Chapter 29
In the original timeline, the battle of Geonosis is horribly incompetent for both the Republic and Separatists, and no amount of hours of dwelling and pondering about it cannot excuse it.
From the Republic side, they just start landing stuff and expect it to destroy the parked Separatists ships, which they're not able to accomplish, thus the Clone Wars begins. From the Separatist side, there are no planetary defenses, so the Republic Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships could easily land and deploy their forces.
For example, using the Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships to perform a Base Delta Zero on the parked Separatists ships would have been a smart military tactic. A BDZ is using your ship's weapons to bombard the surface of a planet, which Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships could achieve.
However, for the Separatists, the best goal was the have defenses for the planet, such as Golan Space Defense Spaceguns, which could hold starfighters and defensive turrets. By the Force, even a normal shield would be a good addition, alongside a fleet to protect the planet.
The CIS, for whatever reason, had no orbital defenses and allowed an entire fleet plus the invading army to land on their planet and launch a huge combined arms assault. They also never noticed hundreds of Jedi slipping into the Arena, but okay.
The Republic just essentially threw troopers everywhere and shot up everything. Incredibly disorganized and an extremely deadly trial by fire. In addition, special operations units were slaughtered by the hundreds as they were used for basic infantry tasks instead of what they were trained to do.
The Geonosis offensive represents the point where the Jedi transition from peacekeepers to soldiers. As such, it appears to have been a poorly planned, ill-defined adventure: things were slipping out of the Jedi's control, and they felt the need to react.
Ten years before, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi had been sent to Naboo with orders that amounted to improvising a solution to the Trade Federation blockade. The Geonosis expedition was essentially the same thing writ large, and the Separatists at the time was cowards due to Sidious purposely making them incompetent, and the Jedi could have toast them.
It might have worked but for the presence of Count Dooku.
The Jedi had grown to rely on their being implicitly threatening. What they didn't count on was Dooku just calmly calling their bluff. In their arrogance, they'd overcommitted. Dooku, well aware of what it would take to kill Jedi, had simply gathered and positioned sufficient forces to do just that.
The result was devastating to Jedi unit cohesion. Since their grand plan had no contingencies for what would happen if they were seriously contested on the battlefield, they were caught flat-footed, with no tactics or plan beyond remaining in place to fight it out. It had been several millennia since the Jedi last mustered armies, and they were utterly unprepared to work in larger units than a master-padawan duo. Thus, they did the absolute worst thing they could and allowed themselves to be picked off piecemeal before clustering together in an open arena practically tailored to be a killing ground.
All in all, it was a foolish battle that showed how incompetent the Republic is and the Separatists were.
Palpatine may as well have executed Order 66 here, but Vader understands why he didn't.
There were only about 200 Jedi involved in the Battle of Geonosis — out of the 10,000 total throughout the Galaxy. Order 66 wouldn't have its intended effect until the height of the Clone Wars when there are clones in proximity to nearly every Jedi.
The Clone Wars had many intended purposes, only one of which was the destruction of the Jedi. They also needed to be discredited in order to justify Order 66 to the Senate, and threats need to be manufactured and escalated sufficiently in order to convince the Senate of the need for a martial law state. Meanwhile, there were other rivals that Palpatine wanted to be eliminated, which he conveniently stacked on the Separatists' side. Anti-alien and anti-droid prejudice were not beliefs he held personally but were fundamental to the order he wanted to establish with the Galactic Empire, and the Separatists provided a myriad of willing alien and droid scapegoats.
There is no reason to implement Order 66 at the Battle of Geonosis, and every reason to do it following Mace Windu's confrontation with the Chancellor.
Kill the Jedi at Geonosis, and they look like martyrs. Wait several long years, but the Jedi in positions of damaging responsibility, make the lightsaber a sign that your world is about to be soaked in blood, and before long a Jedi plot to overthrow democracy doesn't seem so far-fetched.
Palpatine didn't just want to kill the Jedi. He wanted them discredited and marginalized, in the eyes of the entire galaxy. There's a reason why Obi-Wan and Yoda hid off to backwater worlds like Tatooine and Dagobah, and it's not because they thought the climate would be good for their skin.
Despite this, Vader doesn't wish to decimate the Jedi Order and the Republic's forces simply because they will serve a use to him in the future. He will give them hell but not to make the Separatists appear incompetent and foolish, as those two words are something he dislikes about systems: incompetent and arrogance.
Darth Vader walks around the group of battle hunters, some of who he doesn't know and others that he does. They stand, prepared to do as long as they gain their credits from the Separatists leader. Some of them, however, loathe the Jedi to no end, given how they dare to interfere with how they gain their profits.
"Several Jedi have been brought in custody days prior. I believe that more Jedi are going to come here shortly. Some of you may not survive but you are serving the great leadership of our Separatists rulership. Should Skywalker, Kenobi, Jinn, Amidala, and her handmaiden escape, under no condition are you to harm them but incapacitate them if you must," Vader commands, sensing they're desired to earn their credits.
They each nod, and Vader walks out, prepared for the nightmare of battle this will be.
A hooded figure marches forward flanked by two creatures often considers anonymous, and Vader tips his head towards their direction slowly, coming to stare upon an hooded figure with a cape.
"I am pleased to see you have finally arrived. Remember your assignment, defend Kenobi, Skywalker, Jinn, Amidala, and the handmaiden. I don't trust those bounty hunters."
"Yes, Lord Vader, I am your weapon."
Vader extends them a lightsaber. "The weapon... of a Jedi who would no longer be considered a problem. Use it well."
The figure seizes the lightsaber, running their hands over the hilt, before igniting the purple lightsaber...
Anakin awakes another day to see a bunch of Nemoidians freeing his cuffs. He has been tempted to use the Force when he is electrified by a staff.
"Don't think about it, Jedi," the Nemoidian growls.
Anakin snarls as he moves with a bunch of Nemoidians flanking him, their staffs at his back, prepared to attack if he does so much as raise his hands.
He sees Obi-Wan being lead out in a similar fashion, shouting to him. "Obi-Wan!"
"Anakin!"
They are at each other, both checking on each other for wounds.
"Well, this is a lovely situation," Obi-Wan says sarcastically.
Anakin grins. "We have been attacked and is currently being threaten by a bunch of weirdos. We have been in predicaments like this before, my old friend, if you remember."
Obi-Wan roll his eyes, replying. "I sincerely hope we don't have to be prison mates."
Anakin smiles. "Well, I do make quite a mess, especially in the showers."
Obi-Wan rolls his eyes once more. "You know I hate it when you mention that one occasion."
"I know," he smiles.
For a brief moment, they give one another a look before Anakin is lead away from his old friend by the Nemoidians.
Escorted on the Geonosis's arena, Anakin stares down at the arena, still at odds with what to do, especially given how Vader had the hostility to free Padmé and Sabé without them being hold at execution, and now they are standing behind them. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is still being hold in chains but they are not in a worse situation as well.
"Have you made your choice?" Vader asks, tilting his head to Anakin. Albeit this is definitely not part of his original plan, he cannot risk it.
"What choice?" Obi-Wan spats.
"Skywalker has thought about joining me," Vader replies, turning to face Obi-Wan who gives him an evident scowl.
Obi-Wan stares at Anakin for a second before glaring at Vader, "Anakin would never join you."
"That should be his decision," Vader replies somewhat darkly. His younger self would not be a slave to the Jedi this time, no matter of how these events turned out. "Skywalker?"
Anakin stares at Obi-Wan for a split second, noticing his apprehension, before he eyes Qui-Gon, who gives him a slight nod. Qui-Gon is willing to accept whatever decision he makes.
