Author's Note: Salutations and Happy Frozen Force Friday! I want to thank you all for joining me on this incredible adventure. Together, we've reached an amazing goal! As of last week's Season:3 Premiere, "The Frozen Force" is now my most viewed story with over 17,000 views. THANK YOU! I appreciate you all very much and hope you enjoy today's installment!
Long Live Imagination
~ Michael
Chapter: 62 A Daring Rescue
"Success is a privilege. Hubris is a choice."
Showdown on Carlac! Jedi Knights Anna and Elsa Dellian clashed with members of the heinous crime syndicate, Crimson Dawn. Despite their best efforts, each criminal mastermind has escaped into the unknown. Now, the Jedi and their clones must contend with a Republic admiral like no other...
The Guardian was a Venator-class star destroyer like no other. Outfitted with enhanced scanning and communication capabilities, the warship served as a headquarters for Admiral Nuri. As a master analyst and tactician, Nuri rose through the ranks and was given a prominent role in the Republic's Special and Covert Ops Division. She'd end up spending more time in space than she ever spent on a planet's surface. Nuri's title as admiral became a calling restricted to her crew...and others came to know her as "The Watcher." The galaxy was hers to survey and Separatists were lurking around every corner. Watcher was tasked with finding and neutralizing threats to the Republic on a grandiose scale. Advanced scopes and datamaps provided constant feedback to her center of operations. While there were those in the Republic who viewed Watcher's invasions of privacy as unethical, many of her actions went unreported for the 'safety of the galaxy'. Watcher had extensive oversight...which included hearing Anna Dellian's rambling from down the corridor.
"Anna," Elsa intoned as the siblings entered Watcher's chambers. "Let's just take a moment to collect our thoughts."
"Oh my thoughts are collected plenty," Anna growled while the clones trailed behind. She marched up to Watcher and jabbed an accusatory, gloved finger at her. "What the hell was that about?"
Watcher's thin, dirty-blonde brow barely twitched. "Are you referring to the rescue?" she responded nonchalantly.
Anna looked like she was about to rip her hair out. "Oh, you mean that convenient...last second sweep in? Thanks for the backup there!"
"You're welcome," Watcher murmured and gestured to several holomaps. "Anyway-"
"Oh no," Anna snapped. "Not 'anyway'..."
"Anna-" Elsa groaned and stressfully pinched the bridge of her nose.
"No, sis." Anna refuted. "You might be willing to let this slide, but I'm not." She returned her focus to Watcher and said, "You never had any faith in us. You never believed in this operation from the start."
Watcher huffed and brushed a curly, blonde strand away from her eyes. "There were reports of Crimson Dawn activity in the sector," she said. "Reports."
"Which we proved were real," Anna asserted. She rolled her eyes and groaned frustratedly. "This is why we should've gone with my plan, Elsa. I wanted to organize a coordinated strike to blast in there and take them all by surprise. We could've incapacitated them-"
"Or killed them," Elsa grieved. "Such an attack would've been too risky. Plus we found out valuable information."
"Well that's just fantastic," Anna muttered. "They all got away, but at least you got to mingle and play dress-up." She gestured to Elsa's stained gown and scoffed. "Meanwhile, what good is the cavalry if it's just gonna show up late to the party?" Anna glared at Watcher. "Maybe she's like Senator Veritaz and was buying her Crimson Dawn buddies time to escape."
It was as if Watcher had channeled all of her rage into one fist without shifting the rest of her body. She was able to maintain her regal posture and still slam her fist on the holotable before them. "Jedi Knight or not," she asserted. "No one talks to me like that on my own ship. How dare you even accuse me of consorting with that syndicate swine. The Republic, which I have sworn undying loyalty to, has complete access to my records. I live on this ship and would gladly take my life should Chancellor Palpatine command me to do so."
Holy kriff, Anna thought to herself. She's not a traitor. She's just insane.
After her outburst, Watcher recollected herself and cleared her throat. "Apologies," she uttered. "But an insult to my loyalty is an insult to our Republic. And I don't take those lightly. Look...you two act as though you solely carry out the will of the Republic, but it just isn't so." She noticed their confused expressions and sighed. "You're relatively new Jedi Knights, aren't you?" Their silence was enough of an answer and she nodded. "Everything we are...all that we do, is based on the interests of those in charge. However, you must choose whom you'll be taking orders from."
"Now hold on," Anna retorted. "We're not Padawans anymore. We stopped taking orders the moment we became knights."
