Chapter 26
End of an Order
CORUSCANT
Jedi Temple,
Master Yoda stood in front of the war room holotable with other members of the Council who hadn't gone to Ruul with the others, Windu was speaking with Master Plo and Mundi behind him "While the casualties are a great loss to us all, we've secured the younglings and Master Tholme has given me his word that the surviving rogue jedi will not resist upon their return." Windu reported.
"Then our order is whole once more." Master Eeth said next to the other jedi, Obi-Wan was silent, keeping himself from asking the obvious question everyone was wondering.
Master Yoda sighed "Too high a price this was, return the fallen to Coruscant you will, face the Council's judgment Rock will for his hand in Bulq's treachery he must." Yoda said to them.
"... Master Yoda, the rogues insisted all the jedi who fell here on Ruul be given a jedi funeral here, in honor of their wishes in life it was the only way Rock would agree to come with us willingly." Plo reluctantly told him, Yoda shook his head closing his eyes "Laid to rest there, they may, but return to Coruscant quickly you must see the price of Rock's treachery the Order must, then turned over to proper authorities of the Republic he will be."
"Agreed, we've already confiscated his lightsaber and he is under guard as we speak before we return to the ship, he was very close to the fallen my former padawan… O-Mer." Master Mundi said. The Council was silent knowing that every master must say farewell to their padawan at some point, but it's never easy when they join the forces, especially when they're still a child. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, arms crossed, and shook his head hearing the report with every word.
"Will you require assistance returning from Ruul, your reports indicate General Grievous escaped again, who's to say he won't return with a larger fleet?" Obi-Wan asked them.
The masters on Ruul turned to Obi-Wan, "We will not delay here for much longer, Grievous will run and hide as he always does, but one day his time will come." Plo said hands interlocked.
"The sooner you are back on Coruscant the better, and we can end this schism before it even begins when the rest of the order sees the foley of such foolishness they will heed our wisdom again." Kit Fitso said to tha approval of the Council.
"Till we meet again Masters." Windu said before they cut the transmission.
The Council members started to exit the war room one by one, Master Yoda lingering a bit longer and Obi-Wan waiting till the two were alone.
Yoda noticed this and faced Obi-Wan "Something to say, Master Kenobi?" He asked.
"Yes Master, I do, we know now that it was Sora Bulq who was the mastermind behind this schism, not Leo, that has to count for something in the trial to come?" Obi-Wan asked him, Yoda let out a low hum behind his lips.
"True are the reports, Rock killed another Jedi, Rhad Tarn yes, hard evidence against him there is, stripped from the order he is, handed over to the Republic he shall be for trial." Yoda explained to him.
Obi-Wan did his best to hide his anger "Disagree you do?" Yoda asked him.
"... No, we failed Leo as teachers and I… as his Master, I just wish we had done better Master Yoda." Obi-Wan expressed reluctantly.
"As do we all, learn from the mistakes of the past for the future." Yoda said, turning to leave.
Following him with hesitancy Obi-Wan did so "Of course Master."
RUUL
Outer Grounds of the Bulq Estate.
Thirteen funeral pyres were burning before the Jedi, seven were of the Sentinels who had followed Councils strike team, the other six were of the fallen Esther, Rhad Tarn, Mira, O-Mer and Sora Bulq. The sun had slowly started to rise over Ruul's surface, the dusk and flames mixing in the mist as the Jedi watched their brothers become one with the living force to its entirety. In keeping with proper tradition the Jedi were all adorned in hooded robes, the Council members standing next to Admiral Yuralen and Dallin. Even Dogma and Fives were standing at a distance to pay there respects as the clones packed up to leave. The younglings stood in front of Anakin, Aayla, Zubain and Ferren. Yin stood between the Council's Jedi and Tholme's rogues who were standing close by each of them hooded except for Master K'Kruhk who had his straw hat pulled over his eyes to hide his tears. Further away up against the estate, Petro could see the remaining four Sentinels and Cin Drallig standing guard over Leo who had a brown robe thrown over his shoulders with his hands locked in force dampening cuffs.
Leo watched the fires sending up a collision of black smoke into the air, fading away in the atmosphere, soon to be the jedi who were being turned to ash. "I hope it was worth it Rock, because of you these jedi are dead." Cin said over him.
The prisoner said nothing, he merely looked on at the pyres at O-Mer's he could still see his large head in the flames "If you had only heeded the Councils wisdom, all of this could have been avoided." Cin said.
Still, Leo said nothing.
"What, no remarks, no speeches or bouts about the fault of the Council this time, as your own failure finally humbled your great pride at last?" Cin asked him in a condescending growl.
Leo's head turned under the robe, his eyes were dry and puffy from all the tears he'd shed "... Yes."
Down at the funeral pyres the younglings all looked at one another "What happens to us now?" Zatt asked.
"We will return to Coruscant where you belong, with the Jedi to continue your training." Aayl said consolingly.
"But Leo said we'd have a choice if we wanted to go back or not?" Petro asked them.
Anakin's head turned over to him "Leo, is a traitor and criminal, take a good look younglings this is what happens when you follow false prophets."
"Anakin, there younglings." Aayla snapped at him.
"Not after today, look at what Leo's put them through time and time again, they've watched how many jedi die all for Sora and Leo's schemes." Anakin argued, getting the others' attention.
The other younglings spoke up "But it wasn't Leo's fault, Master Bulq was the traitor Leo was only protecting us like he promised?" Katooni asked.
"Like he protected them?" Anakin asked, pointing to the dead jedi.
"The youngling is correct, none of us new of Bulq's treachery; we were all to blinded by our own fear of the Council's reprisal to see it, its what made Rhad lose his way." Tholme said to Anakin.
The knight didn't seem to care "All that matters, is that he returns to Coruscant to stand trial for his crimes against the Jedi and the Republic?"
"Are we to face trial too, by association?" Sian asked under her hood.
"If you resist?" Anakin said "No." Windu said.
"As we agreed upon before the battle, everyone will return to Coruscant as Jedi, except Rock." Windu said, walking up to Tholme holding out his hand.
Tholme didn't offer his up yet, "We will return to Coruscant but not aboard a warship we'll take the junk hauler it should carry us to Coruscant, so as to speak to the rest of the Council if you cannot convince us of the justness of your cause, then I will gladly surrender my lightsaber." Tholme said before he turned away with the others "For now, we must gather our things before we depart." Tholme said as the other Rogue masters followed him.
"Very well, but do not delay." Windu ordered before he turned to Zubain and Ferren "Escort the younglings to a ship, the sooner they're aboard a cruiser the safer." The two loyal knights nodded doing as they were told.
"What of you Master Vos, will you return to the Jedi?" Plo asked Quinlan, he looked at Aayla who smiled at him and Quinlan paused for a long time before he pulled his hood back "... I will, Sora tricked us all if we're going to win this war it has to be united." Quinlan said a wave of relief rushed over Aayla's face as she heard that she looked at Quinlan with pride but saw he wasn't looking back, instead he was watching Tholme lead the others back to the now demolished estate.
The Council members and Anakin watched them go, "Who will escort Leo back to the ship?" Ki-Adi asked.
"I will." Anakin said firmly "As will I." Plo said volunteering
As Sian and K'Kruhk passed Cin and his guards over Leo, Tholme stopped "A moment alone with the prisoner Cin?"
"My orders are to keep him under guard." Cin countered.
"Where's he going to go, take my lightsaber as insurance if you want I doubt I'll get far without my cane." Tholme said, offering it up to him.
Cin looked back at Leo who was still watching the fires starting to burn out into piles of ash and charred wood. He took Tholme's cane and his Sentinels followed him "We'll be watching." Cin said.
"Indeed." Tholme said as he sat next to Leo.
