Chapter 11
Deal No Deal
The Sun Guard
TATTOOINE
Not Long Ago, Jabba's Palace
The great Hutt slithered around the floor of his palace hanger toward a transport, his gamorrean guards helped Jim get aboard his ship. The palace shook from another rocket blast as his majordomo Twi'lek assistant hurried him along Jabba swore in Huttese. Suddenly the hanger door blew open with a wave of smoker rushing through the doorway. Jabba looked back to see the flash of a purple lightsaber slicing down yellow carbine lasers as a figure rolled out of the smoke. A Black Knight with a violet lightsaber fighting five Mandalorians at once. They chased after him in their red and black armor, Leo jumped in the air cutting one's head off, he grabbed another with force lightning. The last three knelt down and unleashed a salvo of their mounted rockets but Leo shot his hand out.
One went left another right, he caught the last one and spun around in a full spin to send it right back into the three. Jabba managed to get up to his ship's entrance looking back.
He saw the last mandalorian crawling out of the fires, their armor still burning before he saw Leo come up behind them. He used the force to rip the jetpack and backplate off the Mando before stabbing them in the chest and looking up at Jabba.
The ship took off without a second to waste fleeing the palace and leaving Leo to watch Jabba flee to Coruscant.
CORUSCANT
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE
Jabba the Hutt thundered fire and brimstone out of his holographic communication at the Chancellor. Palpatine sat in his chair with his Vice Chancellor, Amedda, across from him sat Plo Koon and Yoda, beside them sat Senator Padme Amidalla. The Hutt yelled furious at what had just happened, his translator droid translating "The Great Jabba demands satisfaction for the terrible crimes the rogue Jedi Leo Rock has committed, he came without warning attacked Great Jabba's palace, the alliance between the Republic is over unless this criminal is brought to justice." Jabba's droid said to them.
The Chancellor sat calmly in his chair looking up at him before he rose "Rest assured Rock and his renegade Jedi will be punished, but you would dare assume you can treat the Republic Hutt?" The Chancellor asked.
Jabba eyed Sheev who had a very unusual look of defiance in his eye, "This Republic which has stood for thousands of years will not bow or break to you, should our alliance be broken then rest assured you will face the full might of the Republic's military on Nal Hutta."
The Hutt replied to the threat "You would not dare attack Nal Hutta, or Nar Shaddaa?" The translator's droid asked.
"I will do what is necessary to ensure the safety of the Republic Hutt, but threaten our alliance again and I assure you, it will be the last thing you ever do." Palpatine said before he cut the transmission and sat back down, sighing out his nostrils the Chancellor focused on the jedi before him.
Looking at Plo Koon and Master Yoda, "What is the current situation in the order, I am told that this splinter group threatens the very fabric of your… institution?" The Chancellor asked.
"Rock's actions do not represent the Jedi Order." Plo answered from his chair.
"I'm afraid they will, many of the Republic's citizens are against this war more that we allied ourselves with the Hutts, Chancellor, I'm terribly saddened to say that the reports of his exploits are spreading across the Republic they may not see this as a criminal act but… but something heroic?" Padme said, shaking her head.
The Chancellor eyed her suspiciously "And do you my dear?"
"…. Rock may have been a Republic hero once, but his actions endanger the Republic as a whole if the citizens don't see the Jedi as one, then neither the Republic or the Separatists will, they could exploit this political instability in a number of ways." Padme warned she turned to the eldest being in the room with the most experience and wisdom "Master Yoda, do the Jedi have a plan on how to… stop him?" She said as if it were gargling vinegar.
"You sound almost reluctant to see a dangerous terrorist stop the Senator?" Mas asked her, clutching his cane tight.
Padme didn't back down from his glare "The jedi have sacrificed everything in this war and what has the Republic done for them, Vice Chancellor, they spill their blood alongside our brave soldiers while the people blame them for the war."
"Perhaps if they could control their own acolytes then maybe they would have ended this war already?" Amedda said back.
The Chancellor held his hands up "Senator, Vice Chancellor, enough we can not afford to squabble among ourselves, but my Vice Chancellor makes a fair point our faith in the Jedi has been tested as of late, Master Yoda what assurance can you give us that you will stop these renegade Jedi?"
Master Yoda gripped his cane firmly under his small hands "A plan already in action there is, to find Rock and end his schemes." Master Yoda said "Fear though I do, make him our enemy we will should such a plan succeed."
TATOOINE
Tusken Village
Leo was smashed up against the stone wall of Hett's residence by Aayla, "Of all the reckless, selfish arrogant things to do, you attacked Jabba the Hutt's palace, knowing full well he had an alliance with the Republic." Aayla said holding him there, it was one of the rare times the Jedi had seen Aayla act so furious. The twi'lek master may have a slender graceful appearance to her but by all accounts she wasn't a pushover. The room had the new council of rogue jedi in it, Jinx, Maris and Dray had also come along and the younglings minus Petro who was still missing watching the argument unfol.d
"An unholy one at that, the Hutts are gangsters, drug dealers and slaves we should have razed the whole palace." Leo barked back holding Aayl's wrist around his shredded collar.
Sian gritted her teeth "What if Petro was in the palace, the Hutts could have killed him?"
"How do you think Jabba got away, even when I didn't sense him inside I went through every cell, we'll find him." Leo stated.
"We, where's this we?" Tholme asked, pointing his cane at him "We talked about this, a Council to make these decisions, plan our next moves, this was all you."
"You're damn right it was me." Leo said back to him swiping away Aayla's looking at Tholme "How many centuries have the crime syndicates run rampant across galaxy, killing and stealing at whim, the Black Sun, Pykes, the Hutt's and what did you do Tholme, what did any of you do?" Leo asked unapologetically.
The jedi all glared at him avoiding the answer, Sian was the next to speak "You lack the foresight" "To hell with your foresight." Leo snapped grabbing his lightsaber on his belt
"I carry this lightsaber the same as you, I am a Jedi Knight- I know that you all know what needs to be done, but none of you have the courage to act on it." Leo said pointing at the floor.
Nobody said a word "What was your decision, raise an army or go on running and hiding hoping they won't find us?" He asked, again nobody said anything. Outside the Hutt, Trench sat smoking a long pipe of his in hailing the tobacco in it before breathing out listening to Leo berate them.
K'Kruhk stepped up next "But you broke your word, you said you wanted a jedi council to make sure we pursued the right course of action, how long was it after you left us that you chose to make that choice?" K'Kruhk asked him.
Leo paced the full length of the room "I do not disagree with you that the Republic shouldn't have made an alliance with the Hett's, the Order has sacrificed much of its ideals, it's honor for this war… but our choice on the matter of an army, another army after what I saw happen to those brave clones- those brave men is not an easy one for us." K'Kruhk said, gesturing to the others "Youth still burns in your eyes, young Rock, but that fire can consume you if you are not careful." Leo shook his head at the last part.
