating the tunnel network that had acted as Echo Base's foundations two years ago. Almost ten feet tall and all muscle, the shaggy creatures were a fearsome sight and in his hazed state; Luke had lashed out. He hadn't meant to hurt it, but his aim had been off, he'd fled the cave as the beast tended to its severed arm. He bitterly wished he had stayed in the cave, the Wampa would almost certainly have left him alone and he would have been shielded from the wind, but in the moment, he had allowed his fight or flight relaxes get the better of him.
"Luke?" Luke frowned; his face full of snow. "Luke." Exhausted, the Jedi pushed himself up onto his elbows.
"Obi-Wan?" A figure emerged from the gloom, cloaked in worn brown Jedi robes. "Master Kenobi."
"You have done well Luke, you have come far, but it is time to complete your training, you will go to the Dagobah System, there you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me."
"Obi-Wan." Luke weakly reached for the Ghost, it faded away as a huge shape reared up behind it.
"Luke?!" Luke gave up, letting his head slump back into the snowbank. Han swung his leg over his Tauntauns side and leapt to the ground. "Come on Luke, stay with me kid!" The smuggler heaved the Jedi over onto his back, Luke groaned weakly, his eyes closed.
"Obi-Wan, Dagobah, Yoda…"
"You'll be alright kid." Han muttered as he got hold of the Jedi's arm, there was a pained cry behind him. Grimacing; Han turned just in time to see his Tauntaun collapse, the beast twitched weakly a few times, then lay still. Heart pounding, Han's mind raced, Sabine and Galen were somewhere out in the storm, he had a beacon, but it would take them too long to get to him. Then he had an idea, it wasn't' pleasant. Han sized Luke under the armpits and dragged him to the dead Tauntaun. Galen and Sabine's Tauntauns couldn't be in any better shape than his, they'd have to spend the night outside the base. "This might smell bad kid." Han muttered as he fumbled with Luke's belt for his lightsaber, the smuggler was careful to keep the plasma blade as far away from him as possible as he cut open the dead Tauntauns stomach. "But it'll keep you warm until I can get the shelter up." Stuffing the unconscious Jedi into the dead creature's stomach was a lot harder than he'd thought it would be, at least the exercise had kept him warm. "And I thought they smelled bad," Han sat back against the Tauntaun as he fumbled with his beacon. "On the outside."
##
The door to the Emperor's Throne room opened to reveal Darth Vera. The Sith Lord was dressed in black. Jet black, tight pants and a top, she wore a short cut jacket with red linings and a matching skirt with a wide opening along the front. Her hair hung loosely around her head; framing the intricate markings the Pincerbugs had burned into her flesh with their venom, her yellow eyes gleamed as she strode across the Throne Room. Starkiller and Nyria stood at the bottom of the dais, Vera could feel their eyes on her as she mounted the steps to climb them, she could almost sense, disappointment? The Apprentice frowned and glanced at Nyria out of the corner of her eye, the Stalker kept her head facing forwards, the blank lenses of her mask staring vacantly ahead. Vera shrugged it off and continued upwards. The clone of Sabine Wren stood to one side of the Emperor's throne, Vera couldn't help but marvel, she was an exact replication, an improvement in many regards. The Throne spun around to face her, Remnous grinned as he rose to his feet.
"Lady Vera." Vera sunk to one knee; her head bowed.
"How may I serve thee? My Master?" Remnous smirked down at his Apprentice, but there was a gnawing doubt at the back of his mind, he'd seen this moment in a vision, but it hadn't looked like this; they'd been alone, as for Vera? If she'd been marked in the vision it hadn't been nearly as obvious.
"One of our probes has located the Rebel Base." Vera looked up at Remnous, her eyes blazing.
"That means…" Remnous nodded, his smirk still in place.
"Yes, Skywalker is with them." The Emperor allowed a few seconds to pass as he gauged his Apprentice's reaction. "He is your blood; will that be an issue?" Vera bowed her head once again, her eyes closed.
"I live to serve you my Lord." Remnous nodded, a knowing glint in his eyes.
"Then you are ready, I am sending you to take the Rebel Base on Hoth."
"Hoth? My Lord, that's in the Outer Rim, the Imperial Remnant holds that region." Remnous nodded slowly, he folded his arms against his chest.
"You'll take the Executor." Vera was genuinely surprised, Palpatine had had three Super Star Destroyers commissioned before his death, the first of which, the Executor had been completed shortly before his death, when Remnous had risen to the power he had ended the era of the Tarkin Doctrine and the 'Bigger is Better' mentality that had infested the Imperial Navy and called off the construction of anymore of them. The two other Super Star Destroyers had been very near completion so Remnous had allowed them to be completed, dubbing them The Organa and The Ghost. "The Belmont, the Trincomalee and the Warrior will escort you, take a core of Stormtroopers and the Raven Guard Legion, overwhelm them and crush their spirits."
"You honour me, my Master." Vera bowed her head once again, she had been longing for a chance like this, for the opportunity to use her training and quell her bloodlust. "I will not fail you."
"You are exceptionally gifted with the true power of the Force." The Emperor's cloak swished as he tossed it aside, his lightsaber in hand. Vera felt her heart race as her Master activated the multiple blades of his lightsaber, he lowered the blood red blade so it was hovering just above her right shoulder. "Your training is complete; it will be more than sufficient to destroy your brother." The blade passed over her head and rested over her left shoulder. "Now rise." Vera grinned as the lightsaber retracted. "My Apprentice." She rose to her feet, a grin of her own spreading across her face.
