Chapter 23
Exile
DANTOOINE
Dusk
Leo was up early, the sun was starting to creep over the horizon letting in a soft orange rush of light across the dew covered plains. The jedi ruins are still shadowed by the canyon walls around the plateaus hidden from the ethereal light of a new day. Leo was swinging his lightsaber in Vaapad form taking different stances and positions before he switched to Shi-Cho, then to Juyo before he rested the forms and started it again. He was standing on a bridge that had rushing water under it one end leading into the ruins the other out to the canyons where Master Sian Jieselhad arrived. She was in fact standing afar from him in her brown robes watching him train her pale blue eyes watching his form, the motions of his swings and balance kept even as his wounds strained him. Without the gauntlets on his forearms to keep his robes tucked in he rolled them up past his elbow, his muscular forearms showing bare.
"He never stops."
Sian looked over her shoulder to see Sora had awoken from his own slumber "How'd you sleep Master Bulq?"
"Little Sian, please call me Sora. There's no need for formalities between us is there?" Sora asked, smiling at him.
SHe returned the smile with her own, her soft brown lips curling up "That's one thing the rest of us don't miss, all the bowing and ceremony." She said, referring to the others.
"I think I see some of your work here Sora?" Sian said, watching Leo.
"You're eyes are still sharp as ever, out of all the jedi I've trained in Vapaad or attempted to, no one has picked it up as fast as he has?" Sora explained "What Leo lacks in talent with the force he makes up for in his sheer determination to never surrender even to himself." Sora added.
Sian cocked a brow brushing back one of her silver bangs "Is that determination or pride?"
"Both I think, when he was a padawan he had an argument with another student over how Jedi shouldn't cower behind humility, that we have a right to be proud of our power." He told her.
"Well let's see just how proud he is." She said walking down to him.
Leo sensed her approach and turned around, "It's easy fighting nobody isn't it?" She asked.
"Master Jiasel." Leo greeted me with a proper bow.
"Even us Rogue Jedi have heard of you Rock, what they call you on the battlefield." She said walking in a circle around him her hands clapped under her robes.
Leo avoided her eyes "The Berserker." He said before she could "Hmm, you don't care for that nickname?"
"A jedi Berserker, it doesn't make much since it does." He replied as she loses her robes and let it drop around her feet. Sian wasn't dressed in a traditional jedi robe like Sora or even, it had a striking resemblance to the outfit Ahsoka wore except all black and minor alterations. Instead of gloves and arm bands Sians arms from under the shoulders down to her wrists were black sleeves, she wore a high collared sleeveless black tunic that showed spots on her shoulders like her face and forehead. The tunic went down around a traditional jedi sash belt where Leo saw her lightsaber, the tunic extending down to her knees that were wrapped in grayish green trousers and cuffed black boots.
"Does something matter Rock, you look like you've seen a ghost?" She asked him to take her lightsaber in her hand.
He shook his head "No, ready when you are." He said activating both ends of his lightsaber, Sian took a Form I stance, her lightsaber activating to reveal an emerald green blade pointing at him. The two engaged as Sora observed as Leo charged her, Sian raised to block before she countered when she went to strike he blocked it spinning around to catch her next attack on his offhand blade.
Meanwhile, inside the ruins the other jedi were beginning to wake up, Jinx was stirring in the emptied warehouse with Yin-Li and Abraxas when he smelt something, something good. Shooting up he saw O-Mer arm still in a sling stirring a pot of smoking stew "What are you doing?"
"Breakfast, what's it look like?" O-Mer asked him back, the other two padawans woke up too "What smells so good?" Yin-Li asked.
"A healthy dose of Republic Military rations, mixed with some seasoning I found down stairs in the Temple pantries, along with some cooking tools." O-Mer said as he gestured to the pot he was stirring and a few bowls each with spoons in them, he picked up one bowl and filled it before he handed it to her. Yin took it and soon so did Abraxas smelling it with a big hungry smile.
Jinx skeptical as ever sneered at the bowl of soup when O-Mer gave it to him "And you sure this won't kill us?" He asked.
"Just try it, the best surprises are often the most unknown." O-Mer suggested, Jinx smirked "A poet, a cook, a jedi now a man on the run, hard to believe you're still single O-Mer." Jinx said, sticking his spoon into the soup and eating a mouthful.
All three of the padawans' faces turned greener than the grass around them before they all turned around spitting out the disgusting attempt at breakfast "The smell lied-ack." Abraxas gasped as O-Mer frowned "It can't be that bad?" O-Mer said, taking a spoonful into his own mouth. His nose scrunched up and his lips tightened before he puked it out, his tongue burning.
"Okay… ew…." Jinx spat out some leftovers behind his teeth "Not a cook." Jinx gagged.
O-Mer's shoulder slumped "My bad everyone, thought the seasoning would still be good?"
"AFTER HOW MANY CENTURIES?" Jinx snapped at him laughing, O-Mer smirked before he burst out laughing at his failed breakfast "Well on the bright side, we now have a good way to poison someone?" He laughed, Yin-Li and Abraxas both laughed with them, the four sharing in each other's misery.
Across from them Ferren Barr was sitting with Zubain on the temple walls watching Leo and the Rogue Jedi Master spar "Rocks quite skilled wouldn't you say?" Zubain asked Ferren.
"Hmhmm." Ferren grunted.
"Are you well Ferren?" Zubain asked him.
His amber eyes burned with annoyance "I'll feel better when we leave, who knows when the Council's dogs will show up ready to drag us back to the temple in chains."
CORUSCANT
Jedi Temple
"The time has come for us to bring the dissenters back to the temple, in chains if need be." Mace said to the gathered Council members in the war room. Ki-Adi Mundi, Plo Koon, Eeth Koth stood beside him and across from the Master was Aayla Secura, Cin Drallig with two Temple Guards. On the other side both Obi-Wan and Luminara were standing looking uncertain, all while Master Yoda stood there silent. The holotable came alive to show Dantooine "We've tracked them to Dantooine, once home to a Jedi Enclave in the age of the old Republic, the other Masters and I sense they are still there but not for long so time is of the essence." Mace declared to them.
He turned to CIn "Master Drallig have the Sentinels been gathered?"
"They have, a dozen of my finest will follow us." Cin answered him "Very well, I will lead the strike team, with Master Plo, Mundi and Secura you will accompany us to apprehend the renegades and rescue the younglings." Mace said before he pressed a button on the holotable the planet changed to reveal Admiral Tess Dallin standing hands behind her back.