"If-if Vader is right about Darth Sidious, the Sith Lord within the Senate, manipulating me..." Anakin begins his reponse, clenching his hands up into fists.
"Anakin, we would never let that happen!" Obi-Wan yells, glaring at Vader. "If this evasive Dark Lord is real as you claim, we will find him and assure that he does not attempt to turn you to the dark side!"
"Yet how could you find him if he kills you all?" Vader replies, narrowing his eyes at the Jedi Knight, before turning to face Padmé. "Padmé, while it is true I have arranged an assassination attempt on your life multiple occasions, it was Sidious who arranged the assault on the Senate Building, resulting in the death of your comrades. Additionally, Sidious ordered for the palace to be destroyed years ago as well."
"You're lying," Padmé replies with little emotion though the flicker in her eyes shows the precise opposite of what she is feeling.
"I have a gift for you."
Vader walks to the side, and suddenly a young woman is lead out, causing Padmé and Sabé's eyes to go wide. She is hurt, her body caked in blood, but her wounds are healing.
"Versé?!" Both shouts simultaneously.
"Padmé, Sabé," Versé replies weakly, her hands shaking by her side.
Padmé and Sabé moves forward but is intercepted by two droids.
"No," Vader indicates, holding up a hand before they could commit further action, "let them go. Back to their sister." Now being allowed to, Padmé and Sabé walks forward, holding Versé tenderly. "I saved her," he continues. "I knew it would not be wise to watch her body but I have ordered my medical persona to collect her body where she would be rebuild."
Anakin smiles at seeing Padmé's joy. His old friend being happy is all that he loves. And he has to thank Vader, no matter what he have done to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
"Why did you save her?" Anakin asks, arching a wondering eyebrow.
"I'm not an evil person, Skywalker," Vader replies. "It is impossible to bring one back from the dead, but there is a possibility to cheat death. Regardless, we would all be one with the Force one day."
Obi-Wan scoffs. "Undoubtedly a trick to make us believe you are genuine."
"Still it is up to you, Skywalker," Vader says, bringing the joyful moment to an end. "Who would you assist? The man who has seen that your mother was freed along with your mentor surviving and that you become the Jedi you hoped to be, or serve a creature who have no empathy and cares for no one but himself."
Anakin considers his alignments, wanting to see Sidious to be stopped if he is dig deep into the Republic. A part of him tells him that Vader is a monster, someone who have to be stopped, that he could form a big opposition as do Vader, but a bigger part of him tells him that Vader saved his life along with his mother and that him refusing could only end with him being in Sidious's hands without anyone.
Before Anakin could give a response, in blinding speed, Vader evades a purple lightsaber from bisecting his head from his shoulders.
The fight begins immediately, the whole stadium filling with screaming laser bolts, Jedi leaping and spinning, trying to close into tight defensive groups, their lightsabers deflecting the bolts wildly. Geonosians scrambles all about, some trying to attack the Jedi - and perishing for their trouble - others just scrambling to get out of the way of the wildfire.
Mace Windu spins about, kriffing to himself that he missed decapitating Vader's head from his shoulders. He moves swiftly, decapitating two droids as once before cutting the chains off Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and faces Jango Fett and finds himself looking down the barrel of a stout flamethrower.
A burst of flames reaches out for the Jedi Master, igniting his flowing robes. With being in such a vulnerable position, Mace just leaps away, feeling bits of lightning crashing in him due to lowering his defense but recovering quickly, lifting himself with the Force to fly out from the box and land in the arena. He pulls the burning robe from his back, throwing it aside.
All around him, the fight intensifies, with Jedi battling scores of Geonosians in the stands, and many other Jedi rushing down to the arena floor to join the battle against the largest concentrations of battle droids. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan jumps off, knowing that they have to help their comrade, but Anakin remains behind, at odds with what to do, staring between the Jedi down at the arena and at Vader.
He motions to other Jedi, but needn't have, for those closest are already rushing toward their vulnerable companion, throwing a lightsaber to Obi-Wan, causing him to activate the lightsaber and intercept the bolts coming at his direction.
Across from him, Qui-Gon is moving around, guided by the Force, and disabling many of the droids with his powers before he notices several Jedi.
"Get me a lightsaber."
A young one - either a newly granted Knight or a senior Padawan - propels a lightsaber towards his direction, and he ignites the viridian lightsaber - it slightly stuns the Maverick Jedi especially since these crystals are viridian but are certainly among the Jedi Order - nodding in appreciation before beginning to move around, cleaving the droids one by one.
Despite how tempting it is to engage Mace Windu in combat, despite the hypocrite the Korun Master grew to become throughout the Clone Wars so much so one of the prized Jedi became an Inquisitor, Vader stays himself. He is not a blind brute who will engage every individual in combat, and he has to watch Skywalker perfectly.
Two of their lightsabers ignite, Qui-Gon's viridian, and Obi-Wan's blue, Mace breathes a bit easier.
But only for a moment. Then the Jedi Master is a blur of motion once more, working his blade furiously to turn back the storm of laser bolts screaming at him from the multitude of battle droids. He joins Obi-Wan near the center of the arena soon after, and back-to-back, they went into action, moving into a crowd of droids, taking down several with deflected bolts, then slashing through, turning in unison as they went. Obi-Wan goes at one droid with his lightsaber up high, but when that droid lifts its defenses appropriately, the two Jedi turns about, Mace coming around with his lightsaber down low, shearing the droid in half.
Behind Mace Windu, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fight in a similar back-to-back posture, the former sending his own assaults or attacking with the Force while the latter blocks and hold them off.
But despite all the gallant efforts, despite the mounds of slaughtered enemies, Geonosian and droid alike, the outcome is beginning to show clearly, as the Jedi are being pushed back by sheer numbers. The general retreat flows toward the arena, though that area would provide little respite. In addition to the droids and Jedi, the two monsters rushed about crazily, destroying everything in their path.
"You are going to allow them to die!" Anakin shouts. "Is that it?!"
Unbeknownst to all, Darth Vader is dominating the battle, misdirecting potential life-damaging or killing shots from Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan into several inconvenient Jedi or to random areas. No one shall harm his father figure or his brother figure, not when he's around.
It is a time for improvisation, too wild a scene for coordinated and predetermined movements.
No number of battle droids could hope to separate Mace, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan, so perfect are their movements, so attuned were they to each other. But the sheer bulk of the reek is too much even for a pair of lightsabers, and when the furious beast charges at the two Jedi, they have no choice but to dive apart.
The reek follows Mace, and he slashes wildly to fend it off. He did manage to drive it back, but is butted and lost his lightsaber in the process. He comes up facing the reek, and figures that he can outmaneuver it to get his weapon back easily enough, but then an armored rocket-man flies down in his path, blaster leveled.
Mace reaches out with the Force and brings his lightsaber flying to his hand, moving like lightning to parry Jango's first shot. With the second shot, Mace is more in control, and his parry sends the bolt right back at the bounty hunter. But Jango was already in motion, diving sidelong and coming around ready to launch a series of shots the Jedi's way.
He is stopped by the reek. Unable to distinguish friend from foe, the reek bears down on Jango. He scores a couple of hits, but they hardly slow the beast, and he is tossed away. The reek charges him, trying to stomp him as he rolls about desperately. Jango was fast, though. Every time he comes around, he fires again, and again, his bolts burrowing into the furious reek's belly.
Finally, the huge bullish creature sways and Jango wisely rolls out the far side, opposite Mace, as the beast collapses. The Jedi Master raises his lightsaber in front of him, protecting himself from the blaster shots that comes from his direction before aiming his lightsaber up at Jango's neck.
"It's over. Surrender, Jango."