"So what?" Watcher countered. "Now you're the queen of everything like there aren't hundreds of other knights dashing about? You aren't some renegade warriors free of all consequences and boundaries now. We all report to someone and it's time for you to choose. Will you serve the Grand Army of the Republic or will you act under your Jedi Council?" Watcher glared at Anna's plastoid armor and likened it to the clones behind her. "By the looks of your attire, I'd say you've already made up your mind." With a stern stare and firm nod, Watcher straightened her cap and marched off. She left the sisters in silence to ponder over her words.
"This system is more complex than you're making it out to be," Elsa said while watching Anna pace about. "I've briefed Watcher on the identities of each Crimson Dawn member. If Dryden Vos or any of his minions resurface-"
"If," Anna muttered and sighed heavily. "We had them, Elsa. We had them all right there. Now they'll likely go into hiding for Force knows how long. They'll be extra cautious and more people will get hurt."
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry." Elsa confessed. "I understand the frustration of their escape, but we will prevail."
"The question is when," Anna griped.
"I leave that to the will of the Force," her sister affirmed.
"Then I suppose you've made your decision then?"
Elsa nodded dutifully. "I'm returning to Coruscant. As a knight of the Order, I must listen to the will of the council."
Anna huffed. "Now hold on. This whole operation was your idea. I thought you wanted to bring an end to corruption across the galaxy. This was the start of your crusade!"
"But that's just it, Anna." Elsa retorted. "My crusade. Not the Jedi Order's. Whether I wanted to see it or not, I was acting on my emotions. When Senator Veritaz betrayed and almost killed me...when I saw what she'd done to Taline...I felt like I had to take a stand."
"And we started to," Anna asserted.
"But where will this self-paved path lead us?" Elsa worried. "There's a freedom that comes with knighthood, but also a responsibility. We must respect the balance between both. Know thyself," Elsa whispered. "I have yet to master control over my abilities and emotions. Facilier was able to manipulate me, for I am still struggling with the murder I committed."
"For the love of...It was self defense!" Anna snapped.
"I'm glad you think so," Elsa replied. "I have no idea how many lives you took in that compound alone and how you can still find sleep tonight. How you don't see the eyes of the person whom you've obliterated from existence."
Anna rolled her eyes and sighed. "You know what? You're right. We may both be Jedi Knights, but you're not cut out for the frontlines. I say that as your sister and because I care about you. Maybe you are better off at the temple."
"I take it you're staying then?" Elsa inquired.
"We've got a war to win," Anna replied while tightening a vambrace. "Tell Mattias I say hi."
"I shall," Elsa said. "But sister..." She placed a bare hand on Anna's armored shoulder and said, "Make sure you come back and tell him yourself too."
Anna simpered and humored her sister with a "May the Force be with you, Elsa."
"And with you," she said before leaving with Commander Frost.
From the moment Elsa departed, Anna's smile disappeared. A set of firm stomps marched into the Guardian's communication chamber. Watcher turned to see Anna leading her trio of clones in a tightly-packed formation. Once they were close enough, the group stood at attention and saluted in unison. The scarlet markings on their armor blended together, making them look like a single entity. Anna and Blazer's command kamas swayed from their hips as she announced, "Deathchasers reporting for duty, ma'am."
Watcher's bright glare teemed with both astonishment and enticement. "Well then, General Dellian," she said. "Allow me to fully welcome you aboard the Guardian: the Republic's eyes and ears. Its sensors are expanding each and every month, listening for encrypted signals across the stars. Tell me, General Dellian...are you willing to do whatever it takes to secure freedom for our Republic and fight Separatist tyranny?"
"Always," Anna answered without a moment's delay.
Watcher nodded. "Then we'll get along just fine, soldier," she said and activated the nearby holotable. Anna's eyes widened as clusters of data flooded the projector. "Welcome to Central Command. We are the Republic's first and last line of defense against the scourges of this galaxy. Threats don't even make it past us. All the suits back home get to sleep safe in their beds because of the work we put in. This is the task Chancellor Palpatine has entrusted to me and I hold it with honor."
"So I take it we'll be using this Venator's scanners to track down Crimson Dawn?" Anna said.
"Of course not," Watcher scoffed. "You will engage Crimson Dawn if and when I tell you to. Right now, you've sent those rodents on the run and they pose no threat to the Republic. I have another assignment for your team." Watcher swiped through the holograms until several jagged images appeared. "Polis Massa," she defined. "An asteroid field in the Subterrel Sector and also home to one of our Special Weapons Group facilities." Anna and her clones leaned in as Watcher expanded an image of the asteroid base. "We've received a distress signal from the lieutenant commander stationed there. He said they'd come under attack by insurgents."
"Separatists?" Anna asked.
"Doubtful," Watcher said. "The attacks were swift and they took hostages. Once word got out about the situation, the nearest Republic unit was contacted to engage...only their signal was intercepted by the Separatists, who also want to get their hands on that Special Weapons intel."
