Author's note: As a special treat for the finale, I've decided to post SUPER EARLY this Friday! Dearest readers, I want to take a moment and thank you all before we get into the adventure. WE did it! We made it to our second season finale! You've followed this journey for 59 chapters and I am most grateful for your support. To my frequent and regular readers, thank you so much. To my newer readers, thank you so much. "The Frozen Force" is almost my most viewed story thanks to you all. It's also the longest story I've ever written and we're only going to keep growing. I'm honored and thrilled to hear how many of you are enjoying this tale. This fanfic started as a daydream bringing together two of my favorite fandoms of all time. I'm so happy I saw it through to share it with you all. It's been a wonderful journey to embark on through quarantine and has honestly helped me stay strong in many ways. It's helped me feel like I've had a duty to fulfill, as it is my goal to deliver quality stories to my readers. I want you to feel like you can always come to my page and find something to read. As my other story, "Anna's Creed" comes to a close soon, please know that I have some more wonderful adventures planned for you all. As for this story...I can't wait to share the rest. This being said, on with the show!

Long Live Imagination,

~ Michael

GOLDENHEART STORIES PRESENTS

A MICHAEL J. PINEDA PRODUCTION

THE FROZEN FORCE SEASON 2 FINALE

Chapter: 59 (Duel of the Fates - Part I)

"Trust is a decision. Being proven right is a choice."

The casualties of war! While laws are decreed from the safety of the Core Worlds, true conflict resides on outer fronts. The Grand Army of the Republic is sustaining heavy casualties, forcing the Senate to consider funding for more troops. Meanwhile, darkness stirs on the remote and Outer Rim world of Dantooine...

A powerful breeze blew across the plains of Dantooine. It rustled the tallest blades of moonlit grass and left a frigid chill in the air. While packs of kath hounds howled beneath the stars, flocks of docile briths glided overhead. With winglike fins and cephalic lobes, these gentle giants appeared more aquatic than they were aerial. Their silent soaring was a peaceful sight to behold. The briths were like kites blissfully gliding across the night sky. Their silhouettes danced along the luminous hills until a darker presence accompanied them. This massive shadow loomed over the land and was followed by a distinct whirring. The briths panicked and nervously dispersed as a weaponized craft descended from the skies above them.

With midnight blue, heavily armored plating, an HMP droid gunship was on the prowl. Spherical turrets swayed from its nose while bright, scarlet photoreceptors glowed just above them. The Confederacy of Independent Systems rarely needed pilots for their vessels, considering the fact that their ships were droids. A highly-advanced droid brain kept the gunship operational as it soared over Dantooine's vast fields. Far off in the distance, an elderly moisture farmer was performing some late night repairs. The sound of the gunship's engines had her swiveling her head to the sky. Amidst the darkness of the night, the giant droid's floating red eyes made it look like a flying demon. The old farmer gasped, dropped her tools, and hurriedly fled indoors. She poked her head out from beyond her hut and watched as the gunship continued on its way.

"Approaching designated landing zone," the gunship computed in a deep, monotone voice. "Initiating squad activation."

The gunship's internal systems powered up and its hollow interior became illuminated in a dark crimson hue. The stationary bodies of five BX-series commando droids sat ready to be awakened. As the interior gained power, so too did the droids as their white photoreceptors flickered on. Once the four commandos regained their charge, they looked to their captain at the center of the carrier. "Awaiting your orders, BX-21," the group said in unison.

BX-21 looked over his team and rose from his apparatus. His white head and chest markings were barely visible beneath the blood red light. "Prepare for drop," he said.

"Roger roger," the commandos replied and stood up to meet him. The athletically built droids each magnetized a vibrosword and E-5 blaster rifle to their backs.

"Thirty seconds to landing zone," the gunship computed and dropped its ramp. Dantooine's chilling breeze blew against the droids' unfeeling, metal frames as they stood on the ramp's edge. Once BX-21 gave the command, he and his team leapt out into the fields. The agile commandos nimbly landed in a thick strip of cropland. Their unique gyrations echoed briefly before they disappeared beneath the fertile stalks. As the gunship regained altitude and vanished into the night, the commando droids emerged. Their heads rose from the crops like daunting, metal skeletons as BX-21 led the way. They were nearly out of the field when the captain threw up fist.

The squad halted as a set of footsteps sounded beyond the crops. The dark boots and belted tunic of a Rovani warrior were partially visible between the stalks. A blaster rifle swayed at his side as he concealed a rather lengthy yawn. The Rovani was about to continue on his patrol route when something caught his eye. The brief glint of a droid's photoreceptor listed behind the stalks and left him utterly bewildered. "Hm?" he murmured and rubbed his groggy eyes. He firmly grasped his blaster and slowly stepped towards the field. All was eerily silent as he leaned in to investigate the odd phenomenon. As he found comfort in a quiet and gentle breeze, the guardsman prepared to move on. Before he could do so, BX-21 reached for his blaster and dragged him into the field by it. With a firm thrust of his arm, the droid was able to bend his rifle's muzzle and render it useless. Before the Rovani could break free, BX-21 quickly seized him by the neck. The commando droid's grip was tight and precise. With one swift twist, BX-21 snapped his victim's neck and tossed the body aside. The droid's head slowly turned as a woman's voice called from beyond the crops.

"Nulos?" his partner beckoned. "Where are you, brother? Nu-" One of BX-21's fellow units snatched her in a similar fashion. Her struggle ended just as quickly and she met the same, haunting fate.

With their victims' bodies hidden in the field, the commando droids finally emerged. Sticking to the shadows of the night, they slowly closed in on a nearby Rovani settlement.

Most of the thriving community was asleep at that hour, with the exception of those on guard duty...and certain children. In one of the many Rovani tents, a young boy sat up beneath his blankets. With nothing more than a personal lantern to light his way, he sat across from his stuffed animal. He smiled at his toy bursa and whispered, "Alright, Duffy. This is it." The child took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slowly raised his hands. As he bit down on his lip, he tried to strictly focus on his stuffed animal's stubby paws. Though it slightly hurt to concentrate so much, the child gasped when his toy's arms suddenly shifted. His joy was short-lived as someone suddenly removed the blanket from over his head. The boy gasped as a burly and bearded figure loomed over him. He saw past the adult's tired gaze and said, "I did it, Papa. I made Duffy's arms move again!"

"That's great, Dain." Manaro mumbled and faintly smiled. "But your mother and I are trying to sleep."

Dain hung his head in embarrassment and hugged Duffy for security. "Sorry, Papa," he answered.

Manaro sighed. "It's alright, son. I know you're just excited about this...gift you have. But you have your whole life to discover and understand what it means. There's no need to rush these things." Dain nodded and Manaro kissed his head. "Now try and get some sleep, little one. Lights out." He tucked his son back into bed, switched off the lantern, and returned to his wife.

Members of the Rovani militia gathered at a dimly-lit outpost on the opposite side of the settlement. A pair of blaster pistols swayed from a young woman's belt as she impatiently patted her holsters. She eagerly hummed to calm herself while those serving under her arrived for the meeting. One of the guardswomen limped over to her and offered a nod of respect. "Ezzie," she called.

With inquisitive emerald eyes and raised brows, Ezzie turned to her companion. "What is it, Veta?" she asked.

"Nulos and Wevri are unaccounted for."

As her militia already started talking to one another, Ezzie fidgeted with her dark locks. "Strange," she replied. "It's concerning enough that those two are always punctual. But even if something came up, they shouldn't be running this late to check-in." She gestured to Veta and said, "Take the others and follow their patrol route. We'll find them."

"Yes, Ezzie." Veta replied and set off to accomplish her mission.

As the militia's search party spread out, BX-21's squad stuck to the shadows. They stealthily weaved between tents and approached a nearby well. Several Rovani were stationed around it and tiredly mingling amongst each other in the starlight. "I don't know, Brinata," one of the men chuckled. He scooped water from the well and gently sipped it. "You keep dodging patrol shifts like this and it'll take more then your looks to save you." Brinata kept to herself while the other Rovani heckled her. She laughed off his remark and tried to shy away from the group. Despite her best efforts, nothing could stop the inevitable. Brinata winced and hugged herself as the commando droids descended. They were as swift as they were daunting, each targeting a specific guard. One by one, Brinata's friends fell around her. Their muffled shrieks were quickly silenced beneath quick jabs as their bodies collapsed. While those in his unit assembled behind him, BX-21 closed in on Brinata. The young guardswoman swallowed hard and shivered while staring into the droid's soulless eyes.

Rather then slaughter her like the others, BX-21 leaned in and said, "The boy."

"Y-...you promise to stay true to your word, right?" Brinata pleaded.

BX-21 paused. The droid took his time looming over her. "Where is the boy?" he asked and lifted his metallic fingers towards her throat.

"Fearing for her life," Brinata upheld her end of the deal. Her frantic, hazel eyes swayed rightward as she said, "Just up that hill there. The bright blue tent."

BX-21 lowered his hand and returned to his primary objective. He hadn't even touched Brinata and she felt like she could breathe again. As the commando droids departed, the young woman was left to stand in shock. Guilt tormented her from within as she stood amongst her fallen brothers and sisters. Her heart sank when footsteps sounded behind her. "By the stars," Ezzie sickeningly uttered. "What happened here?" She stumbled forward and observed the carnage while Brinata's eyes filled with tears. "Brinata?"

The guardswoman shivered and tried to find the courage to speak. "I-" she barely murmured. "I'm-" Ezzie's piercing, green gaze remained focused on the panicking woman. "I'm sorry," Brinata confessed.

From the moment she apologized, Ezzie angrily grabbed her by the collar and asked, "What did you do?"