"Admiral Dallin, is your ship ready?" Mace asked.
Dallin looked at the Jedi below her "It is Generals, the Knight and the 703rd are at your command however I strongly advise against this, I think the men will be reluctant to hunt down their old General." She insisted.
"We are not hunting anyone Admiral, with any luck their presence will put him at ease and a fight will be avoided." Mace explained to her.
Dallin made no word "We await your arrival Generals." Before Mace turned off the holotable.
"I'm afraid I agree with the Admiral, sending a force of this size of a handful of misguided Jedi. We should be diplomatic, allow Obi-Wan to go and speak sense to his former Padawan?" Luminara suggested strongly.
Obi-Wan felt his eyes widened at the suggestion from Luminara "Hmmm I concur, there is no one here Leo trusts more than Obi-Wan there is still time to avoid this schism before the Order breaks into factions."
"There is no breaking, there are no factions, the Rock and his acolytes have broken their codes and oaths to the Republic, they are no longer Jedi, and they will be treated as such." Windu said adamantly back to them.
"Now who's letting their emotions blind them?" Obi-Wan asked leaning on the holotable "Given time, Master Bulq and Leo's followers could see the errors of their way, or be resolved to stay out of the war all together this isn't the first time Jedi have receded from Galactic politics?"
"The time for deliberating is over, it's time for action. Your former student is a threat to the Order and its trust in the Council, if he's allowed to abscond across the galaxy, who knows how many other Jedi will?" Mace shot back across the table
Obi-Wan glared at Obi-Wan "And if you fail, if the force forbids one of the Padawan's or younglings die, what then, everything Leo thinks about the Council will be proven right, Master Yoda I am begging you let me go to Dantooine- Alone?" Obi-Wan asked Master Yoda.
All eyes fell on Master Yoda, "Tried we have, everything with young Rock, deaf to reason he has become no other choice do we have." Yoda said turning to Rock "To Dantooine you will go, bring back these lost Jedi, into custody Rock shall be taken and expelled from the order he has been." Yoda said with a final tap of his cane.
The meeting ended with Obi-Wan and Luminara watching the strike team head toward the hanger. The Jedi they passed in the hallway gave a mix of emotions some bowed others walked the other way giving nasty glares. Obi-Wan, his face was covered in disbelief as he saw Master Yoda come out of the meeting. Last he gave Obi-Wan a strong look and stood there waiting. But Obi-Wan walked shamefully away head low at what would become of his former student. Luminara followed him "Obi-Wan?" She asked.
He stopped "I can't do anything for Leo now, even if I wanted to I can't go against the Council."
"I know, the order is our life, we can only hope that he and the others see reason." She confided in him.
"You don't know Leo, none of them know him like I do, if they treat him like a threat like they did in the great hall he'll respond in kind." Obi-Wan spun around "No matter the odds, no matter the enemy, Leo will never surrender, he'll die before he let's them bring him back."
Luminara heard him shaking her head "And the younglings, will he give them up willingly?"
"That's what I'm more afraid of, Leo thinks he's fighting for the Jedi Order but he'll fight against it in the end."
Later, Mace and his strike team we're heading to a Jedi transport ship when they saw Anakin, standing in front of his hands behind his back. Cin's sentinels reached for their lightsabers but he stopped them as Mace approached him "Stand aside Skywalker, we're going to apprehend Rock for his trial." Mace said as Aayla looked at Anakin with pleading eyes.
"Good, because I'm coming with you?" Anakin said uncrossing his arms "Before you say anything, Leo and I have sparred a hundred times and fought beside each other just as much, nobody besides Obi-Wan knows him like I do." Anakin argued.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Mace asked him.
Anakin glanced at Aayla "I believe Leo's deceived us all, his use of force lighting shows us he never abandoned the dark side or Dooku's teachings, I'm worried for the younglings most of all if they stay with Leo any longer who knows how far he'll corrupt them?"
Mace was silent but Plo nodded "Skywalker would be a valuable asset to us Master Windu." Plo insisted.
"Very well, but before this is over Rock will surrender to us or face the consequences." Mace stated as Anakin stepped aside letting them enter into the ship. Plo Koon waited so he and Anakin would be the last ones to board the ship.
"Are you sure this is what you want Skywalker?" He asked.
Anakin hesitated to face him but did so out of respect. "Yes, we don't have time to waste." He grumbled.
Plo nodded, "Indeed, time is of the essence; we don't know who else will be after him."
DANTOOINE
Jedi Ruins
Leo and Sian broke apart from their sparring session, both were out of breath but Leo was panting opposed to Sian's strained exhales. She turned off her lightsaber "Well done, you understand the forms like it's second nature." She said across to Leo, he turned off his lightsaber "Thank you Master Jeisel, I could barely keep up with yours, it's so creative?" Leo replied.
"It helps to live a few years outside the temple where you learn not everyone fights with lightsabers." She joked, clipping the lightsaber back onto her belt.
"Indeed, but I think this past year I've fought more people with lightsabers than I have my entire life." Leo said to her.
"Then you have most at a disadvantage, very few jedi even masters, are able to stand against a double bladed lightsaber like yours. What made you choose that style?" She asked walking back up to Sora who was waiting.
Leo looked at the lightsaber that had been with him through so much "I often found myself surrounded by droids, with two blades I could take them out easier, deflect more incoming fire to protect my men." He answered.
"A practical answer, did you know the original saber staffs were created by Sith?" She asked him.
He actually chuckled "I was often reminded by some Masters, yes."
She smirked "I didn't mean anything by it, we Jedi in the old Republic adopted the weapon ourselves before it fell out of practice. You were wise to choose it in a time of war." She said.
"Sian speaks the truth Leo." said Sora nodding in agreement "You would barely have survived your ordeal with the Council members using a regular lightsaber or let alone two."
"Ordeal?" Sian asked looking back and forth at them, Leo scratched the back of his head "Before we uh… left, Master Windu and a few other Masters tried to arrest me but didn't go so well?"
Sian stared at him blankly then back to Sian "He's being modest, Masters Mundi, Plo, Eeth, Kit and Mace all tried to subdue him after Cin's Sentinels failed to do so."
"Challenging half the Jedi Council and surviving, were you insane?" She asked, walking back into the temple.
