Chapter 25
Shatterpoint
RUUL
Bulq Estate
The stars were still cast over the jungle moon, the glowing fire dragon flies buzzed around the Rogue Shadow as Oculus flew out of it, the probe droid hovered over the small stream and followed it across the jungle. Flying under branches between a fly trap that snatched one of the dragon flies glowing goop to where he saw Leo and Master Tholme.
"Hmmm, quite a tale?" Tholme said leaning on his cane, the two were sitting on one of the large rocks together "So you and Bulq discovered a secret inhibitor chip inside the clones, hid the clone who uncovered it and followed the trail to Dooku?" Tholme said as Oculus observed them from a small branch. Bulq's ear twitched hearing the droid crack the bark, in a quick movement Leo saw Tholme twist the head of his cane pulling it to reveal a lightsaber hilt embedded in the cane a green blade appeared and Oculus flew toward Tholme's lightsaber.
"NO!" Leo shouted, lifting his arm and catching Oculus.
Tholme's one eye was wide. "It's a probe droid." He said skeptical.
"Yes, mine." Leo said as he let go of the droid, Oculus flew up and hid behind Leo's shoulder, Tholme sheathed his lightsaber back in his cane.
"Oh, I thought young jedi always kept Astro droids as pets, my apologies droid?" Tholme said before he looked at the droid
The droid floated up and beeped at him a few times "In my defense you were spying?" He said back to Oculus.
"You know droidspeak?" Leo asked him, seeing Tholme understand the droid's language.
"I often worked with probe droids like this in my Watchman days." Tholme said holding out his hand, Oculus floated down onto his hand "Is this why you only told me about this chip?" He asked Leo.
Stiffening to the question Leo folded his arms "Master Bulq and I agreed to keep it from the Order, even the Council until we had more evidence and a hacker."
"A hacker… because the Inhibitor chips have a failsafe?" Tholme asked him, letting Oculus fly back over to Leo's shoulder. The white haired knight nodded "Yes, they're hidden behind this code and we can't break it unless we find a good hacker, Master Bulq says he was on his way to meet you when he was captured by Count Dooku?" Leo asked him.
Tholme nodded "Yes, the hacker disappeared though when he found out Dooku was there."
"How did Count Dooku know you were meeting with Master Bulq?" Leo asked him.
"That's something I don't know, and when I don't know something I get suspicious that's why there's a traitor among us." Tholme told him.
Leo thought for a few seconds "We were ambushed by General Grievous before the Jedi Council arrived at Dantooine but they had tracker, that means the traitor is one of the jedi here?"
"Very perceptive, but who?" Tholme said tapping his cane while taking a stride, Leo noticed under his robe that Tholme's right leg moved with a limp, the leg and the eye were the only wounds he'd seen.
Leo paced too "Your friend Rhad Tarn seemed a bit suspicious when we met?"
"Rhad Tarn is a Jedi Knight, he's suffered a great deal we all have in our own way." Tholme.
"Motives help in any investigation, he served in the outer rim before the war, he's a Separatist sympathizer?" Leo asked, shrugging.
Tholme paused, squeezing his cane's raven head, "Many worlds are, so are there people Count Dooku wasn't the only jedi who believed the Republic's corrupt."
"Even if it is, do you think Tarn would go that far?" Leo asked him.
Tholme's thumb rubbed on his cane's beak "Unlikely, when he heard you lead a revolt in the Temple he wanted to go right to Coruscant to join you before we told him you were exiled."
"It wasn't a revolt, I'm not sure what it was it all happened so fast." Leo said, dropping his arms looking at the waterfall then at his own reflection in it, Tholme could sense something airy within.
"Is it true?" Tholme asked, stepping toward him "You have battle meditation?"
Leo looked back at him taking his eyes off his reflection before he looked back at the water "I do, but I rarely use."
"Why?" Tholme asked.
"... I think you know the answer." Leo said.
"I do, but I learned its best to hear it from the person their own words?" Tholme asked him again.
Leo stood up taking a deep breath turning around "Because Pong Krell corrupted it, he turned into a weapon, me into a weapon for him to use." Leo hissed.
"Is that all you see yourself as, a weapon forged by the jedi?" Tholme asked inquisitively, Leo walked up to Tholme and stared him dead in the eye "I'm not here for a confession Master Tholme, I'm here because Master Bulq said you and the rogues could protect the Jedi who came with us." Leo said getting up in his face, but Tholme stood there like the stone around them without any sign of emotion or fear from Leo.
"You want to lead these Jedi to safety, but you don't even know how to keep yourself safe." Tholme said turning away walking toward a jungle path Leo hadn't seen behind thick brush.
He followed Tholme "I've survived this long haven't I?" Leo asked.
"One day outside the Temple doesn't make for survival." Tholme said when he caught up with him "I wasn't talking about the Temple, I'm talking about surviving on scorching desserts like Tatooine or frozen wastelands like Illum with nothing but a tracker beacon where Pong would drop me to, 'toughen me up'." Leo said.
Tholme glanced at him "Pong Krell was chosen as your Master because he, like Master K'Kruhk suffered from PTSD, his idea of training a Jedi meant for War instead of peace was a gamble, the Council took it and they lost or did they?" Tholme asked him.
"Stop it." Leo said to him "We aren't discussing me, we're discussing the traitors identity?"
"Aren't we?" Tholme stopped and held his cane up into Leo's chest." Leo wanted to grab his lightsaber but he felt something else, a test "You were Count Dooku's apprentice, you led Separatist forces into battle on Onderon, from what reports we gathered you almost seemed to be doing a good job of ruling it before it descended into chaos, do you know that the former royalist and Separatist militia are still fighting the Republic?" Tholme explained.
Leo clenched his hands into fists at the accusation "Are you questioning my loyalty to the Jedi, to the Republic?"
"I am, you raised your lightsaber against six Council members, disobeyed their orders." Tholme pointed out
"When they're orders were wrong." Leo snapped "Are they, you were wise not to bring these inhibitor chips to public notice without evidence if word had reached the Chancellor's office he would have confiscated the chip again, but by not bringing it to the Council now only you, myself and Sora Bulq know of its existence outside the clones you left behind?" Tholme suggested "Which now leaves me with one question, what do you want?"
Leo froze his hands unclenching "What?" He asked.
Tholme leaned on his cane eyeing Leo while the fire dragon flies buzzed around them "Motives help in any investigation?" Tholme said, reusing Leo's own words. Hearing them turned against him Leo looked at the ground and took long and hard to think about "What I want- what I want now, no one can understand."
"Try me?" Tholme asked.
KNIGHT
Hyperspace
Back aboard the Knight, Dogma was walking down the hallway when someone from a nearby room grabbed him by the back of his arms and pulled him into the room slamming the door shut. Dogma ripped out his blaster pistol pointing it at his attacker "It's me." Fives said hands in the air as Dogma groaned "Fives, you idiot I could have shot you."
"I needed to talk to you, what did General Skywalker want?" Fives asked him.
Dogma put his pistols back in their holster "He knows something I'm not sure what, I could feel him Fives… inside my head."
"Yeah, Jedi will do that but we both served General Skywalker, what do you think we should do?" He asked.
"I don't know, out of all the Jedi I want to trust him but I've never seen him like that before?" Dogma said in a hushed voice "I'm worried what's going to happen when we get to Ruul."
Meanwhile, back in the hangar the Jedi Masters, Cin and his Temple Guards, Anakin with Aayla were standing around a holotable. Admiral Dallin and Commander Alpha were both with them at the meeting. "When we arrive on Ruul, we'll surround the Bulq estate confront Rock and secure the younglings, when they are secure we will take Rock into custody." Mace explained.
"And if he, or any of the other Jedi resist?" Anakin asked him.
"We detain them." Windu reiterated with force in his voice "We'll negotiate first, see if they come peacefully but once the younglings are secured Cin and his Temple Guards will secure the others, by force if necessary." Ki-Adi Mundi added.
Anakin shook his head "What's the point of bringing the clones along if this was our plan all along?" Anakin asked them exasperated.
"Do you have another approach you want to share?" Plo asked him.
Anakin didn't waste a second "We surround the estate with the 703rd, cut off their escape completely by ground and air they're bound to have the Rogue Shadow ready to make another escape, we should disable it first, Commander Alpha you and your Arc troopers can do that?" Anakin asked Alpha.
