Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine and I bet everyone knows that.
AN: Here's chapter 38! I want to thank everyone for all the great reviews! They're inspiring:)
Burning Vendetta
Chapter 38: Mission on Kashyyyk
Anakin walked back into the cabin.
"Artoo is beginning our decent. He found an abandoned ridge overlooking a river and we're setting down there," Anakin reported.
"All right. Once we land, we'll split into pairs and all go separate ways. Our goal is to efficiently take down all the Imperial Forces we can and find survivors. Everyone..." Leiana said, looking pointedly at her son.
"Is to avoid Lucia if is it possible. If you cannot, find some way to send a distress call so others may aide you. You all have your partners and Obi-Wan and Chewie will come with me," Leiana said, as they landed and filed off the ship. Nic and Erika set off in one direction, Kendra and Zac in another and Marcus and Zeph in another.
"Obi-Wan and I are going to head to the enchanted caves to see how many are hiding there," Leiana said.
"Padme and I will take care of the patrols," Anakin replied.
"Please be careful, both of you. It is highly likely Lucia is ready to spring a trap for you," Leiana said.
"We'll be fine mom," Anakin promised. He took Padme's hand and they started trekking down the ridge, heading for the lush river valley below.
"Come, we must move quickly. It is likely Lucia has already sensed my presence," Leiana said.
"Do you think she can sense Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
"My protective charms are still holding, but she knows he's here, despite the masking of his presence," Leiana answered.
"I would not worry too much. Anakin was very powerful, even before you began training him," Obi-Wan replied.
"I know, but Lucia's powers are frightening and the Villitox venom is lethal. I am truly surprised she has not tried to overpower the Emperor yet," Leiana said.
"Well, Emperor Malice was once one of the Jedi Order's most promising students. Even without magic, he would be a formidable opponent, even for Lucia. She is likely biding her time and waiting for the right moment to strike," Obi-Wan suggested.
"What do you know about him, Malice, before he turned?" Leiana asked.
"He was once known as Mace Windu and was set to be the youngest Knight in Jedi history to be granted Mastery and a seat on the High Council. But on a mission to quell a civil war on his home planet of Haruun Kal, he mysteriously disappeared. Several months later, his shuttle was found burned and charred on Mustafar. His remains were never found, but part of his light saber and cloak was. The Jedi declared that the ship had possibly malfunctioned and been pulled into the planet's magnetic atmosphere. We had a funeral pyre for him. Then, ten years later Chancellor Vallorum is murdered by a light saber in his office, Palpatine declares he was murdered by the Jedi and uses their fear to take power. Palpatine's Clone army invades Republic worlds and his mysterious apprentice, Darth Malice storms the Temple. All inside are murdered, including Master Yoda, Mace's own former Master and the Order's most powerful Jedi. The rest on other words are hunted down and those that escaped were forced into hiding," Obi-Wan said.
"I'm sorry. I know you lost a lot of friends and comrades," Leiana said.
"They will be avenged. I am confident that Anakin is powerful enough to defeat both Malice and Lucia," Obi-Wan replied.
"I know. I am so proud of him," Leiana said.
"He is a good man. You should be," Obi-Wan replied. Leiana smiled.
"Thank you, Obi-Wan," she replied, as they continued through the forest.
Marcus and Zeph trekked down the side of the ridge. Zeph yelped, as she started slipping, but Marcus caught her before she could fall. She turned and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
"Hey...are you okay?" he asked.
"Yes...I'm just not very fond of heights," she replied.
"You? Miss Tough as Durasteel is afraid of heights?" he teased.
"I said I was not fond of heights. I'm not scared of them," she retorted.
"Right," he replied, with a sarcastic tone. They neared the edge of the ridge and Marcus jumped down, before reaching up and lifting Zeph down.
"There. No more heights," he said.
"Are you quite done making fun of me?" she asked.
"I don't know. Why? Are you going to zap me for being bad?" he asked, as he pinched her rear. She gasped and turned around.
"Maybe I will, because you're being so obnoxious," she fired back. He was about to retort, until he saw a four legged Imperial Walker trudging in their direction. He grabbed Zeph and pulled her behind some brush.
"How about you zap that thing," Marcus said.
"I can try, but durasteel is fairly resistant to lightning. If I do this, we need to have a plan B if it doesn't work," she said.
"Don't worry, baby. I've got plan B covered," he said, as he began climbing the tree behind them.
"Why doesn't that reassure my confidence?" she asked rhetorically, as she watched him climb up and then carefully crawl out onto an outstretched branch, before nodding to her. She closed her eyes and summoned her powers. A sphere of lightning formed between her palms.