"Careful, careful, be cautious, patience while we sit here and be patient Jabba has already escaped and made his way to contact the Republic fleet we're here on Tatooine?" Leo replied.
"Because of you." The Dark Woman pointed out "Because I wasn't afraid to act?"
The Dark Woman smirked "You think we're afraid, what do you know of fear?"
"I know it's no way to live." Leo said back to her spear eyes pointed at her "Running and hiding what we are, WE ARE THE BLACK KNIGHTS!" Leo shouted at them. "Loyal to no Republic, no High Council, but to remind the Jedi of who we are that's what we set out to do, this is a crusade we need crusaders." Leo snapped at them.
Quinlan grumbled at him "And fight everyone, does that mean the Republic, the Jedi who stand against us too?"
The accused was silent for a long time "I don't want to fight other Jedi, or the Republic's people for that matter, no we will fight the corruption that's poisoning the Republic, we start with the crime syndicates. We show them this is what Jedi do, and I know you're not just afraid you're worried this power will corrupt us?" Leo turned away, he was hiding his emotions and the Knights saw he was almost crying "Power doesn't corrupt, it reveals who we really are Masters."
"If you give me this power, if you give me your blessing to do what we can to stop this madness that's taken control of the Galaxy I will not fail you." Leo faced them again, hands out begging for them to agree "We can save the Jedi, save the Republic, save even the Separatists from themselves if you just follow me."
1313 PORTAL
Martez Garage
After meeting The Martez Sisters, both Trace and Ahsoka were working on Traces Nebula freighter. While working, Trace looked over her shoulder to see Ahsoka knew what she was doing, splicing the metal together with little effort. She watched the young togruta and was impressed by how well they were working on the ship.
"I can tell you two worked on starships before" Trace said "That must've been some academy you went to Topside" Trace said.
"Yeah the best." Ahsoka recalled the memory of when Anakin showed her how to work on a starship stabbing at her heart.
"What was it called?" Trace asked her.
"Skywalker Academy" Ahsoka said reluctantly.
"Skywalker? Never heard of it" Trace said "But what do I know living down here? I've never really heard of any academy not like I was ever gonna attend one"
"Oh Yeah, why's that?" Ahsoka asked the mechanic "I bet with your skills you could get a scholarship"
"Thanks Ahsoka, ut there aren't that many academies down here" Trace said "And I probably wouldn't get a scholarship anyway. I mean look around, this is it, Rafa and I Inherited this hanger from our parents after they...split. and the shop Rafa owns? She won it gambling so she could use it as a front for her schemes."
"Where'd you get the ship?" Ahsoka asked looking at the Nebula.
"From me" Trace replied "Built her myself. I did odd jobs,mechanic work,whatever I could to make some credits, and assembled it piece by piece. All that, plus Rafa chipping in and now I've got myself a starship." Trace said walking over her ship.
"Impressive,Very Impressive" Ahsoka said as she got back to work.
"No,Impressive is coming up" Trace said smiling "Once the Silver Angel revs up its hyperdrive."
"Ha! The Silver Angel?" Ahsoka chuckled.
The young mechanic looked back worried she'd made herself look stupid "Yeah why?" Trace asked
She shrugged back at Trace before Ahsoka said "I don't know, I just never heard a name like that before, while your at it could you name my bike?" Ahsoka asked as she put her tools down sliding off th edge of the ship.
"I did. Trash" Trace said "It's name is trash" This made Ahsoka snicker.
"Ha ha ha very funny" Ahsoka said rolling her eyes then got to work on her bike.
"So, once it's fixed, where are you headed?" Trace asked her.
Ahsoka walked over to the bike and rubbed on the handles "Hopefully as far away from Coursant as possible, this planet has a lot of memories we want to forget, things are already messy enough for me already" Ahsoka added.
"So why don't you stay a little longer" Trace insisted "That way we can test the Silver Angel"
While Ahsoka mulled it over, Trace's sister walked into the mechanic ship "What's going on?" Rafa asked as she walked up to them.
Trace smiled over at her older sister "Ahsoka is gonna stick around for a bit" Trace said happily throwing her arm over her shoulder smiling.
"You got any skills?" Rafa asked while looking at her nails.
Ahsoka stepped forward hand on her hip "Only useful ones" Ahsoka replied not liking Rafa's dismissive tone.
"We'll find out won't we?" The older sister asked smiling.
Trace poked her head around Ahsoka "What's up Rafa" Trace asked, stepping in front of her sister.
"Look I wouldn't ask you to do this but I'm in a tough spot" Rafa said "I hired a Star ship and crew for a job"
"You what!?" Trace asked clearly upset "You were gonna leave me here?"
"No" Rafa replied "I was gonna do a job,make us some money,and be back. But then the pilot backed out and took his ship with him and-" "I don't know what's worse" Trace said turning her back on her sister "That you were gonna do this or that you hired a pilot other than me to do it."
"Well now I need you," Rafa said.
"Only as a backup" Trace said, annoyed at her sister not choosing her first.
"What's the job anyway" Ahsoka asked
"I'll tell you once we're on the way, '' Rafa said, looking at the Togruta.
"I still haven't agreed to it" Trace argued walking away from her, the older sister followed throwing her arm around her "Trace please, I need your help with this." Rafa begged.
"You mean,you need the best pilot around and the fastest ship you know?" Trace asked, smiling.
Rafa rolled her eyes sarcastically ``Yes,to both of those" Rafa said as she and Trace were walking toward the Silver Angel. "Remember,we can't count on anyone"
"So we count on ourselves I know" Trace said "And Ahsoka to of course"
"Maybe" Rafa Scoffed as she looked at the other young woman, Ahsoka returning her stalking gaze.
"Come on I wanna get going." Trace said running up the ship "Go warm up the engines" Seeing such enthusiasm she hadn't seen in along time, Ahsoka smiled as she started walking up to Trace's ship until Rafa got in her way crossing her arms .
"You showed up out of nowhere, and suddenly you and my sister are inseparable? What are you after?" Rafa interrogated.
Caught of guard by the sudden questions "Excuse me?" Ahsoka asked, crossing her arms back.
"Oh come on everyone has an angle" Rafa said walking around Ahsoka in a circle "I don't mind except when it involves Trace, so tell me what are you after?"
Insulted at the insinuations but keeping her cool, Ahsoka calmly but a bit scolding replied "I don't have angle,unless maybe to keep you both out of trouble"
"Hmm you ever thought you might be the trouble she needs to stay away from?" Rafa asked her.