Anna's brows furrowed as she spoke up. "So some idiots raided a Republic installation and took hostages, but now they're stuck because the Republic and the Separatists are also fighting for said hostages?" Watcher nodded and Anna groaned. "I hate hostage situations."
"Time is of the essence," Watcher intoned. "General Dellian, your team must infiltrate the installation and free our people. Intel is our priority, so all hostiles are expendable. I'll provide more details once you reach Polis Massa. Link up with the 501st Legion upon arrival and get the job done. Dismissed!"
"Let's move it out, brothers." Anna said and marched off with the Deathchasers.
"Did she say 501st?" Blazer grumbled.
"Affirmative," Sparx concurred.
"Hey Sarge, didn't you punch someone from the 501st?" Speedy quipped.
The morning sun glistened into the Jedi Temple. Delicate rays of sunshine bathed a group of kneeling younglings in a warm and shimmering glow. Their calm, mostly-attentive faces were a testament to the diversity of the Jedi and reaches of the Force. From the eager little Twi'lek in the front row to the drowsy Ithorian in the back, they were all bound through a quest for knowledge. Some of the young minds whispered to one another while other peers shushed them.
"Simmer down, students," an elderly woman called from the front of the chamber. "Quiet down and concentrate. Close your eyes...that means you too, Petro." A human boy gulped while his friends giggled. "Focus on the living Force around you," the master said. "On the fluidity of life in each of your breaths." A smile formed on the master's lips as she exhaled. Her long, white braids trailed behind her and stretched across her meditation mat. "Search for your center and embrace the calmness swirling within. Each and every one of us can hold on to this peace for as long as we like. We need only remain focused on who we are."
"Master Yelena?" a child beckoned from the first row.
The master kept her concentration and gently raised a brow. "Yes, youngling Zatt?"
"Who are we?" The wide-eyed Nautolan asked.
"What do you mean?" Yelena responded. "You are Jedi."
"But you said to focus on who we are," Zatt persisted. "Like who I am right now?"
"Yes," Yelena intoned and reeled her class back in before losing them. "Sink into your focus. Breathe deeply and-"
"Master Yelena?" that same voice asked again.
Yelena pursed her lips and cautiously spoke through a wobbly smile. "Yes youngling Zatt?"
"What if a Jedi was a shapeshifter?" he asked and it was enough to snap Yelena out of meditation.
"What?" she blurted.
"Does a shapeshifting Jedi know who they are? How would they find their center?"
Yelena grumbled. "Well-"
"Or what if a Jedi has two heads?" Zatt persisted. "Do they have two identities or do they share one? How do they know who they are?"
His barrage of questions had the rest of the class breaking concentration and looking to Yelena for answers. So many eager, yet overwhelming stares honed in on her as she tried to answer earnestly. She was both startled and relieved when a green lightsaber ignited in the doorway. Wonder surged over the awestruck younglings as they looked upon the pulsing blade.
"Good morning, kids!" its wielder declared.
"Good morning, Master Mattias!" they cheered in somewhat unison.
He might've had greying patches in his neatly-trimmed hair, but Mattias acted like he was still in his twenties. A joyous grin emerged beneath his beard while he gave his saber a twirl. "Who wants to see a kyber crystal?" he asked and was met with wild hollers. Mattias deactivated his blade and took a seat across from the younglings. "Scooch in," he said. "There's room for everyone!"
Mattias glanced at Yelena, who was sighing in relief and mouthing the words "Thank you."
"Now then," Mattias began and swiveled his hilt open with the Force.
As he did so, an enthusiastic Twi'lek pointed towards a cylindrical, sharp-tipped pack. "Is that the crystal?" she asked.
Mattias chuckled. "Good guess, but this here is the diatium power cell. Just above it is the crystal chamber." He noticed the child's discouragement and tapped her shoulder. "But don't be so hard on yourself. The power cell is just as important. Both it and the crystal are essential to power the blade. The diatium provides an incredible and naturally recharging power supply. When balanced properly, of course."
"When do we get our own lightsabers, Master Mattias?" Petro asked.
Mattias looked to all of the youngling clans in the chamber and smiled softly. If he tried hard enough, he could envision Anna as a youngling sitting amongst her peers. "You've got a ways to go," Mattias replied and the children groaned. "Hey, why so mopey? I know you're all excited to become Jedi Knights and Masters, but I'll let you in on a secret." He built up anticipation by whispering and got the younglings to lean in. "You'll be grown ups before you know it, so enjoy your time as kids! Have fun learning! Don't rush it."
"Okay but-" Petro mumbled. "About that lightsaber..."
