Chapter: 56 The Fugitives

"The loss of self is one of life's greatest tragedies."

A mysterious new ally! Elsa, Anna, Yelena and Mattias have put their faith in Korbi...a peculiar Gran with questionable intentions. Having chosen to team up with the Gran, the Jedi embarked on a mission to Coruscant's Industrial District. Korbi was true to his word and guided them to a facility where innocents were being trafficked. After an intense skirmish, the Jedi emerged victorious and entrusted Korbi to secure the victims. But when all seemed resolved, more chaos ignited. Two prisoners had escaped from the Republic's maximum security prison...

It wasn't long before the warehouse was swarming with police cruisers. GU-series officer droids were cuffing and hauling away criminals while the masters explained the situation. Meanwhile, Elsa observed the unmarked comlink Korbi had given her. "So let me get this straight," Anna said. "You manipulated your lightsaber with the Force?"

"For a brief moment, yes." Elsa confessed and rubbed her aching temple. "I thought my head was going to burst from concentrating so much."

"That's insane," Anna chuckled. "But still pretty hardcore." She playfully nudged her sister until a sudden, unanimous chime sounded from every parked police cruiser. "What's going on?" Anna asked.

"I'm not sure," Elsa admitted. The sisters stood up and approached the nearest cruiser. The police droid inside was observing a brightly-lit warning screen on its dashboard.

ALL UNITS BE ADVISED - LOCKDOWN IN PROGRESS - BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR TWO ESCAPED PRISONERS

Several hours earlier...

A set of freshly-shined, jet-black boots tromped through the headquarters of Coruscant's Security Force. The newly-pressed, dark blue uniform of a police officer truly was a sight to behold. A thin, golden rank bar signified this beginner's newly fledged rank as he saluted several police droids. His hazel eyes were wide with curiosity as he observed each dutiful unit. "Officer Waylan," one of the droids beckoned. The young man turned with an eager grin.

"That's me," Waylan assured.

"Welcome to the precinct," the droid said and opened a set of doors.

Waylan followed the droid into a tightly-packed, yet elaborate office with several chiming monitors. A balding head was barely visible behind the screens as Waylan tried to peek over. He took a moment to straighten his uniform via the lieutenant's reflective, wall-mounted diploma. He briefly combed his trimmed, blonde locks and examined his appearance. The nearby monitors cast streaks of blue light against his olive skin. Once he had double...and triple-checked that he looked presentable, Waylan cleared his throat and said, "You...wanted to see me, Lieutenant Divo?"

Buried in a tremendous amount of datawork, the most Divo could answer with was, "Hm?"

"It's me," the young man continued. He peered over the monitor and offered Divo a heartwarming wave. "Officer Luka Waylan reporting for duty."

"Waylan...Waylan," Divo mumbled. The older man's tired eyes swayed over the flickering reports on his desk until realization caught up with him. "Oh yes...the rookie." Divo had to rub his strained eyes after looking away from the datapads. He offered Waylan a faint smile and rose from his desk. "You'll have to forgive me. Work with police droids long enough and you'll start to forget what real officers look like too. Not that I have anything against these GU droids, but it's nice to see an organic every once and a while. Good to know we're still hiring."

"Fresh out of the academy, sir." Waylan chuckled.

"I'll say," Divo quipped and looked the officer over. "There isn't even a speck of dust on that uniform. This city will change that in time."

Waylan glanced at the lieutenant's desk and winced. "Long day?" he remarked.

"And a long night ahead," Divo concluded. "Some Jedi nabbed the entire 'Muh-Crushers' gang in the lower market district. Heed these words, rookie. The fun part is catching the crooks. The sucky part comes when you have to file a report about five-plus Gamorreans shipping off to prison."

"Well here's hoping I catch some bad guys," Waylan jested.

"Don't seek out the thrills, kid. It's only your first day and you've got an entire career ahead of you. I remember when I was your age and all eager to take on this unjust world. Keep that fire, but take your time."

Waylan couldn't help but excitedly salute his boss. "Yes sir!" he cheered.

Divo sighed and patted the lad's back. He guided him out of the office and said, "Since it's your first night on patrol, I'm assigning you to help escort these Gamorreans to the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center. GU-4!"

One of the blue-plated police droids turned towards the officers. "Yes, Lieutenant Divo?" he computed.

"Meet your new partner, Officer Waylan. Show this kid the ropes and make sure our green, snorting friends get to prison safely. I'd hate for them to miss out on the cozy cells we've got waiting for them."

GU-4's cylindrical head bobbed as he nodded to the lieutenant. "Thanks for everything, sir." Waylan told him. "We won't let you down!" As Divo returned to his datawork, Waylan looked at his new partner.

"A pleasure to meet you," the droid said.

"So this may sound a little...unprofessional-" Waylan whispered. "-but can we get a picture together for my family?" Waylan withdrew a portable device while GU-4 paused with intrigue.

"I...suppose that would be alright," GU-4 responded.

"Sweet!" Waylan rejoiced and wrapped an arm around the droid. He quickly captured an image of them together and sent it through a messaging system. "My son loves droids and he's gonna flip when he sees me working with one." GU-4 led Waylan out of the offices and towards the hangar. Seemingly endless rows of identical police cruisers formed their own, sleek fleet. At the touch of a wrist-mounted button, GU-4 powered up one of the airspeeders and gestured to it. "A Panther Police Interceptor," Waylan admired. "So freaking cool. Let's do this, partner."

He slid into the driver's seat as GU-4 rode shotgun. Following standard academy procedure, Waylan looked over the cruiser's engine readouts and flight systems. He unbuckled the flap on his holster and checked his blaster pistol. "SS-410," Waylan admired. "Packs quite a punch."

"Indeed," GU-4 said and patted his own pistol of the same model.

"Ever had to shoot yours?"

"Once or twice."

Waylan glared at his partner. "Oh come on. Droids don't forget. How many times have you-"

"Twenty-seven shootouts, six flesh-wounds, and two confirmed kills," the droid swiftly responded. "Better?" he asked and slowly turned his head. His unblinking, yellow photoreceptors only added more tension to their situation.

"I see..." Waylan huffed and quickly tried to change the conversation. "So you got any kids?" he nervously asked. "Do droids have kids? Do they want kids? Can they build themselves children?"

"It is against my programming to reproduce," GU-4 said. "I am only here to protect and serve organics."

"Talk about dedication," Waylan murmured. While they waited for the escort to begin, he withdrew a holoprojector from his pocket and held it up from the seat. GU-4 craned his neck with curiosity as the image of a family projected into view. "Well here's my family," the officer said. "This bright-eyed beauty here is my wife. See the little maniac in my arms? That's my son. I swear he never runs out of energy nor things to talk about."

"And he loves droids?" GU-4 inquired.

"Oh he can't get enough of 'em," Waylan chuckled. "The way I see it...we're like a family now, partner. How about we swing by my place before patrol tomorrow morning? You can meet my family plus my son would lose his mind over you."

"I-" GU-4 took a moment to process the request. It was as if his own interests were swirling up and around his programming. "I would like that," he ultimately said.

"Thatadroid!" Waylan cheered and joyfully punched GU-4 in the arm. His knuckles clanged against the metal and he instantly winced.

"Are...you alright?" GU-4 asked.

"Heck yeah," Waylan assured while simultaneously cringing. "Actually...no...not at all." He sunk into his seat and clasped his throbbing hand. "That was a terrible idea."

A set of transports hovered just ahead of them. "The prison ships are awaiting our escort," GU-4 said.

"Right," Waylan groaned and took off with one hand on the controls.

Night had descended over the city of Coruscant. A cacophonous, irksome bell rang throughout the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center. While newer inmates winced at the irritating tone, seasoned prisoners had grown accustomed to it. Some had been conditioned to return to their cells before the bell even started ringing. A clone shock trooper banged his electrostaff on a nearby wall. It merely clanged and that was enough to have some of the prisoners cowering. "Hurry it up!" the trooper barked. "Move it, people!"