The Arc Trooper felt all the Jedi's eyes on him "Yes sir, General."
"And where are we in this plan, Skywalker?" Plo asked him.
"We all go in except for Cin and his Guardsmen, they join the clones and take up an angle on each exit to surround the estate if any of them try to flee, but once we secure the younglings they'll have no more leverage." Anakin said, taking Aayla by surprise.
"You actually think Leo, Bulq or Vos would use them as hostages to bargain?" Aayla asked him.
Anakin glared at her "I'm willing to take every possibility into account, Leo's battle meditation could even be affecting their minds."
This caught the entire war meeting by surprise, eyes darted around one another "It is… possible?" Ki-Adi said next to Windu and Plo,
"Yes, when we faced the Anzati they were all force sensitive to some degree and they parted like a sea of terror from him." Plo added.
Aayla gaped at the two Masters "You can't be serious?"
"How else do you explain the young jedi in the temple fighting the Temple Guards like they did, a Jedi Master like Sora Bulq or Quinlan Vos agreeing to follow him, they may not even know they've fallen under his spell?" Plo asked her across the table.
The only twi'lek put her hands on her hips shaking her head in disbelief "But Leo would never do that?"
"He may not even know he is, the lure of the dark side has shown itself many times to him and he's gone to it willingly before who's to say he never turned his back on it, conjuring force lighting like he did takes true mastery of the dark side and there have been Sith Infiltrators in the past." Plo said, Anakin nodded in agreement.
"But Skywalker, just like you said about Master Yoda about living beyond death so far as we know what's possible with the force?" Aayla argued.
The other jedi were silent "Perhaps you should stay aboard the cruiser, Secura, if you can't stomach doing what's necessary." Mace asked her, Aayla fumed at the suggestion "No, if anyone can reach Master Vos it's me I'll… I'll follow your lead Masters."
"Good, then we combine our plans. The clones will support our efforts and if worse comes to worse, stun blasts only." Mace said, confirming the plan.
RUUL
Bulq Estate
The younglings had gathered in a large dining hall that was filled by candle light. Both Mira, Rhad and Sian were overlooking them as they ate. Abraxas and Yin sat together along with the older padawans at the further end "This is delicious." Zatt said as they devoured the food in front of them. It was a mix of fruits and vegetables, there was even a large piece of meat with a thick set of ribs sticking out of the side that Gungi was tearing into like a starving rancor. Katooni "Where'd you get all this food?" Asked Rhad.
"From the jungle where do you think?" He scoffed, stomping away so she wouldn't ask him another question. Both Zubain and Ferren smirked at his candid attitude "Ugh, I hate younglings so many questions." He grumbled.
Sian watched him go out of the dinning room and saw Esther, her robes hood was up shadowing her face, he passed her giving her a nasty glare, "Temple Guards." He grumbled.
"Don't mind him, he's been cooped up in hiding for too long." Sian said to Esther.
"Young jedi often seek adventure." Esther replied, "Rhads not a child anymore, he's a grown man and a… well I like to think he's a good man, but he's had to do nothing but sit and wait in protest while the Council fights its war." Sian said beside her.
Esther didn't say anything at first "... I have no mind for politics, my duties as a Temple Guardian kept me from such things."
"I understand, I hope I didn't upset you. We haven't had new faces around here for some time. How's your arm?" Sian asked.
She pulled back her robe to reveal her gloved arm and healed wound, a long scar freshly healed "Master Mira is quite skilled."
"Mira's no master, she's not a knight or a healer actually." Sian said as Esther offered water to the youngling Petro who was coughing on some fruit seeds he swallowed "She's a gentle soul, the idea of fighting a war… she couldn't even imagine it."
"But a healer of her skill, she's wasted here." Esther argued back to Sian.
Sian folded her arms and crossed her brow "Is she, the healing arts are nearly all but forgotten here she's safe, honing her craft." Sian said when Master K'Khurk walked in, he removed his hat and held it over his chest with one of his massive paws and when the young jedi saw them they were all silent.
"Greetings Master K'Khurk, I take it out Leader chose to speak with Rock?" Sian asked him.
K'Khurk nodded "Indeed Sian, hmmm is that you Quinlan Vos lurking in the shadows?" K'Khurk asked looking over his shoulder to see Quinlan standing behind him the two turned to face one another and Vos had a big smile on his face walking toward him "K'Khurk you son of a-" "Language, there are youngling present." The old whiphid said, shushing him from cursing. But the younglings all let out a shrill chorus of giggles while the older padawans all chuckled and smirked at the two old men seeing each other.
"We thought you were dead." Quinlan said, bringing him into a hug.
K'Khurk smirked "There is no death my Master Vos, only the force."
"And pray the force is with us, it's time we talked." All heads looked back to see both Leo and Master Tholme standing in the doorway to the dining room. Quinlan Vos's jaw hit the floor at the sight of Tholme but he strode past him like he wasn't even there "Mira, what's Master Bulq's condition?" Tholme asked.
"He's resting in the master bedroom, I know it was your quarters for a time but I thought given the circumstances?" Mira said.
Tholme nodded at it "It's well, is there any way to rouse him I'd like to hear his voice on these matters?"
"Matters, what matters, Master, you're back from the dead too?" Quinlan said following him as the other jedi all looked at one another, at Vos's outburst.
K'Khurk took Quinlan aside "Please, Quinlan we'll explain in time."
"I will fetch him." Mira nodded at Tholme before she set down the tray of waters and walked out past Leo.
Tholme turned then to Esther in the background "Lady Esther is it, will you stay with the younglings and padawans while the rest of you follow me out to the veranda?" He asked.
"Of course Master Tholme." Esther said respectfully.
"No." Leo said before Tholme could say another command, Tholme locked eyes with him "No?" He asked.
Leo stepped forward "Everyone who came with me will be at this Council, whatever we discuss or even decide I want everyone to hear, and have a voice." Leo said to the jedi. Tholme stared Leo down for a long time before he said "Very well."
The Masters, Knights, padawans and younglings followed Tholme out onto a roofed platform with old stone pillars covered in vines, Rhad Tarn was already there. Arms crossed leaning on a pillar when he saw Tholme he turned around to face the other jedi. The veranda was thirteen feet long and fifteen feet wide stretching out, the ceiling had started to crumble and it gave a large view of Ruul's dark covered jungles and the two other moons of Sriluur. The fire dragon flies floated up around the jungle tree tops like dancing stars one even landed on the ledge of the veranda in front of Byph as everyone took a spot. O-Mer and Jinx stood behind Leo while the younglings all sat or stood to his left with Esther behind them. To Leo's right was Zubain, Ferren and Quinlan continuing clockwise were the Rogues in the following order. Sian next to K'Khurk, Rhad Tarn and then Master Tholme standing with the view to his back and the younglings his left.
"We'll wait for Master Bulq." Tholme said to the assembly.
"Then wait no longer, old friend." Heads turned to the entrance to see Master Bulq asked in with Mira helping him on his arm, he walked with a slight limp but stood strong in front of the other jedi.
Tholme approached him and held out his hand to take Sora's "My apologies for the secrecy to you and you my former Padawan, Quinlan Vos." Tholme said, looking at Quinlan. "But we jedi you see here all agree on one thing, this war is an unjust one and we as Jedi, protectors of life refuse to be part of it's greatest enemy; war."
"But with a Jedi as powerful as you, could we have ended this war sooner?" Quinlan asked, looking at the Rogues.
"Quinlan." Sora said trying to hush him, "No, as Leo said everyone will have a voice, even Quinlan." Tholme said, stopping him.
"Master K'Khurk, you've faced how many conflicts your strategy and skill could have lead us to victory in battles like Scarif, Master Jeisel you were praised as one of the greatest champions of our order, who knows what you could have done and I don't mean to be rude but Mira you're a gifted healer, a healers needed on the front lines more than any General." The Rogues stood there without a word while Quinlan chastised you.
But Rhad Tarn had more than he could stomach. "And what about me Master Vos?" Rhad asked.
"Oh where do I begin with you Tarn?" Quinlan asked, turning to him, the two men shared identical scowls "You're one of the few jedi who know the Outer Rim and Separatist worlds better than the Republic."
Tarn dropped his arms to the side in fists "I do know the Outer Rim better than the Republic, and I know they're the ones the jedi should be fighting for, not the Republic."