"Thank you, My Master." Vera could feel her eyes gleaming. "I will serve you well, my Emperor."
##
Galen groaned in the back as his throat as he woke up, the Jedi moved to stretch himself out, then flinched as a wave of pain washed over him, his muscles were screaming out in protest. It hadn't taken him long to find Han after his beacon had been activated, it would have taken less time if his Tauntaun hadn't keeled over and died in the snow. He'd felt awful as he'd heaved the saddle over his shoulder and hiked off into the blizzard, the tracker clipped to his belt. The poor beast hadn't deserved to die like that, but there hadn't been time to think about it, if he'd stopped, he'd have died. Sabine had arrived before him and was helping Han set up a shelter as he'd staggered up to them. Sabine's mount had also perished in the cold, but between the three of them they'd managed erect a shelter large enough for the four of them, barely.
Galen opened his eyes, Luke's bruised face was inches away from his, Galen grimaced as he took a good long look at the young Skywalker's face, it was swollen and blotchy, the skin a sickly shade of purple. His stomach churning; Galen wriggled until he'd managed to turn over, the Jedi bit his tongue as he fought to hold in a burst of laughter. Sabine and Han were still sound asleep. The Mandalorian had scooted into the Smuggler so her back was pressed against the Correllian's chest, his right arm was draped over her, his hand resting on her midriff. Sabine murmured sleepily, her head resting on Han's outstretched left arm.
"Commander Marek?" Han's body jolted slightly as he woke up, Sabine's head rose groggily as she blinked confusedly, she blearily stared around her surroundings, then she noticed Hans hand on her stomach. The Mandalorian's eyes widened as a strangled groan of protest escaped from her clenched lips. Galen supressed another fit of laugher as Han grunted sharply as he sat up, the Jedi heaved the entrance open, dislodging at least a foot of snow in the process. Blinding light flooded the shelter, Luke moaned weakly, his eyes still closed. "Captain Solo?" Galen crawled, blinking into the light, the morning sun shone fiercely off the pristine snow. "Are you receiving me? Lieutenant-Commander Wren? Commander Skywalker? This is Rogue Two." Eyes squinted against the glare of the sun; Galen fumbled over to the radio transmitter Han had managed to set up the night before, it took a second to clear the snow off the receiver.
"Good morning. Nice of you to drop by."
##
"And on behalf of the Mandalorian people, it is my great honour to accept the New Regime's offer of a seat in the New Galactic Senate." The Clone of Sabine allowed her words to ring over the Galactic Senate for a few seconds before she took a seat. The senate house broke out in applause, cheers rang out in a thousand languages as the Clone grinned wickedly at Remnous. The Sith lord's eyes gleamed as he nodded back; he rose to his feet.
"I thank you, Mand'alor Wren, finding a peaceful resolution to the Mandalorian Civil war has been this Senate's main priority since it's outbreak, I am honoured that Mandalore has chosen to return to the fold." Remnous paused as another ripple of applause broke out across the Senate, the Emperor raised a hand, calling for quiet. "But this is not just an ending my dear friends, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent." Remnous turned back to the Clone, her platform was hovering above him. "Mand'alor Wren, your people are the finest warriors in the Galaxy, for years the New Regime has lacked the strength to push into the Outer Rim to combat the cowards of the Imperial Remnant, will you aid us?" The clone rose her feet and took her place at her podium.
"My Emperor, Mandalore is at your disposal."
"Then I put it to you, Senators of the New Regime, will you follow me to war?" A roar of applause ripped through the Senate house, Remnous grinned as a cry ran up and down the rows of platforms.
"To War!" "To War!" "To War!"
##
"Master Luke sir, it is so good to see you fully functional again!" Luke smiled tiredly as R2 rolled up next to 3P0, beeping merrily as he did so. "Artoo expresses his relief as well." The Jedi was laid out on a bunk in the Medical Ward, his face was still blotchy and he was stiff as a board and sore, but he was alive.
"Thanks, Threepio." Luke winced as he readjusted his weight.
"Easy there." Luke looked up, Allana glanced at him over the shoulder of one of the medical droids, its back had been opened and the dark-haired girl was busily working away, her slim fingers delicately twisting two lengths of wire together. "You don't want to go back in the bacta tank now do you?" Luke shook his head as Allana chuckled.
"Wait, isn't that?"
"The droid that fixed you up? Yeah, it is." Allana shrugged as she yanked on another wire, the droid's eyes lit up briefly, Luke raised an eyebrow incredulously. "Relax, it broke down after we got you out of the tank." The wards door opened and Han, Chewie, Sabine and Galen walked in, Han grinned ear to ear when he saw Luke.
"How you feeling kid? You don't look so bad." Han glanced at Chewie as he took a seat on the edge of Luke's bed. "In fact, I'd say you look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark."
"Thanks to you guys." Luke held back a wince as he sat up. Han shrugged.
"Well that's two you owe me." Sabine rolled her eyes.
"Well, I for one don't keep a running score, let's just call it eternally even?" Luke smiled softly as he nodded.
"Yeah, I'm good with that." Galen and Allana shared a brief glance, the Jedi's gaze lingered on Sabine as he turned away from the Mechanic. Sabine noticed; she rubbed her forehead with her palm.