"Doxio Thundaris!" she called, as she hurled the attack at the Walker. It struck and the machine shook violently. It convulsed and its crew inside tried to stabilize. Marcus jumped onto the top and the hatch opened. Marcus shot the first advancing Officer in the head, before pulling him out and tossing him to the ground. Zeph used a Force jump to propel herself up to Marcus. Two more Officers advanced out of the machine with blasters, but they were stunned by Zeph's thunder orbs. Marcus tied them up with some twine and Zeph floated them up to the tree branch.
"That was fun. Now, let's see how this hunk of Imperial junk works," he said, as he got inside the cockpit. She climbed in and sat next to him. He rubbed his hands together eagerly and took the steering grips.
"Look Marc, this map has Imperial outlets marked," she said. He smirked.
"What do you say we go blow up some Imp bastards?" he asked.
"Sounds like the perfect date," she replied.
Zac and Kendra reached the top of the ridge, where a few Storm Troopers were stationed. They were guarding a stationary canon that was raining laser fire down into the forest, destroying the lush ecosystem and marring the Wookie habitat.
"Bastards! Who do they think they are? Have the no respect for the beauty of nature?!" Kendra cursed them, as they hunched behind a boulder.
"Be calm, love. You know that most beings do not share a special bond with nature, like the Dathomirians of the light side do. They will pay for their ignorance, however," Zac said, as he summoned his lightning daggers. Kendra summoned her weapon, which looked like sledge hammer with a very long handle. The two of them revealed themselves and the Storm Troopers raised their blasters.
"Hey...stop right there!" one called to Zac. Zac ignored him and crossed his lightning daggers. A huge lightning bolt erupted from the weapons and struck the Trooper dead. Zac flipped over him and advanced on a few other Troopers. Three advanced on Kendra and she raised her hammer above her head, before slamming it into the ground. The Storm Troopers felt the ground quake violently beneath their feet. The surface cracked beneath their feet and the ground opened under them. The three Troopers cried out, as they fell into her pit.
"Brazen Selious!" she commanded, as the opening she created was suddenly, closed at her command, killing the trapped Storm Troopers. Suddenly, one Troopers grabbed her from behind and she struggled against him, but he was twice her size.
"Brazen Zealous!" she cried, as she sunk into the ground. The Trooper looked around in bewilderment, but suddenly felt something grab his foot. He looked down and saw her hand on his ankle and screamed, as he was pulled beneath the surface. Kendra emerged, just in time to see Zac slice through the rest of the Troopers. Zac ran around to the canon's control panel and shoved one of his daggers through the it, effectively short circuiting the piece of machinery. Thanks to his lightning, the control panel caught fire and began to burn.
"Come on, let's get out of here, before this thing blows," Zac said, as he grabbed her hand and they went traipsing down the ridge. A few minutes later, they looked back and saw a huge fireball erupt from the top of the ridge, as the canon exploded in flames.
Nic and Erika walked with their hands shackled in front of them, as they were led to an Imperial outpost on the north river bank by five Storm Troopers. They had willingly surrendered, because Erika claimed she had a so called plan. Nic, however, was not so sure.
"This is your plan?" he whispered to her, as they were brought before an Imperial ranking Lieutenant.
"We've captured these two in the forest after they destroyed two of our AT-ST's," the Trooper reported.
"Good work Commander. Take them to the prison camp with the other prisoners of their kind. Lucia will deal with them all later," he ordered.
"Now Nic," Erika whispered. Nic summoned his powers and the shackles around his wrists froze until they were so brittle, the lock snapped open. He threw them off and grabbed the Lieutenant around the neck. Nic's ice touch froze his internal organs, turning him blue in an instant. He grabbed Erika's shackles and froze them until they snapped open. She summoned her powers, calling on the river behind them.
"Aquaniam Tidalus!" she called. The rive swirled violently and a giant tidal wave engulfed the small outpost, as Nic and Erika stayed a safe distance back. Nic took care of those that were not swept away.
Avero Frigidaris!" he called, as an icy wind swept through the outpost, freezing all in its path, people and equipment alike.
"Good plan," he said.
"That will teach you to question me," she replied playfully.
"I'll grovel for your forgiveness later. Let's go," he said, as he took her hand and they headed back into the forest.
On the south side of the river bank, Anakin and Padme were also infiltrating another Imperial outpost. This one was large and crawling with Storm Troopers and Officers.
"Ready?" he asked her, as they observed their target area from behind a tree.