Mattias chuckled to himself and thought. By the Force...to be young again.
Yelena sat there, shaking her head as Mattias was able to captivate the class. With an energetic flair to guide him, the lecture felt like anything but. As the session came to a close, he and Yelena watched the younglings pour out of the chamber. Like scampering nunas, the young pupils returned to their respective clan instructors and ventured down separate halls.
"That was eventful," Mattias huffed.
"Please," Yelena scoffed. "You had them eating out of your palms. The question is, did they actually learn anything?"
"Of course they did," Mattias asserted. "Kids that age are only going to pay attention if you make learning fun. I certainly would've enjoyed my time as a Padawan more if I'd learned to have fun. That's why I changed things up with Anna."
"So I saw," Yelena said. "Well you certainly had a better grip over those younglings than I did. I just hope they remember the importance of concentration." There was a brief pause before Yelena turned and said, "Are you looking into mentoring?"
"As in taking another Padawan?" Mattias blurted.
"Or even instructing a class," Yelena mentioned. "Kids love you."
"Kids can love me all they want," Mattias began. "It doesn't mean I want to be teaching classes."
"You're something else," Yelena griped and nudged him.
"Thank you kindly," he teased.
"Well what are you going to do with all of this spare time?" Yelena asked. "The Jedi Order still needs us. Two able-bodied, student-less masters..."
"I'll find something," Mattias assured. "So you can get off of my back, Mom."
Yelena glared at him until a familiar figure appeared down the corridor. A set of new, dark blue robes trailed down to the floor. Teal boots peaked out from beneath the Jedi Knight's bold hem. Gone was her Padawan braid and flowing hair. Elsa Dellian kept her tresses neatly tied in a bun as she bowed before the masters.
"Elsa," Yelena greeted and returned a bow.
"I don't know whether to be happy or worried about your return," Mattias added. "Where's Anna? I swear if she's been captured again-"
"She's fine don't worry," Elsa assured. "Our mission to Carlac didn't go as planned. Crimson Dawn's elites escaped and Anna chose to aid in the war effort. Rather than let my hubris get the better of me, I chose to return here and serve the council."
"I'd expect nothing less from Anna," Mattias lauded. "Her dedication to the Republic is commendable. I just hope I can tell her that in person soon."
Before Mattias could depart, Elsa stopped him and blurted, "She said 'Hi' by the way!" He nodded to her and she sighed.
"I'm sorry to hear about the mission going south," Yelena said. "I think it's very mature of you to choose the council over your own desires though. They won't let you down."
Elsa hung her head and observed Coruscant's cityscape from the window. "But what if I let them down?" she asked. "No matter how hard I try to put it behind me, I murdered a man shortly before being knighted. I feel like a hypocrite to the Jedi doctrine and believe I'm unworthy of knighthood."
"Well that's just nonsense," Yelena asserted. "You defended the Republic by all and any means. Udo Klee made his choice to betray the Jedi."
"And I made the choice to kill him," Elsa whispered.
Yelena huffed and rolled her eyes. "Okay. So you did. Now what? Are you going to wallow for the rest of your life? Are you going to mourn your enemy's death and stop being a Jedi?"
"I don't know," Elsa admitted. "Maybe I need to search for answers elsewhere. Aren perhaps." Yelena's eyes widened when Elsa brought up her homeworld. "Maybe Aren can help me better overcome this sense of unworthiness and help me find where I belong."
"Elsa," Yelena intoned. "While you are a Jedi Knight now, the answers you seek do not reside on Aren. The Jedi Order...this temple is your home. All of the answers you seek are within these walls. Trust in the Force and focus on the will of the council. Plus, don't you still need to pick your path of study?"
Elsa gasped. "You're right, Mast-...erhm...Yelena. I'm getting ahead of myself again. I returned so I could focus on what the council needs of me here. As for a path of study-" Elsa smiled softly. "-I already know what to choose."
The Legacy was a true testament to its name. The reforged, Old Republic, Hammerhead-class cruiser warped through the indigo vortex of hyperspace. As a recent graduate from the Republic Naval Academy, Admiral Ozwon Shang had his own legacy to live up to. The young official presided over his command bridge just as Anna and her team arrived.
"Admiral Shang," the knight greeted. "What's our situation?"
"We're on course for Polis Massa," Shang replied. "All is proceeding as planned."
"Sir!" a clone officer called from one of the lower dashboards. "Urgent transmission from the Resolute."
"General Skywalker's flagship?" Shang realized. "Put them through." He straightened his posture and made sure his uniform looked presentable.
Anna shook her head at Shang's preening until a hologram projected Admiral Wullf Yularen. "Admiral Shang," Yularen greeted. "You're looking well."