Jee trudged amidst a cluster of orange-jumpsuited ruffians. The Rodian kept her eyes fixed on the fiery brown ponytail several feet ahead. Her heart raced as the hallway became even more crowded. Window's closing, Jee told herself. It's now or never. She took a deep breath and weaved through the crowd. Once she was within range, she yelled, "Aurra!" The Palliduvan came to a halt but kept her back to Jee. "I'm talking to you!" Jee snapped as other inmates turned. "You think I ever cared about anything you had to offer? I was always better." Hyping herself up through her aggressive words, Jee rushed towards Aurra. She stretched out her violet, suction-cupped fingers and grabbed Aurra's ponytail. She pulled her to the floor and those around them erupted into cheers. Aurra was quick to strike back and elbowed Jee in the snout. She tossed the Rodian into the nearest wall and she countered by kneeing Sing. Jee attempted a right hook, but Aurra blocked it and socked her in the stomach.

"Kill her!" one of the prisoners hollered.

"Which one are you rooting for?" another asked.

"Does it matter?" he cackled.

Their revelry was short-lived as shock troopers descended to their level. "Break it up! Break it up!" a clone commanded. When Jee and Aurra kept punching at each other, he resorted to stunning them both. A pair of precisely-aimed, blue rings struck each combatant and rendered them incapacitated. Jee and Aurra's limp bodies fell across from one another while the clones separated the rest of the prisoners.

"Nice work, brother," one of his fellow clones lauded. "You know what to do with brawlers. Haul 'em into solitary confinement."

Coldness was the first sensation to return to Jee. The frigid texture of metal against her tingling face had her slowly stirring. Her bulbous eyes fluttered open as she wearily awakened. There was a distinct numbness still present in her fingers when she tried sitting upright. The bland, silver walls seemed to close in on Jee as she came to terms with her surroundings. Given the isolated and eerily quiet environment, Jee deduced that her fight had landed her in solitary confinement. Perfect, she thought. All according to plan. She glanced up at a nearby security camera and turned her back to it. Jee hunched towards the ray-shielded gate and squinted for a better view. She could see an intricate, wall-mounted panel just beyond the red-tinted entry point. Come on, Jee, she urged herself. You did it once and you can do it again. Stay strong and stay focused. She raised a hand, yet kept it close to her body and out of the camera's view. Using the Force, Jee searched within and tried to imagine the panel's inner workings. She sought to picture its very framework in her mind, just as she had long ago.

Little by little, the mechanism shifted in accordance with her fingers. She manipulated the panel to bend to her will and switched its controls. As she became more relaxed with her abilities, Jee focused on the camera behind her. She lifted her opposite hand and concentrated on its wiring. In that instant, Jee clenched both fists. Her actions short-circuited the camera and bypassed the locking mechanism. The ray shield powered down and Jee was able to cautiously slip out of her cell. She stayed close to the walls and used the Force to short-circuit nearby cameras. It's only a matter of time before they send someone to investigate these, Jee thought. I had about five minutes last time. The elevator doors beside her opened and a shock trooper emerged. But LESS than a minute this time! Jee griped.

"Hey!" the clone shouted and fired a stun blast. Jee leapt to evade the daunting ring and the clone activated his comlink. Before he could speak into it, Jee Force-pushed him into a wall. She rushed over as he tried to recover and kicked him across the helmet. Jee's strike was enough to knock him out and she quickly scavenged his blaster. With the backup taken out, Jee was racing against time. The Rodian's heart was pounding as she traversed the chilly halls.

"You!" a voice growled and startled her. Jee turned to see a horned Devaronian in one of the solitary cells. "Get me out of here!"

Rather than engage with him, Jee simply kept going. The commotion did attract the attention of her target further down. "Rodian?" Aurra whispered. "Is that you? What the hell took you so long?"

"You can't rush what I do," Jee asserted and caused Aurra's camera to malfunction. She raised her hand towards the mechanism and unlocked Aurra's cell. "Also, did you have to hit me so hard back there?"

"It had to look believable," Aurra insisted nonchalantly. "So what's next?"

"They'll be busy sorting out the technical dilemma," Jee explained. "By the time they realize we're gone, we'll have made it to the lower levels and stolen a prison transport. All we need is to-"

Suddenly, a series of ear-splitting alarms blared throughout the prison. Scarlet lights flashed from the ceiling as the halls went on lockdown. "Was this part of the plan?" Aurra growled.

"No," Jee said. "I don't understand how-"

"There they are!" an unarmed clone shouted. He rounded the corner alongside reinforcements and the shoe print on his helmet explained everything.

"Oh no," Jee realized.

Aurra made the connection as she looked at her partner's scavenged blaster. "You just knocked him out?"

"I was trying to be stealthy!" Jee defended as they fled.

"Then snap his neck!" Aurra hissed. "Of course he woke up and sounded the alarm. What the hell did you think was gonna happen?"

"Are you just gonna complain?" Jee snapped. "Or are you gonna help me find a way out of this?" The duo turned down the next hall and found a set of ventilation panels. "We need to improvise now and this could work." Jee switched her rifle off of its stun setting and shot out the cameras. She then set the rifle down and tried to pry a vent open. "Help me with this," she urged Aurra. The Palliduvan sneered but ultimately assisted. As they popped the hatch open, a trio of clones slid over to them.

"Hold it right there!" one of the clones said. Jee dropped the hatch and Force-pushed the clones back. While her attack was able to keep them away, it wasn't long before they recovered and were shooting again.

Impatient and fed up, Aurra grabbed Jee's discarded blaster and took aim. "Wait, no!" Jee pleaded. "It's not on stun!"

"I know," Aurra asserted and opened fire. Her precise, blue bolts met their marks as all three clones fell dead. Jee's snout drooped at the grid sight while Aurra smirked. "There," she said. "That's how problems are dealt with. Are you a problem, Rodian?" Aurra's glare was cold and unforgiving amidst the screeching alarm. "

"No," Jee asserted.

"Good," Aurra answered. "Then lead on. I'm still counting on you to get us out of here."

Jee took one last look at three, smoking clone corpses and then proceeded into the vent. Aurra sealed the hatch behind them as more clones arrived. A scarlet kama swayed amidst the strobing lights as a clone commander investigated the scene. "This is Commander Fox," the clone called in. "We have two escaped prisoners. Whereabouts are unknown but they should be considered armed and dangerous. I have three troopers down. I repeat-"

"I repeat, I have three troopers down," Commander Fox called in. "We need to expand the procedural lockdown to all surrounding districts. All available units, converge and commence searching maneuvers."

"Jee," Anna Dellian whispered. "What have you done?"

"A lockdown?" Master Yelena realized. "Think those Gamorreans already broke out?"

"No," Elsa explained. "It's some woman named Aurra Sing and...the Bug."

Yelena's eyes widened. "You shouldn't be more worried about saying the latter. Aurra Sing is one of the deadliest bounty hunters in the galaxy."

"We need to respond," Anna asserted, thinking only of Jee. "It's my fault this is even happening." Her breaths hastened as she paced across the platform. "I have to do something! I-...we-"

"Padawan," Mattias intoned. "Slow down. This isn't your fault. I'm sure reinforcements are on the w-"

"But will they make it in time?" Anna blurted. "You heard the transmission. Troopers are dead. They need backup and we're only a district or so away."

Mattias pursed his lips until Yelena gripped his shoulder. "Elsa and I will deal with the smugglers here," she assured. "Go with Anna to help those at the prison. But please be careful."

"Always," Mattias assured and waved to a nearby police cruiser. "Officer!" he beckoned. "Can we get a lift?"

"May the Force be with you, sis." Elsa said. Anna swiftly nodded and ran off to join Mattias.

As much as she appreciated the well-wishes, Anna was completely racked with guilt. "This is my fault," she told Mattias from the passenger seat. They buckled in while speeding into the night. "If I'd only secured a pardon for Jee, then none of this would have happened. Those clones would still be alive and-"

"Anna," Mattias asserted. "You did everything you possibly could. You are not responsible for the actions of others, regardless of the outcome. If you have the freedom to choose, so do they. Now if we're going to help bring these fugitives to justice, I need you to bring your "A" game. Can I trust you to stay focused and leave your regrets where they belong? In the past?"