Her actions only made Brinata sob harder as she started hyperventilating. "I'm sorry, Esmeralda! They said they would leave us alone if I-" Ezzie's gaze trailed off into the moonlit soil. She spotted a daunting trail of droid footprints heading up a nearby hill and gasped. "Ezzie," Brinata pleaded as tears drenched her face. "Please. I never meant for anyone to get hurt. They promised that-"

Ezzie had no time for whimpering apologies. She furiously threw Brinata to the floor and ran up the hill. "Ezzie?" a groggy Rovani inquired from one of the tents. "What's going on?"

"Sound the alarm!" she hollered and drew her pistols. "We're under attack! Sound the alarm!"

Panicking Rovani began to stir as Ezzie rushed up the hill. A sudden crash from one of the tents had her quickening her pace. Screams sounded and Ezzie barged in to respond. As she entered, she found Manaro and his wife injured beneath a set of broken furniture. "Help," the bruised father groaned. "Our son!"

Ezzie's head snapped towards a hole in the tent as a horde of commando droids formed up. BX-21 kept a tight grip on Dain as the child flailed. "Target acquired," the commando computed.

Ezzie didn't waste a moment to open fire on the nearby droids. She trusted herself not to hit Dain and the commandos returned fire. Scarlet lasers zipped across the tent and the sound of blasterfire awakened nearby Rovani. Outnumbered, Ezzie was forced to kick a table over and take cover. While two commandos kept up suppressive fire, the rest made their escape. Suddenly, Veta and the rest of Ezzie's militia arrived to provide support. They fired on the droids pinning Ezzie and blasted the duo to pieces. "Are you alright?" Veta asked.

"Fine," Ezzie grunted and quickly lunged forward. "They've got one of ours! Come on!"

"Wait up!" Veta warned, but Ezzie persisted ahead.

The daring Rovani chased after the three remaining commandos and wildly fired her pistols. She kept up the pursuit as it led them deep into the tall grasses surrounding their encampment. Their ringing alarm became a distant echo as Ezzie realized just how far away she'd ran. Even little Dain's cries for help seemed to be getting further away from her. "No," she panted while swatting stalks away. "No! Hold on! I'm coming!"

Ezzie was so focused on finding the boy, that she didn't realize one of the commando droids had stayed behind to flank her. She was continuing her pursuit when it sprung from her left side. Upon glimpsing its pale, glowing eyes, Ezzie fired as quickly as she could. While her shots were able to strike the droid's blaster, they weren't enough to stop it from tackling her. The commando struck her with a clang and forced her into the dirt. As Ezzie hit the ground, her pistols spun off into the darkness. Infuriated and unwilling to yield, Ezzie unsheathed a knife from her boot and jabbed it at the droid. It haplessly scraped against its thick shell as the droid twisted her wrist. It knocked the blade out of her hand and kept her pinned against the soil.

Searchlights swayed nearby as Veta and the other Rovani caught up. "Ezzie!" Veta called. "Where are you?"

Ezzie cleared her throat and called to her ally. "Over he-"

The commando droid silenced her by forcing her face into the dirt. It unsheathed its vibrosword and prepared to impale her. Being pinned and shoved into the ground only angered Ezzie further. Fueled by fury and sheer adrenaline, Ezzie clawed for anything she could grab. As her fingers raked across the soil, they nestled around a jagged stone. With a savage growl, Ezzie bashed the stone against the commando's face. While it was dazed, Ezzie broke out of its grip and rolled on top of it. Having reversed their positions, she proceeded to repeatedly smash the stone into the droid until its face was reduced to dented scrap. The commotion had her friends running and they flashed their searchlights over.

Ezzie squinted and rose over her defeated foe. As the her militia regrouped, a sudden whirring sounded from across the field. A pair of bright red eyes hovered overhead as Ezzie yelled, "Get down!" The droid gunship's laser turrets fired away and the Rovani took cover. Rather than continue to fight them, the gunship instead took off towards the clouds. As its ventral hatch sealed, Ezzie caught one last glimpse of BX-21 holding Dain. The child's screams faded into the night sky as Ezzie was left in shock. She and the other Rovani looked to the stars, contemplating what tragedy had befallen them.

*

If Padawan Elsa Dellian ever felt like Coruscant was in turmoil, all she had to do was sit in one of the Galactic Senate's sessions. The debates tended to serve as prominent and loud reminders about the state of the galaxy. Such conflict made Coruscant's chaos appear rather simplified. While Elsa disapproved of so many citizens in the capital being neglected, she understood that there were bigger dilemmas at hand. Elsa was cautious about how beautiful the morning seemed. The last time she glimpsed such a tranquil sight at the Senate Building, it soon became under siege by bounty hunters. But things had quieted down as the week progressed. Anna had taken some much-needed time to herself and the city hadn't experienced any groundbreaking news stories. From what Elsa had heard through word of mouth in the temple, Ziro the Hutt had met a gruesome demise. Perhaps it was one fitting for a criminal, to be killed in cold blood in some grander mystery. Hunters like Cad Bane and Aurra Sing were still at large, but Elsa could only hope she'd never run into them. No one had heard anything about Jee or 'The Bug' from anywhere across the stars. As far as Elsa knew, Chela and Korbi were still laying low in Bobak's manor. But with the Miss Coruscant pageant only one day away, Elsa was left with a foreboding sensation. There was a false sense of security in the air. Like a heart-stopping calmness before a rampaging storm. Over the passing days, Elsa and Yelena had found nothing to link any suspicious activity to the Jedi temple. For all they knew, it could've been a trick. Some sort of ruse to set their sights elsewhere. To believe that a Jedi could be involved in such a heinous business like slave trafficking was enough to make Elsa's skin crawl. As she thought over the week's events, she felt a finger suddenly poke her.

Elsa gasped and her head snapped towards Senator Veritaz. "Where were you?" the Corellian whispered sharply.

The sights and sounds of the senatorial chamber returned as Elsa answered, "I'm sorry. I was just thinking-"

"Well think about this," Dia intoned and gestured to the current debate. "Think about what's at stake here. Our clone forces are being obliterated across the stars. If we don't get more troops into this fight soon, we might as well surrender to the Separatists now."

"Order! Order!" Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda demanded. His booming voice had Dia and countless other senators peering down from their platforms. "Let Senator Saam finish," he said.

Gume Saam, an Ishi Tib representing the Techno Union, nodded to Amedda. "This is a matter not of philosophy. More troops are needed. The Republic cannot afford to let the separatists gain any more ground."

His remarks were swiftly met by those of Senator Bail Organa. "Our generals inform us that troops in the field continue to perform valiantly. What we cannot afford is to be irresponsible. The Republic is near bankruptcy due to the cost of this war." Elsa subtly nodded while Organa's comments were met with applause and jeers.

"Bankruptcy is not necessary, my friends," another voice spoke up. With a tremendous headdress and unwavering glare, Senator Lott Dod of the Trade Federation rose from his platform. The Neimoidian's bulbous, dark eyes observed his curious audience. "If we pass Senator Saam's bill to open new lines of credit, we will gain access to the needed funds."

"Won't this bill essentially deregulate the banks?" another senator inquired.

Her comment had Dia rolling her eyes as she whispered to Elsa. "Enter Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila. What does she know about banking?"

"A small price to pay to finance the war, is it not?" the elderly Senator Halle Burtoni asked. The Kaminoan's frail, elongated neck trembled as she scanned over the platforms.

As a key contributor to the Republic war machine, Burtoni's words were accompanied by uproarious cheers. Senators rose from their seats and demanded the creation of a bill. Others called for the prolonging of the war. Dia looked to Burtoni as an icon and she too stood up. "Well come on then!" she shouted from her platform. "Draft a bill! An end to our troops means an end to the Republic!"

"Dia," Elsa calmly intervened. "I don't know if that's necessarily true."

"Can you guarantee that the Jedi Order will protect us without the backing of the clone army?" Dia quipped. "Do you believe the Separatists will so easily surrender to us?"

She was about to rejoin the others in their cheering when another voice brayed above all others. Stentorian and steadfast, Senator Padmé Amidala was unafraid. "Members of the Senate!" she declared and the chamber fell silent. Elsa and the rest of its occupants watched as Padmé guided her platform to the center of the room. "Do you hear yourselves?" she said. "More money, more clones, more war." Exhaustion snaked between her words as she strived to remain true. "Say nothing of fiscal responsibility. What about moral responsibility? Hasn't this war gone on long enough?"

Elsa considered all who had suffered throughout the course of the war. She recalled the battle of Manaan and even thought about the attack her friends endured on Scarif. Elsa found truth in Padmé's words and was curious to see what she would propose. Before Padmé could continue, she was swiftly interrupted by Senator Saam. "Senator Amidala," the Ishi Tib began. "Are you suggesting we surrender to the Separatists?"

"Of course not," Padmé answered sternly. "But negotiation might be a better course of action."

The Naboo senator's words only fanned more flames amidst the chamber. "You can't negotiate with those animals!" someone barked from the upper platforms.

"Keep the war going!" another senator shouted.

"Vote now!" Dia yelled and raised her fist. "Vote now!" Her proclamations started a cacophonous chant as various senators joined her.

Elsa struggled to see reason in Dia's decision and could hardly snap her out of her energetic state. The Padawan huffed and sulked beside Taline as they watched Dia chant away. So much for having a voice, Elsa thought.

"Members of the Senate," Bail Organa beckoned until those chanting simmered down. "I suggest we table any emergency bill until it is determined whether or not deregulation is the right course of action."

There was a heavy silence amidst the chamber until Mas Amedda responded. "Very well," the Chagrian replied. "We shall let calmer heads prevail."

"This session is hereby adjourned," Chancellor Palpatine decreed and platforms hovered back to their designated locations.

Dia departed in a huff as the doors opened from behind her. "What a joke," she groaned. "Organa's only delaying the inevitable, you know." Elsa sulked in silence as Dia continued to rant. "This is why people think our government doesn't accomplish anything. We're too busy pushing back the legislation we need because we don't want to hurt feelings."

