The Apprentice
Darth Vera ran through the repaired gates of the digs sites inner wall and charged towards the outer defenses, the Sith Lord bent her knees slightly as she ran and pushed off, flinging herself into the air. Her yellow eyes narrowed with disgust as she landed atop the fortifications and took in the horizon, a seemingly endless number of C-9979 droid carriers were settling into land across the grass plain.
"How is this even possible?" Vera muttered under her breath as the carriers began to lower their deployment ramps and troop transports began to roll out onto the grass. "An alliance with the Remnant and an army of battle droids? Since when can the Rebels work miracles?!" The Sith Lord snarled as she turned on the spot, pulling her communicator off her belt. "All hands to the defences! And activated the ray-shields, it looks like we may be here for a while!" Vera frowned as she bent to leap off the wall, she could feel a several Force Wielders somewhere nearby, the Sith Lords yellow eyes picked through the landing craft until they landed on a battered red YV-929 armoured light freighter as it flew over the carriers. "They're throwing everything they have at us." Vera's fists clenched as she glared across the grassland, then she turned and dropped off the wall. Two Inquisitors ran to meet her as she strode back towards the inner walls. "Third Brother, Fourth Sister." The Sith nodded to each of them as they took their places on either side of her, then she frowned and glanced around the hectic fortress. "Where are the rest of you?"
As the fortress swarmed with activity, the other surviving Inquisitors looked to their leader for instructions, Dhara Leonis surveyed the confusion, then nodded once.
Sabine struggled as two Clone Troopers began to drag her away from the portal, each supporting one arm between them, most of the sensation had returned to her legs at this point, but with her arms secured there was no way she could fight her way out.
"Troopers!" Both clones froze in place as they snapped to attention, out of the corner of her eye, Sabine saw two of Remnous's Inquisitors hurrying towards them, their lightsabers in hand.
"Grand Inquisitor?" One of the troopers cocked his head to one side curiously.
"I'll be taking custody of this woman." The taller of the Inquisitors stepped forward and gestured to Sabine. The clones looked at each other uncertainly.
"We've been ordered to secure her, Lady Vera never mentioned anything about-" Both clones suddenly collapsed, releasing Sabine as they crumpled to the ground, groaning dully in the back of their throats. The Mandalorian felt a pair of hands catch her by her shoulders and hold her up, she glanced over her shoulder to see two more Inquisitors.
"Wait?" Sabine shook her head bemusedly. "What's going on? Aren't you on Remnous's side?"
"We're on the New Regime's side." The Grand Inquisitor shrugged as she raised her hand and waved two fingers through the air, the Mandalorians binders clicked open and dropped off. "They aren't the same thing." Sabine rubbed her wrists.
"That's news to me, so what are you doing?" The Grand Inquisitors nodded to the three other agents who turned and jogged towards the portal.
"The four of us have been planning on having a little chat with Remnous, this attack presents a perfect opportunity." Sabine raised an eyebrow with surprise as she pulled her lightsaber off her belt. "Care to join us?"
"So, dissent in the ranks eh?" The Mandalorian grinned as she activated her blue lightsaber. "So, I guess we're all Rebels now."
##
The Loth Wolf's bridge was filled with blinding flashes and the harsh screeched off lightsabers as Starkiller and Galen Marek clashed back and forth in a brutal duel, their crimson, blue and yellow plasma blades crashing against each-other again and again. There was a brief pause in the brawl and as the two locked their blades, each straining against the other with all their might.
"You still haven't learned!" Starkiller scoffed as he took a step forward, forcing Galen back. "You can't beat me alone Marek!" To emphasise his point, the clone lunged forward, bringing his knee up into Galen's stomach. The Jedi cried out, a few specks of blood flying out of his mouth, their lightsabers slipped apart; Starkiller took advantage of his confusion and flicked one of his wrists, bringing his lightsaber down and neatly slicing through the hilt of Galen's yellow blade. "This will be your end!" The Sith Assassin thrust his arm out and sent a telekinetic burst at the Jedi. Galen flew off his feet and was blasted across the bridge, thudding painfully to the ground and sliding across the floor. "Is that all you have?" The Jedi took a steady breath as he climbed back to his feet, he had to focus; playing into Starkillers taunts wouldn't do him any favours, it was time to put his training to the test.