"Sorry, bad night's sleep." Han snorted; Chewie shot the smuggler a sharp look as Sabine's cheeks flushed. Allana raised an eyebrow with surprise, she'd never seen Sabine blush before, with her skin tone it was almost as if she were turning orange. Luke frowned as he glanced back and forth between Han and Sabine.
"Am I missing something?" Han chuckled as Sabine shook her head.
"No. No you're not." Luke glanced at Han, the smuggler shrugged, the Jedi frowned at Galen.
"It was a little cramped in the shelter." Galen did his best to keep his eyes on the ceiling, his hands settling behind his back.
"Eh, I think the Lieutenant-Commander was comfy enough." Sabine's teeth locked together as her jaw clenched.
"I don't know where you get your delusions from laser-brain." Han glanced indignantly at Chewie as the Wookie laughed.
"Laugh it up fuzzball. You weren't there."
"Weren't there? Nothing happened! You stuck up, half witted." Sabine paused momentarily as she searched for more insults. "Scruffy looking… Nerf Herder!"
"Again, with the scruffy looking." Han muttered, he glanced at Luke. "Something must have happened, to get her all riled up like that, eh Kid?" Luke shrugged, hopefully making it clear he wasn't involved with any of this. Sabine's eyes narrowed, they lingered on Luke for a second before they widened momentarily, Sabine turned to Allana, an evil grin spread across her face.
"Well." Sabine shrugged as she sidled up to the mechanic, "I guess you don't know everything about women." The Mandalorian grabbed Allana by her collar and yanked out from behind the medical droid, Allana barely had a chance to register what was going on before Sabine had pressed her lips to hers.
Han, Galen and Luke's jaws dropped in unison, Allana let out a surprised moan as Sabine pulled away. The Mandalorian frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then shrugged, Sabine gave Allana an odd half smile and a wink before she turned and strolled out of the ward, making sure to avoid eye contact with Han as she did so. There was a full minute's silence after the doors closed after her. Then Luke began to laugh, Han glared at the Jedi sourly until he stopped as he winced.
"Ow." Luke muttered as he rubbed his ribs.
"Whatever, come on Chewie." Han got up to leave, patting Luke half-heartedly on the shoulder as he did so. Chewie chuckled as the door opened for them. "Yeah, yeah. Get it out now." Han muttered as the door opened for them. Allana cleared her throat, her hand on her lips.
"If you don't mind." The Mechanic hurried from the room. Galen shook his head.
"It's stuff like that that makes you wonder if the old council had it right when they forbade attachments" Luke grinned tiredly, still massaging his ribs.
"I need to talk to you about something." Galen shrugged.
"Sure, anything."
"You ever heard of the Dagobah system?" Galen raised an eyebrow, curiously, he pulled up a chair and took a seat.
"I have, it's a swamp world, very strong with the Force." Luke frowned. "Why? How did you hear about it?"
"Last night, when I was out in the storm." Luke paused, "I think Obi-Wan came to me." Galen raised an eyebrow. "He said I had to go to the Dagobah system, he said a Jedi Master named Yoda would complete my training." Luke rolled his eyes. "It sounds crazy when I say it out loud." Galen shook his head.
"You're not crazy kid, my father came to me last night."
"Your father?" Luke sat forward. "You never talk about him." Galen grimaced.
"Painful memories." Luke nodded knowingly.
"What did he say?" Galen paused as he recalled the meeting in the storm.
"He reminded me of my purpose."
##
Vera ran her fingertips along the surface of the desk in the Executor's Captain's ready room, her ready room. The Sith Lord grinned, she had fled from countless Star Destroyers as Leia Organa, now, as Vera, she commanded a Super Star Destroyer. Quite a turnaround, Vera glanced up at the large window that took up the whole wall behind her desk, for a moment, the reflection that stared back at her had no markings. She shook her head and looked again; the markings were back. There was a knock on the door.
"Enter." The door opened, Nyria nodded to Vera as she stepped over the threshold, her clawed right foot clinking against the deck plate as she walked. Two Inquisitors hurried in after her; they were both dressed in identical uniforms, black versions of the old Jedi Temple Guard suits of armour with crimson highlight.
"You said you wanted to see the Inquisitors, my Lady." Vera nodded to the Stalker as she took her seat behind her desk, Nyria had been a constant presence during her training, especially after she'd helped her deal with her accidental pregnancy in the very early days. Vera still hadn't told her Master about the child; she had allowed Li to take the frozen embryo to Kamino for safe keeping.
"Thank you Nyria." Vera leaned back in her chair as she sized up the two Inquisitors, Remnous had told her he thought she was ready. 'Yeah, you think I'm ready.' She thought to herself bitterly. 'That's why you sent Nyria and a couple of Inquisitor's to babysit me.' "Masks off." She sighed tersely. "Let's see what I'm working with." The Inquisitors silently reached up and pulled their masks off, Vera blinked with surprise, they were far younger than she had expected. The Inquisitor on the right was in his late teens, his hair had been shaved at the back and sides with a short crop of spikes on top, his yellow eyes betrayed his nerves, his companion, a young female red Twi'lek kept her eyes forward, her face expressionless. The Inquisitors raised their right arms and thumped them to their chests before raising them to her.