"I wasn't challenging them, I just… I just couldn't do what they asked anymore, I didn't want to fight them, the last thing I want is our Order breaking a part but they didn't want to hear, all they wanted was for us to fall in line like good little soldiers." Leo replied, shaking his head. They walked into a low hanging hallway through the rusted over doors up a ramp into the courtyard with the large tree stump.
Sian put her hand on his arm "We understand, it's why the other Rogue Jedi and I left the war and the order behind, there were too many uncertainties, peacekeepers becoming Generals, a secret clone army, all of it." She said stopping "But you, you were the only one among the thousands of Jedi to take a stand even after following their orders and this is how they repay you." She said brushing her hand across the wound Plo had given him.
"I never asked for a reward, they only knighted me because they needed to save face." He said, clutching his arm.
Sian was silent thinking, before Leo passed her "I better go check on Proxy see if he found the Councils tracking beacon."
As he walked around the corner to the courtyard, Vos appeared from the opposite in "So Sian, what do you think?"
"He's curious for a jedi, he's so young yet he's carrying so many burdens?" Sian asked.
"Well, he didn't have it easy; his first Master was Pong Krell after the Stark Hyperspace war ended." Quinlan told her, Sians eyes widened and her jaw dropped "What?" She snapped.
She looked at Sora shocked while nodding, confirming it "What in the stars possessed the Council to give Pong a padawan after the war, we all knew what it did to him."
"They thought caring for the child of his former enemy would heal Pong's wounded heart, it had the opposite effect I think." Sora suggested.
"You think, what was it that made them so confident Pong would be a good caretaker, the countless times Pong woke up screaming and swinging his lightsabers at Sentinels thinking they were pirates?" Quinlan argued.
"It can be hard to fathom a jedi having PTSD, but it does happen one of my people has such an affliction but he has started to heal, Quin, Sora perhaps you can now convince Leo it's time for us to leave." Sian said, holding up her hand.
Up above in the Courtyard was could see both Yin-Li and Abraxas were meditating in the empty warehouse, up above both Zubain and Ferren were having a conversation, and as usual both Jinx and O-Mer were in a philosophical debate about some inane idea "But have you ever seen what's under a Jawas hood, could be anything?" O-Mer asked.
"No, I don't want to know." Jinx said as he tossed rocks at a pair of old pots.
"I mean they have those glowing eyes, do you think they were masks or do they bend light like lizards?" O-Mer asked him.
Jinx rolled his eyes "Does that head ever just pop with all these weird ideas?" Jinx asked him before he saw Leo "Jinx, O-Met do you have a moment?" Leo asked. When he walked over O-mer started to get up and almost fell before he and Jinx caught him helping him stand on his own.
"What's up?" Jinx asked, hands on his hips.
Leo paused, "Why did you come with us?" Leo asked.
Both Jinx and O-Mer looked at one another before smirking like it was a joke, "Pfft why would you even ask that?" Jinx asked, tossing up his hand "We're friends aren't we?" O-mer asked Leo.
"Of course we are, but you two had been away from the order for so long, Jinx you finally had a master. I know Master Vos is with us but O-Mer, you're a padawan to Ki-Adi Mundi and you just followed me into exile?" Leo asked them.
Both boys could tell Leo was being serious "... We didn't want to make the same mistake twice." Jinx said sternly
"What do you mean?" Leo asked the twi'lek.
"What Jinx means is we didn't follow you on Wakksah, when you stood and fought for us against the trandoshans, because if it you were captured, tortured because we let out fear control us in the end your bravery inspired us, inspired Ahsoka to make a stand." O-Mer said smiling back at Leo "Just like you did in the grand hall, regardless of the will of the Council's you're not just our friend Leo, we owe you our lives."
Their kind words didn't seem to cheer Leo up "You don't owe me anything, you two saved yourselves from the trandoshans not me, you'll be branded rebels, traitors like me?" Leo asked.
"So what?" Jinx said, crossing his arms.
Leo blinked at him "So what?" He asked "Yeah, you keep acting like this is all about you, nobody forced us to follow you, nobody tricked us, we chose to be here with you because you're our friend." Jinx said, punching him in the arm "You're stuck with us, chew on it."
He gave a one eyed smile at him feeling the punch sting on his sore muscles "Thank you…. brothers." Leo said looking at the ground, "Have you spoken with the others, what do they think?"
"Yin-Li and Abraxas, padawans who lost their masters in the war I doubt they want to be next." Jinx said "What about Ferren, Zubain?" Leo asked, looking up at them.
"They've kept to themselves lately, but I'll see what I can find out?" O-Mer suggested, Leo nodded at him "I'm not asking you to spy for me?"
O-Mer already walked past him "You didn't but I'm going to anyway." O-Mer joked walking toward the two knights.
Later Leo walked into the Rogue Shadow "Proxy, you found the tracker?" He called out.
"We found it, we found it!" Running around the corner covered in grease and grime was Petro with the younglings followed by Proxy, Petro holding in his hand a small device with a beeping red light "Ah Master, these small organics are quite resourceful getting into the small places on the ship." Proxy said, pointing to the tracker in Petro's hand, Oculus resting on top of his head like a bird in a nest.
It was small like a Holocron with a blinking red light, wires and bolts on it easy to hide in a small crack or under an engine "That so, nice work younglings." Leo said, looking down at them.
Oculus rose up and floated around him before he handed the tracking device to the probe droid "Oculus, go put this somewhere in the ruins but don't destroy it." He ordered. The probe droid beeped its affirmation before it flew out of the ship "Why not just break it?" Petro asked.
"Because the Council would know slime for brains?" Zatt said behind him.
Petro sneered at him while the others giggled "Speaking of the Council, have you all decided?" Leo asked them, crossing his arms.
"Uh…?" Katooni was the only one to make a noise, the others were all quiet like mice.
"Do you want to stay with us or return to the Temple?" Leo asked her, he knelt in front of the younglings looking at them.
None of them answered, they were all still silent "Still haven't made up your minds huh?" Leo asked standing back up "Well, you helped us get that tracker off, why don't you go have some fun, explore the ruins and go bug Jinx or something we have some time before we leave." He winked at them before he walked back into the ship. The Younglings all scampered down the ramp before Leo walked into the common room looking around the ship that was supposedly empty "Proxy, how's our Sentinel?" Leo asked the droid.
