Chapter 45 – Life Force
D178/0 ABY
Onboard Home One, the recently promoted Commander Rex was currently teaching Ava and Jesse, on how to properly handle and use a blaster. They were using a stormtrooper helmet for target practice held by Chopper, who was continuously moving around.
Both the youngsters were struggling with this, as they never had a reason to use a blaster. As one of the blaster bolts nearly hit Chopper instead of the helmet, he yelped and grunted in binary. Rex smiled a little and said, "Chopper, those bolts won't hurt you."
He then turned to the two kids and patiently said, "Aim, then fire." Jesse, who was responsible for the wrongly placed shot looked at his feet, while Ava made a sour face. Rex saw that and said, "Look kid, lightsabre training is important, but Commander Fenrir is no position to train you right now. Using a blaster may not seem that important at the moment, but you'll understand its importance one day." He then turned towards Jesse and said, "You handle a blaster better than most rookies I've trained. We only need to work on your confidence."
Jesse looked up uncertainly at him. Rex sighed, his expression softening. He knelt and said, "I know you miss them son. But you're here now, and I assure you, you are safe." Jesse nodded slightly, before he could say anything Ava spoke up, "What Jesse and I are trying to ask is, will they be alright?"
"They will. Those guys are very tough. When they wake up, you two need to impress them with your skills, to show that you haven't been slouching around. Can you do that?", Rex replied. Both of the kids nodded firmly at this and got back to their blaster training. To be honest, Rex didn't know if any of them would wake up, but he couldn't say that to Ava and Jesse. Moral was at an all-time low, ever since the disaster on Naboo. The whole planet was now uninhabitable, and although a suitable world had been chosen as a new home for the people of Naboo, the leadership of the New Republic was struggling to restore moral.
Inside their secretly shared chambers were Tarre ad Ahsoka. The former had been discharged on the two days ago and was currently resting his head on the latter's lap, with his metal arm carefully placed on the bedside table along with his mould and Ahsoka's lightsabres. There was a bandage wrapped around his neck. Ahsoka was currently running her hands through his hair, leaning towards the wall, where the bed was attached.
Tarre opened his eyes and smiled. He opened his mouth, slightly winced and spoke extremely slowly, "What a lovely sight? Have you had any sleep at all?", with a gap between each word. Ahsoka nodded her head gently.
Tarre then closed his eyes and after a while said, again very slowly, "Not a very good liar, Ahsoka. Lie next to me."
She complied his request, lying next to him, her head gently resting on his chest and his arm wrapped around her. "I am worried about you", she said looking into his eyes. Before she knew it, she fell asleep (partly due to her being very tired and partly being nudged into sleep through the force by Tarre). A few hours passed by before Tarre woke up. He carefully extracted himself from Ahsoka, who was still asleep and headed towards the inbuilt refresher. Feeling movement, Ahsoka too woke up and looked around for Tarre. She saw light in the refresher and guessed he must have been there. A moment later, Tarre came out and saw Ahsoka awake. She then asked if Tarre was heading towards the med-bay, to which Tarre nodded.
Inside the med-bay, Mace Windu sat beside his wife's bed, gently holding her hand, as she lay there covered in bandages. Around him, the remainder of the pagans/ now almost angels were either lying on beds or in bacta chambers. In a corner of the room was Prince Issho, still shrivelled and in a bacta chamber. The door of the medical chamber opened, and entered Bor, with an impassive face.
"Any changes in their condition?", he asked.
"Not in the short while, you have been gone.", Mace Windu replied still looking at his wife.
Bor then went over to the chamber holding Issho. He pressed his palm on the glass surface, trying to connect with his grandson, to accelerate his healing, but to no avail. Bor then groaned slightly, placing his hand on the still healing wound on his chest. This caused Windu to look up at Bor.
"Have you tried connecting with her?", he asked.
"Yes. But I can't make sense of what is happening to her.", Windu answered.
"As far as I can tell, her life force has been majorly drained. It is the same with the others, except for Fenrir, Issho and that other angel.", Bor answered.
"How can something like this happen?", Windu asked.