The two watched the fires burn in the distance while gunships ferried clones and jedi back to space where their cruiser was waiting, Ki-Adi and Mace were already aboard one ship while Aayla and Quinlan were speaking, "I sense this isn't over for you?" Tholme asked Leo.
Like Cin, he gave the old Master a cold shoulder "If you're planning an escape you'll want to do it soon, if it's anything like your last one they'll surely have updated their security aboard whichever ship they'll take you on." Tholme whispered when he saw Anakin and Plo approaching them.
As the two knights walked Plo whispered "Remember, we must return to Coruscant with him, whatever your feelings about what he and Ahsoka did are nothing compared to our duty-" "I know my duty Master Plo." Anakin said quickly back to Anakin.
Back with Tholme and Leo, he still prodded the prisoner "You are planning to escape aren't you?" Tholme asked Leo.
Again, no answer, just silence.
Turning to him "Whatever you decide, decide fast and I am sorry for your loss, O-Mer seemed like a bright young man." Tholme said getting up.
"I met O-Mer on Wakksah, the Forest moon of Trandosha. It's a wild place, we hid there from Trandoshan hunters before we saved ourselves, not even the Council knew where we were… I'll miss him." when he did Cin and his Sentinels came back to give him his cane. Anakin and Plo walked up to Cin and his Sentinels "Don't tell me you two want a private word too?" Cin asked.
"No, it's time to leave this sad moon behind us." Plo said as Anakin walked past the other Sentinels pulling Leo up by his arm "Move it." Anakin ordered Leo out of the ruins and down the stairs to the Rogue Shadow, the Sentinels followed. As they got closer to it both Dogma and Fives approached Anakin and Plo.
"General Skywalker, General Plo, we've finished with the evacuation. All that's left is for the other rogue jedi to join us." Dogma said to him.
"Good work Dogma, you two head back to the Knight we'll join you soon." Anakin said before they passed them. When they approached the ship Proxy was already waiting for them with Oculus. "No funny business with your holo droid." Anakin ordered squeezing Leo's arm with his mechanical hand so tight Leo felt he would tear it off.
Proxy blinked at the jedi approaching him, Leo in handcuffs "Master, what is going on?"
"It's okay Proxy go on onboard and ghost yourself for a while, you too Oculus." Leo said to them. Oculus flew up to Leo and hovered in front of his face like a whimpering puppy begging for attention.
"It's okay buddy, I'm going to be fine." Leo said to the droid.
Across from them Quinlan and Aayla were still talking while Jinx gave a nod, Leo winked at him before they were led aboard the Rogue Shadow. Leo was shoved in the back seat while Anakin took the controls and took off, Leo took one last look down at the funeral pyres watching them start to dye out leaving nothing but thirteen ghostly piles of ash. When they finally breached the atmosphere to the fleet. Anakin pulled the Rogue Shadow in aboard the Knight where it landed. The other jedi and what looked like the entire 703rd was already waiting as the ramp lowered Leo was led out by the Sentinels and Cin with Anakin and Plo in front. They'd lost their long robes and Leo's cuffs were for all the clones to see, an uneasy silence filled the hanger at the sight of the 703rds General being paraded before his men in cuffs.
"Take him to a cell." Anakin ordered.
"With pleasure." Anakin said, leading him away.
Dogma and Jax stood beside the other fallen clones who were being unloaded, their helmets left in front of their shrouded bodies to identify them. When Alpha's was brought out with a hole in it. Dogma sighed while Fives oversaw the clones being returned to the knight.
Jax followed Dogma "Something doesn't add up Captain." Jax said.
"Leave it." Dogma said.
"Leave it, we saw him fighting the real traitor and they're treating him like a criminal." Jax said beside him as Fives approached him.
"This will be the second time they've done it to General Rock." Fives said.
Jax gaped at him "What do you mean?"
"On Umbara, when Rock uncovered that General Krell was a traitor he fought with the clones to stop him, saving a lot of clones that day." Dogma explained.
"And now, there's talk of a court martial of a…. a firing squad, I can't believe it." Jax said
The three clones were all gathered around "Dogma…. we have to do something."
Dogma pulled his helmet off "We do, but not here, Jax, can you get us a squad you can trust?"
"On it." Jax said.
"Fives, we need to go talk to the Admiral, but slowly we can't do anything suspicious or the Jedi will sense it." Dogma said in a whisper as they walked off.
Later, after Anakin shoved Leo into the cell the two Sentinels were left to stand guard as Leo and Plo stood out, "I know what you plan to do, Skywalker, I advise against it."
"Your advice is noted Master Plo, but I need to do this alone." Anakin said as Plo sighed walking away "We all have choices Skywalker, I hope you chose well." When it was just Anakin he approached the cell and unlocked it, turning the laser gate off the Sentinels force Leo's arms and legs into magnetic locks his arms over his head and legs spread before they slammed the gate and the metal door behind him shut. Leo sat on the bench in the cell before he looked up to see Anakin. He could feel the metal on the cameras groan before he heard the sound of the cords coming out and powering down leaving Anakin and Leo alone in the cell.
Hung there from his shackles not a word, staring at Anakin "I know what you did."
"Which part, because I've done a lot lately and I already hate myself right now." Leo said back.
"You know damn well what it is, how many times did Obi-Wan and I warn you, how many times did the jedi code not tell you the dangers of emotions, and then you go off and do it to her." Anakin hissed.
Leo clenched his fists in his restraints, he looked away from Anakin "Look at me."
He didn't, Anakin held up his hand and grabbed Leo by the face with the force making him look at him "How could you, how could you do that to her, after everything Ahsoka and I did for you and this- corrupting her." Anakin snapped at him.
"Oh that's it, always blame me for corrupting someone, I knew I'd get that from the Council but you Anakin?" Leo snapped.
Leo shook his head "What give you the right to judge my actions, you never do what the Council says." "I have every right, she was my padawan and you were too."
"That's not fair Anakin you can't just keep judging everyone you meet as lesser or greater compared to your actions, the things you've done for what you believe in, you almost killed Clovis to protect the Senator." Leo said to Anakin who was pacing now trying to contain his anger. "You're a traitor Leo."
He pulled on the restraints "Because the Council says so, because the Chancellor told you, everything I tried to do up until then was for the Jedi, and the Republic."
"And for Ahsoka?" Anakin asked changing the subject back to her "I know if you hadn't ignored our teachings, joined Count Dooku she'd still be here."
"And you think its my fault, she left, you know why we didn't tell you huh?" Anakin looked away as Leo's head followed him as he paced. "She knew, you'd react like this. She made me promise not to tell you, because you'd be blinded by your anger."
Anakin suddenly grabbed Leo by the neck with his bare hand pulling him "How could I not be angry, I practically helped raise her and you-you you ruined her!" Anakin said, pulling away. "All that potential, all her training and skill wasted on you when we could have ended this war already."
"By doing what the Council says, how many battles did we win by disobeying their orders, following your instincts, your heart and I followed mine, you know I never wanted any Jedi to die, but I couldn't go along with the Council's insanity any more. You know it's wrong not to tell the Senate, or even the Chancellor, even if they are corrupt."
"The Chancellor is doing what he thinks is best for the Republic." Anakin said quickly defending the man, Leo rolled his eyes snarling "And I have done any less?"
"You weren't elected to." Anakin reminded him "And what was suppose to do, wait until a politician decides which assets to lose, ignore the millions of refugees on Coruscant who hate and fear us for this war, how could I as a Jedi- as a Man look at the evil in the galaxy and do NOTHING!"
"And look what it's gotten you, used by a Sith infiltrator, the Order on the verge of dividing, over a dozen jedi dead because you wouldn't listen like always." Anakin said holding up five fingers Leo shook his head "I did!" Leo snapped
"I did listen, I followed orders, I was a good soldier for my entire life, I sacrificed my body, my innocence, my family and my heart for the Republic and the Jedi look where it's gotten us…." Leo said, looking at Anakin.
