Answers to reviews:
Arch-Angel-Writer: I'll see what I can do, that is another one of my favourite Star Wars fan films.
Spiral-Voltron-Zero0Q1: Thanks.
Ryu Otsutsuki: I always love putting in references or quotes from the movies.
Spectacular Webhead 11: Like Revan, he'll be neither Jedi or Sith.
Jayden was currently in his ship, the Rogue Shadow, preparing to take off to the Separatist prison known as the Citadel where a Jedi Master by the name of Even Piell is imprisoned after being captured due to the information he possesses, Jayden, with his mask on, went to go to the meditate and had just entered his room...
Only to see Ahsoka on his ship.
"Ahsoka?!" Jayden blurted out in shock and surprise, as well as confusion as to how she was here and had gotten onto his ship. The Togruta girl suddenly looked up at the mention of her name and started when she saw Jayden sitting there and reflexes kicked in.
"GYAAHH!" She screamed, leaping away. Lightsaber flying into her hand, her green blade ignited. "Jayden?! What are you...?" She made to slash at him. Jayden instinctively grabbed his Lightsabers to block the incoming strike, but as soon as it looked like her blade made contact with him, she vanished.
On Ahsoka's end, she finished her swing only to realize that she had struck nothing and that Jayden was nowhere to be seen. "Doing... here...?" She trailed off, completely and utterly confused. Giving her head a shake she looked around her room, performing a quick three-sixty only to find herself completely alone and totally confused. She deactivated her Lightsaber, left dazed and shocked by what had just transpired.
Back on Jayden's end, he stood and looked around in confusion at what just happened. "Okay...that was weird. The Force is really being a mystery right now and I don't know whether that's a good thing or bad thing."
Deciding to brush these thoughts off, Jayden went to meditate.
Jayden was flying the Rogue Shadow to the Citadel prison. Setting the autopilot, Jayden stood and walked to his quarters to grab his Lightsabers. Upon entering, he saw the two attached Sabers at his bedside table and grabbed it, clipping it to his belt before he paused, getting the feeling that he was no longer alone. The same sixth sense was running hot once more and Jayden turned to see Ahsoka again, standing in her room this time. And just like the last time, it was like a portal had opened that allowed Jayden and her to become connected across space and time.
"Now this is weird." Jayden spoke, getting her attention. "At least you aren't swinging your Lightsaber at me again." Ahsoka whirled about to face him, just as surprised as last time, but took his advice and did not immediately attack him.
"W-W-What's going on?" She asked with a stammer, obviously startled.
"I'm not sure myself." Jayden said as he eyed her underneath his mask. "You can't be doing this, the effort would kill you. What is this? This...is something else."
Ahsoka shook her head. "I don't know what it is. I was just sitting alone in my quarters when this... link opened up. Both this time and the last time." She explained. Both of them were surprised by the suddenness of this moment. First Jayden was alone in his quarters and then Ahsoka was suddenly sitting right there in front of him, on her own bed in the Jedi Temple. Ahsoka herself was left wondering why she was seeing Jayden in his quarters all of a sudden, and in such vivid clarity.
This was clearly the Force's doing somehow.
"I-I think this is a vision. I can see you and hear you, but I know I'm not there." Ahsoka tried to explain.
"Are you okay?" Jayden asked with concern, getting her attention. "After Mortis, I mean."
Ahsoka cleared her throat. "Yeah, I'm just... recovering. Can't remember much."
"Same here." Jayden said, though he could remember a few things such as Ahsoka being killed and the rage that he felt. He remembered meeting Revan, Bastila and Satele Shan. "I'm... glad you are okay."
Ahsoka smiled a bit, feeling rather flattered at his words. But one thing crept up in her mind, when she and Jaydenw ere on Mortis... she kissed him on his mask. It was a hasty decision, one she had no control over. It made her wonder... "Jayden,, c-can I ask you something?" He nodded after a few seconds of silence. "Do... do you love me?"
Jayden took a step back at her question, finding himself lost for words right now. Sure he liked her. But this whole experience... it had exposed the depths of his feelings for her and he knew them well enough. But how would she respond?