"Admiral Yularen," Shang saluted. "How can we be of service?"
"Watcher has informed me that you have a team embarking on the rescue mission," he said.
"Affirmative," Shang nodded. "I understand the Separatists also want the hostages."
"We're keeping them back but yes," Yularen replied. "Once you arrive, General Skywalker and Commander Tano will provide an escort behind enemy lines."
"Understood," Shang said. "We-...I won't let you down." Before ending the transmission, Shang couldn't help but ask. "Admiral Yularen, has there been any identification on the insurgents yet?"
"I'm afraid not," Yularen answered. "Why?"
"It doesn't matter," Shang sighed. "We'll be dropping out of hyperspace soon."
Anna noticed Shang's concern as he ended the call and ascended to his platform. "What's on your mind, kid?"
"First of all, I'm older than you." Shang retorted. "And secondly, please stay out of my head."
"Admiral," Anna began. "I barely know what's going on in my head sometimes. The last thing I want to do is go Force-snooping in yours. I just know a troubled person when I see one."
Shang huffed. "I'm wondering if these insurgents could be the Death Watch," he confessed. "It wouldn't be the first time they've struck a Republic target."
Anna winced at his words and recalled what Mattias had told her. A Death Watch Mandalorian was responsible for a Venator bombing that killed Shang's father. She patted his back until he stiffened and averted his eyes. "Well hey," she said. "If I see any Death Watch goons down there, I'll make sure to whoop'em extra hard for you."
Shang faintly smiled until a series of rapid chimes reverberated throughout the bridge. "We're coming out of lightspeed," the admiral warned. "Battle stations."
"This is it, Deathchasers!" Anna beckoned. "Lock and load!"
From the moment the Legacy thundered out of hyperspace, the team was immediately thrown into an all-out space battle. Vulture droids clashed with Republic torrent fighters while Venators hovered alongside dreadnoughts. "Into the chaos we go," Shang grumbled before yelling to his officers. "Maximize thrusters! Full speed ahead!" The Hammerhead soared through the stars as stray asteroids scraped against its hull. "Balance power to shields," Shang ordered. "We can't rescue anyone without a functioning ship."
"This is Watcher," a voice chimed in over the dashboard. "You'll find the installation on the elongated asteroid seen here. I'm uploading a holomap to your ship now."
Shang observed their target location amidst the hazardous asteroid field. "Take us just under the dreadnoughts," he commanded. "It's the only way to avoid the greater asteroid clusters."
"If you lean towards Separatist territory, you know they'll send fighters after us." Anna griped.
"That's what the escorts are for," Shang assured more so for himself. "Prep artillery just in case," he added.
Surely enough, the nearby dreadnoughts sent a swarm of vulture droids darting towards the Legacy. With limited laser cannon range, the shields would only protect them for so long. Despite their daunting formation, the droids soon dispersed as a series of blue lasers shredded through them.
A pair of triangular, Delta 7 Jedi starfighters rocketed across the Legacy's viewports. Yellow and crimson hulls lay juxtaposed against one another as a pilot contacted the bridge. "This is General Skywalker," Anakin reported. "We've got your back, Legacy."
"Clearing you a path now," Ahsoka Tano called from the adjacent fighter. "I bet I can scrap more of these fighters than you can, Skyguy."
"Oh it's on now, Snips," he quipped as they engaged the enemy.
Blasted ships spiraled about as the Legacy remained steadfast. "Stay on target," Shang asserted while observing a monitor. "The facility is just around this asteroid."
Although Anakin and Ahsoka were decimating incoming droids, they didn't expect another dreadnought to be in such close proximity. "Legacy!" Anakin called. "Take evasive action. We'll try and draw that warship's fire."
"There's no time," Shang countered. "We have a limited window before those in the facility realize a strike team has been sent."
"Well a stealthy landing just won't be possible," Ahsoka said while dodging laserfire. "The zone's too hot!"
Shang clenched a fist and tried to formulate a different strategy. He imagined how taking too much damage would cause them to abandon ship, and that thought prompted a curious plan. "The escape pods," he proposed.
"Admiral?" Anna choked.
"We'll get you in close and angle the ship accordingly," Shang explained. "Once in range, take your team and pilot an escape pod down to the facility."
"That just might be crazy enough to work," Lieutenant Sparx considered.
"Prep your team," Shang told Anna. "We're only going to get one shot at this."
As Anna and her Deathchasers entered an escape pod, a thought dawned upon Speedy. "So once we land near the facility-" he considered. "-we'll be cut off from receiving backup."
"As if we were going to need backup anyway," Blazer jested and sealed them in.
"We're in position, Admiral Shang." Anna called via comlink.