"What?" O-Mer said shocked as the other exiles all looked shocked to hear that, "Rhad." Sian said reaching for him to bring him back, but he was already walking to take the center of the crowd "When I was a padawan we spent almost all of our time out in the fringes of the Republic on journey missions." Tarn said as the others listened to him "I've seen the Results of the Republic's corruption first hand."
Leo was about to speak up but he held his tongue to listen "The Senate doesn't care about the slave trade, the syndicates, or the laborers in the spice mines not so long as the pockets of the Senators bulge." Tarn said turning back at the other rogues who all watched him silently, Leo could feel a surge of emotions from tarn, anger, sadness, but most of all betrayal.
A betrayal of the self "And we jedi are tainted by our connections to the Republic, many see us as its enforcers we're on the wrong side, we should be helping bring the republic down once and for all."
"Do that and we're giving the Council even more justification to treat us like traitors." Leo said, getting Tarns' attention.
"The Council are the traitors, why else did you lead that revolt in the Temple?" Tarn called him out.
Leo stood up straight "I did not lead any revolt, they demanded my lightsaber I defended myself nothing more."
"Master Bulq, what do you think?" Mira asked Sora, who was sitting down on a stone bench.
He let out a horse sigh "I was reluctant to say anything but… there is wisdom in what Tarn says, I worry that the Council sees what it wants tos eye and will act as it has always acted." Sora glanced at Tarn giving him a nod "For myself, I do not feel I can support the Republic's war effort more than that— I do not know." He said, bowing his head.
"I think I'm young Bulq." Master K'Kruhk said under his hat, the whipid stroked his long gray mane while speaking "This war has forced our order down a path we as Jedi do not recognize, many times the Republic have been tested in war but those were minor compared to this, the last Great War was centuries ago, even as a padawan I knew the Jedi's cause as the Republic held true to the belief of democracy, but this…." he trailed off.
K'Kruhk didn't want to finish "Speak your mind K'Kruhk?" Tholme asked him.
"... As you said Rhad, the Republic doesn't care about the slave trades how could they when we have a created one, the clone army are human beings breeding to fight a war they have no say in." K'Kruhk said hands in the air "This is a crime unlike any before committed."
"I feel your pain Master K'Kruhk, but the Republic had no army that could challenge the Separatists droids, they outnumber us a hundred to one without the brave sacrifice of the clones, we would have already lost." Sora said back to him.
K'Kruhk grumbled "But surely there could have been time, time enough these past two years for the Senate to call on the sectors to United, bring back the Old Republic military a force of a thousand worlds united by the same ideas fighting for freedom like in the Old Republic."
"Those days are gone." Sian said looking out at the distance, "We need to focus on the days to come, our numbers have more than doubled, how long before other Jedi leave like you Leo, how long till they seek shelter?" Sian asked him and the others "How long before… we're fighting a Jedi Civil War?"
Leo walked toward her, and pointed at the ground "I did not come here to talk about any revolts or civil war, I came seeking your help and your wisdom, until we know what needs to be done for sure I need to know who among you wants to go back?" Leo asked the Jedi who followed him.
"Go back to Coruscant, to the corrupt Republic?" Tarn barked "Rhad, you had your turn let everyone else speak?" Sian asked him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder, he pulled away and retreated back to his corner sulking. Leo looked at the younglings, Yin, Abraxas, O-Mer, Jinx, Zubain, Ferren and Esther; the jedi who had followed himself and the other Masters like Sora and Quinlan. None of them spoke, the younglings all looked at one another while Leo waited.
He looked back at the rogues "You all made your choice, so have I, I believe like you do that this war is wrong, the reasons, the causes, the politics none of it add up to make any sense, and we think we know why." Leo gestured to Sora Bulq.
"What, tell us then?" Rhad asked.
Leo eyed Tholme who was silent "... Not until I know everyone will accept it, and the dangers that will come with it." Leo said
"Coward." Rhad growled.
Leo twitched "What did you call me?"
Rhad stood up from the corner "You heard me, you're a coward."
O-Met slapped his forehead, Jinx rolled his eyes as the two started to square off.
Leo squeezed his hand into a fist "How-dare-you."
"I was on the front lines as a padawan while you were running from this war with your lightsaber between your legs." Leo snapped, Tarn took his real lightsaber in his hand walking toward him, Leo grabbed his before Tholme stuck his cane out between them "Are you knights or are you children, Rock has told me about what he thinks he knows, we agree that not everyone is ready to know, so stand down Rhad." Tholme ordered him.
Without him realizing it, Sora was behind Leo holding him by the arm to keep him from tearing Rhad apart "Now, we must decide who will stay and who will…." Tholme lost his train of thought.
"Master Tholme are you… I sense it too." Sian said, looking up at the sky.
Leo looked into the force and felt the presences coming closer, they were about to drop out of hyperspace "How, we removed the tracker?" Leo gasped.
"What is it, what's coming?" Petro asked the older jedi.
Meanwhile up above the moon, the Knight exited hyperspace with its hanger doors opened, the 703rd were boarding their gunships with Sentinels to every gunship with Cin joining one, Anakin and the Council members entered one gunship with Dogma as he watched Alpha and Draw enter into another. "Captain Dogma when we land you and your men will surround the grounds, if anyone tries to escape you and the Sentinels will intercept, non-lethal force only unless you can't help it." Windu said to them.
Dogma glanced at Windu under his helmet "Yes…. General."
The force flew out of the hanger over a dozen gunships in all flying toward Ruul, down below the rogues and exiles, had run to the front entrance othe estate to see the ships breaking through the clouds "The Councils come for us, we need to get to the ships and escape." Rhad said.
"No, with that cruiser overhead they'll blast us out of the sky or hit us with a tractor beam." Leo said back to him.
"What do we do then, stay and fight?" Jinx asked his Master who watched the gunship fly around the grounds surrounding it and landing from every degree "No, we wait, look one of the ships is coming towards us they mean to talk." Tholme said pointing to the Council's gunship, the Jedi could sense the Jedi aboard it.
"Windu…" Tarn growled feeling his presence "Not just Windu, hmmm I sense Mundi, Koon, Drallig, little Aayla and… Skywalker." Tholme said, Leo's eyes fell feeling his presence Anakin's anger, his wrath all of it focused on him.
The gunship landed behind the other ships opening with the Masters and Anakin stepping out, Captain Dogma with Jax's squad of the 703rd. "They take my command, they take my cruiser and now my men." Leo grumbled squeezing his hand into a fist "Next they'll take your life." Rhad said next to him.
"We must fight." Rhad said to the others "No, violence will do nothing for us." Mira said, trying to calm him down.
Tholme turned to them "No one draws a lightsaber unless they draw there's, Leo?" Tholme asked him. He looked at the jedi who followed him, "Agreed?" He asked, they all nodded as the other jedi approached them. Mace Windu was in front, Plo Koon and Mundi at his side with Anakin and Aayla flanking them. When the Masters saw the rogue Jedi with them, the Masters Tholme and Master K'Kruhk standing with Leo, Aayla looked past their legs tos eye the Younglings all the way in the back hiding behind the rogues legs.
"The younglings." She whispered.
"We save them, then we take the others." Anakin whispered to her.
WIndu glanced back "You'll do nothing without our so so Skywalker." He ordered "Understood Master." Anakin replied bitterly.
They stopped at the foot of the stairs where Tholme looked down at them, "Master Tholme, Master K'Kruhk you keep strange company since your deaths." Windu said.
Tholme gave a polite bow "Masters of the Council, welcome to Ruul I believe we can dispense with whatever protocols or niceties, we were just holding a council if you have something to say we will listen." Tholme said up front.
Windu and the other Masters shared some glances, Windu held his finger toward Leo "We've come for him, and the younglings who he kidnapped."
"Nobody kidnapped us!" Petro shouted from behind Leo, Esther took him by the shoulders "Hush Petro."
Windu dropped his arm "You are all being tricked by a false prophet, Leo Rock has embraced the dark side and is corrupting you for his own ends, help us detain him now and you will be welcomed back into the order." Windu said, eyes went from Mace to Leo who had locked onto him "We will not betray him, Leo saved our lives, he saved all of Coruscant on Rendili."
"Be silent Padawan, you are being led astray, you just don't see it." Ki-Adi said to him.
