Chapter 3
"There is no emotion, there is peace." Jedi Battlemaster Arreok said as he knelt on the floor of a meditation chamber. The Young Jedi master looked nearly human with slightly tanned fair-skin and spiky brown hair covered by the hood of his Remnant Underworld Knight's armor, containing his athletic build (again regular body type). However, despite the outward appearance, Arreok was no human, but a Miraluka, marked by the brown cloth wrapped over where his eyes would've been.
As a member of the Miraluka race, Arreok didn't see as most species did, but saw the galaxy entirely through the Force. Despite being in his mid twenties, Arreok had not only earned the rank of Jedi Master, but was also the Jedi Order's new Battlemaster, their most renowned champion. These were but the latest of many titles he'd earned, as a young Jedi Knight, Arreok became known as the Hero of Tython after saving the Jedi homeworld and defeating Darth Angral in single combat.
Yet one title many favored for him was the Throne Breaker, as Arreok earned legendary status within the Jedi, defeating both the Immortal Sith Emperor and later Darth Malgus. Some were calling him the greatest Jedi Knight to ever live, though Arreok refrained from such a title, remaining humble.
Arreok meditated with utter clarity and peace, becoming completely attuned to the living force and the present as he saw past all distractions of the physical universe. With this level of peace, he saw the Force around him clearly and the danger he would stop, though not alone.
Another Jedi, perhaps a year or so younger than Arreok, knelt directly in front of him. A young human woman with fair skin, blye, eyes and short-brownish-red hair with a scar on her left cheek. She too wore a suit of Jedi armor, though unlike Arreok, she donned a resolute guardian set. The Jedi Knight was none other than Kira, Arreok's former padawan, and wife.
Typically the Jedi forbid such attachments, but since the end of the Jedi Civil War three centuries prior and the Order's near extinction, Jedi Dogma had become more pragmatic on the matter. Jedi were allowed to marry under certain circumstances, typically only those who were part of the order since childhood, though the Order still allowed students to begin training later in life, even into adulthood.
Many Knights and Masters came from long lineages of Jedi who'd followed the Order's close rules on marriage. Kira, however, wasn't born into the Order, in fact, she was born into a family of human Sith and even taken to become one of the Immortal Sith Emperor's adopted children before escaping. Eventually Jedi Master Kiwiks found a young Kira and took her as a Padawan before she later met Arreok, who finished her training after Master Kiwiks went missing.
Arreok and Kira became close, first as student and teacher, then as partner Jedi Knights fighting the Empire and Sith. Eventually their relationship turned romantic and they'd successfully kept it a secret, that was until Arreok defeated Emperor Vitiate and later Malgus. After that, his sheer popularity prevented the Council from taking any direct action against his relationship with Kira, and even allowed the two to get married. Though Arreok did hear rumors that his marriage to Kira would prevent him from ever holding a seat on the council, something many in the order called out for.
Not that he minded, Arreok respected the council, his late master Orgus Din being a part of it when he lived, but he preferred taking a more direct role in defending the weak and helpless. Battlemaster was a much better fit for him.
Kira exhaled, doing her best to commune with the Force as Arreok did. She managed to find inner peace as well as any Jedi, but struggled to reach the level as her husband. She'd always struggled with attachments, and recently they'd been put to the test more than ever.
"I'm here, in the present." Kira said to herself before feeling Arreok's hand on her shoulder.
"Akkern is fine." He reassured her, earning a nod from Kira. Akkern was their newborn son, only three months old, this was Kira's first time away from him since giving birth. Her discipline and Jedi training helped her deal with it better than most would, but the young woman's maternal instincts were strong. Not to say Arreok's paternal instincts weren't there either, Miraluka had evolved with a strong sense of family and community. But the Jedi Master had the ability to block out the distractions, and focus on the present.
Kira exhaled, opening her eyes with a peaceful but spirited smile.
"You're right, he's fine, and so am I."
Arreok returned her expression before planting a short kiss on Kira's lips. Several other Jedi knelt in the chamber and meditated with them. The first was a Nautolan wearing the same resolute guardian armor as Kira, Bengel Morr, a fallen jedi who Arreok defeated and helped redeem on Tython during his training. Now Bengel was a fully fledged Jedi knight and a member of the battlemaster's elite Jedi strike team, however, he wasn't alone.
Directly beside him knelt a tall and broad-shouldered Sith pureblood wearing noble brawler armor. Praven had once been a Sith Lord and a servant of Darth Angral before dueling Arreok on Tython when he'd gone to rescue Master Kiwiks. Arreok defeated Praven, but instead of killing him, convinced the Sith Pureblood to renounce the Dark Side and become a Jedi.
Across from Praven knelt a Bith Jedi Knight in remnant dreadguard knight armor, named Unaw Aharo, who Arreok rescued from a flesh raider assault upon arriving on Tython when they were both just padawans. Beside Unhaw saw a young zabrak male and a nautolan female, Jomar Chul and Leeha Narez.
Finally, a Kel Dor Jedi wearing white and grey Veda aegis armor knelt beside them, lost in his meditative trance.
"The Dark Side's power grows, I can sense it." The Kel Dor said with a hint of wariness.
"The Force is with us, Tol." Arreok said, earning a slow nod from the Kel Dor.
Tol Braga was once among the most prominent Jedi in the Order, being a Master and a member of the High-Council. Tol had planned a raid on Emperor Vitiate's hidden space station that ended in disaster, resulting in himself, Leehan, another Jedi, Arreok, and his companions all becoming prisoners.