"Not by a long shot." Galen took his blue lightsaber in both hands and raised it against the Sith Assassin. "I'm just getting started!" Starkiller smirked under his mask as he spun his lightsabers in an arc as he advanced on Galen.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time now." The Sith Assassin lunged at the Jedi, expecting to be met in the middle, but instead, Marek stood his ground, waiting for the clone to come to him. The Jedi let out a long breath as he raised his lightsaber to counter Starkiller's next blow. 'Trust in the Force.'
The crimson and blue lightsabers clashed once again, Galen allowed himself to fall into a defensive form, his mind blank as he gave himself to the Force. His plasma blade almost seemed to move on its own as he backed away from the Sith Assassin, perfectly parrying each blow but never countering, the Jedi's eyes closed; his blade continuing to move in perfect time with Starkillers.
Total serenity began to spread throughout his entire being, the tension of the moment, the fears and anxieties of the fight, the weight of his past, all of it faded away. In its place, for the first time in his life, there was clarity, he knew who he was, a Jedi Knight, like his father before him, and he knew what he had to do. He would not die here, not now, not while he still had a mistake to correct. The Force was his guide, and the Force was with him.
Starkillers eyes widened with shock under his helmet as Galen perfectly rebutted his strike, his eyes still closed. In the past, their duals had dragged to a standstill due to their equal skill and identical styles, but this time, the Sith Assassins thoughts were cut off as Galen struck back, his lightsaber slipping passed his guard and slicing a chunk out his helmet, exposing one of his bloodshot orange eyes, which narrowed in fury as the Sith slashed at the Jedi, his strike accompanied by a rage-fuelled howl of indigence.
"You learned a new Form!" The clone snarled as the Jedi blocked the blow. "But you're a fool if you think Soresu will save you!" Form III offered an ultimate defence if applied properly, but it lacked an offensive edge, with few ways to strike back it was difficult ranging to impossible for a Soresu practitioner to win a fight on their own.
"I don't need it to save me." Galen opened his eyes as he caught both of Starkillers plasma blades with his, the Sith Assassin took a step back when he saw the look in his eyes. The Jedi stepped forward, keeping their lightsabers locked, the blue blade dragging down red ones towards their hilts. "The Force has already done that."
Starkillers lightsabers shut off as Galen's lightsaber sliced through their hilts. The clone stumbled backwards, staring down at his hands and the ruined stumps of his lightsabers. "I destroyed Starkiller long ago." The clone looked up to see Galen raise his lightsaber one last time. "You're just a bad memory."
Starkiller closed his eyes as the plasma blade descended; a moment of stillness spread across the bridge as Galen cut into Starkiller, for a few seconds the clone stayed on his feet. Then the ruined lightsaber hilts slipped from his grasp and he toppled to the ground. Galen's blue blade hissed back into its hilt as he took several deep breaths, his chest rising and falling heavily as he took one last look down at his fallen doppelganger. Then he turned away from the Sith Assassin and strode back across the bridge towards the artillery controls, summoning his mother's yellow kyber crystal from the remains of her lightsaber as he did so. "Step one."
##
Darth Remnous frowned thoughtfully as he stepped back through the portal and into the fortress.
"Grand Inquisitor?" Dhara Leonis was stood in front of the portal, her lightsaber in one hand, the other clamped around the shoulder of Sabine Wren; behind them, the encampment was in disarray as Clone Troopers ran to secure the walls "What is the-?" The Emperor's frown turned into a scowl as a crimson lightsaber blade appeared at this throat, he could hear a second one activate behind him, the heat searing against the back of his neck. "A coup? Really?" Dhara let go of Sabine, the Mandalorian smirked at the Sith Lord as she activated Ezra Bridgers blue lightsaber.
"Not a coup, Remnous." The traitor shook her head as she raised her lightsaber and took a few steps towards him. "An arrest." The Sith Lord scowled as he glanced at the Inquisitors that were holding their blades to his neck, he vaguely recognised the Fifth and Tenth Brothers. "We are simply acting on the values you yourself taught us, the New Regime was founded so a tyrant would never again rule the Galaxy." Remnous's face remained neutral as he glanced over his shoulder, the Sixth Sister had appeared behind him. "As someone who stood by your side as you cut down Palpatine, I can't allow you to defile the good work that was done that day." The corners of Remnous's mouth twitched upwards slightly, a spark of amusement in his softly glowing golden eyes.