Anakin crossed his arms "There is no us, and when we return to Coruscant you and you alone will answer for your crime, I only hope Obi-Wan has the strength to bear what a disappointment you've become." Anakin said, Leo's head hung again as he looked at the floor he clenched his hands into fists.
When the knight started to leave Leo had one more thing to say "I wanted to go with her."
"What?" Anakin asked, stopping his hand over the door.
"I wanted to go with Ahsoka, I was ready to leave it all behind but she wanted me to stay for the Jedi, for you she loved us too much to throw it away for her-." Anakin didn't want to hear it, so he turned around and stepped toward him shaking his head. "What do you know about love-" "YES!" Leo roared at Anakin who stopped at the sudden shouting "I LOVE HER ANAKIN, WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE LEFT I STILL LOVE HER."
Anakin stood frozen gawking at him "Corrupt her, ruin her, how?" Leo asked "She made me better than I ever was, all my training and those times I fought through a hundred wounds. It wasn't to become stronger for my own power, it was the power to protect her, to be worthy of her, and YOU." He added.
"Everything I did, I did thinking of Our Family." Leo said.
"... family?" Anakin asked.
Leo nodded, tucking in his lip "All I ever wanted was to have the power to protect my family, the Jedi, my true family, who gave me a home, a purpose to protect the innocent and the Republic, our Nation I'm… I'm sorry Anakin, I hurt you" For a brief moment the two Anakin looked like he believed him, their eyes locked before something dark in Anakin took over, he ran at Leo and grabbed him by the neck.
"Forgiveness?" Anakin's rage returned "I don't want an apology, I the lives you stole back, I want her back."
Anakin squeezed Leo's neck tight, making him gasp "Only… only if she chooses." He looked at Anakin's blue eyes for a brief moment and he saw a yellow flicker "And if she sees you like this Anakin…. she'll never-never forgive yo-"
He squeezed even tighter "You' know what they'll do-ack to me—" Leo said.
"It's no more than you deserve." Anakin hissed choking him.
"You know that's the anger talking-Urk." Leo gagged "Let me go— I can uncover Dooku's plot- we still be brothers-" Anakin's eyes widened as thinking it over before the doors opened and Anakins stepped back to see Master Windu with the other Masters, Anakin snatched his hand back before they could see. "Skywalker, what are you doing?" Plo asked.
"Interrogating him, he still has a plan to escape I'm sure of it." Anakin said to him.
Windu looked up at the gasping Leo who coughed for air, "Hmmm better safe than sorry, we'll transfer him over to your cruiser Skywalker, it's less damaged should the Separtaist have any more plans."
Meanwhile up above in the mess hall, Quinlan and Aayla were sitting at a table with Jinx poking at his food with a fork. "I can't believe it, after all this time Tholme was alive and he lied to us." Quinlan said, slamming his fist on the table.
"I know your upset Master, but I'm sure he had a reason." Aayla said back to him "When we return to Coruscant he'll probably tell us, or maybe when he finally arrives you can talk to him."
Quinlan stood up in a furious motion "Talk, how can I talk to him, I thought that witch Ventress killed him and he's been hiding away with the others, it's it's…. ugh." He sat back down "I need a nap, I'm going to find a bunk." Quinlan said getting up to leave, walking out of the mess hall just as Jax walked into a group of clones. They were sitting across from the mess hall and when Jax leaned over to him he whispered to them to quiet for Aayla to hear. The two clones nodded and got up but she sensed something else.
She turned over to Jinx "Padawan you've been rather quiet."
"I hadn't noticed." Jinx said he hadn't touched any of his food which she found odd "You haven't eaten, is something wrong?"
"Is something wrong?" He asked accusingly "... your right, you and O-Mer survived much together, it must be hard for you to lose such a friend."
"If you plan to go on about not mourning him and the living force, you can stop, when you see enough friends go… you stop caring and realize how alone we really are in the universe." He said sullenly.
Aayla took his hand saying "You are not alone, this journey has been difficult for all of us, but I know the Council will change things for the better when we return to Coruscant."
Jinx snatched his hand away "For the better, how can things get better Master Secura, I've watched two of my friends die, one left the order the other betrayed it, and now I'm about to lose another because for things he's going to be blamed for and it wasn't even his fault."
"Whatever his intentions, Leo is guilty of helping Bulq's scheme, ignorance is not the same as accessory." She said to a disgruntled Jinx "Then what does that make the Council or you for that matter, how could none of us know that Bulq was a traitor- gah." Jinx picked up his tray with the force and threw it at the wall getting all the clones in the mess hall's attention before he stormed out, he wasn't the only one who left, Jax and the clones at the table she was watching were gone too.
Down below in the Knights medical wing, hundreds of clones were being treated for their injuries by medics and medical droids. Admiral Dallin had her jacket off as a droid stitched up her arm and had a bandage put on her forehead while Dogma and Fives walked in. They pointed her out and walked up to her "Admiral, a word in private?" Dogma asked.
She shoved the medical droid away and grabbed her jacket "This way." Tess said. The led the two arc troopers out of the medical bay and down the hall to another supply closet, she opened up and walked in "What is it?" She asked.
"We can't let the Jedi take General Rock back to Coruscant, they'll kill him."
"You don't know that?" Tess said.
Dogma squeezed his helmet "He's already been exiled, I saw the wanted posters dead or alive, the second we land Admiral Tarkin will have a show trial, he'll be found guilty and his Coruscant Guard will line him up to be shot."
Admiral Dallin took a deep breath "Dogma, Fives…. There's still time for a trial, his record of service will be taken into consideration, we could testify." She said trying to reason with them "You could testify, but what's the word of a defect like me or a dead man like Fives going to do, not everyone sees us as people?" Dogma said.
"When we get a new General, how long till they discover Fives?" Dogma asked.
"Are you asking me to betray the Republic?" Tess asked.
Dogma took a step back "According to who, it was the Chancellor who ordered the Jedi to exile General Rock, the Chancellor who tricked them into thinking Fives was trying to murder him, that these-" he grabbed the side of his head "chips in our heads our for own good." Dogma added.
"I serve the Republic, who serve the people NOT the Chancellor." Dogma said.
"He's right, Leo's not fighting against the Republic, he's fighting for it, for all of us and he needs our help." Fives added.
Dogma took a step toward her "Admiral Dallin, when the Republic wanted General Rock and the battalion to leave Rendili behind, it was General Rock who refused you."
Tess looked at both men thinking "They're moving Leo to the Resolute, the ship will dock with the other cruiser soon and once he's on the docking bridge there'll be no chance, but if someone was to hit the emergency seal on one end, the'd divide at the center and retract." Tess said walking out of the closet, she stopped in the doorway looking over "That is if you can't get him before that but that's all hypothetical, by the way they're moving the General now make sure they have a proper escort."
Out of the brig, the Jedi were escorting Leo across the hallways as the Resolute docked alongside the Knights damaged port side, Cin Drallig and his remaining Sentinels surrounded Leo with lightsaber pikes turned on like they had Barris. Mace, Plo and Ki-Adi were in the front of the column with Anakin behind them all watching Leo's flank. Just as they rounded a corner both Dogma and Fives were standing there with Jax and a large squad of clones all holding blaster rifles. "Generals, we heard you were moving the prisoner, we wanted to make sure we escorted you off the ship personally." Dogma said signaling the squad to move around them.
It was two on each side of the Sentinels and Leo, four in the back with Fives still disguised as Draw behind him beside Anakin. "Appreciated Captain, but incessant." Windu said back to him.