Arreok managed to break free of the Emperor's control and free his crew, but Leehan and the other Jedi strike team member became his slaves before Arreok rescued them in later missions. Tol, however, was so overcome by the Emperor's power that he willingly joined him, even going as far as to lead Vitiate's force on Corellia before facing Arreok and losing. But just like before, Arreok spared his foe and brought him back to Tython where he abandoned the dark side and became a Jedi once more.
However, Tol became so overcome by shame that he renounced both his seat on the council and even his title as Jedi Master, instead opting to remain at the rank of Jedi Knight. Since then, he too became a member of Arreok's elite strike team, working tirelessly to atone for his fall.
"Will master Nuhr join us soon?" Bengal asked as he turned to four more Jedi meditating nearby. Another miraluka and human both in Jedi consular robes knelt down beside a young Sarkhai woman and a Cathar Jedi Master adorned in the same Veda aegis armor as Tol Braga. The Cathar looked roughly Arreok's age and build with midnight blue fur.
"Master Nuhr will join us when he's ready." Arreok answered.
Nuhr too appeared completely at peace while meditating, blocking out all distractions just like Arreok. Nuhr too had become something of a legend in the Jedi Order, becoming the youngest Jedi Master and High-Councilman in generations, and the first Barsenthor in ages. Arreok first met Nuhr on Tython when the two were but padawans, and struck a close friendship with him.
Since then, they'd remained close, going on countless missions and fighting beside each other in almost every major battle of the war. Nuhr had ended a dark side plague infecting numerous masters in the order, prevented several key systems from breaking off from the Republic, and stopped the Children of the Emperor from destroying the Republic from within. Not only that, but he earned nearly as much fame as Arreok when he defeated three Dark Councilmen on Corellia, not all at once, but still Darths Archeron, Hadra, and Decimus all fell before Nuhr as did Darth Serevin, Malgus's second in command. The young woman beside him was Nadia Grell, his padawan.
Arreok was about to resume his meditation when he and Nuhr lifted their heads and met each other's faces. Arreok stood up only to find a T7 astromech droid beside him, chirping happily.
"Don't worry, T7, we're on our way. No I'll tell Captain Rusk myself."
The two groups of Jedi joined up as they walked through the halls of the Valor-Class Cruiser, Guardian, passing Republic crewmen, pilots, and soldiers of various species, who each greeted them respectfully.
The two young Jedi Masters walked beside each other, acknowledging the soldiers and crewmen as they passed.
"This attack on Termis II, do you think it could be the disturbance we've sensed?" Arreok asked.
"Perhaps, we shall see." Nuhr replied. Many of the Order's masters had recently sensed a growing darkness and foreboding aura of death and destruction. When Master Gnost-Dural reported that one of the Jedi Order's many enclaves was discovered and would soon be attacked, the Council dispatched him and Nuhr to protect Termis II. However, both Jedi sensed there was something else looming before the Republic, something they hadn't felt before.
Still, both Jedi Masters put it out of their minds, remaining focused on the present and their duties towards the Jedi on Termis II.
"Many padawans have asked me lately if I think the war will soon end. A Jedi shouldn't speculate, but I hate not being able to give them hope."
Nuhr smiled slightly.
"Indeed, there's nothing wrong with a little optimism. I just thought you'd be glad they weren't asking you more about your Duel with the Emperor and Malgus."
Kira smirked slightly with Nadia, knowing well if her husband had eyes, he'd have rolled them.
"Right." Arreok sighed. It wasn't that he was ashamed of killing either Sith Emperor, he just didn't enjoy the hero worship so many in the Order and Republic cast upon him. He didn't become a Jedi to be famous, he did it to protect the weak and innocent.
"Thanks for convincing the Council to keep our main temple on Tython instead of Coruscant. I can't set foot on the capital without getting swarmed." The Battlemaster said in a weary tone.
"It's my pleasure. While I do think we should perhaps rebuild the temple there as one of our many enclaves across the galaxy, the Council and headquarters of the Order must stay detached from the Republic, and politics. Tython allows us to remain wholly attuned to the Force and not the distractions of the Galaxy and political matters."
"I hear Master Gnost-Dural's efforts to recolonize Ossus are going well, he's even renovated the ancient library into a functioning enclave. Perhaps the Council could operate there if Tython ever became lost to us."
Nuhr stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Yes, and interesting idea. Do you agree Tol?"
The Kel Dor kept his head lowered.
"Perhaps." He said, quietly.
"You need to stop beating yourself up, Tol. You've more than made up for your mistake." Kira said, patting the armor on his shoulders with a comforting expression.
"She's right, forgiveness is the Jedi way." Praven added with reassuring nods from Arreok and the other Jedi. Despite this, Tol Braga only remained modestly steady.
"One day, perhaps."
"Maybe you can make up for it by finding Lord Scourge." Bengal jested, earning a bittersweet chuckle from Arreok. Lord Scourge was a pureblooded Sith Lord who served as Vitiate's Wrath for centuries before betraying him after learning of his plan to wipe out all life in the galaxy. Scourge revealed he'd seen a vision centuries earlier of Arreok killing Vitiate and waited years to find him. Scourge helped free Arreok's companions from the Emperor's space station and joined him in the fight against Vitiate only to depart upon their victory.
Arreok had hoped he could redeem Scourge as he did Praven and the others, but hadn't seen or heard of his Sith companion since then.