Proxy came up from behind "The zeltron has remained in the medical wing to rest, for some time I checked her vitals this morning she is functioning but severely damaged, need I remind you Master I am not a medical droid quite the opposite." Proxy pointed out.
"How could I forget?" Leo said walking to the medical bay, he knocked on the door before it opened.
Leo saw the Zeltron Jedi Sentinel Esther sitting on the medical bed laying with her left arm wrapped up in a sling and a cast with bacta patch feeding into the wound so it would heal "Sentinel." Leo greeted walking in.
"Esther." She replied with her name "Esther then, how are you feeling?" Leo asked.
"I'll live Leo Rock, I may not be able to use my arm for some time but I will live." She said, her blue hair was tied up in a messy bun held back by a thong, her mask and lightsaber were on the counter next to her Leo approached the counter with Esther's purple eyes watching him he picked up the mask instead of the lightsaber leaving it alone before he turned and offered it to her "No." she said looking away from it.
Leo blinked, taken back before he put it back "I thought Sentinels weren't allowed to show their faces?" He asked.
"We aren't, but I'm no longer a Sentinel." She said sitting up to adjust her head against the pillow.
"Because Sentinel- I mean Esther?"
Esther looked at the ceiling "Temple Guards aren't Sentinels, no matter what you've been told and I'd prefer to leave it at that."
Leo could see she didn't want to talk so he gave a silent nod "I'll leave you to rest." He turned to leave, but he stopped at the door. "Before I go, I need to know something."
"Am I just here to spy on you?" She asked.
"Yes, we were ordered by Master Drallig to follow." Leo replied turning around hands behind his back, he watched her eyes raise to him. Esther didn't say anything for a long time, they just stared at one another "I don't know." She said looking back down at her arm.
Leo gave her a puzzled look "I've given the choice to the younglings if they want to return to the Council they may, we've removed the tracking device and are hiding here in the temple the younglings who choose to return will need a protector."
"And you're asking me?" She asked him.
"The seriousness of your wound, and our dwindling medical supplies, you'll receive better treatment from the healers at the Temple then wherever we're going." Leo told her honestly.
Esther looked away and up to the ceiling "I understand, I'm a liability and you don't fully trust me."
"I hope you prove me wrong." Leo said, leaving Esther to rest.
Outside the ship, O-Mer, Ferren and Zubain watched the younglings run around the temple. Byph and Ganodi were climbing on top of the old structures, Gungi and Zatt were walking across the canyon gorges looking down into the rushing river while Petro and Katooni explored the outer areas. "They shouldn't be here." Zubain said the zabrak said legs crossed next to O-mer, on the other side Ferren slouched on the wall his iktotchi face scrunched up "Better here than back at the Temple, I can only imagine the conflict within the Order."
"A conflict Rock may have spawned." Zubain said.
"You heard him didn't you?" Ferren asked Zubain who nodded "I did, so did half the order and now that's probably spread to the rest of it on Coruscant."
"Do you think he's wrong?" Ferren asked.
Zubain looked at the horizon "I think we don't know the full story, the Council has been keeping things from the Order things that Rock seems to know but is yet to tell us."
"He'll tell us when the time is right?" O-Mer pointed out.
"Like the Council?" Ferren asked, agreeing with Zubain "Or worse." O-mer said.
SERENNO
Palace of Count Dooku
On the opposite side of the war, the very force itself Count Dooku was kneeling in front of his dark master Sidious "It is as you foretold my friend, the Jedi Council has finally expelled the troublesome jedi Leo Rock." Sidious said appealingly to the Count who smiled up at him. "How do you suggest we deal with him, no that he no longer has the protection of the Jedi?" Sidious asked.
The Count raised his head "He has left Coruscant alone?" Dooku asked.
"My spies within the Jedi Temple, say there are other jedi with him, small in number but two Masters, Sora Bulq and Quinlan Vos have accompanied him into exile, curious?" Sidious said down to him.
"Indeed, Master Bulq is a skilled lightsaber combatant and powerful Master, Quinlan Vos is as unpredictable as he is dangerous, perhaps it is time to see if General Grievous is still of some use?" Count Dooku suggested to him.
Sidious sneered hearing the very name of that cyborg "That mechanical abomination has failed us many times in recent months, are you sure he is up to the task?"
"His hatred of the jedi and his tactical brilliance has served us well, his disgrace at Naboo at Rock's hand will feed his desire to succeed even more my Master?" Dooku pointed out.
The Dark Lord stroked his chin thinking on it "Hmmm, we must tread carefully, a schism within the Jedi could threaten our plans, give rise to new rivals or even should the exiles reconcile with the order, the Council knows of your creation of the Clone Army?"
Dooku straightened "They have no evidence my lord, without who would believe them and even if they did the public trust of the jedi is not what it once was."
"Hmmm that could chance I fear, give the command to Grievous to hunt down these rogue jedi and eliminate them." Sidious ordered before he cut the transmission. Dooku rose to his feet and walked down his grand hall to the door. Exiting his palace he entered into his courtyard's training ground where he saw General Grievous training with six of his three guards and three commando droids who moved around him in every direction attacking him. The mechanical general wielded his trophies with the grace of a Jedi master but the ferocity of an animal cutting the droids in half or smashing their craniums in with his metal claws.
Dooku raised a hand and all the droids stopped, Grievous panting from his extended training turned "Ah Count Dooku, come these droids bore me." He said ready to train.
Smirking at his student Dooku said "Now, now General, I will have you save that energy for another task."
"A new campaign?" Grievous asked clipping the stolen lightsabers on his belt "On the contrary, a hunt." Dooku said holding up a holodevice turning it on to reveal recording of the Rogue Shadow leaving Coruscant "Leo Rock and a group of rogue jedi have fled their precious order, they are on Dantooine without the protection of a republic army." Grievous looked at the hologram and even though he had no face to speak of, the General was smiling.
ENROUTE TO DANTOOINE
The Knight
Leo's former flagship was speeding through hyperspace at lightspeed, while down in the lower levels of the ship both Dogma and Alpha were walking down an emptied part of the ship before they checked the coast was clear, dipping into an emptied room. There already waiting was Fives sitting on a crate with Admiral Dallin standing across from him "Admiral what's going on, where's General Rock?" Dogma asked.
"I wanted you three to hear it from me before you heard it from the other Generals." She said as they both took off their helmets, the three clones all ears to what she had to reveal.