"Wait for my signal," Shang replied as the Legacy glided across an asteroid. "Start pivoting!" he told his crew. He waited until the ship's pod ports were angled towards the facility. "Now, Dellian!"
Anna slammed her fist on the launch trigger and propelled their escape pod out of the Legacy. Blazer, Anna, and Speedy were all hurled against the back wall while Sparx shook his head. "This is why we buckle up," he lectured and piloted them onward. The group held on as Sparx weaved between incoming asteroids. "We're coming in too fast!" he grunted and pulled up on the controls. "Brace!" The others hastily buckled in before their pod crashed into a thick layer of silicate rock. "Everyone alright?" Sparx asked while catching his breath.
"Honestly," Anna griped. "Has anyone successfully landed an escape pod?"
"I think it's more fun to crash them," Speedy concluded.
"Escape pods and crashes just go together," Blazer said. "Like clankers and my blaster bolts."
"Reel it in, brothers." Anna said. She fastened a set of turquoise goggles and a sleek oxygen mask to her face. "Let's get this done."
"This is Commander Tano to Legacy," Ahsoka reported. "I have a visual on the downed pod. They made it and I'm returning to the fight."
"Think you can wrap things up with the rest of the fleet, Padawan?" Anakin asked.
The Togruta flashed a look of concern from her cockpit. "Sure I can but...what's going on?" she inquired.
"Yularen just sent me a transmission from Obi-wan," Anakin said. "The Separatists are attacking Sullust and naturally...he needs assistance. I'm taking the Resolute to aid Obi-wan's fleet. Stay here and help General Dellian in any way that you can."
As the Jedi starfighters dispersed, Anna and her team advanced towards the facility below. She and the Deathchasers had to get used to nimbly hopping across a zero gravity surface. They approached one of the main doors until a set of footsteps had them hiding. "It was probably debris from the battle," a man hollered.
"Hell of a crash to just be debris," another said.
The doors opened and a silver-helmeted insurgent stepped outside. As soon as he did so, Speedy kicked the blaster rifle out of his hands. As the insurgent's weapon floated above him, Blazer pulled the foe into a headlock. With one swift strike, Anna swept her lightsaber across the man's torso. The diagonal, cauterized slash was still sizzling as Anna deactivated her blade. "Sparx," she whispered while Blazer dropped the corpse. "Take point."
The lieutenant slipped in through the door and aimed his rifle down the hall. "Hey Igig," a second insurgent beckoned. "What's taking so long back-"
Sparx bashed him across the head with the butt of his rifle and said, "Good night." He motioned for the rest of the group to move up and they crept down a vacuous hall.
With the air restored within, Anna was able to remove her mask and goggles. She activated her comlink and said, "Shang, we're in."
"According to Watcher's schematics, there should be a control room west of the main entrance," the admiral replied.
Anna obliged and headed west. The clones formed up on her until she raised a fist in alarm. The squad halted as Anna peeked around a corner. She observed a group of oddly-armored individuals and looked back at her men.
"Five hostiles in the control room," she whispered. "Keep it quiet and don't let them get a shot off from those blaster rifles." Blazer nodded and clutched a flash grenade. "Do it," Anna affirmed.
The insurgents were about to rotate positions when a cylindrical explosive clattered at their feet. The ensuing blast was as blinding as it was deafening and had them stumbling about. As vision started to return for one of the foes, his final sight would be a flash of green from Anna's lightsaber. His body fell alongside the man Blazer was choking out. A pair of powerful kicks from Speedy's cybernetics were enough to send another two collapsing. Sparx wrestled with the final insurgent before ultimately unsheathing the man's knife and plunging it into his stomach.
"Nice work," Anna said. "Sparx, can you patch us in to the facility's camera feed?"
As the lieutenant went to work, Speedy had another proposition. "See if they get any holodrama networks," he joked. "I missed last night's episode of Celeste."
"You didn't miss much," Anna mumbled. "She time-traveled. I hate time travel plot lines."
"So did Celeste save her ex from the mutated Ewok?" Speedy asked.
Anna shrugged. "You're not gonna get any spoilers from me."
"I can't believe this," Blazer groaned. "Speedy, you're watching holodramas too?"
"Anna is a great influence, okay?" Speedy assured.
"I'll tell you what," Anna insisted. "We'll have a holodrama night. The four of us. Deal?"
Speedy nodded while Blazer rigorously shook his head. "General," Sparx beckoned and tapped on a screen. "I've located the hostages. They're about a corridor down and two levels up. Given the amount of vacant spots in this facility, it doesn't appear that there are enough insurgents to take command here."
Anna squinted at the monitor and observed the seven men holding twelve hostages. "What's the plan?" Blazer asked from over her shoulder.