"See it? I saw him save us from trandoshan hunters when the Council didn't?" O-Mer said back "They left us to die like so many other padawans on that moon, and here you are again to kill us all over!" O-Mer yelled, Leo looked at his friend and never even heard O-Mer raise his voice.
Plo Koon stepped forward "Listen to yourself padawan, such anger such rage this is Rocks battle meditation at work influencing your emotions."
"I would never do that." Leo said to counter him "I would never do that to another jedi."
"Because you don't know you're doing it Leo, like it first manifested in battle you are unknowing forcing them to see your point of view by manipulating their minds." Plo said up to him.
Rhad Tarn scoffed upon hearing this "What's your excuse?" He asked Plo, pushing to the front holding ah and up "That's it, he's saying what other jedi are thinking and they agree and your excuse is he's manipulating them, he's corrupting them when we finally don't jump in line?" Rhad asked Plo, he turned to Mundi and Windu.
"What of us Masters, what of the rogue Jedi here who refused to even enter your war, did he corrupt us when he was a padawan and we'd never even met?" Rhad asked him.
"You and the other jedi here's reluctance to stay of the war was known to us, we as a Council believed it best to leave you in peace when you ran, knowing you would stay loyal to the Republic maybe even return after the war was over, but him." Mundi said looking back to Leo "The multiple times he's disobeyed us, joining Count Dooku as a so called 'spy' learning dark force techniques, these are the signs of a fallen jedi."
Leo didn't say anything, he waited for him to continue "Surrender him to us now, allow the younglings and padawans to return, we end this schism now as one order."
"Under you." Sora Bulq said finally speaking up.
He stood beside Rhad Tarn taking a place between the Council members and Leo, "Master Bulq, you're not innocent either, you trained Leo in Form VII, Vapaad knowing full well it's dangers."
"Only because he liked you when we first created it together needed it, for the trials I foresaw we all would face." Sora said turning around to the others "Master Windu and the Council members are right, we end this schism now as one order." He spun around arms outstretched gesturing for the Jedi at the bottom of the estate's stairs "Come, hold council with us as brothers not enemies."
Windu and the other Masters didn't move "The time for discussion is over, the Council has made its decree." Windu commanded, Leo noticed Tholme was watching Sora with his one good eye intently.
Sora's arms lowered "Your decrees mean nothing here I'm afraid, the jedi who stand here have had enough of your decrees, we seek an alternative path but I believe I have a solution that we can all agree on." The wind rustled between their hair, and against their robes the jedi all waited on baited breath.
"Then spit it out." Quinlan blurted.
"These Jedi and many in our order back on Coruscant have lost faith in the Council you represent Master Windu, but not the Jedi's wisdom therefore if you wish for us to return as your brothers, peacefully there is one thing you must do" Sora said, hands in his robes.
Windu paused before he answered "And that is?"
"Disband the Council." Sora said, shocking all the Jedi there, "Sora, you're asking that even Master Yoda… to step down as Grand Master?" Plo Koon asked him
Sora nodded "I am, I respect Master Yoda with all my soul but this war has taken its toll on him let others carry the burden of leadership so he may rest."
"You would leave the Jedi leaderless, in a time of war no less?" Aayla said from behind.
"No, not leaderless a new Council must replace the old, but one that speaks for the whole order, not just the chosen few." Sora explained with open hands.
A long pause followed, the Masters below looked at one another, the exiles and rogues also shared some glances "I second that." Sian said, taking her place beside Sora "If a new Council is formed, I'll return to Coruscant with you. I'll even help you put an end to this war." She offered.
"If Master Jeisel is willing, I will also return if the Council disbands." Master K'Khurk declared, Leo looked at Mira who seemed to be nodding at the idea. Rhad Tarn was scowling at the Council members and watching the tree lines, could see clone army glinting in the starlight and off fire dragon flies. Leo saw Tholme was the only one of the rogues who hadn't made a choice yet, even his own followers were mulling it over. Leo could see the younglings all watching with wide eyes close to another, Katooni was squeezing Petro's hand while Gungi had both Byph and Ganodi clutching his fur. Leo could see both O-Mer and Jinx looking at him waiting for him to say something, but both Yin and Abraxas were whispering to themselves about something, Zubain and Ferren had been silent for a long time which Leo found curious.
"... how did you find us, we removed your tracking beacon?" Leo asked Windu to break the silence.
Tholme changed his attention from Sora to Leo, he was searching for the answer not in the Masters face but in the force around him "Someone here told you we had come to Ruul?" Leo asked, looking at the jedi on the stairs.
"A traitor?" Rhad Tarn said venomously.
"No traitor, someone loyal to the Jedi, and to the Republic." Windu said taking a step "Step forward." He asked.
"It was us." The heads turned to Zubain and Ferren, the two Knights had taken steps down the stairs when Rhad got between them "You sold us out." He snapped.
Ferren grabbed his lightsaber "We remained loyal, after Dantooine with Master Bulq and the younglings wounded it was too dangerous with General Grievous after us."
"Grievous?" Anakin asked.
"We had healers here." Jinx said, "How were we supposed to know that, all you ever had about these Rogues was faith and now they're asking for the entire Jedi Council to disband and who do you think they'll want to take their place, the Masters here?" Ferren snapped at him.
Leo got between them and pushed them away. "Stop it, we can't change it now if you stand with the Council go stand with them." Leo said to Ferren.
"Not without the younglings, we won't let you put them in harm's way again." Ferren said, suddenly drawing his lightsaber. In a matter of seconds everyone had their lightsabers out Esther had rushed in front of the younglings arms outstretched shielding them, at the tree lines the clones were about to rush in but Cin had his comlink open "No, hold your positions." He ordered.
Leo stood his ground between Ferren and Zubain "I… can't do that."
"Why, they're far safer in the Temple than out here with you." Ferren said, clutching his blue lightsaber.
"And how long till our Council sends them to the front lines to die." Leo said looking back at Mace Windu who was holding his purple lightsaber up, Leo sheathed his for all to see.
"... I will surrender and face trial, but on one condition alone, not the disbandment of the Council Master Bulq." Leo said to him "But if and only if, The Jedi Council removes all younglings and padawans from the war?" Leo asked.
Quinlan scratched the back of his head "I'll turn myself in too for that." He said turning off his lightsaber, soon the other Masters, Mira and padawans did "Yes, no more padawans in the war." Sian said.
All eyes were on Master Windu, Plo and Ki-Adi the two Masters beside Windu nodded turning off their lightsabers, Aayla turned hers off too but Anakin and Windu kept theirs on "Very well, our Council can agree on those terms."
Leo lowered his arm with relief washing over his face, he squeezed his lightsaber one last time before he dropped it letting it clatter down the stairs every bounce and clink was like the sound of a hammer hitting Leo's heart as it rolled down to the Masters feet he placed his clenched hands together "I surrender."
"Now, move in." Cin said as the 703rd moved in with the Sentinels, a full company of the battalion Leo could see both Fives and Alpha moving in, Fives/Draw with his new armor and Alpha holding his rotating blaster cannon.
"Master Tholme will you and the others who follow you also return?" Quinlan asked as the jedi started to step down "I sense no one will, can you not feel it?"
Suddenly, Windu's comlink beeped, then Plo's, Ki-Adi's, Anakin's, all the Generals' comlinks beeping, then the clones too like a thousand birds all beeping. Windu answered his comlink "Admiral Dallin what is it?"
"A separatist fleet just dropped out of hyperspace, and they're sending landing shuttles to your position to get the hell out of there!' Admiral Dallin shouted from aboard the Knight. On the surface of Ruul the Jedi looked skyward to see the Knight getting bombarded by a fully equipped Separaitst battle fleet outnumbering the Knight six to one, two Mulificent frigates, a command ship and the Dreadnought known as the Invisible Hand, Grievously flag ship.
"Get the younglings to a shuttle before they bombard us." Ferren ordered.
"Belay that." Anakin snapped at them "The Separaitst fleet will shoot down any shuttles attempting to flee and if they haven't already bombarded us then that means one thing, Grievous is in one of those landing crafts." He pushed forward picking up Leo's lightsaber "Admiral can you signal for reinforcements." Anakin asked.
The Knight shook violently from the barrage of cannon fire "We're trying, sending it to all frequencies with no response back yet."