She took a deep breath "No easy way to say this I suppose, but General Rock fled Coruscant sixteen hours ago, we're escorting the Jedi on the ship to arrest him for…. treason."
The three brothers all sharing the same face, shared different looks of disbelief, Fives shut his eyes, Alph clenched his fist and Dogma's jaw was wide open "There's no way General Rock would betray the Republic to the Separatists, I'd testify to that." Dogma nearly shouted.
"Keep your voice down, he's not betraying the Republic so far as I know, but there was something going on in the Jedi Temple that has half the Jedi Council on my ship." The Admiral hushed him and she looked over at the door wondering if anyone had heard them before she continued. "I know as much as you three do now, soon the whole ship will know and probably the Republic after." She said reluctantly.
"And as the Senior officers you want us to help soften the blow on the men?" Alpha asked.
She nodded at Alpha "Yes I do Commander, I expect you to remind the troopers of their duty to the Republic not to the General as hard as that is."
"Understood." Commander Alpha said.
Dogma beamed at Tess "Commander, how can you say that this is General Rock we're talking about he saved me, he saved Fives and your whole planet Admiral there has to be an explanation for this."
"There has to be Dogma, but until we know what that reason is we have our orders, do you understand?" Tess explained to him.
All eyes were on Dogma who sighed "I'll try Admiral."
"Good, we're heading to a planet called Dantooine, have a platoon of your best men stand by in case we need to follow the jedi to the surface. Our orders are to take General Rock and the Jedi with him alive." She said to the three.
Fives eyes widened "There are other Jedi with him?"
"Yes… I've been away from the bridge for too long, the Jedi will be wondering where I am." She said walking to the room's exit "Remember we swore an oath to the Republic, not the Jedi." She said before heading to the bridge.
Up on it, the Jedi minus the Temple Guards had gathered. Anakin was at the helm of the ship looking out the window knowing Dantooine and Leo were getting closer by the second. Mace, Aayla and Cin were around the holotable as Plo finished speaking with Cin before he turned to walk toward Anakin, Aayla watched him before the two were out of ears reach from her "Skywalker, I sense something is troubling you."
"Did you know?" Anakin asked.
Plo cocked his head behind his mask "Know what Skywalker?"
"Did you know about Leo and Ahsoka..." He hushed himself "About the feelings they had for each other."
Plo didn't outright answer he gazed forward like Anakin had been doing "I knew lil'Soka for most of her life, it wasn't hard to see the feelings manifesting for Leo, it was harder to try and tell her how wrong she was."
Anakin gritted his teeth looking away in disgust with a scoff "How could no one tell me, did the whole Order know?"
"You didn't know?" Plo asked him "Skywalker she was your Padawan they both were for a time, how could you not sense it?"
"I was a little busy most of the time?" Anakin asked back.
Plo shook his head "Was it not obvious, they spent nearly every waking hour together under your tutelage a children that age having faced so much, something was bound to blossom sooner or later."
"But we taught them better than that." Anakin insisted "Did we?" Plo asked when the doors to the bridge opened with Admiral Dallin walking in.
"Skywalker, Master Plo it's time." Mace called to them, the Jedi and Admiral gathered around the holotable as a signal from Coruscant came through. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine appeared before them with Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda and hard faced as ever Admiral Tarkkin.
"Master Jedi, I'm glad you finally responded to my request. What is the situation?" The Chancellor asked.
Anakin spoke before Mace could even get a word "Your excellency, we've tracked Rock and his dissenters to Dantooine, we plan to apprehend him there Admiral Dallin and her men will assist us." Anakin said before Mace interjected.
"This is a Jedi matter, as Dantooine in the outer rim and not taken a side in the conflict the Knight will provide protection from above should the Separaitst fleet take an entrance why we're out here." Mace corrected.
"Do we believe that these… these rogue jedi defect to the Separatists?" Palpatine asked them.
"Unlikely, the jedi who followed Rock are too small in number and Count Dooku would surely take ill towards the jedi seeking amnesty." Plo Koon suggested.
Admiral Tarkkin frowned "With your permission Chancellor?" Tarkkin asked before the old man gave a nod to the Admiral.
"This situation cannot be left up to chance, should he and those who follow him escape we will need all eyes to be on the lookout for him, that is why effective immediately with the Chancellor's signature, the Jedi Knight Leo Rock has been stripped of his command and rank." Tarkin's words echoed across the bridge of clones who served on Leo all of them pausing in their work when they heard that "Furthermore his seditious acts on Coruscant attacking other Generals, escaping with Military secrets of the Republic are further grounds for his treason and as such he is an enemy of the state and will be treated as such." Tess's eyes were bigger than the engines on the back of the shi but her face was calm, her training hiding her emotions.
The faces of the jedi jumped from one another left and right murmuring among themselves except for Anakin "Very well Admiral, but he won't be free for long I swear it." Anakin confirmed.
"It's good to hear my boy, I trust the strength of these jedi here will be enough to subdue him and we can put this whole ordeal behind us." Palpatine said before he cut the transmission. Silence surrounded the holotable at the Chancellor's office's news "The Chancellor had no right to do this." Aayla said to the other jedi.
"Excuse me?" Anakin asked her while she stood next to Windu.
Aayla and Anakin crossed eyes like they had crossed swords, "This is a jedi affair Anakin, those jedi Dantooine are misguided like Leo."
"I disagree, Leo's a traitor to the Jedi and the Republic." Anakin.
"For once…" Mace said, crossing his arms, "I agree with Skywalker."
Silence engulfed the entire deck when everyone heard that, Plo Koon poked his claws at his ears, Aayla looked back and forth from the two Jedi, Cin was at a loss for words Mundi rubbed his is large forehead "This schism is more dire than we thought". Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu were actually in agreement. Anakin and Mace were facing one another "I'm going to ready the men." Anakin said walking out of the bridge. Mace walked opposite to the helm of the bridge, with Aayla and Ki-Adi following.
"I… best ready for the Temple Guards, they aren't familiar with traveling off world often." Cin said following Anakin out of the bridge.
Tess folded her arms, she couldn't help but shake her head while Plo stood beside her "I sense conflict within you Admiral?" Plo asked, holding his fingers interlocked, Tess raised her head "I know my duty Master Plo."
"Spoken like your father would, but even he knew when something was wrong." Plo replied consolingly.
The Admiral turned her brown eyes to Plo's mask "So you think this is a terrible strategy?"