"Always," she replied, as she watched him slip his helmet on.
"Let's go..." he said.
Padme drew her blaster and leapt out from behind the brush. She fired at the outlet post's generator and it exploded, sending those near it flying, causing mass disorientation. The exploded fuel cell had splashed on a couple Officers and they were writhing on the ground, consumed by flames. Padme shot them both, giving them a mercy killing they probably didn't deserve.
"Freeze!" several Storm Troopers surrounded her. She played along and dropped her blaster as they asked. Anakin chose that moment to appear and leapt behind the Storm Troopers surrounding his wife. He ignited his silvery-black blade and thrust it through one Trooper's chest, before spinning and effortlessly beheading another. Padme smirked at the rest of the Troopers, as her sapphire blade shimmered to life.
"V...Vader!" they heard one Officer cry out in fear.
"Shoot them!" they heard the Commander roar. Blaster fire rang out and the two stood back to back, blocking every single blast. Some ricocheted harmlessly off objects or trees and some reflected back at those firing them, killing or wounding them. Padme embedded her boot into one Officer's chest and then drew her leg back, kicking another in the face. She saw the Commander at the comm panel and knew he was telling them of trouble. They didn't have much time before there would be AT-AT's arriving. She chucked a thermal detonator in his direction. It dropped onto the control panel and exploded in the Officer's face, killing him. Suddenly, she felt something slam into her back and she fell forward. She rolled over, just as the large boned Officer thrust the Force pike downward. She scissored her legs, kicking the weapon from his hands and then swept his legs out from under him. He sat up and angrily grabbed her legs, as she tried to get up.
"No ya don't, you little bitch. You ain't gettin' away this time," he growled. Padme punched him in the nose. He roared angrily and backhanded her. Padme yelped, as he sent her falling back. She saw him produce a pair of leg manacles to place around her ankles. She jerked one of her feet from his grasp and kicked him in the groin. The man doubled over in pain and Padme somersaulted backward and rose to her feet. She called her light saber to her hand and ignited the blade, before decapitating the bastard. The Officers trembled in fear, as Anakin cut down every Storm Trooper in his path. Soon, thanks to both Anakin and Padme, only four frightened Officers remained.
"Surrender and we won't kill you," Anakin said. Three of the Officers raised their hands in surrender, trembling in fear. The last one shifted his eyes between the two Rebels.
"I'd rather die than surrender to you, Rebel scum," he spat, as he raised his blaster level with Padme's head.
"Drop your weapons, you masked freak or I'll shoot your pretty wife!" he said fiercely. But Padme simply disarmed him with a spinning kick, before he could even think about firing. She spun and kicked him in the face, before thrusting her saber through his heart. Padme grabbed three pairs of binders and she and Anakin secured them around each man's wrists. Anakin removed his helmet and stuff it in his satchel.
"Anakin...I think the Commander might have got a message out to another outpost before I took care of him," Padme said.
"If he did, then they have AT-AT's on the way. You'll be surrendering next," one of the Officer's sneered.
"And you're lucky I haven't killed you yet. A few AT-AT's are not going to stop us," Anakin said, as he surveyed the surroundings. He noticed a large raft by the river bank.
"What is the raft for?" Anakin asked.
"What do you think it's for Rebel slime," another sneered. Anakin glared at the man and he screamed in agony, as Anakin probed his mind. His screams ceased, as Anakin extracted what he needed.
"So those are prison camps over there," Anakin said.
"We have to free them," Padme replied. He smiled.
"We will right after we greet our company," he pointed in the distance to two AT-ST Walkers heading their way.
"Ready angel?" he asked. She smiled.
"Always," she replied. Anakin and Padme stood ready, as the two machines began firing. Blaster fire unearthed the ground beneath them and threw them about. The three men they had captured screamed in terror, as their own men shot them to death. Padme winced away, as the fire power blew the three men apart. They were so cruel and brutal that they killed their own men, just because they were in the way. Such blatant disregard for human life made her livid. White flails and zephyrs of wind whipped around her, tossing her beautiful curls about. She could hear the Seraph's gentle caw.
"Zephyrious Seraphara!" Padme chanted. A fierce whirlwind swirled form her palms and whipped around the AT-ST. It wobbled and trembled, but finally lost control and toppled on its side before exploding.
Anakin leapt out of the path of the laser blast. He outstretched his palm and a blue jolt of energy shot from it.
