"ACK!" Kayla grunted as she was knocked on her back.
"Enough," said, Revanite Master Hunter, Johnric Blocris.
Kayla took off her blindfold and looked up at, fellow hunter, Jamiric Harlac, who was holding out a hand to her. Kayla let out a sigh and let Jamiric help her up.
"Refresh my memory, why blindfold yourself again?" he asked.
"My father was a Miraluka, I'm trying to train myself to use the Force as a second pair of eyes," said Kayla, "unfortunately… Given that I've had to use my eyes for most of my life, it's like trying to teach an akk dog a new trick."
"That's because you're too anxious Miss Abaven," said Johnric, "when you get anxious, your connection to the Force becomes strained and you leave yourself vulnerable to attack. Perhaps it may be best-"
Johnric stopped when he saw Suki came into the training room.
"I hope you have a good reason for coming in unannounced, young one," he said.
"I just came to give Kayla the good news, your brother is open eyed," Suki said with a smile on her face.
Kayla gasped and nearly dropped her newly constructed saberstaff.
"M-Master, may I?" she asked.
Johnric let out a sigh.
"Alright… But only because this is your brother," he said.
Suki led Kayla to Vaukel. Kayla beamed, seeing her brother sitting by his healing pod.
"Vaukel!" she chirped as she raced over to him.
Vaukel turned and gave her a warm smile as he stood up.
"Hey Kay-OOF!" he grunted as Kayla jumped into his arms and gave him a big hug, "by the Force… I thought you'd never wake up…"
"K-K-Kayla… You're squeezing me to hard," he groaned.
"Oops, sorry," she said, letting go.
Vaukel let out a weak chuckle.
"I didn't realize your brother was plagued with so many nightmares," Suki said as she walked over and showed the oily black healing fluid inside of the pod, "I didn't want to tell you this… But while your brother was undergoing his treatment… I had to drain his pod at least nine times."
Kayla gave Suki a shocked expression. She looked at Vaukel.
"…If you would've seen what I had seen while I was on the run," he said slowly.
Kayla gave Vaukel a somber expression.
"Hey, hey, don't give me that look," he said with another chuckle.
"Vaukel… You could've told me, you were in that much pain," she said.
"I didn't want you to worry… No… I didn't want you to feel guilty for being a part of that pain," he said as he pat her on the head, "the Clone War was my burden… Besides…"
Vaukel hugged Kayla this time.
"I'm just glad to see you're all bubbly and lively," he said.
Kayla smiled and hugged her brother back. When Vaukel pulled away, he got a good look at his younger stepsibling and blinked a few times.
"And… You seemed to not have aged a day," he said.
"This planet is essentially a nexus of Force Energy," said Suki, "somehow, despite the clouds being all dark and stormy, the planet manages to sustain life on the surface. Some of the High Masters still haven't figured out how this system manages to pull it off, blasted odd."
"I'll tell you what's odd, that Kayla managed to fill out in the right places aside from not growing up," Vaukel said as he cupped her, now-ample breasts.
"STOP THAT!" she snapped, jumping back, and covering herself.
"Heh, sorry," he said, blushing and scratching the back of his head.
Just then, Kayla let out a squeak.
"Oh wow, he's not wrong," she said, kneading Kayla's ass cheeks like bread dough, "you did manage to fill out in the right places."
Suki squeezed Kayla's thighs.
"I'm actually kind of jealous-"
THWACK!
"If I tell my brother no, that means no to you too," Kayla said firmly after chopping the Mirialan on the head.
"Owie," she whimpered.
"Ah, it sounds like someone had made a full recovery," said Aavok.
Vaukel turned.
"I trust my assistant was of good help to you," he said.
Vaukel looked at Suki, then he looked at the Miraluka.
"…Yes," he said, "yes she was."
Suki smiled.
"Glad to hear it," Aavok said with a smile.
"Well… I should… Probably get back to my classes," said Kayla, "catch you later, bro!"
Kayla hurried off.
/\/\/\/\/\
High Master Malakam entered The Grandmaster's chambers and saw the Revanite leader standing at the window.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked.
"Is the fleet ready?" he asked.
"Yes Grandmaster," said Malakam, "the troops are on standby and waiting to board. The Hunter Fleets have both their supplies and troops onboard and ready to take off."
"Good," said The Grandmaster.
He looked back at the Revanite High Master.
"Send word to High Master Kisuey," he said, "have all Revanite Master Hunters take their students and board their ships, at once."
Malakam's eyes started to get wide.
"You mean?" he asked.