As Elsa glanced at Taline, she realized a bitter truth. If she remained silent, she too would become another one of Dia's submissive companions. Dia might not have listened to her, but Elsa couldn't let herself give up so easily. The Padawan took a deep breath and dared to speak up. "It's not about 'hurt feelings', Dia. It's about fiscal responsibility."

The Corellian glanced back at Elsa and sighed. "Please tell me you didn't actually buy into all that Amidala crap. The Republic can afford more clone troopers. Whatever debt we're in has always been there and it's nothing that taking out another loan can't solve. Pick one, Elsa. Debt or death. Because the Separatists-"

"May not all be as bad as you say," Elsa retorted. "With all due respect, Dia...maybe they would be open to negotiation. This isn't the Jedi in me talking, it's the person in me. Because even behind those droids that are programmed to kill are countless citizens thinking just as we are."

"You don't know that," Dia murmured.

"Yet you somehow know the opposite?" Elsa countered.

"Well...no." Dia pouted. "But if the Separatists wanted to negotiate, peace would've been achieved by now."

"Unless they've been just as afraid as we have," Elsa considered. "Couldn't you feel it? No matter how much anger and warmongering shrouded that room, it was all spawned from fear. We're all worried about what one side will do to the other, but maybe more destruction isn't the answer. Even between us, conflict would only drive us apart."

Dia hung and shook her head. "I hate fighting with you, Elsa. Really I do. Especially after everything we've been through. Goodness, I still have nightmares about the hostage crisis."

"I'm sorry, Dia." Elsa answered. "But I know how we overcame that incident." Dia raised a brow as Elsa continued. "Trust. You trusted me to get you and Taline out of there and I did. This ordeal in the Senate is yet another crisis and we have to trust each other again."

Dia bit her lip and reluctantly looked into the young Padawan's hopeful gaze. "I hate being wrong," she confessed. "But when you're right, you're right. I trust you, Elsa. I called upon you to be my personal assistant and I need to uphold the values that come with that choice."

Elsa smiled softly as Dia held her hands. "So...you'll hear Senator Amidala out?"

"Wait, what?" Dia blurted.

"About not prolonging the war," Elsa elaborated.

Dia's brows furrowed as she prepared to get defensive. "Now I didn't say I'd-" She looked into Elsa's bright blue eyes and huffed. "Fine," she groaned. "I'll hear her out but I'm not promising that I'll change my mind."

"That's fine by me," Elsa rejoiced. "I'm proud of you, Dia. It's important to listen to opposing sides."

"Well I'm no Jedi, you know." Dia jested. "I can't just zone out and listen to whatever I feel like."

Elsa pursed her lips and tightened her grip on Dia's palm. "Senator," she uttered. "You've been willing to trust me...so-"

Dia tilted her head and worriedly inquired, "Elsa?"

"Can I trust you?" she asked.

"Of course," Dia affirmed and placed a hand over her heart. "Are...you alright?"

"I'm not sure," Elsa confessed and peered at the crowd of departing senators. "Can we talk somewhere quiet?"

"Sure thing, sweetheart." Dia answered. "We can go back to my office. Come on, Taline."

As the women walked down the hall, three senators entered an office for a conversation of their own. Senators Lott Dod And Gume Saam had set up a meeting with a Nix Card, a stern-faced representative. "Gentlemen," the tall and lanky Muun began. "The Banking Clan

and Trade Federation are about business, not violence."

"In this case, our business is violence." Lott Dod remarked.

Nix Card was as coy as he was cold. He reclined in his seat and slowly turned towards the window. "With or without Senator Amidala, the Galactic Senate is unlikely to deregulate the banks." He tapped his elongated digits against one another as a gruesome thought crossed his dubious mind. "Until this war hits home."

The comment was enough to have Dod asking, "What exactly are you proposing?"

"Perhaps some unexpected bloodshed on Coruscant may change a few minds," Card answered.

"Coruscant?" Dod muttered. "Coruscant has not been attacked in over one thousand years."

"Then it has a false sense of security," Card replied and rose from his seat. The slender Muun towered over his hunched accomplices. "There are some powerful clients on the other side who could help us...shall we say...make the point?"

Senator Saam was quick to rejoice over Card's proposal. "I like this plan," he lauded.

Card loomed over the Ishi Tib and didn't even humor him with a sneer. "No one cares what you think," he murmured.

Taline sealed the doors to Dia's office while Elsa composed herself. "I'm worried, Elsa." Senator Veritaz said. "What's got you so...secretive?"

Elsa tried to relax her shoulders and said, "It seems like there's chaos around every corner these days. Allies...true ones...are hard to come by. Epecially when you believe a member of your own Order may be a threat."

Dia swallowed hard. "Oh Elsa," she began. "While I've had my disagreements with the Jedi philosophy from time to time, I doubt any of them would turn against the Republic. I mean...Dooku did but-"

"I appreciate your reassurance," Elsa simpered. "But this isn't about comfort. I need all of the help I can get right now."

Dia leaned closer and said, "Whatever you need, young lady. Shall I write you a check? Need me to give a speech somewhere to sway some people?" Dia gestured to her decorative buaroshade. "Want one?"

Elsa chuckled and shook her head. "Money isn't necessary. Neither are speeches nor toxic, yet stylish plants for that matter. But I need someone I can confide in outside of the Order."

"Elsa," Dia gasped and brought her voice down to a whisper. "Is this...about a boy?"

"What?" the Padawan grimaced. "No! Dia, I know where Chela Tuzi is."

The Senator paused as if trying to comprehend who that was for a moment. "As in...that missing pageant girl?" Elsa nodded and Dia worked to make sense of it. "Um...okay? Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Elsa assured. "In fact, she's got a mission of her own and her team needs help."

"There's more to this?" Dia inquired. "I might need a drink."

"Chela was working with the late Herv Bobak," Elsa explained. "They're striving to fight against Coruscant's corruption just as we are. But Herv paid the price."

"I always worried that Bobak's death seemed too...coincidental," Dia remarked.

Elsa nodded at her words and continued. "But he didn't die in vain. He was able to pass information to this Ortolan child, who in turn gave it to us for Chela."

Dia knitted her brows and hummed in deep thought. "This is a lot to take in, Elsa. But now what I've found certainly makes more sense." Elsa raised a brow as Dia carried on. The senator gestured to her police scanner and said, "I've spent many a sleepless night listening to that blasted thing. As of late, there have been reports of suspicious shipments moving in and out of the city."

"The scrambling smugglers," Elsa considered. "Chela and her associate mentioned that the slavers might be shifting operations."

"But here's where it gets all the more peculiar," Dia mentioned. "Recent reports from the Industrial Sector said an adult Ortolan's wails could be heard throughout the night. But the Jen-Buk District's heavy machinery kept authorities playing a guessing game with the proper location. They say Ortolan's don't call out unless their yearning for their young."

"Lumpy's mother," Elsa gasped. "I mean...it could be anyway!"

"You're the Jedi," Dia insisted. "Shouldn't you be the one 'trusting your instincts'?"

"You're right," Elsa intoned. "But if the smugglers are on the move, there may only be a limited time left to find her! How can we-"

"My turn to calm you down," Dia asserted and held Elsa's hands. "Is there anyone else you can trust to help you carry this burden?"

"My sister," the Padawan responded. "Her master and mine are on my side."

"Then let them help you," Dia guided. "I'm sure they could locate that Ortolan's mama! Those beings have incredible sniffers. If you have the child, perhaps they could be of assistance." Dia scrolled through a holomap on her desk and dipped a finger towards a skyscraper. "This spot ought to give you quite the vantage point."

Ecstatic, Elsa rose from her seat. "I-I don't know how to thank you for this information, Dia."

"You can thank me by finding this kid's mama," Dia assured. The senator gasped as Elsa suddenly pulled her into an embrace. Unsure what to do with her hands at first, Dia slowly brought them down and returned the gesture. She patted Elsa's back and said, "You're such a special Jedi, Elsa. Is there anything else I can do for your friends? Are they safe?"

"They are," Elsa assured. "They've been using Bobak's manor as a safehouse until the night of the pageant arrives. Now if you excuse me, I need to get the others." Elsa rushed off and activated her holocom. She stepped out into a vacant stairwell as Anna's blue-hued face materialized.

"Sis?" the youngest Dellian inquired upon seeing Elsa's eager grin. "What's going on?"

"Thanks to Senator Veritaz, I've got a lead on Lumpy's mother," she said. "She's possibly being held in the Jen-Buk District."

"Oh kriff," Anna blurted. "Finally some good news."

"I'm going to let our masters know," Elsa said. "We're gonna need Lumpy's help to track her down, so do you mind picking him up from Rapunzel and meeting us in the temple hangar?"

"You can count on me," Anna assured.

"And one more thing," Elsa added. "Do you mind...not telling Hans?"

Anna's pleasant demeanor faltered as she stared into the hologram. "Why?"

Elsa nervously bit her lip. "He's just...He-"

"Hans is more than capable of handling himself," Anna defended.

"I'm sure he is," Elsa replied and tried to placate her. "But maybe we can just leave him out of this one mission. Please?"

"I don't get what your problem with Hans is," Anna doubled down. "He might not get things right all of the time, but who does? It's no reason to leave him behind."

"Anna," Elsa intoned. She thought about Korbi's mistrust and the chance of there being a turncoat in the Order. "Just keep him out of this. For me?"

"Just keep him out of this. For me?"

Anna glanced at Hans, who was beneath her bed covers and out of the holocom's view. His inquisitive glare only put more pressure on her as she tried to come up with an answer. "I'll do what needs to be done," she concluded and ended the call.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hans scoffed.

Anna frustratedly set her holocom down and snuggled up to him. "It means...that Elsa sees something," Anna whispered. "She doesn't like you."