"This coming from the woman who agree to work on some illegal droids in which one of them almost destroyed the sector" Ahsoka asked as Rafa turned away.
"Whatever" Rafa said as she got aboard the ship.
In just a few minutes, the Silver Angel's engines took off, as it rose to the upper levels of Coruscant taking flight. Trace's eyes widened like a child in a candy shop at the sights of Coruscant from this height but unfortunately Trace was entering a military lane with four Republic carriers and a Vector class Star Destroyer in front of them.
"Trace what are you doing you can't go into a military lane it's a restricted area" Ahsoka warnede. Just then the three young women were receiving a transmission from the cruiser.
"We're being hailed" Rafa said.
"Rafa don't answer it" Ahsoka warned
"But we have too." Trace said reaching for the on switch.
"No we don't" Ahsoka countered gain.
"Trace just get us out of her" Rafa bugged her as the warship got closer, while Ahsoka said "Don't do anything that makes us look suspicious."
Trace shot her head around frantic "We already look suspicious" Trace said
"Just keep your distance Trace,but dont look like your trying to keep your distance." Rafa warned.
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Trace said to him.
"I don't know" Ahsoka argued "Fly casual"
"Don't tell me what to do" Trace said as she answered the call. "This is the Silver Angel. What can I do for you?"
"Have you lost your mind?" A familiar voice came through the link, Ahsoka went a paler shade of orange when she heard the voice of her one time friend and superior Admiral Yularen "This is military airspace civilian transports are not authorized to be in this sector I'll have your star pilot license for this!"
Trace looked at the two other women scared out of her britches "License? Do I need one of those?" Trace asked
Rafa took control of the commas and quickly thought up a lie "Uh,sorry. So sorry" Rafa spoke "I was teaching my younger sister how to fly it wont happen again"
"Who's is this? What's your license number?" Yuralen demanded.
But before anyone could respond Ahsoka turned off the link. "Just get in the transport lane and fly" she said. Just as she said that Ahsoka felt a familiar presence in the force. One they haven't sensed in a long time...Anakin.
"This is too easy" Rafa said "What if they send someone after us?"
"They won't" Ahsoka said
"How do you know?" Trace asked
"Trust us we'll be fine" Ahsoka said as the Silver Angel made its way off Coursant and flew onto hyperspace.
While in hyperspace the Silver Angel was shaking and making everyone uncomfortable.
"Um Trace I'm pretty sure ships aren't supposed to shake this much in hyperspace" Rafa asked her sister.
"What? Oh..." Trace said as she flipped a switch which caused the shaking to stop. "I left the air brakes on. That could've been bad."
TATOOINE
Leo rested in the shade of the canyon cliffs, he'd found a spot not far from the village to be alone, legs sprawled out leaning on his knee, he looked across the dune sea and blue sky. Soon enough Jinx walked up the trail to Leo's spot and looked out at the ocean of sand "That is a lot of sand."
"If we run into Anakin again we should bring some along." Leo said to him.
"Where are the Masters?" Leo asked.
Jinx shrugged "Still talking, I easevedroped a bit and it looks like they're debating on either going with your plan or leaving you here for the bounty hunters." Jinx chuckled, but Leo just stared out at the sand.
Jinx gave him a puzzled look "Did I do the right thing?" Leo asked him.
"With the Hutts?" Jinx asked, crossing his arms looking around. "Honestly, I think you could do more."
The twi'lek sat next to him, legs crossed leaning out "Now if it were me, with an army like you want, we would clean up the galaxy like you want, that's the thing these old Masters don't get about the Outer Rim the strong rule here, not the serve no one protects them."
Leo curled his hand into a fist on his knee "The Strong should protect the weak."
"Hey, no arguments here but you have to stop second guessing yourself when I was on Wasskah any second guessing, any hesitating you died." Jinx said.
"Same on the battlefield, all these Masters except for yours and Aayla forgot that." Leo said.
Jinx replied "What about K'Kruhk?"
"Master K'Kruhk has lived almost his entire life as a Jedi during the Republic's peace, how could anyone expect him to act in a war with clones, not people who volunteered for military service…." Leo's mind wandered off.
The twi'lek sat up "I know that look, you have an idea."
"I know where we can get the army we need."
Later both Jinx and Leo approached Trench who was playing a game of holo chess against himself inside the Star Lark's hanger. Moving the pieces across the board when Leo came up to him, the knight turned off the holoboard and sat down across from Trench "You said we needed to find the Sun Guard, why?" He asked. Jinx had followed him and when he heard the name "The Sun who?"
"A special forces unit that disappeared right before the war, their planet was sacked right after they vanished, Trench says they were working for Sidious before the war began." Leo said, looking back at Trench.
Trench nodded "Yes, click-click-click, galactically renowned mercenaries, rivals to the Mandolorian warriors you've been fighting."
"You said we needed to find them to balance the scales but that's not only it, why?" Leo asked the cyborg.
"Is it so hard to understand the enemy click-click-click of our enemy is our friend." Trench said.
"And where are the Sun Guard now, you said they vanished?" Leo asked him, Trench shook his head "Not entirely, click-click-clickI have been keeping tags on various mercenary armies in case the Separatists ever needed click-click-click special operations done." Trench said earning him a stink eye from Jinx.
Leo wasn't in the mood for games and Trench could tell, letting out a sigh "Quarzite."
"Quarzite? That's in the inner rim, how'd a mercenary army get that close to the core?" Leo asked him.
Trench scratched his mandibles as he explained "Quarzite click-click-click was one of the many inner rim worlds the Separatists looked at as a potential ally such as Onderon click-click-click." Trench said laying his two frontal arms on the table, Leo's mind went back to the absolute mess of Onderon, the civil war, the dead king, Lux Bonteri's death and Steela almost killing him to avenge the father of her unborn child. "You're familiar with the Kage warriors, yes click-click-click?"
"A few scars, what of them?" Leo asked.
"Much like Mon Cala, Quarzite has two species; the Kage are the minority to the ruling Belugans; the civil war there has been raging for years under Lord Otua Blank, a dictator."
Jinx finally spoke up "Civil war and a dictatorship that deep in the inner rim how does the Republic not intervene?"
Trench focused his eight eyes on the twi'lek Padawan "The Republic has known about Lord Blank for years click-click-click but due to Quarzite's neutrality in the current war what Senator would suggest diverting valuable clone troopers to a small planet like Quarzite, click-click-click, my colleague a General Kleeve proposed we make the Kage our allies, while I suggested the Belugans click-click-click, we could never decide on which side?"
"What does this have to do with the Sun Guard?" Leo asked, pressing the issue.
"Click-click-click, Blank recently had hired the Sun Guard to fight the Kage, but need I remind you click-click-click breaking a mercenary contract will ruin their reputation. You must offer them something they can't refuse click-click-click."