"I will surrender when you are baked in your own blood, Jedi," the bounty hunter coldly replies before drawing something from his waist and activating it, revealing a lightsaber but one extremely rare. "I have claimed this weapon from Pre Vizsla after a fierce battle between us which resulted in the pathetic weakling death. We Mandalorians have confronted you Jedi for many years and you will not stop us from rising once again."
"We'll see about that."
Mace considers what he has heard about the blade through ancient tales. An ancient incarnation of the lightsaber, the Darksaber is a unique weapon that produced a flat, black blade of plasma. Thin and curved to a point, a shape more similar to a metal sword than contemporary lightsabers, the Darksaber's black blade is a meter long and appeared to draw in the very light and color around it like a black hole. This effect give the Darksaber a faint aura of white light around the edges of its blade, and makes looking at it for an extended period uncomfortable. The hilt of the Darksaber is thin and rectangular, and long enough to be grasped with two hands. It featured an angled crossguard and a serrated blade emitter. When the Darksaber's blade wis activated by pressing its activation stud, the hum and pitch of the blade was notably higher than contemporary lightsabers, and the blade gave off a sound like a whistle when it is swing through the air. When the Darksaber came into contact with another object or a lightsaber blade, the Darksaber blade screeched, and the white aura that surrounded the black core of the blade crackles.
That weapon shall be brought back to the Jedi Temple, Mace shall see to it.
The Jedi is on him immediately, lightsaber weaving through the air. Jango dodges and blocks each of his blows while sending his own, proving not to be a pushover in terms of lightsaber combat. The man is good, Mace has to admit. Very good, and more than once the Jedi have to parry desperately to turn a swing aside before sending up his own barrage of assaults. He keeps up his offensive flurry, though, keeping Jango on the defensive with sudden stabs and slashing cuts.
Jango reverses to the right upon another strike before igniting a flamethrower once more, Mace bringing his hands up to send aside the flames before applying a bit of the Force to stagger Jango for only a moment. Taking a treachery step back, Jango cannot avoid his right thigh being cleaved, his armor only protecting him. Otherwise, he might have been grievously injured by now.
Pushing himself up from the blow, Jango runs down, and Mace follows, not willing to allow a threat to the Order to escape that easily.
"Jango!"
Obi-Wan notices the acklay coming at him, its huge claws snapping in the air towards him.
"Straight ahead," Obi-Wan tells himself.
He goes left, then right, then rolls forward at the beast, between the mighty arms and snapping claws, coming around and over with his borrowed lightsaber stabbing straight ahead, burning a hole in the creature's chest. The acklay dives forward, trying to crush him under its bulk, and the Jedi leaps straight up as he connected. He comes down on its back, landing lightly and stabbing repeatedly, before leaping away once more.
"Straight ahead," he tells himself again as the enraged beast charges yet again, dodging a sonic blast before dispatching several of the Geonosians.
Obi-Wan notes the blaster bolt coming at him from the side at the very last second, and turns his lightsaber down and under, deflecting the bolt right into the acklay's face.
The creature hardly slows and the Jedi have to throw himself to the ground to dodge a swiping, snapping claw.
He rolls out to the side, to avoid a stomping leg, and manages to slash out again, cutting a deep gash.
The acklay howls and comes on, and more blaster bolts come at the Jedi. His lightsaber works furiously, brilliantly, turning one bolt after another right into the charging beast, finally slowing it and stunning it.
He does not spot a grenade landing next to him by a Geonosian, forcing him to shout as he flies away, his Jedi robes being tattered by the explosion as his body is caked in blood, eyes closing in and out.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin shouts, turning desperately before shouting. "Vader, please!"
Vader nods.
Obi-Wan's vision is blurry.
Vader's blood runs cold as he sees the truth of his younger self's distress, catching sight of a limp form among the droids that are shooting down other Jedi. Obi-Wan is laying motionless and in a posture that an inexperienced one would have called dead. Kriff, he has to move fast, less his brother will die.
Vader's hate is embedded in him. He hates these Geonosians, hates them for what they've done. They dare to corrupt a person with brain worms with little regard to who they are harming but now they have damage Obi-Wan.
The creature shakes its head before descending its claws towards the Jedi. With a single jump aided by the Force, Vader descends to the arena, moving like he didn't for decades, activating his lightsaber, and thrusts it through the creature's stomach before moving past it and chops off its head. He hears it fall behind him, thrashing in its death throes, but he cares little and dispatches the battle droids that are threatening his Master from another timeline.
To all, even his allies, Darth Vader is nothing more but a black flash, everything appearing to go into slow motion. As far as Dooku is concerned, along with the Neimoidians, Geonosians, and the other allies, Vader is still standing beside them.
He approaches Obi-Wan, grimacing slightly at the bloody wounds that is over his body. He will live but he will require intensive treatment, all the more reason to assure the Jedi Knight does not perish in the battle.
He manipulates the Force around him, causing him to look like Anakin Skywalker even without removing his mask and hood, taking a second to assure his presence mixtures with that of Skywalker, before kneeling down next to him and planting his hand on his head, allowing his life force to connect with his, removing the life-threatening wounds and beginning to stabilize the Jedi Knight.
He digs deeply through their bond and scavenges their bond until he finds the fate link Vader forced himself to allow it to become so the truth won't be discovered.
"Live, Obi-Wan," he says.
As if it is a command, the Jedi's eyes snap open, coughs following shortly afterwards. Obi-Wan stares up weakly at the man before his throaty response comes.
"Anakin, w-what happened?"
Vader offers no response, instead healing his wounds through the Force, thankful he hasn't suffered any broken bones, in spite of the wounds going down his body. Some will remain there for the rest of his life whereas others will fade due to natural causes, but Vader manages to remove the most scarring ones and ones that can leave him in a coma should they not be handled shortly.
He assures Obi-Wan is alright before raising his hood over his head, eyes still lingering on Obi-Wan who is slowly standing up, teeth ground and eyes pain before he stands up to join the midst of battle.
And as quick as the black flash comes, it goes. Vader is back on the top of the pyramid, standing next to Count Dooku who appears to have seen nothing and his younger self, as Obi-Wan stands back up, shaking his head and clutching it before turning to the dead creature who he assumes one of the Jedi killed to save his life before running along to join the battle.
That larger fight seems far from won, and far from winnable, their forces being overwhelmed. Anakin, Padmé, and Sabé can only watch this battle helplessly.
More Jedi goes down under the sheer weight of the laser barrage. Less than half of them are still standing.
Jango staggers back as he counters each of the blows flying into his direction. The Jedi Master is beginning to gain the advantage, and something would have to change fast if Jango is able to prove victorious. The bounty hunter is not afraid though. He have murdered Jedi beforehand, and if he cannot defeat this particular one as he did to all others he has slayed, then he would be able to escape.
Beginning to drive the Jedi Master back, the bounty hunter activates his razor blades in his gauntlets, using them to back the Jedi Master up while using the dark saber in the hope to gain the advantage, though Mace did not stagger, driving through his assaults with the force of a battering ramp until he cleaves his razor blades into two onto the sand ground.
At last, Jango manages to hit his jetpack enough for it to power up despite its damaged state, deactivating his dark saber, saying coldly. "Goodbye, Jedi, it's a shame that your mission have been a failure."
Smoke comes at the Jedi Master's direction, blinding his vision. He pushes it aside with the Force, crashing it against some of the droids and Geonosians. He vows not to grow tire no matter of how much intensity is surrounding him in this battle.
"Limited choices," Ki-Adi-Mundi says to Mace Windu.
Soon they are down to just over thirty, all herded together, and in the stadium all about them stand rank after rank of battle droid, weapons leveled.
Vader is tempted to end the battle less there would be an incredible likelihood that someone among Kenobi and Jinn could die but he knows he cannot. He outstretches his hands, redirecting the bolts with the Force to hit either Jedi who he cares little for, or those who will be an annoyance of in the future.