"Sixth Sister, at your service my Lady."
"Seventh Brother, at your service my Lady."
"At ease." Vera's frown deepened, not exactly the highest ranked agents in the Emperor's Inquisition, what was Remnous playing at? "How many missions have you two been on?" The Seventh Brother's eyes flicked over to the Sixth Sister, the Twi'lek's gaze didn't waver.
"This is our first, my Lady." Vera shook her head.
"Dismissed." The Seventh Brother turned almost instantly, the Twi'lek lingered for a few seconds, her yellow eyes lingering on Vera, then she turned to leave. "What does Remnous think he's doing?" Vera massaged the markings on her cheeks tenderly as the door shut behind the two Inquisitors. The Sith Lord sunk back into her chair behind her desk. "I don't believe this; my first mission and he saddles me with a pair of Shinys!" Vera glanced up at Nyria, her eyebrow raised. "That wasn't a rhetorical question, what does he think he's doing?"
"Lord Remnous always said teaching made for exceptional training." Nyria shrugged, the pipes of her respirator rattled against her chest-plate as she shook her head. "I've given up trying to understand what he's up to." Vera rolled her eyes, after Tandi had been, dismissed, Nyria was the only member of the New Regime left who'd really known Remnous before he had stepped out of the shadows and taken the Emperors throne, next to no one could truly understand the Sith Lord's motives.
"Let's hope this test of his doesn't cost us the mission."
##
Han swung his leg off a fresh Tauntaun and leapt to the ground, he sunk in the fresh snow until he was knee deep, Han grumbled as he pulled himself free. The communications officer had detected a strange signal on the surface and something had tripped the sensors. He'd volunteered to go out and see what it was, for some reason the ice caves of Echo Base seemed to have gotten stuffy. Han scurried up a snowbank, he could see it now, a large black droid. It had a large bulbus head and several spindly limbs, yeah, they were in trouble. Across from him, Chewie popped up from behind another snowbank and howled loudly. The probe spun around and let off a laser bolt, Han popped up from his snowbank as Chewie ducked behind his and raised his blaster. The probe managed to take three shots to the back of its head before it turned on the spot and fired on him. Han dived back into cover as Chewie remerged and took aim with his bowcaster. The droid exploded as Chewie's shot smashed into the back of its head. Han frowned as he climbed over his snowbank.
"Is there even any of it left Solo?" Han rolled his eyes, damn Mandalorians, he tapped his comm.
"We didn't hit it that hard, it must have a self-destruct."
"A probe droid." Han ran a hand over his face tiredly.
"What do you think? Imperial Remnant or New Regime."
"Either way it isn't good for us, get back to the base, we'll have to activate the shield generator while we start the evacuation." Han grimaced at Chewie.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
##
Luke zipped up the front of his flight suit, the droid Allana had fixed up trundled across the bed bay, a tray of equipment in its hands.
"It will take quite a while to load the T-47s." Luke shrugged as buckled his belt.
"Forget the larger equipment, there's time to get the smaller modules on the transports, we've started over with less."
"Take care sir." Luke paused as the door opened.
"Thanks."
##
The Executor came out of hyperspace over the Hoth, flanked by two Venator Class Star Destroyers on either side, an Imperial class Star Destroyer hung over the three other giants in the void, it was the most heavily armed incursion the New Regime had ever mounted into the Outer Rim.
Nyria tapped a claw on the door of Vera's ready room.
"Enter." The Stalker squared her shoulders as the door slid open, Vera peered expectantly at her. "Well?"
"My Lady, we have arrived at the Hoth System, however, we have detected an energy shield on the sixth planet of the system, it's strong enough to repel any bombardment we can throw at it."
"The Rebels know we're coming, Admiral Ozzel came out of lightspeed too close to the system!" Vera sat back in her seat and sighed exasperatedly. "This is why I requested Thrawn." She knew why Remnous had denied her Thrawn's aid, it was a test. The rookie Inquisitors, the incompetent Admirals, Remnous wanted her to take control, to establish her name in the Ranks of the New Regime. 'Alright Master, if that's the way you want to play it.' Vera tapped a few commands into the control panel on her desk, the screen that ran along the far wall opposite the window came to life with static. Nyria felt a gnawing sensation in her gut as a view of bridge emerged from the static, Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett were stood with their backs to them, apparently absorbed in a nearby console, Vera cleared her throat. Ozzel turned to face the screen.
"Ah." The Admiral took a shallow breath before he continued. "Lady, Vera." Vera rolled her eyes, she hated him already. "The fleet has moved out of hyperspace and we are preparing to begin the deployment of our ground for-" Ozzel cut off as he choked, the Admiral grasped weakly at his throat, staring at Vera with abject terror.
"My father did not tolerate failure Admiral Ozzel." Vera voice was cordial and polite, there was no trace of the fury in her eyes. "I don't see why I should either. Captain Piett." Piett stepped forward hastily, he suddenly looked much paler.
"Yes, my Lady?"
"We'll have to land our troops beyond their shield, see to it."
"As you wish my Lady." Ozzel whimpered pathetically next to Piett, the captain did his best to focus on Vera.
"Blockade the planet, I don't want anything slipping out of our reach, you are in command now, Admiral Piett." Piett's eyes widened as Ozzel groaned weakly.
