Hello there, everyone! How are you all doing today? Good, I hope. Today is January 8th of 2021, my birthday today, and I am back! That's right, I am SuperHeroTimeFan, and I am here with a brand-new Chapter for my Ahsoka Saga Stories, Journey of the Knight: Honor Bound to kick off the new year! Yes, 2020 wasn't exactly the best year for everyone, but we've all had some positive moments. I can assure you that out of all the things that have sadly ended in 2020, this Story won't be one of them. There is still much to be grateful for, and you can be sure that I will make sure this Story and all others will help brighten the moods of you all, especially for those who have given endless support to me. Thank you all, new and old, my friends, for your support. I hold out my hand to each and every one of you, which includes MinuteMan76, MartyrFan, The Mandalorian Terminator, Jacqueline Karst, Logan GC, FusionBase27A, Ezra Wren, Ultimate Advent Story Dude VII, Eubulon Zenith Extreme, Geo Hikari The 2nd, Cycomatrix Eternal, fire-storm-amagi, Jack Sparrow 475, Hay Lin x Tsukasa Kadoya, Ross Blum the IV, Rebel Sabine Bridger, HarmonyGirl567, Riku Soncazenosee, Dwayne McDuffie, Bowser3000000, animebella09, Slade The Terminator, High Supreme King Of Awesome, Tines Sensahthe, Ultra Neo Kamen Rider 15, Awesometacular Extravaganza, 17lakect, Tristan Riddle, Hodges Jaxon, Tristan Riddle, the conman w, Dark Knight Discord, PHL360, Maximum Rhapsody. Spartan of Chaos, Tristan Riddle, GundamTachiagate, Phily76, WanderingMD, crea9587, dragonslayerajahn, LadySerentity22, Draco91, DJ Meltdown of Ground Xero, Dragon Slayer John, rspendragon, SuperFlarrowLover, Houndini, Just a Crazy-Man, SethBloodFallen, The Dark Warden, Wolfman2010ism, ItsJustABook, StoryBrookFields95, Joey Lumbley, Mr. StrangerMan98, Rebecca Chambers Rules, Sleeping Skeleton, Nibra Ha Rishon, Mr. FNAF Fan-Gamer, LadyStar10, Neos the Final Builder, wolf579, Kat1017, Maniiikz, 1049, Taiski, ToLegitt2Quit, Ronaldm40196867, wtfstarftw, Jack Smith1, Marvel92, RebeccaSnow23, Carlos Jacob, Armando Andres Romero Lozano 7, Wolfslick, CT7567Rules, Outplace, supcus175, TheGreatGodzilla, Darth Sicarius, AbbyDobbie, Maximus Potter, Darth Khan, Virgil1989 The Crossover King, and obviously, all of the Guest Reviewers. Everything you have done to show your support truly touches my heart. It means so much. Now, before I start as usual, let me address what you have said in the reviews. To The Mandalorian Terminator, thank you for your feedback. I assure you, this Chapter will be better than the last one. To T-Bone, I will have to see about the mission chapter that focuses on Serena, Anakin, Obi-Wan and Dooku. It sounds like a lot, so it will take some time to think over. The Ahsoka Tano Day sounds interesting, but like before, I will have to think it over as well. I could try to have the home base set up. As for Plo Koon coming to Earth, I can see that happening. Not too sure about the alternate universe idea, though. Probably not gonna happen. I have planned out everything for the Jedi Temple on Earth, so pass. I could try the chapter that focuses on Mace Windu and Boba Fett, so I'll give it some thought. The anniversary chapter is something I'll need to think about, as does the idea of the enhanced suits. And as usual, thank you for the news on everything Star Wars and DC too. It really helps. Now, with all questions answered, here is my newest Chapter! Please feel free to review, rate, and be sure to enjoy!
Chapter 35: Age of Malice
Fate is never set in stone.
Crisis strikes! A once-small insurgence for control of the Planet of Shei'Ten Kar turns into a mass-scale invasion of the Shadow Collective. Having been alerted, both sides of the Shadow Collective respond to fend off against the Forces of the Dark Side, with assistance from Yejyo Vanzig and the 31st Crime Investigatory. Also moving in response to the attack, Ahsoka Tano and the Young Justice, having guided new cadet Jo Mullein to the Planet, now find themselves on the front lines as they fight alongside Republic and Separatist forces against the Yiga Clan and Vaapad Rage.
Through the skies of Shei'Ten Kar, Rocket Troopers and Vulture Droids flew and fired down at several Yiga Clan members. As they dodged out of the way, Revali flew in and fired several plasma arrows at them. He flew up again to evade more blasts from the enemy cannons before one of the Vaapad Rage members leapt up to strike at him.
All of a sudden, before the blade could strike, a trident was thrown to knock the attacker off-course. Mipha leapt our from the ocean nearby and caught it before sending forth a blast of water, knocking more of the Vaapad Rage cultists down before enemy tanks fired at her.
"Look out!" Daruk called out, jumping in the way and activating his force field. With it taking the blow of the blast, he tossed his claymore at the tank, which only succeeded in making a dent in it before it flew back to him. "Damn! It didn't even faze it!"
"Allow me!" Urbossa said as she stepped up. Repelling several plasma shurikens sent at her with her shield, she snapped her fingers, causing lightning to rain form onto the tanks and destroy them.
"Keep them back!" Revali yelled as he flew through the air again. "We can't let them get near the castle! Not until reinforcements arrive!"
"They're on their way!" Jessica called out as she flew down, armed with a new Royal Saber, which had a silver metallic core and a light-blue blade, with green accents on the hilt and outer guards surrounding it. "Sorry I'm late, but Ahsoka and I had our own share of trouble with the Shadow Collective on our way here."
"And the location of Knight Tano and the Young Justice now?" Daruk asked.
"Say please."
Everyone turned to see Ahsoka run in, both her normal and double-bladed lightsabers activated. She leapt off of the ground and into the air, taking down Vaapad Rage fighters before slashing apart ten Yiga Clan members. As she landed, Serena leapt over her and cut off the heads of more Vaapad Rage warriors before the rest of the Young Justice arrived.
"All squads, move in!" Aqualad ordered as Captain Alpha ran in with the rest of the 416th Clone Battalion.
"Advance!" A Commando Droid called out before dozens of Battle Droids ran in as well.
Jessica smirked as she raised her Royal Saber. "Forward!" She yelled.
Some of the Vaapad Rage Soldiers ran in and fired as the other members activated their lightsabers. Serra ran at them with the rest of the Young Justice, all now leading the Allied Forces against the insurgence.
Alpha slashed at some of the Yiga Clan members before Saw and Lux shot at the rest. As they were pushing them back, Revali flew in again and shot them down before Droidekas rolled in, shooting down several more.
Katooni stabbed one of the Vaapad Rage soldiers in the leg before backflipping away, letting one of the gunners fire at her. Using this to her advantage, she used the Force to toss another member of Vaapad Rage towards him, causing both of them to kill each other. She grinned and spun around to lock with another member before Serra cut down two Yiga Clan members about to strike the Padawan of Ahsoka.