Suddenly, all freezes as they hear clattering footsteps which echo about and all turn to face the direction where a hooded figure emerges, yellow eyes staring up, before descending onto the ground, landing as the cloak bellows.
The figure regards all of the Jedi, his golden eyes disturbing every single one of them, including Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. He begins taking a step forward. Each of them are uncertain what to do.
The certainty adds extra weight onto many of their hearts.
One Jedi have enough, dashing up towards the hooded figure who, without even moving a step, swings a dazzling purple lightsaber up vertically, leaving a long slash wound along with a shout of pain in its wake. Two other Jedi attempt to move from the back when surprisingly both of their heads are chopped off with only one swing.
Jedi run up to the murderer of their fallen comrades, but those who haven't been shot down by their rivals are swiftly executed by mere movements of their lightsabers. Gidted Jedi are beginning to fall one by one.
The battle droids and Geonosians open fire again, and the Jedi begins deflecting blaster bolts while the hooded figure marches up to them, swinging his lightsabers, each slashes connecting towards the Force Wielders or their lightsabers. Any attempt at performing Force Assaults hardly even stagger him as he continue to press past them, the intensity of the scene pressing on the hearts of many Jedi.
"What is that thing?!" One shouts to his companions.
"The monstrosity has a connection with the dark side," a Master replies, attempting to play the role as peacekeeper no matter the situation, "yet something is off. Notice how it is not using the Force." He notes as the monster cuts down another poor Padawan who was unfortunate to cross his path. "That means we perhaps have a monster who is somehow experienced in lightsaber combat and is clouded by the dark side regardless of his lack of the Force."
Coleman Trebor engages him, and for a moment, they each feel a brief spite of hope, given a Soresu Master is able to stand strong against many opponents. Trebor is a deadly lightsaber combatant. One of the greatest Jedi of the Old Republic, Trebor is capable of besting most adversaries with or without his lightsaber. The 360 vision of a Vurk is well-suited for the Soresu style of lightsaber combat, and this is Trebor's chosen technique. As a Jedi Master, Trebor's knowledge of the Force is almost unparalleled. He is highly skilled in the ability of Force Stealth.
While he is able to block the monster's slashes several times and send his own blows, and moving around like the skilled Master of Soresu he is, countering all blows like a lightsaber master, Trebor's defenses are hammered eventually before his hands are chopped off followed shortly by his head before he could send another assault, the head floating at the feet of several Jedi, leaving them each feeling disgust while also emotion taught they should not feel.
Fear.
One of the most powerful Masters in the Order has just been murdered. It shakens many Jedi mentality, causing many of them to outright shudder.
"No!" Anakin shouts upon seeing what is happening, quickly Force Pulling his hilt of his lightsaber from Vader's belt along with Padmé and Sabé taking care of their droids while he deflects of the bolts coming at him, azure 'saber working furiously.
Padmé front-flips into the air all the while firing her own blaster at the droids and Geonosians, landing on top of a pillar. Sabé backflips into the air, and Obi-Wan manages to break away from the droids, drawing onto the Force to soften their landing and bringing an arm around both of their backs.
He offers her a exasperated stare. "This is crazy even for you, ladies."
Both flashes grins. "We know."
Jedi Knights Fi-Ek Sirch, Sephjet Josall, Nicanas Tassu, Sta-Den Eekin, Sarrissa Jeng, Sar Labooda, Ichi-Tan Micoda, Que-Mars Redath-Gom, and Lura Tranor are all slain by droid blaster fire or by the might of the monster's lightsabers. It's a saddening thought to think they are being killed by the weapons that have belonged to their now-dead comrades.
"We are trapped," a Jedi says, appearing to be losing all hope while staring at the monster who is engaging another round of Jedi and winning.
Another one falls to the ground thanks to a bolt, and Anakin rotates his lightsaber in front of himself and all of the troopers who are flanking him.
Obi-Wan's demeanor is deeply troubled. "We are losing more ground!" Death has never ring through the Force like this!
"Look!" Padmé exclaims, pointing up towards where they see gunships descending.
All eyes turn up to see half a dozen gunships fast descending upon the arena, screaming down in a dusty cloud about the Jedi, clone troopers rushing out their open sides as they touched down. A hailstorm of laser fire blasts the new arrivals, but the gunships have their shields up, covering the debarkation of their warriors.
Amid the sudden confusion and flashing laser fire, Master Yoda appears in the drop door of one of the gunships, green lightsaber in front of him while the mysterious troopers sends their own blaster fire against the monster who deflects each of the blaster shots apparently without struggle, deflecting the bolts back to the men in white.
One gunship attempts to fire at the monster who reflects each of the blaster shots before jumping up to the cockpit, seizing the pilot with a clawed foot and crushing the poor man's skull before moving just as swift, impaling the gunship into half vertically before an explosion that bielows its cloak and the cape.
More batches of Jedi appears, launching from the rear of the gunship and landing into the batch of droids and Geonosians, lightsabers running through them swiftly one by one. The monster finds himself having to deal with many particular Jedi, slicing and cleaving through them the best way it could.
The monster regards Skywalker and Kenobi before twirling its newly collected lightsabers. It moves rapidly, expecting that it would be able to disable both, but they have proven to give challenges, sending series of hacks and cleaves, which are blocked without struggle but both are not real challenges for the monster who appears to casually be blocking each of their blows, despite their effective teamwork and kicking both of them away from each other.
Anakin is barely able to avoid being decapitated from the head by the monster, parrying each of the assaults to the best of his abilities though it is obvious they are going to lose any moment now, that being proven by the monster slicing downwards and he evades to the side, only being saved by Obi-Wan who pushes the blow aside, blocking as best as he could, all the while backing up alongside Anakin.
How for Force's sake are they going to defeat this monster that has murdered countless Jedi?!
Anakin and Obi-Wan both are feeling themselves losing more and more ground as the monster pursues, launching towards them with such momentum. At one point in their fierce duel, Obi-Wan attempts to stab the creature in the back, but that blow is masterfully deflected. They may have fought dark siders and bounty hunters before, but never in their life have they encountered someone who is like this!
In Obi-Wan's experience, this monster is faster and stronger than the dark user who he fought ten years ago.
The two lightsabers begin to pick up more momentum until they are twirling at such speed that all both could see is different colors of blur, proving to be as fast as lightning.
Bringing his lightsaber up again, Anakin parries another series of strikes from the monster, until one causes him to stagger under the weight of the blow. The strike forces him to one side, leaving his side which could easily be exploited, one that the monster instantly lunges at.
That is until it is intercepted by the lightsaber of young Ferus Olin. Anakin is surprised that someone who obviously dislikes him is willing to save his life.
"Obi-Wan!" Siri Tachi shouts, joining her apprentice in the duel lock. "Protect the Senator and the handmaiden! Go now, my old friend!"
Obi-Wan obviously wants to argue but even he can see that there is no defeating this monster.
"Come on," Obi-Wan says, placing his hand on his shoulder, trusting his old friend as she is considerably powerful. "Siri would hold him off."
Ferus's volley of assaults is beginning to be his undoing before he is knocked away from a brutal strike alone, only able to avoid being decapitated by staggering slightly. He breathes, wondering how someone could be so strong but defeat several prized Jedi.
And to think, this is the first battle! How much more would be killed by this monster before the Jedi Order could survive?!
"Ferus!" The voice of his Master cries out, beginning to weaken against the monster as she begins pushing with all her might against the monster's saber lock, not that it had much effect on an individual literally made of metal. All she needed is a small opening, enough to fall back and escape his wrath for now.