Eventually the Jedi reached the ship's hanger where a mirialan woman in an Navy Officer's uniform with an Admiral's rank stood with a few more naval officers and other individuals. Among them was an armored trandoshan, a blonde-haired doctor, a black-haired doctor, a twi'lek sniper, and two armored Republic army officers, one human and one chagrian.
"Master Jedi, perfect timing." The admiral Werth said as she waved them over.
"We'll arrive at Termis II soon and I've managed to reach Master Hulas."
"Excellent, put him through." Nuhr said and within moments the holographic image of a slender human man appeared before them.
"Master Hulas."
"Master Nuhr, Battlemaster Arreok."
Master Hulas was an elder man with a bald head and grey beard while wearing the distinct brown robes of a jedi scholar. Master Hulas was the leader of the enclave on Termis II, having taught there for decades. However, his voice seemed to only emphasize his advanced age, sounding wearier than a Jedi even as old as him should be. Arreok and Nuhr sensed such feelings inside the old master, despite his attempts to suppress them.
"Master, we're nearly at Termis II. How goes the evacuation?" Nuhr asked, calmly but with a clear purpose.
"It doesn't go. The Empire has arrived." Those on the bridge felt a twinge of anxiety upon hearing this, but remained calm.
"Say again." Arreok said.
"The Imperial invasion force is currently battling the local defense fleet as we speak, and won't hold much longer. The enclave has an energy shield strong enough to protect us from orbital bombardment, but they will merely send a force down to attack the temple directly." He said, lowering his head.
"It's alright, we're very close. Once we arrive, we'll head down and drive them back." Arreok sounded confident but not arrogant, earning a slightly optimistic nod from Master Hulas.
"The Force is with us then. I will lead what Jedi we have here in a defense of the enclave, keep our students and the Imperial refugees deeper in the enclave. I'd send them away, but there's nowhere else on the planet with an effective planetary shield."
"Calm your mind, Master Hulas. All will be well, may the Force be with you." Nuhr assured him before the hologram vanished.
"Admiral, we're on the edge of the system!" A helmsman cried.
"Copy, all ships ease out of hyperspace and make ready for battle!" The Guardian and its task force emerged before the world of Termis II, which was covered mostly in ocean with a few small island continents scattered across the surface. Admiral Werth's task force consisted of two Valors, including the Guardian, and six Thranta-Class Corvettes.
Attacking Termis II was an Imperial Task Force of similar size, two Harrower-Class Dreadnoughts and five Terminus Destroyers. Gravus's forces the local Termis defense fleet, which only had a handful of corvette-class vessels and light frigates, or rather what was left of them. Nuhr spotted the remains of an orbital space station and five ships while Imperial Interceptor fighters ruthlessly hunted down the local pilots and their underpowered craft.
"And to think we almost didn't know about this attack." Kira muttered in horror as she watched the Imperial onslaught.
"This is Admiral Werth of the 96th Task Force, we're here to help!"
"Admiral! Thank the Force! This is commander Talon of the Termis defense force, we're on the brink of annihilation and worse, a group of troop transports managed to break out lines and are enroute to the surface."
Nuhr slowly exhaled while looking at the tactical.
"Admiral, I can lead my squadron to clear a hole through the enemy fighters. Once we have the opening, Battlemaster Arreok can take his strike team and the ground troops to relieve the enclave."
Arreok nodded in agreement.
"Captain Rusk, prepare Hurricane company, Doc ready your medpacs."
"Yes, sir!" The chagrian said while saluting.
"Can do." Doc added.
"Captain Iresso, bring your company down too."
"Understood, we'll give em' Hell."
"Best of luck, all ships prepare to back up the defense fleet." Werth began inputting directions for her various ships on the tactical s Nuhr made his way to the main hangar where his Defender-Class light corvette rested. The Jedi Master entered it alongside Nadia, the trandoshan, twi'lek sniper, and blonde doctor.
Sitting in the pilot's seat, Nuhr centered himself, reaching out with the Force as he felt the various controls of his craft and the battle itself. Once in his trance, he began piloting the ship with the Force and flew it from the hanger followed by two more defenders, each piloted by one of the Jedi consulars from earlier.
All three Jedi vessels were quickly backed up by four BT-7 Thunderclaps and over two-dozen PT-7 interceptors while squadrons of Liberator fighters and sledgehammer bombers followed from the ships.
After a few moments, Nuhr completed his force meld with the other Jedi, enhancing not only their own senses and coordination, but the rest of the squadrons'. Each pilot knew precisely where Nuhr wanted them to go and felt an overwhelming sense of encouragement through the battle meditation.
The Cathar Jedi didn't need to even open his eyes to understand what was going on around him and where the enemy was, feeling the emotions of the Supremacy fighter pilots, their rage, fear, and enthusiasm as they mercilessly hunted down the Termis defense ships.
"We must save our allies." Nuhr said and led his Squadron in and slowly reaching out with his offhand he guided the Defender's weapon controls and opened up alongside the other craft in unnatural coordination with incredible accuracy, several of the shots coming within inches of the Termis fighters but each struck their intended target, the various Supremacy fighters.
"Got em." Zenith said with growing satisfaction as he watched the Imperial craft blown to pieces.
"Herald increases his score." Qyzen hissed.
"Hmm, what do you think, Holiday?" Tharan asked the holographic image of a woman beside him.
"Quite exciting."
Despite his companions' words, Nuhr took no pleasure in killing the Imperial pilots, or anyone for that matter. He'd long accepted that fighting and taking lives was necessary for protecting others, but that didn't make it much easier. Even so, the Jedi Master didn't allow such feelings to distract him from his duties, less it put his allies at risk.
