Last time: Viran and Oppie talked about what will happen when the baby arrives.
Now: It's time to save Sasha!
Chapter 7- Storming the Bloodstorm
The Bloodstorm grew out the front of the cockpit as they approached it, Viran piloting them in, Oppie in the co-pilot's seat. Kyr and Cien had stepped into the small space that was available to stand behind the two seats.
"SCT-1347 transmit clearance code for docking procedures." A voice called them over the comline.
"Transmitting," Viran responded over the comline before muting it. He looked over his shoulder at the others. "I hope this works." He then transmitted the clearance code.
"Just fly casual." Kyr commented behind him. Oppie threw a glance at him and then looked back at the huge star destroyer.
Viran smirked at that comment. "Flying casual is what I do best."
"Code accepted." The controller called back. "Landing bay is clear, sending approach vector."
Viran unmuted the comline. "Copy that," he responded before muting the comline again. "Alright buckle up everyone, we're going in." He then pushed forward on the throttle following the approach vector they were given.
"Showtime." Kyr smirked, looking over at Cien as he put his buy'ce on. Together they turned and walked back to the rear compartment again, the Sith troopers falling in line behind her. Kyr grabbed his carbine and inspected it as they approached the ramp beside each other. Cien unclipped her lightsaber, and the Sith troopers formed up around them, adopting overlapping fields of fire for when the ramp would open.
Oppie walked in as well, his two sabers unclipped and in his hands. "Viran says thirty seconds until we've landed."
Then they could feel the ship's landing gear extend as the ship touched down within the hanger. A moment later, Viran approached with his lightsaber in his hand. He gestured to the controls of the ramp as he approached.
"Someone care to do the honors?" Viran offered.
One of the Sith troopers repositioned slightly and slammed the button, and the ramp descended with what felt like all the speed of cold molasses as they all tensed. As the ramp lowered, it revealed the inside of the hanger. Several flight crew members and maintenance workers were meandering around, working on small jobs. One of the flight crew members noticed the ramp lower and then who was inside.
"Intruders!" The crew member shouted, alerting the single squad of Ikari's Sith troopers.
The troopers turned from where they were positioned by the exit to the hangar and rushed over. They raised their blasters and started laying down blaster fire upon the ramp. Even a few of the flight crew joined in blasting at the ramp. The maintenance crew took cover and hid from the fighting as they were not trained for something like this.
Kyr and the Sith troopers, already prepared for the ramp opening, shot the troopers down with their own precise blaster fire. What few blaster bolts did make it to them were cast aside with the lightsabers of the two Jedi and the Sith. They rushed down the ramp, and secured their position.
"Which way?" Oppie asked Cien.
"This way." She said, taking off at a sprint across the deck, and the rest of the party followed.
The blast doors closed on the hanger doors that led to the rest of the ship. Kyr and the troopers fanned out, their rifles pointing across the deck behind them as the three Force users stopped at the door.
"Together?" Oppie said, looking to Cien and Viran
"Yeah, let's do it," Viran said with a nod.
On the other side of the blast door, in the corridor that led on to the various compartments that were near the hangar and out beyond to the ship, a squad of twelve Sith troopers readied themselves to repel the boarders. They heard a shriek of metal, and the horrifying sound of the blast door buckling, and they saw it fold outwards, towards them, as if some great giant was trying to punch its way through. Another resounding impact, and the door buckled, breaking the seal and letting the light from the hangar stream through, and the terrifying sound of the hum of multiple lightsabers. With another push, the door finally buckled outward towards them, as if the thick durasteel was peeled back. The two Jedi and the Sith stood there, their arms outstretched, their sabers glowing. The troopers opened fire, and their withering storm of fire was deflected back at them, a trooper flew backward from the power of the Force unleashed upon him from a Jedi, and the last trooper, desperately trying to survive died in a cloud of an electric storm as his former Empress spared him not even a glance as the three ran past, followed closely behind by three of his own former comrades and the copper plated Mandalorian.
Mendax's commlink buzzed to life as he stood beside Ikari in the throne room. Picking up the comm from his belt, he brought it to his lips and activated it.
"Mendax here," he answered.
"Sir! There are intruders in the hangar! One of them is the former Empress!" A distressed voice said from the other side of the comm.
"So Cien found the Jedi's friends and brought them here," Ikari said, amused from her seat. "Mendax, order your men to stand their ground. And bring me our prisoner."