Obi-Wan arrived on a speeder bike, with Cody and the 221st following him. They took down several Yiga Clan members in their way before the Jedi Master leapt into the air, cutting down more flyers before landing down again.
"Go!" Robin yelled, tossing his Birdarangs at more of the enemy forces before Rocket slashed more away.
Kid Flash ran into the fray, knocking down more of the forces before Artemis and Huntress shot arrows from all sides. As they did, Superboy and Metamorpho both punched away more of the enemy forces.
Katana twirled through the air, taking out enemy fighters before landing with her Shadow Saber now activated. She split it into two different hilts and clashed with several swordsmen around her before tossing shurikens at several more, disarming them of their weapons.
Ahsoka and Serena locked with four Vaapad Rage members each before Jessica flew in and slashed them away. The three looked to each other and smiled before Jessica used her Green Lantern ring to blast away more forces. As they were sent away, Miss Martian flew in and activated her lightsaber. As the rest of the gunners fired at her, she deflected their blasts before spinning around. When she stopped spinning, several SokaTan symbols were made.
"Goodbye." Miss Martian quipped before sending the strikes at the forces, sending them scattered across the ground.
"Fall back! Fall back!" One of the commanders called out.
The remaining forces of Vaapad Rage and the Yiga Clan ran back, either being gunned down or caught by the Young Justice and the Allied Forces. The remainders managed to get away just as more Gunships and Dropships flew in with more reinforcements.
"Good timing," Obi-Wan said as he, Ahsoka, M'gann, Serra, Katooni, Katana and Serena all deactivated their lightsabers. They turned to see Jo now guiding captured Vaapad Rage and Yiga Clan members to the transport ships with Yejyo watching over. "But I sense it isn't over yet."
Jessica flew down and closed her eyes. Soon, her Green Lantern suit was willed away while she placed her Royal Saber into a scabbard on her back.
"I wish I could say this was just a minor internal matter for my Planet, but I'd be lying," Jessica said as the Young Justice came over after checking on anyone who was wounded from the first wave. She showed all of them a piece of the armor from one of the members of the Yiga Clan, which was coated in black and glowing red. "Master Kenobi, does this look familiar to you at all?" She quibbled.
"Hmm, yes. An ancient substance of the Dark Side," Obi-Wan said, investigating the oozing armor piece. "And only found here on Shei'Ten Kar."
"What is it?" Zatanna asked.
"Its exact name is lost, but we know it by the name passed down in the ancient texts of our ancestors," Jessica explained before letting go of the substance so she could contain it within one of her Green Lantern structures. "It's called Malice, the black water of the Force."
"I feel like I've heard that somewhere else before…" Kid Flash said thoughtfully.
"If my studies are correct, Malice was used by some of the most notorious Sith in history," Ahsoka said as she, Serra and Katooni looked to each other. "But why would it be given to the Yiga Clan?"
"They were former disciples of the Force, from what I've learned," Serena recalled. "But it would take those with really high Midi-Chlorian counts to harness the power. None of them had the right count to even compete with someone on the Jedi Council."
"Only one man could have controlled this substance, controlled it enough to grant it to those he felt were worthy to use the Dark Side in their own sick way," Jessica said. She looked to a torn flag of the Yiga Clan and narrowed her eyes. "And in all the history of evil in Shei'Ten Kar… he's as bad as they come."
In a hidden valley far away from the castle, the Yiga Clan and Vaapad Rage members were either recovering or training for the next battle. Some of them hardly even looked up as a dark presence started to fill the room, while others used their remaining strength to acknowledge the one observing them all.
Darth Maul walked through the area, looking to each of the followers loyal to him. His eyes narrowed at the feelings he was sensing, as well as the fear he felt from the dawning eyes, he turned to a man in a dark-red robe, with pale skin, brown eyes, a golden eye on the center of his forehead, and two hilts connected to the clips on his belt, concealed by his blood-red attire.
"You have done well to start this uprising," Darth Maul said as he walked towards the man. "I must say, it is difficult for anyone to actually succeed in impressing me. You, Seer, still have a long way to go before you actually accomplish that feat."
"As do all my visions," the man said. He held out his hand, letting a black and red orb, covered in Malice, float around, before breathing some of it in, letting it enter his body. "You know of my powers, my Master… and yet… I find myself wishing to gain more under your rule."
"In due time, Seer," Darth Maul said. He walked towards the entrance, watching as more Malice was being harvested and loaded into ships for takeoff. "You sense the next Blood Moon to be tonight?"
"Approximately at the ninth hour, it will happen. It was foretold," the man said. He looked to several carvings of a red moon and took a deep breath. "For on this night… the moon goes high, and then laid low; shall carry 'cross the depths below. The sun will swim, the moon will cry, but neither breach the ocean sky."
"Words of the Arcane Merchant. Words of dark destinies yet to come," Darth Maul mused. "But your prophecy has attracted the attention of the Jedi… especially Kenobi."
"I will ensure he lives," the Seer said. "You will get the revenge you seek."
"Do as you please… but know that these ships are to depart this time," Darth Maul said. "Lady Shiva is already here with Charal, but know that if the plan goes awry, I will personally hold you responsible… Astor."
"As I have served your cause before… I live to serve you again," Astor said. "Nothing shall stop your plan, my Master."
"We shall see…" Darth Maul remarked, now starting to turn into Malice. "We shall see."
Astor nodded before the Malice dispersed, flying into his orb. As soon as the mystic transmission of Darth Maul went away, he turned to see Lady Shiva and Charal approaching him.
"Your ways sicken me, Seer," Charal said. "Not even Mother Talzin would use her magic in such a way."
"Gotta agree. It is a disgusting sight," Lady Shiva added with a scoff. "My former beloved is back on Shei'Ten Kar, leading her people on the front lines, and we don't nearly have enough of the Malice to make it to Lord Maul."
"We need only enough time to get the ships through the Dark Pass," Astor said. "If the situation calls for it, I will deal with Cruz and the Young Justice myself. For now, we have our roles to fulfill," he told the two women. "And remember, you are my guests here… and by the word of Lord Maul, you are under my command as well."
"Just remember who the Sith in this operation is," Lady Shiva said dangerously. "And know that we are equals, not servants to you… or vice-versa."
"Very well, then," Astor said with a smirk. "Let us see what fate has in store for us… and our enemies."
Back at the castle, Jessica was with the rest of the Crusaders, and Obi-Wan and the Young Justice in front of them as both sides of the Allied Forces were preparing for the next possible battle.
"The man was a seer, a former follower of my family," Jessica explained. "His name is Astor, and he was a vizier only in charge of settling disputes that involved the last resort use of the Dark Side of the Force."
"So what does he have to do with all of this?" Raquel asked.
"Astor studied the Dark Side when none of the kingdoms could make sense of it," Urbossa explained further on. "He was said to have developed a breakthrough using Malice, by using his body to host it and harness it."
"Big mistake." Daruk commented.