One that isn't being provided as his lightsabers continue to come into her direction until a fierce kick knocks the air from the Jedi Knight's lungs.
"Obi-Wan!" Siri calls to the Jedi Knight, trusting her old friend to help her.
"Obi-Wan, a little help!" Sabé shouts, beginning to get overwhelmed by battle droids herself, her blaster working rapidly.
Obi-Wan clenches up his fists, staring between both ladies. He have to choose one of them; he know Siri longer but Sabé is a good friend. Have become someone special.
'Siri or Sabé?'
He can't choose both, for they are quite some distance from each other. There are two different foes, one that would require much of his attention.
He takes one step, eyes snapping close as he begins helping the woman who he have chosen from her predicament, blue blade flashing furiously while unintentionally abandoning the other.
Several battle droids collapse in piles on the floor, providing the woman with a clear opportunity to roll to the side and join his thigh, the Jedi deflecting the bolts from the rivals.
He has chosen...
It leaves him with shame.
Ferus feels an emotion akin to betrayal. His Master's old friend is choosing the handmaiden instead of someone who he knew for so long, someone who he should protect out of gratitude and friendship. How could he do this?
Siri is able to tip her head to the left from the monster's lightsaber as she calls deeply onto the Force, pushing the monster away only slightly away, showing off a mighty front that she always had in the presence of Ferus as she slices at the monster, deflecting the many blows she possibly can.
Hope and trepidation for his Master become horror as one strike from the monster connects into the shoulder of his Master, and she is barely able to deflect a slash, and just as he swings a blow downwards, Siri follows, and she realizes too late that the blow is feigned as the monster pulls the blades up, opening her up before impaling her in the heart, her lightsaber colliding onto the floor and she collapses onto the ground in a pool of her own blood.
Ferus and Siri's bond simultaneously snaps; years of training and friendship meaning nothing now as a cruel shivers flashes in Ferus's core.
"Nooooooo!" Ferus shouts, outstretching his hand in vain at the scene that plays in his head repeatedly a thousand times at that very moment, grief filling him as he glares at the monster who returns it, appearing to be mocking him.
The young Jedi begins moving towards the monster that mercilessly slaughters his Master, slicing away at the battle droids in the hope to reach his down Master, deflecting each of the shots in perfect accordance before finally pushing two B1s away.
The monster is already engaging other Jedi.
Seeing that none of the droids are targeting him for the moment, Ferus reaches down to his Master and cradles her limp body, her lifeless eyes staring at him, the light in her eyes now completely fading. He feels like he has failed her, wasn't strong enough...
"Master," the Jedi says, waterfalls going down his eyes as he closes her eyes. "Master..."
After everything they had been together, after the countless near-death experiences they have encountered, after standing side by side and being partners for years, all have been reduced to waste because of a monster who just wants to kill every Jedi that crosses his path, her eyes appearing to stare pass him, a look of horror morphed across her face.
How can she just die?
Across the arena, Obi-Wan's eyes widen with horror, his mouth opening, feeling the tempting power of the dark side battering away at his heart as he witnesses the murderer killing his closest friend, it repeatedly flowing his thoughts. The last time he felt this tempting power is when Obi-Wan nearly lost Qui-Gon.
The Jedi Knight clamps his eyes shut, resisting the power of the dark side and remaining firm into the light side of the Force as he continues down with Anakin and Sabé.
Averting his eyes off of his fallen comrade, Obi-Wan stares down for a moment before he feels Anakin's hand on his shoulder, nodding slightly at the silent gesture before following him to the gunship.
Truth be told, Anakin is impacted by Siri's death as well; she was one of the few Jedi who didn't mistreated him despite her lack of trust in him and despite how Ferus shared different views than his Master about the Jedi Padawan.
Clones scramble out of the seven gunships, running in battalions and surrounding the droids as they fill them with bolts. Jedi are moving about among them, thrusting and stabbing their lightsabers through the droids.
Suddenly, there is a explosion by a decent portion of troopers and several Jedi, and they each look up to see Mandalorians descending, blaster carbine unloading as they each are forced back by them and the remaining droids.
Mace Windu twirls in the air, cleaving the Mandalorians of their weapons, giving the Jedi and troopers a clear passengeway to the gunships while leading from the front, purple lightsaber dancing. Jedi are suppose to show mercy but he shall not; these warriors have killed countless Jedi and troopers which means they have to all die or be arrested.
Kenobi, Jinn, and Skywalker are at his side, rotating their blades in mad flurries. Their rivals are winning but they will not win without a fight.
Quinlan Vos and Aayla Secura is standing back to back, deflecting each of the blaster bolts. Other Jedi and clones stands at their flanks all the while holding off their rivals. Too many have already died, yet many knows this would shake the Republic.
Windu turns to his fellow Jedi, crying out with Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee at his side, together fending off blaster bolts. "Jedi, move!"
The survivors rush to the nearest gunships, scrambling aboard. Their ships lift away immediately, cannons blaring, shattering, and scattering battle droids and Mandalorians as it soars up out of the arena.
Qui-Gon moves to the gunship along with Kenobi, Skywalker, and Padmé before a shot comes flying in their direction. The Jedi Master turns around, deflecting the shot in the process, and spotting who must be a bounty hunter, mowing down Knights and a few Masters, before halting at the eyes of Qui-Gon Jinn.
BDs and SBDs are still firing at him, and he deactivates his lightsaber, hands clenching up into fists. Suddenly, the droids are reduced to scrap; the power of the light side of the Force flowing through as Qui-Gon Jinn walks forward, nodding to several surrounded Jedi to retreat with the troopers.
A bounty hunter fires at Qui-Gon, causing the Maverick Jedi to block more blaster shots with the power of the Force, a blue shield forming around him. Vader's eyes widen when he sees Durge has chosen to engage Qui-Gon, not attempting to subdue but to kill. The Jedi Master is barely able to avoid the assault before the bounty hunter reveals a long staff and lashes out towards the Maverick Jedi, forcing him to deflect each of the ruthless assaults, one of the Force blows staggering the monster.
That's when Qui-Gon stares at Anakin and Obi-Wan, then up at Vader, and slowly he stands in a pose full of serenity closing his eyes.
Anakin's eyes widens, one word coming from his mouth. "No."
Obi-Wan is at his side, shouting. "Master, don't do it!"
Before both could join him, they are blasted away towards the gunship.
Qui-Gon quickly falls into his posture, acceptance radiating through the Force.
'There is no Death, There is the Force!'
Without hesitation, the bounty hunter advances, stabbing him through the abdomen, them replying in the thoughts of both of his apprentices, both former and current.
"No!" Both Skywalker and Kenobi scream out.
"Master!" Anakin cries, running over and grasping for him as he descends, stroking his motionless chin.
"Anakin... run... I am... very proud of you. I always have been."
"Qui-Gon no!" Anakin shouts, shaking him repeatedly.
"Trust in the Force, Anakin."
Qui-Gon's body fades, his robes falling lifelessly against his hands.
Anakin and Obi-Wan both feel his death dissipating through the Force, their bond severing immediately as it always does when a Master or Apprentice perish.
Qui-Gon Jinn have become one with the Force.
Across from them on top of the Arena, Vader remains frozen before his eyes darken in anger and terror! Durge just assassinated Jinn! Going against his orders and the intense power of the dark side crashes around the former Sith Lord, feeding waves into his younger self who tastes the power of the dark side without reservation! His last hope may have perished before his very eyes!
Obi-Wan's eyes widen. He lost a close friend and mentor precisely on the same day in mere minutes, the calls to the dark side persistently hacking away at his defensives, but he reminds himself that he made an oath never to touch the dark side again under any circumstances necessary. He has made a mistake before and he will not again.