He didn't know. He didn't know what to say or think. He himself hadn't had time to process this either. He needed time to sort this all out as well as his feelings, but the past few days have been stressing, especially with the events on Mortis despite not remembering much of it.
He just wasn't ready to profess it to her.
"Ahsoka... I..." He paused as he tried to find something to say before he sighed. "I need to go. I'm needed somewhere."
With that, he walked away and disappeared from Ahsoka's perspective, leaving her alone with her question unanswered and hanging in the air.
But to her, his hesitation to respond was an answer all by itself.
Later...
Lola Sayu wasn't much to look at.
The planet was mostly barren and sulfurous, half of it missing after some cataclysm in the planet's past had done away with the land of the lower hemisphere. It's sulfuric core glowed bright yellow, offsetting the dull purple of the rest of the world's crust. As much as the lava flows and fiery pools of molten rock were colourful, they were the only attractive part of this whole place. The rest was just boring, uninviting spacerock.
But Jayden wasn't here for scenery. He had a job to do.
The Rogue Shadow landed in the middle of the courtyard where the Phindian warden Osi Sobeck was waiting with a pair of commando droids and his tactical droid K2-B4. The ramp lowered and not a second later, Jayden was striding down it with purpose. He looked around as his expressionless masked caused fear and unease to seep into the Warden.
"Lord Khan, this is an unexpected pleasure. I am honoured by your presence." Sobeck greeted with a bow as Jayden strides forward, waving a hand dismissively.
"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Warden. I am here to see the Jedi prisoner you have." Jayden said, having no liking for pleasantries and sucks ups. Sobeck walked next to Jayden as the droids followed.
"I assure you, Lord Khan, my droids are working as fast as they can to interrogate the information out of him." Sobeck said, a little miffed the Sith had to come personally to get the information needed.
"Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them." Jayden said darkly as they entered the prison. "if I must I will personally tear through the Jedi's mind and find the information. Anything else I should know?"
"Y-Yes, Lord Khan." Sobeck said, causing Jayden's expressionless mask to turn to him. Sobeck gulped a little at seeing the dark visor staring at him. "The Jedi's captain, a man by the name of Tarkin, may also hold the coordinates to the Nexus Route."
Jayden knew the name from Republic crew manifests, but had never seen the man in person.
"I understand you captured the bridge crew as well." He added, quickly performing a mental review of what he would need to successfully complete this interrogation.
"We did. Why do you ask?"
"Depending on the kind of man Tarkin is, I might be able to use his crew against him." Jayden responded, the gears turning as one of the oldest interrogation tactics came to fruition. "If he cares for them, they'll be perfect for leverage." Sobeck chuckled darkly.
"And if not?" Sobeck questioned. Jayden didn't pause in his pace as he replied.
"Then there will be corpses to dispose of."
Jayden was ushered into Citadel Command; a large room dedicated to overseeing every aspect of the prison, with multiple AV feeds put on display through a single network, allowing Warden Sobeck to see and hear everything as it happened. The masked Sith Lord watched as Sobeck continued over to one of the monitors.
"I have Piell and his men under constant surveillance." Sobeck stated, gesturing to a particular screen that display Piell being tortured by a commando droid wielding an electrostaff while an EV-series interrogator droid looked on. "I wish to savour every second of their pain-filled existence."
Jayden said nothing as he merely stared and crossed his arms. After minutes of silence, he asked. "Where is Tarkin's cell?"
"Adjacent to Even Piell, along with the rest of his bridge crew." Sobeck told him, highlighting the cell on a nearby holomap. "Feel free to do as you please. I'll be watching." He added with a sadistic grin.
Jayden said nothing and merely turned and walked away, venturing into the maze of corridors that was the Citadel. He walked in silence with the only thing coming from him were the sound of his boots which echoed. He moved at a determined pace, eager to begin his interrogation.
The cell arrived all too soon and Jayden rolled his shoulders as he made ready to enter, slipping a piece of tech into his left hand. Hopefully his reputation alone would be enough to force the information out of Tarkin. But in the face of certain doom, natural resiliency could toughen up to a point where not even he could break these men.