"The Admiral insisted Generals that we escort you to the docking port and no further, I can contact her if you like." Dogma said holding up his comlink.
Windu looked at Dogma from behind his helmet's visor, the Jedi could sense something was amiss, "We best not delay, Grievous and his forces will surely regroup." Plo said.
"Very well, but I'll contact Admiral Dallin." Windu agreed.
The Jedi and their new 'escort' walked down the hallways with Leo as their prisoner, Windu held up his comlink contacting the bridge "Admiral Dallin, we've just received your escort but we didn't ask for one?" Windu asked her.
"I wanted the Jedi Council and the Chancellor to know we were still loyal, even if you said the old Generals weren't, it's a simple formality." Tess said from the bridge "By the way, the junk hauler that you said had the other Jedi, well it didn't dock with us instead we saw it scanned it fly up and round the planet to jump into hyperspace, we're trying to configure its trajectory now." She said,
Windu's eyes widened as everyone heard it "It seems Tholme and his followers still do not trust the Council."
"We'll deal with them when the time comes." Windu said, walking onward.
Eventually they passed by Quinlan, Aayla and Jinx "Your former teacher is still a rogue Quinlan Vos, he and the others have fled again." Ki-Adi said to Quinlan who squeezed his fists tightly. Leo saw Jinx start to reach for his lightsaber seeing Leo be led away but Leo gave him a strong glare and shook his head quickly before anyone could see or if Jinx could move. "Come we'll take Rock to the Knight, and then we can finally go home." Plo suggested. The three jedi joined them walking to the docking port, the Resolute had positioned itself to extend its docking bridge to the Knights own docking port bridge, locking onto the port side door and opening up. A long thin narrow corridor in the middle of space between metal and thin walls.
They stepped into the docking bridge, with two of the clones staying behind to guard the entrance where on the other end it opened with Rex and other clones like Appo already waiting for him. When they were almost to the halfway mark, Dogma reached for his blaster pistol drawing it. Sensing the danger Windu spun around and turned on his lightsaber, slicing Dogma's right arm clean off "Traitor!" In a split second the other jedi had their lightsabers out and the clones had their blaster raised.
"You're the real traitor." Dogma snapped clutching his severed right arm "General Rock is your brother, same as the clones here are to me and you turned your back on him. I vowed never to turn my back on another brother, and I won't now." Dogma is said.
"All of you stand down." Rex shouted as his clones started to run down the corridor with their blasters trained on the 703rd dissenters "That may be, but this ends now." Windu said.
"So you were planning to escape." Anakin snapped at Leo shoving his lightsaber tip directly into Leo's face he turned around "That was the plan?" Jinx asked him. Aayla and Quinlan gazed at Jinx shocked "You were in on this?" Quinlan asked.
"No, that wasn't my plan." Leo said.
"Master!" A new voice called out back from the Knight, a voice Anakin all too well he turned around and standing there in the doorway to the port bridge, standing there in her red boots, black leggings, and red tunic was Ahsoka Tano. Anakins dropped his jaw, "Ahsoka?" He gasped before he smiled.
The other jedi were shocked as well, "Lil'Soka, how'd she get here?" Plo asked, stunned.
"That's not her, it's the droid." Windu snapped.
Jinx shot his head to Leo who nodded, he flung his forearms up and cut the cuffs around his wrists with Leo's lightsaber "Men down!" Leo shouted to his clones who all dove when he raised his left arm to the three jedi Masters, in a moment of slowed time the three Jedi Masters rushed Leo but the force from Leo's hand exploded like thunder sending all three Council members flying right into Captain Rex and his men. Behind Leo Anakin was posed to strike Leo down before Fives rushed in tackling him before he could get a blow in. The clones opened fire on the Sentinels with stun blasts; two were knocked out instantly, one of the Sentinels managed to cut down a clone before he was knocked out too. Cin deflected the first incoming shot from Jax before he cut Jax's rifle in half. But Dogma with his left arm still attached drew his blaster pistol to shoot Cin in the back with a stun blast. Leo had already started to sprint back to the Knight when Aayla and Quinlan cut him off "Leo no." Aayla said.
"Stop him!" Anakin shouted as the clones piled onto Anakin wrestling him to the ground, but Anakin's strength pushed them off and force blasted a few away.
Quinlan looked at Aayla, then at Leo "Aayla…" Quinlan said, turning off his lightsaber.
"Master, no-" "Sorry." Quinlan said before his hand suddenly appeared on her forehead knocking her out, he caught her in his arms. Leo and Quinlan exchanged a look and nodded. "NOOOO!" Anakin shouted, blasting all the clones off him with one force blast "You're not going anywhere!" Anakin shouted lightsaber in hand and he charged Leo from behind.
Jinx pointed behind Leo at Anakin "Look out."
At the last second Leo reversed to see Anakin stab his lightsaber at him, he fell back, to one knee and the Lightsaber made contact with Leo's hands cupped behind one another. Leo was holding back Anakin's lightsaber with nothing but the force alone, the edge was burning his left palm as Anakin pushed forward "Close it, close it now." Jax shouted at two of his men at the end.
"No." Dogma snapped at him.
On the other end the other jedi and clones were getting to their feet "I'm going to prove you wrong Anakin, I'm going to save the Jedi and the Republic… even if I have-" Leo started to stand up as the lightsaber melted his skin, it crackled around the edges, like ice freezing on energy itself "to-" Leo focused with all his might "From you!" Leo focused on the pain from the blade, the pain of loss from everything that had happened, from Jinx's death to Sora's betrayal and the other side of the force was freed from him force storm went up Anakin's lightsaber and into Anakin, he was flung from the floor all they into Windu now knocking him over.
"Now- close it now!" Dogma yelled to the clones in the end. They hit the emergency retraction and the middle door sealed just as the Ki-Adi and Plo ran up to it. Banging on the glass, Leo got to his feet helping Dogma up before Jax and the others came to help him. In the commotion Anakin pushed through to see Leo looking back at him as the ports receded.
He watched what he thought was, Ahsoka standing next to Leo turning into Proxy. Leo turned back to the droid and also Quinlan who was holding Aayla in his arms bridal style. Jinx was behind him "That was my plan." Leo said over to Proxy.
"Is the Rogue Shadow ready?" Leo asked the droid.
"Yes Master, but I'd advise us trying to escape with those war ships surrounding us." Proxy informed Leo as he walked back into the ship.
Leo looked down the corridors to see the coast was clear "Well, I doubt we can fool them twice." Leo said.
"Wait, you bet your entire escape on Skywalker being distracted by the droid disguised as Ahsoka." Jinx asked him.
"No, my plan was to try and get him to let me go." Leo said walking down the hallway with the clones behind him "That obviously didn't work, what about this." Jinx pointed out.
Facing him he shrugged "Proxy has a Ghost mode, he follows me and when it looks like I'm in danger he takes a form that distracts everyone, good call on Ahsoka Proxy just never do it again." Leo said.
"Understood Master, but in all honesty I've been really waiting on a time to kill you." The droid said.
"What did that clanker say?" Fives asked.
"Don't worry, now is not the time." Proxy said as they moved down the hallway.
Leo turned to face the clones who helped theme the sample "Dogma, Fives you'll be court martialed for this."
"Fives?" Jax asked as did some of the other clones, reaching for his helmet Fives tossed it away revealing his face and the sacred tattoo. "As in Fives the clone trooper who discovered the chips, and-" "Tried to kill the Chancellor." Quinlan said.
"That's a lie." Fives said back venomously.
Quinlan and Jinx looked at Leo "He's telling the truth, Master Vos, Jinx, before Sora…. betrayed us, we learned that the chips inside the clones' heads have failed safe orders, orders that could make them do things they couldn't control."
"Like kill jedi?" Jinx gasped.