Leo looked up at Jinx "Tell Turok to get the Rogue Shadow ready."
Later, Leo and Trench were waiting outside Hett's hut before the Masters emerged from the conclave, Leo stood there waiting for them to speak as Trench smoked on his pipe "We've come to a decision." Tholme said.
Leo waited with baited breath "We will not support any actions that go against the Republic or the Jedi Order." K'Kruhk said and Leo forced himself to stay quiet "But." Aayla said.
"If you swear to us, that if we agree to let you raise your army to fight corruption and evil in the galaxy, then we are with you Leo." She said, Leo's face lit up but he kept his smile at bay "Thank you my brothers." Leo said bowing before he rose again.
"We know just where to start, the Rogue Shadow is standing by to take us to find the army we need." Leo said, behind them by the Star Lark they could see the stealth ship was already getting ready to fly.
The Dark Woman walked around the others "And who exactly is this army."
"… The Sun Guard?" Leo said.
The Masters all looked at him like he was crazy "The Sun Guard, the Sith Cult?" Sian aske.d
"They haven't been a cult for over a century, even then we knew it was the sith who corrupted their ranks Trench has told me where they are, and we believe they'll ally with us." Leo said confidently.
The Dark Woman still looked skeptical "And how do we pay, they are mercenaries?" She asked.
"I'll take care of it." Leo said back "And where are they Admiral?" Aayla asked Trench.
"Quarzite." Trench said, bowing out some from his pike that he held in his middle left arm.
Now the Masters looked like Leo was absolutely insane. "Yes, in the inner rim, it's why we're taking the Rogue Shadow." Leo said.
The Masters looked at one another, each sending a mental agreement or disagreement with just merely looking "Very well, but one of us should go with you." Tholme said "I'll go." Master K'Kruhk said.
"You Master K'Kruhk?" Aayla asked him.
The whipid master stepped up next to Leo "I have wallowed long enough, if the the Sun Guard are truly repented of the Sith then I will see for myself." K'Kruhk said.
"Good, that just leaves us finding out where our missing youngling is, luckily we have the best Jedi tracker in the galaxy?" Quinlan said cocksure of himself.
Leo sighed in relief "Then we'll go to Quarzite, and return with an army while you find Petro."
"I hope you know what you're doing Leo." Tholme said before Leo turned to go "Me too." Leo said walking aboard his ship, they watched the Rogue Shadow take off and fly away to seek out the Sun Guard. He passed by Dogma and Fives who were helping prep the ship in their arc clone armor as the ship flew off.
Tholme watched them go before he turned around approaching Aayla, Turok and Quinlan "Now, we find the lost youngling?" Tholme said.
"I've got our lead." Jinx said walking up to holding something in his hand, a small boot tossing it to Quinlan "You couldn't find anything that didn't stink?" Turok asked to catch a whiff of it as Quinlan caught it.
Jinx smirked, "Either this or the kids' sleeping robes."
"This is payback for not letting you go with Leo?" Quinlan asked him.
Jinx played innocent as a padawan would while his Master sniffed the boot, scrunching up his face as his eyes were closed. "What's he doing?" Turok asked.
"My Master can track people through the force, if somebody's touched something then he can trace it." Jinx told him.
"Whooo does this kid wash his socks?" Quinlan said, shaking his head, dropping the boot and wiping the air around his nose.
Jinx couldn't help but laugh "Do you know where he is?" Sian asked.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah he's not far from anchorhead, someone in the chaos grabbed him when they saw him on the ground and took him to their farm." Quinlan said.
THE SILVER ANGEL
Back with Ahsoka and the Martez's their ship dropped out of hyperspace, outside a spiraling maelstrom. The Akkadese Maelstrom to be exact, also known simply as the Maelstrom, was a cluster of matter in the Kessel sector containing interstellar gas, carbonbergs, ice chunks, and other large debris that surrounded the planet Kessel. The planet Kessel was located within the Akkadese Maelstrom in the Kessel sector of the Outer Rim Territories. Much of the planet's northern hemisphere was devoted to mining spice,] coaxium, and Kesselstone. While much of Kessel's surface was devoted to mining said minerals, Kessel's southern hemisphere was home to lush sanctuaries. The world had a hot and humid climate and was a hotbed of life but also death.
"Kessel. You're taking us to Kessel?" Ahsoka asked, seeing the maelstrom they started to go into, the fabled kessel run.
"I'm taking us to fortune and glory" Rafa replied in her seat next to her sister.
Trace looked at the clouds of unknown space with great intrusion as she said"I've heard pilots talk about this place. Its legendary"
Ahsoka leaned in on the chairs "Rafa what exactly are we doing here?"
"Picking up medicine" Rafa said but Ahsoka knew she was lying by how quickly she said it, and her Jedi training. Not soon after passing through the kessel run. The Silver Angel descended over the lush green woods of the Southern Hemisphere birds flying beside the ship making Trace look like she was in a dream before they approached a brilliantly decorated white marble palace. The spirals were tipped with gold and trimmed gardens could be seen inside it's high walls. The Angel landed in front of the castle before the three ladies walked out of the ship and were greeted by at least two dozen guardsmen in white armor with spears. Their helmets all pointed and curved with open faces in it, but they didn't pay much attention to their armor or faces. As a fine dressed twi'lek man in no armor, with red skin and eyes. Dressed in the finest white silks with a pale blue and lavender trim adorning the robes, embodied with gold down the collar and shoulders. He wore the same style with a gold crowned white and blue rimmed headdress.
Rafa smiled seeing him, Ahsoka still skeptical even as Trace could barely contain her excitement.
"Which one of you is Rafa Martez?" He asked.
"I am." Rafa replied, stepping forward.
The twi'lek bowed "I am Kinash Lock, King Yaruba's majordomo we've been expecting you. We've prepared a banquet to show his thanks for your services." He gestured for them to follow toward the keep.
"Lead the way sir" Rafa said as Lock led them inside the castle and into a huge dining room where the banquet was to be held. Soon they were wining and dining with the royalty of kessel, Rafa sitting closer to the majordomo, then Ahsoka and Trace. Trace devoured the food like she hadn't eaten in days, that was probably true.
"So when is the king showing?" Rafa asked Kinash.
The Majordomo simply replied "He leaves matters like this to me, however if you show yourself to be dependable you will have the opportunity to meet his Royal Highness."
"We won't disappoint," Rafa said confidently.
"Just out of curiosity, what kind of medicine are we transporting?" Ahsoka asked, earning her another glare from Rafa, at this point Ahsoka was numb to it's effects.
