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The Night Whisperer: Oh yes, those things do come, and Callum displays a destructive power against them. But I won't spoil much, just read to find out.
Grima: Zym doesn't realise just how powerful Callum is, or why Viren wants him. Until now.
Chapter 18: Defeat
Arimar stood upon the bridge of the Interdictor like cruiser, the Vindicator Class Heavy Cruiser called The Centurion. Her eyes observed Circe from afar, she could've cared less about the Keldabe Battleship not far from them. To her right, The Defection and The Calamity held formation. To her left, The Trident stood strong.
"Admiral, we're detecting several unknown lifeforms upon the surface around an old abandoned Imperial facility."
Arimar narrowed her eyes. "That will make the search harder. Be ready to deploy several units to investigate the facility. If General Soren is near there, it'll only be a matter of time until they find him." She ordered.
"What about the Rebel ship?"
"Ignore them, our priority is finding the General." Arimar replied.
Rayla frowned. "It's worrying that the Imperial fleet is just sitting there, ignoring us." She said, her eyes locked upon the Imperial taskforce.
Fell nodded. "Given, they have more then enough firepower to take us out now. With that Vindicator Heavy Cruiser just sitting there alongside the Star Destroyer." He responded. "Though scanners have revealed that there are a large group of unknown lifeforms around an abandoned imperial facility." He added.
Janai frowned. "Sundarks. Brutal and ruthless, no wonder the Empire abandoned Circe. They're tough to kill, even for a Jedi like myself." She replied.
Amaya glanced over the others. "If there's a chance my nephew is there, we should take it." Gren translated.
Rayla's gaze moved to rest upon Amaya. "I'll lead the rescue party myself." She said, her eyes sweeping over the others.
Fell nodded in agreement. "I could think of no one better to lead then you." He responded, turning to face the front of the bridge. "I'll have a few of my best men go with you." He added.
Callum felt it strongly, their presence approaching rapidly. The heat that came from them. "We've got hostiles headed our way." He said, opening his eyes as he ignited his lightsaber.
Soren drew his blaster, glancing around. He could hear the sound of metal being torn apart by something large. The two backed up against one another. "What is that?" He asked.
Callum shrugged his shoulders as a large clawed fist burst through a wall. The orange skin of a long arm soon emerged as a Sundark emerged. It had sharp teeth emerged. Two large arms that it used to support itself while it also featured two smaller arms. Its legs were short with two claw like feet, it also featured two massive horns
"Is that a Gundark?" Soren questioned, firing away at the creature as it roared.
Callum quickly reached glanced around, he could feel more of this creature moving in closer and closer. "I don't know, I thought Gundarks were only found on Vanqor." He replied, leaping back as another Sundark smashed through the wall.
Soren narrowed his eyes as he continued to fire. "Well, this is most certainly not Vanqor." He cried as he dived to the side, avoiding the strong arm of the Sundark as it slammed into the ground.
Callum leapt back as his Sundark foe roared and charged forward. He dived to the side, moving his blade to slice the creature. The creature reacted instantly, pulling back and slamming the side of a nearby pillar.
Callum heard the Force speak to him, following its voice, he dived to the side, widening his eyes as a section fo the roof came crashing down where he once stood. "Holy, sweet Xadia." He cursed as another Sundark appeared next to the one he fought. "These things definitely act like Gundarks." He yelled over the noise.
Soren rolled his eyes as he was slammed back next to Callum. His back hitting the wall with great force. "That's going to leave a mark." He muttered, falling to the ground as he glanced at Callum. "Got any bright ideas Jedi?" He asked.
Callum glanced down at his belt. "Only one, and I'm not sure if it'll kill them all." He said, gesturing towards the pack of Sundarks.
Soren blinked. "I could've sworn there was only two just a few minutes ago." He exclaimed.
Callum nodded as he backed up, reaching down and pulling out one of his creations. "Hope this works." He muttered, activating the explosive and chucking it out towards the Sundarks.
The Sundarks glanced down at the explosive before one of them slammed their fist into it, shattering the explosive. Callum blinked. "Well, we're screwed." He said as he felt a fist send him flying into the wall next to Soren.
"You know, if this is how we die, I guess I'll die knowing that you're not so bad. Perhaps if the Empire had to be wrong about somethings, it's the way you Jedi work and think. Even the way you Rebels can be creative. You're not bound by limits or large rules and regulations." Soren said, looking on as the Sundarks slowly approached them.
Callum glanced over at Soren. "You're not so bad yourself. What does Viren want with me anyway?" He asked.
Soren sighed. "No idea, but I guess it has something to do with you being a Jedi and all. Claudia knows, but she won't tell anyone." He replied.
Callum glanced back at the Sundarks; his eyes closed as he took a deep breath. He felt the Force flow within him, he saw the images of his father, his mother, of Ezran, of Janai and Amaya, of Gren and Bait. Of Fell. Of Rayla. He opened his eyes, determination written into them. "We won't go down today. I refuse to let us die here in this barren wasteland to some Gundark rip-offs." He said, the Force built up within his body. He felt the Darkside build, he opened his eyes, a light Sith yellow tinted the normal green.
Raising an arm, he glanced at Soren. "Get behind me." He said.
Soren was quick to stand behind Callum as he brought his arm back. Callum narrowed his eyes and with a mighty yell, pushed his hand forward, unleashing a mighty blast of energy. The energy vaporised the Sundarks instantly, and whatever they were around.
"Sweet Xadia." Soren said in awe, catching Callum as he fell to the ground. "That was awesome." He said.
Callum smirked. "Destructive potential of the Darkside. Not ever doing that again unless I need to." He said, closing his eyes as he fell unconscious.