"Thank you, my Lady." Ozzel's back stiffened as Vera began to close her fist, Nyria shifted uncomfortably as a grin began to spread across the former Princess's marked face.
"Leia?" Ozzel slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.
"See to the deployment Admiral, I'll join you shortly." Vera spun around in her chair to face Nyria as the screen cut to black. "Nyria." Vera got to her feet; her face had returned to its placed expression.
"My Lady." Vera raised her hands; lightning tore from the Sith Lord's fingertips and lashed over the Stalker. Nyria dropped to her knees, her synthetic screams quickly devolving into senseless static as the lightning cracked around her.
"Never call me that again."
##
"All troop carriers will assemble at the North Entrance. The heavy transports will depart as soon as they're fully loaded." Juno Eclipse paused as the last few pilots ran to join in the briefing, Echo's Base's main hanger was filled with a thrum of activity as the Rebels hurried to finish preparing the Alliance's small fleet of T-47 Airspeeders for battle. "Only three fighter escorts per ship." Even with the advanced TIE fighters the Alliance had acquired on Garel they were still stretched thin. "We'll only be able to take the shields down for a few seconds at most, so hug your transports like your life depends on it."
"Three fighters against a Star Destroyer?" Juno smiled dryly.
"Don't worry Biggs, we aren't that desperate, yet, the ion canon will take care of any ships in your path. Once you're clear get to the rendezvous point as quickly as possible, your priority is your transport's safety, try not to be a hero, and you might live to fight another day." Juno glanced around the pilots. "Good luck."
##
Dozens of Gozanti Class Frigates descended on Hoth as The New Regime began landing its ground forces. Vera leaned out the open doors of her LAAT to watch the troops assemble on the ground. Three years wasn't long enough to completely restructure the Imperial military, so despite Remnous's best efforts much of the Empire's equipment remained in the New Regimes armouries, Vera shook her head as she watched two a frigate set two AT-ATs amongst half a dozen old ATTEs from the Clone Wars. It was like watching the past marching into the present.
"Pilot, put us down over those trenches!" Vera clung onto the overhead hand bar as she leaned out of the transport and pointed down at one of the deep trenches that had been carved into the deep snow. "They'll lead us to an auxiliary entrance!" The Sith Lord ran a reproachful eye over the Six Sister and the Seventh Brother. "Stay behind Nyria, I'll take point." The Twi'lek nodded grimly as the Seventh Brother gulped anxiously. "If we encounter any Jedi you are not to engage them, leave them to us." Vera glanced over at Nyria, the Stalker was stood in a corner of the LAAT's cabin, her head bowed, the drone of the engines almost masking the rasp of her respirator, Vera turned back to the Inquisitors. "Focus on the pawns." The Sith Lord frowned, the triangle on her forehead shrunk in in itself as her skin wrinkled. "Have either of you taken a life yet?" The two Inquisitors exchanged worried glances; Vera groaned. "Don't hesitate, if you do, I'll have to be the one who tells the Emperor the Inquisition is down a trainee." The Seventh Brother seemed to look much paler as he pulled on his helmet.
##
Luke gritted his teeth as he banked his snowspeeder sharply to the side as he swerved to avoid a barrage of canon fire from a nearby ATTE, behind him; Dak's motionless body slumped heavily to the left as the speeder banked. The Squadron had had good luck initially, the hairbrained idea of using their harpoon cables to trip up the Regime's towering All Terrain Armoured Transports had gone off without a hitch, but the squatter All Terrain Tactical Enforcers were another beast entirely. Too low to trip and their armour was just as thick, from his position in the sky he couldn't see a way of stopping the walkers steady advance towards the exposed shield generator.
"Luke!" A snowspeeder pulled up along side his as he straightened out, Luke spared a second to glance over, it was Wedge, Biggs waved grimly at him from the gunner's seat. "We're being shredded! We can't touch those old walkers; we don't have the fire power!"
"I know! I know!" Luke snapped through gritted teeth. "Give the signal to pull back to the fighters, we might be able to do some good in those!"
"Copy Luke, see you there."
"See you there Biggs, may the Force be with you." The two snow speeders swung about, flaps lowering as their pilots gunned their engines. A beam of green light shot from the canon of a distant ATTE and tore through the sky.
"Luke look out!" The Jedi gritted his teeth as the beam struck the back of his speeder, carving through one his engines and tearing a huge chunk out of the frame. The speeder lurched violently downwards, spinning rapidly as it plummeted to the ground. "Luke pull up!" Luke could feel his muscles straining as the g-force pummelled him. "Luke you've got to pull up or eject, you're running out of time!" Teeth bared with effort; Luke managed to grab hold of the ejection lever.
"I'm sorry Dak." The Jedi murmured as he yanked the lever upwards. The canopy was blown off and for a second the wind lashed over Luke before the ejector seats activated and he and Dak's still body were thrown from the speeder. Instinct kicked in; Luke yanked himself free of his seat's safety harness and pushed himself free.
The white ground rushed up to meet him and Luke caught himself wondering just how large a stain he would end up leaving on the pristine snow before he thrust his arms out and sent a telekinetic push down towards the ground. Feet above the snow he came to a jolting halt, the Jedi hung in the air for a few seconds before falling gracelessly headfirst into the snow.
"Luke? Luke, are you there?" Luke groaned as he pulled himself out of the snow.
"I'm here Wedge, I got out in time."
"We can circle back around for you."