"There are many ways, none of them I would like to discuss. Rest assured, I have done everything in my power to stabilise all of them. It will take some time for them to wake.", Bor answered, earning a nod from Windu, who then turned to look at Talia's restful face.
On another bed, the angel Balthazar finally opened his eyes, his dreams dark and twisted. Seeing this Bor walked towards the young angel and helped him up. "How do you feel?", he asked.
"Like I was in a blender, set to puree for a tomato salsa.", Balthazar answered, holding his head in his hands, as he stood up.
"And you were the tomato?", Bor asked tentatively with a small smile on his face.
"In this analogy… yes.", came the answer. Balthazar then looked up and saw the rest of the patients in the med-bay. He then looked towards Bor and asked, "How can I help?"
Pointing towards a bacta chamber holding Bruce Banner, Bor answered, "His skeleton is on the mend. I need you transfer a bit of your life-force to him and the others."
Balthazar nodded. As he started to walk towards Bruce, he stopped, turned around and asked Bor, "Why not use the vials of grace on them?"
Bor shook his head and answered, "Those vials contain archangel grace, highly potent and highly destructive. If used in their current condition, they would die." Balthazar looked uncertain, but nodded his head and complied with Bor's orders.
At the same time, Bor walked towards the bed, in which lay Fenrir. As he did so, the door of the med-bay opened and entered Kanan and Hera.
Looking towards Balthazar, Kanan said, "So there is some progress?", posed more like a comment than a question.
"Yes. Tarre and this one, are the first to heal. Hopefully, the others will wake soon.", Bor replied.
Looking at Bor, Balthazar said, "This one's name is Balthazar." Bor nodded to that.
"How is he?", Hera asked.
"He is in a coma. I am unable to ascertain as to why or how. But his physical parameters are normal.", Bor replied. Hera sat by Fenrir's bed, Kanan placed a hand on her shoulder in an effort to reassure her. Hera pressed his hand and smiled at him.
As Bor started checking on the other patients, Kanan approached Windu and asked, "How is she?"
Windu sighed, "I don't know." After which the door opened again. Except for Bor, the rest looked towards the two newcomers with surprised eyes – Tarre and Ahsoka.
"Haven't you spent enough time in the med-bay?", Bor asked.
Balthazar, who was looking at Tarre saw him use sign language to ask about the condition of the others. He then relayed his question to Bor, who was still not looking at Tarre.
"I will let you know, when their condition improves. For now, I suggest you go to the communications room.", Bor turned around and continued, "I sense, you are needed there."
As he finished, the doors opened for a third time. This time it was Zeb. "Chancellor wants to see you.", he said, his face and body language conveying his anger and fear.
As the group (minus Mace Windu and Bor) entered the communications room, they saw the Chancellor Mothma, General Dodanna, Ezra and Sabine waiting for them. The latter two were standing very quietly. Through the force, Kanan and Ahsoka sensed their fear, anger and hate.
"It is good to see you awake and well. I fear I have more unfortunate news for you.", Mothma said.
"What is it?", Hera asked.
"We received a transmission from Mandalore, today. It was for you, Master Viszla.", General Dodanna said, at which Sabine stiffened up even more.
Tarre gestured for the transmission to be played. The holo-table came to life and in it they saw the man who wearing the Manda'lor's mask. Infront of him, were four mandalorian soldiers on their knees, their helmets removed. Behind him was Bo Katan suspended in a stasis field, the fear in her eyes evident. On his side, was Laufey, the frost giant king of Jotunheim.
Seeing these two, Baltazar and Tarre took a sharp breath in, and Tarre's cybernetic arm started to glow a bit. A second later, their expression normalized and Tarre's arm stopped glowing. Ahsoka sensed Tarre's mental shield go up.
"With this image, I hope you can infer the obvious. For those who cannot… I have taken this backwater world and crushed its pitiful resistance.", the man in the mask said. He then ignited the darksabre in his hand and continued, "This message is for Tarre Viszla. Come and face me. Refuse and their death's will be on your hands.", gesturing towards the four soldiers in front of him with the darksabre. "Oh, and just so we are clear, if your Republic tries to intervene, then this will be the consequence.", the man said. He then raised his free hand, and white mist came out of the four in front. Simultaneously, they started to shrivel and scream in pain, before collapsing and eventually dying. The transmission then ended.
