Chapter 17

In Orbit Around Ryloth, the Ryloth System

Ahsoka stood behind Anakin and Noc-Ta as they navigated the Steadfast through a hole in the Conqueror's sensors. Both had exceptional skill at piloting, but Noc-Ta allowed Anakin to to pilot the ship, as the Jedi Knight was the better pilot.

"Listen, about the whole Grievous issue..." Anakin said.

"It's fine, Master Skywalker," Noc-Ta assured. "You were convinced that you were right. I've done the same thing multiple times in the past."

"Yeah, but that doesn't make it right." Anakin sighed as he turned to face the Kelor mercenary. "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted, Skyguy," Noc-Ta remarked, mimicking Ahsoka.

Anakin rolled his eyes as he returned to the controls. He navigated it so that the ship was within forty meters of the hangar bay.

"OK, guys," he said to R2-D2 and R2-K7. "Once we're in the bay, take this thing out of here. Don't worry about the sensors, just worry about staying alive."

Artoo bleeped and warbled at Anakin.

"OK, OK. 'Online.' That better?"

Artoo beeped satisfactorily and returned to the astromech terminal. K stood by him as a backup.

"Let's go." Anakin led Noc-Ta and Ahsoka out of the cockpit. They walked into the passenger section, where Obi-Wan and Mace Windu were. Obi-Wan held Snow in his arms.

"He's quite the lovable little creature," he said, handing the heavy ram-dog pup to Ahsoka. "I might get attached to him."

"Careful, Obi-Wan," Ahsoka warned. "There's a higher ranking Master right here."

Mace smiled at her little jest as he prepared for a space jump. He placed the oxygen mask over his head and covered every part of his body with extra clothing to defend against the cold vacuum of space. Everyone else did the same thing.

"Ready?" Noc-Ta asked, receiving nods from everyone. "Let's catch ourselves a cyborg."

The airlock blared loudly as the inner door closed. The Jedi and their associate bent their legs in preparation. The hole in the outer door briefly opened wide, then closed quickly.

Noc-Ta and the Jedi flew through the vacuum separating the Steadfast from the Separatist cruiser crusher. They were in the hangar before any frost could form on their skin.

"I've never liked space jumping," Obi-Wan said with a groan as he rubbed a frosted spot.

"You gotta admit, though," Noc-Ta added, "it really wakes you up."

The Jedi smiled as they snuck by the droids, using various crates and pieces of equipment as cover. Reaching a quiet spot, Ahsoka took Snow out of her insulated bag. He licked her face happily and looked around, eager to fight.

"Alright, here's the plan." Anakin pulled a set of bombs from his bag. "Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and Noc-Ta, you place the bombs on the reactor cores. Master Windu and I will hunt for Grievous."

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement as they separated to do their respective duties.

"You really trust Noc-Ta enough with Ahsoka to send them off together?" Windu asked.

"They're with Obi-Wan," Anakin replied. "Besides, Master was right about Noc-Ta. He has nothing but good intentions."

"I'm glad that you've given up your grudge against him."

"It would be useless to hold it."

Anakin and Windu walked through the halls of the massive ship, their lightsabers in their hands. They were ready for a surprise attack, which Grievous was well-known for.

And, speak of the Devil, and he will appear.

"Hello there," Grievous greeted as he appeared behind the Jedi. They raised their arms and ignited their lightsabers in preparation.

"Hello, Grievous," Anakin returned.

"I'm sure you would like to bring me to justice and all that," the cyborg continued, making dismissive gestures with his mechanical hand, "but I don't want to miss Tiri's fight with the new recruits. So, I'll just let you play with my new pet!"

Before the Jedi could react, the floor opened up beneath them, and they fell down the shaft to what seemed to be a massive trash compactor.

"He has a history with Master Tiri?" Windu asked.

"That is why Noc-Ta refused to aprehend him."

They were interrupted by a vicious growl. They turned to see the horned face of a hungry roggwart.

"He got another one," Mace sighed as he reignited his lightsaber.


Noc-Ta led the team as they stalked the metal halls. Ahsoka was right behind him, her loyal ram-dog silently following. Obi-Wan took up the rear.

"It's really blasting quiet," Ahsoka whispered.

"No kidding," Noc-Ta replied.

Suddenly, a loud hissing noise rang out as a force-field separated Obi-Wan and Snow from Ahsoka and Noc-Ta.

"Obi-Wan!" Noc-Ta shouted.