"Not that each of these jedi selected are here for more than just skill at arms, each holds a connection to some of the jedi who await us Master Mundi's own apprentice has gone with them, along with Aayla's former Master, Master Drallig and his Guardsmen are here to protect or subdue the others." Plo explained as Anakin walked down into the bridge the clones watched him as he walked toward his Leo's Jedi Starfighter. "Anakin helped train Leo before Master Kenobi took him as an apprentice, there is a strong emotional bond between them."
"Really, General Skywalker looks like he's ready to tear Leo apart?" She asked, "Let's hope we can avoid it, none of the jedi here wish that." Plo whispered under his breath.
Tess focused on Windu "What about General Windu?"
"Besides leading the strike team, Master Windu is here to make sure Sora Bulq comes willingly, among all the jedi on Dantooine none is more dangerous than him."
DANTOOINE
Outer Ruins
Back on Dantooine, Katooni and Petro were off exploring the limits of the hidden ruins. They both hopped over a deep stream onto a narrow ledge Katooni first before Petro landed the rock giving away he almost fell before Katooni caught him by his wrist "Careful." She said, "Thanks." He said as she pulled him up over the ledger. Katooni walked ahead of him gripping the canyon walls.
"So will you go back?" Petro asked.
"I… I don't know?" Katooni said back looking at him over her shoulder when she tripped on a vine "What'll you do?"
Petro jumped out grabbing the back of her robes to keep her upright "I haven't decided." He said pulling her back returning her save from earlier.
They walked a bit further still talking about it "I love being a jedi, it's the best thing there is but we only got to leave the Temple once for the Crucible, and that was the craziest moment of our lives?"
"Yeah, I still remember— remember what Dooku did to us…." Katooni said getting quiet and stopping clutching her robes around her waist "Yeah… it was scary." Petro said remembering it too. The younglings had all been tortured by Count Dooku, Katooni locked in an ever shrinking room with barely any air to breathe, Petro was forced to fight against droids that never let up.
"Aren't you afraid?" Petro asked her.
She stood up straight "Thinking back on it, yes, but now not so much I think does that make sense?" She asked
"No not really?" he said walking ahead, "But nothing really does anymore, Jedi leaving the order, us out here on the edge of the galaxy anything's possible…. Whoa" Petro gasped before he rounded a corner on the canyon to its outermost edge. Katooni hurried to see whatever had taken him by surprise.
"What is it?" She asked when she saw what he saw, to these two padawans it was a sight they'd never seen before unlike urban Coruscant, frozen Illum or barren Florrum; Katooni and Petro were looking at an entire ocean of grass with distant island plateaus with trees capped on top of them. The wind pushed the millions of blades of grass in rippling waves of amber sunlight shining down on them as the wind carried the smell of fresh plants all the way up to them "Wow...It's beautiful." Katooni said before she felt something touch her hand it was Petro "And this is just the third planet we've been on, who knows what else is out there?" He asked.
"Oh I can think of a few things?" A mechanical voice said from behind Petro and Katooni, the spun to see none other then the mechanical monstrosity that was General Grievous he had his four arms out and metal claws dug into the mountain side like a fearsome wolf spider who was ready to pounce and pounce he did. "LOOK OUT!" Petro shoved Katooni out of the way back where they came as Grievous crashed down on the ledge laughing.
"As I told you, jedi on Florrum, no one escapes Grievous-" Grievous took out his four lightsabers giving him an even more ferocious look "No one hahahahaha." Grievous cackled. The younglings' screams bounced across the canyon walls all the way back to the ruins, to the other jedi's ears. "What was that?" Sora asked Leo as the two had been talking "The younglings." Leo said, turning to him.
He held up his arm to speak into his comlink before he remembered it wasn't there, he'd tossed it away back at the temple. "Damn it, come on." He said running down the hallways to the exit they passed by Sian and Quinlan "What's going on?" Sian asked.
"I don't know, but we're leaving now." Leo said to them.
They looked back up at the courtyard to see Jinx, Yin and Abraxas were standing in the courtyard "Jinx, you and other padawans find the younglings and get to the Rogue Shadow." Quinlan ordered.
"Yes Master." Jinx replied dutifully before O-mer, Ferren and Zubain appeared on the opposite side of the hall "Padawan O-mer go with them, Zubain, Ferren with us." Sora said, separating the padawans from the knights. "Wait, can any of you fly?" Leo asked them.
The padawans all gave avoiding glances before Quinlan grunted "Jinx." He snapped.
"It's not my fault I crashed the simulation." Jinx protested.
"Focus, find Ganodi she can pilot." Leo ordered before he looked at the other masters and knights "Let's go." The group split with three masses and three knights rushing out of the ruins main entrance down the same way Petro and Katooni had gone.
Across the canyon, Petro and Katooni were running for their lives as Grievous chased after them like a jackal after two mice. Petro stumbled before Katooni picked him back up "Run, run." She said pulling him along before they hoped over a small gap to try and get back. They could see the ruins in the distance when Grievous overtook them blocking their escape, he grabbed Katooni by the neck lifting her up "Scream for me, and maybe they'll hear you in your precious temple." Grievous aid.
"Let her go!" Petro shouted jumping to her defense with his lightsaber and he tried to cut at Grievous but he just grabbed him by his lightsaber arms and snapped it like a twig.
Petro's scream echoed back to the hurrying jedi "That was Petro." Leo said. As they ran around a maze-like canyon following his scream "This isn't the Council, this is something else." Sian said.
"If its who I think it is, he doesn't leave here alive." Sora said when they came to the scene "Grievous." Quinlan said, turning on his green lightsaber. The others drew their blades as well at the sight of the jedi hunter. Ferren turned on his blue lightsaber and Zubain carried a green lightsaber, while Leo turned on one end of his white saber at the vanguard of the rescue party "Release the younglings." Leo ordered.
Grievous turned snickering, "A poor choice of words." Grievous said holding them over the gap in the canyon, the rushing river half a hundred meters down.
"No-" Leo gasped before the cyborg let both Katooni and Petro fall to their deaths.
"Zubain, Ferren!" Sora snapped, rushing forward to attack Grievous with Sian beside him. The two other knights clipped their lightsabers back to their belts and jumped down into the canyon after the flailing younglings. Both Ferren and Zubain tucked in their arms and locked their legs together increasing their speed Zubain held out his hand and pulled Katooin toward him he caught the girl before he somersaulted in the air grabbing onto an outstretched branch. Ferren fell past him as Petro's head knocked onto an outstretched part of the wall knocking him out, at the last second Ferren caught him in his arms and used the force to cushion his fall on the canyon floor just beside the river.