The Grandmaster nodded.
"The hour is nigh," he said.
Malakam gave a nod and departed. The Grandmaster looked back out the window.
"At last, our goal shall be achieved," he thought, "at last, the Republic… The Empire… The Jedi… And the Sith… Shall die."
/\/\/\/\/\
Kayla was knocked on her back.
"Enough," said Johnric.
Kayla slowly got up.
"Ugh… You know what? Maybe I could use some proper training," she groaned as she got up.
Just then, Johnric heard his holo-com go off. The Revanite Master answered it, revealing a projection of a male Miraluka Revanite High Master.
"Johnric… We have our orders," said Kisuey, "gather your students and bring them to the ships. We're heading to imperial space."
Johnric's eyes went wide.
"You mean… It's time?" he asked.
"Aye," said Kisuey.
Johnric gave a nod.
"At once, High Master," he said.
He ended the transmission. Johnric turned to face the students training under him. A lot of them stopped sparring with one another to look over at their master, both with concern and confusion, seeing the look on his face.
"What is it, Master?" asked a Miraluka Hunter.
"…Everyone collect your belongings and head to the ships," he said, "we've been given the green light."
"Green light?" asked Kayla.
Johnric nodded.
"We're going to imperial space," he said, "Operation Zero is now in effect."
And just like that, the Revanite Hunters erupted in cheers, except for Kayla, who had a confused look on her face.
"Jamiric, what's Operation Zero?" she asked.
The other hunter looked at Kayla, with a big smile on his face.
"The long-awaited crusade, Kayla," he said, "today we're going to wipe out both the rebel alliance and the empire."
Kayla went silent for a moment, but then she spoke.
"Oh…" she said.
"Better hurry, we don't want to be late," said Jamiric.
"Late? Why would be late?" asked Kayla.
"Patience, child," Johnric said as he approached the students, "everything will be explained once you're aboard. Now off with you."
Jamiric gave a nod and hurried off. Kayla got ready to hurry off too when her master stopped her.
"Kayla…" he said.
Kayla stopped and looked over at him.
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
"…Yes master," she said before taking off.
Kayla headed to her quarters and grabbed everything she would need: Her new armor, her visor, her vibroknife, and her V-S34 Blaster Pistol. Though she tried to keep her thoughts in check, the truth is that Kayla was very worried; it seemed like only yesterday that she went into imperial space so she could help the Revanites recruit Mandalorian warriors to their cause, now she was about to go back again.
However, unlike Revan and his ally, Malak, she would not be returning as a conqueror; but as a liberator, just like every other member of the order. But the question remained… Would her mother see her as a liberator? A conqueror? Or something else? Kayla frowned and shook her head.
"Shake it off Kayla, you're not the same girl who was a slave to the dark side and… the 'daughter' of a dark lord of the Sith," she thought, "you're something greater. You're a Hunter, and it's time to free the galaxy from the Alliance and the Empire."
With her things packed, Kayla grabbed her bags and went to go meet the other hunters to board the ships. Kayla gasped. She had never seen so many hunters… So many assassins in one place.
"I don't think even the empire had this many Inquisitors," she thought.
Kayla looked up to see what kind of ship she would be boarding, and her eyes went wide. She remembered her father letting her come with him so she could see some of the ships that were under his command whenever he came home, and the ship before her looked like an Acclamator-class Assault ship, however, the bridge lacked the long spire-like-neck, making it appear more streamlined.
"What is this?" she asked, "I've never seen a ship like this before."
"It's a Jump Ship… Of sorts," said a male hunter, "it was provided to us by the Qeildral, this ship is capable of jumping to light speed much faster than traditional star ships and comes with a specialized energy shield that blocks long range sensors so they can't pick up on our entry. Put it all together and you get the Manta-class Jump Ship."
"Wow…," said Kayla.
The hunters and their masters boarded the jump ships, Kayla looked around in awe at how sleek and advanced the vessel was.
"Thank goodness the empire doesn't have something like this," she thought.
"Everyone go get settled in," said Johnric, "once we get into the air and make the jump, you'll be briefed on what's going on."
"Yes master," said his students.
The hunters headed off to their rooms.
"Helmsman, take us up," ordered Johnric.
"Aye sir," said the helmsman.
The jump ship's engines fired up and the vessels were taken into the air. As the hunters headed to their area of the ship, Kayla noticed a few squads of soldiers moving through the ship. Kayla raised an eyebrow when she took a look at their attire, they seemed to wear little to no armor, similar to the operatives of imperial intelligence.