"As far as we know, we don't have any proof though, knowing something is true and proving are different." Leo said.
"But we have chips in our head General, we prove it by taking them out?" Jax suggested.
"It's not that simple, there is a fail safes and firewalls, Master Tholme was tracking one but they disappeared." Before Leo's could go on the alarms started to sound.
The clones all looked around ready for something to come around a corner, "Not to interrupt but if we are still planning to escape, we better go now."
"Is Admiral Dallin with us?" Leo asked Dogma.
He winced without his right arm holding the nub "She's the one who told us about the emergency seals." Dogma said.
"We don't have time to ask her, we make a run for the hanger." Leo ordered "In that case you may need this General, I was able to grab it in all the commotion." Jax said holding up Leo's lightsaber, the clone had somehow grabbed it right out from under Mace Windu's nose.
Not far from them aboard the Resolute's brige, the Masters and Anakin ran onto the bridge "Contact Admiral Dallin, tell them Leo's escaped." Anakin ordered.
"What, again soon he'll have escaped more times than Grievous?" Yuralen asked.
"Not the time Admiral." Anakin said walking up to one of the bridge's monitors pushing a clone out of the way ''Admiral Dallin, Leo's escaped on your ship with the help of rogue clone troopers he'll be making his way to the hangar you have to seal it."
They waited for the Knight to respond but all they got was static "Admiral Dallin, do you read, does anyone copy?" Anakin asked.
"They're communications system must have been damaged in the battle General." The bridge officers said to Anakin, but that only frustrated him more "Or she's helping him, Admiral orders the fleet to surround the Knight, Rex try to signal the clones on their frequencies." Anakin ordered walking to the exit.
Plo followed him "And you have a back up plan I assume Skywalker?"
"I do, and you won't like it." Anakin said.
"No, I probably won't."
On the Knights bridge, Admiral Dallin had her hand holding a blaster pistol pointed right at the communications console. She'd just unloaded a full magazine into the machine and it was burning behind her when she tossed the blaster away "If any of you want to mutiny, now's the time." She said after they all heard Anakin's report about Leo's escape. But none of the clones moved, against her "It seems our communication system is damaged Admiral." One clone said.
"I should contact the lower decks for repairs, but it could take a few hours?" Another suggested as they started to go along with the rouse.
Admiral Dallin gave a smile, and whispered "Thank you."
Down in the lower levels, Leo, Jinx, Quinlan carrying Aayla, with Dogma, Fives, Jax and their clones were running toward the hanger. As Rex started to relay his orders "Attention 703rd, this is Captain Rex of the 501st your former General has escaped with the help of a clone, I know it's a lot to ask but you have to stop them from escaping, stun blasts only." Rex said over their comlinks.
Just the two squads of 703rd clones appeared blocking their path; they just finished listening to Rex's orders and when they saw the escapees. They stared at one another blasters raised before the one in front of the squad blocking their path held up his hand "There not here, we better check another sector." The clone said looking back at his men who all nodded playing dumb "Right, better check the escape pods." Another said before they let them pass.
"What's happening?" Jinx asked following Leo passed the clones "It's called loyalty kid, goes a long way when you fight side by side with your men." Dogma said.
After moving on they passed by a set of barracks, the doors woodshed open at the sound of they're passing "Leo!" A child shouted. He came to a sliding halt turning around to see Petro, Katooni and Zatt standing out into the hall with Gungi, Byph and Ganodi following them "We can't take them, not again, let them go back to Coruscant." Quinlan argued.
Leo shook his head "... I can't."
Jogging back toward them Leo stood over Leo and knelt down "All of you, come with me, we're getting out of here." Leo reached for Petro but he backed away.
"Is it true… what the Council said, you're a traitor?" Petro asked.
Leo shut his mouth, but smiled "Stars I wish I knew." He said, shaking his head "I wish I could tell you everything will be okay if you come with us, but I just don't know… I'm asking you, please trust me." He said, holding out his hand. Petro looked at his friends and the other younglings gave him cautious looks, but only Zatt shook his head "no, he's a traitor." He whispered.
Petro looked at Leo's hand before he took it "Okay." He said.
Leo nodded before he stood up and they started to head back to the group, but the other younglings stayed till Byph and Katooni started to follow too. "Byph, Katooni?" Zatt asked the tholothian and ithorian shocked.
Byph said something back in his own tongue "This isn't about being afraid, it's about turning your back on the jedi." Zatt accused.
"How, if it wasn't for Leo, Master Bulq would have killed or let Grievous kill us?" Katooni asked, walking up to Petro taking his hand in her own. Zatt squeezed his hands angrily "Then-then-then- AAAAH!" Zatt ran over to the wall and started to kick and bang his hands on it "You Pooda brains now we have to go too!" Zatt snapped.
He looked back at Gungi and Ganodi "Come on, Petro's going to get those two killed if we don't go." Katooni, Petro and whatever passed for a smile on Byph looked at Zatt who just grunted while the younglings followed them.
"Come on, we have to go." Leo insisted on pushing Petro and Katooni along, Byph followed them before the other younglings watched them go behind a door that shut after them. Zatt watched his three friends disappear behind the metal wall but he could still see their backs turning on him, a sight he'd never forget. Ahead of them Leo and company passed by other clone troopers who stopped to let them pass one by one the squads either looked the other way or pretended they hadn't seen them all the way till they reached the hanger. When he saw the Rogue Shadow, Leo smiled seeing it when they approached the stealth ship it's ramp lowered with Oculus joyfully flying toward him.
It flew right into his chest hugging him with its mechanical arms "Wow, never seen a droid so happy to see someone?" Katooni said.
Leo patted the droid's head "Yeah, he's one of a kind." Leo said looking back at Quinlan who was still carrying Aayla.
"You should leave her, she didn't choose this." Leo said back to him.
Quinlan started to mull it over before they heard the sound of two lightsabers coming on "None of you are leaving." They turned around to see Zubain and Ferren standing on the rogue shadow each holding their green and blue lightsabers.
"Least of all alive." Ferren said.
"We take them prisoner, if you don't resist." Zubain said, holding up his lightsaber down at Leo before they jumped off raising them ready to fight.
Jax's squad raised their blasters to shoot them, Jinx turned on his lightsaber "No." Leo got between them hands up.
"Lower your weapons, all of you." Leo said looking back at Zubain and Ferren, "Brothers, please let us pass?" He begged them.
Neither Knights moved, Zubain and Ferren were steadfast in their position "No 'brother'." Ferren said sarcastically.
"You will not break our order, heretic." Zubain said the iridonian took a step toward Leo, Jinx turned his lightsaber on ready to fight the knight right there and then, even Petro drew his but Leo grabbed his arm stopping him from attacking.
"Then look at what the Council calls my heresy." Leo said toward Zubain as he took his lightsaber and handed it to Jax behind him "Yes, I defied their will and their orders, I won't deny it, but look at what's in front of you here and now." Leo said looking at Ferren, Zubain glanced at his fell Knight "He's trying to trick us." Ferren moved to strike but Zubain, like Leo, held up his lightsaber.
Zubain locked eyes on Ferren's red ones "He's unarmed, he has not attacked, nor it is the way of the jedi to strike someone unharmed or unprovoked"
"Unarmed, unprovoked, he has dark side powers like the Masters said, he's influencing your mind Zubain." Ferren snapped.
"We have no proof, the battle meditation of legend only works on those unattended to the force, to influence force wielders let alone trained Jedi like us is not possible, we both followed him out of curiosity. I thought I had that answer when Bulq revealed his true ends." Zubain said before he held up his lightsaber and sheathed the green blade "Now I have more questions there ever, I will not engage in a fight that there will be no victor." Zubain clipped his lightsaber on his belt and took a breath "I urge you to do the same Ferren." Zubain said before he walked away.