Unfortunately, Anakin isn't bound to follow the same path as his friend. Something within Anakin snaps. Something unnatural. A power he has felt many times before, even before he became a Jedi, but now it is overwhelming his senses.
A dragon which he haven't noticed for so long speaks, 'It is that bounty hunter's fault that this have happened. Your Master is dead because of him and he would kill Obi-Wan next along with Padmé and Sabé. Kill him. He cannot get away with this. Make him suffer.'
Combined with Anakin witnessing a Jedi who he personally respect, the countless others dying, Obi-Wan's loss, Padmé and Sabé being in danger...
And his father figure perishing!
It is beginning to be too much!
At last, the bomb that have been his emotions for a long time explodes.
The true man underneath reveals itself.
Anakin's face curls up into a sneer, fury overcoming the presence. At one point, he have been able to control this fury, but the dragon that is within his soul screams at him to embrace this side of the Force.
He grasps hold of his lightsaber and stands up, all the while shouting at the unfairness of the galaxy.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Anakin Skywalker gives into the dragon.
Several Geonosians turns their sights onto him, surprised to see Anakin walking forward with crimson orbs lingering onto the scene. He hates them! He will kill them all for what they have done!
He run on, wanting the bounty hunter's head but the Geonosians and droids gather up and attempt to stop him, causing his lightsaber to flash furiously, being unfortunate fools that just have to cross his path. The Geonosians howl and is impaled by the emerald lightsaber of Anakin Skywalker while swiping furiously at the battle droids.
Anakin leaps far and long, clearing some battle droids and coming down on another batch of Geonosians, the lightsaber flashing even before he lands. He lifts an empty hand and sets up a wall of Force energy as solid as stone. The Geonosian lunges its petranaki scimitar towards him, forcing him to deflect each of the blows before he cuts the creature's head off.
Anakin is off and running, off and leaping, his lightsaber twirling left and right in a blur, every stab taking a Geonosians down, writhing to the ground, every slash putting a pieces of Geonosians on the ground. He wants Durge's head! It would take all of them to beat him!
Soon none are standing against him, all attempting to flee, but Anakin will not allow it. One group attempts to evade the young Jedi, but he shows no mercy, bringing the wormless animals towards him and arcing his lightsabers towards them, watching as they decapitate into pieces by the man himself.
And then he is running, his strides enhanced by the Force, overcoming the fleeing creatures, slaughtering them, every one that entered a meter to him.
He don't feel empty any longer. He feels a surge of energy and strength beyond anything he has ever learn, feel full of the Force, full of power, full of life. The last thing many of them will ever see is the crimson eyes of Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin stands among them, dozens and dozens of dead Geonosians, along with the many battle droids unfortunately enough to cross his path lays in scrap heaps as well.
Only Durge in his sights, falling into a battle position before sending rockets towards Anakin's direction, causing him to outstretch his hand and propels it back towards the hunter's direction, doing little damage. He roars, leaping forward all the while deflecting each of the blaster shots coming at him before the Jedi comes into contact with the shield suddenly raised from the bounty hunter's arm.
It isn't long before the murderer sends a strike with a staff which staggers Anakin only slightly but he continues his assaults, propelling pass his attacks before throwing the Force towards Durge's direction, throwing a Force Blast which hardly does any damage, but as he lands, he doesn't hesitate to send attacks, countering each strikes.
"Anakin!"
Finally, at last, he stabs the cerulean lightsaber directly into the hunter's arm, a dark smile falling onto his lips at the hiss suddenly forming from the hunter's emitter.
Anakin jumps away from a slash and parries each of the strikes from the bounty hunter, attempting to overcome his rival as the strain in his muscles begins to become evident, but he calls off the pain, not willing to allow himself to calm until the murderer of his Master is dealt with, sending a feign strike though the blow is deflected, but he falls into Anakin's trap, sending a mad hack which cleaves the weapon into two, and stabs the hunter into the armored chest.
"Skywalker!" The voice of several Jedi sternly dimly echoes in his head.
"Anakin!" The voice of Padmé and Sabé.
Even so, it isn't enough for him to snap out of the dark midst, the same midst that promises vengeance against Qui-Gon Jinn's murderer, lightsaber hacking away at the one who dares to kill his father figure without hesitation before he snaps his hand up into a fist and the bounty hunter's cybernetic begins to dent. It feels good. He is the one who would gain vengeance for his old Master's death, Jedi Code is damned.
Amidst the droid forces beginning to spread, Anakin Skywalker storms up to Durge, speaking sharply. "You murdered Qui-Gon Jinn! He was my father!"
Durge aims his flamethrower at Anakin before activating it in the hope to cause flames to course through his body, but the flames are pushed away.
Anakin simply raises his right hand, Force catching the creature in mid-stride by the neck. He would assure his death is pathetic after what he did to his Master and dared to interfere with his plans that aren't meant to be.
This-this creature just murdered his mentor and Vader shall destroy this murderer who went against all of his plans if Skywalker does not, who dare to harm the closest man that has once been his father. Vader could only watch as Skywalker falls to the dark side.
'My greatest failure.'
Anakin extends a Force blast into the bounty hunter, forcing him to shout at the intense power that is coursing through the cybernetic armor and head. Altogether his system is fried by the ruthless might of Anakin Skywalker, him feeling endless amounts of pain and agony coursing through his body, damaged wires sticking out much to the dark satisfaction of Anakin who soon stop his assault.
Durge begins to crush into a ball, an explosion making itself known. Anakin doesn't care as he walks over to the cybernetic being, allowing his satisfaction to ring through the Force.
He plants a grenade next to the ball of what has been viewed as the most invincible bounty hunter now reduced to a pathetic ball in mere seconds by the power of Anakin. Pieces of Durge lay everywhere. In spite of surviving countless near-death experiences for over two thousand years by Mandalorian, Jedi, and Sith, he will not survive the Chosen One.
The rivals aims their weapons at his direction, attempting to overwhelm him with their combined of blasters fire alone. Those with their staffs attempts to cleave him into two, yet Anakin blocks each of their strikes with perfect accuracy before granting them a swift execution. He shall not show any mercy.
"YOU WOULD ALL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"
Anakin Skywalker have been broken.
In one azure flurry of his 'saber, many of them lay dead, being nothing but a blazing individual.
Finally, he feels pain on his arm, gasping when he realizes someone have just stunned him. Several troopers runs forward and opens fire at the threats, and Anakin growls, attempting to get up to join them when he feels his hands being constrained. Before he can continue, four sets of hands grasp him tightly and begins dragging him back.
"No! Let me go!" Anakin shouts, kicking helplessly. "Please let me go!"
He stares up to see Padmé and Sabé is dragging him back into the gunship, holding him down tightly before bringing his gaze against Obi-Wan.
"NOOOOO! NOOO! LET ME GO!"
Obi-Wan grasps his shoulders harshly, beginning to scream at him. "Anakin, stop! Qui-Gon wouldn't want this for you!"
And the endless midst suddenly becomes clearer at the sound of Obi-Wan's voice, Anakin's head snapping towards Obi-Wan who stares at him with worried alongside Padmé. Somehow, out of all, including Padmé, Obi-Wan Kenobi saved Anakin Skywalker from drowning deeply into the dark side.
Shuddering, he stares up at Obi-Wan, the closest man to a brother but not precisely such.
And the light side and dark side is at odds.
Windu can hardly believe the incredible sight unfolding before him, as thousands of Republic ships rushes down on the assembled fleet of the Trade Federation, dropping tens of thousands of clone troopers to the surface of the planet. However, as quick as their momentary victory went, it goes, the evident superior fleets begin to tear into the less superior Republic's fleets. Windu knows they must evacuate quickly unless their fleets will be decimated and they will be either at the mercy of Darth Vader or dead.