"Negative Biggs, you have your orders." The Jedi pulled his lightsaber off his belt, his gaze fixed on an approaching ATTE. "I'll find my own way."
##
Vera raised her hand and focused on the ice encrusted door before her, behind her; the two Inquisitors were dealing with the last of the Rebel foot soldiers. The trench had led them to the mouth of a natural ice cave, despite her worst fears the two Shinys were competent enough and had had no trouble dealing with the odd Wampa they had encountered. As she'd hoped, the cave had led them to an entrance into the Rebel base Nyria had stepped in to deal with the guards manning the checkpoint, soon the four of them were wreaking havoc through the cramped halls, both Inquisitors had quickly found their fighting instinct, though Vera did note that the Seventh Brother had yet to finish any of his opponents. The Sith Lord glanced over at Nyria, the Stalker was stood slightly behind her, her head bowed meekly.
"Open the door, I sense a familiar presence behind it." Nyria's arm snapped up, the claws on her fingers catching the dull light as she held up an open hand. The door rumbled open to reveal a cavernous storage bay; a figure dressed in grey robes stood at the far end. Vera's face split open in a delighted grin as her eyes widened. "Galen Marek." The Sith Lord strode casually towards the Jedi, her hand coming to rest on the hilt of the thin blade that was attached to her belt. "It's so good to see you again!" Galen felt his heart sink as he recognised the Sith Lord.
"Princess Leia." He couldn't believe it, none of the Rebels had seen Leia in the three years that had past since their fateful mission to Mustafar to rescue her, and while they had all wondered what had become of her in that time, none of them had expected this! "What the hell happened to you?!" The Sith Lord snarled, the dark markings on her face stretched grotesquely as she glowered at him.
"Princess Leia is dead, I am Vera, I am Sith." Galen's eyes widened with surprise as Vera drew the thin sword on her belt and lunged at him. The Jedi summoned his mothers lightsaber and ignited the yellow blade, Vera smirked as Galen swung the plasma blade about. The blades clashed against each other in a shower of sparks, but the lightsaber didn't cut through the metal.
"What?" Galen's eyes widened as he stared at the blades.
"Surprised?" Vera grinned. "It's made of Mandalorian Iron!" The Sith broke the lock and darted forwards; slipping under the Jedi's guard to thrust her sword into a gap between plates of his armour. Galen dodged to the side just in time to avoid being skewered, the Jedi gritted his teeth as the tip of the blade cut the skin on his left side. "Let's see the famous Galen Marek in action!" Vera drew the short blade back as she prepared to strike at Galen again. The Jedi sent a telekinetic push into the ground and leapt into the air, putting a distance between them as he examined her weapon, it was about three feet long and ended in a deadly point, the edges were rounded and unedged. 'Must be thrust based.' Galen ran a hand over his side and glanced down, the Jedi grimaced when he saw the crimson on his hand.
"Not used to the sight of your own blood?" Vera goaded as she spun her sword around in her hand. "I'm disappointed, my Master praised you with such high esteem." Galen gritted his teeth as his eyes flittered over the door the Sith Lord had entered through, two Inquisitors hovered on the threshold, he could feel their uncertainty and just in front of them; Galen's eyes narrowed as he focused his attention on the Sith Stalker. He'd seen that mask before. "Focus!" Galen cartwheeled to the right as Vera lunged at him, the Sith Lord snarled as she spun on her heel and jabbed at Galen once again. The Jedi raised his lightsaber and batted the dark blade away, then winced as the point of Vera's sword grazed his right shoulder. "The light has made you weak Marek." The Jedi thrust his arm out at the Sith Lord, Vera raised her arms and crossed them over her face to block the oncoming telekinetic strike. Galen panted as Vera skidded backwards on her heels, he needed time; he glanced over the Sith Lord's shoulder. A durasteel door protruded from the ice behind her, it blocked off the entrance to another large ice cavern, they'd had to seal it off due to the constant Wampa attacks, Galen's eyes widened. Vera glared as she stalked towards Galen, the Jedi raised his hand and closed his fist; she heard the distinct sound of metal crumbling behind her, accompanied by a bone shaking roar.
"My Lady!" Vera spun around to see a pair of Wampas smash aside the ruins of a durasteel door.
"Damn." Vera bent her knees slightly and leapt off the ground, she spared a glance over her shoulder as she flew through the air, Marek was gone. "Coward."
##
Luke activated his lightsaber as he charged up a shallow snowbank at the now rapidly approaching ATTE, plasma blade in hand; the Jedi swung with all his might at the walker's legs. The ATTE sunk downwards as Luke carved through its front right leg at the knee, the Jedi leapt onwards, putting a telekinetic burst into his step. He was propelled forwards and into the air, his lightsaber neatly cleaving through the ATTE's remaining two right legs. Luke bent his knees into the impact as he came into land behind the swaying walker, his right hand flying to the ground to steady himself, his lightsaber held out behind him with his left. As the ATTE lurched down to its right side; Luke used the power in his coiled legs to leap into the air. The Jedi thudded onto the left side of the lopsided walker, he stomped his foot on the armour plating until he found what he was looking for, a hollow section. Luke slashed his lightsaber across the ATTE's hull as he raised his hand and beckoned towards him, the durasteel groaned as a storage compartment reluctantly opened. Luke smirked, he was in luck, the speeder was still inside. The young Skywalker stored his lightsaber on his belt as he reached out and jumpstarted the speeder bike's engine with the Force; his free hand retrieving a grenade from his belt. The bike flared to life, Luke turned his hand to the side and the throttle opened, the speeder shot forwards, Luke leapt after it, tossing the grenade into the now empty storage bay. Luke managed to get a leg over the bike and seized the handlebars, the Jedi took off across the snow as the ATTE was torn apart as a torrent of vicious flames spewed into the air.