"Tarre, who is this man? Why is he doing this?", Sabine erupted. Tarre was still looking at the spot, where the masked man's hologram had been. He didn't answer, he didn't even register the question. Suddenly, the room began to uncontrollably shake and creak, the holo-table shattered in many pieces. Balthazar then shoved with enough force to snap him out of it. This reaction was enough to scare the others, so much so that they backed away from Tarre. Tarre then looked down and sensed that even Ahsoka was scared. Tarre started using sign language, which Balthazar interpreted.
"that thing is an old wound. I don't know what he hopes to gain from this.", Balthazar spoke interpreting Tarre.
"The Republic will do everything we can to help the people of Mandalore. For now, we must formulate a strategy and send all available ships to Mandalore.", Mon Mothma said. Tarre waved his hands, disagreeing with her. He then started using sign language again, interpreted by Balthazar.
"That thing can consume entire planets, in a matter of seconds. If the Republic comes to Mandalore, all will be lost.", Tarre signed.
"Then what do you suggest we do?", Hera asked.
"A small team. I will go and meet with him, while those who come with me will find and free the prisoners.", Tarre signed.
"I am sorry Master Viszla, but you are too close to this. Are you sure that there isn't a better option because it seems to be a very obvious trap, set for you?", Dodanna expressed his views.
"I agree with your views. But like Tarre said, this thing can consume entire planets within seconds. Its hunger is infinite and its power is vast. Tarre has to go, and the Republic doesn't.", Balthazar said.
"I have a plan, General. I will need some time to prepare for it. Until then, you all must decide on who is coming with me and Balthazar.", Tarre signed. He and Balthazar then left the room and went straight to the med-bay, to consult Bor.
"General Syndulla, your team has an excellent record with infiltrating and liberating. As such, it would make perfect sense for all of you to take this mission. But I still think that this is not a safe plan.", Dodanna spoke.
"I agree with you general, but I've learnt to trust his judgement. We will be preparing for our departure.", Hera replied. With this, the Ghost crew left the room, heading towards the med-bay.
"Ezra, Sabine, Zeb go ready the ship, and find Chopper. Tell him, we will be leaving soon.", Hera told them on the way.
As she, Kanan and Ahsoka entered the med-bay, they saw Tarre and Bor conversing in sign language, with Balthazar leaning against the wall.
"We could use your help with this mission.", Hera interrupted them, pointing towards Bor and Windu.
"No", Bor said, "My presence in this room is not optional. He and I are needed here.", Bor gestured towards himself and Windu.
"But that doesn't mean, you haven't any help.", Bor continued. He then turned towards Tarre, "Help will come. Your father has been made aware of the situation. While he himself is stuck elsewhere, he is sending help."
"Elsewhere? What do you mean elsewhere?", Hera asked, a little heated up.
Bor sighed, "He would not say. But if what I sensed from him is correct, then his life hangs by a very, very delicate thread." The others had a confused expression on their faces as they did not understand what Bor had said. He had in fact spoken Ryl, the language of the Twi'leks, with the proper accent. Hearing this, Hera's expression momentarily changed to one of fear, but she quickly steadied herself.
Bor then turned towards Tarre and signed, "Your friend, is it Cain?"
"Yes.", Tarre signed. Thankfully Balthazar wasn't interpreting at the moment.
"If what you believe is true, then you must pray to him. If he has truly changed, then he will find a way to help you.", Bor signed.
"Balthazar, show me your mould.", Bor said. Balthazar complied and Bor took his own mould out. He vertically placed the two together and after a moment, returned it back to him. "in it you will find useful material to aid in your mission."
Bor then turned towards Hera and Kanan, "I need the two of you here." As the two started to protest, Bor raised his hand and said, "This is not optional. I need your help to heal Fenrir." Hera and Kanan then went quiet, thinking and Kanan finally answered, "Fine." Hear looked at him, with her eyes narrow and was about to say something, but Bor winced a little and cursed out loud, clutching his side.
A moment later, he said, "The rest of you must go immediately, and I assure you help will arrive. That planet and its people will survive."