Entering the cell, Jayden stomped down into the cell as the Republic officers looked up first in surprise and then in fear. The two commando droids on either side of the cell's access stairs turned to face the Sith but said nothing. Quickly scanning the room, the Sith laid eyes on an older officer sitting off to one side, with silver streaks in his hair that he recognized from report portfolios.
Walking forward with his hands behind his back. Jayden stopped before Tarkin and looked down at him. "The Nexus Route coordinates... give them to me." He demanded calmly, choosing a calm approach until he is forced to use less...civil means.
"General Piell never gave me the coordinates!" Tarkin retorted. "I've already told you this-"
Tarkin was cut off when he began to be choked by an invisible force. Jayden merely stared as he used the Force to silence Tarkin before eventually releasing him and causing the man to cough and breath in air.
"I see the Separatists called in some additional help apart from the local Warden." Tarkin noted with a cough as he gathered his senses. "But it is all in vain. General Piell will never give up the coordinates and you are interrogating the wrong man." He stated.
"We shall see." Jayden said as he turned from Tarkin and walked over to Tarkin's crew, eyeing them as they stared up at him in fear, having heard of his repuation and the many he has killed, Jedi and Clone alike. Without another word, Jayden unleashed Force Lightning on the nearest officer, causing him to scream in pain as the others stared in shock and horror. Eventually Jayden stopped. "A Jedi or Sith can withstand such power thanks to the Force...but one who isn't trained in such, they can die so easily. So make this easier for your crew, Tarkin, and tell me the coordinates." Jayden continued to torture the officer with Force Lightning, taking a sense of pleasure in his screams.
"Stop!" Tarkin demanded, rising to his feet. Jayden stopped his torture and looked at him "I swear to you... I give you my word as an officer of the Republic, I do not know the Nexus Route coordinates and neither do my crew!"
"Your word means nothing to me." Jayden said as he walked over to Tarkin, towering over the older man. "I will find those coordinates soon enough. If not from you then from Piell. He will break, given time."
"Jedi never break." Tarkin stated defiantly, although to Jayden there didn't seem to be much stock in his words.
"Then he will die. As will you and your crew if you do not give me what I want." Jayden said before he lifted his hand with his palm opened and began to mind prob Tarkin who grunted and closed his eyes as Jayden easily began to invade his mind. Jayden then forced his way in as Tarkin screamed in pain from being mentally attacked with the Force. But it gave Jayden what he wanted...well half of them anyway.
It would seem Piell and Tarkin memorized half of the coordinates apiece.
That being done, Jayden left the cell and reflected on what he had learned from Tarkin. The man was stubborn, but his threat and presence might've been enough to unnerve him a little. He could keep this up for as long as pleased, though, and he would fulfill his threat to Tarkin. But he would honour his word and give the Captain a moment to consider his offer. If not, that cell would soon be filled with dead bodies.
Jayden returned to the command deck and stood next to the seated Warden, arms crossed. "Tarkin is sure a stubborn man. But willpower can only last so long until less civil means are used to break one's will. The Sith are known for being able to do so."
"He says nothing?" Sobeck wondered in his gravelly voice.
"For now. If he refuses further, then I will kill his crew and rip the information from his very mind." Jayden said, choosing to not speak up about getting Tarkin's half of the coordinates from his head, not until he has the full coordinates. So he'll stick with the ruse that he will eventually interrogate Tarkin's mind.
"Yes... a choice between life and death. Good... very good. Making him suffer mentally..." Sobeck mused, starting to talk to himself. Jayden ignored his bout of insanity and turned to focus on the monitors, scanning over the prison's surveillance systems. There were other systems around the command deck as well, ones designed to deal with exterior issues stemming from the orbital blockade. These were managed by K2-B4, Sobeck's personal tactical droid.
Leaving Sobeck's side, Jayden watched as the droid filed a report about an incoming vessel, dated today. A Sheathipede-class Type B shuttle was entering Lola Sayu's orbit, already cleared by the blockade above. Jayden recognized the design, an elongated version of the craft typically used by elite Separatist officials.
"What's this?" He asked aloud.
"Shuttle Eight One Five Seven Two. Frozen rations." K2 reported in a monotone voice.
"We must feed the prisoners somehow... even if we don't want to." Sobeck added, trailing off. Jayden rolled his eyes as Sobeck started talking to himself again.