"When my mother discovered this, she ordered him to halt all further studies of the substance," Jessica continued. "Being adept in the Dark Side and its many pathways, he refused. It caused a rift in the duties he had and his own interests, and after confiscating ancient texts on the Dark Side, Malice, and the Eternal Blood Moon, he vanished. No one had heard from him until I sensed his presence today, through the Malice we discovered."
"Well, is this stuff is as dangerous as you say, and if it's being distributed among the Yiga Clan and Vaapad Rage, we have to take him in before it can be distributed even more," Ahsoka said. She turned to Wally. "Remember where we found Lady Shiva the last time we were here?" She asked.
"Back in a flash." Kid Flash replied, nodding in understanding. He zoomed off, leaving the doors wide open upon his exit.
"I knew he would pick up from his uncle too much." Nomad complained with a sigh afterwards.
After a few minutes, Kid Flash came back, with Superboy and Metamorpho holding the doors back to stop them from whipping open again.
"They're not there." Kid Flash said.
"What?" Katana asked in shock.
"We searched the entire planet of Shei'Ten Kar last time after stopping them. That's the only place they could have been," Jessica said. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"Jess, I can be completely honest with you when I say this: everything in that base from when we fought Lady Shiva and Tokoyami has been abandoned," Kid Flash said. "No secret passages, no leftover plans, nothing. That base was cleared of all bodies and weapons. There's not even a trace of where they are or could even be by now."
"Well, what do we do now?" Artemis asked. "Shei'Ten Kar is one of the most massive planets in the Outer Rim. If we use up too much resources in trying to find this new base, we'll be out of energy by the time they strike back at us."
"She's got a point," Paula said. "For once, we can't go rushing into every possible place they could be. We need to find the right base in as few tries as we can, and take in Astor before the Malice can spread to any more of our enemies."
Jessica nodded before looking to Revali and Mipha. "Get all our maps, past and present," she ordered. "And tell the guards to be on high alert for any more activity of the Shadow Collective if they attack again. The moment they realize we aren't making an active move is the moment they'll try to take us down when we're most vulnerable. We can't take any risks."
"Of course." Mipha complied.
"Right away." Revali said before he and Mipha walked away to perform their respective tasks.
"As of now, time is of the essence," Obi-Wan said as Serena looked up to him. "As you said, Jessica, we can't risk taking any chances."
"I'll send out my drones," Nomad said as he dialed some buttons on his gauntlet. "That'll help us to cover more ground."
"We have to make our move just right," Jessica said. "The more we can do to locate Astor, the better."
Back at the hidden valley, Astor was looking to his texts. As they floated in the air in front of him, he was simultaneously inspecting one of his lightsabers. Slowly, he used the Dark Side of the Force to disassemble it, seeing inside of it a dark-red crystal that shone ominously. He narrowed his eyes, even the third one on his forehead, dangerously at the Kyber Crystal, before using the Force again to put the lightsaber back together. As soon as it was reassembled, he heard footsteps approaching. Letting his texts fade away, he turned and activated his lightsaber with a snap-hiss. Upon seeing a familiar man in a black coat, he deactivated his blade and walked towards him.
"I must say, I was not expecting this visit," Astor said. "I am sure that the SCP Foundation has other matters to attend to than badger us, Lysandre."
"When there are matters with the balance of life, such as control over the fabled Malice substance, we must always step in," Lysandre said. "Just as we worked with Darth Maul, we only ask for some of your time, so that we can better understand the Dark Side, just like you do."
Astor thought cautiously before seeing Lady Shiva approach. Looking to him, she sent him a cautious nod of approval. He nodded back before putting his hilt away.
"Come with me, if you know what is best for you," Astor said, leading Lysandre, as well as two other men, to the field of Malice. "One must be careful when dealing with this substance, Lysandre, else they shorten their lifespan."
"It is a sight to behold." Lysandre said.
Astor chuckled before manipulating the Malice from one of the deposits into the air. Carefully, he placed it into a canister. Afterwards, he handed it to the head of the SCP Foundation.
"This is enough for you to study," Astor said dangerously. "Do not come back for more, unless you are willing to pay the ultimate price."
"Your contribution is much appreciated," Lysandre said, taking the canister. "Tell your Master I send him my regards."
"Might I inquire as to what you plan to do with this research?" Astor asked.
"You might…" Lysandre started out. "But you won't get a definitive answer." He finished before walking out, his two armed guards following silently behind him like ghosts.
"First lightsabers and now this?" Charal asked as she and Lady Shiva walked towards Astor. "I really don't like how they operate."
"Neither do I," Astor said. "But you know what they are capable of. It is best to comply to their requests… and let their fate, and ours, unfold."
"Ominous moment aside…" Lady Shiva said, breaking the tension in the room. "How much longer until we are ready to send out the next wave to experiment the Malice?"
"They volunteered to be subjects willingly. They are not expendable," Astor said. "And to answer your question, they will be ready in five more minutes," he added on. "But I hope you do realize that Jessica Cruz will get suspicious when none of the higher figures have shown up with any of the waves."
"What are you suggesting?" Lady Shiva asked.
"Fight alongside your fellow warriors," Astor said. "You are still a Yiga at heart, are you not?"
"You know, there are times I hate when you're right," Lady Shiva remarked, gripping her Shadow Saber hilt. "But I will go, only to draw them away from being able to find us, or discover what our true motives are for returning to Shei'Ten Kar in the first place."
"I am so glad when we can agree on something, Lady Shiva," Astor said with a devious grin. "And remember… this is an invasion."
"Nothing more." Lady Shiva finished with a devious smirk of her own.
Lady Shiva soon made her way to the exit, where more of Vaapad Rage and the Yiga Clan were waiting for her. She placed her hand to the gem on her forehead and let her battle mask appear before her helmet case over her head. She flipped into the air and let her two Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsabers spring to life so she could stand on the hilts. Soon, the other forces were ready, and they ran off.
"You are taking a big risk, Seer," Charal said sternly. "Are you certain that this is the wisest course of action?"
"We shall soon be ready with more Malice," Astor said, seeing the sun starting to set. "Soon, the ninth hour will be upon us. And as foretold, the Eternal Blood Moon will show us the way."
However, no one spotted one of Nomad's drones floating near the area, its indicator light blinking repeatedly. Recording the charging forces, it began to fly away, back to Nomad himself to report what had happened, all without anyone even noticing.
At the castle, Ahsoka was looking out to the rest of Shei'Ten Kar alongside Obi-Wan, Serena and Jessica. All four watched as Republic Tanks and Separatist Forces alike were patrolling the area, with several members of the 31st Crime Investigatory questioning some prisoners and citizens about what started as an uprising before it escalated into an invasion against the crown.
"Already, this situation has escalated," Obi-Wan said. "We cannot allow more Malice to be distributed to the Shadow Collective, let alone leave the Planet."
"Maybe we need reinforcements," Serena suggested. "Shall we contact Master Skywalker?"
"I couldn't get through to Admiral Yularen," Ahsoka said. "But I don't want to bother him or Anakin too much."