Ferren watched in shock as he was abandoned by the other Knight "Fine, I'll stop you all myself if I have too." Ferren lunged forward at Leo swiping from the right, Leo met him head on grabbing his arms without his lightsaber "Go, get to the ship." Leo ordered the others.
"NO!" Ferren shouted in anger freeing up his right arm to try and force push them but Leo raised so instead it hit some a crate hung up on a claw that fell down shattering, hundreds of thermal detonators rolled out like marbles onto the floor. Leo grabbed Zubain's shoulder pulling him forward to stick his left leg behind Zubains and trip him. Zubain fell forward but wheeled his feet around to land. He sliced at Leo so close he almost took his head off but Leo avoided him at the last second.
Seeing the jedi and clones run up the ramp, Zubain started to chase after them "No escape traitors-."
Tackling him out of the way Leo tried to wrestle his lightsaber from him, reaching for his hands Ferren swung the lightsaber at him, snatching away they circled one another "-Or for you Rock."
He struck from overhead at Leo, moving to his left he swung around with a kick hitting one of Ferrens downward pointed horns but the tip of his boot kissed his chin staggering him back. Ferren slipped on one of the thermal detonators and when he saw the pile of round grenades they started to rise, the force carrying them into the air. "Ferren…" Leo said as Ferren got up moving his finger arming two dozen of them and sending them at Leo before he backed up. In the cockpit of the Rogue Shadow the escapes were getting the ship ready, did they see the grenades explode in Leo's face. Raising his hands up to send the force out against the blast Leo blocked the explosion splitting it past him into two waves that ravaged the hangar.
Ferren who was grinning at the blast looked stunned, it boiled over into frustration "Fall!" He howled, cutting the air around Leo as he moved away from him "Fall you traitor." Leo jumped to the left followed by Ferrens lightsaber.
Watching him move, Leo kept one step ahead of his lightsaber each time before Leo rushed him hitting him in the jaw with an open palm strike, it took the ikotchi by surprise enough to lose his grip on his lightsaber. Leo chopped down on his wrist to knock the lightsaber from his hand. As it fell he dove, rolling to catch it and swung at Ferren's head. "AAAAAHHH!" Ferren fell back his right horn severed at it's curve the smell of burnt keratin filled the air as Ferren keeled over grabbing the other end "You bastard-" He growled as tear
Leo tossed his lightsaber away as he stood over Ferren who looked up at him "What are you doing, finish me."
"You know that's not the Jedi way." Leo said offering his hand "And I am not your enemy Ferren Barr." He said as he looked up at him. He hesitated to take his hand, when he didn't even reach Leo dropped it "I hope the next time we see each other it's as friends, not enemies." Leo said turning his back on him to walk to the Rogue Shadow but as he did the whole hanger started to shift. They looked to the hanger gates on the top of the carrier to see them shaking, the metal doors were being torn open from the outside. Up in a gunship over the Knight, Plo Koon was standing there, his mask keeping him alive in the vacuum of space as the other Masters were and Anakin wore a helmet, their thick robes already starting to freeze. The Masters and Anakin were all using the force to tear open the ships hangar doors as Admiral Dallin watched from the hanger.
In the Rogue Shadow watched the doors open from the cockpit "Oh thats not good." Fives moaned.
"Get out of there, get out of there." She whispered to herself.
The Masters groaned while the immense concentration it took for the three Council Members to open the hanger door the interior of the Knights hangers laser walls actiavted to keep them from getting sucked out. Anakin had his eyes on the anger he wasn't concentrating on force as he was taught, he was using another power something he learned himself. "Can't- hold much longer-" Windu stammered.
"Skywalker, go- Now, Ki-Adi push!" Plo grunted.
Anakin jumped out of the hanger and Master Mundi rocketed Anakin toward the gap. Putting his arms at his side and legs erect Anakin flew like a rocket into the hanger as it slammed shut behind him, landing in the hanger. Landing on his feet with a crash Anakin tore off his helmet looking straight at Leo. "Bet you wish you kept that lightsaber now." Ferren said holding up his severed horn like a club to strike Leo from behind. Leo dodged him and turned around force pushing Ferren into the nearest wall knocking him out. When the ray sheild dropped Anakin turned on his lightsaber walking towards Leo.
In the Shadow, they watched Anakin approach him "We have to get out there an help him." Jinx said running out of the cockpit, he was cut off by Quinlan "No."
"NO, what do you mean no Skywalker will tear him a part?" Jinx asked.
"This is Leo's fight." Quinlan said as Oclus watched Leo unarmed about to fight Anakin who still very much had his lightsaber.
Swirling around Oclus flew toward Jax, he zapped the clone with his stun arm "What the-" grabbing the lightsaber out of his hands, the probed droid soared past Jinx and Quinlan out the ramp toward Leo waving the lightsaber at him. Both Anakin and Leo's eyes shot to the orange red probe droid. Hand up Anakin grabbed the droid in the air with the force "Ock- Anakin, please no." Leo said running toward the droid before he start to crush it with the force caving in its frame. The small probe droid screamed and flailed it's arms, the lense on its eye shattering "Oculus!" Leo shouted before Anakin closed his fist crushing the droid.
Watching the droid fall to the floor Leo's lightsaber rolled up to his feet but he was still looking at the destroyed probe droid. "You killed him…" Leo said.
"It's a droid Leo it was never alive." Anakin said, holding up his lightaber toward him. Leo turned his on both of his "I'll remember that when I see Artoo." He said walking toward Anakin, he did the same to Leo. They started to spin their lightsabers in their hands getting closer and closer.
"Do you think he can win?" Petro asked Quinlan who was watching, "Which one, their both two of the craziest jedi in the order and their about to fight, no one is going to win this fight."
Anakin and Leo's lightsabers met in a flash, Leo broke off the first strike and came back around with his other end. Anakin blocked it before he swung at Leo's legs. Leo jumped and struck, parried, then deflected back at Anakin. When he landed Anakin pressed the attack in long strides forcing Leo back using his size and strength to his advantage even when Leo attacked him Anakin forced him back. Suddenly Anakin went to one hand the force behind every strike was defense shattering. Leo hadn't had a moment to rest since Dantooine, and now no one was standing between Anakin and him.
Anakin used his off hand to raised Leo into the air with a force choke, Leo clawed at his neck before he blasted Anakin with force lightning. Both of them only had a moment before they started to run down the hanger Anakin swerved toward him and they ran while slashing at one another. "You know this will be the second time we fought in a hanger and the jedi were after me." Leo said as they locked lightsabers.
"Right- let's change that." Anakin said stepping back, he turned off his lightsaber and drew back his arms, planting his feet Leo sensed a massive build up of force power churn inside Anakin when his hands shot out. Leo wasn't knocked off his feet he was cannon balled through one of the hanger entrances, at the last second he held ups his left arm to force push through the metal doors, two walls and then a finally coming to the end inside a interior hallway, the metal against the wall folded against the force Leo pressed against it to cushion the impact before he hit with his feet and bounced off landing.
Anakin kicked over the loose metal walking between the holes he'd just made "Get up Leo, I want more." Anakin sneered.
"I'm going to pay you back for all the pain you've cause." Anakin said, Leo snapped his right arm toward Anakin, sending lighting out of his palm but Anakin caught it with his lightsaber. He was pushed back a few inches his boots skidding but Anakin deflected the lighting with his lightsaber taking one step after the other toward him with murder in his eyes.
His walk turned into a run and when Leo ran out of power in his storm attack he summoned his lightsaber to his hand to parry Anakin's incoming attacks. He ran down the hallway with Leo following him throughout the ship attacking him without mercy "Fight me Leo!" Anakin yelled at him. Leo slowed down before he stood back to Anakin, the older knight took a form ready for Leo to make a stand. But Leo was shaking his head "You want to fight, a real fight?" Leo asked him.