"Hold on, I'm coming to assist you, who's Starfighter is that?" Anakin asked, looking to the gray Jedi Starfighter.
"Think Skywalker, we can't win this fight, we have take one of these ships and escape with the everyone we can." Windu berated.
Anakin gaped at him "And leave all those men on the cruiser and down here to die."
"For the sake of the Jedi here…. Yes." Windu said reluctantly.
"No, the Starfighter is mine Skywalker, here are the codes." K'Kruhk said tossing the access code to him Anakin caught it "I already watched good men die once, I won't do it again, we stay and fight." Master K'Kruhk said
Windu looked at the other Jedi not seeing any chance for debate "Very well, men take up defensive positions in the estate, get the younglings inside every Jedi will man part of the wall ten paces." Windu said, starting to bark out orders.
"And me Master Windu?" Leo asked, still without his lightsaber "... Skywalker, give him his lightsaber but make sure he doesn't keep it." Anakin shoved the lightsaber into Leo's hands again and leaned in "When this is over, I'll find you." Anakin said, Leo's eyes widened as Anakin stepped away and ran to the starfighter to turn it on and take off. The Jedi starfighter vanished behind the clouds and just as it flew up Anakin saw eight Separatist C-9979 landing crafts and a swarm of vulture droids. Anakin hit the accelerator and spun around the opening fire; he took out two on sight, before he passed by it and up into the battle above. The Knight was already sending out every squadron of clone Starfighters they could into a swarm of vulture droids. Anakin looked around the cockpit to find the air piece.
"Knights squadron, this is General Skywalker. I'm taking command, break your formations, the vulture droids take us out when we bunch up, we just need to hold out until reinforcements arrive." Anakin said, taking the lead of the squadrons.
The clones all broke off into a dogfight around the superior forces while the Knight shook again from the rocking cannon fire, Admiral Dalli was knocked to the floor of the bridge, her hair coming loose before one of her officers helped her up "Damage report?" She asked.
"Shields are seventy two percent Admiral." A bridge officer.
She pushed her hair back over her ear "Push all reserve power to the shields, focus all forward batteries on the command ship we take so that we can shut down the droids, any word on reinforcements?"
"Our first distress signals got through, but they're jamming our other signals we're on our own Admiral." Tess squeezed her leather gloves so tight they started to groan.
"... The Black Legion has never lost a battle yet, are we going too now, men?" Admiral Dallin asked the crew, the officers and crew were hesitant to answer "I said are we going to lose to a bunch of stinking, hard wired, tin faced marking CLANKERS?" She shouted at them.
"MA'AM NO MA'AM!" The crew shouted.
Admiral Dallin turned back to the front of the bridge "Unleash hell and into the Force we go!"
On the surface, Grievous sat aboard the lead landing craft, speaking to Count Dooku "I have surrounded the jedi on Ruul my lord, what of this traitor in their midst who gave us this location?"
Dooku's hologram merely shrugged "They have given us a flanking route through secret catacombs, but their usefulness is at an end Grievous, leave none alive."
"As you command." Grievous said, turning to a Commander Droid, "Send out all our forces, crush the clone scum, leave the Jedi to me."
The separatist forces had landed their ships with clones opening fire on the d vulture, opening fire. The younglings were in the kitchen taking shelter as Esther sat on the floor meditating the estate shaking from cannon fire. All the other jedi were deflecting the incoming vulture's fire with their lightsabers swatting them away but the blasts were so strong it was hard to keep their footing. Leo was both ends of his double bladed lightsaber to swing them around each time he had to deflect one another was already on its way, to his left was Quinlan Vos and his left Plo Koon who managed to swing one of the lasers back at a droid ship taking it out. On other high points of the estate were Aayla, Mundi and Cin being then Master K'Kruhk, Sian and Rhad were on the flank as other ships came from behind. The clones had lined the ruins with themselves setting up defensive positions for cover and choke points with Temple Guards in between them, Alpha was sending burst fire from his rotating blaster cannons as Dogma was looking through binoculars with Jax holding a rocket launcher "Three o'clock, he's going to bank around." The troop carriers landed in the jungle crushing the trees and opening their large doors to unload ground carriers.
"I got'em, I got'em." Jax said, losing a rocket to take out the fighter.
Inside the dining room clones who were already wounded were being dragged in for Mira to try and heal, she was sweating bullets as she did her best to heal the wounded or at the least ease their passing.
Captain Dogma was with Windu, Bulq and Tholme. Standing in the background were the padawans not yet sent out to fight "We can't hold out forever, when those ground forces land Grievous will surely be among them." Tholme said
"If they have tanks it's all over, we'll need to destroy them first." Windu said.
"Agreed, padawans go to the kitchen and take the younglings to lower catacombs to hide." Sora ordered them.
Jinx gawked at them "Catacombs, Masters you can't expect us to hide, not when the droids will just use their scanners to find us?"
"I agree with Jinx, you need every lightsaber you can out there." O-Mer insisted.
"Do as we say Padawan." Windu said as Jinx crossed his arm "You expect us to listen to you now, you all can hide if you want but if we're going to die it'll be fighting." O-Mer said beside Jinx the two walked out of the room as Yin and Abraxas were silent nodding to the orders.
Back outside Leo saw one of the vulture droids getting close, he jumped up in the air and swung his lightsaber up cutting the ship in half sending it crashing into two more taking out all three at once. "Nice one." Quinlan said beside him.
"Don't get too confident yet, the ground forces are here." Plo said, pointing to the tree line. Marching out of an already burning set of trees, rows of B2 battle droids were marching in lines of three as a vanguard for the B1s.
"I need to get down there, the men need to see me." Leo told them.
Quinlan looked over at Plo who nodded "Go."
Leo jumped down off the battlement onto the steps walking past the clones who saw him "It's General Rock." One of them shouted. At the sight of their General the clones let out cheers and hoorays "Let's break some droids." He said to them walking through their lines patting one of them men on the shoulder just then Dogma, O-Mer and Jinx came out. Leo clapped O-mer's arm and nodded to Dogma.
"What kind of ordinance do we have?" Leo asked Dogma.
"We're running low on rockets, and grenades soon we'll just be down to our ammo packs." Dogma told him.
"Make every shot count, Jinx, O-Mer guard the stairs make sure no one gets through but if you get overwhelmed fall back, I don't want any last stands." Leo ordered.
The two friends gave him nods understanding "What about you?" O-mer asked. Leo looked out across the encroaching sea of battle droids, flames had overtaken the surrounding jungle and marching through it was the menacing silhouette of General Grievous "Round three."
In the upper atmosphere Anakin was one of the handful of the republic fighters still in the fight, the Knight was taking a beating like no other ship had ever faced. A roaring fire was raging in its starboard side, one of the towers was in flames and the bridge was aboard to go too. Command modules were exploding. The holotable was covered in wires and fallen metal before Tess pushed it off to clean it looking at the ship's position. The Knight was surrounded by the Separatist fleet and red dots of vulture droids were beyond count "General Skywalker?"
"Little- busy- Admiral." Anakin said flying around a frigate taking out its shields.
"You know I heard a rumor that you destroyed a spearatist command ship when you were a child from the inside, think you can do it again?" She asked him.
Anakin banked left under one of the enemy cruisers "The command ship has too many cannons, I won't get close without cover."
"Then we'll give it to you, all guns fire on the command ship." Admiral Dallin ordered.
"But ma'am, our shields won't survive the enemy fire without cover." One of the officers told her.
She wasted no time barking at the soldier "Do it, we have to risk it." She ordered. When Anakin saw the Knights guns turn on the command ship he pulled a three sixty and flew into the swarm of blue cannon fire dodging it from behind as he flew straight toward the spherical command ship.
Meanwhile, on the surface Windu and Tholme had joined the fray deflecting incoming blaster fire. They'd join Leo at the front lines in holding back the oncoming droids that were surrounding the estate "Don't think this changes anything, once this is over you will return to Coruscant as our prisoner." Windu said cutting a battle droid in half.
Leo deflected three incoming shots before he force pushed a squad of super battle droids back down the steps "Won't matter if none of us survive… wait, where'd Grievous go he was just there at the tree line."
Down in the catacombs, Esther, Yin and Abraxas were waiting with the younglings who were all huddled around a small lantern. "We should go up and fight," Petro said to Esther.