"Still, it would help to get more reinforcements in the event that this invasion overwhelms the Planet," Jessica said. "Remember, not all my people are fighters. Granted, a select few are, but others like the sanctuary they get when they're here. I like to respect their decisions, and their right to be protected when it comes down to these kinds of situations."
"We will do all we can to end this as soon as possible," Ahsoka said. "But, since this is the first time Serena and I, as well as the rest of the Young Justice, have heard of the Malice substance or ever seen it, how dangerous would it be if Dooku got his hands on it?"
"If they were not on our side, it would be catastrophic," Obi-Wan replied. "But I sense there is more to this than just a simple series of attacks."
"I can't help but sense it too," Serena said. "There's something bigger at work here."
"Masters, Jessica, please forgive my intrusion," Katooni said, walking into the room. "But Revali and Mipha have returned. They have the maps, as well as an update on where the Shadow Collective forces might be located."
Jessica nodded. "Thank you, Katooni," she said. "We will be there immediately."
In the throne room, everyone had gathered, with Nomad and Captain Alpha at the front.
"Here is all of Shei'Ten Kar," one of the guards, a female with three ponytails and shining white hair, as well as tan and red colors on her uniform, said as she showed off the many different regions of the Planet in the Holo-Projector. "This place with all the water, that's the Zora Domain, where Mipha is from. Revali hails from the Rito Village, Daruk from Goron Mountain, and Lady Urbossa from the Gerudo Town. We are the main area, the Kingdom of Shei'Ten Kar," the guard went on. She pointed to several blinking red lines across the map. "These are attack sites where the Shadow Collective have already struck. The ones not blinking indicate that they were already taken down."
"And what does this say about the Malice, Impa?" Jessica asked. "You know as well as I do just how dangerous this stuff could be in the hands of someone like Astor."
"Well, we've looked everywhere where the Yiga Clan could possibly be after your last return here," Impa went on, enhancing the maps. "We've been sending out patrol drones all over the Planet, to every possible and impossible place where they could be hiding, based on our history with them and the history of them themselves," she went on. "What we've discovered is that each former base has what seems to be an emergency suicide passage."
"A what?" Lux asked.
"Basically, it's a secret passage placed in every base, done during the Mandalorian Wars and the High Republic, mostly on Shei'Ten Kar," Jessica explained. "Think if something happened to Mount Justice. You'd need a quick getaway before it would be destroyed. We and the Yiga Clan have those, traditions to both our sides. We would go through and end up at the next backup base we had made, at random, not predetermined."
"And the passageways close off immediately afterwards, beyond recovery," Obi-Wan went on. "Hence the suicide term."
"Well, we discovered where it was in the old Yiga Clan base," Impa went on, now starting to show a map of the old base of the Yiga Clan from when Ahsoka, Katana, Zatanna, Kid Flash and Katooni came to Shei'Ten Kar the first time. "Easy to miss to some, but we found the passage. Collapsed in, as you would expect."
"So what you're saying is that all remnants of the Yiga Clan from the last visit went through that way, which collapsed in on itself like all others in the past?" Ahsoka asked.
"Catching on," Impa said. "I've spoken with the other guards and scholars, and we've pinpointed the Base to a single location," she said, pulling up the hidden valley, located within a deep rocky canyon. "Culdee Fell, near the Killdane frontier," she said. "And here's the thing: it's coated in Malice."
"How'd it get its name?" Kid Flash asked. "Everything sounds a bit… Sudrian."
"During the Old Republic, a tyrant king named Culdee once ruled the Planet," Jessica explained. "During his reign, he was alerted to a coup by the people, led by my ancestor. He led his armies, donned in red, which is what the Yiga Clan wears, as you know, to the canyon. It was so bloody that the frontier became known as Killdane. It was there that my ancestor, a Jedi Mistress with the lightsaber that would be passed to her Master in the days of the High Republic, had slain him. It was there that Culdee fell."
"Hmm, nice," Kid Flash mused. "Now, what else do we know about this valley?"
"One of my drones recently returned from there, having spotted Lady Shiva with another wave of Yiga and Vaapad Rages leaving," Nomad explained. "One of the Planet's drones also spotted the same thing, but the one thing we don't know is from where."
"So we know where the lion's den is, but not how to enter," Zatanna said. "I sense a stealth mission."
"Got that right," Ahsoka replied before looking to Serena first and then the rest of the Young Justice. "Some of us will attack their next wave, wherever they decide to attack us from, while the rest goes to Killdane and infiltrate the lair," she explained. "I'm putting Serena on the stealth team for some experience, as I will also be leading the team for the infiltration op."
"Got it. Gonna learn from the best Jedi to have ever visited Earth, and the first to have earned her right to be knighted too." Serena said with a nod and a smile.
"If Lady Shiva is leading the army on the front lines, she knows I will be there to face her," Jessica said. "My family has no quarrel with Astor. You can either take him down, or take him in. The choice is up to you, my friends."
"If we let him live, he could make more of the Malice and spread it to his forces, or even to Maul himself," Katana pondered. "Unless…"
"What is it, Tatsu?" Ahsoka asked.
"I get where this is going," Katooni said before looking to Jessica. "Lady Cruz, do you know if Malice is known to only be grown on Shei'Ten Kar?"
"It is known only to be found on our Planet," Jessica confirmed. "What did you two have in mind?"
"If you remove the sun from a flower, it will stop growing," Tatsu explained. "So, if you take away Astor from the Malice…"
"He'll have no power," Katooni finished up. "Decision made. We take him in."
"I'll tell our boys to set all blasters to stun when we accompany you, General." Captain Alpha said.
"Do that," Ahsoka said. "We need to move out immediately if we are to end this."
"The sun is setting," Jessica noted, looking to see shadows starting to become smaller outside. "But why haven't they attacked yet?"
"We can figure that out on the way," Ahsoka said. "Right now, we need to move out and end this, as I stated beforehand."
"I will alert Cody." Obi-Wan said, walking out.
"Everyone else, get ready," Ahsoka ordered. "Prepare to move out."
Soon, Jessica was flying under the night sky. As she scouted on ahead, Obi-Wan was with Serra, Katana, Metamorpho, Superboy, Nomad, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, Aqualad, Jaybo and Lux, with the Clone Troopers and Battle Droids right behind them, as well as the warriors of Shei'Ten Kar and the Crusaders.
"We attack the army, as they will expect us to do," Serra said as she walked alongside Obi-Wan. "We keep them distracted long enough, and hopefully, they won't be able to catch onto our plan to take Astor."
"Are we sure this will work?" Metamorpho asked.
"I put complete faith in Serena," Obi-Wan replied. "Not just because she is the daughter of my master, but because she is true to our ways," he said. "I must ensure that she becomes a Jedi, just as I promised Anakin would become one to Qui-Gon."
"Don't worry, Obi-Wan," Lux said, readying his blaster. "She'll be alright. She's with Ahsoka, after all."