"Most people don't," Hans answered and booped Anna's nose. "But you're different, right?"

"It feels like I'm the only one willing to give you a damn chance," Anna said. "I have faith in you, Hans." He smirked devilishly and leaned in for a kiss. Rather than meet Anna's gentle lips, Hans instead found himself kissing Anna's firm finger. He opened his eyes to find her glaring down at him. "Prove me right," she affirmed and slid out of bed.

Flustered, Hans grumpily rolled out of the other end and hastily made himself presentable. "So...I'm in?" he queried.

"Yeah," Anna murmured. "Just don't make me regret it."

The duo snuck out of Anna's room and traversed the temple's elongated halls. They made their way to the Circle of Jedi Healers and a surge of memories returned to Anna. She shuddered and Hans placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she whispered and caressed his hand. "I just...don't miss this place." She glanced at an empty bed in one of the rooms and recalled feeling so trapped.

"Padawan Dellian?" a Tholothian woman beckoned from the upper staircase.

"Master Allie," Anna greeted.

"You're looking well," Allie admired. "What brings you to our circle?"

"We're here to see Knight Crin," Anna answered.

Allie nodded and gestured to a nursery down the hall. Hans curiously followed Anna as she led the way into a brightly-colored room. Vibrant, solar-themed paintings covered the walls and toys lay scattered across the floor. "Rapunzel?" Anna called.

"A little busy right now!" the knight hollered from behind a counter. "Making snacks for a very hungry Ortolan!"

"Maybe you could make some for a former patient too?" Anna inquired.

Plates stopped clinking as Rapunzel recognized the Padawan's voice. "Anna?" she uttered. Thick, braided and blonde tresses bobbed as Rapunzel sprung from behind the counter. Her green eyes widened along with her beaming smile. "Oh my goodness! It is you!" She scurried up to Anna and gave her a huge hug. Powdery baking flour puffed from her palms and left silly prints across Anna's robes. "Oh wait until Lumpy sees who's come to visit. He'll be thrilled!"

"Where is the little tike?" Anna asked.

"Right this way," Rapunzel said and guided them into the other room. She glanced at Hans and offered him a peculiar stare. He waved awkwardly and she sternly answered, "Knight Westgard." Rapunzel couldn't help but share her hard work. "It's been a lot of fun renovating this place to suit Lumpy's needs." As they entered the Ortolan's personal playroom, Anna noticed several opened holobooks detailing sign language. She got to see the fruit of Rapunzel's labor as the knight knelt beside Lumpy. The pudgy, blue child was plopped in front of a datascreen when Rapunzel got his attention. "Hey Lumpy," she greeted while signing accurately. "Look who came to say hello!"

The Ortolan's ears and trunk flopped as his head spun with glee. Lumpy was quick to hug Anna and then sprung to Hans' leg. "At least he likes you," Anna quipped while Hans rolled his eyes.

"Hey kiddo," Hans grumbled and patted the Ortolan's head. He was ready to pry him off when Lumpy suddenly let go. The child merrily signed to Rapunzel and pointed to the datascreen.

"What's he saying?" Anna asked.

"He wants you to watch his show with him," Rapunzel translated.

Anna glanced at the datascreen as a holodrama began. Images of a dashing human flashed while subtitles accompanied a suspenseful narration. "Petar Pekro was an ordinary Coruscanti teen. But everything changed the day he was bitten by a RADIOACTIVE...KRYKNA SPIDER!" The young actor howled in pain after enduring such a bite.

"Oh gimme a break," Hans groaned while Anna sat beside Lumpy.

The narration continued as Petar's body began to morph. "But the bite gave him super strength...and super speed! He could leap to the highest buildings and shoot webs from his hands! Protecting the city, Petar Pekro becomes the Amazing Krykna-Man!"

Lumpy applauded and pretended to shoot webs from his own stubby fingers. "As much as I'd love to stay and watch the show-" Anna lamented. "We have a serious matter to attend to and need Lumpy's help. We may have found the location of his mother."

Rapunzel gasped and translated Anna's explanation to the child. Astonished, Lumpy was ready to help in any way that he could. "I'll come too," Rapunzel said. "You'll need a translator. I-" The knight's heart sank when her comlink chimed. "Please excuse me," she winced and rushed off to answer the call. "Hello?"

"Rapunzel!" Master Donma Gothel brayed. "Where are you? I thought you said you could meet me in the gardens within an hour."

Rapunzel huffed. "I told you my schedule varies since-"

"Since you became a glorified babysitter," Gothel griped. "Right." Rapunzel's attempts to hide the call were futile and she cringed when Anna listened in. "Then bring the blasted child along with you," Gothel asserted. "Perhaps he has a better sense of style than you do and can help me pick out an outfit for the pageant."

"I-" Rapunzel was at a loss for words. She loosed a relenting sigh and said, "I'll be down shortly."

"Splendid!" Gothel rejoiced. "I knew I could count on you, Padawan."

Rapunzel ended the call and mumbled to herself, "I'm not your Padawan, anymore." She recomposed herself and turned to the others. "I'm sorry you had to hear all that. Master Gothel thinks that if she can't compete in Miss Coruscant, she can at least show off a nice outfit and-"

"Hey," Anna assured. "Go ahead. We've got this." She held Lumpy close while the Ortolan sniffed her pockets.

Rapunzel signed "Be good" to Lumpy and headed out to meet her former master.

"That Gothel woman is something else," Hans murmured.

Anna leaned over and flirtatiously whispered in Hans' ear. "Honestly...are we any better?"

The midday sun was setting over Coruscant's cityscape. Its fiery hues streaked across the temple's hangar as Elsa joined up with Yelena and Mattias. "Anna should be here soon," the Padawan said. "Then we can head out before the sun fully sets."

"Are you sure about this, apprentice?" Yelena asked.

"Of course I am," Elsa affirmed. "Possible lead or not, I can't waste this opportunity to reunite Lumpy with his mother."

"But what about your senatorial duties?" her master continued. "Word has spread beyond the Senate about how intense things are. If they vote to deregulate the banks, the Republic could plunge into bankruptcy."

"I know," Elsa lamented.

"Every vote counts," Mattias lectured.

"I know," Elsa huffed. "Senator Veritaz trusted me with this information regarding the lead, so I need to trust her to make the right decision in the Senate."

"Or has she given you this information to get you off of her back?" Yelena proposed and Elsa gasped.

"I thought you had my back," Elsa defended.

"And I do, Padawan." Yelena defended.

Noticing how tense things were for the ladies, Mattias interposed himself between them. "Padawan Dellian," he said. "What your master is trying to say is that she values your abilities. She's watched you grow into an extremely powerful and influential being for your age. I mean look at you...getting to serve as a senator's personal assistant is the work of a Jedi Consular. But your task isn't finished. In fact, now is when your voice is needed more than ever. You need to be there, Elsa." Mattias placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "You need to guide Senator Veritaz in the right direction. This isn't about some planet's secession, but instead the fate of our Republic as a whole. We've all seen you in action. We know what type of person you are and the good heart which resides within. This bill goes against all of those values. We know who you are, but now Veritaz and the rest of the Senate needs to as well. Let us handle this, young one. You need to go and be heard."

Elsa looked deeply into Mattias' calm, dark eyes. There was nothing but sheer conviction in his gaze as she nodded respectfully. "Okay," she whispered and finally let herself exhale. "Just please be safe."

"You forget who taught who here," Yelena remarked. "May the Force be with you, Padawan."

"And with you," Elsa replied before dashing to a lower hangar platform. Since the temple was located in the Senate District, Elsa could approach an astromech-piloted airspeeder and say, "Senate Building please!" Its droid pilot beeped as she energetically hopped aboard.

As Yelena watched her apprentice glide away, she couldn't help but sigh. "Did you rehearse that speech?" she asked Mattias. "Or did you make it up as you went along?"

"I just spoke from the heart," Mattias admitted as the masters paused in thought. "You can feel it, can't you? Our girls are growing up. Gone are the younglings who used to chase us around. By the rules of life and will of the Force, we're doing more of the chasing these days. It's only a matter of time before we say goodbye." Mattias looked to his old friend as she pursed her lips. He reached for her hand to comfort her and asked the very question she'd asked him so many years ago. "Are you ready for this?"

Yelena's answer was swift and earnest. "Nope," she said. "It seems like only yesterday that Elsa was this shy little child. She'd rarely speak unless spoken to and typically kept to herself. But just look at her now. She's about to help make a crucial decision for our Galactic Republic and I don't think she knows how proud I am of her." Yelena tightly shut her eyes and shook her head. "I don't think I've said it enough. You tell yourself there'll be more time but-"

"Mar," Mattias whispered and Yelena froze. People seldom called her by her first name and she gently turned to him. "Believe me," he affirmed. "Elsa knows you're proud."

The doors behind them slid open as a surprising trio emerged. "Hope we're not late," Anna huffed as her companions trailed behind.

"Do my eyes deceive me-" Mattias started. "-or is that..."

"Hans," Yelena groaned and trudged up to the group. "Padawan Dellian, what is he doing here?"

Hans sneered and was prepared to argue when Anna answered, "He's helping us out."

"He wasn't supposed to be involved," Yelena scolded in a hushed tone. "Elsa-"

"I know what Elsa said," Anna assured. "But respectfully, we're not giving Hans here enough credit. He's a Sentinel and we could use his investigative abilities to help locate Lumpy's mom. Also, where is Elsa?"

"She had a duty to fulfill in the Senate," Yelena explained. "But I won't hesitate to uphold her wishes."

"What is your problem with me?" Hans snapped. "I'm sorry I'm not your perfect Padawan, Elsa...but I can handle myself."

"We are down a Jedi," Mattias muttered.