Up above Leo, Quinlan, Sora and Sian were locked in combat against Grievous on the narrow pass. Without much room to move due to his immense size Grievous leapt onto the canyon walls clawing his feet into them to climb them up to the top "Get the younglings back to the ship, then come and get us." Sora ordered the two knights beneath them. Zubain and Ferren didn't waste any time climbing back up to the pass to retreat, while the others pushed after Grievous climbing to the top of the plateau where Grievous was waiting, four on one.
With more room for them to both move, Grievous took out his additional arms each with a green and blue lightsaber in them "So many more trophies to claim."
"Not today." Leo said turning on his double bladed lightsaber "Not ever again." Leo added.
"Oh, you plan to kill me this time boy?" Grievous antagonized across from him.
Sora took out his shoto lightsaber flipping his blades into a shien style "We are bound no longer by the Council or by it's code of conduct, the time has come for you to answer for your crimes against our family." Sora declared circling him, the other three did so too surrounding Grievous who moved his feet and arms so that one lightsaber was pointed on each of them.
But Grievous stopped when he heard Sora's last words, "... Then die with your family." Grievous said before he lunged at Sora taking him on first. Sora backed up catching two of his lightsabers before he dodged and parried a lower one jumping away to avoid the next. Quinlan and Sian attacked at one outflanking Grievous but he parried both of them with his arms behind his back and turned around to attack them. The jedi masters jumped out of the way for Leo to swing his double bladed lightsaber at Grievous from below swinging up then down with Grievous blocking both. Sian hit him with a force push, but Grievous' metal feet dug into the rocky terrain, he focused on her jumping into the air before he crashed down at her with all his might. Sian dodged before she attacked, slashing at Grievous' impenetrable defense.
Leo and Quinlan attacked him from both sides where he caught their lightsabers, Sian thrusted her sword at Grievous but he blocked hers, followed by Sora from behind with both his lightsaber blades, Grievous caught his attack too. The four Jedi all pushing against his stolen lightsabers "What will you do now Jedi, your order has abandoned you the Republic has branded you traitors to die at my hands is mercy for a warrior's death."
"What?" Leo asked.
"WHICH YOU DON'T DESERVE!" Grievous's mechanicals limbs flung the jed away like a force blast making them tumble back. Sian rolled back onto her feet, Quinlan landed graceful as Leo did Sora still on his back.
Seeing one down, like a lone animal set on by a pack, Grievous target Sora leaping across the rocks to land one of his clawed feet down on Sora's right leg impaling it "GAAAAAH!" Sora cried in pain.
"Bulq— get away from him, Monster!" Sian shouted, rushing to his defense before Grievous could take Sora's head off with a swing of his lightsaber.
Turning his sights on her, Grievous cackled "Monster yes, a monster who kills Jedi." Grievous roared before turning his other lightsabers at her "GRIEVOUS!" Leo shouted, charging up his right arm with force lighting and hitting Grievous square in the back, sending the cyborg in the air ten meters away from Sora, the leg gushing green weequay blood onto the rocks. Sian and Leo hurried to help him up as Quinlan looked over at Grievous
"Get him back to the ship, I'll hold off this guy." Quinlan said about taking Grievous alone "No." Leo said, grabbing Quinlans forearm.
He pulled up "Jinx needs you, the younglings and Padawan's need Masters to help them survive, leave Grievous to me." Leo argued.
"He's killed every Jedi he's gone up against, there's no way you'll survive." Sian argued.
Leo looked back at her "I beat him one before, I can do it again and if I die he dies with me." Leo said before he ran straight at Grievous. Sian and Quinlan picked up Sora carrying him away from the battle. Leo dug his lightsaber into the ground tearing up the rock with sparks as Grievous got to his feet ready for him "Yessss." Grievous said before Leo swung the lightsaber tip in the ground up shooting molten rock and sparks at Grieovus, the General closed his eyes pushing through the distraction to meet him head on. Leo slammed his double bladed lightsaber into all four of Grievous lightsabers two cross blocks on each end.
"What's the matter boy, upset that you're no longer a General, that you're now a traitor." Grievous goaded.
Leo broke the lock. Jumping over Grievous swinging at him over head before he landed and began a slashing barrage "I'm no traitor."
"That's not what the Republic has said." Leo gritted his teeth before he dodged an overhead counter strike and hit Grievous at the left, blocked, he countered with another swing to the right parried by Grievous.
"What would a soulless monster like you know about the Republic, about loyalty all you do is fight to kill." Leo snapped back, stepping away circling Grievous
Grievous counter circled him "More than any Jedi would."
Leo twirled his lightsaber "Liar, this war is all about your sadistic hunger to murder jedi."
"And who wouldn't want to murder Jedi." Grievous said, stopping "IT'S THE ONLY REASON TO LIVE!" Grievous roared, attacking him. Leo saw his attack coming a mile away and unleashed an explosive force lightning attack, Grievous caught it with his four lightsabers holding them up to absorb the lighting that pushed him back even as he dug his feet ' claws into the stone. They dragged against the rock leaving claw marks in them before Grievous dug his heels on. "I'm not here to talk philosophy with you Grievous." Leo said, clipping his lightsaber to his other belt and sending lighting at him with both hands. It shoved Grievous back another yard but the cyborg drove his lower arms lightsabers into the ground and started to claw his way toward Leo.
Grievous snarled at him "You think you can hide behind your Jedi's pathetic dogma, fighting for peace, wielding such power— when deep down killing is the best thing there is." The cyborg said through the bolts of lighting. He took a step with each word, Leo focused on the lighting, trying to ignore his words "Even you can't deny the feeling you got when you cut down your enemies, when you tore me limb from limb, do it- show me that feeling." His arms started to shake, the lighting was beginning to storm churning around him, Grievous's words starting to hit hard home.
"Call yourself a knight all you want, you're The Berserker." Grievous said coming toward him.
"I-am-a-JEDI!" Leo let the lighting flow out of his arms in stronger larger surges of electricity. They bounced off of Grievous lightsabers exploding against the rocks, sending them flying.