Behind him, Yoda continues to orchestrate the battle. "More battalions to the left," he instructs his signaler, who relays it out to the field commanders, drawing his own lightsaber and deflecting the bolts back at the droids. "Encircle them, we must, then divide."
"Anakin, we have to go!" Obi-Wan shouts, attempting to reach his friend from that monster which have just taken hold. He would not allow his friend to fallen to the addiction of the dark side.
Anakin's fists tighten before sending each of them barreling back towards the gunship. "They cannot get away with this!"
Obi-Wan groans before sitting up, trying once more to reach his friend before he becomes a monster.
"I know but if we don't go we all will die," Obi-Wan exclaims, his empathy ringing through the Force as he walks forward and places his hand on his shoulder, seeing that the Jedi and clones are holding off the battle droids and Geonosians as of the moment. "Qui-Gon will not want us to die! We have to evacuate! There will be another time!"
"Anakin! Come on! Anakin, it's too late!" Padmé adds in a desperate attempt to convince him.
"Anakin! There would be another time! He wouldn't want you to stay here and risk dying!" Sabé shouts in agreement.
Anakin opens his mouth to put up an argument against all of his friends. What?! Even after what happened to Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Padmé, and Sabé want to leave instead of avenging him! Vengeance is not the Jedi way, but they must stop someone like that cybernetic monster unless he will go on and slaughter so many Jedi in this war that is now unavoidable!
Suddenly a voice - from aside him, so familiar but alien, commanding, says to him: "Listen to them. Run, Anakin, run."
Hesitantly, Anakin nods before jumping on top of the gunship alongside Obi-Wan, receiving a worried and pained smile from Padmé who caresses his shoulder in the hope to comfort him, muttering an apology to the Jedi. It's not Padmé who should be apologizing right now, not be the target of his anger and fury for his mentor's death... no that blame is on someone else... someone who he vows to kill.
Kriff what the Jedi Council says. His Master's death will not be passed on as a mere unfortunate casualty whose death is the will of the Force. The murderer of his Master will die for what he did and those who operate him shall face justice. There will be no mercy.
Anakin, feeling his knees buckles underneath him, finally comes to realization. He would never be the same person again after witnessing what happened to Qui-Gon, never be that someone who he attempted to be, striding to be the perfect Jedi. He should have told him! Why didn't he-?! He was stupid! Stupid!
"What-what have I done?"
"Anakin," Padmé says, bending down next to him and wiping his tears away.
"Oh, Padmé!" Anakin sobs, burying his face into her neck, making her wrap her arms around him.
With the gunships flying off and the battle droids in pursuit, Boba Fett finally finds the opportunity to slip down onto the arena floor. He calls for his father repeatedly, rushing from the pile of carnage to pile of carnage. He passes the dead acklay, and then the reek, calling for Jango, but knowing what happened, simply because his father, who is always there, isn't there.
And then he sees the helmet.
"Dad," the boy breathes, his legs giving out beneath him, he falls to his knees beside Jango Fett's empty helmet.
Vader walks in the arena, having been shakened from Qui-Gon's death.
He walks over and steps over the dead Jedi's form, part grateful that he became one with the Force instead of having to bear the cold reality of seeing his mentor's limp body. This time, Qui-Gon mastered his years of knowledge and training in becoming one with the Force, but it doesn't decrease the pain.
Vader reaches into his belt and feels the hilt that belonged to the now-dead Jedi, reaching out with the Force to bring the Jedi's weapon to his hand before placing it onto his belt, vowing to keep it as something he will cherish indefinitely.
With a sad look full of remorse, Vader speaks to the robe, almost as if the man is there himself, even if he is now in the peaceful combat of being one with the Force. "I principally killed you. It is my fault and I have failed you just like I failed Obi-Wan, Padmé, Ahsoka, and all of my family and friends from the former timeline. I'm so sorry. I can only promise when the end comes, my old friend, you will be pleased. I promise."
Darth Vader turns around, lightsaber still grasped in his hand, not seeing the mystic being forming behind him, a smile planted on his bearded lips, hands connected to his belt.
"I know you will... Anakin."
Count Dooku follows behind Archduke Poggle the Lesser and the others into the Geonosian command center, a huge room with a large circular viewscreen in its center and many other monitors about the walls, where Geonosian soldiers could monitor and direct the widening battle.
Poggle rushes to the side to confer with an army commander, then come back to Dooku, his expression fierce. "All of our communications have been jammed!" he informs him. "We are under attack, on land and from above!"
"Where did they get them?" Dooku asks, sounding perplexed while inwardly not concerned. "That doesn't seem possible. How did the Jedi come up with an army so quickly?" Dooku, staring at the myriad of scenes, at the many battles and explosions all about the region, is shaking his head. "There are too many," the Count muses, his voice full of resignation. "It is of no concern." Even as he speaks, the three winces as the central screen flashes, showing the explosive destruction of a major Geonosian defensive position.
"Order a retreat," says Poggle, and he is trembling so forcefully that it seems as if he might just fall over. "I am sending all my warriors deep into the catacombs to hide!" He nods to several of his commanders as he finished, and they turned back to their comlinks, relaying the orders.
"We must get the cores of our ships back into space!" one of the associates cries.
Jango Fett walks inside of the command center with the boy at his side, saying. "I have managed to escape from the Jedi, but they would be here shortly."
"I'm going to Serenno," Dooku announces. "Darth Vader will not let the Republic get away with this treachery. The Jedi shall pay for their lack of division."
Poggle the Lesser rushes across the room to a console and punches in some codes, bringing up a holographic schematic of a planet-sized weapon. With a few keystrokes, he downloads the schematic onto a cartridge and pulls it from the drive, turning to Dooku.
"The Jedi must not find our designs," the Archduke insists. "If they have any idea of what we are planning to create, we are doomed."
Dooku takes the cartridge. "I will take the designs with me," he agrees. "The plans will be much safer with Vader. I assure you the Jedi would not outdo him."
"Dooku!"
Just then, a purple lightsaber flies past the former Jedi Master, decapitating the head of Poggle the Lesser. Dooku turns around, calmly regarding the opponents who have just enter the command center, stepping back to avoid the rotating lightsaber to grant him familiar treatment.
"Fett, retreat with our friends here," Dooku says smoothly, "this shall be over soon."
Suddenly, in the command center, three Force Presences make themselves known as Master Windu runs in, three other Jedi accompanying him. One a Kel Dor, Sha Koon. Another a Pantoran, Master Ferroda. And another, a Twi'lek, Carmen Conrose.
"Ah, Master Windu," Dooku uses that as a greeting, drawing his lightsaber and igniting it, ignoring the brutal execution that the Korun Master has just done. "That was a little aggressive, don't you think? It is unfortunate that you would have to die." He angles his curved lightsaber infront of him. "I must persuade you, my old Jedi friend. Surrender."
Coldly, Master Windu replies, their once friendship now being reduced to nothing. "You have betrayed the Jedi Order. You have to be stopped."
Dark. A cold blackness.
But Ferus knows Vader is here. He can sense him and he attempts to center himself into the Force as the Masters have taught him but he is failing. It would have been simpler at the Temple surrounded by the Masters who have raised him since he was a child yet the darkness that crashes against him is overwhelming and suffocating.
He would not give in to the dark side despite its persistent calls.
He would not disgrace the memory of his Master.
He knows he is being led into a trap, knowing that Vader has sensed his presence. The Jedi Council should have seized both Vader and Dooku before they left Coruscant. What's the point of swearing loyalty to the Jedi Order and then leave the Order that raised you? What's the point of going against the will of the Council? In Ferus's opinion, all that dares to leave the Order let alone touch the dark side are nothing but cowards, despite Dooku being a respected Jedi Master at one point.