"The essence of the medicine." Lock replied "You will deliver three containers of unrefined spice upon satisfactory delivery you will be rewarded a full shipment and a contract to transport for us on a continual basis"
Rafa's eyes glittered with the possibility of credits as she said"May as well get that contract ready."
"Many things can be made out of spice and they are not all good? Ahsoka asked again.
"I'm not sure what you mean," Lock said dodging the question as he played with his food. "In this time of war our spice is refined into a medicine that saves people across the galaxy. The Yaruba family of Kessel has always been a promoter of health and happiness across the stars. Now come Ms. Martez Let's us get the spice into this very fast ship" As Lock and Rafa walked leaving Trace and Ahsoka alone.
Later, Ahsoka, Rafa and Trace flew the Silver Angel north to the spice minds, the lus forest melted away and the barren carved up lands of kessel appeared beneath them. Massive parts of the surface were dug up and turned over for what laid beneath the surface. Trace looked out the window as they flew over the minders "Look at all those droids, there must be thousands?" She said,
Ahsoka looked too, but she knew they weren't droids. "Those aren't droids Trace…"
"They're people." Sure enough as they landed the three women saw there were hundreds if not thousands or more down in the mining pits carrying bags of spice, pushing wheeled carts up ramps, all being slashed at the back with whips by Zygerrian overseer. In fact one zygerrian overseer was already waiting with three containers of their cargo.
Rafa shook her head "There's no way those are slaves, the Republic would never allow something like that." Rafa said back to Ahsoka as they approached the overseer.
Ahsoka kept her silence as the Zygerrian in blue armor holding an electro whip had people push up the containers "Hello good sir, here to collect your spice." The overseer said nothing he just handed her the manifest and walked away.
Ahsoka watched the worker's limp back to the mines, one an old man who could barely stand being helped back by a younger twi'lek woman. Her instincts told her to go for the overseer but she didn't know the whole truth, she didn't know the facts, how could she trust herself to know they were slaves if she couldn't trust her self to be a jedi.
As they loaded the ship up, the Silver Angel took off into the sky's back through the kessel run. "Next stop Oba Diah right?" Trace asked.
"Oba Diah indeed" Rafa replied "Marg Krim better have my money waiting." She added.
"Mar Krim? The Pyke crime boss?" Ahsoka asked in a worried tone.
Throwing her hands in the air Rafa turned around in the ship "Why am I not surprised you know about the Pykes?" Rafa said clearly annoyed. "As a matter of facts how do you know about the Pykes?"
"Well we know you can't make a deal with them." Ahsoka spat back.
"Well I already made a deal with them" Rafa said "Trace how does she know so much?"
Ahsoka snapped at Rafa "We pay attention to the galaxy around us, the Pykes like the Hutts are gangsters"
"Gangsters?" Trace asked in concern "Wait like Pintu on Coruscant?"
"Nope. Much worse, like Galactically, they'll take your ship, your life, your freedom, everything!" Ahsoka almost shouted at them.
"What?" Trace asked as she sat down in the pilot's seat.
"Well I took a job Ahsoka" Rafa said "We need all the credits you can get."
"This is bad Trace" Ahsoka said "But I think we can make the best out of a bad situation and deliver the spice to somewhere that can actually use it that way Trace can keep her ship, Rafa will get paid and we will have helped a lot of people. Everyone wins"
Rafa shook her head, the half of her head that had hair bouncing with it "That won't work" Rafa said "Beside we have people on Coruscant who we still owe money to"
"No you do not," Ahsoka said annoyed.
"Sisters take care of eachother. We can't pay with of debt with your morality" Rafa said
"Rafa think about all the good you can do If we deliver the spice to someone else instead of the Pykes" Ahsoka said.
"Think of all the good both of you can do by helping us finish this job" Rafa countered.
"No one is taking my ship!" Trace yelled. Just then the younger sister did about the dumbest thing anyone could've done and dumped the spice into hyperspace.
"Trace please don't tell me you did what I think you did" Ahsoka said in fear.
"I dumped the spice" Trace said sitting in the pilots seat "Problem solved non of you get your way and I keep my ship"
"Trace I don't know how many stupid things you've done in your life but that has to be the dumbest thing ever!" Rafa said while Ahsoka her back.
When she let go, she tried to say "As much as I hate to agree with her, Rafa's right" Ahsoka said "The spice gave us options. Now-" "Now we have a deal to deliver spice to an intergalactic crime syndicate and no spice to deliver." Rafa yelled at her younger sister turning her chair around.
Dumbfounded Trace asked "But I thought delivering spice to gangsters was a bad thing?"
"It is." Ahsoka replied "But you have to pay them somehow- right now we owe the Pykes"
"And now there's a pretty good chance they will take your ship as profit" Ahsoka warned.
And to which Rafa added "Which means unless we come up with a plan you can say goodbye to the Silver Angel and your dream of ever becoming a pilot!" After hearing that Trace was overflowing with guilt.
"Then how was turning g the spice into medicine gonna solve anything?" She asked Ahsoka.
"We'll that was more of a debate" Ahsoka said "We hadn't figured out how to solve the Pyke problem yet."
"Oh but you do now?" Rafa asked
"We'll find out." Ahsoka said, crossing her fingers in her mind hoping it would work.
ENROUTE QUARZITE
Rogue Shadow
Wiggling her finger around his sleeve, Leo poked a finger out of one of the holes in his gray tunic, there were various cuts and tears in the clothing, even the leather harness that kept the hood down was starting to get worn down "You need new robes." K'Kruhk said beside him in the copilot seat.
"These are fine." Leo said.
"No, click-click-click, it is important to present yourself well when seeking an objective click-click-click these mercenaries will judge you the second they see you having two old men is nothing, the moment they see your face they'll see your scar click-click-click." Trench warned in the navigator seat.
Glancing over his shoulder Leo asked "My scar, I'll wear my mask so they don't see me and then the bounty?"
Trench nodded "Gaze upon me, click-click-click, he said, gesturing to his cybernetics and his admiral's uniform, the jewel crusted cybernetics, gilded steel "I bare my battle flags with pride, click-click-click as should you."
Leo knew the term battle flag was a term often used by veterans in the galaxy to describe the scars they'd earned in military service. Jace Dallin, his friend, had worn the one on the left side of his face with great pride and dignity. Leo dragged his finger across his scar, the one Tol Skor had given him that day on Serenno, he still felt the heat of the blade the smell of his own blood "Take Master K'Kruhk here, he may be a an elder whipid but look at his eyes." Trench said.
Obeying and looking into K'Kruhk's yellow eyes under the brim of his straw hat and gray hair "At first glance, a old man but look closer and you see the eyes of a killer click-click-click."