"Is this because I killed your brother?" Dhara's face twisted as rage flashed across it, her yellow eyes burning. "Because he was a fool!" Sabine glanced at Dhara out of the corner of her eye as Remnous chuckled darkly. "Trying to recruit two of my longest-serving Inquisitors? I'm honestly disappointed, I remember him being far sharper in the Academy."
"Shut up!" A third plasma blade appeared at Remnous's blade as the Sixth Sister raised her lightsaber. "It's over! You will renounce the throne, and fulfil your vow to call for an election!" A fork of golden lighting flashed across Remnous's eyes as he turned his head to glower at the red Twi'lek.
"I will admit." The Emperor turned back to the Grand Inquisitor. "This is bold, far bolder than I ever expected from you." His eyes flitted over to Sabine, the Mandalorian shuddered as a cold shiver ran up her spine. "But not bold enough." Dhara's eyes widened and she spun on the spot, raising her lightsaber just in time to intercept Vera's beskar estoc. "Sloppy Dhara, sloppy." Remnous tutted as he shook his head. "Anyone would think this was your first coup."
##
The Dauntless swerved over the landing craft the first wave of battle droids finished lining up into their marching columns, the Force Wielders were gathered at the edge of the freighter's lowered loading ramp, each tightly gripping either a handrail or one another as they surveyed the deployment. Kalani had had the transports land in a wide, loose circle around the fortress, support vehicles were lining up behind the droids. Luke glanced over at Kanan and Ahsoka, the two Clone Wars veterans shared the same strange look in their eyes.
"Not something you'd ever thought you'd see again?" Kanan shook his head as Ahsoka sighed and made her way back up the ramp, tightly gripping the hand railing as the wind blew around her.
"No, and never in all my years did I think I'd be happy to see an army of droids, especially one this big." Kanan rubbed the back of his head as he turned to follow Ahsoka, Luke, Mara, and Tandi lingered, watching as the empty MTTs rolled away and a second row rolled forward and prepared to deploy the second wave. At the top of the ramp, Ahsoka, Kanan, Allana, and Zeb gathered around the Togruta's communicator as a holographic of Kalani appeared. "How's the deployment coming along?"
"The first wave is deployed, and support vehicles are moving into position to provide supporting artillery fire." The droids head seemed to twitch slightly with annoyance. "However, I cannot order an assault at this time, the Regime stronghold has activated a ray-shield that encompasses the entire facility, without covering fire it would simply be a waste of droids."
"You have two hundred thousand of 'em!" Zeb gaped incredulously at the projection. "I thought Rex said you threw wave after wave at a target?"
"While that was a primary tactic during the Clone Wars, I do not believe it to be a sustainable method in this instance, there is still a possibility that the Regime has Re-enforcements inbound, and despite our substantial numerical advantage, past engagements have taught me to be cautious."
"I'm not surprised." Ahsoka glanced back at the loading ramp as Luke, Mara, and Tandi made their way over to them. "Back in the early days of the war, Master Yoda and a squad of three clones managed to take on an entire army of battle droids."
"Yoda did that?" Luke raised an eyebrow as he remembered his master, he hadn't exactly struck him as the physical type. Ahsoka smiled, a fond gleam in her blue eyes.
"You only saw him in his final years, even as a little as a few decades ago he was much more, spry." Kanan loudly cleared his throat and nodded to Kalani.
"Thank you, Master Jedi, as I was saying, until the ray-shield has been lowered I will not commit the droids to battle."
"Then we'll take it down." Ahsoka nodded as she deactivated the communicator.
"And how are we going to do that?" Mara rolled her eyes as she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, the loading ramp was still down and a harsh draft was cutting through the Dauntless. Tandi rolled her eyes at her sister as her mind raced.
"Physical objects can pass through shields that large, we'll have to skim the surface of the shield with the Dauntless and jump to the surface."
"Jump?" Allana started at Tandi incredulously, "do you have any idea how high up we are?" Zeb nodded in agreement, his eyes anxiously lingering on the edge of the loading ramp; Tandi stared back at the dark-haired girl, a hard edge in her green eyes.
"If you don't like the distance, stay on the ship and help Lando." There was a tense moment of silence, then Allana scoffed.
"No, you'll have to carry me." The Grey Jedi rolled her eyes as she turned to the other Force Wielders and raised an eyebrow.