"It looks like they're the only ones left," Anna inferred and flashed a subtle smirk. "We're going big and loud."
The weary-eyed, sweaty-faced Republic personnel looked up at their armed captors. "Heads down!" a furious Twi'lek ordered. His dark tattoos looked like cracks in his pale-skinned lekku. His pitch black eyes nearly appeared pupilless as he noticed an 'irregularity' among the hostages. While the others bowed to his threat, one man continued to stare him down. His blue-eyed gaze was as piercing as it was unsettling. "Republic trash," the Twi'lek hissed and bared his sharp teeth. "Put your head down," he demanded and pressed a pistol to the man's forehead. The Twi'lek pushed his firearm's muzzle further up, parting the man's light brown locks.
"The Republic doesn't take orders from scum like you," the man defied. The crimson and sapphire squares on his rank insignia plaque distinguished his position as a lieutenant commander.
Infuriated, the Twi'lek nestled his finger on the trigger and prepared to fire. Before he could do so, a sharp hiss and gasp caught everyone's attention. One of the insurgents had regretfully chosen to lean against a wall facing the corridor. His cohorts watched in terror as a green beam pulsed out of his chest. The man's hapless body fell forward and the lightsaber hastily carved a circle into the wall.
Before the men could make sense of the situation, Anna Force-pushed the carved section out and into another gunman. She then dashed in alongside her shooting troopers. Laserfire lit up the room as the hostages dove for the floor. "Stay down!" Anna warned them while slashing at an insurgent.
"All that stealth had me missing this sound!" Blazer rejoiced while unloading multiple laser charges from his pistol. Bolts ricocheted and scorched the nearby crates. Screens smashed while panels exploded as insurgents returned fire. Sparx and Blazer executed flanking maneuvers to gun down those on the perimeter. Foes fell until the clones had their own perimeter around the Republic personnel. "Hostages secure!" Blazer shouted as the smoke cleared.
"Not so fast," a voice hissed and had Anna groaning. The pale Twi'lek rose with the lieutenant commander in his arms and aimed a gun at his head. "Come any closer and I'll fry him!"
Anna pursed her lips frustratedly. "Are-" she choked and gestured to the carnage around him. "Are you kriffing serious right now? We won. You're outnumbered. What's even your plan here?" Anna grew impatient enough with the Twi'lek's blank stare. "Exactly. You don't even have a plan. All you're doing is being a pain in my butt and making this a whole lot harder!"
"General," Sparx whispered. "Perhaps we should try talking him down."
"To hell with that," Anna scoffed and the hostage's eyes widened. She stomped towards the Twi'lek and his victim, saying, "He's not gonna do it."
"Anna?" Speedy worried and considered Sparx's advice.
"Back up!" the Twi'lek warned. "I'll shoot him!"
"And lose your only leverage?" Anna griped and stepped closer. "How would that work for you?"
The Twi'lek swallowed hard and glanced back at the glass panels behind him. The pistol trembled in his hand as Anna closed in. "I'm warning you!" he snarled.
"And I'm tired of you," Anna retorted. "So either drop the gun and our guy or this only gets worse for you." Anna took another step and the Twi'lek aimed at her instead. "Now," she ordered quickly and calmly.
Blazer had been discreetly aiming at the Twi'lek's head the entire time. He pulled the trigger at his general's command, but didn't expect such quick reflexes from the Twi'lek. Their foe turned towards Blazer and tried to shoot back. As he took aim, the sergeant's laser ended up striking his gun instead of his head. Disarmed and desperate, the Twi'lek tightened his grip on the hostage.
"Oh for the love of," Anna grumbled and dashed towards her enemy.
"General!" Speedy worried. "What are you-"
Although he was trapped in his captor's grip, the last thing the lieutenant commander expected to see was an armored Jedi Knight rushing them at full force. With her arms raised for the attack, Anna tackled both her enemy and the hostage...all while misjudging how much power she'd lunged with. Her collision sent all three of them crashing through the glass panel and plummeting to a research lab below.
"Anna!" Blazer shouted as his voice faded in the darkness.
The knight's wild and frantic eyes scanned her environment as she fell. The group collided with a catwalk and sent the entire display toppling over. A sharp, painful howl echoed throughout the lab as the lieutenant commander flailed forward. He gritted his teeth and clenched a fist as an insurmountable pain surged from his leg. His trembling head slowly peered down and observed the piece of railing jutting out of his thigh. The sight of the impalement was enough to send him into shock.