"Careful Admiral." K'Kruhk snarled behind his tusks "I mean no offense, click-click-click I only state that one would be wise not to face you in combat, I count myself lucky to have never faced you on the field of honor."
Leo turned back around "Tell me about the Sun Guard, who's their leader?" Leo asked.
"The Sun Guard are led by the Supreme Sun Guardian, under him there are the Thycani Dictator who oversees the logistic matters click-click-click, Thychani Commanders who operate in a similar way as any commander click-click-click, Twisuns Praetors and Legates as officers click-click-click."
The sudden respect Trench gave to K'Kruhk made Leo tense up, "Why so nice all of a sudden?"
"For the Sun Guard to ally with us click-click-click, we must speak as one." Trench said, stomping his cane on the floor, "And how are we going to do that click-click-click?" Trench asked him.
K'Kruhk looked at Leo wondering the same thing "If what you told me about the Sun Guard and Sidious is right, then he's the reason they were driven from Thrysus we need to find a way to make them see we have a common enemy."
The Rogue Shadow neared Quarzite and started to signal them "That may be easier said and done, few see the difference between jedi and sith these days."
Leo started to get the ship ready to drop out of hyperspace "Are we really so different Master K'kruhk, we both use the force we just disagree on how to use it."
"Then let us pray we use it well today." K'Kruhk said, the Rogue Shadow exited out of hyperspace over the planet of Quarzite. A was a small planet located in the Inner Rim whose high atmospheric pressure rendered its surface uninhabitable. However, the planet's crystalline caverns were capable of supporting life, and were home to the warring Belugans and Kage. Not far from the Colonies, the small planet Quarzite was located in the Quarzite system, at grid square M-13 on the Standard Galactic Grid. Flanked by the two super-hyperroutes, the Corellian Trade Spine to the west and the Hydian Way to the east, Quarzite was located along the Shipwrights' Trace hyperspace route. When viewed from space, Quarzite appeared a tranquil world covered in a greyish layer of clouds with violet flashes, but in reality, the planet's surface was unreachable as a result of its thick atmosphere, lightning and heavy rain, which was unable to sustain any form of society as the planet's high-pressure Type IV atmosphere was nearly impossible for most organisms to survive in. With a hollow crust, Quarzite was home to many underground caverns which featured fields of crystals and crystalline structures beneath the surface. The crystal emanated a violet light that was the key to evolution on the planet, together with the oxygen-rich Type I atmosphere found within the caves. The violet light glowed perpetually and the subterranean realm had its own underground water basins, lakes, fungal growths and lichens
The Rogue Shadow approached the space station attached to the turbo lift that went from the planet's surface to underneath and space, but as they got closer they saw the station wasn't unoccupied. Standing guard over the station was a fleet of warships waiting for them, Leo counted six ships in all, three Munificent Class frigates, two Corvette blockade runners and the last one which stood out most of all.
But the last ship, was the largest one by far a full armed and armored Providence-Class dreadnought, a Separatist dreadnought, was a model of Dreadnought designed by Quarren engineers and manufactured by Free Dac Volunteers Engineering Corps and Rendili StarDrive for use by the fleets of the Trade Federation. During the Clone Wars, the Providence-class Dreadnought was incorporated into the naval forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and saw extensive use throughout the war as flagships. The Providence-class Dreadnought was among the largest and most powerful warships that served in the Confederacy navy, consisting of two variants, one model that measured to 1,088 meters, and a second that stretched to over 2,000 meters in length. The warship also possessed an armament which provided the vessel with enough firepower to withhold a planetary blockade alone. Its armament consisted of fourteen heavy quad turbolaser batteries, thirty-four dual heavy laser cannons, twelve twin light point-defense ion cannons, two heavy ion cannons, twelve heavy flak guns, and 102 proton torpedo launchers. These vessels also sported a large hangar complementing hundreds of Starfighters. They could also carry shuttles, while also ferrying a passenger capacity of over 40,000 troops, as well as 1.2 million deactivated battle droids, and manned by a crew of 900 officers, droids, and other enlisted crew, and a cargo capacity of 18,000 metric tons for encumbrance. But this one had been heavily modified in addition to the swirling yellow flames, it had two long wings on each side lined with guns.
"I thought you said the Sun Guard were special forces, that's a whole armada." Leo said back to the hatch.
Trench scratched his mandibles "Hmmm It has been sometime since I followed up on my Sun Guard Reports click-click-click then pray we do not fail Jedi." He said as a squadron of The corellian attack Fighter 500, commonly known as the HLAF-500 starfighter,was a modified version of Corellian Engineering Corporation's earlier LAF-250 patrol fighter, which the Corellian Defense Force demanded to compensate for the combat weakness of the original design. The HLAF-500 retained the basic LAF-250 fighter platform, but replaced the underpowered drives with SoroSuub 9X2 fusial thrust engines, and supplemented the original armament of twin lasers with extra weapons hardpoints, normally outfitted with a pair of proton torpedo launchers. The upgraded fighter also boasted slightly improved shields and maneuverability. The resulting fighter boasted very fast acceleration, allied to a decent armament and dogfighting capability. They encircled the Rogue Shadow flying close.
"Unidentified ship, this is restricted orbital space by order of Lord Otua Blank, state your business or be on your way." The lead pilot said behind his fighter.
Trench reached up to grab the back of Leo's chair "We must be direct with these mercenaries, click-click-click any sign of weakness they will strike."
Pressing the response button, Leo put on the microphone "This is Leo Rock, of the Rogue Shadow I am here to be your leader, I have something they'll want." Leo said.
A few moments of silence passed between the Rogue Shadow and the Sun Fighters, "Follow us to our flagship, if you are who you say you are we'll know soon enough." The Sun Pilot said. The Rogue Shadow flew toward the Providence Class Dreadnought, the closer they got they saw it had a different design the the standard Separatist ones, along with the two extra fins on each side, the front didn't have the beaked shaped battering ram, but a wider more axe shaped.
It came around to the Dreadnoughts hanger and flew inside when they landed The two Jedi, Harch, Dogma and Fives saw the ship was "General are you sure about this?" Dogma asked him.
"No, but I doubt the Republic will loan us a few of your brothers Dogma." Leo said as the Rogue Shadow touched down.
As it did they saw approaching them blasters at the ready were the fabled Sun Guard Legionnaires themselves. They were all dressed in the same yellow armor armor, covering their head, shoulders and upper torso with matching gauntlets and boots. The head piece had a visor similar to the Senate Guard but with a thermal oculus on the eye and each soldier having a pack on their backs or none at all, they all wore short kama's around their waists or scarves on their neck, a sandy beige color with writing on them which Leo couldn't read that went down to their knees. Under their armor they wore a thick set of insulated fatigues, the same beige. Each carried blaster rifles and as the ship ramp lowered the passengers walked out to meet one of the Sun Guards who stood out.