"Everyone else on board?" A few heads turned to glance at each other, but for the most part, there was a consensus. "Good." Tandi tapped her com. "Calrissian-"
"I've been listening in baby, I'm on it." The ship lurched slightly as Lando swung them away from the army and over the grassland towards the fortress. There was a tense moment as they all turned to stare out of the still open loading ramp, then Luke pulled his lightsaber off his belt, squared his shoulders and marched towards the loading ramp. Ahsoka shook her head, then pulled her own lightsabers off her belt and turned to follow. Kanan turned to Zeb.
"It isn't too late to back out, I'll take you with me, but it won't be pleasant." The Lasat grimaced at he stared at the lowered loading ramp, then he steeled himself and gripped the elctrostaff Galen had found in the Rogue Shadows armoury tightly.
"Ezra was my friend, I'll do my bit to make sure his memory can finally rest in peace." Kanan nodded somberly, then gestured to the ramp where the others were waiting.
"Alright then, let's go." Tandi grimaced as Allana pushed passed her and followed Kanan and Zeb to the ramp, the Grey Jedi grimaced as she gripped Mace's flask.
"One last battle." The redhead sighed tiredly as she took one last look around the Dauntless.
"Hang tight everyone, we're just off the jump point." Tandi scooped Allana into her arms as Zeb put a hand on Kanan's shoulder. The Dauntless weaved through the fortress's point defence blaster fire, dropping its speed ever so slightly as it approached the top of the shield. "Here we go, on my mark." The Rebels tensed as Lando's words, the shield growing closer by the second. "Go!"
Just as the freighter skimmed over through the top of the shield dome they charged off the edge of the ramp. Allana wrapped her arms tightly around Tandi's neck and pressed her face into her neck as they plummeted through the air. The Grey Jedi gritted her teeth against the wind as they fell, the ground was rearing up to meet them, she could see swarms of Clone Troopers scurrying around the encampment like insects. Ahead of her, Ahsoka twisted her body in midair, readjusting her trajectory and angle of her descent. She could see the flash of multiple lightsaber blades, it looked like someone had already decided to take a swing at Remnous. Luke, Mara, and Kanan twisted themselves to follow her to the ground.
##
Remnous blocked a strike from the Sixth Sister and kicked her hard in the stomach, the Twi'lek doubled over, coughing hard, her single eye screwed shut. The Inquisitor's coup had been less than successful, with Vera's aid he had already disabled the Tenth and Fifth Brothers, the former Grand Inquisitor and Sabine were proving to be more of a challenge on the other hand. The Sith Lord grabbed one of the Sixth Sisters headtails and jerked her head down on his knee as he raised it, there was a satisfying crunch as her nose broke.
He didn't have time for this, Vera had caught him up to speed as they fought and he needed to get to the front lines. The Emperor frowned as he tossed the Twi'lek aside, then glanced up; Remnous's eyes widened and he leapt backwards as five people quite literally fell out of the sky and landed before him, he scowled as he heard the tell-tale sound of rushing wind, they'd used the Force to break their fall; he didn't need to look to know who they were.
"So, an army at my gates and now." Remnous scoffed as he ran an eye over each of them in turn. "Two Jedi, a failed Sith, a Lasat and former Sith Stalker literally land in front of me." The Emperor massaged his temples as Vera took her place at his side, her lightsaber springing to life in her hand. "It's almost like the set up for a bad joke." Remnous glanced at his Apprentice out of the corner of his eye. "Leave them alive, they'll make fine Stalkers."
Ahsoka took a measured breath as she activated her twin white lightsabers, behind her, Zeb activated his electrostaff, while Luke and Kanan raised their blue lightsabers as Mara's crimson plasma blade shot out of its hilt. Kanan nodded to Sabine as she took her place amongst them and raised her lightsaber, a woman wearing Inquisitor armour and wielding in a crimson lightsaber at her side. There were seven of them now, and once Tandi joined them there would be nine, the clones were distracted; now was their time to strike.
"I assure you." The Togruta gripped her lightsaber hilts tightly as Remnous and Vera began to stride towards them. "The joke will be on you."