The first salvo didn't destroy a significant number of the Supremacy fighters, but it did force the Squadron back and away from the scattered Termis ships.
"Ahhh, much appreciated, Jedi." The Termis flight commander said, breathing a deep sigh of relief.
"We're here to help." Nuhr assured her, shifting his attention to the reforming Supremacy Squadrons. Guiding them with the combined battle meditation, he brought his ships against the Imperial fighters hitting them in a series of masterfully executed strikes. Although his attacks only claimed two or three enemy fighters each go, the Jedi Master hadn't lost a single fighter yet and kept the Imperial squadrons scattered, which under the right circumstances was nearly as good as destroyed.
Finally after twenty minutes or so, he proved this. The squadrons of Liberty fighters surged in, reinforced by the regrouped Termis flight, their sheer numbers and the fact that the Imperials were disorganized resulting in a slaughter.
Nuhr felt the collective fear and anguish in the Imperial pilots as over half their squadron went down, the others fleeing in panic.
"Herald proves himself a master hunter yet again. Corralling prey into trap." Qyzen hissed in admiration.
Nuhr ignored this and motioned towards Zenith who nodded, getting on the comm-channel.
"Admiral, you're clear, have the bombers follow us."
"Copy, all ships move in!" The Thrantas and Valors now raced in through the gap Nuhr's ships made and opened up on the Imperial cruisers while several troop transports emerged from the Guardian, flying straight to the planet below.
"May the Force be with you Arreok." Nuhr thought.
Termis II's vibrant ocean raged below the Republic transports and the seven Liberty Fighters escorting them. Kira's eyes remained fixed on the island ahead of them where a medium sized temple rested. Much to her relief, the shield remained active, which meant the Sith hadn't taken the enclave yet, however, she did notice a series of explosions in the area around it.
"Master Hulas, master Hulas come in." Kira tried to contact the enclave, but there was no response. She slowly turned back to Arreok who kept a calm demeanor.
"It's alright, I can sense the Jedi still alive inside."
The island itself was rocky with some greenery mixed in here and there, and what looked like villages in the distance. However, just beyond the shield's radius lay a dozen landed Imperial troop transports, and their occupants gone.
Kira's eyes widened as she saw a battalion of Imperial shock-troopers surging towards the Jedi enclave, their red armor coating the rocky island like blood.
"Come on, we need to hurry!" Despite everything going on, the Jedi kept calm, though Kira struggled as she watched the attack. Arreok and T7 went to the ramp first and reaching out, he pulled his lightsaber to his right hand, igniting it to reveal its black blade with a blue aura around it.
The ramp dropped and Arreok charged out, his astromech close behind. Kira and the other Jedi followed, igniting their lightsabers in turn. Kira wielding a double, bladed blue saber, Bengal and Jomar both using a single green saber, Praven a single blue, Unaw and Leeha a single yellow, and Tol utilizing two blue sabers.
The nearest group of Imperial shock-troopers couldn't react in time, and Arreok leaped several feet through the air, slamming into the ground amongst them and unleashing a repulse of telekinetic Force power that sent the entire squad sprawling onto the ground a few feet away.
Before they could reach for their weapons, the Jedi battlemaster hurled his lightsaber through the air, guiding it with one hand as it spun and cut down all ten soldiers. Nearby another squad of shock troopers saw this and shifted their fire onto the seemingly disarmed Jedi Master, only to find themselves badly mistaken. With his offhand, Arreok used the Force to deflect the incoming bolts and even sent a mortar round back, killing the cannoneer and two others.
When his lightsaber returned, the miraluka leaped through the air again, reaching the second squad and cutting them down with a series of masterful and efficient strikes. Just like Nuhr, he didn't enjoy killing opponents, most of the Jedi in his strike team were proof of that. But Arreok was also a realist, and recognized that sometimes the option just wasn't there.
T7 kept close to his master, firing off a series of bursts that stored several hits, though the shock troopers' armor kept many of them alive before Arreok cut them down. Kira raced in close behind her husband, spinning her double-bladed lightsaber as she cleared up more Imperials, the other elite Jedi Knights following suit.
By then, Captain Rusk and Iresso had formed up with their companies of Republic heavy-infantry. Hundreds of men and women in the classic white armor and face concealing helmets, save those species it wouldn't fit, with Rusk's company having red stripes across their armor and Iresso's having green.
"Move in! Flank em!" Rusk barked out, ripping off mortar rounds from his assault cannon while Iresso took more careful aim using a rifle. Imperial shock troopers were typically more than a match for most Republic soldiers, but the two companies before them were made up of hand-picked battle hardened troopers, and they'd hit the shock troopers in the flank.
Within minutes, they'd pushed the Imperials back with heavy losses before forming a defensive position in front of the temple.
"We've got them Master Jedi." Rusk said while directing his troops. Arreok nodded.
"Come on!" He shouted, leading his Jedi strike team inside. The Temple exterior had suffered some damage, with holes and burn marks across the superstructure, but nothing significant. The interior looked much the same, but Arreok's focus lay not on the building itself, but those within it.
His force sight showed him the distinct auras of light and dark side combatants as over a dozen Jedi in robes not typically worn in combat fought desperately against squads of armored sith warriors.
Lightsabers clashed and force powers went out as Jedi and Sith battled for control of the enclave. Much to Arreok's horror, several of the Jedi were in fact padawans, some wielding only training blades. The Sith were all either human or zabrak, with most sporting some kind of visible cybernetic implants, though nothing extensive, not like the Power Guards Arreok once faced.