##
Han grimaced as the corridor rumbled around him, chunks of ice fell from the ceiling as the lights flickered. It was time to go. The smuggler rounded one last bend in the passage and arrived at the command centre, the room was in a sorry state, much of the major equipment had been unceremoniously ripped from the ground and what little that was left was barely running as the base's dwindling power supply struggled in vain to keep them going. Sabine glanced up from the final working console.
"Are the transports ready?" Han nodded.
"Ready and rearing, all their waiting on is you." Sabine glanced over at Major Derlin, he nodded.
"Get to your transport." The Mandalorian grabbed her helmet off a nearby table, she took a last look back at Derlin. "Good luck." Sabine followed Han out of the Command Centre.
"Oh, I say!" 3P0 hurried out of nearby corner. "Wait for me!" The protocol droid awkwardly hurried after the rebels as the base shook around them. The lights flickered as they came to T junction in the tunnels; in the split second of darkness, Han almost collided with Bran as he and Allana ran in to the intersection.
"Sabine. Han." Allana nodded to the Mandalorian before bracing her hands on her knees and taking several deep breaths. "Glad you're both alive." Bran nodded once to each of them before gesturing down the tunnel, Sabine nodded.
"You're right, we should get to the transports." Han put a hand on Sabine's shoulder, the smuggler was frowning at the ceiling. Sabine rolled her eyes as she shrugged off his hand. "We don't have time for this Solo." The lights died as the tunnel rocked violently, Sabine gasped loudly as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back into the junction, seconds later there was a deafening crash. Sabine glanced down at her waist as the lights came back up. "Solo, take your-" Sabine looked up to glare at Han only for her complaint to die in her throat, the tunnel had collapsed, a pile of ice and rocks lay where she had been standing when the lights went out. Han pulled his communicator off his belt, his right arm still firmly wrapped around the Mandalorian's waist.
"Transport, this Solo, there's been a cave in, you better take off, we'll have to get through in the Falcon."
##
Chewbacca roared indignantly as Han ran full pelt towards the waiting Falcon, Sabine, Allana, Bran and 3P0 in tow.
"I know! We're here aren't we?" Han rolled his eyes as he followed Chewie up the loading ramp and into the battered interior of the old Correllian freighter. "Bran, Allana, get on the guns!" Bran nodded as he hit the button to raise the loading ramps, he nodded once, his eyes calm yet alert. Sabine followed Han and Chewie into the cockpit, 3P0 waddling closely behind her, the Mandalorian grimaced as Han threw himself into the pilot's seat.
"This bucket of bolts is never going to get us past the blockade!"
"This old bucket of bolts still has a few tricks left in her!"
The door opened for Galen just as the Falcon took off. The Jedi came to a halt, a small smile spreading across his face as he watched the ship depart, that was one less thing to worry about, he tapped his comm.
"Juno?"
"I'm here." Galen couldn't help but feel reassured at the sound of her voice, "the final transport is away, we've been given the all clear to get out of here."
"I'm going to need a pick up at the main hanger, Princess Leia is here, Remnous did he worst." There was a long pause before Juno replied.
"I'm on my way." Galen jogged towards the gaping main entrance, his footsteps echoing around the now empty hanger.
"Leaving so soon?" Galen skidded to a halt, his shoulder flinched sharply, he knew that voice. Grimacing; he turned back to the empty hanger. Vera was stalking towards him, the Sith Stalker flanked her closely on her right-hand side, the Inquisitors hung back their lightsabers held loosely at their sides. "Keep your distance." Vera glanced over her shoulder at the younger agents, "We won't be taking any chances this time." The Sith Lord glanced over at Nyria. "We'll take him together, you go in slowly on the left; I'll charge him, wait for an opening and keep him off balance." Nyria nodded once, her white and crimson lightsabers springing to life. Galen shook his head as his own lightsabers ignited in his hands.
"Can you really blame me? I don't go for crazy." Vera grinned madly as she drew her sword, the metal singing loudly as she raised the blade.
"Your loss!" The Sith Lord leapt at Galen; shards of ice rose into the air in a massive cloud as her feet pushed off the ground. Galen swiped his mother's lightsaber to the right, batting Vera's blade away, the Jedi raised his right arm, his father's weapon in hand. A glaring white light flashed across his peripheral vision, Galen leapt backwards just as Nyria slashed at him, the Jedi gritted his teeth as he felt the searing heat of her plasma blade on his skin. Vera lunged after him, the deadly point of her sword aimed squarely at Galen's heart!
"Incredible." The Seventh Brother murmured quietly, his lightsaber hissed as it retracted. "They're so fast!" The Sixth Sister growled lowly in the back of her throat, her yellow eyes narrowing as she stared intently at the intense battle unfolding before them. The Jedi was struggling to deal with the combined assault, when one's defences slipped and he managed to gain some ground; the other would step in to fill the gap.