It wouldn't be surprising if Skywalker and Kenobi leave too.
In the end, it doesn't matter. He will be the one that stops the threat that is Darth Vader, assure his Master's death isn't for nothing. That manipulative prick wouldn't even dare to threaten the Jedi Order again, Ferus will make sure of that.
Suddenly, candles ignite in a brilliant room, illuminating none other than the hooded figure of Darth Vader, his mask on as always. It isn't his posture that disturbs the Jedi.
It is the dark side that rings around him. The Council has been right all alone; Vader should have been stopped. The dark side itself presses furiously against the Jedi Padawan, almost as if it is attempting to crush him up into pieces. Ferus shudders, however, he holds his ground in shaking legs.
"The Force is with you, Young Olin, but you are not a Jedi yet," the voice is deep, chilling, and the Jedi Padawan knows he is taunting him. Ferus attempts not to fall for the bait, activating his blue lightsaber and walking forward towards the unmoving man. Torrents of disapproval ring off of Vader.
"You would pay for what you did," Ferus growls, "you and Dooku."
"Insignificant child. You may claim to be a Jedi by the Code but you are no Jedi. You lack patience. You lack careness for others among your rank." A crimson glow sprouts up, illuminating Vader's face. There is firmness within Vader's eyes as he poises his lightsaber in Djem So stance that Ferus has never seen before. "You lack discipline."
And Ferus's training forces his instincts to block a strike from Vader that would have decapitated him had he been a second late. Vader's lightsaber nearly jabs his thigh, the Padawan's aura full of shock and apprehension.
"Undisciplined."
Ferus glares, full of determination and swinging his lightsaber at Vader's flank which is blocked before he pushes him back and the Jedi Padawan attempts to overwhelm him at that moment, using his style as a combination of Juyo, Dun Moch, and Ataru as he has learned to incorporate physical strikes into his lightsaber sequences. This would be a simple battle.
"At least you have some training in martial combat," Vader spats, "but you lack all qualities of a perfect Jedi. You have training nor respect for any other whatsoever."
"I am a Jedi, and I will defeat you."
By the Force, what did Siri saw in this insignificant brat that makes him so special? Someone who bad mouths another student for simply being an apprentice to Qui-Gon Jinn. He had the nerve to "warn" Qui-Gon about Anakin as he did to Obi-Wan in the original timeline. He made no real attempt to make Anakin feel included and accepted. Kids don't have to physically hurt other kids to do harm. Sometimes the things one doesn't do can be as harmful as the things one does.
"That's all you got, Vader," Ferus replies as he blocks another strike.
Vader sighs. The fact that Tachi has the patience of training this insignificant Padawan is indeed an impressive trait worthy to be noted in the archives of the Jedi Temple.
"Why Tachi would ever have you out of all Jedi as a Padawan astonishes me in every sense of the Force."
Ferus swipes upwards, attempting to decapitate his head from his shoulders when Vader parries the attack, following each of his slashes and hacks.
Ferus Olin is nothing but a lame fool that Vader is growing bored with, having to resist the urge to just end this battle. Padmé and the handmaidens have given him a greater opposition in their sparring lessons. This is hardly even called a duel. Long ago, Vader could've just snapped his throat with just a mere raise of an eyebrow.
Being thrown back another time, Ferus begins to breathe rapidly, feeling waterfalls leaving his eyes. He cannot allow Siri's death to be for nothing but Vader's modified Djem So continues to graze him! He cannot allow Vader's presence to continue throughout the galaxy!
Gathering the Force around him, he begins moving with such grace and conviction, jumping and dodging around Vader, hoping he would be able to tire him out, swinging and slashing, attempting to use his knowledge about Ataru to scarred the man.
Finally, he manages to penetrate past Vader's defensive and slices Vader in the shoulder blade along with Force Shoving him backwards. He allows himself to smirk confidently at the smoldering smoke that leaves his arm. He would be victorious!
Suddenly, Vader stares back up, his cerulean eyes slowly becoming golden as the intoxicating presence of the dark side thunders against Ferus Olin, contempt making itself known as he stands up. No more toying with this boy.
And that is when Vader attacks, sending blows after blows in the mastery of Djem So that forces Ferus back, not even moving at once. The only reason why he hadn't struck this fool down is that Ferus Olin can become a bargaining chip and he was merely toying with someone who taunted him at a young age.
"Surely you could do better. Tachi have taught you better."
Jaw clenched, Ferus sends his next flurries of Vader, intending to strike down the Jedi's greatest enemy. He's not going to allow this monster to continue spreading his influence across the galaxy! Vader is nothing but a fool, someone who he would best, and bring his head to the Masters!
However, Vader bats each of his strikes without struggle, finding this display pathetic. By the Force, this boy is just a humiliation to the Jedi Order, and he cannot continue this pathetic display, opting to strike quickly, moving like a snake who just struck poison in a victim. This Padawan is ill-defined as a Jedi Padawan, someone who's treated like royalty simply because he doesn't question the Council as Anakin Skywalker does.
Ferus notices his slashes and jabs growing far more powerful, and as he backs up, he knows Vader isn't playing any game as he struggles to deflect every slash and jab coming in his direction. Vader is pressing him more and more, every slash and jab getting closer to cleave him in half. It is only a matter of time before Vader would disarm him.
Inevitably, Vader ends this battle by a blow that forces Ferus to backpedal, clutching at his face and closing his eyes, while keeping his lightsaber up to block any other potential blow Vader may send at him, however, he didn't expect to feel agony as his right arm... by the Force... he no longer feels it not the hilt of his lightsaber. Ferus kneels down, reaching for his right arm, but it is nothing but a stump!
The shadowy form of Vader steps over him, a hissing deactivation of a lightsaber making itself known.
It's hurt! Badly! Yet his suffering is not ending! He is drowned in a pool of blood!
"Unimpressive."
Arthur's note: In memoriam of Qui-Gon Jinn. In memoriam of Siri Tachi. In memoriam of Durg- wait I hate Durge. I'm getting too far in memoriam thing am I? ;D But yeah Qui-Gon and Siri are unfortunately dead, leaving a major effect on Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ferus.
I'm certain you all know who the hooded figure is, but that aside, I really loved writing this chapter because one of my favorite villains had fun. I decided to introduced him as a plot twist as I felt like he didn't get the glory he deserved in both Legends and Canon, especially in Canon.
To thunderofdeath97, Plagueis and Sidious both created Anakin in Legends in one way or another.
I feel like many time travel stories that save Qui-Gon and resolve around Anakin have his life go too easily, but I want to make things difficult and with challenges so it doesn't appear that is a Mary Sue. This also shows Vader cannot regrettably save everyone in this timeline unfortunately and would make mistakes that could leave major effects; deaths are going to happen - I hate stories that have Vader be perfect and flawless as it takes away from his character. I love Qui-Gon so much so I feel regretful throughout writing this chapter but I'm not going to kill off favorite characters to show I'm not biased. There are tragedies that need to happen in order for it to have that instant effect in my opinion.
Mace Windu and Dooku are going to finally have their confrontation. How would it end? :)
Now about Ferus Olin at the end, I can't deny I dislike his character. I'm tired of the excuse of Anakin being Darth Vader is the reason why Ferus is justified to hate him: I'm going to try to keep him in line with the character despite my blatant dislike for the character. I find it obnoxious and I dislike how he treats Anakin like he's a slave. What did Anakin do that bothered him? I'm not saying Anakin is completely perfect; sure slaughtering children isn't right but Anakin didn't do anything when he was becoming a Jedi at the Temple. He struggled to fit in as it was because of his fucking age and yet Ferus treated him wrongly.
May the Force be with you all always.