"Snow!" Ahsoka cried, kneeling down to the pup's level. Snow whimpered and yipped worriedly.

"Ahsoka!" Obi-Wan yelled. "Noc-Ta! Behind you!"

The two turned around to see three figures in black clothing walk up to them. They all wore black armor over their robes and had shiny black helmets on. Behind them, a familiar old man walked through a door.

"Welcome," Count Dooku greeted. "I was looking forward to your arrival."

"Always a displeasure to see your ugly face, Dooku," Noc-Ta said, before Obi-Wan could say anything.

"Nice one," Ahsoka said, pulling out her lightsaber.

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat," Dooku continued, "but I have to run. Literally. So please, get yourself acquainted with the new recruits."

The Count left as the dark figures activated their red lightsabers. Ahsoka activated her own, and Noc-Ta used the Force to pull his lightsabers to his hands. The figures battled them fiercely, but Ahsoka and Noc-Ta were equally as ferocious.

"Nice helmet," Noc-Ta said as one of the figures pushed against his raised lightsabers. "Reminds me of the Sith troopers from the Old Republic."

"It should," the figure said, their voice mechanized by the helmet, "because it is."

Noc-Ta raised his eyebrow in mild surprise, but remained calm and pushed the Sith off of him. Another one attacked him, but he blocked it easily. He was now fighting two Sith.

One Sith swung their lightsaber in a chopping motion. Noc-Ta dodged with a jump, and blocked an attack from the other. His lightaber sliced through one Sith's head, killing them instantly. The remaining Sith picked up their comrade's lightsaber and fought Noc-Ta on his level.

It was more difficult to fight the Sith when they had two lightabers, but Noc-Ta knew how to fight a double-bladed enemy with two blades. The two engaged in a deadly dance, with the Sith using aggressive tactics, and Noc-Ta alternating between offensive and defensive in a rather beautiful dance.

Noc-Ta's attention was diverted by a choking sound. He turned to see Ahsoka being Force-choked by the Sith she was fighting.

Noc-Ta didn't know what happened to him. He felt like nothing mattered but Ahsoka's well-being. He broke the dance and disarmed his opponent in one swipe, then cut off the Sith's head. He ran to the last Sith and, before they could slice Ahsoka's head off, Noc-Ta chopped the Sith's lightsaber hand off. The Sith screamed as they released their hold on Ahsoka. Noc-Ta sheathed his orange lightsaber and closed his hand around the Sith's neck, his superior Kelor strength killing the Sith within seconds.

"Ahsoka!" Noc-Ta cried as he knelt by her. "C'mon, wake up! Wake up!"

Her eyes slowly opened as she looked at the mercenary holding her. She smiled lightly.

"Nice dancing," she groaned, noting Noc-Ta's fancy fighting skills.

Noc-Ta sighed and chuckled before responding. "It's a popular martial art on Kelor. Use standard dance moves as fighting moves. Surprisingly effective."

"I could see that," Obi-Wan added as the force-field deactivated and Snow ran to his mistress. He licked her face as she rubbed his sides.

"You got the bombs?" Obi-Wan asked.

Noc-Ta nodded as his hand went to his bag. It was surprisingly light, compared to when they started.

Wait a minute.

He looked in his bag. The charges were gone!

"Oh, you got to be kidding me!" Noc-Ta yelled, throwing his arms in frustration. "They took the bombs!"

"Oh, dear," Obi-Wan said, stroking his beard nervously.

"What do we do?" Ahsoka asked.

"I don't know."


Grievous' eyes were wide at the result of the battle. He knew that Noc-Ta would win, but he didn't expect to see him rescue the padawan from the last Sith's grasp, especially with such anger that Grievous had only seen in his master.

Grievous had a grudge against the Republic, and the Jedi. He wanted to see them die. All of them. But this newfound relationship between Noc-Ta and the padawan put him in a dilemma.

Grievous valued his friendship with Noc-Ta. He cared for the mercenary very much, so much he almost considered taking it further. But, it was not meant to be. He was a cyborg, and incapable of intimacy. Noc-Ta deserved better.

Grievous stalked away from the hologram that displayed the fight. He was almost to the door when the entire ship shook. The cyborg steadied himself as he turned back to his holoprojector.

"What is happening?" he asked himself as he turned on the hologram to show him what was shaking the ship. He immediately recognized the form of a giant moth-like creature, pounding it's forelimbs into the hull.

"Oh, blast."