"He can't be trusted," Yelena whispered to him. "We don't know if-"

"Why don't we put it to a vote?" Anna proposed. "Who's in favor of Hans joining us?" She quickly raised her hand and observed how Lumpy was hugging Hans' leg. "I'm counting that as a vote," she quipped. While Yelena put her foot down, all eyes turned to Mattias.

He peered down at the Ortolan's beady black eyes. He then looked to Anna and thought about how much she was defending Hans. He related it to his own experiences with Zodra and wondered how he would've felt in Anna's place. Mattias ultimately sighed and said, "I trust my Padawan's judgement," he said.

"Destin," Yelena blurted and the youths tensed up. "How can you-"

"I have to trust my instincts," Mattias intoned. "We'll be alright, Yelena."

The elder huffed as Mattias and Anna acquired a pair of airspeeders. "I won't let you down, you know." Hans mentioned while they waited.

Yelena gave him a dreadful side-eye and said, "You're lucky he spoils her."

Hans' eyes narrowed as he answered, "Excuse me?"

"You may have them fooled, but don't think you've swayed me for a second." Yelena turned and jabbed a finger at his chest. "I've got my eye on you and if you even think about stepping out of line-"

"You two coming?" Mattias called as they prepped a set of speeders.

Hans trudged past Yelena and whispered, "You're crazy, lady."

She frustratedly stormed after him. Her blood boiled as Hans had the audacity to sit next to Anna. They buckled Lumpy into their backseat while Mattias tried to calm Yelena down. "They'll be alright," he assured. "We all have the coordinates so you can ride with me."

Yelena shook her head and slid into their airspeeder's passenger seat. They took off alongside each other and soared across Coruscant's skyline. Once it was just the two of them, Yelena finally snapped. "Why do you do that?" she asked and Mattias raised a brow. "Oh don't be coy. You cater to Anna's every whim."

"She's my apprentice, Yelena." Mattias defended. "I need to support her."

"Supporting and enabling are two very different concepts," Yelena retorted. "That girl could probably get away with murder on your watch." Mattias sighed at her remark and Yelena hung her head. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."

"No no," Mattias said. "You have a point. Perhaps I've been very lenient with my Padawan where I could. I think back to the strict doctrine Master Mundi raised me under and remember feeling so trapped. Mundi was a great mentor, but he wasn't a friend...if that makes any sense."

"It does," Yelena replied. "But have you sacrificed integrity to create this bond with your student? What else has been compromised through this continuous, carefree leniency?"

Mattias deeply pondered over her question while observing the bustling skylanes. "I'll put it this way," he began. "There was a moment during Anna's apprenticeship where I almost lost her. I tried to follow things by the book and wound up nearly severing years of what we'd built. But that wasn't me. That was the "Master Mundi" in me trying to become something that I wasn't. It was a miracle that we were able to salvage our relationship and I told myself that I'd truly be there for Anna from that moment forward...no matter what." Mattias faintly smiled and said, "You said it seemed like only yesterday when Elsa was a child. Anna will always be that youngling in my eyes. And like her, I'm going to stumble and learn in this vast journey we call life. But while we're imperfect, we're still together."

There was a long pause as Yelena glared at Mattias. "I swear you rehearse these speeches," she jested and the two shared a hearty laugh.

Their airspeeders glided across the city as night descended over Coruscant. Hans activated his vehicle's communicator and relayed a message to the masters. "At this rate, we'll reach that Jen-Buk rooftop in no time," he said. As their ships flew to the next skylane, they found it backed up by heavy traffic.

"You just had to jinx us, didn't you?" Anna teased and Hans clunked his head on the dashboard.

While the group searched for an alternative route, a sudden commotion caught Yelena's eye. She pressed against her window for a closer look and saw a scuffle on one of the lower walkways. A scraggly man grabbed an unsuspecting Ithorian and dragged him into an alleyway. "Blast," she cursed. Mattias looked over and followed Yelena's finger. "A mugging," she said and scowled towards the perpetrator.

"Authorities won't make it in time," Mattias deduced.

"We can intercept that," Yelena asserted.

"If we fly northbound and take an alternative exit, we can beat this traffic," Hans called in.

"You kids go on ahead," Mattias assured and clenched the controls. "We'll meet you there. Some idiot picked the wrong time and place to mug someone. This won't take long."

"I'm kinda jealous," Anna called. "I wish all of our challenges were as simple as a mugging."

While Hans' airspeeder proceeded onward, Mattias descended to the alley. He and Yelena sprung from their airspeeder and dashed towards the sounds of the mugging. The bearded thief kicked his prey against a dumpster. Bruised and frightened, the gentle Ithorian raised his frail hands in surrender. "Cough it up, hammerhead," the bigoted thief growled. Without a translating vocoder, the Ithorian haplessly continued to plead in Ithorese. For all he knew, the thug was attacking him for other malicious intentions. "Do you even speak Basic? Muh-nee. Wah-let." He raised another fist but was unable to deliver a punch. No matter how hard he tried to strike the Ithorian, the man felt held back by some invisible power. "What the-" he grumbled and spotted a pair of silhouettes looming behind him. He slowly turned to see Mattias and Yelena standing across the way.

"Step away from the Ithorian," Yelena ordered while Mattias relinquished his hold on the man's fist.

The mugger stumbled forward, yet still put up his fists. "You're kidding right?" Mattias jeered. "Please tell me you're kidding." With an ear-splitting screech, the mugger charged at Mattias. The master simply redirected him with a Force push while Yelena clotheslined him. The mugger struck the duracrete with a groan as Mattias sighed. "They're getting bolder, I'll give them that."

"Bolder?" Yelena scoffed. "You mean stupider." She knelt beside the Ithorian and extended a hand. "Are you alright?" Rather than take it, he whimpered in his native tongue and fled out into the street. Yelena hung her head and sighed. "That's the price we pay for scum like you," she hissed at the mugger. "Your actions set human relations with other species back tenfold!"

A pair of police droids marched into the alley and investigated the scene. "What is going on?" one of them computed.

"Not much," Mattias quipped. "We just cleaned up some trash for you."

Hans piloted their speeder through the Jen-Buk District's smoggy skies. "Well this brings back memories," he said. "At least things aren't so secretive this time."

Anna thought back to their first mission against Jee. How different things were back then, she thought. "I wonder if that Slitter gang had anything to do with these other smugglers," Anna considered. "I mean, they were also trafficking people. Remember?"

"It's possible," Hans replied. "Don't let Republic propaganda fool you. The slave business is alive and well, even if you don't hear about it." As the duo sat in disgust, Hans thought to change the subject. "Hey thanks for having my back in the hangar...babe."

Anna blushed at his words and reclined in her seat. As they soared over the industrial cityscape, she noticed their destination ahead. "The rooftop!" she rejoiced as Hans prepared for a landing.

He parked the speeder on a flat stretch of duracrete to give them the best vantage point. "We're here," Hans called in while powering down the engines. "We'll scout ahead and see what we can find."

"Copy that," Mattias responded. "Yelena and I are enroute."

As the transmission ended, Hans found himself smacking the dashboard. "What's wrong?" Anna guffawed.

"The damn engines won't turn off," he groused. "I just powered them down."

"Um...babe?" Anna snickered and pointed towards a readout on the screen. "Have more faith in yourself. You switched them off."

"No I didn't," Hans grumbled. "Don't you hear that?" He gestured to their sides as a continuous whirring loudened.

Anna's brows furrowed and she slowly turned towards her window. "H-Hans?" she mumbled. "I don't think those are the engines." She peered through the darkness and saw a massive, oblong shadow closing in on them. The grinding sound had Hans checking his side as a similar shape approached from the opposite end.

"What the h-" was all Hans could mutter before their speeder was dragged. Its landing gear was utterly useless as the vehicle became sandwiched between two metallic slabs. The ensuing collision had Anna, Hans, and Lumpy trembling within the speeder. Two colossal, industrial-level magnets kept them trapped. The magnetic hum was disorienting as the Jedi tried to figure out what was happening.

"Get us out of here!" Anna yelled and made sure Lumpy was secure.

"I can't!" Hans grunted while wrestling with the controls. "These magnets are too strong. We're locked into place!"

"The windshield!" Anna blurted. "Help me kick it out." She and Hans unbuckled their seatbelts and raised their legs. Before they could start kicking, a series of rapid-fire lasers pierced through the glass. "Kriffing hell!" Anna screamed and reclined her seat back as far as possible. Glass shards spewed across the dashboard while green lasers blasted it to shreds.

"That sound," Hans winced. "Those shots. I know that gun."

Outside of the trapped speeder, Jobun Gorbati reloaded his CR-2 heavy blaster. The Zygerrian flashed a sadistic, fanged grin and riddled the vehicle with more lasers. "Surprise, Jedi filth!" he taunted.

While keeping her head down and putting an arm over Lumpy, Anna observed the damaged roof. Jobun's lasers had obliterated the windshield and were slowly making their way through the overhead frame. It was only a matter of time before they were completely out of cover. "We need another way out!" Anna urged.

"No kidding!" Hans yelled over the laserfire. His hands shifted over what wasn't destroyed on the dashboard as he tried to formulate a plan.

"I've got it!" Anna said and crawled to the backseat. "Watch out, Lumpy." Despite being in such a compact space, Anna activated her lightsaber and plunged it into the floor. Given the speeder's uneven frame, it would take time for Anna to cut a complete hole for them to escape through. "Almost...there," she urged while slicing away. "Got it!" she rejoiced and deactivated her lightsaber. Anna kicked out her hole in the floor...just as Hans executed his own plan.

The knight ignited his speeder's emergency boosters as he attempted to break free from the magnets. Rather than liberate the speeder, Hans' maneuver only gave them enough power to flip over in the magnets' grip. His efforts left them trapped, upside down, and now gave Jobun a clear shot through Anna's saber-sliced hole. "HANS!" Anna roared frustratedly while crawling for new cover.