##
The Clone Troopers guarding the shield generator barely had time to register what was going on before they were blown off their feet as Tandi plummeted out of the sky and shot two telekinetic blasts out of the bottom of her feet to break her fall, Allana still wrapped tightly in her arms. The dark-haired girl leapt out of the Grey Jedi's grip and scrambled to the generator as Tandi spun around to face the Clone Troopers that were charging towards them, her amethyst lightsaber rising to bat away the incoming shots.
##
Thrawn snarled as he glowered out into space, the combined assault was beginning to take its toll on the fleet, the casualties the Remnant Xyston had managed to inflict on their left flank had managed to tip the balance of power in their enemies favour, with their thinned numbers the Rebel fleet had managed to encircle them and were beginning to close in.
"Grand Admiral?" The Chiss rolled his eyes as he turned to look at Piett, the Admiral looked pale. "Sir, it's the Loth Wolf."
"What about it?" Thrawn snapped as he turned back to the battle, his red eyes burning with annoyance, Piett gulped.
"It's stopped firing on the Rebel fleet, it appears to be targeting its cannons, at our ship." Thrawn's brow furrowed, then he turned back to Piett?
"Are you suggesting-?" The bridged rocked violently, the entire crew lurched to one side as the Executor lurched in the void. Below them, the Loth Wolf had opened fire on the Regimes fleet, all its batteries firing at once in all directions. "Get me the Emperor!" Thrawn snarled as he stumbled backwards, a firm hand clamped around his shoulder and held him up as the bridge rocked again, he glanced back to see Ruhk. The Chiss nodded his thanks as he righted himself; after a short pause, Remnous's voice appeared over the comm line.
"This had better be kriffing important Thrawn!" The entire bridge crew flinched at the Emperors tone, the unmistakable sound of lightsabers clashing could be heard in the background. "My hands are full right now!"
"It's the Loth Wolf, your Majesty." Thrawn's voice barely betrayed the tension in the air. "It would appear the Rebels have managed to take it. It has opened fire on our forces." There was another pause, the sound the Emperor's dual echoing around the shaking bridge.
"Destroy it." Thrawn blinked, then he frowned deeply.
"My Emperor?"
"If the Rebels have taken it, it's a liability, besides, I'd sooner have it destroyed then see it fall into their filthy hands!" There was another short pause as Thrawn processed the order. "Blow it out of the sky!"
"As his Majesty commands."
##
Galen glanced up from the weapons control panel just in time to see the entire enemy fleet open fire on the Loth Wolf. The Jedi tried to brace himself against the console only for the impact to throw him off his feet anyway. The lights instantly died as consoles exploded and sparks rained from the ceiling, the deck rocked beneath him again as blast after a blast struck the ship. Galen hauled himself to his feet and lunged towards one of the large windows, gripping the console next to it tightly as he stared out into space.
"Well, this isn't good." The Venator was being shredded by an endless wave of laser fire, he watched as the ship began to break apart, chunks of metal flying in all directions as the deck plate beneath him lurched once again; he stayed on his feet long enough to see the wreckage tip downwards towards the planet. Then another tremor sent him toppling to the ground, the g-force pinning him in place as the wreckage began to fall into Lothals atmosphere. "Well, that's even worse!" Galen muttered under his breath as a blinding red glow appeared over the windows, the air seemed suddenly much warmer, weakly, the Jedi pressed two fingers to his comm, and opened a line to the Rogue Shadow. "Juno?"
"Galen?" Even now the sound of her voice still made him smile. "Galen, what's your status?"
"I'm still on the Loth Wolf." The Jedi grunted as he forced himself into a semi-comfortable sitting position. "All the escaped pods have been launched and the wreckage is burning up, Juno." He paused and shook his head bitterly. "I don't see a way out of this one, I think this is the end."
"Galen-"
"Listen, I don't have much time, I have to tell you, you were never here to fly the ship." Juno paused, he took a deep breath, bitterly wishing he could see her face. "I love you."
"Oh Galen, I love-" The comm line cut off, Galen grimaced as a burst of static crackled loudly in his ear, then it faded and he was alone, the Jedi sagged back and bowed his head, it wasn't the end he had imagined, but in the end, at least he'd tried to be better.
"Giving up so soon?" Galens eyes flew opened and his head shot up, he stared in astonishment as the Ghost of Ezra Bridger appeared before him. "The fight isn't over yet."
"Ezra?"
"You still have one last task to complete." Another spirit took shape next to Ezra, an old man in worn Jedi robes.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi?"