"Spread out!" Arreok commanded as he cleared his mind and sought to find where he was needed most. Just then he saw it, a pair of sith warriors cut down the two Jedi they'd been fighting and turned their attention onto a group of wounded padawans desperately trying to lift a fallen column off their companion with the Force.
The two humans smiled with immense satisfaction and charged through the air, ready to cut down the terrified students, only to feel the wind knocked out of their lungs as a wave of telekinetic Force power hurled them backward.
Each of the Jedi Padawans opened their eyes to see Arreok standing between them and the two Sith warriors.
"Get yourselves to safety, now." He commanded. One of them opened his mouth to ask about their trapped companion, only to see Arreok lift up the massive column using the Force with his offhand in a way that seemed almost effortless.
Both Sith warriors furiously charged the Jedi Battlemaster from different directions, but Arreok broke the column in half and hurled it at them. The Sith barely managed to slice their way through the debris but found their momentum broken. Arreok kept a defensive stance, clearly warning the Sith not to take a step closer, it didn't work.
The two humans came both high and low, one unleashing a Force scream as he did so. The Miraluka began to glow with a blue aura as the Force shielded him from the dark side attack, with skills the padawans didn't think possible, Arreok parried the two Sith warriors with such foresight, it seemed he knew where they'd attack his entire life.
The Sith warriors weren't unskilled, having just proven so by each slaying a Jedi, but Arreok was on an entirely different level. He'd mastered what Jedi and Sith such as Satel Shan, Revan, and Tulak Hord had in terms of lightsaber combat. Allowing his blade to become a pure extension of himself and moving with the Force's guidance rather than calling upon it to answer him.
Even without eyes, Arreok could feel the pure terror and disbelief on the Sith warriors' expressions when they felt their lightsaber knocked away and the burning sensation as their foe sliced them with two successive slashes.
Arreok exhaled and heard the thuds as the armored Sith hit the ground as lifeless corpses. Turning back, he noticed all four padawans still behind him, their mouths open wide in awe at what they just saw.
"It isn't safe, move." Arreok spoke sterner than before and the four teens finally listened, falling back to Doc who stood near the entrance.
"Alright, hold still, I've got you." He said, injecting the padawan who'd been pinned down with a vial of kolto.
Rechanneling his focus, Arreok went back to the melee, moving to help another group of beleaguered Jedi. A dark-skinned human woman and two more Jedi beside her, managed to bring down the trio of zabrak warriors they faced, but looked ready to collapse from exhaustion as the Miraluka sensed a hidden threat surrounding them.
Acting fast, Arreok reached out and the three Jedi almost jumped when they saw a pair of Sith assassins appear out of thin air, now frozen in Force stasis. The battlemaster readied his lightsaber when his senses detected another premonition. Acting fast, he hurled the two frozen Sith back just in time for two more Sith assassins to reveal themselves at his flank, both unleashing a burst of blue force lightning with their outstretched hands.
Most Jedi would've instinctively held their lightsabers up, but Arreok had long mastered a much more difficult, but ultimately effective defense. Surrendering himself to the Force, he held out both hands and absorbed the incoming lightning, carefully holding the dark power within his hands using telekinetics.
When the assassins realized what was happening, they broke off their attacks and charged in, double-bladed crimson lightsabers drawn. Their companions also joined in, not realizing Arreok could do more than just contain the lightning. Drawing upon the Force, the Jedi Battlemaster unleashed the lightning back at his opponents, adding to their power with telekinetic Force energy.
The resulting blow enveloped two of the Sith assassins, killing them while the others spun their sabers, hoping to catch him off-guard. Arreok parried the first blow and blasted the second assassin back with Force push. The first Sith desperately tried to get in another set of strikes, only for Arreok to block two and then cut clean through the center of his lightsaber staff, slicing into the human's face as well.
The last assassin backed up, only to see Leeha behind her.
"Don't make us kill you." The nautolan warned her.
Despite this, the Sith assassin lashed out, trying to kill Leeha with a spinning blow. Leeha parried the attack in a similar fashion as Arreok and then stabbed forward, impaling the Sith on her yellow lightsaber.
"Are you alright?" She asked the three human Jedi.
"We'll be, fine." One huffed as he struggled to stay on his feet, sweat soaking the Jedi's robes.
"Come on, we need to get the padawans to safety." The Jedi woman said, leading her companions away despite her fatigue. Arreok nodded to Leeha and rejoined the battle, the other members of his strike team having similar success as they defeated any Sith warrior who opposed them, and turned the tide of battle in their favor.
Arreok rescued another group of Jedi, cone down the trio of Sith Marauders who nearly overwhelmed them before sensing the unmistakable sensation of a Jedi's passing. Looking over, he saw one of the enclave Jedi fall before a human Sith with skin so pale it almost looked gray with a series of purple veins marring the skin.
The Sith held his crimson lightsaber out and stared intensely at Arreok with a horrible eagerness on his face.
"Yes, it is you, the Jedi Battlemaster who killed the Emperor! Fortune smiles upon me, I am Lord Shaythin! When I strike you down, my name will go down in history, and I shall be made a Darth!"
Lord Shaythin eagerly charged through the air at Arreok, who stood ready to hold off his assault, but soon found his efforts unnecessary.
Lord Shaythin's eyes went wide when he felt his lightsaber blocked by the front end of a blue double-bladed lightsaber. Kira smiled widely and pushed the Sith Lord back with a blow of telekinetic Force power, sending him into a stumble before he regained his stance.