"You turned my Padawan against the order, turned the order against itself, killed a Jedi Knight in cold blood, you're not giving me a choice but to fight you unless you surrender now." Anakin said.
I
"And you know I never surrender?" Leo asked him.
Anakin gave a snarl "I hoped for nothing less."
Anakin and Leo ran at one another again, lightsabers in one hand swung at one another, lightsabers flashing before they spun back around hitting from the other sides. Leo turned on the second end of his double bladed lightsaber, kicking at Anakin, but he dodged it before catching the full brunt of Leo's next strike. They spun in their blade lock. Leo pressed Anakin up against a wall before he pushed Leo away with the force. Coming at him with everything he had Anakin swung in every direction pushing Leo back, he dodged leapt out of the way while countering.
CORUSCANT
Jedi Temple
Obi-Wan was walking alone down the temple hallways, arms at his side he stopped by a nearby windo looking out, he winced feeling something. Something wrong, then he saw it in his minds eye Leo in pain, Anakin in pain, the two of them fighting each other with everthing they had. "... No…. no…. stop." Obi-Wan wheezed. His footing split and he caught himself against a pillar while his two students fought one another with.
THE KNIGHT
Anakin kicked Leo in the chest knocking him onto the floor he rolled back up and caught Anakin's next attack "There's nowhere to run, Yuralens fleet is surrounding the Knight they'll soon board!" Anakin shouted at him. Thinking fast Leo channeled the force down his right arm but it was clenched around his lightsaber. The lighting rushed through the kyber crystal and out the end of his lightsaber pointed at Anakin in a magnificent white lighting blast hitting Anakin's square in the chest. Anakin was catapulted down the hallway as Leo's right palm cracked with burns, the skin red and peeled away.
Taking the opportunity Anakins forced Leo back with another volley of powerful one handed strikes. "And then what, you'll gun me down, here or at the wall on Coruscant you think I'm going to go down that way."
"Either way you will go-'' Anakin suddenly grabbed Leo with the force, he tried to resist but Anakin's rage overpowered Leo's defiance he lifted Leo into the air "-Down." Anakin slammed Leo into the floor then the floor caved in under him sending Leo into the lower levels of the ship. Leo rolled over having finally come to a stop on a walkway, he was inside the ship's Core Command module. There were two clone troopers at the module overseeing the repairs "General Rock- we thought you'd escaped?" One of them said help him up.
"..." Leo tried to say something but the wind had been knocked out of him.
"What was that sir?" They asked helping him to his feet "... your comlinks-" Leo gasped. Leo took it off both troopers arms and fixed it to a frequency. "-Vos." Leo wheezed.
In the Rogue Shadow, while everyone was worrying Quinlans com came on with Leo's voice "Rock, where the hell are you?" Everyone gathered around Vos's forearm to listen.
"I was thrown down in the command console, you need to get out of here. I can't hold Anakin off for long but I can buy you time to escape."
"Out of the question we aren't leaving you." Jinx snapped.
Leo saw Anakin come down from the shaft he just made on the floor. "No time, I'm sorry Jinx, you have to go back- back to where it all started for us." He said tossing the comlinks away before he turned to face Leo. "Troopers, contact Admiral Dallin, order her to…" Leo took one look around the command module "Tell her to give the command to abandon ship." Leo said. The two clones looked shocked under their helmets as Anakin approached Leo, the two clones ran out of the command module. Stopping just short, Anakin could see Leo was panting his breath strained from the fighting and under his robes he spotted a few patches of opening wounds under them.
Lowering his lightsaber Anakin held out his hand "Last chance Leo, drop your lightsaber, surrender peacefully and I promise I'll speak to the Chancellor about giving you a fair trial."
The offer took his notice in more ways than one, he started to consider it, he lowered his lightsaber "... I want to trust you Anakin, oh stars I want to trust you." Leo sighed, shaking his head.
"Then do it, trust me one more time." Anakin said firmly "How can I, you've already passed the sentence…. 'this trial is just a formality'?" Leo asked him using his own words when Ahsoka faced trial against crimes she was innocent of. Tensing up, Anakin gritted his teeth "You're attempts to flee, your actions up until then already confirmed your guilt but it doen'st need to be the sentence, the Council will be merciful." Anakin said, turning his lightsaber off.
"And what will it be huh?" Leo asked him, pointing at him.
"A firing squad, locked away in the deepest pits of the Republic Prison like Barriss, cut off from the force, unable to see the sky, smell fresh air after a storm, ever feel grass under my feet or the cold spray of a distant ocean?" Leo asked him, shaking his head "NO, at last I am free man." Leo said lowering his lightsaber standing sideways making himself a smaller target and hiding his other hand as he used it to alter the command modules systems raising all of them into the code reds.
Anakin gapped at him "Free- how can you be free, even if you escape you'll be hunted across the Galaxy, branded a traitor, if some bounty hunter doesn't get you it'll be us, it could be Obi-Wan do you really want to put him through that?"
"He knows my mind and so do you, so I'd expect nothing less from him but you… Anakin, how long can you delude yourself?" Leo asked him.
"Delude myself, of what?" Anakin shouted scoffing "Of fighting for what I believe in, for already being free to choose the right path."
Leo locked eyes with him "You've never been free Anakin, your born a slave and the jedi didn't rescue you, Obi-Wan told me the story, how Qui-Gon Jinn gambled on your 'freedom' in a pod race but not your mother-" "Don't you dare finish that sentence." Anakin growled, turning on his lightsaber.
Pausing just enough to see Anakin get ready to commit to his attack "... They call you the chosen one, but you never chose anything your whole life you were traded to the Jedi, just like everyone else, now and always you're a slave." Leo barked. The command module behind Leo suddenly short circuited and ruptured behind them sending fire and electrical surges out from it. The entire ship began to go red and up on the bridge Admiral Dallin watched the bridge lose power as the two clones who Leo had sent for her to give the command to abandon ship she finally knew why "Damn you Leo— Abandon ship!"
Back in the command module the battle had resumed, Anakin and Leo were fighting now with an ocean of flames beneath them, the interior of the ship starting to explode. Clone troopers rushed to escape pods from the bridge to the bow as the ships emergency override forced the hangar doors to open. The Rogue Shadow breached out like a whale from the ocean "There's his ship, use the tractor beam now." Yuralen ordered his crew but back on the Shadow Jinx hit the hyperdrive and they blasted out of sight into the unknown.
Back in the Knight the flames had reached up around Leo and Anakin, the force churning the fires and lighting around them "Skywalker, the Rogue Shadow escaped, where are you?" Plo Koon asked over his comlink as Leo and Anakin fought.
"I have Leo, but he's sabotaged the ship, the Knights going to blow the fleet clear." Anakin said, pushing Leo back with the force. Hand up Leo snatched the comlink from Anakin and sliced it in half.
"Now who has nowhere left to run?" Leo asked Anakin who gave a silent growl behind his teeth "So what'll it be Anakin, we die together or we see who can make it to the hanger first before we become one with the force." Anakin answered him with a battle cry and they fought once more. Anakin swung wide hammering strikes as Leo dodged and parried before he jumped over him and kicked him in the back. Anakin stumbled before he wheeled back around switching grips to hold it with both hands, the Knight coming apart at the seams now.
Back on Coruscant, Obi-Wan had collapsed inside the Jedi Temple, the Jedi near him had come to his aid, Luminara had his head on her lap as Master Yoda and the Jedi Healer came up. She scanned him as other jedi watched, shocked at his condition "I- I don't understand, his body is in perfect health but his heart it's…" she trailed off unable to comprehend it "Is what doctor?" Luminara asked her.