"The Force will guide us," Obi-Wan said before seeing Urbossa, who was in the lead, hold her hand out to motion everyone to stop. "You sense it too?"
"I may not have the Force, but my senses tell me where danger is approaching from," Urbossa said, nodding in confirmation as well before looking ahead. Carefully, she aimed her scimitar. "There. The enemy approaches from that direction."
Lady Shiva flew overhead, sending a blast at Jessica. Quickly, she used her shield to block the attack before seeing her former girlfriend fly up again, prompting her to get ready for another attack.
Spinning into the air, Lady Shiva split her legs apart and used the Force to levitate her Shadow Saber scabbard into her left hand, the main lightsaber going into her right. Her two red Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsabers flew next to her before her armor retreated into her upgraded jetpack, which compacted so that it formed over her left arm in addition to her back. She soon landed on the ground, and activated her Shadow Saber's silver blade.
"I see some things never change," Jessica said as she flew down. Seeing her charge at low, she held her ringed hand into the air. "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light!" she called out, fully energizing herself before activating her Royal Saber, just as the rest of the Yiga warriors and Vaapad Rages entered the area. In response, all of the Clone Troopers and Battle Droids aimed their blasters at them while the Crusaders readied their weapons.
"Nomad, now!" Aqualad ordered.
Nomad nodded before pressing another button on his gauntlet. Holograms of the missing Young Justice members appeared, the fizzing on them disappearing to give off the illusion that they were really there.
"Looks like you're all here," Lady Shiva said before briefly glancing to the sky, seeing an eerie red glow. "Almost there," she muttered to herself before looking back to the opposing army. "I see that my least favorite people have joined your forces," she mused before turning back to Jessica. "Present company excluded, of course."
"We know about the Malice and your intention to use it to power your armies through Astor the Dark Prophet," Jessica said as she held her Royal Saber out. "It will never come into fruition."
"We shall see," Lady Shiva said before her two Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsabers sprung to life o her jetpack. Flying forward while using the spinning to increase her speed, she let out a roar and slashed down at Jessica, who blocked with her Royal Saber. "See how your forces fare against an army full of the Malice of the Dark Side of the Force!" she yelled, prompting her army to charge forward.
Jessica held her lock with Lady Shiva before pushing her back with a blast from her Green Lantern Ring. As soon as the distance between the former two lovers was safe, she raised her sword into the air and aimed it at the charging army, getting her fighters and the Allied Forces to charge in as well.
"Take to the air!" Serra ordered before using her Arm-Mounted Crossbow to shoot at several Yiga members. With them temporarily stunned, she spun around and slashed at them, knocking them down with her blue and green lightsabers.
Superboy flew up with Jaybo, Miss Martian, Huntress and Nomad before being joined by Revali and sixteen Jet Troopers. They flew all over the field, taking out both Yiga Clan members and Vaapad Rages alike. Miss Martian activated her crossguard lightsaber in her left hand and stabbed one of the members of Vaapad Rage before dragging him through the ground. Finally, she lifted him up and tossed him towards an incoming tank.
Miss Martian landed on the ground and placed her lightsaber into a reverse grip back in her right hand, where she blocked two incoming strikes at her back. Spinning around, she used Soresu to fend them off before kicking away an incoming strike from a Yiga Clan swordsman. Spinning around, she managed to push them both back before unleashing a Force Repulse, which knocked them and seventeen other Yiga Clan and Vaapad Rage Members around her away.
Katana let loose her twin silver blades from her Shadow Saber and took out several other members of the Yiga Clan. Some of them fired plasma arrows at her, but she deflected them before Metamorpho tossed rocks at them, crushing them. As he did, Jaybo tossed several grenades, causing explosions that knocked hidden members of the Yiga Clan out of hiding before firing a rocket from his jetpack at incoming tanks.
"Forward!" Obi-Wan called out to Cody and the rest of the 212th Clone Battalion. He charged and blocked an attack from one of the swordsmen of Vaapad Rage before taking out his new crossguard lightsaber, stabbing another one in the head. Pulling both away, he harnessed Niman to fend off against thirteen incoming Vaapad Rage swordsmen before Force-Pushing them back.
"Come on!" Daruk called out, slamming his fists together and knocking several Yiga Clan members back. As soon as they were sent back, he slammed his claymore into the ground and slammed at more of them as they struck one by one. Soon, a more muscular Yiga Swordsman struck at him, but he formed his barrier around him before slamming him into the ground.
Lady Shiva looked to the raging battle around her before one of the 416th Clones ran to punch her. She spit out a tooth before grabbing him by the helmet, crushing his skull with her bare hand. Tossing the dead body aside, Jessica suddenly flew into her, ramming her Royal Saber at her once again.
"I didn't think you'd be the type to let your guard down, especially to someone without the Force!" Jessica spat, bringing both blades down. "That Clone had moxie to land a punch on you like that, Saand'ra."
"Give me a break," Lady Shiva spat back before redirecting the blades so that they would now be behind Jessica's back. "I haven't fought Clones for weeks."
Jessica chuckled before bringing the blades back down again. With her main force holding the weapons down, she elbowed Lady Shiva away, where one of her blades cut a Battle Droid to scrap. She scoffed and levitated her two Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsabers in front of her. However, Obi-Wan leapt in and slashed at one before it could hit Jessica while Katana did the same with the other, leaving Lady Shiva once again with her Shadow Saber and her scabbard.
"Gonna have to try harder." Jessica quipped with a smirk.
Lady Shiva growled before charging at Jessica again, just as the Blood Moon started to shine high above.
Near Culdee Fell, several Yiga Clan members were guarding the south side. As they were, Artemis flew in stealthily, but was almost noticed. As the two Yiga Guards turned to try and find the source of the noise, Robin appeared behind one of them and punctured his neck, knocking him unconscious. Before the other Yiga Clan guard could see what happened, Ahsoka appeared and started to choke him with her Double-Bladed Padawan Lightsaber hilt. Within moments, he passed out, allowing for the rest of the Young Justice stealth team to enter. As they did, Artemis tossed two Vaapad Rage guards over the edge.
Serena looked down wide-eyed before looking to Ahsoka. "Nomad said this was the way in, right?" she asked.
"From what his drone caught, yes," Ahsoka confirmed before looking to Robin as he started to hack the terminal. "Progress?"
"Almost in," Robin replied before turning to Saw as he aimed his sniper rifle out. "Be sure that you get anyone who heard our sneak attack."
"Don't worry about me," Saw said. "Just make sure you get that door open."
"What's on the other side?" Ahsoka asked.
"Allow me," Katooni said. She proceeded to press her hand against the door. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing her to see what was on the other side. "The place is heavily guarded," she told everyone while continuing to use her Force Vision to look further into the base. "A hallway first, and then a hangar bay. I can't see any other ships aside from the seven already there, but after that, there's another hallway. At least three more after following a staircase down, and then, the rest is blank from there," she informed. "I can't see anything else beyond that point, but I can assume that Astor, and someone familiar, is there as well."