"Balance must be restored." Mace Windu appeared at Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"To fulfil, a vow you have." Galen slowly forced himself onto one knee as Yoda appeared to his left, the old Master smiled thoughtfully at him as he leant his weight on his cane.
"It's why the Force restored you." The Jedi's eyes widened as Rahm Kota materialised alongside the other fallen Jedi, his eyes restored brown eyes shining with pride.
"You have a mistake to correct." The convert grinned and rose to his feet as his father appeared before him. "My son, the Force is with you, we shall be your strength for this fight." Galen nodded as his father took him by the shoulder. "The Force shall be your guide, follow its way, and we will lead you to victory."
"I understand." Galen raised his hands, his eyes closing as he reached down into the depths of the ship, he could feel the rudder controls in his hands, some of the flaps were still working, the rest he could do on his own; howling with exertion, Galen began to re-angle the wreck of the Loth Wolf as it plummeted through the atmosphere.
##
Crimson plasma blades clashed as Mara Jade swung wildly at Darth Vera, the Sith Apprentice's eyes wide and manic with hatred as she and the Sith Lord dialed. Vera herself almost looked bored as she ducked around the redheads enraged strikes, an amused twinkle in her yellow eyes. Even now it was more than obvious the Sith Apprentice was no match for her.
"Just give up." The Sith Lord grinned smugly at Mara as their blades locked. "You'll never be strong enough to defeat me alone." Vera broke the saber lock and ducked under her opponent's blade, her steel heeled boot rising to strike Mara in the small of her back; the Sith Apprentice's cry of surprise was cut short as she was knocked into the dirt. "Told you." Vera raised Vaders lightsaber over her head, only to spin on the spot and block two incoming white plasma blades. "Nyria." Ahsoka Tano scowled, only the barest hints of guilt dwelling in her eyes.
"That's not my name!" The Togruta and the Sith Lord each leapt a few feet back form each other. "It was never my name!" Vera scoffed as the two began to circle each-other; on the ground, Mara Jade began to climb to her feet.
"Oh Nyria, there's no need to be hurtful." Vera's left hand idly traced the faint scar that had been left by Li's surgery. "Especially after we were so close, you were there when no one else was." The Togruta's eyes widened for a few seconds, of course, she had almost forgotten. "There's at least one person who owes Nyria his life." Ahsoka's eyes narrowed slightly
"His?" Vera grinned as she readjusted her grip on Vader's lightsaber.
"Li assured me that when the time came, I could choose." The Sith Lord smiled fondly. "I always wanted a son." Mara's brow furrowed as she climbed back to her feet and re-activated her lightsaber, what were they talking about? The Togruta grimaced darkly.
"Leia..." Rage flashed in the Sith Lords' yellow eyes.
"My name is Vera!" Sith Lord lunged for the reformed Stalker, who barely had time to cross her lightsabers over her head before Vera struck, locking their blades once again as Vera pushed down on Ahsoka with all her might. "I told you to never call me that again. "
"Please Leia!" Ahsoka grunted with effort as she pushed back against the Sith. "It doesn't have to be this way. You can still come back to us! I promise I'll help you-"
"You've already helped Leia enough!" Vera laughed cruelly, the yellow in her eyes was beginning to darken. "You did exactly what she needed you to do, nothing!" Vera let go of her lightsaber with her left hand and drew her beskar sword, raising the gleaming blade just in time to block Mara's lightsaber. "I am more than Leia Organa ever would have been. I am Darth Vera, I am Sith." Vera's yellow eyes began to darken, burning with a deep golden flame. "And I will defeat you!"
##
Dhara Leonis grunted and sagged to the ground as Remnous's heel connected with her temple and she collapsed to the ground, her eyes slipping shut.
"I'm sorry Zare." Remnous scoffed as he harshly stamped on the Grand Inquisitor's wrist, her lightsaber rolling out of her grasp.
"An apology?" The Sith Lord snorted dismissively as he raised his lightsaber, keeping the other four combatants that surrounded him in his sight-line. "It seems that's all you Rebels can offer."
"Get away from 'er!" Remnous smirked and raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming smugly as they came to rest on Zeb, the Lasat was snarling, making no effort to contain his hatred as he raised his crackling electro-staff.