Anna shook away her self-deprecating thoughts and sternly nodded to Mattias. "Yes, Master." she affirmed with furrowed brows. Jee, she worried. Please don't make us hurt you. Tell me this is all some kind of misunderstanding.

She urgently activated her comlink and placed a call. "Hans!" she immediately exclaimed. "There's been a breakout at the prison. We need your help!"

"Oh now you want my help?" Hans scoffed. His speech was slurred and rather belligerent.

"Hans?" Anna worried.

"You only c-...come to me when you want something," Hans hiccuped. "Well what happens when I say no?"

"Are you...drunk?"

"What do you care? It's not like you need me."

"But I do need you, Hans."

There was a long pause over the call as Hans could be heard gulping. A glass slammed on a counter before Hans spoke again. "I thought you were different, Anna. I thought you had my back. But you're just like all the others. You-"

Anna furiously hung up on him as memories of her last conversation with Jee emerged. No, she told herself. I can't do this right now. I've already lost Jee. I can't lose Hans too. Not like this. Her heart sank when her comlink chimed and she worried if it was Hans. "Hey," she said upon answering. "I'm sorry I hung up. It's just-"

"Anna," Blazer spoke up instead. "The boys and I got your game."

"And a little...or...big something extra!" Speedy could be heard chuckling in the background.

"That's great," Anna answered. "But we have an emergency. There's been a breakout at the prison. Master Mattias and I are enroute now."

"We're on our way, Anna!" Blazer practically roared into his comlink. "The Deathchasers will meet you there." His enthusiasm to assist was most welcome and left Anna feeling briefly emotional.

Republic gunships hovered around the prison while shock troopers secured the interior. Raucous prisoners hollered from their cells as clones searched everywhere for the escapees. "The three men killed in the attack were gathered in a designated space for forensics while Commander Fox observed all. "Anything?" he asked a shock trooper.

The clone sighed and shook his head. "All levels appear clear, sir. It's as if they vanished."

'Well they didn't," Fox growled. "They broke out, killed our brothers, and fled into hiding. They could be listening to this very conversation from-" Fox paused and slowly looked up at the ceiling grates. "That's it," he muttered. "The ventilation shafts. They may have gone into the vent systems."

"Those systems are a maze, commander," the trooper said. "How are we going to cover all of that ground without losing more men in there?"

"If they are hiding in the vents-" Fox began. "-they'll have to come to us. We'll smoke 'em out." Fox placed a call to the prison control room. "Crank up the heat and warm every vent. Troopers, I want units stationed at every hatch. We're gonna send them running right to us." It wasn't long before Fox's plan was set in motion. The ensuing heat throughout the prison was but a taste of the true warmth within the vents.

Jee and Aurra collapsed amidst the unbearable heat. They slid next to one another and let their heads clang against the vent's metallic walls. As a Rodian, Jee was used to the extremely humid climate of her swampy homeworld. While she was faring better than Aurra, the heat was still taking its toll on both of them. Sweat trickled down their faces as their worlds began to sway.

"I thought...you knew what you were doing," Aurra panted.

"I thought you had my back," Jee retorted.

Her comment truly set the Palliduvan off as Aurra rolled over. She seized Jee by the collar and slammed her against the shaft's wall. "Only if you have mine!" Aurra scolded. She let her sweat trickle profusely while she gritted her teeth. "Don't you dare question my position in this. If it wasn't for my shooting, those clones would've caught us already. Now I don't care about a change of plans or how we got into this mess. Because the truth is, we're in it regardless. So why don't you do something and get us out of here?"

Jee wanted to Force-push Aurra across the shaft. Realizing it wouldn't improve their situation, she channeled her energy elsewhere and observed one of the heating modules above them. "There," she uttered. "Get back."

Aurra knitted her brows and squinted at Jee. "What are you-"

"These heating modules should be controlled by the prison's central control system," Jee explained. "Just like they would be in any other facility. If I can overload the module, I should be able to cause an explosion big enough to shroud a possible escape."

"You better know what you're doing," Aurra murmured.

"Only one way to find out," Jee replied. She wiped the sweat from her brow and stretched her hands towards the module. Concentrating on its inner functions, Jee focused on overloading the systems while clenching her fists. As she did so, the module fizzed and trembled. Steam spewed from its sparking circuits until Jee sensed the imminent meltdown. "We need to get clear!" she warned and quickly crawled away with Aurra.

A police cruiser landed just as Anna and Mattias departed. They were soon met by Commander Fox, who was prepared to brief them on the situation. "We got here as quickly as we could," Mattias said.

"Any sign of them?" Anna asked.

Fox shook his head. "Not yet, but I believe they may be in the ventilation system. I've ordered an overheating to try and smoke them out. With any luck, we'll-"

"Sir!" a clone called in and Fox prepared for good news.

"Have they emerged?" the commander asked.

"No sir! It's the vents...something's wrong!" Anna and Mattias exchanged nervous glares as Fox looked to the prison. "There's some kind of malfunction in-" The trooper's call cut out as a tremendous explosion shook the prison. Personnel on the exterior platforms lost their footing as a blazing inferno ignited across one of the spires.

"By the Force!" Mattias gasped as a shockwave reached their position.

Another airspeeder arrived at the scene as Sparx hastily swerved. "Karabast!" he yelled while taking evasive action.

Blazer clutched the passenger seat's arm rests while Speedy hugged the giant Jawa plush. They brought their speeder screeching to a halt and immediately disembarked. "We need fire teams in the upper spire!" Commander Fox ordered. "Master Mattias, we must ensure that no other prisoners break out."

"I'll look for the escapees," Anna said until Mattias grabbed her arm.

"You're with me, apprentice." Mattias insisted. He raised his voice upon seeing the frustration in her eyes. "Two freed criminals is bad enough. The last thing Coruscant needs is a mass breakout on its hands. Do not let emotional connections cloud your judgement!"

Anna scowled but ultimately relented. "Don't let your guards down," she told the Deathchasers as they proceeded into the prison. The facility had descended into absolute madness as prisoners screamed from their cells. Sirens screeched while flames spread on the upper levels. Shock troopers limped out from billowing smoke clouds and clutched pieces of their charred armor.

As the fire spread across the spire, Jee and Aurra emerged from the blast zone. Coruscant's frigid, open air brushed against their faces as they leapt to a nearby platform. "Not bad, Rodian." Aurra snarked and gripped the stolen rifle. "Now it's my turn. Keep watch on this platform and I'm gonna find us a ride out of here." While Jee remained hidden, she couldn't help but feel overly-cautious about trusting Aurra. Not only had she been daunting to work with, but there was also her history to consider. Jee wondered if there was any truth to Boba's statement about Aurra leaving him. She contemplated if that was exactly what the bounty hunter was doing now: Leaving Jee to be bait while she escaped safely. The Rodian denied such mistrusting thoughts and continued to be vigilant. She hid behind a stack of crates and awaited her partner's return.

"ALL UNITS BE ADVISED - LOCKDOWN IN PROGRESS - BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR-"

"Oh hell," Officer Waylan gasped as a tremendous rumble shook his cruiser. "Did you hear that?"

GU-4 quickly swiveled his head from the passenger seat and computed, "It came from the prison's upper spire."

Having successfully escorted the Gamorrean thugs to jail, Waylan and GU-4 were patrolling in their speeder when the explosion happened. "You're right," Waylan answered. "I can see the smoke from here. I'm calling it in." Waylan landed on a nearby, secluded platform and activated his communicator. "Dispatch, this is Officer Luka Waylan calling in to report a blast at the Republic Judici-" A silhouette loomed over his seat and the young officer glanced out his window. Just as he did so, Aurra Sing bashed it open with the butt of her rifle. Glass spewed across Waylan's face as he instinctually reached for her weapon. His communicator collapsed against the dashboard while he and Aurra wrestled for the rifle. GU-4 reached for his pistol as Aurra punched Waylan. She was able to angle the rifle just enough to send a laser zipping through the droid's head.

"No!" Waylan screamed and elbowed Aurra in the face. His legs flailed throughout the driver's seat because he still didn't have a chance to unbuckle. Aurra's unfeeling, cold stare remained fixed on Waylan as he fought for his life. As the two struggled, GU-4's blasted circuits crackled disturbingly in the background. Waylan was able to get the rifle away from Aurra, but she just wrapped her fingers around his throat instead.