"What?" he growled while hiding from Jobun's lasers. "I was trying to get us out of here!"

"So was I!" Anna snapped. "I literally...nevermind."

"Wait," Hans whispered amidst an eerie silence. "The lasers. They've stopped." A sudden rumble took their place as Jobun operated the magnets and lifted their vehicle higher. With his victims suspended before him, the Zygerrian proceeded to activate several thermal detonators. He set his feline eyes on the hole Anna had cut out and smirked.

"We can't even drop through the windshield, Hans!" Anna scolded. "Look how high up we are now. What the hell were you thinking? That hole was our shot at-" Their argument halted when several explosives clunked into the speeder. The trio's eyes widened at the sight of several flashing grenades and Hans took drastic action.

"Everyone!" he yelled. "My seat. Now!" He pulled Anna on his lap, who in turn dragged Lumpy over.

Hans swiftly equipped his emergency buckle and wrapped a torn strap around the others. "Hans," Anna inquired. "What are you-" Just as the grenades started rapidly beeping, Hans pulled a striped lever up from beneath his seat. In that instant, the seat ejected out from the upside down speeder...seconds before it exploded.

Anna and Hans were screaming their heads off as the Coruscant skyline blurred around them...all while Lumpy's ears smacked their faces. Flaming chunks of their blasted vehicle rained down to the street below as sheer chaos ensued. The wind surged against their faces as the building they'd fallen from became even taller. They were plummeting too quickly and were at gravity's mercy. All Anna and Lumpy could do was cling on to Hans for dear life. As the bright, upside down world of Coruscant spiraled around them, it was suddenly replaced by the darkest of blues. All sound seemed to numb around Anna, who was still reeling from the explosion and fall. Whatever they crashed into almost didn't seem real. They'd apparently phased through a liquid and were suspended in some darkened abyss. As Anna's mind caught up with her body, she soon realized that they were underwater. The muffled crashing of debris echoed just above the surface as Anna swam up. She didn't have a chance to hold her breath and could already feel her chest aching. She gritted her teeth and furiously attempted to heave Lumpy up with her. But no matter how hard she tried, the Ortolan was just too heavy. Anna's lungs were desperate for air, but she couldn't leave Lumpy to drown.

Meanwhile, Hans was still coming to terms with his situation. He writhed and wriggled in the ejected seat, trying to break free of the emergency seatbelt. As the chair struck the bottom of whatever water they'd entered, Hans had to improvise. He slid a hand over to his belt and sparked up his lightsaber. Its green plasma pulsed underwater and severed the belt restraining him. Once freed, he kicked off the bottom and gave Anna the boost she needed to save Lumpy. Together, the three of them gasped for air while floating atop a soothingly warm surface.

Anna coughed while Hans pushed her and Lumpy to the water's edge. "That was...insane," Anna panted.

Only then did they glimpse a 'NO DIVING' sign. "What the hell?" Hans muttered while reading it. He observed his surroundings and realized they'd landed on some apartment's rooftop swimming pool. Things only got more awkward as the Jedi peered leftward. A Twi'lek couple sat at the pool's edge, awestruck and dumbfounded. "What genius put an outdoor pool in the Industrial District?" Hans scoffed.

"Are you seriously questioning the thing that just saved our lives?" Anna snarked.

"Yes!" Hans affirmed. "Did the architects not care about smog affecting the bathers?"

"Like...what's smog?" one of the Twi'leks jeered before breaking into a coughing fit.

"Sometimes I really hate this city," Hans groaned.

The Twi'lek tried to soothe her throat with a swig of her beverage. As she lifted her multicolored drink, a blue laser zipped over Hans' head and blasted the glass clean out of her hands. "Sniper!" Hans shouted as the Twi'leks yelped. "Everyone get to cover!" Anna dunked him and Lumpy back underwater as another shot skimmed the surface.

Nel Sabwu had positioned himself on a rooftop several buildings down the street. Frustrated with his misses, the Umbaran adjusted the scope on his IQA-11 and enabled night-vision. He scoured the pool for movement as Jobun called in. "Did you get them?" the Zygerrian snarled.

"Working on it," Nel hissed and focused on his task. He nestled his finger on the trigger and waited as someone resurfaced. Nel smirked and hastily fired. His high-powered laser zipped across the sky and pierced his target head on. "Gotcha," he relished until scorched fluff emerged from his 'kill'. "What?" Anna and Hans had dislodged a portion of the ejected seat's cushion and sent it floating to the surface. Once Nel took the bait, the trio emerged and ran for cover. Their drenched bodies soaked the pool deck until Anna slipped on her own puddle. Nel's next shot came surging over and scorched the towel rack beside her.

"Kriff!" Anna cursed and nervously rolled behind a pool vacuum.

Unwilling to yield, Nel repeatedly fired into the vacuum unit and slowly tore it to pieces. "Come on," Nel urged. "Come on!" He continued to unload round after round as Anna's cover minimized. The Padawan tried to crouch down as much as she could, but she was running out of space.

"Anna!" Hans worried from behind a shower station.

"Just go!" she yelled back. "Take Lumpy and get out of here!"

The Ortolan hugged Hans' leg for comfort but refused to leave Anna behind. As the child looked around, he noticed something dangling overhead. Thick ropes emerged from a balcony whose renovations were still underway. Amidst the rising turmoil around him, Lumpy rose to the challenge. Lumpy fled from Hans' leg and left him yelling, "Kid, wait!" The child did what he believed Krykna-Man would do and swung into action. At least...he thought he could swing.

In Lumpy's creative mind, he imagined grabbing the rope and swinging over to pull Anna to safety. In reality...he grabbed the rope and his weight pulled the partially finished balcony down. Planks and crumbling duracrete came crashing down towards Anna's position. While Lumpy didn't end up grabbing Anna, he did manage to create more cover for her. "Nice one!" the Padawan lauded and lunged for the fallen balcony. Nel took aim in the brief second that Anna emerged. His heart sank when he pulled the trigger and he heard an empty click. Having used all of his charges destroying Anna's initial cover, Nel angrily rushed to reload. While he did so, his targets hurried indoors. By the time Nel had reloaded, police sirens were already blaring throughout the skylanes. "We gotta go," Jobun called. "The boss isn't gonna be happy." The Umbaran sneered and reluctantly retreated from his rooftop.

Anna, Hans, and Lumpy barricaded the doors to the pool deck. They caught their breath and took cover beside the frightened Twi'leks. "Like...is that shooter still out there?" one of them patrons asked.

"No idea," Anna panted.

"So...does that mean my bestie and I can go back out and swim?"

"What?" Anna snapped. "No!"

"Not cool," the Twi'lek pouted. "So like...when's the pool gonna reopen then?"

Hans pulled Anna away and said, "Don't bother engaging. You'll lose brain cells."

Anna's comlink rang and startled her after their whole ordeal. She nervously recovered her device and answered to Mattias' voice. "Padawan," he said. "We heard the explosion while enroute and there's police everywhere! What's going on?"

"We're alright," Anna said. "It was the 'Coruscant Killers'. They staged an ambush on the rooftop." Anna glared at Hans as he chillingly shook his head. "What?" she inquired while staying on the line with Mattias.

"Those were industrial-level magnets," Hans considered. "You don't just move those into position. They have to be stationed there."

Anna's brows furrowed confusedly. "I don't follow, Hans. Wh-...what are you getting at?"

"Don't you see?" Hans continued. "This was a set up. Who told Elsa about that building again?"

Anna's blood ran cold and her breaths hastened. "That would mean..." she uttered. "Oh no." Nausea gripped Anna and her hands trembled uncontrollably. "I need to call Elsa...now!"

Several moments earlier...

Senator Dia Veritaz had just finished fastening a golden bracelet to her wrist. "There," she sighed and looked into her office mirror. "A historic look for a historic vote. Wouldn't you agree, Taline?"

Her Mirialan handmaiden bowed her head and handed Dia an alcoholic beverage. The senator had merely taken a sip when someone rang her door panel. Dia raised a suspicious brow as Taline scurried to answer it. Relief overwhelmed the Mirialan as she said, "Oh Elsa! It's so nice to see you."

Dia nearly choked on her drink. "Elsa?" she blurted and spun from her desk. "What are you doing here, darling? I thought you were going to save that Ortolan's mother."

"Don't worry, Dia." Elsa assured. "It's being handled, just as your vote in the Senate shall be! You chose me to be your personal assistant and I need to uphold those responsibilities."

Dia's eye twitched as she said, "But of course, young one." While widely grinning, Dia eyed her police scanner as it started crackling. "All units," a responder called in. "We have reports of a rooftop explosion in-" She discreetly muted the scanner and beckoned Elsa over. "We're just about to head out," she said. "Taline's fetching my bag and we can go to the Senate chambers."

"Not a problem," Elsa said and killed time peering out the window. She observed the chillingly silent skyline and sighed.

"Not a problem at all," Dia reiterated and practically stumbled over herself.

The ruckus caused Elsa to glance over. She couldn't help but notice Dia's frantic and darting eyes. One of her dark brown curls clung to a glob of sweat rolling down her temple. "Are you...alright?" Elsa worried and sensed Dia's anxiety.

"Oh me?" the senator chuckled. "I'm fine. In fact...better than fine! I couldn't even imagine feeling otherwise."

"Dia," Elsa intoned and the Corellian froze. "It's okay to be nervous...about the vote."

Dia huffed and wiped the sweat from her brow. "The vote. Of course. You're right," she confessed while secretly feeling through her drawer. "It's just so stressful and we don't know what's going to happen."

"It's true," Elsa admitted. "Nothing is set in stone. The future depends on what we make of it." Dia kept yessing the Padawan to death. She nodded repeatedly while continuing to rummage through her drawer. Dia tried to hide her frustration and froze after touching something. "But I believe integrity will see us and the Republic through," Elsa concluded. Dia was about to respond when Elsa's comlink chimed. "Oh! Hold on, Dia." She stepped away to answer the comlink. "Hello?"