This one had a Kama that went to his metal boots, he carried a pyke. A long double bladed weapon his armor was scarred and scratched from years of service "A Legate." Trench whispered to him.
The Legate pointed his pyke at them "Leo Rock will follow me, the rest will remain with your ship."
Leo looked back at the others and winked before he walked up to the legate who held up his spear again, "Your weapon." Leo sighed, handing him his lightsaber before the Legate issued him to follow. Leo did as he was told with two Sun Guards behind him escorting him into the inner workings of the ship. The Legate and his two men led Leo all the way to the Star Deck. It was nearly identical to the star deck Leo and Ahsoka had been held prisoner on when Count Dooku had learned Leo was a spy. Inside there was a long table with multiple chairs lining the table each of them had either a Sun Guard or a hologram of one sitting in it. They wore yellow armor with black spiraling suns painted on them instead of the yellow standard ones the legionaries wore, longer kamas too with glowing beige capes with the same strange writing on them. Leo had a strong feeling these were the Commanders all except two.
One was standing beside the throne, he didn't wear armor but he did wear the Sun Guards insulated fatigues and carried a blaster pistol. The second in command, Leo guessed. His face was dark skinned, with greying black hair and a scar on his cheek. But the Sun Guard in the throne wore silver armor with silver Kama to match, black insulated fatigues and a full perpendicular bladed cam and by his side had the same pyke weapon at his side. His helmet was adorned with a blade coming perpendicular with a deep cut running diagonally across the visor from left up to the right.
"The Kage have hit our supply lines again, no word from the squad they took prisoner, we'll assume they're dead." One Commander said behind his mask.
A hologram Sun Guard spoke next "We should start gassing out caves, collapse tunnels around the elevator, Blanks fortress and other key points."
"These Kage are fierce, not a single one of our trains haven't been attacked?" Another hologram said.
When the Thychani Dictator saw Leo be brought in "Thank you Commanders that'll be all, you're dismissed." The Commanders all stood up as the Sun Guardian said rose not saying a word. They all saluted him in a different way then Leo was used to, they held their arm up in front of their chests and cupped their left hands over their right bowing in unison before walking toward the exit. Leo was led down one stairway while the Commanders walked up the other. They eyed him with unidentifiable looks under their visors before Leo was brought up to the Sun Guardian and the Dictator.
"Thank you men, Legate you and your men go down to the kitchen and have the cooks open up a bottle of sake."
The two Sun Guards looked at one another as the Legate stomped his pyke on the floor bowing "Thank you sir, he was armed only with this." The Sun Guard said taking out Leo's lightsaber and handing it to the Dictator.
Leaving the star deck, Leo waited till the Sun Guards were gone and he was left with the two. Leo looked at the Thycani Dictator then at the Supreme Sun Guardian. "I am Dictator Meto, the man you stand before is the Supreme Sun Guardian Ra'gun Bree, when we heard that the most wanted man in the Republic wanted to see us, we were curious what do you have to say." The Dictator asked.
"Nice ship." Leo said looking around the Star Deck "Providence Class cruisers are expensive even for mercenaries, a gift from the Separatists?" Leo asked.
"He's perceptive." The Dictator said to the Sun Guardian, the leader of the mercenaries stood up and took off his helmet, he had dark brown skin with black hair and a scar running across where the cut on his helmet was, he had an oval shaped face with the scar drawing Leo's eye, it was like his a scar one only got from a lightsaber "He's an idiot." The Sun Guardian said.
Leo cleared his throat "But one with an offer."
"Is it, please don't contact the Republic and claim the millions of credits on my head?" The second in command held up his wrist to reveal a comlink "I've got the bridge on standby Sun Guardian shall I have them also prepare to send a signal to Count Dooku." Meto said.
The Sun Guardian picked up his pyke "Oh, right, we have Trench we could turn him over to the Separatists and they'd give us what, two more Dreadnoughts, a droid army, both?" Ra'gun raised the pyke to Leo's neck and he didn't even flinch.
Leo cocked a brow "So Count Dooku is offering to help you take back Thyrsus after the Republic took over at the start of the war, is the Sun Guard still a Sith Cult?"
The Sun Guardian squeezed his glove around his pyke's staff grip "We could care less about your religious squabbles Jedi, it cost the Guard enough as is and I know better than to trust anyone with a lightsaber, red or blue."
Leo looked at the scar, "So far, you've got less then five seconds after I finish talking to give us a reason not to turn you over to the Republic, Trench to the Separatists and kill the others, ten seconds go."
"I can give you more than either Count Dooku or Otua Blank." Leo said.
Ra'Gun didn't lower his pyke "Five seconds."
"I can give you something you've always wanted." Leo said.
"Three, two o-" "I can give you revenge against Sidious." Leo said.
The Sun Guardian gaped at Leo and the Thyrcani Dictator was speechless "How… do you… know that name…" the Sun Guardian asked he pressed the blade up to Leo's neck it was so sharp, just the touch of it pricked his skin. Leo didn't flinch even as his skin was cut "I know he hired you years before the war, then he razed homeworld in the report a single regiment held off the entire Republic force before they were crushed and all you were gone?" Leo said to him.
Turning to his second in command the Guardian flicked his head and the Dictator took his hand away from the comlink on his wrist. Taking the blade off of Leo's neck the Sun Guardian glared at Leo "The Second Regiment, they live gloriously in the light of sun now." Ra'Gun said
Leo figured it had to be some Thyrcani prayer of some kind "You're jedi, how do you know of Sidious."
"Because I know what he is, I know he's been behind this war since the start and before then too." Leo said, reaching up to his face pointing at his scar "I have mine, and you have yours, you only get a scar like that with one kind of weapon." He said looking at the Guardians scar
"Let's say you're telling the truth, and let's say I am too." The Sun Guardian walked back to his throne and sat down "A man named Sidious hired the Sun Guard nearly two decades ago, I was just a young recruit at the time being taken to go world to world for… missions." Ra'Gun said, Leo listened "Years went by and eventually I was promoted to be part of our employers personal bodyguard on Coruscant, the armor you see here was a gift.'
Leo forced his face to stay stoic "Sidious is on Coruscant?"
"As soon as the Naboo Crisis happened something changed, on the night the new Chancellor was elected my men and I were given the night off. When we returned to our barracks he was waiting." Ra' Gun squeezed the grip of his throne taking a deep breath "I never fought a demon before, but that was as close as I got." Ra' Gun said pointing to the scar on his face "At first we thought he was an old man, but like you said he was a Sith Lord."
"How did you survive?" Leo asked Ra' Gun.