"You're brave Petro, but we must be patient." Esther said when they heard a stone topple.
Esther rose up taking out her double bladed lightsaber, illuminating the catacombs with yellow when they saw Grievous standing in the shadows "Jedi." He growled.
"Run." Esther said tossing aside her robe, she was still dressed in her Temple guard robes but with her sleeves torn off showing her pinkish red arms before Grievous drew two lightsabers to catch her blade. Grievous countered swiping at her, Esther backflipped deflecting his oncoming attack before she tried to force push him back, Grievous stomped forward digging his claws into the catacombs floor "There's no escape this time." Grievous growled.
Up above, Leo felt the terror from the younglings and soon the other jedi did too "The younglings." He turned around running up the steps "Tarn go with him!" Tholme ordered Rhad nodded chasing after Leo back into the estate. They passed by Mira with the wounded "The younglings are in danger, I tried to stop him but Master Bulq already ran down into the catacombs." Mira said.
"We need to get down there Mira." Rhad said pulling her along Leo followed Rhad passed the veranda entrance to a flight of stairs running down them with his blue lightsaber leading the way. They ran down to see the younglings and padawans being chased by Grievous with Esther trying to hold him off, Grievous had her by the neck and before the other three could do anything they watched Grievous stab Esther through the heart with her own lightsaber.
Rhad let out a thunderous yell "Murderer!" He charged forth lightsaber in hand, Mira had her green blade out "Maybe I can still heal here if I can get to her-" "It's to late, she's gone protect the younglings." Leo said running to join Rhad against Grievous. The two young knights engaged Grievous who drew both his other arms out now holding four lightsabers.
"What have you done with the Master Bulq monster?" Rhad snapped as Grievous toyed with him "The same thing I'm going to do to you." Grievous snickered, dodging his attacks before jumping up to the ceiling and spinning his lightsabers like fans against Leo and Rhad.
Leo and Rhad stabbed Grievous, stopping the blade's "Liar."
Grievous dug the claws on his feet into the stone and tore it out causing the catacombs to collapse around them, dust rushed into their lungs making Rhad and Leo cough as they were separated by falling Rock. Leo fell back with dust in his eyes. He waved it away looking around hearing Grievous cackle somewhere in the darkness.
"Rhad- Rhad where's Grievous?" Leo looked around and saw a figure of someone ahead of him, he got closer and saw it was Sora.
With a sigh of relief he hurried up to the Master "Sora, we need to-" in a flash of light Leo saw Sora draw both his blue lightsabers and shoto swinging at Leo in a split second Leo rolled away "Sora it's me!"
"You were going to surrender, just like that?" Sora asked him.
Leo looked up to see Sora's face was hidden by the shadows and dust "After everything I taught you, gave you, you just bow down to the Council again?"
"What?" Leo asked, Sora slashed at him again Leo parried with his lightsaber "You didn't even try to keep the padawans and younglings with us, you think the Council will agree to your terms the second you were on Coruscant they'd pass the guilty sentence and hand you over to the firing squad." Sora said switching to Vaapad before Leo locked swords with him tos eye both Sora's once brown eyes had turned yellow, turned Sith.
Leo looked at him in horror "You…. you're the traitor?" Leo asked.
Sora smashed his head directly into Leo's, cutting the boy's forehead "The Council are the traitors, to the Force, to the Jedi."
Leo staggered back as Sora engaged him swinging his lightsabers from every direction at Leo who dodged and jumped out of the way "Count Dooku never captured you, you were working together from the start?"
Sora stopped his attack to say "No, he did capture me and he opened my eyes, he helped me see there was but one way for the Jedi to end this war, to save the galaxy."
Squeezing his lightsaber in anger Leo held it up "What?" Up above while the battle raged Sora spoke, while clones died and the droids marched forward.
"The Jedi have been the guardians of peace for millennia, we've protected the so-called Grand Republic with our blood and what do we have to show for it, a corrupt Senate, a despot Chancellor and an entire population of ungrateful citizens who hate and fear us." Sora said as he pointed his lightsaber back at Leo "The time has come for a new order to rise, for the Republic to be washed away once and for all."
"By the Sith, ruled by Sith Lords Dooku and Bulq, he already has a Master?" Leo asked him.
Sora shook his head "No, Dooku and I will destroy this Darth Sidious and it will be the Jedi not the Sith who finally take their rightful place as rulers of the Galaxy."
"You're insane to think Count Dooku will actually give you that." Leo said, jumping at Sora, he swung his single bladed lightsaber at the defense Sora was putting up, but the master swordsman merely parried or countered each strike Leo thrusted at him, as if he was dancing neither one landing a hit.
"Then join me, help me kill Dooku, kill Sidious, with them out of the way and then the Council we'll cleanse the Republic of the Senators who threw us into this pointless war." Sora said between opponents slashing.
Leo raised his hand shooting force lighting at Sora, the weequay Master crossed his lightsabers, catching it "Look at the power you weild, the Council will always fear it, they'll never expect anyone being stronger than them, those in power never will unless we rise up and destroy them."
He broke the lighting "Then what, kill all the people in power and we'll be no better, even if you succeed other Jedi will fight you the wars will never end."
"No they will follow us, they will cheer our names as we set the Jedi free of the Council's constraints, it's flawed code making Jedi turn themselves into unfeeling mindless soldiers… won't you agree Rhad?" Sora asked, Leo looked over his shoulder to see Rhad Tarn had been standing there the whole time listening to him. Leo looked at Rhad who was speechless but it only took one look at Leo and turned on his lightsaber for Leo to feel Rhads choice was already made.
Rhad pounced at Leo "He's right, the Council, the Republic they all have to be destroyed."
Crossing swords with him, Leo turned on his second blade "Listen to yourselves, destroying the Council, the Republic…. you say your Jedi, but this is what the Sith want us turning on one another, what Dooku wanted all along."
"Dooku will be of no consequence, once we are done here we will go to Serenno and end him. Once we do that we will take command of the droid army and they will overwhelm Coruscant and raze the senate tower to the ground, without either side having any leadership command will fall to the Jedi at last." Sora said as Rhad attacked Leo with furious anger.
Rhad forced Leo up against a wall "Even if you succeed, they'll know it was you, the other Jedi, Obi-Wan, Anakin, they'll stop you- they'll fight."
"If they don't join us, then so be it." Sora said watching Rhad hold Leo back, "Rhad if he doesn't join us kill him, I have to go see Grievous before he kills the younglings there may still be time for them if not, better to die here then suffer in the future."
Leo clenched his jaw and looked at Rhad, "Rhad, whatever you believe, whatever you know, see this is wrong please don't make me do this." Leo begged him as he raised his lightsaber.
"I'm done listening to the lies of the Jedi, yours included." He said pushing his lightsaber close to Leo's neck, any closer he'd cut right through it "All the years in the outer rim, fighting pirates, slavers, syndicates watching good people suffer while the Council sits on Coruscant protecting that nest of vipers."
Leo pushed him off and went on a barrage of strikes from left to right "It's not to late, I know you're angry, you feel betrayed by the Council so do I, but we can find a better way then Bulq's, we can save the Jedi, the Republic everyone if you just try." Tarn blocked and deflected his attacks without flaw before Rhad swung his lightsaber from the left at Leo so hard it pushed him into a corner.
"There is no other way, the only thing the Jedi Council understands is violence so now it's time we give it to them." Rhad snapped.
Grunting against his overwhelming rage Leo could feel the terror from the padawans and younglings somewhere in the catacombs "P-please don't make me do this Rhad!"
"Do what, surrender us all to the Council's witch trials, no it's them or me and I choose me and kill all of you to do it." Rhad snapped swinging his lightsaber above his head to strike down on Leo, he rolled out of the way at the last second before he Rhad turned to take him, but Leo shot up like a spring grabbing Rhads chest, the fallen Knight glanced down;.
"What are you-" it was a heavy sound like a balloon going off underwater, Rhad shut his mouth before he spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes turned red and he fell forward, Leo turned off both their lightsabers catching him into Leo's arms he fell to his knees holding Rhad he squeezed his fingers into the men's robes "I'm so, so sorry Rhad." Leo whispered.