"Elsa, stop." Anna interrupted. Her tone was breathy and urgent. It was enough to get Elsa's heart racing and have her leaning into the comlink. "Where are you now?"

Elsa's smile slowly dropped. "I'm with Senator Veritaz at her office. We're just about to leave for the Senate hearing. Why?"

"Get out of there, Elsa!" Anna screamed into the comlink. "She's-"

Elsa was so hunched over and focused on the call, that she didn't even realize what had happened. In the blink of an eye, her comlink was suddenly on the ground and she was stumbling back. A delayed, pulsing pain emanated from her arm and surged through the rest of her body. The fingers on her right hand tingled before losing the sensation of touch altogether. The office swayed around her as she slowly turned her arm over. A thin, yet prominent needle was jutting from her bicep. Elsa's wide and frightened eyes watched as Dia injected the rest of its violet contents into her bloodstream. The senator then stomped on Elsa's comlink while the Padawan stumbled around.

"D-...Dia," Elsa murmured. "Wh-...why?"

"Careful now," the senator warned. "I wouldn't move around so much if I were you." She smirked and gestured to her decorative plant. "After such a high dosage, the Felucian buaroshade's toxins inflict much worse than paralysis. But you're feeling all that now, aren't you? The weakness in your legs. The dryness in your mouth. They say your skin feels like its on fire while your brain turns to mush. Definitely not the prettiest way to go."

In a fit of hysteric rage, Elsa threw her hands forward and called upon the Force. She could barely control anything and instead collapsed at Dia's feet with a whimper. "Oh that is cute," Dia jeered. "You still think you can 'Use the Force' and all that other Jedi nonsense." As Elsa writhed on the floor, she glimpsed a submissive Taline, watching her from against the wall. "This whole time, I've been trying to get you to wake up from our society's dogma and you still haven't learned a damn thing. All the morals to 'fight the good fight'. And where did that get you? No matter how much you try and fight the system, it always pushes back. Don't you get it?" Dia knelt beside the ailing Padawan. "I wasn't joking when I said I was just like you, Elsa. When I began my career as a senator, I thought I could change the Republic. I thought I could abolish corruption and I dare say save the galaxy. But I woke up and learned that corruption never ends. Everyone's in someone else's pocket and the only way to survive is to join the highest bidder."

"You're...one of them," Elsa winced as her forehead started burning up.

Dia simpered. "There's two types of people in this galaxy, Elsa. Sheep and wolves. I grew tired of being the former, so I did what had to be done." She gestured to Taline and cackled. "You know, I almost thought our Mirialan friend here was gonna give me away. But she's a good, loyal slave."

Dia's final word broke Elsa's heart. As if the poison wasn't ravaging her already, she was utterly devastated to learn the truth about Dia's so-called handmaiden. She looked to the Mirialan in sheer disbelief as Taline shut her eyes. Taline, Elsa thought amidst her suffering. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything? I...I could've helped you.

"But it's nothing a few beatings couldn't fix," Dia boasted. "If only I could slap everyone in my life into submission. The world would be a much...quieter place." Elsa thought about the bruise beneath Taline's makeup. "You Jedi are pests enough along with the Anti-Slavery Coalition." Dia scowled in disgust. "Oh yes. We know all about that dying crusade. They've been tracking our movements for months. Some Bogden smugglers sold me Taline as a personal gift. When the ASC caught wind of it, the scumbags actually staged a rescue." Dia couldn't help but chuckle. "But those idiots got more than they bargained for by hiding runaway slaves on Hoth."

Elsa gasped as she recalled her and Yelena's 'rescue mission'. By the Force, she thought. All those bodies...the ravaged tents. Taline was never kidnapped. She was rescued! And we actually sided with-

Dia relished in the anguish of it all. "That day, Taline was reminded of who she was messing with." She clasped her hands together and feigned sadness. "Oh please, won't someone help me? My poor handmaiden's been kidnapped." Her brows furrowed as she taunted Elsa. "You saps ate up my story like a three-course meal."

"G-Goji," Elsa uttered.

"Oh the Trandoshan?" Dia guffawed. "He was a bounty hunter I hired to clean up the mess. The wampas proved to great for us as well, but luckily you and those mindless clones saved our skins. I couldn't trust that lizard to keep my secret, so I twisted things the second I could. After he reunited with me, all I had to do was look scared and that master of yours ended his life. From that moment forward, keeping Taline quiet was easy. All I needed to do was inject her with a lesser dosage of what's pumping through you right now. But to your oblivious selves, she'd just look like she passed out." Dia peered back at Taline and winked. "But now she knows who's boss, right sweetie? She knows to keep her mouth shut and to do as I say." While Taline hung her head, Dia noticed Elsa's eyes starting to water. "Tears? Really?" she scoffed. "Oh come on, Elsa. I taught you better than that." Elsa's reddened eyes listed towards the mocking senator. "It's all part of the game. Just like 'defending Umbaran rights'. Misdirection, my dear. All of that commotion kept the heat off of my boys."

Your boys... Elsa realized. The Coruscant Killers!

"They've been tying up loose ends in this city for a while now," Dia said. "From fools like that Herv Bobak to your pesky little sister." Elsa could hardly speak nor move as Dia laughed. "Right about now, my boys are taking care of her and those pathetic masters of yours, wiping the slate clean."

She didn't hear who I was on comms with, Elsa realized. Anna must've survived her trap then. Good.

"If you're going to die, you should at least know that all of your efforts were in vain." Dia taunted. "I'll keep leading the Ethics Committee and guiding Coruscant with a big old smile. All while my associates and I traffic its prospective merchandise into the slave markets. That's the beauty of the police scanner helping me monitor everything. Chela and her little pageant plans will be burned to the ground. Thanks for telling me where she is, by the way. Your life of justice-seeking was meaningless, Elsa. You're as stupid as Taline here has always been. Just another mindless sheep waiting to be sheered. Or in this case...slaughtered." Tears rolled down the Mirialan's cheeks as she whimpered. "Oh shut up, you little worm," Dia scolded. "Go fetch my bag. We'll dump Elsa's body after the vote tonight. We don't want to be late." Dia's harsh words had Taline trembling. Although she continued to cry, she slowly clenched her fists.

Nausea, fatigue, and dehydration overwhelmed Elsa. She started hyperventilating and randomly convulsing on the floor. "That's it," Dia said. "Stop trying to fight it. It'll hurt way less if you relax. Goodbye, darling Jedi. It really was nice working with you."

Suddenly, Dia heard a power cell energize behind her. She raised a brow and turned to see Taline standing next to her desk. One of Dia's drawers was opened and her personal pistol was in Taline's hands. Dia stared down the barrel of her DL-44 heavy blaster and whispered, "Taline...just what do you think you're doing?" The Mirialan's nostrils flared as she tightly gripped the blaster. "Taline," Dia demanded. "Listen to me..."

"No!" the young woman snapped and jabbed the pistol at her. "You listen! I'm done being y-...your slave!"

"No you're not," Dia calmly refuted. "Remember what happened the last time you said that? All your Coalition heroes died. They died, Taline...because you decided to run away."

"That's not true," Taline gulped. "You're lying!"

"Am I?" Dia proposed and stepped closer.

"Stay back!" Taline warned and jabbed the gun again. "Or I'll-"

"You'll what?" Dia snarked and took another step forward. "What exactly is your plan here, skug? Your Jedi friend is done for. It's just you and I. Your pea-sized brain couldn't even comprehend the amount of influence I have out here. You couldn't speak out against me if you tried. So what? Are you gonna shoot me?" Dia chuckled and came closer. "Of course you won't. Because sheep never do. They're meant for sheering."

"Shut up," Taline sobbed as the weapon trembled in her hands.

"You're shaking," Dia jeered. "Because you're nothing. And without me, you'll just go back to being nothing."

"Shut up!" Taline screamed and jabbed the pistol. By doing so at such a close range, she fell right into Dia's trap. Dia grabbed the gun and shoved Taline's arm upward. Much to the senator's surprise, the Mirialan refused to let go. The two wrestled for the gun while Elsa rolled on the floor. The Padawan peered up and observed the women as clashing blurs in her tainted vision. Dia kneed Taline to force her into submission. Out of desperation, Taline fired the DL-44 and its stray shot blasted the window beside them. Glass exploded across the office and both combatants fell over. With everyone gathered in the Senate chambers for voting, it would be difficult to hear the struggle upstairs.

Dia growled at the wrinkles in her outfit and brushed off shards of glass. "It looks like I need to beat some manners into you all over again," she snarled. The Mirialan braced as Dia kicked her in the stomach. Powerful winds blew contents from the senator's desk across the room. Dia relished in her high-pitched wails and dug her heel into the Mirialan. Thinking quickly, Taline grabbed a glass shard from the broken window and swiped it across Dia's leg. The senator hissed and staggered back in retaliation. Taline eyed the fallen blaster and hurriedly crawled for it. She was nearly to it when Dia toppled her buaroshade over. Taline gasped as the tall plant's toxic leaves formed a wall to separate her from the weapon. Dia smirked and went for the firearm herself. Before she could grab it, Taline ripped the police scanner from its pedestal and hurled it at her.

The device struck Dia's torso and went smashing to the floor. While Dia was recovering, Taline seized the opportunity to run around the buaroshade and go for the gun. The DL-44 was within Taline's reach when Dia furiously wrapped her arms around her waist. With a savage huff, Dia threw the Mirialan against the floor like a wrestler. Taline tried to crawl away, but her foe wasn't far behind. "Who do you think you are, you little tramp?" Dia hissed and yanked Taline back by her hair. The Mirialan screeched as Dia dug her nails in to increase the pain. "Did you seriously think you ever stood a chance?" Dia put all of her weight on Taline and wrapped her fingers around her throat. The Mirialan wheezed and flailed as Dia strangled her.