"Officer Waylan?" Dispatch called back. "Please respond! What's going on?"

Waylan fought to speak as Aurra's ominously long digits squeezed. She relished in his wheezing expression until he dug his nails into her wrists. As her grip loosened, Waylan tried yelling into his communicator. "She's...I...my speeder!" was all he could blurt as they continued to tussle. Waylan found a moment to shove Aurra off and tried to reach for his blaster. He stared longingly at the SS-410 but was held back by his seatbelt. By the time his fingers grazed the pistol, Aurra had already returned with twice the ferocity. She delivered a swift punch to his jaw and ripped the weapon from his holster. Aurra stepped back and took a moment to examine her newfound pistol. She unlatched the safety and listened to its energy cell power up. A malevolent smirk found its way across her dark lips as she took aim.

"No..." Officer Waylan pleaded and raised his hands. "No wait!"

A single blastershot rang out betwixt the rising smoke. While flames continued to burn, it was as if all had suddenly fallen silent. Jee couldn't quite explain what exactly she was feeling, but a distinct sensation had struck her. It was like a cold, discomforting disturbance swirling throughout her body. Her chest grew heavy and she felt increasingly sick to her stomach as an airspeeder sounded from behind. Fearing that it was an incoming patrol, Jee took cover and quietly observed. Her heart raced as a police interceptor landed beside her.

Aurra's ominous visage appeared through its smashed window as she called, "Get in! Move the rust bucket."

Jee ran to the passenger's seat and pulled out a blasted police droid. From the moment she slipped in, Aurra instantly maximized the thrusters and sent them soaring away. "Officer Waylan," Dispatch called. "Waylanplease respo-"

Aurra stomped on the transmitter and kept her eyes on the skylane. "I told you I'd get us a ride," she boasted.

"Was Waylan a droid?" Jee asked and Aurra's irked scowl was enough of an answer. The Rodian persisted and asked, "Did you stun him?"

"So he could chase us later?" the Palliduvan hissed.

"Aurra!" Jee gasped.

"What?" she snapped. "I did what had to be done. Besides, who the hell do you think you are to preach morals? You're no Jedi. You said you had nothing to do with 'that assortment of hypocrites' right? You're a bounty hunter. Start acting like it. It's kill or be killed if you want to survive. That officer was a nobody. Just an inconvenience and an obstacle that had to be removed. You can be a somebody but you have to do as I say. You got us out of jail, now I'll take it from here. There's a shipping yard not too far away where we can steal a merchant vessel. We-"

Aurra kept relaying her plan, but Jee felt numbed to it. As she sank back into her oil-stained seat, she saw her split reflection in shattered shards of glass from the window. The Rodian felt like anything but Don-hreeda. Calling herself the 'Mysterious Avenger' seemed like a bigger hypocrisy than anything the Jedi ever stood for. She thought about the Jedi Seeker who had taken her from Rodia. She recalled the sight of his weary body as it sizzled from blaster wounds. As he'd passed his lightsaber to her, he'd uttered a single word in his dying breath: "Become."

Become what? Jee questioned. A hero, but to who? A villain, but for what reason? An outcast, on whose authority? I don't know who or what I am anymore. I'm just...surviving.

A damaged holoprojector strobed beside Waylan's body as relief crews approached. "Oh no," Commander Fox murmured while a call came in.

"Commander," Mattias reported. "The prison is secure. The other inmates aren't going anywhere."

"Master Jedi," Fox responded. "There's something you should see at the upper spire."

It wasn't long before Mattias, Anna, and the Deathchasers joined up with Fox. They were all gripped with chilling horror at the sight of Waylan's body. Anna was the first to trudge forward as Mattias tried to stop her. She took one look at the young officer's family projection and immediately dropped to her knees. "No," Anna whispered over his body. "This is all my fault."

Blazer placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder while Fox reported to Mattias. "We believe the inmates stole this officer's airspeeder," the commander said.

"Can't you track it down?" Mattias inquired.

"We tried," Fox answered. "But it looks like they ditched the speeder in a nearby shipyard. We're in luck though, a report just came in regarding a stolen transport. It doesn't look like the locater beacon has been disabled."

"It has to be them," Anna growled and bolted to her feet. "We need to go, now."

"Anna," Mattias said.

"No more waiting!" Anna asserted. "We can't let them get away and hurt more people! I don't care what anyone says...this is my fault!"

"It's not!" Blazer roared and snagged Anna by the shoulders. The sergeant instantly lowered his tone and relaxed his grip. "Anna, I can't let you tear yourself down because of others' actions. You want these fugitives? We'll get'em."

"The Deathchasers are with you to the bitter end, little sister!" Sparx affirmed while Speedy saluted.

Anna looked to Mattias as he sighed. "I was going to agree with chasing them down before all of you had your moment," he said. "I just wanted to make sure you were of sound mind and spirit to go through with this."

Anna took a deep breath and nodded to her master. "I am," she boldly proclaimed. "How fast can we get the Legacy up and running? I don't care if we have to kidnap Cadet Shang from his dorm to authorize-"

"Hold on," Mattias blurted. "The Legacy is back on Kamino after our battle on Bespin. And no...we're not abducting a naval academy student in the dead of night. We'll take a Jedi shuttle."

Anna's brows furrowed as she shook a clenched fist. "Let's hunt some bounty hunters," she said.


Elsa and Yelena watched as a T-6 Jedi ambassador shuttle rocketed past the temple windows. "May the Force be with them," the Padawan willed.

"What is Coruscant coming to?" Yelena sighed while watching the ship vanish into the night.

"Have times ever been this...trying?" Elsa asked.

"While the Republic has experienced its share of hardships, I cannot recall a concentration of this much darkness." Yelena answered. "I believe the war has escalated things on a scale which we've never seen before. People are suffering and that pain is manifesting into all walks of life. But the outcome of these events will ultimately be determined by us...the peacekeepers of this galaxy. Trust in the Force, Elsa...and a new day shall dawn."

In that instant, a familiar figure emerged from around the moonlit corner. "Master Yelena!" a woman called. "Padawan Elsa!"

"Belle?" Elsa inquired. "What are you doing outside the Halls of Healing?"

The reporter struggled to catch her breath and skidded to a halt. "I know I shouldn't be out," she panted. "But I've found something you need to see!" She held up her C1-P camera droid and eagerly tapped on his switches. "I was looking over Chip's footage and one of my theories was correct! He captured clear images of the 'Coruscant Killers' moments before they blew up my office!"

"Oh good," Elsa rejoiced. "Perhaps we can get them to a network and-"

"No not yet!" Belle intoned. "Images will only take us so far. I need more information and this footage is the key! Does this temple have any kind of research facility? An analysis room or data chamber or-"

Elsa took one look at Yelena and the master was already groaning. "Oh no," Yelena warned. "We can't take her to the Archives."

"But it's important," Elsa insisted. "I'm sure the Jedi Council would understand. Look how the killers have contributed to the disorder on Coruscant. Didn't you say that the outcome of this will ultimately be determined by us?"

Realizing Elsa was using her own words against her, Yelena huffed. "You'd better be careful around your little sister," the master said. "You're starting to sound just like her. If we take Miss O'Har to the Archives, she finds out what she needs and then leaves immediately." Elsa and Belle nodded in unison like a pair of giddy children. Yelena rolled her eyes and waved a finger. "Don't make me regret this," she scolded. "Keep it down and follow me."

As the women departed, another Jedi traversed the corridors. Padawan Tori Vica made her way to the Halls of Healing and found the designated room she was looking for. She gently knocked and found Maurice worrying alongside LM-3R. "Pardon me," Tori said. "I'm sorry to intrude."

"We tried to stop her," Maurice assured. "But she just ran off!"

"I'm sorry?" Tori inquired.

Realizing the Pantoran wasn't there to report about Belle's trespassing, Maurice tried to relax. "Oh nothing," he hurriedly replied. "How can I be of assistance, young Jedi?"

"I am Tori Vica," she introduced.