Galen snarled stubbornly; they weren't letting up! The Jedi caught the Stalkers blade with his own then lent his weight on his back leg, with his weight redistributed, he was able to raise his right foot and thrust it into his opponent's chest whilst sending a burst of telekinetic energy out of the bottom of his foot. The Stalker was sent spinning through the air, the Jedi was given no respite however as Vera lunged at him once again, he twisted his body in an attempt to avoid being run through. Vera grinned as the Jedi cried out, he hadn't quite managed to get out of the way and the point of her blade had just managed to pierce the skin of his shoulder. Galen's eyes watered as an intense pain blossomed across his left shoulder, the Jedi thrust his arm out, sending an unmeasured telekinetic push at the Sith Lord. Vera grunted as she was sent flying across the hanger, her sword had slipped from her grip and remained buried in Galen's shoulder. The Jedi gritted his teeth as he stored his blue lightsaber on his belt, he gripped the rounded blade with his now free hand.
Galen's short cry of pain echoed around empty hanger; the Jedi gritted his teeth as he tossed Vera's sword aside. 'Focus!' He took a deep breath, clearing his thoughts, letting his tension wash away into the stream. 'Trust in the Force.' Galen raised his lightsaber, the Sith Stalker was back on her feet.
"It doesn't have to be this way Ahsoka." The Stalker's head twitched to one side; an icy shiver ran over Galen as he felt her eyes settle on him from behind the grotesque mask that had been seared to her flesh.
"That's not my name anymore." The claws on her synthetic foot scraped harshly against the ice as she started to advance on Galen. "Ahsoka is a memory, I'm just the waste that was left behind." Galen felt as if someone had wrapped their fist around his heart, the Jedi shook his head.
"That's not true Ahsoka, it's never too late to seek redemption, all may be redeemed in the light."
"Nyria!" The Stalker flinched, Galen glared over the Togruta's shoulder, Vera had climbed back to her feet. "Finish him!" Nyria bowed her head.
"I'm sorry Starkiller."
"That's not my name! My name is Galen Marek" Galen deactivated his mother's lightsaber and clipped the worn hilt on his belt. "Your name isn't Nyria, it's Ahsoka Tano, we aren't their tools! We have a choice!" Nyria's head twitched to the other side violently.
"It's too late-" A rage filled cry roared out from behind the Sith Stalker, Nyria turned just in time to see the red Twi'lek leap past her; the Inquisitor had activated both her lightsaber blades and shut the ring on the weapons hilt.
"Fool!" Vera scowled. "I ordered you to stay back!" Galen thrust his arm out as the Inquisitor activated the spinning motor on her lightsaber. The telekinetic push caught the Twi'lek in mid-air and knocked the lightsaber out of her hand. The crimson blades spun through the air, twirling through the air in a deadly arc of light towards Nyria. The Stalker made no effort to get out of the way.
"No!" Galen thrust his arm out, the lightsaber veered upwards, the tip of one of blades caught the cheek of Nyria's mask before the flying into the steel rafters that had been embedded into the hanger's towering ceiling. There was a moment of silence, then an eerie groan filled the cavern, Vera's eyes widened.
"Get down!" Galen threw his arms into the air to shield his face as chunks of ice and twisted metal began to plunge from the hanger's ceiling.
##
Juno brought the Rogue Shadow into land just outside the remains of Echo Base's main entrance, the base was lost, but the transports had managed to get away along with most of the major equipment. It would take time, but they would rebuild, the pilot tapped her comm.
"Galen? I've arrived at the rendezvous point." There was no answer, Juno tapped her comm again. "Galen? Do you read me?" There was a burst of static in her ear, then Galen's voice was speaking to her.
"I'm on route, keep the engine running!"
"What does that mean?" Juno rolled her eyes as she began flipping switches, the console lit up as the take-off sequence initialised.
"It means we got in coming! I'll be in the med bay while you get us out of here."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
##
Luke brought his speeder to a halt, the natural valley bowl where the Alliance had hidden their X-wing Squad was filled with life as pilots ran to their fighters. Biggs ran up to greet him, a wide smile on his face.
"You made it!" Luke grinned as he swung his leg over his bike.
"Was there ever any doubt?" Biggs shook his head.
"You know one day kid your luck is going to run out." Luke chuckled.
"On that day, I'm sure you'll be there to see it Biggs." The old friends shared a laugh together as X-Wings began to rise into the sky, Biggs clapped Luke on the shoulder.
"Come on, we need to get to the rendezvous point." Luke hung back as Biggs turned to his waiting ship.
"Yeah, about that." Biggs turned back, frowning.
"What?"
"I'm not going back to the fleet?" Biggs shook his head bemusedly.
"Why?" Luke squared his shoulders.
"Jedi Business." Biggs eyes widened.
"Right, where are you going?"
"I'm going to the Dagobah System."
Authors Note: It's done! It's finally done! Gods this one got away from me. I just wanted to say thank you for all the amazing reviews you've been leaving recently, they've really put a smile on my face.
I suppose it's time I address the Han Sabine relationship, yes, it is happening. I understand Ezra and Sabine are a popular ship, but if you give it a chance, I think you'll understand where I'm going with it, and it really kicks off next chapter where those two are concerned.
Thanks for reading, leave a review with your thoughts and may the Force be with you.
So, until we meet again.
Regards.
Nighttrek.