"Armed guards in a hallway?" Ahsoka asked as she looked to Serena with a grin. "I think I know what to do."
"So what's the plan?" Zatanna asked.
"Robin, once you get the door unlocked, let everyone get back," Ahsoka ordered. "I'll clear the hallway."
Robin nodded. "Done," he said as the door started to open. "Everyone, get back!"
On the other side, the armed Vaapad Rage and Yiga Clan members noticed the door opened. Activating their weapons, they stood ready before Ahsoka walked in, activating her main lightsaber. Immediately, some of the gunners started to fire at her, but she deflected their shots before using Shii-Cho to cut some of them apart. Spinning around, she sent more blaster bolts back, even sending them at others about to attack her before she stabbed her lightsaber into the ground to kick a gunner into the outstretched blade of a Yiga Clan member.
Two more Yiga Clan members shot plasma arrows at Ahsoka, but she activated her crossguard lightsaber and sent them back at them before tossing it at a member of Vaapad Rage, cutting her head off. She called her crossguard lightsaber back to her before doing the same with her main lightsaber. Both were now floating in front of her to deflect the incoming blasts before she leapt over them, punching and kicking the other Yiga Clan guards and Vaapad Rage Members down. She spread her arms out as several more charged to attack her, but her lightsabers flew into her hands. Soon, she flash-stepped forward and now found herself facing away from them, cuts now appearing on the remaining forces. Within seconds, they all fell to the ground, dead.
"And that is how you hallway." Ahsoka quipped with a smirk before the rest of the Young Justice walked in behind her.
"I hope that doesn't become a thing," Rocket mused. "Let's keep moving before Lady Shiva catches onto what we're doing."
"Let's move!" Saw called out as he and Serena led the rest of the way.
"Another hallway up ahead!" Katooni called out as the group passed the Hangar Bay. "And more forces down the halls too!"
"Hey, Gerrera," Robin said as Saw looked to him. "How about we show off what Crosshair taught us?" he suggested.
"I'm all for it." Saw replied with a smirk.
"What did you have in mind?" Serena asked.
"You'll see." Saw replied with a grin on his face.
Heading around the corner, the next hallway came into view. The guards looked to the strike team before Robin tossed several birdarangs, knocking down some guards while others took them down and ricocheted off of them to hit the walls, sticking like glue.
"Now!" Robin called out.
Saw spun and held his blaster rifle over his back. Firing, he hit one of the Birdarangs, which then bounced off of another down the hall and doing the same as it went on. As it bounced away, the Yiga Clan members and Vaapad Rages were hit as the blasts went through them in the process. Everyone watched in amazement as they walked down carefully, seeing every enemy in their way get hit by the single shot. Upon reaching the last Birdarang, which was angled towards them, it shot back, taking out one remaining guard before finally coming to a stop.
"Bulls-Eye." Saw quipped, putting his rifle down.
"Still didn't top my record." Ahsoka teased.
"Do you compete on every mission like this?" Serena asked, readying her crossguard lightsaber.
"Not just us. Anakin and I like to do it too," Ahsoka said before coming across a sealed door. "Let's see what's behind Door Number One, shall we?"
Serena smiled and nodded as Ahsoka activated her lightsaber again. Together, the two stabbed into the wall and started to carve a hole. When it was complete, Katooni and Zatanna blasted it forward, taking off the heads of a line of guards behind the door.
"Nice hit." Artemis complimented.
"Honestly, we had no idea about them back there," Ahsoka said before they all went through, carefully treading past the decapitated bodies. "Sorry about that. Won't happen again."
"But they're already dead." Serena pointed out, feeling confused and a bit awkward.
"Just go with it," Ahsoka said. She was about to go on until she saw the ships loaded with Malice. "Whoa," she said in awe. "I knew they were harvesting Malice… but this? This is all a surprise."
"These Ships…" Robin said, looking to each design. "They're advanced versions of the one we used to guard Jo on!"
"So you're saying that the attack Lady Shiva, Tokoyami, Bemulaire and Charal was just a ruse to steal the plans?" Zatanna asked. She held out her hand and closed her eyes. Afterwards, her eyes opened again, glowing bright. "They lack the interiors that were on our own ship," she said. "They've been made into carriers!"
"So, what?" Serena asked, unaware of a swirling darkness appearing behind her and the rest of the group. "They made all these within minutes after we just arrived?"
"I see you have put everything together."
Everyone turned and activated their weapons, seeing Astor appear from the darkness before Charal flew in.
"Astor, I take it?" Ahsoka asked, keeping her lightsaber ready while cautiously calming Serena down.
"Lady Cruzsek told you about me, I see," Astor said. "I must say, it is an honor to meet the famous Ahsoka Tano, leader of the Young Justice, in person. I was starting to doubt if the rumors I had heard about you all were true or not."
"Come closer, and you'll find out." Zatanna challenged.
"Oh, we intend to attack," Charal said. "I take it then that you've figured out the rest of what will happen?"
"With the army preoccupied, especially with all the heavy lifters, you'll be able to jettison each craft without any resistance," Ahsoka deducted. "And I bet you saw this coming. Didn't you, Astor?"
"You certainly are a clever one," Astor replied with a chuckle. "But… there is one major detail you do not yet know."
"What is that?" Katooni asked.
"Look to the sky."
Ahsoka looked up and gasped, seeing the red moon, giving off blood-red flares. "A Blood Moon?" she asked. "How… how is that possible?"
"Every thousand years or so, an event where the Blood Moon rises occurs, and engulfs the Planet for four rotations," Astor explained. "It not only strengthens those with the Dark Side… but enhances the Malice, whether it is on this Planet or another," he went on. "Like fate… it is intertwined."
"Dank Farrik!" Ahsoka swore before activating her comlink. "Jessica, Master Kenobi, come in! You're in a suicide trap!" she called out. "I repeat, it's a trap!"
Back on the battlefield, Lux was shooting down more soldiers. As he shot down a Vaapad Rage swordsman, Kreel suddenly kicked him away.
"You won't escape this time, Senator," Kreel sneered as Lux put away his lightsaber. "You ready to die this time?"
"Time to get to work." Lux quipped, drawing his lightsaber. Activating it, he ran at Kreel, and the two locked blades immediately upon contact.
Jessica looked to the battles all around her before sensing an incoming attack. Once again raising her Royal Saber with her shield, she blocked another strike from Lady Shiva. As she did, she felt her Ring sound off as she pushed Lady Shiva back.
"By all means… take the call." Lady Shiva said, panting.
Jessica kept her Royal Saber aimed in her left hand before answering the call. "What is it?" she asked.
"If you can hear this, then we've been deceived!" Ahsoka called out, surprising Lady Shiva by the fact that she saw both Ahsoka on the battlefield and heard her elsewhere. "Astor and the rest of the Shadow Collective are already loading up Malice to be shipped off-world, to Maul!"
"You can't let those ships leave the Planet!" Obi-Wan called out. "Adjust the plan and destroy them!"