Maurice's eyes widened with intrigue. "Vica as in-"

Tori nodded and raised a holoprojector. "My parents asked me to deliver this message to you. We talk often and they said they couldn't reach you at your shop's holonumber. Word in the temple travels fast about who we're safeguarding, so I thought it was only fair that I get this message to you."

Maurice relaxed his shoulders as a gentle grin formed beneath his mustache. "Well thank you kindly, miss." He activated the holoprojector and an image of the Vica family crest emerged.

Hoff and Datya came into view as the elder reclined. "Maurice," Hoff began. "Your reputation as a droidmaker precedes you. As you know, the Vica Foundation has tremendous plans in store for this year's Miss Coruscant beauty pageant."

Maurice's eyes widened and he flashed a toothy grin. "By the stars," he gasped. "Is this what I think it is?"

"We've received your application of assistance," Datya said. "I've looked over the schematics for this Data-Crunch 3000 of yours and they're marvelous. It's ability to interpret and randomize data is so mind-blowing, that Pageant Director Ningzi Mo would love to utilize it! It'll be perfect for randomizing pageant questions and helping to organize data. If you'd like to accept our offer, please-"

"Yes!" Maurice blurted. "I accept! I accept!" he yelled as if the recording could hear him.

Tori grinned and cut the transmission. "Wonderful, sir." she answered and bowed respectfully. "I'll be sure to let my parents know."

Maurice merrily hugged LM-3R and wiped a joyful tear. "The Vicas loved my invention," he sniffled. "We're moving up in the galaxy!"

A bronze-hued transport thundered out of hyperspace and approached a cloudy world. "We've reached our destination," Aurra Sing called from the cockpit. "You can give up looking for that locater beacon now."

"I don't understand," Jee mumbled while rummaging through panels. "I've torn this place to pieces and still couldn't find it."

"That's what makes ships harder to steal," Aurra quipped. "These spacers stash their beacons in some outrageous corner where you'll never find it. Just forget about it and have a seat."

"But won't the Republic be tracking us?" Jee considered.

"If they are-" Aurra chuckled. "-it's them who should be worried. So tell me...ever been to Nar Shaddaa?"

Jee observed the bustling, yet shrouded planet from their viewport and shook her head. "Can't say I have."

"Well they don't call it the 'Smuggler's Moon' for nothing," Aurra said. "But don't let this crime-ridden rock fool you. It's a goldmine right smack in the middle of Hutt Space. We'll ditch this ship to cover our tracks, then steal another and fly to Tatooine."

"And kill how many along the way?" Jee griped.

Aurra sneered and continued her descent. "Does it really matter?" she fired back.

Jee glanced at the police pistol at Aurra's side and the feelings of disgust returned. "It does," the Rodian retorted. This time Aurra's glare was met with one of Jee's. "You want to escape, yet you leave a trail of bodies behind. Where's your honor?"

"Oh honey," Aurra mocked. "It's not about the honor you keep. It's about the message you send. Respect is a lie people us to buy time until they find knives for backstabbing. Fear...on the other hand, is where the real power is."

Jee scoffed at her statement and considered the hypocrisy behind it. She wondered how much trust she could actually put in Aurra. "Where are we landing?" Jee asked.

"Where ships go to die," Aurra answered. "Why don't you check in the back and see if there's any spare clothes?"

While Jee scavenged two sets of oversized workwear, Aurra guided them across Nar Shaddaa. They flew over rundown, urban areas and smoggy industrustial zones. Once they reached the city, Aurra piloted the ship into a grimy, unused tunnel in a decrepit district. As they soared through its darkness, the tunnel was soon aglow with flickering blowtorches. Jee leaned towards the viewport for a closer look and observed clusters of short, porcine humanoids. These dirt-faced Ugnaughts were hard at work dismantling ships of various models. While one crew severed away, another group of Ugnaughts hauled the pieces into a pile like discarded limbs. Smashed viewports and hollowed out engines looked like screaming faces crying out in the darkness. The horde of Ugnaughts turned as Aurra landed their ship and a merchant emerged. With scraggly long braids and a nervously crooked smile, this human towered over her Ugnaught employees.

"Aurra Sing," the woman cautiously greeted. "To what do I owe the...pleasure?"

"Got a ship for you to break down if you're willing to pay," the Palliduvan proposed. "What do you say, Kralla?"

Kralla gulped and scratched her chin. "I could take it off your hands for let's say...three-thousand credits?"

"What?" Aurra snapped and Kralla was already wincing. "It's worth at least five."

"But the transport's in terrible condition. I-"

"Kralla," Aurra queried. "Do we need to have another talk?"

"No no," Kralla submitted. "Five thousand is fine. I'll make the arrangements immediately."

"Good girl," Aurra smirked. "Come on, Jee. Let's get a move on."

While Aurra collected her money from an Ugnaught, Jee couldn't help but remark. "See," she said. "You don't have to kill everyone."

"Sometimes threatening works just as well," Aurra insisted. "Plus, I already killed Kralla's sister the last time I was in town." Aurra secured her credits and winked at Jee. "So there's that."

Any potential acceptance for Aurra came crashing down as Jee was rendered speechless. She glanced over her shoulder and observed the fear in Kralla's eyes. Way to go, Don-hreeda, she berated herself before trudging after Aurra.

While the Ugnaughts started breaking down their ship, one of them recovered something from a storage unit. It snorted in alarm and hobbled up to an inquisitive Kralla. "What've you got there?" the merchant asked. The Ugnaught handed her a set of orange jumpsuits and she thoroughly examined them. "Prison uniforms?" she suspected.


Master Mattias piloted the Jedi shuttle out of hyperspace. It glided across the stars while Anna kept a watchful eye on the locater beacon's coordinates. A bright blip flickered on their tracking screen as Anna said, "We're getting closer."

"Nar Shaddaa," Mattias realized. "Brace yourselves, everyone. For a Mid Rim world, it's as unforgiving as those in the Outer Rim."

Anna squinted as the tracking signal started to dwindle. "Wait," she gasped. "Wait wait wait!" The clones gathered around to observe the phenomenon. "We're losing the connection!" Anna screeched. "Hurry, master!"

Mattias accelerated the thrusters to maximum speed and pierced the planet's atmosphere. "I'm going as fast as I can!" he replied exasperatedly. The shuttle glided through the smoggy skies as Anna's worst fear was realized. The tracking screen went blank as the signal vanished into nothingness.

"No!" Anna shouted and slammed her fist on the dashboard.

Mattias decelerated as the clones exhaled in disbelief. "It's gone," Sparx murmured. "Without the locater, they could be anywhere. How can we-"

"No," Anna asserted and slammed her finger against the blank screen. "That dot was right here. If we can't currently follow them, we at least have their last known location. We'll find clues...anything! We're not giving up. Full speed ahead to these coordinates. Follow my finger!"

Mattias fired up the boosters and used Anna as a guide. According to her positioning, the signal halted near an ominously dark tunnel. "Looks like we're going in," Mattias said and flew downward. They hovered along the stony paths until they too stumbled across the scavenging Ugnaughts.

Without wasting a moment, Mattias dropped the ramp and Anna descended with the Deathchasers. The Ugnaughts shrieked as the Padawan sparked up her green lightsaber and yelled, "Galactic Republic!" Blazer, Sparx, and Speedy formed up at her sides as she observed the situation.

"Woah woah," Kralla pleaded as she emerged from the shadows. "We're just scavengers. Everything my associates and I dismantle has been bought and-"

"I don't care," Anna snapped. "The fugitives. Where are they?" Kralla swallowed hard as Anna stomped forward.

Mattias cringed while observing his Padawan from the cockpit. "Oh no," he mumbled to himself. "Take it easy, Anna. Bring it down a notch."

"A Palliduvan and a Rodian," Anna decreed. "I know they were here so you might as well give them up. I-"

"I just bought a ship from them," Kralla said and Anna's stern demeanor quelled. "Yeah...I saw your fugitives." She reached for her desk and tossed a pair of orange jumpsuits to Anna's feet. "They took the west tunnel behind me. It leads up into the city's central plaza. If you hurry, you might still catch them."