Anna and the Twi'lek had landed further down in the wreckage. Shards of glass and other sharp objects scraped against her armor as she rose to recover her lightsaber. "Damn it," she whispered as it rolled into the shadows. Trying his luck, the Twi'lek jumped her from behind. Anna retaliated by smashing his face with the back of her head. She then flipped him over and put up her fists. "I've had enough of you," she growled.
The Twi'lek took her head on and charged over. He unleashed a series of rapid punches against her armored torso until she socked him across the face. With a rapid spin, the insurgent dodged her next hook and elbowed Anna in the jaw. The disorienting strike gave him a chance to tackle and pin her to the ground. The combatants tussled in a flurry of hands and grunts. The Twi'lek tried grabbing her face with his pale palm, but Anna bit down on it. He screeched until he had no choice but to let go and Anna countered with a punch to his chest. But the Twi'lek refused to yield and pressed all of his weight on top of Anna. Dark blue blood trickled from the bite mark on his hand, yet still he tried to silence Anna.
Thinking quickly, Anna grasped one of the Twi'lek's dangling lekku and pulled. Pressure on the highly neurosensitve tendril caused the Twi'lek intense pain. He screeched in response and nearly lost consciousness. His grip on Anna loosened until she was able to rise and trap her foe in a headlock. He weakly elbowed in retaliation as she wrestled him back to the ground.
"Deliver...us," the Twi'lek croaked. "Deliver us...from Jedi...evil."
His words only made Anna apply more pressure with her dominant arm. As Anna listened to the Twi'lek's wheezes, she stared off into the darkness and remembered her old master's words.
"A sleeper chokehold should be a last resort," Mattias had said. "Performing such improperly could result in someone's death, young one. You mustn't stop airflow, but instead apply pressure to the arteries. A diminished blood supply to the brain can result in-"
At first, Anna didn't even hear the Twi'lek's neck snap. Her own ears were ringing from the amount of pressure she'd applied to her chokehold. Her breaths slowed as the body in her arms went limp. Anna's cold, blank stare didn't even bother looking over her kill. I did what I had to, she told herself while exhaling. One less criminal.
Anna rose to her feet and recovered her lightsaber. As soon as she did so, a mysterious voice called out to her. "How far the noble Jedi have fallen," it said.
Anna instantly sparked up her lightsaber and swayed it across the darkness. "Who's there?" she asked.
"Vindication," the breathy and gravelly voice said. "Resurrection. Salvation." Anna raised a brow as the voice continued. "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force. Such a beautiful doctrine to be slandered and desecrated. Violated, polluted, and blasphemed."
"Show yourself!" Anna demanded. "You like running your mouth? Why don't we have a chat face-to-face?"
Anna's brows furrowed once she realized that the voice was coming from the Twi'lek's fallen communicator. "It's not me you'll need to meet with," the voice intoned. "It is the sins of your kind thatyou must face. But don't worry. Your time is coming. And when this galaxy burns...all will be atoned."
Before Anna could get any closer, the device self-destructed into a miniature ball of flame. As she was left to ponder over the message, she could hear her troopers calling out. "Anna!" Blazer shouted while slowly descending into the lab. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah!" she yelled back. "Just dandy!"
"Did you save the hostage?" Sparx asked and Anna gulped.
"Um..." Anna murmured. "Lemme get back to you." She ascended through the shadows and found the hostage with his leg impaled. "Holy kriff that's a lot of blood." she blurted impulsively.
"Not helping," the lieutenant commander grunted while clutching his thigh.
"Well it's nothing a bacta tank can't fix," Anna assured.
"Bland optimism...really?" he snarked.
"What do you want from me?" Anna snapped. "I just saved your life."
The man glared at his impaled leg and boasted the most fraudulent smile in the galaxy. "Oh splendid," he griped. "I could leap for joy." He dropped the smile and stared her down. "What's your name, young Jedi? Your incompetence is going in my report."
"General Anna Dellian," Anna asserted. "Make sure you note the part where my boys and I swooped in to rescue you-...um...Mister-"
He knitted his brows and scowled. "Lieutenant Commander Orson Krennic," he said. "And stop acting like you 'saved the day' here. Not everyone is accounted for."
"Excuse me?" Anna murmured.
"Shortly before your brutish team barged in, a handful of insurgents made off with a hostage."
"Who?" Anna asked.
"Dr. Nila Morzetti," Krennic explained. "One of the Republic's top weapons experts." The lieutenant commander glared at Anna and sneered. "You let them take her."
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment of "The Frozen Force!" I appreciate all of your support as this ongoing adventure continues. Thanks again for helping this become my most-viewed story ever! While "The Frozen Force" is available on AO3 and Wattpad, Fanfiction truly is the best site to read this story. I hope you enjoyed today's chapter and you can log in next Friday for the thrilling continuation!
Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!
~ Michael