"Avera Kantana!" he called. The whole machine froze in place. The hatch opened and two Storm Troopers leapt out and began shooting at him from the top. Anakin used the Force and lifted a large metal beam from the wreckage of the outpost and hurled it up. It slammed into the Troopers and sent them falling to the ground. Anakin pulled a thermal detonator from his belt, activated it and tossed it on top of the machine. The AT-ST exploded, blowing it and the Storm Troopers beneath it to bits. Anakin took Padme's hand and they headed to the river bank. They pushed the raft into the water and each grabbed an ore, before they began to paddle. Neither of them noticed the red serpent that was slithering into the water...
"My Queen, we are so relieved to see you," Lana said. Leiana hugged the young woman and young man next to her.
"I am so glad you're all right. How many are hiding here?" Leiana asked.
"About thirty, milady and most of the Wookies. Everyone else and a few other Wookies are in the prison camp, I am afraid," Hunter said.
"Milady, Lucia was here we were getting ready to evacuate, but then she left," Lana said.
"Do you know why?" Leiana asked.
"I heard a message come across on her comlink. One of her Officers told her that they had found them, whatever that meant. She forgot about us and left," Hunter said. Leiana looked at Obi-Wan.
"Anakin and Padme," he said.
"All right, everyone stay here until I return. I must go after my son," Leiana said. They nodded, as Obi-Wan left with her and they trekked through the valley.
Anakin and Padme were about halfway across the river, when they felt something bump the raft from beneath them. The second bump was more violent and they held onto each other. The serpent surfaced and Padme screamed, as it hissed, venom dripping from its fangs. It morphed into human form and stood on the raft.
"I've found you at last...dear grandson," Lucia hissed, as her yellow eyes pierced through them.
"You two...are coming with me," she hissed.
"Like hell we are," Anakin spat, as he ignited his blade. Lucia cackled evilly.
"Foolish whelp...you are no match for me," she laughed, as her body turned into that of the Villtox again and she slithered her coils around him.
"No...Ani!" Padme cried.
"Stay back Padme," he called. Lucia's attention averted to her and she barred her fangs.
"Say goodbye to your precious wife," Lucia hissed.
"NOOO!" Anakin screamed, as he struggled to get loose. Padme clenched her eyes shut and looked away, waiting for the snake to strike. But it never came and instead, Padme heard the gentle caw of the Seraph. The bird's expansive, shimmering wings blocked Lucia from her, creating a shield around her. The Villitox howled in rage at the return of the Angelic bird. It was something she had not been expecting.
"You think you can protect her? I killed you...remember. I still remember feasting on your pure, sweet blood. I remember laughing, as your mate sobbed like a weakling over your corpse!" the Villitox howled. The Seraph cawed fiercely and flapped her silvery white wings, sending flails of wind toward the large serpent. The Villitox's grip slackened on Anakin and he crawled to Padme side. The Seraph shimmered out of sight, instructing her charge on how to use her powers through the Force. Lucia howled in rage and a fireball was forming in her mouth. Anakin readied himself to counter her, as fire swirled between his palms. Lucia unleashed a torrent of fire, breathing it down on them.
"Phoenixius Infernitatum!" Anakin roared, as his own beam of fire met Lucia's. There was a large explosion, as they canceled each other out. Anakin fell back and Padme helped him sit up. Lucia howled in rage.
"We need to get away. We can't fight her in this river," Anakin said. Padme thought for a moment and then summoned a silvery white bow with several wing adorned arrows. Padme threaded the arrow and pulled back, aiming at Lucia. Anakin lit the tip of the arrow with his fire and Padme fired the flaming weapon. Lucia roared in anger and pain, as the arrow struck her in the neck. Anakin and Padme began paddling furiously, as she fought off their attack. She angrily pulled the arrow from her body with her mouth and advanced on them.
"She's gaining on us," Padme cried.
"Use the attack you used earlier to propel the raft!" Anakin called.
"Zephyrious Seraphara!" Padme cried. The wind propelled the raft to the bank and Anakin helped her off. Unfortunately, Lucia arrived seconds later. Imperial Officers and Storm Troopers surrounded them and AT-AT Walkers loomed in the distance.
"Surrender, young prince...and I might spare her life," Lucia hissed.
"We don't surrender," he said, as they prepared to fight. They were vastly outnumbered and they were likely to be captured. They needed help and they needed it fast. Anakin and Padme summoned the spirits of their guardians and the two brilliant birds launched red and silver sparks high into the sky, accompanied by two loud caws.
"Calling for help will not save you, Chosen One. Your powers will soon be used for my gain," Lucia hissed. Anakin and Padme stood their ground, as the battle erupted between them...