The Sith Lord frowned underneath his mask as he felt a disturbance in the Force. He could sense something was...amiss here. He closed his eyes and used the Force to search for the presence he was sensing...or should he say presences?
'Ahsoka, Skywalker, Kenobi...' Jayden thought, able to sense them through the Force. He turned to Sobeck. "The Republic's here."
The Phindian warden whirled about in surprise. "What?!" He exclaimed.
"I know a Jedi's presence when I sense it. Most likely that transport carrying the so-called food rations." He mused, figuring out how the Jedi would be able to sneak onto the prison...yet there was no detection of life forms on the ship unless they had been...frozen in carbonite.
"They have come for their brother!" Sobeck gasped in realization.
"Most likely." Jayden replied.
"Quickly! We must secure the cellblocks, the Jedi must not be freed!" Sobeck declared, scrambling to get the prison's defences online. But as he did, he saw that Jayden hadn't move, remaining stationary. "Are you just gonna stand there?" The warden demanded. "Go and-" He was cut off as he started to choke and clutched his throat.
"Do NOT ever think to command me." Jayden warned. "i will deal with the Jedi in my own way and time. Do not push me, Warden."
Jayden stood in the command center, watching the screens with his arms crossed. He was waiting until the Jedi make a move. He didn't have to wait long though, because a droid soon spoke up.
"Sir, a mine in sector nineteen was just detonated." The droid reported.
"Activate all security protocols! Lock everything down!" He commanded. "Where are my special units?" He demanded of K2.
"They are here, sir." The droid replied. Triggering a door release, a squad of commando droids entered the command deck.
The commando droids were ordered to the corridors where the Republic forces had been detected: the halls nearest Piell's cell. Sobeck was more than ready to unleash a few of the pre-installed traps in the Citadels' hallways, but knew his legions stood a better chance by comparison to the traps alone.
Jayden stood by his side and watched through the monitors as Sobeck unleashed his forces against the invading Republic, spying Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and a crew of Clones attempting to destroy their surveillance monitors but also having to deal with the wall-mounted defense turrets. The turrets were disposed of rather quickly by the Jedi and Sobeck chose now to unleash the first of the Citadel's built-in traps: an electrical grid. The wall of arcing lightning bolts surged down the hallway, the Republic narrowly avoiding the trap save for one unfortunate Clone who suffered a quick death by electrocution.
Watching as the Jedi continued to resist, even when Sobeck's commando droids attacked them, Jayden got fed up with waiting and walked away, Sobeck joining him. Jayden used the Force to search for the minds of Tarkin and his crew...and found them with Skywalker, Kenobi and Ahsoka's. It would seem the Jedi have rescued the bridge crew.
"The Jedi have rescued the bridge crew." Jayden said, causing Sobeck to growl in rage. "Have your legions lock down the corridors... they could be trying to reach the upper levels." Jayden theorized. Knowing the Citadel a bit better than him, Sobeck quickly drew a conclusion.
"They're trying to steal a transport." He surmised. Jayden mulled over his idea and nodded.
"A very distinct probability." He replied, but Sobeck was already giving orders to his droids.
Seal the landing platform and send all battalions to their positions! Bring them back... alive!" He commanded. As he did, Jayden realized a major flaw in his desire to keep his presence a secret and quickly tapped a switch on his gauntlet, remotely triggering his ship's cloaking system so that it would be hidden from Republic view.
"Warden," Jayden stated, drawing his attention, "I suggest you seal off every possible route to the landing platform. We can't afford to have them get anywhere close to freedom." The Phindian nodded.
"A wise suggestion, Lord Khan." He concurred. Just then, both of them were rocked by a violent explosion from somewhere within the prison.
"Are they trying to blow their way out?" Jayden wondered aloud. That was a very bold move.
"No... I will not let them escape!" Sobeck exclaimed, suddenly worried that the Republic might take drastic measures. "Quickly! Back to the command deck!" He cried, taking off down the hall with Jayden hot on his heels...
That's it for part 1 of the Citadel arc. Jayden and Ahsoka's bond has opened through the Force. If you've read the original story, you'll know what their Force bond is, what type I should say.