"That was your heart…. I put a force bubble in it then-" Leo cut himself off closing his eyes "You don't deserve this-this isn't your fault brother…" Leo stifled out and laid Rhad down gasping for air coughing up blood, Leo looked down at his hand covered in blood, jedi blood. But his wasn't the only hands stained with this blood, ever since he returned to Coruscant, he had been using him for his own ends. Manipulating, teaching him Vaapad to gain his trust, or to use him against the Council all of this, all this death and destruction to the Jedi was his fault. Leo straightened out Rhads body, laying his head down gently on the stone and putting his hands over his chest, he dragged his fingers over Rhads eyes closing them for the last time.
He gave himself only a moment, then he let it out "R—rr—…. SOOORAAAAAAAAAA!"
Up above the ripple of anger and rage shattered the concentration of the jedi above, "Is that…." Sian asked Master K'Kruhk "Yes, Leo, and… Stars that darkness was Rhad you felt it, the younglings are in danger in the catacombs." K'Kruhk asked her.
Sian shut her eyes "We all knew he was close, but to turn now it doesn't make any sense."
"Then we make sense of it." Windu said, jumping over some ruins as the droids marched on them at the very gates of the estate, " Plo with me, we need to get down to the catacombs before it's too late." The two Masters ran back into the estate as the clones watched more jedi vanish behind them.
Dogma and Jax "Alright boys, if tonight's our last night- Let's give them clankers hell." Dogma said shooting out at the droids with Jax beside him. The clones fought on despite the overwhelming droid bearing down on them. On the other side of the battlements Commander Alpha and his men were being overwhelmed, the Sentinels were starting to fall in droves. While Alpha was showering them with scorching laser fire from his rotating blaster cannon as its barrels burned red before the gun overheated in his hands.
He tossed the cannon into the droids "Fall back, fall back." Alpha tore out his two blaster pistols to shoot at the droids backing up, he turned to follow them into the ruins before a shot ripped through his lower back and out his stomach.
"Commander!" Fives shouted under his helmet, Alpha fell down, his helmet knocked off. The old clone coughed up blood as he crawled up seeing other clones dead beside him, his brothers, his family, he crawled up to one who'd been shot, pulling him over to take the dead trooper's last two thermal detonators. Fives almost ran out to grab him but Dogma grabbed him. I'm "No." The two clones watched Alpha fight to his feet before he armed the thermal detonators.
Alpha took a step, two a jog and then a run at the droid army, about to reach over their crumbling defenses, Alpha jumped off the low wall into the sea of battle droids shouting "FOR THE REPUBLIC!"
At another end of the catacombs the younglings were being protected by Mira, Yin and Abraxas. "We have to find the exit, I know it's close." Mira said as they backed up.
She turned to the padawans "If Grievous shows himself you run, do you understand younglings?" She asked the children hiding behind her.
"No, we'll stay and help you fight." Petro snapped.
Mira smiled at him "You have a stout heart young one, but survival is victory here or we-" A green lightsaber swung at Mira's neck and her head rolled across the floor before her body followed. General Grievous was standing there picking up her lightsaber "Another for the collection." Grievous said "Monster." Abraxas said running toward Grievous "Abraxas no!" Yin yelled, pulling the younglings behind her before Grievous caught his lightsaber on Grievous and Mira's he'd just taken but he didn't count for the extra arms. Grievous forced both his lower metal hands onto Abraxas arms and started to pull. Abraxas felt Grievous dig his claws into his shoulders and he yelled before Grievous lifted him off the ground, blood seeped through his brown robes before the other jedi watched in horror Grievous tearing Abraxas' arms from their sockets.
"Abraxas!" Yin shouted "G-go- protect the younglings— GYAAAAAAAHHHH!" Abraxas screamed in agony as his arms were ripped from his body. Blood showered on Grievous and the walls as Grievous stepped over him.
"S-stay back." Yin said, trying to hold him off, Grievous just laughed "It seems the only thing the Jedi are good at is sending me children to kill, how unsporting."
"That's enough General." Sora appeared in between the children and Grievous, Yin's face lit up with hope "Master Bulq."
Sora walked out between them "Count Dooku gave me his word he'd spare the younglings for us to train."
Grievous looked at him and stepped back as if obeying his commands "M-Master?" Yin asked, lowering her lightsaber. Sora turned, smiling at her "It's alright my dear, come, I will explain everything." He said holding up his hand, Yin looked over at the bleeding Abraxas who was passed out, she took one look at Bulq and could feel the danger coming off of him "N-no." She said holding her lightsaber up.
The smile disappeared and Sora flicked his wrist and grabbed her neck as Bulq force choked her "Stupid girl." But while his back was turned, Grievous pounced following Dooku's order to kill him. Sora dropped Yin and spun around to meet Grievous with both his lightsaber and shoto "So the Count wants me dead, well after I'm done with you cyborg I'll go see him." Bulq said.
Grievous only growled "At least make it a challenge."
"SORA!" Grievous and Sora looked to the left where the treacherous jedi master had just entered to see Leo walking out with swords in hand, his own and Rhad Tarns in the other holding both blue and white lightsabers. "Yin, get the younglings out of here now, find the Masters tell them Bulqs the traitor." Leo said, walking toward the two jedi killers.
"And who will they believe, AFTER I'VE KILLED YOU BOTH." Sora said, spinning around in a whirlwind of force power and lightsaber skill on Grievous and Leo. Leo caught his first attack and channeled every terrible emotion he had into his force, he drew his arm back and as Yin was fleeing with the younglings she saw the air start to shift and bubble around Leo's fingertips what followed the sound of a cannon ball rocking the catacombs and estate foundation so hard it shook the upper levels. Both Grievous and Bulq were knocked off their feet through columns of ancient stone and rock their lightsabers, the only light they could see.
Sora coughed out dirt to get to his feet and saw Leo coming down at him with both lightsabers locking on to each of them "Do you have any idea, what you made me do!"
"I made you man boy." Sora said pushing back "I gave you the training, the power and the sight that none of the other Masters ever could, and finally my last gift was the will to choose what was necessary, you killed Rhad Tarn a Jedi Knight, now the Council will sentence you to death for it unless you join me."
Leo smashed his head directly into Sora's, breaking his weequay nose "Never."
"I served the sith once, never again." Leo said as Sora recovered "Then die like the rest of your so-called brothers." Sora leapt back at Leo with each lightsaber in reverse grip he swung up and down with them, Leo caught one above the other below as the fight pushed deeper into the catacombs. Then Grievous burst from a pile of rubble watching them fight their way past the Bulq family crypts away from him.
Grievous got up from the rubble and looked to see the younglings fleeing up a flight of stairs where he overhead them shouting "Master Windu, Master Plo, Leo he-" Petro started to say "Master Bulq he choked Yin, then Grievous he ugh-" They're all rambling a million miles a minute.
"Younglings!" Plo snapped "Calm your minds, focus, get upstairs to safety Padawan Yin, where is Mira and Padawan Abraxas?"
Yin was panting so hard she could barely breathe "Lady Mira sh-she's dead, Abraxas he's hurt bad." She explained.
"Then we rescue Abraxas first, then go after Rock and Bulq." Plo said, Windu sensed Grievous down below and readied his lightsaber at the sight of the purple blade Grievous started to reach for his own lightsabers but he looking down at his hands he saw he only had the use of one the other three were all crumbled or shattered. The cyborg snarled at the purple light of the lightsaber before he backed away into the shadows to escape.
In the stars above, Anakin swerved into the hangers spouting out vulture droids like bees from a hive. The Knights barrage cut them to ribbons as Anakin flew inside, swirling around the curved hanger, he flew over supply binges and ramps till he hit the brakes in a three hundred sixty degree turn his ship just in front of its main reactor, with a smirk he unleashed his torpedoes before he pulled back around and his the accelerator flames chasing him out of the command ship as it blew up form the inside, the stray derby and wreckage of the gigantic command ship spread out into the separatist fleets flank taking out two of the frigates and damaging the enemy flag ship vulture droids went limp and down on the surface the battle droids marching on the estate gate all stopped dead in their tracks. Cheered echoing from the surface all the way to the night, Anakin flew around seeing his work pay off but noticed the Invisible Hand, grievous flagship, was still fighting.
"Admiral Dallin, the enemy flag ship is still operational; it must have a separate command module." Anakin said.
"I don't know how long we'll last Skywalker, the Knight's taken a heavy beating… wait?"" Admiral Dallin said as they watched the Invisible Hand turn "Somethings coming out of hyperspace."