Back in the ruins, Sian and Quinlan brought Sora up into the ship as Ganodi started to get the ship ready "Uh so this turns it on… uh...uh…."
"I thought you said you knew how to fly?" Jinx asked her as the younglings and padawans panicked around her.
"This is a completely different model of ship." Ganodi explained before Quinlan came in "Scootch over kid, we got to go get Leo." He said as he picked her up and put her in the copilot seat. Sian laid Sora down on the medical bed with Esther having regained strength to stand. Proxy was wrapping up Petro's arm in a cast, his head wrapped up.
"This is all we can do for now, we do not have ample medical supplies for his cranial injury and are out of bandages." Proxy said up to Sian and Esther. Sian looked to Esther her her baggy robes, "Forgive me Temple Guard, but we need it more then you." Sian said as Esther looked at her befuddled, when Sian grabbed her robes. "Excuse me?" Sian promptly tore the robes around her legs into strips starting to make bandages. The Rogue Shadow started to rise from the temple and Quinlan looked out the window to see Leo using his force lighting on Grievous to little effect.
Grievous was almost on him "You are nothing, nothing but the next step into a trophy for me." Grievous said, breaking the lighting, sending it back into Leo. His own attack sent against his burning green robes he rolled back and drew his lightsaber ready to his "You have… no right to carry those lightsabers." Leo said as Grievous hunched over spinning his upper lightsabers blades his lower ones pointed toward him.
"Am I?" Grievous asked "I killed your jedi brethren for them, I proved I was the greater warrior, the greater killer what more right do I need?" Leo saw the Rogue Shadow coming toward them, "Power." Leo said as the Rogue Shadow neared them.
"Power… power hahah HAHAHAHA, I lead the greatest droid army this galaxy as ever seen, I have killed more jedi than anyone alive to this day, I have power the power of fear." Grievous said as Leo smirked.
"But not perception." The Rogue Shadow flew over, ramp down with Sian holding onto the ramp's hydraulics, Leo leaping into the air to catch her free hand so she could pull him on. Grievous watched them fly off into the air turning off the stolen lightsabers. Leo took a chance to catch his breath before he followed Sian into the ship. Grievous groaned dropping his shoulders and turning to leave heading back to his ship hidden in the canyon.
He headed to the medical bay quickly "How's Sora?"
The answer was plain as day when he saw Sora on the bed, sweating bullets, pale, his right leg mummified in green bloodied bandages "Master Bulq." Leo said hurrying to his side, "L-Leo… Grievous… is he- is he dead?" Sora asked.
Leo shook his head "No."
Sora sprung to life grabbing Leo before he weakly fell back down onto the bed "Should have…. should have killed him…." Sora growled weakly before he passed out.
Stepping away Leo looked at Sian shocked, this side of Sora had never been seen by either of them "Master J- I mean Sian, do you know where we're going?" Leo asked her.
"I do, in fact Sora knew all along." She said walking over to him and placing her hand gently on his head feeling his temperature "Where?" Leo asked.
"Ruul, it's the moon for a planet called Sriluur." She explained before Jinx came bursting in "Uhhh we have a problem."
Leo and Sian looked at him "A separatist blockade?" He asked.
Jinx shook his head, "Worse."
"Attention Rogue Shadow, this is the Republic Warship Knight you are nearby ordered to stand down and turn off all shields, prepare to be brought in on our tractor beam failure to do so and we will open fire yo." Leo heard the voice of Mace Windu over the ships intercom. They rushed to the bridge filled with the other jedi not counting Katooni, Petro, or Sora. There blocking their escape from Dantooine was the Knight, Leo's own flagship turned against him. "To the jedi who followed the traitor Leo Rock, if you turn him in now we will welcome you back into the Order." Mace said as Leo looked at the ship.
"By order of the Jedi Council, Leo Rock has henceforth been exiled from the Jedi Order for the crimes of treason against the Grand Republic, help us arrest him so he can be brought back Coruscant to face our justice." Windu said to them.
Leo looked at the others, Ferren and Zubain, Yin, Abraxas, O-Mer and Jinx.
All eyes turned to Leo "We could take our wounded to them?" Zubain suggested "Master Bulq has lost a lot of blood." Ferren said considering it.
"If you do that we'll all be in the brig by the hour." Sian insisted to them.
Jinx got between Leo and the other knights "There's no way we're turning Leo in."
Leo clenched his hands into fists "Make a choice fast, Windu won't wait long." Quinlan.
"What do we do?" Zatt asked, "Just stay calm." O-Mer said to her, "Stay calm, Grievous at our backs, the Republic at the front, how can we stay calm." Ferren snapped. The cockpit erupted in a chaotic shooting match before he couldn't stand it any longer.
"ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!" Leo screamed pushing through them, he slammed his fist down on a large green button and aboard the Knight, everyone saw the Rogue Shadow disappear.
The clones looked at their scanners searching for it "We got nothing on scanners."
"Admiral, tell them they're wasting their time, it's a stealth ship." Anakin said, crossing his arms.
Plo scratched his chin "Not necessarily, we can still sense them if we focus." He suggested.
"Good idea, everyone gather." Windu ordered, the Masters and Anakin gathered in a circle around one another and held out their hands reaching out with the force.
Back aboard the Rogue Shadow, Leo was in the pilot seat now entering in coordinates "Are you sure this is the right choice?" Quinlan asked him "No." Leo sighed.
"They've exiled you Leo, any action now they'll hunt down across the galaxy." Quinlan said "Let them try." Leo said as he looked at Sian "The coordinates to Ruul?" He asked.
Sian walked over to the navacation computer and entered "Done." Leo flew past the Knight, looking out the corner of his eyes "There starboard side, fire warning shots." Anakin said pointing out.
The guns of the Might opened fire one of the blasts grazing the rogue Shadow "Make the jump" Leo said as Quinlan hit the hyperspace button sending them out of reach.
Back aboard the Knight, the Masters and Anakin watched the ship vanish "Damn it." Anakin whispered "It was a good attempt to Master Plo."
"Good attempt, good attempt?" Anakin asked, "Leo is still out there, the younglings are still his prisoners and you said good attempt we failed…. I'm going to report this to the chancellor." Anakin said storming away.
The other jedi watched him worryingly, "Skywalker should be sent back to Coruscant." Aayla suggested.
"No." Mace said to their surprise "We'll need him, if Rock won't come peacefully then he'll go to his end violently."