"Rebels." The Emperor rolled his eyes as he spun his lightsaber in a wide arc. "So keen to embrace traitors and scum." Zeb's eyes flashed as he prepared himself to charge.
"That's rich, because to me, you're a damn traitor kid, and I can never forgive what you've done!" The Lasat lunged forward his staff raised. Remnous neatly side-stepped the Lasat and stuck his foot out. Zeb roared with frustration as he plowed into the ground, cursing under his breath as he rose to his feet, then his eyes rolled into the back of his head as Remnous kicked him in the side of the head and knocked him out.
"Two down." Remnous crowed tauntingly as he ran an eye over Kanan, Luke, and Sabine. "Three to go." The Rebels exchanged a few worried glances as the Emperor advanced on them, his scarred face split in a haunting grin. "What? No bluster?" Sabine's eyes narrowed as heard his mocking tone. "No vows to defeat me?" Kanan let out a long breath as he gripped his lightsaber. "I'm sure you all have some personal vendetta to settle." The Sith Lord spread his arms wide and beckoned with an open palm. "So, what are you waiting for?" Luke growled lowly in the back of his throat as he glared at Remnous, out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ahsoka and Mara struggling against Vera. "Skywalker." Luke's eyes slipped off his corrupted sister and came to settle on Remnous. "You!" The Emperor grinned as he pointed his lightsaber at Luke. "I can feel your hatred, you want to avenge your father and sister." Luke glowered as his grip tightened painfully on his emerald lightsaber. "Well come on!" Remnnous cackled as he took his blade in both hands again. "I'm waiting!"
"Luke, don't," Kanan muttered under his breath. "We'll take him together."
"No, I'm taking him now!" The young Skywalker broke into a sprint, his emerald lightsaber held aloft as he charged the Sith Lord.
"No! Luke, no!" Sabine surged forward before Kanan's hands clamped around her shoulder and held her back as Remnous raised his left hand and shot a bolt of golden Sith lightning at the Jedi. The Jedi and the Mandalorian grimaced as Luke's cries echoed around them, in the distance, a single artificial eye watched their every move.
"Ah, there's the arrogance of the Skywalker line." Remnous's eyes flashed cruelly as he glared down at the writhing Skywalker. "Your father was much the same. So sure of his righteousness, both as Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader!" Luke's screams faded into a senseless groan as the golden light cracked around him. "You think that righteous fury you feel actually means anything? Do you think you're fighting for some grand ideal? What is it? Revenge? Justice? Destiny?" Remnous laughed as he cut off the lightning and left the Jedi groaning at his feet. "How have you justified the idea of slaying me to yourself? Do you honestly believe the Galaxy will thank you for it?" Remnous's golden eyes gleamed as Luke groaned as weakly tried to rise to his feet. "No, those blind fools will just see you as a conqueror, the cursed Jedi who struck down their beloved Emperor; do you really think they have the wit to follow you? That they have enough agency to chose freedom over the beautiful lie I've built for them? No, the people of the Galaxy are simple Shaak who would let me lead them off a cliff if they believed there was a greener meadow at the bottom of it!" Steam hissed off Luke's clothes as he propped himself up on one elbow and glared up at the Sith Lord. "You Jedi were never bright enough to realise that, once this is over, and you all stand as Stalkers by my side, you will see. You'll see just how eager they are to grovel before me! And I assure you, you will see them thank me for it!" Remnous's eyes flashed with an insane as his head whipped up to take in Sabine and Kanan. "So, who's next?"
Across the encampment, Chopper spun in place and rolled towards the shield generator.
##
Allana ducked as a laser streaked past her where her head had been seconds earlier and struck the side of the shield generator.
"Awfully close there!" The dark-haired girl called over her shoulders as she returned to her work.
"I'm more than happy to switch!" Tandi yelled back through gritted teeth, her lightsaber a blur of motion as she fended off seemingly endless waves of Clone Troopers; laser bolts flew off in all directions and blue and white-clad bodies lay thickly at the Grey Jedi's feet as she defended Allana. "I hate to rush you!" Tandi quickly stepped in front of Allana, interposing herself between her and an incoming laser. "But any time now would be good!"