Just as she said it, three Republic Cruisers dropped from hyperspace "Admiral Dallin, are we late for the party?" Came a familiar voice to Anakin's comlink, a upper class mid rim accent of Admiral Yuralen "General Skywalker I see you've made quite a mess of things, as usual." Yuralen said as Anakin shook his head.
"You're a welcome sight for sore eyes Admiral." Anakin said as they saw the Invisible Hand now outnumbered four to one, they started to retreat.
But the battle on the surface was far from over, Leo chased Sora down the catacombs with both lightsabers, Sora blocked one before Leo tried to stab him with Rhads but Sora parried that kicking Leo in the face, he ate the boot like it was air before he tackled Sora against a loose wall of stones knocking them to the outer part of the estate. Into a shallow pool with a waterfall falling down off a cliff, Sora tumbled back his robes now soaking as Leo got up, part of Bulqs black haired braids were undone and he was panting.
"The fire of youth… wasted on you." Sora said as he took a deep breath and repositioned in Vaapad form. Leo tossed away Rhads lightsaber and held his own double bladed one "Listen, the fighting stopped the destroyed the command ship above it's over Sora soon the other Masters and clones will be here."
"And then what, you and I go back to Coruscant, put on a mock trial to be found guilty?" Sora asked.
"WE ARE GUILTY!" Leo shouted at him, "Every-last-one of us!" screamed at Sora "Guilty of following the will of the sith from the start, and all this time when we met I thought-" Leo looked away "I thought I had finally found another Jedi who saw me not as enemy, who wasn't afraid of me, who saw me as more than just another Jedi, who wanted to save as many jedi as possible but you… Rhad, Abraxas, Mira Esther this water here won't wash their blood from our hands." Leo said, looking at the water.
Bulq rushed Leo when his eyes were lowered "Never lower your eyes to an opponent." Bulq taunted as Leo's lightsaber shot up, blocking both of Sora's lightsabers with one arm. Leo looked up at him and to Sora's amazement the green was gone, now they were yellow, Leo pushed him back and swung his lightsaber around in a full swing to straggle Sora back into the water. Leo walked up to him twisting his lightsaber around in the water, the tips kicking up steam before Sora was back on his feet. Sora took his shoto and lightsaber and twirling them like batons as Leo and him charged up their force and with all their power they're lightsabers connected like two cannon balls colliding sending the water out of the pool the shockwave carrying a gust of wind to the estate.
'What was that?" Dogma asked as he was helping carry wounded inside, Quinlan was beside them helping a clone "That… isn't good."
Back in the pond, Leo and Sora were unleashing their full power, with every strike and parry the force burst out from them. Sora swung his lightsabers at Leo's head, he leaned back before he twisted around and smashed his shoulder into Sora, their lightsabers looked "So what are you fighting for now, huh- to capture me, even if you do you think they'll just let you back in the order."
"Or maybe you plan to kill me, go ahead, do it, you were too much of a coward to kill Dooku, you already killed one Jedi, what's another to the pile?" Sora taunted as he drew back. Leo jumped cutting from above but Sora countered with his shoto, the blast sending Leo up out of tree branch before he jumped back down stabbing his lightsaber into the ground sending a force shockwave. Leo yanked his lightsaber up, they met again Leo using both ends to hold back Sora's masterful slashes, they moved in a circle the force still bursting from the two, their speed increasing to be a blur of white and blue lightsabers.
"Dooku already betrayed what are you fighting for Master Bulq, the jedi will never rule like you want." Leo said as he parried.
Sora countered cutting Leo on the leg, Leo fell down rolling out of the way of his blades coming back around to attack him from the back, Bulq dodged "I will kill Dooku, then this Sidious, after that the Jedi will follow me as their savior, I'll raise them above knights, to the Lords of the Galaxy."
Leo unleashed force lightning at Sora, but Sora absorbed it with his lightsabers "First you have to get past me." Leo said.
"So which is it, kill me, capture me, you chose to kill Rhad Tarn choose with me-" Sora knocked Leo off balance, slashing Leo across the chest with his lightsaber cutting him "Do it, kill me if you can."
"I'm not trying to kill you….. I just needed to stall you." Leo said, holding his chest when Sora heard a chorus of lightsabers and blasters arming. Sora looked over his shoulder to see Masters Tholme, Windu, Jeisel, K'Kruhk, Mundi, Vos, and Plo. Aayla was standing with Dogma and the masked Fives blasters of a handful of 703rd pointing at him.
Sora looked at them all and pointed at him and Leo, "Ah good, Masters I've secured the traitor you were right he was loyal to the Sith all along, he killed the others with Grievous before I could subdue him." Sora lied.
"It's over Master Bulq, we heard everything there will be no 'Jedi Lords'." Windu said to him. The clones moved into the pool to surround him with the other Jedi, Dogma ran up to Leo helping him to his feet "I've got sir." He said.
Sora looked around at the clones and jedi next to him, "Surrender old friend, there may still be time to save you?" Tholme asked Sora.
The Weequay let out a sigh looking up at the sky, "No, if I cannot save the Order my way another will." Sora said back to Tholme "I will not ask for forgiveness, I lived my life by the Jedi code until today only to see us become the very things we've sworn to destroy, there will be no salvation for me and no justice for you." Sora said, raising his lightsaber.
"Don't try it." Plo snapped.
"Long Live the Jedi." Sora said before he threw himself onto his lightsaber, the blue blade impaling out of his back before he fell to his knees, dead. Some looked away, others closed their eyes, but Leo started on till he couldn't look anymore "How many did we lose?" Leo asked Dogma.
Dogma was silent "More than half the men we came down with and Commander Alpha, he's gone sir.' Dogma said as Leo took in deep breath letting go of the dark side, his eyes turning back to green.
"I expect you'll get a promotion soon for bringing me in, Captain." Leo said limping back to the jedi when he noticed some of the Jedi were missing, Cin and his sentinels were gone, Anakin was up in space but as he approached Jinx Leo asked "Where's O-Mer?" Jinx opened his mouth to say something but he had no snide remark, no condescending jab, he just put his hands on Leo's shoulders and shook his head.
He couldn't believe it.
Leo refused to believe it. "No…., no, no, no." He looked over at Mundi, there's eyes met and Mundi shut them. He pushed Jinx away and ran up the grounds, he ran over the fallen battle droids back up the estate steps past dead and wounded clones. There were Sentinels scattered around them he entered into the estate scorched by blaster fire rounding a corner into the dinning hall where they'd set up a medical section. He passed by the younglings guarded by two Sentinels and Cin who was checking on them, he passed by dead clones and then the fallen Jedi's bodies all laid out with tarps over their bodies. Esther, Mira, Rhad and Abraxas and then one at the , Leo's trembling hand reached down to pull back the cloth to see O-Mer's lifeless body; his once brightly yellow eyes were devoid of life. Leo closed his eyes wiping away the tears "I- I promised to protect you O-Mer…."
"I'm sorry O-Mer" he whimpered, clawing at his friend's robes, as snot came from his nose "I'm so sorry O-Mer, it should have been me, should have… should have….. oh stars why!" He shouted crying over O-Mer's body.
The remaining jedi approached their fallen, each one showing their own grief Mundi came to stand beside Leo "Do not mourn for him, O-Mer has become one with the living force as have they all."
Leo lifted his head "They didn't have to die, none of them." Leo said up to them
"No they didn't, and their blood is on your hands just as much as Sora's." Windu said over him, Leo got to his feet before he could say or do anything to Windu, Master Tholme stood between them "This is not the time, we must mourn our fallen and honor them with proper funerals." Windu and Leo were already locking horns, ready to fight all over again but Windu stepped back "Have the bodies ready to move, we will take them back to Coruscant."
Leo shook his head "No, we burn them here, they wanted to be away from this war, from you, take the Sentinels… but we honor that part of their memory at least." Leo argued.
Windu gave a reluctant look to Leo "Very well, I well, there should be plenty of wood for pyres in the jungle." Windu said walking to leave.
Leo watched him go before he stormed off onto the veranda outside, he leaned on the stone railing shaking his head at how bad things had gotten. "So, it's over, we're going back to Coruscant?" Jinx asked him from behind. He looked up at the four warships overhead and Anakin's starfighter coming back to the surface. "No, it isn't."