Soren sighed, what was he supposed to do now.
Janai felt in the Force, the Darkside, she knew where it came from her. It surged through the bond she had with Callum. Her eyes widened. "I know where Callum is." She said. "He was with the Sundarks."
Rayla glanced up from her weapons. "How?"
"Scanners will prove my point." She responded.
"Janai, come in, the Sundarks, they just vanished from the scanner." Fell said through the comm.
Rayla blinked. "Sweet naast." She muttered, standing tall.
"Ma'am, the creatures have just vanished from our scanners."
Arimar widened her eyes. "Sweet Xadia, what did the General find down there. Contact Grand Admiral Viren at once." She demanded.
The holographic image of Viren appeared quickly. "Admiral Arimar, what do you call?" He asked.
Arimar stood tall. "We believe that General Soren has found a weapon of mass destruction down on the surface of Circe. For a large group of unknown creatures just vanished without a trace on our scanners." She explained.
Viren narrowed his eyes. "That was no weapon, that was the Prince." He said. "Captured him at once." He ordered.
Arimar nodded as the image faded away. Glancing at the others, she narrowed her eyes. "Deploy our forces down there at once. And prep my shuttle for transport." She commanded, turning around fast as she marched forward.
Rayla frowned as she glanced at the hologram. "Count Fell, several Imperial transports are headed planet side towards the last known location of the Sundarks."
Fell blinked. "They know where Callum is. Rayla, get to the Kom'rk at once and get down there before they do.
Rayla nodded, standing fast as she placed her helmet upon her head and ran off the bridge. Janai glanced up at Fell and the others. "Let us pray that she gets there in time." She said.
Amaya nodded. "Or taking Xadia back will become difficult." Gren translated.
Soren glanced up to see several Imperial shuttles lading outside, he glanced down at Callum and then back at the sky. Standing tall, he walked outside. "Admiral Arimar, I'm so glad you came." He said.
Arimar raised an eyebrow. "Where is Callum?" She asked.
Soren blinked. "He isn't with me." He said, blocking the entrance to the factory.
Arimar narrowed her eyes. "Troopers, search the factory at once." She ordered, watching as Soren was pushed to the side by several Stormtroopers.
Soren glanced at Arimar. "What's with calling him Callum, what happened to the Prince part?" He asked.
Arimar kept her eyes locked on the factory. "That doesn't concern you General Soren. I have my orders, as do you." She said, watching as a group of Stormtroopers emerged, dragging an unconscious Callum in their hands.
Arimar smirked. "Load him onto my shuttle at once." She said, turning as she spotted a Kom'rk in the distance. "Covering fire now." She ordered, watching as a dozen TIE's flew in towards the incoming Mandalorian fighter.
Rayla narrowed her eyes and stepped back. "Be ready to drop. We've got TIE's so we won't be able to land." She said, watching as the hatch opened. "3. 2. 1. GO!" She cried, dropping down onto the desert like surface of Circe, drawing her blasters and firing away at the Stormtroopers.
She dived forward, gunning down Stormtroopers, she saw Soren standing tall, he seemed conflicted as to what to do. Then she saw Arimar, standing at the base of a Lambda shuttle's ramp as a few Stormtroopers dragged Callum up the ramp. She widened her eyes. "NO!" She cried, watching as Arimar turned to face them.
Arimar smirked. "Soren, come now." She ordered, heading up the ramp.
Soren glanced at Rayla, he closed his eyes. "I'm sorry." He mouthed, turning and heading up the ramp.
Rayla watched as the Lambda shuttle took flight and headed into orbit. She kicked down the last of the Stormtroopers and screamed into the air as the Kom'rk landed behind her. She fell to her knees. "Callum." She said.
Arimar marched up along the bridge of The Calamity. "Set course for Xadia at once. I want all Stormtroopers on high alert and guarding the prison block." She ordered.
"Right away Ma'am."
Rayla made her way onto the bridge of The Crusader, her eyes locked upon the floor. "They got Callum." She said.
"Count Fell, the Imperial fleet has jumped to hyperspace."
Fell glanced at the others, all of them looked at him. "Contact Queen Zubeia, we need to inform them of the recent events."
The holographic image of Zubeia and Zym appeared in an instance. "Count Fell, what is it? Why does everyone seem down and defeated?" She demanded.
Rayla walked forward. "The Empire, they took Callum." She said, a few tears in her eyes.
Zym narrowed her eyes. "A little loss, we can free Xadia without him." He said.
Janai shook her head. "No, we can't. With my padawan now in Viren's hands. The Empire has the advantage. Callum wiped out a pack of Sundark in one blow. I felt the massive amount of Darkside energy he used through our bond."
Zubeia blinked. "That kind of power, in Viren's hands. Oh, sweet Xadia." She said, her eyes wide.
Zym glanced at the others. "What does it mean?" He asked.
"It means, that Viren, has gotten what he wants." Fell said. "A powerful warrior by his side to keep Xadia in line."
Viren smirked as he watched Arimar's entire taskforce enter the system. "At last, Prince Callum is mine."
From the shadows, Aaravos smirked. "And the grand scheme can finally begin." He muttered.
I was tense writing this chapter, but the final battle draws closer. Betrayal and defection next chapter. Sundarks are a sub-species of Gundark I created. Gundarks themselves are formidable creatures, add the traits of a Sunfire Elf's warrior nature, and well. Oh boy.
Force Destruction is a devastating Darkside power, of course, it uses a lot of energy.
Naast is the Mandalorian word for destroyer.
Oh, and don't worry. I'm not abandoning A Father's Legacy or the spinoff, I'm just working on getting this story finished because it's nearly there.
Review, leave feedback and ideas. And check out my other works.