"Of course, My Lady," Mendax said with a villainous smile. He turned his attention back to the commlink. "Send reinforcements and handle those intruders."
"Sir, yes sir, General!" The voice said on the other end before disconnecting.
Mendax then made his way for the door and out towards the cell bay where the Jedi was held captive.
A friendly little whistle piped up on Tac's line. "Tac says he just arrived, he's inbound to the hatch.
"Great." Oppie said as he deflected a blaster bolt, and they worked their way down the corridor.
"Here, Op, catch!" Kyr said as he removed one of the grenades he kept on his sleeve, a small cylinder, activated it and tossed it at Op.
"What?" Oppie's head whipped around, and he used the Force to propel it down the hallway, past where Cien was trying to push up, bounding to the next support beam. The little grenade whizzed by her, and exploded midair in the middle of all the troopers, killing all of them in a spectacular explosion. Cien shot them a glare and kept moving up.
"A little warning next time." Oppie yelled annoyedly as he ran forward.
"I did!" Kyr yelled at him as he ran down the corridor, trying to keep up with the Jedi.
The cell door slammed open, awakening Sasha from her sleep. She looked around in a daze trying to figure out what was going on, but her head was pounding slightly causing her vision to be blurred. Probably from the lack of food and water she had. Once she was able to see clearer she could see that she was back on her bunk and it all came back to her. Sasha had moved to the bunk after she had woken up a few hours ago to see that she was still on the floor. She remembered passing out there after Ikari's last visit, but didn't remember much after that. So Sasha had dragged herself onto the bunk, forced herself to eat another expired ration bar, and then laid down to rest some more. That is until now.
A pair of strong hands grabbed her by her left arm and hauled her into a sitting position.
"Get up, Jedi," Mendax said as Sasha looked around and up at him.
"What's going on?" Sasha asked, her throat dry and scratchy.
"Keep your mouth shut and get up," Mendax ordered forcefully. "The Empress would like to see you."
Sasha was about to respond when he yanked at her arm and pulled her from the bunk. She winced as he held her up by her left arm, the burn on her shoulder protesting the movement. She also winced at her aching body that was struggling to keep her up. Her right leg wobbled under the pressure of all her body weight being upright again as it still hadn't recovered from being dislocated then relocated only hours ago. The rest of her body also shook from heavy fatigue and exhaustion. But Mendax didn't care and wasn't being gentle either. He pulled her towards the door and practically dragged her out of the cell. He pulled her along beside him, the entire way to the throne where Ikari sat waiting for her. And the entire way there, Sasha wondered what was so important to drag her from her cell. Then the thought hit her. Her friends were most likely here which meant she was going to be used as a hostage.
Kyr stacked up at a corner, Cien was behind him. He peeked around. "That way?" He asked back to her. Op and Viran were back behind them, protecting them from a group of troopers that were trying to come up behind them.
"Yes." She said, "down that corridor, then a left."
"Is there usually a crew-serve blaster cannon at the end of the hall?" Kyr asked.
"What?" She peeked her head around the corner, and Kyr pulled her back by the shoulder as a storm of blaster bolts hit her position.
"No." She answered. She then stepped around the corner and brought her saber up, deflecting the onslaught of blaster bolts. "Now would be a good time!" She yelled at him.
Kyr swept around the corner and unleashed his own well aimed shots, taking out the gunner, then the generator the cannon was attached to, and the end of the hallway exploded in a huge fireball.
"We're moving up!" He yelled back at the odd mix of Jedi supporting the Sith troopers, as he tried to keep up with Cien.
The door to the throne room opened and Sasha was dragged forward towards Ikari. Once at the base of the throne steps, Mendax released his grip on her arm. Sasha's knees buckled and she fell to her knees before the throne. She then glared up at Ikari.
"What the hell is going on?" Sasha asked.
"It seems your friends are attempting a rescue," Ikari said, slightly amused at the thought. "But they will fail."
"Then why do you need me?" Sasha asked through a snarl.
Ikari used the Force and brought Sasha to her. She grabbed Sasha by the collar of her tunic. She then smiled at her with a devilish grin. "Because you are my hostage and I know they will surrender to spare your pathetic little life. Now sit down and be quiet."
Ikari released her grip on Sasha, letting her drop back to her knees now at the foot of the throne. She then back handed Sasha causing the cut in her mouth to reopen and for blood to bubble at her lips. Sasha glared up at her then turned her gaze to the door, waiting for her friends.
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