"You haven't earned the right to face him yet. Now without facing the legendary Jedi Knight Kira." She said, her cocky smile growing.
"Annoying Jedi, get out of my way!" Lord Shaythin lunged at Kira coming at her with the precisie makashi form. Unfortunately, Kira had mastered djem so and countered each strike with a powerful counterblow that nearly broke his foundation.
"Eat lightsaber jerk!" Kira shouted, leaping up after another successful parry and delivering a powerful kick to Shaythin's chest. The Sith Lord grunted and stumbled once more, but as Kira came in to finish him, he reached out and blasted her with a torrent of blue force lightning.
Acting fast, the Jedi Knight absorbed the blow with the back half of her lightsaber, and then, drawing upon the Force, she pushed it back into Shaythin breaking his stance as he cried out in pain from his own force lightning. Seizing the opening, Kira leaped through the air and slashed the Sith Lord in half, hearing his body topple over in two pieces.
Exhaling deeply, she turned around and saw her husband hadn't been sitting idle, and defeated another three Sith warriors during her duel with the Sith Lord. Despite this, Arreok crossed his arms while looking at her like he used to when she was just his padawan.
"What? I can't let the Sith think you're the only Jedi legend between the two of us. I've got a reputation to maintain too." Arreok shook his head but gave his wife a brief smile. By then, the fighting was over, and the Battlemaster's team assembled before him.
"We arrived too late. Five Jedi and three padawans fell before we could stop them." Tol sighed while shaking his head.
"There is no death, only the Force. We saved far more Jedi and students, my friend." Praven countered, emphasizing the fourteen Jedi and twenty padawans still alive. For their part, Arreok's team and the Jedi defenders killed over thirty Sith combatants and captured four, all of whom knelt in the corner, hands bound as a few of the enclave Jedi stood guard over them.
"I sense the danger hasn't passed. Where is Master Hulas and the rest of the enclave's inhabitants?" Arreok asked the dark-skinned Jedi woman.
"When the Imperial fleet arrived, many locals from the surrounding villages came here to seek shelter. Master Hulas took a team of Jedi to bring them and the youngest students deeper into the enclave for protection." She reported, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Including the families of force sensitives in the Empire who fled here." Bengal muttered.
The Jedi woman nodded, and from the look on her face, particularly as she exchanged an understanding look with Praven earlier, it was clear she too was either a renegade Sith turned Jedi or perhaps the child of former Imperials who fled here years earlier.
"Come on, I'll show you." She said, leading Arreok and his team further into the enclave. Deeper inside the temple, Master Hulas and a team of his Jedi led over three dozen men, women, and children through the halls as a group of Sith warriors pursued them.
"There is an exit just ahead, don't stop!" The Jedi Master cried, drawing his yellow lightsaber while preparing to make a stand. One of the Sith warriors charged into him, but Hulas blocked the lightsaber blow and held him back long enough to reach out and project two large pieces of debris into the Sith's sides, breaking enough bones to kill him.
Another Sith came at the Jedi Master only to freeze in place as he attacked her mind with a crushing mental attack similar to mind trick. Clutching her head, she was unable to stop Hulas's lightsaber as it sliced through the Sith's body. Despite this, Master Hulas could only watch as his team of Jedi were cut down by the attacking Sith until a horrible chill ran up his spine. Another Dark force user approached, one far worse than anything the Jedi Master ever sensed in his life.
Then he saw him, a Sith pureblood covered almost entirely in cybernetic implants strode forward, crimson lightsaber held out. Two of the Jedi came at him only for Tormen to slice the first one in half after two blows and then crush the second with a steel force-grip.
Tormen's glowing red eyes met Hulas's, but the Jedi Master remembered his training and suppressed his fear.
"I won't let you hurt them, Sith." Master Hulas reached out and tried to project more debris at Tormen, but the cyborg effortlessly smashed them to pieces with his fists, enhanced by cybernetics and the Force. He then hurled Master Hulas backward with a Force Push and literally shook the ground as he charged through the air and slammed into the slim Jedi Master.
Hulas desperately tried to hold off Tormen's unrelenting lightsaber assault, but to no avail. With a merciless blow, the Sith cyborg impaled his foe through the stomach and then deactivated his saber, allowing Hulas to hit the ground.
Without breaking stride, Tormen led his victorious Sith warriors after the fleeing families and students who halted when they saw their path blocked by eight Sith warriors standing on the walkway above them, lightsabers drawn. The Sith basked in the fear and anguish of their prey, mothers and fathers clutching their children who wailed, begging them to do something.
"All of you are traitors to the Empire, to the Sith." Tormen spoke, his voice now metallic and cold.
"Please, take us, but let the children live! You can make them Sith!" A father cried, falling to his knees before Tormen.
"You thought the Jedi could protect you, your children. You were wrong, kill them all." The families clenched their eyes shut and heard the sounds of lightsabers cutting through bodies. However, they also heard the distinct sound of lightsabers clashing against other lightsabers. Opening their eyes, the families saw the Jedi Rytha battling one of the Sith warriors above them alongside Kira, Praven, Tol, Jomar, Leeha, Unaw, and Bengal. Each of the Jedi struck down their opponent, and before any of the Sith on the ground level could react, Arreok emerged from the upper levels, landing between the Sith and the families and pushing the warriors back with a Force repulse.