"Anna," Lieutenant Sparx mentioned. "This might be a trick. Why is she telling us this?"

"Aurra Sing murdered my sister just for refusing a deal," Kralla retorted and nearly choked on her words. "If this is my chance to make her pay, so be it."

Anna glanced up at Mattias and nodded. "Deathchasers," she ordered. "On me. Advance on the central plaza."

"Right this way," Yelena said as she traversed an elongated hallway. Belle's pace slowed when she observed the vibrantly-hued signage around them. Holographic symbols projected from the walls as they continued down a frigid path. Despite all the reporter had seen in her career, nothing could prepare Belle for the Jedi Archives. Her jaw dropped from the moment she set foot in that massive chamber. Tremendous columns extended towards the ceiling while stoic busts of legendary Jedi lined the aisles. Belle's captivated, hazel eyes were wide as she nearly lost her footing. There were more holobooks than she'd ever seen in her life. Rows upon rows of knowledge seemed to stretch on forever.

"This is incredible," she whispered. Belle was so awestruck, that she didn't even notice the Jedi staring at her from a distance.

It wasn't long before the Order's chief librarian arrived. Elsa and Yelena tensed up as Madame Jocasta Nu approached them. "Master Yelena. Padawan Dellian," the elder cautiously greeted. "Why is there an outsider in the Archives?"

Neither master nor apprentice was sure about who should speak first. They exchanged a series of awkward glances before Yelena ultimately took over. "Miss O'Har has found information crucial to a serious matter regarding Coruscant security."

"Has the council authorized her to be in here?" Jocasta said and the duo winced. "I'm sorry. Truly I am. But I cannot allow this reporter to stay in the Archives."

"Belle?" Elsa beckoned. "Do you mind waiting out in the hall? We'll take care of Chip and find out what we can. It's just...the last thing we want to do is cause more trouble for you."

"I understand," Belle sighed. She handed her camera droid over and took one last look at the Archives. "Just when I think I've seen every wondrous thing out there, life has a funny way of showing me otherwise."

"We won't be long," Elsa assured and returned to the others.

"This camera droid contains clear footage of the 'Coruscant Killers'," Yelena told the librarian. "We're looking to possibly identify them and get the word out."

Jocasta nodded and gestured to a sleepy-eyed, elderly Jedi. "You should speak with Master Tera Sinube," she said. "As a Jedi Investigator, he's known to be quite the expert on the criminal underworld."

"Thank you for your guidance," Yelena said and Elsa reiterated her words.

Tera Sinube's species was a rare one to find in the Jedi Temple. Reptilian in nature, the Cosian's beaked mouth shifted as he yawned. The fuzzy tuft at the end of his tail twitched when he heard his name called.

"Master Sinube?" Elsa inquired.

"Hmm? Yes?" Sinube muttered. His voice was bold, yet breathy. His golden eyes listed towards the women. "Oh my! Well if it isn't Master Yelena. I remember when you were only a youngling. And now you've got a Padawan of your own. Good for you!" His long, white hairs bobbed as he chuckled.

"We need your help, master." Yelena said.

"How can I be of assistance?" the Cosian asked.

Elsa set Chip down on the nearby table. "We need to identify some criminals in this footage," she said. "The 'Coruscant Killers' to be specific. Can you help us?"

Sinube hummed in deep thought. "Let's see what your little droid here has found first." He plugged Chip into his computer and uploaded the video files. Sounds of the attack on Belle's office crackled from the speakers and drew the attention of other Jedi. Sinube noticed a pair of frightened younglings observing from behind an aisle. "Perhaps we should put these on," Sinube suggested and handed his companions wireless headsets.

As Yelena and Elsa equipped the headsets, they became immersed in the sounds of that fateful night. Rapid-fire lasers ravaged the office while Sinube scoured the footage. He waited until the Umbaran stepped alongside his partner and prepared to fling a thermal imploder. Before he could toss it, Master Sinube paused the clip and zoomed in. "Aha!" he proclaimed and was able to capture both killers in one frame.

"By the Force," Elsa uttered at the high-resolution image.

"Now then," Sinube began and cracked his wrinkly digits. "We can start checking these faces and narrowing our search." He shrunk the screen and opened up a new window. Elsa and Yelena watched as he perused through an expansive criminal database. "We're looking for a Zygerrian and an Umbaran. Given the title they've claimed, they're no strangers to violence. So we're looking for lengthy criminal records." Sinube typed and swiped away at his computer's digital panel. "And look at the weapons used in their attacks. The CR-2 belongs to the Naboo Security Forces. The Z-6 rotary cannon seen here is Republic issue. And thermal imploders are an experimental explosive typically found in the hands of Outer Rim militias. Do you see what these weapons have in common?"

"Nothing?" Elsa considered.

"Precisely," Sinube said while searching. "These are no bounty hunters. We are dealing with a pair of mercenaries. Elite, hired guns with the experience to wield an arsenal of military-grade weaponry. Let's start with the Zygerrian," Sinube declared and swiped through a plethora of feline faces. "With their slaver empire wiped out, many Zygerrians were left to wander the galaxy. But those brutal, militaristic tendencies aren't so easily forgotten." Elsa and Yelena leaned closer as Sinube pulled up a file.

The Zygerrian's reddish brown fur had Yelena comparing images. "Master Sinube," she gasped. "That's him!"

"Jobun Gorbati," Sinube read aloud. "Ex-Zygerrian Special Forces. He was in multiple tours of conquest for his people's fractured empire, and had approximately 841 confirmed kills. Several Jedi were among those murdered by his hand before he suddenly disappeared deep into the Outer Rim."

"Now we know where he went," Elsa said.

"As for the Umbaran," Sinube continued. "He's an intriguing case given how Umbara is allied with the Republic. But alliances don't stop criminals from slipping through the cracks. You see, Umbaran society is based on a caste system. Its citizens seek to ascend over a hundred levels of societal gain. Their means aren't always fair and murder often finds its way into the mix." Sinube matched a profile to the Umbaran's image. "Nel Sabwu, assassin to the highest bidder. He didn't care about political power himself, but enjoyed getting paid to put others in desired positions. It appears that his luck eventually ran out, and those he worked for gave him up to form new allegiances. According to these reports, he narrowly evaded death by-"

"Disappearing deep into the Outer Rim," Yelena read. "Just like Jobun. Coincidence?"

"I think not," Sinube concurred. "But someone or something has drawn these two to Coruscant. Another player is pulling the strings and moving these deadly pawns around us."

"Well hopefully releasing their names will help authorities capture them swiftly," Elsa said. "Thank you for your help, Master Sinube."

Belle wished she could stay in the Archives, but had to be respectful to the Jedi. She was almost out when she glimpsed a Jedi Master approaching a sealed door. With a wave of his hand, he was able to unlock it and gain entrance to a secluded vault. Belle's eyes brightened with curiosity until she snapped herself out of it. "No no," she whispered to herself. "Be strong and just...walk out." She took one step in the opposite direction and immediately bumped into a temple guard.

"What are you doing here?" Udo Klee snapped.

Belle gasped and immediately tried to explain. "I-...well-"

"Who are you?" the guard scolded.

"I'm-"

"She's with us!" Elsa blurted and rushed to Belle's aid. "We were just leaving. Sorry for any misunderstanding."

"What business does an outsider have in the Jedi Archives?" the masked Nikto grumbled.

"None," Yelena assured. "Which is why we'll leave and get her back to where she belongs." The master ushered Belle out and whispered, "What'd you do?"

"Nothing!" Belle remarked. "I was on my way out and he was just...there!"

"You don't want to go around upsetting temple guards," Yelena suggested. Elsa glanced over her shoulder and observed Udo, who was still watching them from afar. He observed them until the Archive doors finally blocked his stare.

"What'd you find out?" Belle asked as Elsa returned Chip to her.

"We got the killers' names and their backgrounds," the Padawan answered. "You'll be able to make your full report now. Broadcasting it may prove difficult from in here however."

"Oh I won't be broadcasting this," Belle asserted. "Everyone else will." Elsa and Yelena appeared puzzled as she continued. "I can't risk this information dying with me if I leave. It also doesn't matter how the other stations perceive it as long as we get it out. You have to take this information to another station. They'll air it and the rest will follow suit. With every outlet screaming these killers' names, they'll be no place for them to hide."