"Easier said than done!" Astor remarked back at the base. He let his orb float next to him before calling his two lightsabers to his hands. Soon, they let out red blades with black cores, and made an oozing growl noise as soon as they sprung to life.
"We'll be right there." Jessica said before noticing Lady Shiva deactivate her Shadow Saber. She kept her two red Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsabers levitated before her hands glowed with Sith Lightning. The Green Lantern of Shei'Ten Kar tossed her Royal Saber back into her right hand in response.
"You want to make a difference here, Monika? Be my guest, and get past me if you can," Lady Shiva said, her hands being surrounded with crackling Sith Lightning. "I'm all yours."
"Oh, I will." Jessica said, aiming the Royal Saber once again. With a single swing of it, she ran forward just as Lady Shiva blasted back at her.
Obi-Wan and Katana both ran at the Yiga Clan and Vaapad Rage Cultists, using tandem movements and slashing away at them immediately. Obi-Wan focused on the members of Vaapad Rage while Katana, on the other hand, focused her attacks on the Heartless.
Serra spun around her lightsabers and slashed at several Vaapad Rage Members, each strike cutting each of them to pieces before a member with a larger lightsaber slammed his weapon at her. She backed away and readied her Arm-Mounted Crossbow Gauntlet to aim. After a moment of charging up, she sent forth a series of arrows, sending the Vaapad Rage brute away.
Miss Martian swung her crossguard lightsaber at several of the Yiga Clan members while using her Martian Vision. As she cut down some of the shadow ninjas, her Martian Vision helped to power her blade, disintegrating them with each strike. She kicked away an armored swordsman before spinning around, slashing another to the ground.
Kid Flash watched as several of the members of Vaapad Rage ran at him. He grinned and cracked his neck before charging at them, sending kicks to two of their chests, causing them to fall back, where they fell unconscious. As soon as he landed, he kicked off of the ground and ran at three more with Urbossa as well, slashing at them with her scimitar before sending a strong kick to another, leaving a hole in his chest.
"Wow," Kid Flash mused. "And to think we were supposed to have the easy part of this mission."
"I'll say!" Superboy said. He spun out of the way of several more of the Vaapad Rage Brutes charging at him before several more archers of the Yiga Clan then joined in, but he managed to spin out of the way of most of them before Metamorpho created a shield from his arm to block an attack from a nearby Yiga Clan member, who was using her throwing star weapon to slash at the two.
Serra tossed her green lightsaber, destroying the massive shuriken, before performing a pirouette, sending several other members of the Yiga Clan flying around her.
"Heads up!" Revali called out as he flew in, taking down the scattered Dark Side ninjas.
"Showoff…" Serra remarked playfully with a roll of her eyes.
"My thoughts exactly." Kid Flash quipped.
"This isn't over yet," Revali said as he looked up. "And I don't think these hoodlums are going to let us leave to help your comrades."
"Got that right," Impa said, seeing more fighters arrive. "How do you think they're holding up?"
"I don't know much to give an exact estimate of their odds, but I do know that Ahsoka Tano never backs down from a challenge, and neither do her friends," Revali said. He turned to the side as the downed members of the Yiga Clan and Vaapad Rage soon started to recover. "Let's see what you've got, girls."
"You got it." Serra said, getting into a running position.
"Truth be told, I'm still learning how to fight." Impa admitted.
"You seemed to have the right skills back there, Impa," Kid Flash said as he walked over to help. "Seems that you've already got what it takes."
Jessica formed an energy fist and locked with Lady Shiva. As they did, she noticed the Blood Moon cover the Planet.
"Notice the red?" Lady Shiva asked with a grin on her face.
"The Eternal Blood Moon," Jessica remarked. "I knew this was too good to be true."
Back at Killdane, Katooni charged at Charal with Zatanna, performing an overhead sweep kick while Zatanna slammed her sword at her. Charal slashed back before using another Energy Ichor Sword to block an incoming attack from Katooni. Looking around her, several Yiga Clan members appeared from the shadows.
"Go!" Zatanna called out. "I got her!"
Katooni nodded before she charged at the Yiga Clan and Vaapad Rage reinforcements, slashing at each of them with Soresu. Serena, who was slashing apart one of the ships, noticed this, and followed right behind her, sending rapid kicks and punches at more of them before stabbing a member of Vaapad Rage in the chest behind her.
Ahsoka backed away as Astor lunged at her, seeming to use a strengthened version of Juyo. She looked to the sky and noticed everything starting to go red as the Blood Moon covered the area with a crimson light.
"Not too bad, Togruta," Astor said, slamming one of his lightsabers at Ahsoka's crossguard lightsaber in her left hand. She barely had time to block it as she turned away from the Blood Moon. "But that is nothing compared to the enhanced strength of the Dark Side running through us all tonight!"
"Let's put that to the test." Ahsoka spat, kicking Astor away. She readied both her normal and her crossguard lightsabers before exchanging which hands were holding which lightsabers. She charged again and slammed her crossguard lightsaber at Astor, who blasted her away with Sith Lightning, now red like the Malice.
Serena swung her own crossguard lightsaber at several of the Shadow Collective Forces, cutting them all and even managing to cut off some of their limbs as well, before she struck with her newer lightsaber. As she did, Artemis flew in, sending multiple plasma arrows at her enemies, causing them all to scatter away before Robin tossed his birdarangs to disarm them all.
"Whoa, nice moves," Serena said, slashing down several more Vaapad Rage cultists with her main lightsaber. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen a fighting style like that before, and trust me, I've seen a fair share of all kinds of styles."
"I'll be sure to give you the details later," Robin said before Serena placed her lightsaber in her left hand. She turned and closed her eyes before taking a deep breath as several more Yiga Clan members charged at her. Soon, she spun forward and slashed around with Ataru, cutting them before they could even have the time to strike. "On the other hand, you don't seem to be doing bad yourself."
"I'm just getting started." Serena said before using the Force to call a misfired plasma arrow to her hand. It glowed as she harnessed its power before focusing her attention on more of the members of Vaapad Rage. She pulled her hand back as the energy she had gathered started to flow around her before thrusting it forward, letting out a stream of energy. The energy stream flew forward with a loud whistling noise, taking out the members of Vaapad Rage and knocking them all unconscious or leaving them in a very weakened state.
"Impressive!" Robin complimented as Serena stabbed her lightsaber into the ground. She grabbed a Yiga Clan member about to attack her and punched him in the chest, knocking him out before tossing him at seven others. She ran at them and continued to slash, calling her lightsaber back to her hand.
"Try to keep up!" Serena called out, charging towards her enemies.
"Damn, she's good." Robin said to himself before swinging one of his batons at several more Yiga Clan members. He tossed his birdarangs at several more before they attached to his melee weapons, creating his Birdarang Swords. He spun around and sent multiple slashes again, the slashes sending out dozens more birdarangs that either shocked the Yiga Ninjas and Vaapad Rages into submission or knocked them down.