"Hold on!" Allana's eyes narrowed as she reached forward into an open control panel and gripped an exposed cable in her gloved hand. "I think I've got it!" Wrenching with all her strength, the dark-haired girl tore the cable free of its socket, after a second of silence, the shield flittered, then the dome began to fade away. Tandi let out a long sigh of relief as the barrier vanished, behind her; Allana pressed a finger to her comm unit. "Kalani, the shield is down!" The mechanic drew her blaster and took a few potshots over her shoulder as she volted the control panel and took cover behind it. "You can order the assault."
"Affirmative, Lieutenant Tico." In the distance, Allana could hear the vague sound of several cannons going off at once, the clones seemed to notice too, the dark-haired girl frowned, she could hear something else over the din, a clear, crashing, uniform sound, her face twisted with confusion for a few seconds, then her eyes widened with understanding, it was the sound of thousands of feet rising and falling in time.
"Well, that'll give the Regime something to worry about," Allana muttered under breath as she primed a thermal detonator, now the shield was down she had to make sure the Regime couldn't raise it again. "Tandi!" There was a scuffle behind her, then Tandi leapt over the control panel, thudding indignantly to the ground. "Graceful." The Mechanic muttered as she set the timer on the detonator.
"This isn't easy you know!" The redhead hissed, her green eyes burning as red laser fire whizzed over her head. "You ready to blow this thing? I need to find somewhere for you to hide."
"Hide?" Allana raised an eyebrow questioningly as she held a thumb over the detonators switch. "I'm not hiding." The Grey Jedi rolled his eyes as she gripped her lightsaber hilt.
"Your job is done, I can't fight Remnous if I'm worried about you, please Allana." The redhead and the dark-haired girl stared each-other down for a few seconds before Allana groaned.
"Fine." Tandi sighed with relief as one of her hands wrapped tightly around Allana's wrist.
"Thank you, let's-" The Grey Jedi trailed off as she turned to see an old astromech staring at them. "Chopper?!" The droid surged towards them, a long series of whistles and chimes escaping him. Tandi glanced at Allana.
"What's he saying?" The Mechanic frowned deeply as she struggled to make sense of what the droid's words.
"He says he has a plan, something that will show the Galaxy the truth about Remnous." Tandi's head whipped up to stare at the droid, her green eyes burning with a new determination.
"Well? Let's hear it."
##
The Corvus twisted through the mad melee of ships as it tore across the battlefield, on its bridge, Remnant officers tightly hugged their consoles as the Rebel assault raged around them. Iden Versio found herself bitterly wishing she was in a TIE fighter as the bridge rocked around her, sitting out battles had never been her style.
"Report!"
"Shields holding at sixty-three percent, Captain!" One tech-officer glanced up from his console as Del worked frantically at the comminations panel next to him; Iden nodded, her teeth still gritted.
"Give me some good news Del."
"I'm having a tough time getting through the Executors shields." Iden groaned as she ran a hand over her face, then paused as she caught Del grinning at her, one finger held theatrically over a switch; she raised an eyebrow. "Hey, I said tough, not impossible."
##
Ruhk frowned as his communicator chimed loudly, his eyes narrowed as he pulled the device off his belt and examined it, a large data packet had just been sent to it from an outside source, the Noghri frowned suspiciously down at the device, his eyes flitting up to check on Thrawn; the Chiss had his back to him, his gaze focused on the battle before him. Ruhk shrugged as he glanced down at his communicator and opened the data pack, he was still for a few minutes as he skimmed through the information, then his jaw clenched. The Noghri's head snapped up to glare at Thrawn's back.
"Traitor!"
##
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Tandi called over her shoulder as she blocked a laser bolt. Allana and Chopper were crouched at the base of the fortress's communications tower. Chopper had plugged his port into the array while Allana finished typing a command sequence.
"It should, this array was designed to slave the Regime's broadcast, we should be able to transmit to the whole Galaxy."
"Then do it!" Allana glanced up at Chopper and raised an eyebrow.
"You ready Chop?" The droid saluted with one of his extendable arms, his dome swiveling to stare across the camp at Remnous. "I'll take that as a yes." Allana reached up and dialed a few commands into a control panel. "Here we go!" The mechanic threw a switch and a steady humming sound groaned to life.
"Transmitting." The dark-haired girl's eyes lit up with hope as the synthetic voice called out amidst the sounds of battle. "Transmitting."
Authors Note: Two to go. I love a good cliff hanger.
Also, the conversation between Vera and Remnous in The Enemy of my Enemy has been extended
So, until we meet again.
Regards
Nighttrek