"Step away from them!" Arreok commanded, T7 beeping with similar resolve as he came up beside him. The Sith sensed his power and hesitated, particularly when they saw his distinct black-blue lightsaber blade held out defensively.
"My name is Arreok, Battlemaster of the Jedi Order and slayer of Emperor Vitiate and Darth Malgus. I don't want to kill anyone, but I won't let you harm these innocents."
Several Sith began to back off when suddenly, Torman reignited his lightsaber and cut down two of his own warriors.
"Kill the Jedi, or die." His cold-machine voice filled the Sith Warriors trembling fear and they all came for Arreok. The Jedi Battlemaster held them off, using a combination of lightsaber blows and Force powers as he cut the Sith down one by one until his companions leaped down to join him.
As the miraluka slew two more Sith marauders he threw his lightsaber in front of him just in time to halt Tormen's blade. Arreok had seen many forgone Sith, but Tormen was among the worst. What little biological material remained was driven by an almost primal emotion and drive, but controlled by the machinery surrounding him.
Arreok knew now that his foe would never surrender and with that knowledge he held nothing back. The Jedi Master and cyborg Sith exchanged thunderous blows, each enhanced by telekinetic force power. Tormen's augmentations and raw Force power impressed Arreok, who was pushed onto the defensive more than once.
The cyborg Sith thrust his hand forward and tried to hurl Arreok backward, but the Jedi only slid back slightly, remaining on his feet and struck back. Tormen attempted to do the same, but instead flew back, crashing through a column and landing behind it.
Despite this, the Sith pureblood came back as if nothing happened and shook the ground as he made contact with Arreok again. The Jedi Battlemaster's soresu form held against Tormen's brutal Juyo, and once he had a good reading on him, Arreok shifted to djem so, countering the cyborg's lightsaber blows until finally getting his opening. With a swift slash, he cut all the way through Torman's stomach. When he passed, it felt less like death and more like a machine going offline.
The Jedi master sighed, feeling sympathy for the Sith who'd been nothing short of a slave. He turned back to see his strike team standing over the defeated Sith Warriors and trying to calm the terrified families.
Rytha, however, knelt over a dying Master Hulas, tears in her eyes.
"Master." She muttered, shaking as she held his body.
"It's alright, Rytha. There is no death, only the Force."
The woman clenched her eyes shut, barely containing a flood of tears.
"Thank you, for saving me from the Dark Side."
"You saved yourself Rytha." At that, Master Hulas vanished into thin air, becoming one with the Force.
Arreok understood Rytha's pain, he too watched his master die. But took solace knowing he lived on through the Force. Coming closer, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
Rytha wiped away her tears and stood up, looking back at the families.
"He didn't die in vain."
"No, he didn't."
Back in orbit, the Republic task force had taken the advantage over the Imperials. Nuhr continued to lead his squadron, pushing more and more of the enemy fighters back and clearing a path for the Republic ships to maneuver.
"Bombers ready!" A flight leader shouted over the comm-channel.
The cathar nodded, and reaching out with the Force, guided his fighters through a defensive screen of Supremacy fighters. Slowly but efficiently, they opened up a hole and gave their sledgehammer bombers a straight at Gravus's flagship and two destroyers.
The three ships tried desperately to shoot them down, but were still engaging three of the Thrantas and the Guardian. Without fighter cover and their turrets unable to concentrate fire, the three Imperial ships suffered a horrible bombardment from the bombers, overloading the shields and tearing through the hulls. By the time the sledgehammers pulled away, the destroyers and dreadnought were covered in deep breaches from the explosions with most of their weapons either destroyed or disabled.
"That's it, move in!" Admiral Werth Barked. The Guardian broke off from Gravus's flagship with two of its support Thrantas. Together, they joined the other Valor and three Thrantas before rushing the remaining Imperial ships in a head on assault.
Zenith and the others watched in delight as both Valors encircled the remaining Harrower, pounding it on both sides with broadside attacks. Similarly, five of the task force's six Thrantas moved in close to overwhelm the three destroyers with their numbers.
Back on his side, Nuhr saw the Termis defense fleet join their sixth Thranta in an attack on the three mauled Imperial ships.
"Give us cover, we're going after Gravus." Nuhr commanded.
"Yes!" Qyzen growled.
Carefully guiding his Defender, Nuhr went straight for the bridge of Gravus's flagship and fired three concussion missiles in the exterior, blowing open a hole just big enough to cover with his ship.
Rising to his feet, the Jedi master led his companions to the entry ramp and ignited his emerald-green lightsaber. Nadia ignited a double-bladed green saber while the others drew their weapons.
As soon as the ramp lowered, Nuhr unleashed a thunderous wave of telekinetic Force power that sent a dozen Imperial marines who lay in wait flying backward and into the walls. Zenith and Tharan opened up on the other marines and crewmen while Qyzen cut them down with his techblade.
Nuhr advanced into the bridge with Nadia close behind and deflected several incoming blaster bolts, responding with pulses of telekinetic force power that hurled the crewmen off their feet.
Nadia quickly shifted her attention to a human Sith apprentice who lunged at her side, narrowly deflecting the blade before entering a fierce duel with her.
Nuhr was about to help his padawan when three more Sith revealed themselves. One lunged at the Jedi Master with his lightsaber while the others unleashed force lightning. Remaining centered, Nuhr blocked the Sith warrior's blow and then pushed him back, reaching out with his offhand to absorb the incoming lightning.
Once contained he sent it back into the first sorcerer and then projected three pieces of burning debris into the second, killing them both. The warrior made another go at Nuhr only to get cut down after three exchanges.