Mattias' speeder was packed as his group raced across Coruscant. "Anything?" he worried while dodging speeders.

Anna was pressed against her seat next to Hans and Lumpy. The stench of their chlorinated robes was overwhelming. "Nothing!" Anna hollered after trying to call Elsa again. "The connection is completely down."

"Elsa's told me where Senator Veritaz's office is," Yelena said. "Third floor and furthest to the left."

"Contact Commander Fox," Mattias suggested.

"He's stationed at the central power grid tonight," Hans answered.

"I don't know how soon we can get to Elsa," Anna said while dialing on her communicator. "I'm calling in the Deathchasers."


Elsa was utterly helpless as Taline endured Dia's wrath. The Mirialan's legs twitched and flailed while Dia tightened her grip. A sadistic grin emerged on the senator's lips as she deprived Taline of all oxygen. "Live as nothing," Dia jeered. "Die as nothing."

Taline's eyes rolled back as she started losing consciousness. Her weary hand dragged across the ravaged floor until it touched a smooth handle of sorts. In those moments, Taline summoned what strength remained and lifted Dia's water pitcher. With a wild swing, she slammed the steel pitcher against Dia's face. The impact was enough to get her assailant off of her and Taline gasped for air. Although she was coughing, she refused to back down and went on the offensive. Dia was only able to briefly rub her temple before she saw Taline looming over her.

With gritted teeth and a savage look in her eyes, Taline was anything but weak. "You think I'm nothing?" she growled and struck Dia with the pitcher. "Who cares what you think?" She hit Dia so hard that the pitcher went flying out of her hands. Fueled by anger and adrenaline, Taline hauled Dia onto her desk and repeatedly punched her. "How do you like being struck down? You vile-" Taline socked her across the jaw. "-wicked-" Taline backhanded Dia while holding her in place. "-sleemo!" She delivered a punch hard enough to break Dia's nose on impact. As the senator remained dazed and weary on the desk, Taline recovered the pistol. She returned and pressed it to Dia's forehead.

Senator Veritaz was an absolute mess. Her disheveled locks were like serpents coiling and blowing in the wind. Blood seeped from her broken nose and trickled across her bludgeoned, bruised face. Despite her horrendous state, Dia started laughing. She only cackled harder when Taline aimed the gun at her head. "You still can't do it...can you?" she taunted.

Taline scowled. "You worthless-"

"Oh call me all the names you want," Dia mocked. "It doesn't change the truth. You're a coward, Taline, and you always will be. You won't pull the trigger. You don't have it in you!" As Taline furiously dug the pistol into Dia's forehead, the senator began to whimper.

"Shut up!" Taline yelled. "You want to mock others for crying but then you go ahead and-"

Taline suddenly realized why Dia had started 'weeping'. Footsteps echoed from the hall and a breaching explosive blasted down the door. Sergeant Blazer, Lieutenant Sparx, and Speedy charged in with their weapons drawn. "Galactic Republic!" Blazer roared. The Deathchasers quickly tried to assess the situation.

"Help!" Dia screamed louder than all others. "I tried to stop her but it all happened so quickly!" Her pleas were hoarse and nasally as her broken nose bled.

"She's lying!" Taline retorted while keeping the blaster on her.

"Ma'am," Blazer urged and aimed his pistol at Taline. "We'll sort this out...but I need you to drop the weapon."

"We're in," Sparx called to the Jedi via comlink. "But things may be more complicated then we thought."

"I should've known she was unstable," Dia pretended to weep. "She poisoned Elsa...poor Elsa."

"Shut up!" Taline growled and pressed the gun harder against Dia's head.

The gesture had Blazer and Speedy moving to intervene. "Woah woah!" the sergeant barked. "I'm not gonna ask again. Ma'am! Drop the damn weapon!"

"I'm innocent!" Taline screamed as her eyes swelled with tears. "She's trying to trick you."

"If what you're saying is true-" Speedy proposed. "-just lower the gun and we'll sort this out."

As the standstill continued, Sparx cradled Elsa in his arms. "Padawan Dellian," he said. "Can you hear me?" Elsa could hardly speak or make eye contact. She collapsed against his chest and he held her close. "She's in really bad shape," Sparx reported.

"She's been poisoned," Dia intoned. "This horrible girl deceived us all."

"It's...not me," Taline wept. "Please! Believe me!" Dia kept an eye on the Miralan's hand. Her grip on the gun started to loosen as she broke down.

"Always the quiet ones," Dia said. "Can't trust them."

In that instant...Anna, Hans, Yelena, Mattias, and Lumpy arrived at the scene. "What the hell is going on?" Anna blurted upon seeing the destroyed office.

"Padawan!" Yelena shrieked at her fallen apprentice.

Dia looked at the surviving group in disbelief and accidentally uttered, "Impossible." Her comment drew all eyes to her as she sneered.

Mattias, Anna, and Hans activated their lightsabers as her true intentions were revealed. "In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic," Mattias began. "You are under arrest, senator."

A thunderous boom sounded from beyond the broken window. It was a blast like no other, one which shook the very city to its core and even had Dia directing her head outside. A powerful shockwave came rippling forward as some unseen attack triggered a citywide blackout. Dia used the brief distraction to snatch the pistol from Taline. She elbowed the Mirialan into a headlock and pulled her close. Anna charged forward, only to feel like she was reliving the Nar Shadaa incident all over again.

"Don't even think about it!" Dia hissed and aimed the pistol at Taline's head. "I'll blast her! Damn it, I will!" While keeping Taline hostage, Dia backed around and out of her office.

"Stay with Elsa and the Ortolan!" Mattias told Yelena and Sparx. "The rest of you...on me! Keep the senator in your sights!"

The Jedi and the Deathchasers traversed the darkened halls. The Senate Building's scarlet, emergency lights and warning sirens only made things more disturbing. "What was that explosion?" Blazer wondered.

"No idea," Anna said.

"Those sirens mean the city's under attack," Hans mentioned. "It's gonna be a long night."

"All of you, quiet!" Mattias scolded and pointed his blade towards Dia. "Release the Mirialan."

"Not on your life," Dia countered. "Now back up!" Her pursuers were forced to cautiously oblige as Dia dragged Taline down a hall. "I don't know what's going on, but tonight must be my lucky night," she whispered to Taline.

The Mirialan grimaced at her whispers and tried to wriggle free. Anna and her companions slowly advanced, but a new obstacle had emerged. The ensuing blackout had caused the Senate chambers to empty as crowds of panicking senators flooded the halls. Dia then shoved Taline at the Jedi and escaped into the crowd. No matter how much Anna and her group yelled, they couldn't command order amidst the mass hysteria. Meanwhile, Dia thrived betwixt the panic. She blended in between fleeing senators and even ripped one's ceremonial cape off. She flung it over her head like a cowl to disguise herself further. After pressing an alert on her secret communicator, Dia raised her hands like some demented messiah. Bruised and tired, it was as if Dia was just feeding off the chaos around her. While her pursuers were left to scramble and pick up the pieces, she easily walked out from the front door. Screams reverberated from all around her as she stepped out into the darkness.

As sirens continued to blare, a jet black speeder emerged from the shadows. Jobun opened the door and beckoned her inside. "Everything's going to hell, boss," he explained. "Get in!"

Dia hurriedly slid into the seat beside the Zygerrian. She slammed the doors shut as the speeder took off into the night. "They're saying the power grid's been bombed," Nel said from the driver's seat. "It looks like a Separatist attack."

"I never thought I'd say this...but thank you, Count Dooku." Dia jested and reclined in her seat.

"The trap failed," Jobun said.

Dia shot him a deathly glare. "Really? I couldn't tell." She clenched her bloodied, broken nose and peered out the window. She could see sporadic explosions erupting across the cityscape, all resulting from the initial bombing.

"Boss," Nel said. "What's our next move?"

"We still have a mess to clean up," Dia murmured. "Unlike me, my master will not be so forgiving about repetitive failure. But like everything else in my career...if I wanted it done right, I should've done it myself. It feels like I'm the only competent one around her anyway."

There was a long pause until the Umbaran followed up with her. "So...our next move is?"

Dia huffed and death-gripped her DL-44. "We need to capitalize on Coruscant's disarray while this blackout is in effect. Fly us to the Bobak estate. It's time to put an end to Chela Tuzi and her Coalition once and for all."

"What about our contact?" Jobun inquired.

"The Jedi knows the plan," Dia replied. As Nel piloted the speeder towards Herv Bobak's manor, Dia basked in the madness of it all. She observed her bloodied reflection in the window and grinned insidiously as flames swirled around it. "Sometimes, I really do love this city," she said.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note:Thank you so much for reading this week's explosive installment and first part of the Season: 2 Finale! I am so excited to finally share all of this with you. It has been so hard to not spoil it as I have been building up towards it since the very beginning of the season. (Fun fact: Buaroshade is first mentioned by Jedi Master Savil when they are hiding from the probe droid on Felucia!) But seriously, thank you for all of your love and support on this ongoing journey. It means so much to hear that you're enjoying the longest fanfic I've ever written. It's an honor to entertain you all and now it's time to hype up for next week!

*John Williams' "Escape from Cloud City" plays*

You've embarked on this journey for 59 chapters. Now...brace yourself for the epic conclusion of "The Frozen Force: Season 2". Next Friday, Coruscant has descended into chaos and a new enemy has everyone's heads turning. But while sinister Senator Dia Veritaz continues her rampage, a race begins to save Elsa's life from the buaroshade toxin. It's a battle for the truth! A test of love and loss! Everything is coming full circle and it's all happening RIGHT HERE. Dearest readers, your season finale is right around the corner. Who will rise? Who shall fall? Find out next time on "The Frozen Force"!

Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!

~ Michael