The Sun Guardian sighed "That's a story for another time, why do you seek us out for Sidious, do you think we have a common enemy."
"Is that not obvious?" Leo asked "Jedi, Sith, your orders are the same parts of a coin flip one side and you find the other." He said.
"… True, but am like no Jedi you have ever met." Leo said "Prove it." Ra' Gun demanded.
Raising up his hand Leo closed his eyes and summoned a small storm of force lightning in his hand, he opened his eyes still green "This is the power that was once thought to belong to the dark side alone, now I command it." Leo closed his fist "With your army and my jedi we can finally have justice for what Sidious has done to the galaxy."
"Justice, you think I want justice?" Ra'Gun asked leaning forward "He slaughtered my brothers as if all I could do was watch, he sent a fleet that decimated my home world and all I could do was watch, no, the Sun Guard do not want justice we want revenge, and last I checked revenge is not the jedi way."
Leo looked away for a moment "The Black Knights stand apart from the order." Leo said.
"The Black Knights?" Ra'Gun asked.
Meto leaned in "What these rogue Jedi call themselves."
"We have forsaken the Council on Coruscant, and their hypocrisy, but you're right, revenge is not the jedi way, but if vengeance is what you seek I will do everything in my power to give to you." Leo offered his hand to Ra'Gun who sat back in his chair thinking.
Meto cleared his throat before he spoke "We've already a contract with Otua Blank, unless we win the war here we'll be discredited as mercenaries and if we join you, we'll be outlaws to the Republic bad for business."
"What can I do to make you join you?" Leo asked them, both Meto and Ra'Gun looked at one another "A test?" Ra'Gun said.
"Test?" Leo asked.
Ra'Gun got to his feet and approached the long table turning on the holomonitor to reveal a squad of Sun Guards being attacked by the Kage warriors "A patrol of our troopers were captured by the Kage, they've been taken prisoners for weeks now we aren't sure why or how many, but if and a big if we agree to follow we'll need them back."
"You want me to rescue your men, easy." Leo said.
Meto snickered, "Easy that's cute."
"Otua Blank and his men have refused to give us access to the tram ways that let us look for their last known location, you'll have to go on foot." Ra'Gun said.
"So once you have your men back, you're with me?" Leo asked, Ra'Gun glared at Leo "I will consider my options, and make my decision upon your return if you should. Meto has a ship take him to the Space Elevator."
OBA DIAH
World of the Pyke's
Later the Silver Angel came out of hyperspace and flew to the grayish green and blue world of Oba Diah. Threw it passed through the clouds over the canyons and gorges of the surface to approach the menacing fortress of Mar Krim and landed just outside. Like on Kessel a squad of guards approached them, all of them Pykes hunched over their three fingered hands clutching their blaster pistols. As the three ladies walked out of the ship and met with the green Pyke crime boss Mar Kim. He wore a headdress of gold that looked like a fountain over his purple eyes and large head. A pale blue tunic lined with the same material as his head dress covered his shoulders showing his wealth.
"I assume you had no trouble transporting the spice from Kessel?" Kim asked none of the girls in particular.
"Not at all" Rafa said showing she was the leader of their trio "This is one of the smoothest jobs I ever had" she lied, hiding her worry about what Trace had just done.
"Hmm. Good" Kim said smiling his small mouth at her "If anything happened it would have been unfortunate for you. Here is your payment but let's take a look at that cargo." He said as one of his guards almost handed Rafa a case of unmarked credits.
"You don't trust me?" Rafa insulted "I mean you hired me" she argued as she took the credits.
Mar Kim's snarled at her saying "I don't trust anyone who isn't a Pyke"
Just then Ahsoka waved her arm and whispered "You want to pay us our credits and send us on our way" Just then the Pyke leader gave the credits to Rafa.
"Here are your credits" Kim said, which confused the captain of the guards."Now go on your way" Then the four friends started walking back to the ship.
"I take it back" Rafa said "I like this plan" Then Rafa loaded the empty crates onto the landing platform and was about to take off until things went wrong. The pykes had opened the three crates to reveal that they were totally empty.
"Where is the Spice?" The Captain snapped, the three ladies of the Silver Angel ran into their ship trying to take off. The freighter came to life and bolted out of the landing pad into the sky but three Pyke ships caught them off and launched in a tractor beam.
"Well this plan backfired didn't it? Rafa said glaring at Ahsoka "Just so you two know when they interrogate me I'll blame the whole thing on you" Rafa said to the torgurtan.
"Between the three of us there's plenty of blame to go around" Trace said as they were getting dragged back to Oba Diah as prisoners.
QUARZITE
The Underground
Leo walked behind Meto through the tram station in the undersurface of Quarzite, Sun Guard legionaries guarded the entrance along with a few Belugans security forces not paying any attention as Leo followed the Dictator. He had his hood up and mask on, but when they approached the tram station exit they heard "Halt." Leo and Dictator Meto looked over to see a Belugan Captain walking with two of his soldiers behind him. Without his helmet he had a mole-like face with gills and four tentacles that folded together to look like a beer "Dictator Meto, who is this, another Sun Guard?"
Dictator Meto barely looked at Leo, a tracker we've contracted to go into the tunnels to find our men."
"And are your own forces inadequate?" The Belugan Captain asked.
"To the contrary we would rather not waste our men or your brave security forces, this is merely to confirm if our men are alive or not." Meto lied.
The Captain thought it over "Considering the circumstances, I will, let them through."
Leo followed Dictator through a large doorway out onto the platform where a tram was without a train, "Where do I start?" Leo asked, looking beyond the tram. The entire underground of Quarzite was filled with purplish crystals giving off a purple hue like a sunset. "Where do I start?" Leo asked.
"Follow the tram north, there will be a lake where our men went missing. If you don't find them, the Kage will find you and for what it's worth Jedi I hope you don't die." The Dictator said, handing him back his lightsaber. Leo jumped off the tramp and started to jog down tram tracks disappearing behind the crystals. Leo ran on into the underground before he found the underground lake. It had a soft pink glow to it and he walked across the bank before he spotted a single Sun Guard helmet. Kneeling down he picked up the helmet when he heard a scurrying sound, dropping it he tore out his lightsaber to see a dozen Kage warriors had surrounded him. The shinobi all wore the same dark blue and yellow robes as they had on Rendili.
Leo saw he was outnumbered but he also knew if he fought his way out of it he wouldn't be able to find their hideout or the Sun Guard, standing up right he turned off his lightsaber and tossed it to the floor letting them take him prisoner. The Kage warriors bound his hands and tore the mask off his face "Take the Jedi to the Village, he'll talk or he'll die like the others." The Kage leader said Leo noticed his hood was different from the others; it had a reverse S mark on the brim and more ornately decorated before they knocked him out.