"Darth Gravus." Nuhr turned to the aging Sith Lord who stood in the command walkway. Venomous hate filled the older human man as he gripped his crimson lightsaber so tightly his knuckles turned pink.
"Wretched Jedi! You have stolen my triumph!"
"It's over Gravus, your invasion has failed." Gravus slowly began to smile when he saw Nuhr's face and then actually started laughing.
"You're a cathar. I killed your people in the thousands on Taris, they came there with hopes and dreams of making it their new home, but they only found death and destruction. That makes you mad, yes, let the hate flow through you."
Nuhr didn't let Gravus get under his skin and showed no signs of rage, only peace and dedication.
"Don't make me kill you, Gravus, surrender and your life will be spared."
The smile vanished from Gravus's face and he snarled.
"No, you will die!" He raced towards Nuhr, his speed enhanced by the Force. Raising his lightsaber, Nuhr parried each of Gravus's blows, maintaining a defensive stance before finally striking back. In one blow, he cut the Sith Lord's lightsaber hilt in half.
Gravus jumped backward, barely avoiding Nuhr's blade. With growing hatred in his eyes, he channeled the power of the Dark Side and unleashed a storm of blue force lightning towards the Jedi Master. Nuhr deactivated his lightsaber and reaching out with both hands, he contained the force lightning, then dispersed it harmlessly to the side.
Before Gravus could attack again, Nuhr channeled his own power and unleashed a turbulence that lifted the Sith Lord off his feet and sent him sprawling to the hard metal floor.
"It's over, you have lost!" Nuhr almost growled. Gravus panted, looking around to see Nadia had killed his apprentice, his bridge crew lay dead, his task force was in ruins, and he could sense the deaths of his Sith warriors on the surface.
It was over, a lifetime of clawing his way up the Sith political hierarchy, making allies, and carefully choosing his battles, the chance to sit on the Dark Council, all gone. Gravus nearly lost the ability to breathe, and hate filled every bit of his essence as he tore into Nuhr with his eyes.
"So that's it then, you'll take me to one of your enclaves where I'll learn the ways of the Light and become a Jedi?" He sneered in disgust.
"Perhaps one day. But first you will go on trial and answer for your war crimes on Taris."
Gravus almost laughed.
"At least tell me this Jedi, how did you know I would attack your enclave? Did you sense a premonition in the Force?"
Nuhr nodded, but only slightly.
"We had sensed a disturbance in the Force, but regarding the exact details, I'm afraid you were betrayed from within."
Gravus's eyes went wide and he trembled as Nuhr sensed a fiery inferno of pure hatred boil up inside the Sith Lord.
"Karrid! Filthy Falleen wretch! Thank you for telling me, Jedi. Now I have enough hate to escape and get revenge!" Rising to his feet, Gravus unleashed another barrage of Force lightning with everything he had left.
Nadia and the others lurched backward, but Nuhr held his ground. The Jedi master reached out and absorbed the incoming lightning, holding it in place as Gravus went still, disbelief in his eyes. With a thrust, Nuhr sent the lightning back and enveloped Gravus, reducing him to ash.
Instead of crying out in victory as Qyzen did, he sighed and shook his head, slowly turning back to the ramp.
"Come."
An hour later, he stood inside the enclave with Arreok, their companions, the other Jedi who'd joined them, Rytha, and several other members of the Jedi enclave. All of them circled around a projected hologram of Grandmaster Satel Shan.
"I sensed the battle even from here on Tython. I'm assuming you were successful."
The two Jedi masters nodded.
"Gravus is dead and his forces defeated." Nuhr reported.
"We saved the enclave and most of its inhabitants. But I'm afraid Master Hulas, a dozen other Jedi, and several padawans lost their lives." Arreok reported with sorrow in his voice.
Grandmaster Satel lowered her head in mourning.
"He is one with the Force now, but he will be missed."
Rytha did her best to maintain her composure, Kira and Praven both offering her support.
"Gravus wouldn't surrender then?"
"No, he gave me no choice." Nuhr's voice was filled with regret, but the others knew he would've taken Gravus prisoner if he had the chance.
"Many Sith don't."
"Indeed." Praven said, chiming in. One or two of the other enclave Jedi, who'd also been former Sith, nodded.
"The enclave and those inside are safe, that's what matters most. Rytha, you have my sincere condolences."
"Thank you grandmaster. Master Hulas was a great man, when he found me, I was a fugitive Sith acolyte marked for death. He gave me a second chance."
"Rytha has spent much of her life here training former Sith, she showed great courage and skill during the battle, and learned from Master Hulas himself. I can think of no one better to run this enclave." Arreok said, taking the human Jedi by surprise.
"She was his right hand." Another of the enclave's Jedi added with growing enthusiasm.
"That settles it then." Satel said.
"Indeed, Jedi Rytha, you are hereby granted the rank of Master and appointed the head of Termis II's Jedi enclave." Nuhr said. The various Jedi around Master Rytha all smiled and bowed their heads, even Arreok, Nuhr, and Satel.
Rytha herself trembled for a moment, but then stood firm and bowed back.
"I will honor my Master's legacy and show the Sith the path to the light."
Kira and Arreok both exchanged tender smiles before the same disturbance in the force reached the miraluka and Cathar Jedi masters. Both turned to each other with foreboding expressions.
"I sensed it too." Satel said, holding her head as if suffering a migraine. This meant only one thing, the attack on Termis II wasn't what they sensed. The real terror was about to begin.