The smoggy, malodorous air made Jee wonder how anyone could maintain an outdoor eatery on Nar Shaddaa. She sat at a table and kept her head on a swivel. The central plaza was a messy zone teeming with a boisterous assortment of riffraff. A family of Ithorians was exceptionally rowdy at the table beside them. With four throats per person, the family of five was as cacophonous as could be. "Lighten up," Aurra said and approached the table. She slid into the seat across from her and sipped some grog. "With the locater crushed in that scrapheap, any pursuers we had would be lost in space by now. That's if they even scrambled ships in time."

Jee took a whiff of her drink and scowled at it. "How are you so calm right now? Shouldn't we be looking for another ship?"

"That was the plan...but we're in luck. I just got off the local communicator with an associate of mine. He's been recruiting in the area and heard about the breakout. Don't worry, I put in a good word about you. Anyway, he says he can give us a lift."

Jee glanced at the communicator hanging from Aurra's belt. "You didn't use a local line," the Rodian murmured. "Who's device is that?"

"Mine now," Aurra asserted and rolled her eyes. "Would you calm down? I pickpocketed it off some fool. No one died." She patted her stolen police pistol and gestured to Jee. "Say...why don't you steal a blaster?" She waved her hand and mimicked using the Force. "Some of these spacers are too drunk to feel anything leave their holsters anyway."

"I'm good," Jee said. "Besides, I prefer a lightsaber."

"Interesting words from someone who isn't a Jedi," Aurra snarked. "Well lightsabers are much harder to come by."

"Every blade I've ever had was either stolen or-" Jee thought about the first saber she'd ever owned and how the dying Seeker passed it to her. "I've just never had my own," she relented.

The Ithorian family continued to irksomely holler from the table beside them. Aurra angrily scowled at the patrons, specifically the screeching child closest to her. As she looked away from the family, her dark eyes suddenly lit up. "Perhaps a new saber might come sooner than you think," she said.

Jee was confused until she followed Aurra's gaze to those behind them. Anna, Mattias, and the Deathchasers had arrived. Just as Jee discovered Anna, the youngest Dellian also locked eyes with her. "Ittu," Jee cursed.

"There they are!" Anna yelled and ignited her lightsaber. The hiss and sway of her bright green blade had patrons gasping. Tables cleared as Mattias ignited his weapon beside her. Shady denizens who thought they were in trouble leapt for cover as the clones approached.

"Galactic Republic!" Blazer proclaimed. "Everyone stay back!"

Suddenly, Aurra lunged leftward and snatched the Ithorian child from his seat. He wailed while his extremely vocal family rose to the rescue. All efforts were halted when Aurra drew her police pistol and aimed it at the child's head. "Nobody move!" she roared and brought her pursuers to a halt.

"Kriffing hell!" Anna yelled and frustratedly stopped. She and her companions inched forward as Aurra held the child close.

"Let the boy go, Sing!" Mattias warned. "You're outnumbered."

"You have no power here," Aurra hissed. "Come any closer and I'll do it. I'll blast him, damn it."

"Aurra," Jee muttered. "What the hell are you doing?'

"Getting us out of here," the Palliduvan whispered sharply. "Now hurry up and get behind me."

"He's just a kid," Jee intoned.

"And he's saving our skins," Aurra scolded before raising her voice to the pursuers. "Not another step!" she shouted. "Or his death's on your hands, Jedi."

"You kill him and you're finished," Anna threatened.

"Youreally wanna try me, kid?" Aurra growled. "Go ahead and keep pushing me." She pressed the blaster against the Ithorian's head and made him whimper. She wanted to emotionally shatter her pursuers while she simultaneously backed up.

Impatient and enraged by the ordeal, Anna turned to her clones. "Do you boys have a shot?" she asked.

"Kid's in my way," Sparx frustratedly reported and tried shifting his rifle.

"This isn't good," Speedy worried and lowered his weapon. "It's too risky."

"I got her," Blazer growled and kept his pistol raised. "Right between the eyes, Anna. Just give the order."

"Don't," Mattias said and raised a hand. "It's too close."

"With all due respect, master-" Anna began. "If Blazer can-"

"There is a hostage, Padawan." Mattias scolded behind gritted teeth.

While the standoff continued, a distinct whirring sounded across the platform and a hover train pulled into its station. "No," Anna uttered. "Don't you dare get on that. Don't you kriffing dare!" Aurra waited for the train's doors to slide open and Jee shoved passengers away. Aurra then threw the child off of the platform and leapt in to join her. The Ithorian family wailed as Mattias dove for the ledge. Using the Force, he caught the screaming child in midair and safely returned him to his family. "Great!" Anna scolded. "We just swapped one hostage for a whole train filled with them. Nice going, master. Blazer could've-"

"Hey!" Mattias snapped and grabbed Anna by the arm. "You do not gamble when other people's lives are on the line." He somberly glanced at the reunited Ithorians and returned his gaze to her. "You're better than that."

Anna hung her head until they heard Blazer beside them. "Hey!" the sergeant hollered. "All aboard!" He, Sparx, and Speedy fired grappling hooks into the train. Mattias grabbed on to Sparx while Anna held on to Blazer. Together, the group swung over and reeled themselves closer to the train.

Once inside the train, Jee followed Aurra to the control car. When the dense crowds became too much of an obstacle, Aurra fired several lasers into the ceiling. "Everyone on the floor, now!" she yelled. While people screamed and hurriedly obliged, a security guard rose from her seat. She had just taken aim when Aurra unloaded two rounds into her. As the guard fell dead, Aurra snagged her pistol and twirled her new pair like a gunslinger. Jee looked over the dead guard and sulked. She peered at her reflection in a nearby window and looked upon the frightened faces of passengers around her. As she trudged forward amidst the chaos, her inner voice began to prod.

What are you doing, Jee? it asked. You used to make people like Aurra pay for their sins and now you walk alongside her? Who do you think you are? Walking with so much anger that you'll just fight for anything? You're not a survivor...you're a serpent. You shame yourself.

Witnessing the atrocities through his security cameras, the train's Sullustan conductor struggled to stay calm. His heart sank when he saw footage of the criminals approaching his control car. He rushed to lock the door, but Aurra barged in at the last moment. Before Sing could shoot him, Jee took it upon herself to Force-pull him out of the car. With the conductor dealt with, Aurra took his seat and accelerated the train. They zoomed past their designated station and could hear their passengers screaming in the other cars.

"We only need to kill time until my contact arrives," Aurra said. "This commotion should get his attention and-" Her brows furrowed as security footage showed Jedi and clones boarding the train. "They just don't give up, do they?"

Damn it, Red. Jee thought guiltily. Can't you just stay out of this?

Aurra smirked insidiously. "You needed a new lightsaber, right?" she queried. Jee swallowed hard as Aurra loomed over her. "Come on. I've got an idea."

Passengers screamed when Anna and Blazer kicked out the windows to the train's final car. "Galactic Republic! Keep your heads down!" Anna instructed the passengers. As she and her group scoured the car, the train's conductor came hobbling over.

"Help," he panted before dropping to his knees.

"Where are they?" Mattias asked.

"They took over my control car," the Sullustan explained.

"Everyone move to the back of the train!" Mattias shouted. "Stay together!"

"We'll advance on the control car," Anna said and the Deathchasers formed up on her.

"Anna," Mattias warned. "Be careful."

"I will be, master." Anna huffed and turned to the clones. "Be ready for anything, brothers. If Aurra takes another hostage, you keep her in your sights. The moment she takes that gun off a hostage, you take the shot. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am!" all three clones hollered in unison.

As Anna and the Deathchasers advanced, they encountered a steady flow of fleeing civilians. The group remained on guard and checked each person for possible suspects. When they finally reached the control car, all was eerily quiet. Anna observed the door to the control car and the scarlet 'locked' symbol on its panel. She steadied her lightsaber and aimed it towards the door. "Prepare to breach," Anna commanded and the clones readied themselves.