The Doctor gave her a sympathetic but confused look "It's failing?"
Aboard the Knight the escape pods were jettisoning one after the other as Admiral Dallin watched her men board, she took one last look at the bridge before one of her crew said "Admiral, your personal pod." He said "Right." She answered heading toward it. Outside the ship Yuralen, stood on the bridge of the Resolute watching the other cruiser explode the escape pods fleeing their mother to the other ships. As it's engines exploded the Knight began to drift toward the moon of Ruul. Aboard it Anakin and Leo were moving out of the command module down the breaking hallways as the moon's gravitational pull started to til the entire ship down toward it.
"You maniac, we're crashing into the moon." Anakin yelled at him as the entire cruiser start to flip on, forcing them to run up the wall and now fighting on the ceiling. Leo and Anakin jumped off the ceiling, their lightsabers meeting as the ship tumbled against pieces of rubble and wreckage stripped from the outer layer as Leo retreated down or up the hallway. Anakin swung from a doorway kicking Leo across the corridor before he landed feet first on an elevator door. Slicing it open with his lightsaber he swung in before starting to climb. Anakin followed the two jumping up and around the elevator shaft trying to kill each other. They dodged flying elevators and wild cables before Anakin sheathed his lightsaber. He rocketed himself off a beam and toward Leo slamming him into the elevator shaft wall before pulling off and throwing him into another. Anakin grabbed on to Anakin's hair and pulled him in to bite him on the neck. Letting out a yell Anakin pushed himself away before Leo sent forcing lighting at Anakin. But a wild elevator flew down in flames cutting them off. When it passed, Anakin grabbed Leo with the force and threw him down the elevator shaft. But the ship had been spinning down into Ruul's atmosphere; it was at the top of the elevator shaft. Leo had grabbed onto a loose cable to see the bridge. Swinging out of it Anakin followed him the Knights arrowhead like shape starting to level out but turn to its right. The blue sky of Ruul flooded the bridge with light as Leo backed up from the elevator entrance. Anakin's neck was bleeding from the bite but he didn't look like he was any closer to giving up than Leo.
Anakin took out his lightsaber "Is this what you wanted?" Anakin asked Leo.
Leo stood his ground and blocked his first strike, Anakin came at him from the left. Leo jumped over it and cut the metal above them making a ceiling panel slide down at Anakin, he cut it in half before the two moved to the front of the bridge glass shattering around them while the haul of the ship caught fire crashing down on the moon. The white clouds mixed with the black smoke coming off the ship just before the cruiser scraped the tip of a mountain sending them off their feet. Anakin fell into the lower monitor pits in the bridge. Leo jumped down after him and they started to fight against their lightsabers destroying the already broken consoles sending sparks and shards of broken glass and searing metal around them.
Jumping out Anakin landed above him where Leo followed, but his metal hand shot out grabbing Leo by the robes and Anakin smashed Leo onto the bridge floor lightsaber at his neck "High ground Leo." Anakin said. Trying to use the force to summon his lightsaber Anakin saw it coming before Leo was helpless to see Anakin cut the lightsaber in half the two pieces falling across from him, the kyber crystal sticking out from one end damaged.
"ENOUGH!" Anakin slammed Leo into the floor again, pressing the lightsaber up on his neck just centimeters from where he'd cut his throat.
"In the name of the Galactic Senate, the Republic and Chancellor you are under arrest and you'll pay for the gravity of your crimes." Anakin said over him, he had won.
But Leo was smiling, he was actually laughing "Whats so funny?" Anakin asked him, "The irony." Leo said looking out the window.
Anakin's head shot up to see at the last second the Knight made impact on Ruuls surface brought down by the moon's own gravity, the massive cruisers crashed into the jungle tearing up tree, earth and stone sending animals scrambling in every direction massive dust clouds mixed with smoke and fire, it's momentum carving up the earth leaving a mile long trail of destruction, before the tower bridge collapsed taking Leo and Anakins its before it came to halt. Above them the Republic fleet was already descending again over Ruul, each of the Masters had a squadron of gunships filled to the brim with the 501st. Captain Rex s was riding with Master Plo as they circled over the downed warship "Captain Rex, have your men scan for survivors." Rex was already on it.
Somewhere in the wreckage, Leo let out a gasp for air pushing off a pile of metal looking around as he was covered in dust and ash. The bridge had collapsed around him but he was alive despite all odds. He heard a frustrated yell and looked to his left to see Anakin pinned down under a mountain of wreckage and rubble, small fires around him, his forehead bleeding as Leo approached him. The rubble had pinned Anakin onto his stomach pressing on his back and entire body his mechanical arm pinned under peices of sharp metal . Limping over to him Leo held his side feeling hot blood rush through his fingers when he knelt down and picked up a long piece of jagged metal cut to an edge. Leo picked up raising it like a spear over Anakin who saw he was just as much at Leo's mercy as he was.
Anakin looked up at him, his fate in Leo's hands, the shaft piece of metal like an executions axe ready to cut down on Anakin "What are you waiting for Leo?" Anakin asked I'm.
He winced "Come on Leo, you'll never get a better chance… do it, DO IT!" Anakin snapped "AAAAAAHHHH!" Leo struck down with all his strength diving the metal into them ground in front of Anakins. He watched Leo wedge the metal under some more loosening it to stop the rest of the metal from crushing Anakin. Leo knelt down and started to dig through the metal pulling pieces out.
"... this…. this doesn't change anything Leo, you'll still answer for your crimes." Anakin said as Leo stopped digging for a second before he reached for something.
"Maybe, maybe one day we'll all answer for our crimes, but not today." Leo said, pulling out the remaining half of his lightsaber with his kyber crystal. He plucked it from the broken hilt and squeezed it in his fist "Not to you." He said to Anakin. Leo stood up turning away, walking off into the cloud of smoke, Anakin struggled to push the metal off him but he was to weak, to angry, to sad, too confused. All he could do was shriek in anger and agony as Leo turned his back on him. Leo sifted through the luggage hearing Anakin's screams behind him like a banshee howling at him "YOU TRAITOR!" Anakin yelled.
"YOU'RE NO JEDI!"
Leo slid down a collapsed hallway looking for the hanger.
"YOU WERE MY LITTLER BROTHER LEO- I TRUSTED YOU!"
He pushed off a piece of ceiling and pulled a net of tangled cords off something, as he saw gunships fly overhead.
"WE WERE GOING TO BRING BALANCE TO THE FORCE, YOU'VE BROKEN IT!"
Finally after a bit of digging Leo found it, his dark green Jedi Starfighter, he heard a low beep and looked to see the astro droid pilot R6-S6, the red camo droid's eyes were fractured and it beeped at him "Come on, we're leaving." Leo said as he lifted the droid into its copilot seat. Leo crawled into the cockpit slouching in his seat Anakin still screaming after him.
"YOU TOOK HER FROM US, YOU TOOK HER FROM ME I'LL HATE YOU FOREVER!"
The cockpit sealed and Leo started the engine taking off, the starfighter rose from the ground and smoke, "There, it's Rock!" Windu shouted from his gunship seeing the starfighter start to take off.
The gunships were no match for the jedi starfighters speed as Leo started to fly up to the clouds holding onto the joystick as he plugged in coordinates. "K'Khurk had a jedi starfighter here Essix, see if you can find a hyperspace ring." The droid took a few moments to scan, before he found it "Hmm, other side of the moon smart." Leo whispered as he flew around the moon. Yuralen had already sent a fleet of clone starfighters after him and the cruiser was in hot pursuit.
"Don't let him reach the hyperspace ring." Yuralen ordered his men who were shooting at the ring just as Leo docked and set the coordinates.
"Get us… get us out of here." Leo ordered before he passed out in the cockpit, the ship jumping into hyperspace.
He had escaped.