"Who are those guys?" she asked.
"Infiltrators," said another hunter, "Revanite Special Forces."
"I thought this ship was meant only for us," said Kayla, "are these guys going to be helping us or something?"
"Oh, that all depends," said, Revanite Hunter, Jairus.
"On?" asked Kayla.
"Who's going to be teamed with who and who's going to be running solo," said Jairus, "we hunters are usually paired up in groups of two, three or four when being deployed on missions. When we're sent out alone, we go out with the infiltrators."
By the time the hunters got to their rooms and got settled in, the jump ships had just left Erus's atmosphere and were preparing to make the jump to light speed, all twenty-five jump ships in total.
"Master Johnric, all jump ships are in position and are preparing to make the jump to light speed," said the helmsman.
"Lock in coordinates," Johnric ordered as he sat down in his chair.
"Coordinates locked," said the helmsman.
"Punch it," ordered Johnric.
The jump ships took off. Back at the citadel, Malakam went to go speak with The Grandmaster.
"Grandmaster, the hunters have made the jump," he said.
"…It's time," he said.
The Grandmaster walked over to his desk and punched in a code on his holocom, revealing an image of an Imperial Stormtrooper Commander.
"Harbinger One," he said, "the liberation of the galaxy has begun. Operation Zero, is in effect."
The stormtrooper was quiet for a moment, then he gave a nod.
"By your command," he said.
The transmission ended. The Grandmaster made another call, this time to a member of the Rebel Alliance.
"Harbinger Two," he said, "Operation Zero, is in effect."
"It will be done," said the Rebel Trooper.
/\/\/\/\/\
Kayla followed the rest of the hunters to the jump ship hanger bay, where Master Johnric was waiting for them. Not only was he there though, but the hunters also saw a holo-image of the High Master Hunter, who was broadcasting his briefing to all the other jump ships while onboard his flagship, the Dorin Shadow.
"Now that you are all here, High Master Kisuey can begin the briefing," said Johnric.
High Master Kisuey gave a silent nod of appreciation to Johnric.
"Hunters… Blades of Revan… You have all been training your entire lives for this moment, even after completing your training, some of you still continued to train and keep your skills sharp for this day… This very special day," he said, "the liberation of the galaxy and the annihilation of both the rebellion and the galactic empire."
Some of the hunters murmured amongst themselves. Some of them had smiles on their faces and bumped fists with one another. The High Master Hunter pulled up a holo-map of the galaxy.
"The Grandmaster has informed me of the destruction of the Galactic Empire's second Death Star and the fall of the Sith Emperor and his Apprentice, as of now, the Galactic Empire is in a state of chaos and the rebellion had dropped its guard," said Kisuey.
Kayla felt a chill go up her spine.
"Second Death Star? Lord Vader and the Emperor… Dead!?" she thought, "…how long was I gone?"
"As you can see, the Harbingers have already begun their attacks within each faction, creating more chaos and providing us with the cover that we need to slip in and deploy each of you to our respective destinations," said Kisuey, "I understand that some of you might be anxious to be sent in first, but rest assured, you are all being sent in for a good reason."
The High Master Hunter pulled up a list. A list of locations, followed by a mix of targets from both the Rebellion and the Empire, targets that were marked to be taken alive or to be assassinated.
"The targets you see before you must either be silenced or taken alive… However, those who serve under them must be silenced with extreme prejudice," said Kisuey, "the Grandmaster believes that these individuals will likely be taken somewhere for protection or be given mobile protection so they can't be tracked. You must hunt down these targets before they have a chance to vanish and leave no trace."
Kayla looked on the list. She didn't see her mother.
"With the Rebellion and Empire fighting each again and us moving in to deploy you lot to the field amidst the chaos, they will be unprepared for when the main force comes in from the Outer Rim territories," said Kisuey, "if everything goes according to plan, we'll be able to wipe out the Rebellion and Empire while they are confused and in disarray."
"Coming in from the Outer Rim? Wait, so does that mean we'll be dropped in the middle of the chaos?" thought Kayla.
"Be swift, strike fast, and give your enemies no quarters young hunters," said Kisuey.
The High Master Hunter ignited his lightsaber and raised it into the air.
"For the Grandmaster! For Revan!" he roared.
"For the Grandmaster! For Revan!" roared the hunters.
The transmission ended.
"Do not take off yet," Johnric said as he pulled out a holo-pad, "now comes the fun part."
"The fun part?" whispered Kayla.
"This is where we'll see who gets grouped up and who goes solo," whispered a male hunter.