Meanwhile, Mattias finished ushering the civilians to the final car and shut the door. "We'll handle this," he assured.

"Oh thank you, Master Jedi," the conductor sighed.

"Ready?" Anna asked as the ARF troopers nodded. "Breach!" The Padawan delivered two swift slashes against the door, leaving a sizzling 'X'. She then Force-pushed the pieces and charged in with her clones. All of Anna's rage-filled momentum amounted to nothing as she slid into an empty room.

"What the hell?" Blazer muttered as he observed the vacant control room. The train had been left on auto pilot and all emergency exits were left intact.

"I don't understand," Speedy said. "How could they have escaped?"

"I might have an idea," Sparx mentioned and pointed towards the ceiling. A dent in the ventilation shaft left only one explanation. "The vents would only lead backwards though."

Anna considered his logic and said, "But that would mean they'd be heading towards-" her eyes widened as she shoved past the clones. "Fall back, now!"

Master Mattias was on his way to join the others when he sensed a disturbance in the Force. There was a darkness stirring amidst the empty train car and he slowly looked up toward the vents. Before he could investigate, he became distracted by a call on his comlink. "Master!" Anna's voice crackled. "It's a trap! They-"

In that moment, Aurra Sing kicked out the hatch above Mattias. It clanged against his head and he staggered back. "You old fool," Aurra chuckled and dropped down to meet him. She scoffed when Mattias took up a defensive stance. "You must be joking," she taunted and spun her pistols. She unleashed a volley of blue and red lasers as Mattias rushed to deflect them. To Aurra's surprise, Mattias was quite capable and he advanced to stop her. There was a flash of panic in Aurra's eyes as she frantically tried to land a hit on Mattias. With a bold swipe of his lightsaber, he was able to bisect both of her pistols. He raised his blade to Aurra's neck and she slowly put her hands up. Suddenly, a powerful Force push sent Mattias to the ground. He hit his hip on a seat and dropped his saber in the process.

Having neutralized him, Jee dropped down and scavenged his lightsaber. "I got it," the Rodian said. "Let's go and-...Aurra!" Jee gasped as her partner advanced on the dazed Mattias.

"Just a second," she hissed and kicked the Jedi while he was down. His agonizing grunt made Jee flinch while Aurra cracked her knuckles. The Palliduvan wasn't fighting to survive. She sought violence and actively enjoyed her victim's suffering. As she punched Mattias across the face, a savage...ballistic roar sounded from down the aisle.

Anna Dellian emerged like a wild rancor and furiously threw her hands forward. Her unbridled Force push sent Aurra flying into Jee and they crashed against a wall. As Jee collapsed, she lost her grip on Mattias' saber and Anna called it to her. She proceeded to dual wield the emerald blades and ferociously spin them over Mattias' body. "Lay one more hand on him and I'll cut you down!" Anna snarled.

While Aurra recovered, Jee took it upon herself to speak up. "Red," she said.

"My name is Anna," the Padawan asserted.

"I never meant for any of this!"

"And you think I did?" Anna growled. "You think I meant to leave you in prison? But any explanations are pointless now. Because you've shown me who you truly are."

"What?" Jee uttered.

"I used to think you didn't have to pick a side," Anna said. "That there could be other chances and people still made things work." She glanced at her injured master and the sight filled her with rage. "But now I see that it was all a lie."

"Anna," Jee pleaded. "I'm sorry. I-"

"You're sorry?" Anna nearly choked. "No, you don't get to say that after all of this. You chose your side and now...I'm choosing mine." While she focused on safeguarding her master, Anna glanced at the Deathchasers. "Brothers," she commanded. "Open fire." There was disbelief beneath Sparx's helmet as he looked at the unarmed women. Blazer and Speedy took aim as Anna reiterated her order. "Kill them!" she roared.

The clones fired as Jee ducked for cover. Aurra grabbed a fire extinguisher from the wall and tossed it towards the Deathchasers. She let their shots blast it, creating a smokescreen to shroud their movements. Aurra then observed a transport flying alongside the train and hurriedly smashed the window open.

With a frantic Force push, Anna was able to clear out the smoke. The clones advanced just in time to see Aurra and Jee escaping in a ship just outside of the train. "They're getting away!" Speedy yelled.

"Kriffing hell," Anna murmured. Exhausted, she deactivated both lightsabers and knelt beside Mattias. "Master," she worried. "Master, are you alright?"

He tilted his bruised face up to her and nodded. "I'll live," he said. "But Padawan...we need to have a talk. A long talk."

Jee remained in a constant state of shock upon leaving Nar Shaddaa. She didn't even bother to see who their rescuer was. It just didn't even matter. She sat in silence, replaying her interaction with Anna on loop. Every sight...every scream. It all came back to haunt her until they finally reached Tatooine. The ship's engines quieted and its ramp lowered. A set of stomps had her peering over at Aurra Sing and the other bounty hunter. Aurra nudged Jee with the tip of her boot and said, "You know it's rude not to thank your rescuer."

"I'm still waiting on your thanks from the breakout then," Jee murmured.

Aurra sneered until her fellow bounty hunter smirked. "I like her," he said. As the lanky Duros advanced, his breathing tubes bobbed beside his neck. His bright, scarlet eyes were barely visible beneath his wide-brimmed hat. Despite everything that had happened to Jee, the last thing she ever expected was to be in the presence of notorious hunter Cad Bane.

She stepped out to join Aurra and Bane as they traversed Tatooine's sands. Jabba the Hutt's illustrious palace could be seen in the distance as Bane looked to Jee. "Aurra here tells me you're looking to get in with the Hutts," Bane said. "Is that right?"

"Yeah," Jee mumbled.

"She also tells me that you have a certain set of skills that could prove useful to the right people." The Rodian nodded as Bane extended a hand. "I've taken on a very special...assignment for the Hutts and am putting together a team."

"If you join us, this'll be your foot in the door to a world of real fortune and glory." Aurra said.

"What do you say, Rodian?" Bane proposed. "Are you ready to step up?"

As Jee stared into Cad Bane's soulless, blood-red eyes, she thought about all she'd experienced with Aurra. The words of the Twi'lek she'd rescued from the Caldera Syndicate echoed within her mind.

"But bounty hunters have no allegiance. Their loyalty is bought. You brought in a real criminal this time, but who will be your next target? Can you control yourself when those high payouts cross your path? The wicked know how to tempt their servants. Now that I know you're not a Jedi, I know you're just like everyone else: corruptible. You won't always have the full story, bounty hunter. That's the dangerous mystery of your profession. Is that a risk you are willing to take?"

Jee sighed and stepped away from Cad Bane. Aurra flashed a look of disgust and Jee tried her best to ignore it. "I'm sorry," the Rodian said. "But this just...isn't for me. Not like this, anyway. I hope you succeed with your endeavors, but I just..." Jee winced as images of an injured Mattias and angry Anna flickered through her mind. "I can't do this."

"How...disappointing," Cad Bane grumbled. "He didn't give Jee a second thought and proceeded towards Jabba's palace."

Aurra scoffed at Jee and said, "You were never one of us." She gave her back to Jee and departed with Bane. They abandoned her there, just as everyone else had. Racked with guilt and confusion over all which had occurred, Jee took her own path. She trudged across the dunes until she ultimately fell against one. The drop brought her to tears as she fought to keep it together. Every decision...every loss...had led her to this desolation. Yet despite her overwhelming grief and uncertainty, Jee found something else to lose herself in. She leaned back against the sand and observed Tatooine's calming, binary sunset. As Jee observed those falling suns, she sought to scrounge up any sliver of hope. She may have been lost and forsaken by 'both sides'...but she had to believe that she'd be found again.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's dramatic and explosive chapter! Tensions are only going to get higher as we reach the end of Season 2! Only four epic chapters remain! Thank you all for your support on this ongoing adventure. If the views keep coming, we will soon surpass my most-viewed story "Conspiracy: A Zootopia Fanfiction". "The Frozen Force" is a pleasure to write and I love entertaining you all. I am very excited to bring new content to your screens each and every Friday. This is officially the longest story I've ever written and I can't wait for the action-packed continuation next week! I hope you'll tune in and I wish you well :D

Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!

~ Michael