Back on the battlefield, Lady Shiva blasted several Clone Troopers and Battle Droids with her enhanced Sith Lightning, also empowered by the Blood Moon. However, she was stopped by Jessica and Huntress, who were now shooting back with their combined strength. Jessica took out her Royal Saber again and slashed at her, but her Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsabers deflected them before Huntress fired a rocket from her jetpack. As they now started to push her back, two Yiga Clan members dashed at the two. Before they could make their move, Revali flew at them, turning them to ashes with his arrows.
"What the?" Lady Shiva gaped.
"Whoa." Impa said in awe.
Obi-Wan blocked an attack from one of the Vaapad Rage members before another charged at him. He quickly took his lightsaber and Force-Pushed him into his current attacker before using both of his blades to fend off against a Yiga Swordsman. As they clashed, Serra ran from behind and kicked him forward, allowing for Obi-Wan to disarm him before Katana leapt down and slashed his weapon to pieces
"That was quite an impressive display." Obi-Wan said as Katana twirled around the Shadow Saber.
"What can I say? We had a long time to practice." Katana said before she, Serra and Obi-Wan all blocked incoming attacks from all around at once. In tandem, they pushed their attackers away before Yejyo and Ringa stun-shot several more of them, making them fall unconscious.
"Sorry I'm late, lads," Yejyo said before looking to the Blood Moon sky. "This isn't a good sign."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed. "The Blood Moon is giving the Shadow Collective the advantage."
"How long does this one last?" Katana asked.
"On this night, four more rotations," Ringa replied. "Best thing we can do is take them all out before they can get any stronger."
"Let them, then!" Serra called out. "And we can trust Ahsoka to take care of Astor."
In the hidden base, Ahsoka cartwheeled back as Astor struck at her, continuing to use a repetitive series of Juyo strikes. He punched her when he was close enough, but she used the momentum to jump over his head behind him. He turned to see her now landing a screw kick towards him, causing him to use the Force to soften the attack before slashing at her right blade.
"I must say, I am impressed," Astor said, keeping his lightsabers ready again. "You just might be worthy of my attention after all."
"Good thing I'm not such a pushover." Ahsoka quipped before striking again, now using Makashi.
Astor locked the crossguard lightsaber in between his two blades. Ahsoka struggled to get it free, but he slashed it to the side. She was about to retrieve it, but he slashed at her hand, getting her to briefly shriek.
"Ahsoka!" Serena called out.
From the top of the base, on a balcony nearby, Lysandre and his two men were watching everything unfold.
"Our dealings in the investigations seem to include a number of nuisances, I see," one of the armed men, with a dark helmet and robotic skeletal hands, mused. "Things have certainly taken an interesting turn."
"As if things haven't gotten complicated enough already," the other armed man, wearing rusted armor and with a blade on his back, remarked. "Still, it doesn't matter much. Not even these so-called heroes will be a match for what we have in mind."
"That still leaves me with some questions," Lysandre said. "A main one I have now with an answer, especially now that we are collecting data on the Light and the Dark Side in battle with each other."
The man in the helmet looked back up and turned to his superior. "You see that Astor has potential," he deducted. "A strong control over the Dark Side, but not as strong as our other candidates," he added on. "How much longer until our greater plan can be set into motion?" he asked.
"Well, as long as I'm not in the dark, we have what we need," Lysandre said before a recording drone flew to him. "We have seen enough. Let us take our leave."
The two men nodded and walked away with Lysandre towards a modified Gunship, a Razor Crest Class. As soon as they got in, they took off, taking their leave from Shei'Ten Kar.
Ahsoka panted as she backed away from Astor. She was using the Force to heal her right hand wound, but it was going slowly. She took a deep breath and held her original lightsaber in her left hand. Still backing away, she changed her grip so that it was in a reverse-grip, her signature style.
Astor narrowed his eyes before charging at Ahsoka again. Now with her injured hand behind her back, she started to parry off every strike with ease, pushing through Astor's defenses. Managing to disarm him of his left blade, she pressed on, eventually locking with his right.
"Come on…" Serena said.
Rocket flew around and blasted at the ships while Saw sent forth rockets from his launcher. Several of the ships went down as Zatanna and Charal battled around their destructions. Soon, Charal slammed both of her blades at Zatanna, but she ducked under and held the pommel of her sword at her chest.
"Thundara!" Zatanna called out, blasting Charal away with a lightning spell.
Charal gasped as she was blasted back, right to where Katooni slashed her cloak.
"We got most of them!" Rocket called out before hearing one of the ships start to take off. "Again… most," she said before flying at the ship.
Several lasers were fired at Rocket, forcing her to defend herself by making a bubble around her. When the smoke of the blasts cleared away, she saw five more ships take off.
"Jaybo, Saw! Now!" Robin called out through his Comms.
In their respective locations, Jaybo and Gerrera both fired missiles into the air. They each hit the escaping ships, causing them to crash.
Lady Shiva growled as she was pushed back, her lightsabers getting show down by Huntress and Urbossa. As they were about to fight again, they looked up, hearing the explosions.
"It's over, Lady Shiva!" Jessica called out as Obi-Wan and the rest of the forces made their way over, aiming at her.
"Your army is finished, and the Malice never to leave here," Obi-Wan said. "Surrender now."
"No matter," Lady Shiva remarked before shadows surrounded her. "Another day… my love." She bid before disappearing, just as the rest of her army fell.
At the Killdane Base, Ahsoka was continuing to push Astor back. Quickly, he fired a blast from his orb at her, but she kicked it away before swinging his remaining lightsaber out of his hand. With him disarmed, punched him in the face before leveling her lightsaber at his neck.
"This has gone on long enough," Ahsoka said. "Your plot has failed. Surrender now."
"Never!" Astor remarked, but was stopped when Serena aimed her crossguard lightsaber, as well as Ahsoka's disarmed one, at his back.
"Do as she says." Serena ordered.
"Your army is done," Ahsoka said sternly, readying her blade. "It's over."
Astor looked around and chuckled. "It is not over yet," he said before seeing Jessica fly in, as well as the rest of the Allied Forces. "Dank Farrik."
"One hand behind my back, and your army went down," Ahsoka said as Charal limped over. "And I'm not even left-handed."
"You have indeed impressed me, Ahsoka Tano," Astor said before Malice started to surround him and Charal. "But… this is far from over." He said before disappearing, and taking Charal with him as well.
Kreel, who had survived his duel, sneered from the shadows before Astor took him away as well.
Ahsoka deactivated her lightsaber and panted with exhaustion, falling to her knees.
"You did well," Serena said, giving Ahsoka her crossguard lightsaber hilt back. "How did I do?"
"Better than I could have hoped," Ahsoka said. "There's hope for you yet."
The next day, the Blood Moon was still in effect. However, all of the Shadow Collective Forces on Shei'Ten Kar were being loaded into prisoner ships by Jo and Ringa, while Yejyo was questioning other prisoners.
Ahsoka walked over to Serena and Obi-Wan talking with Jessica, gauze now over her right hand.
"What did the Medic say?" Serena asked.
"Well, he estimated that with my Force healing, I should be done with this by tomorrow," Ahsoka said. "But I meant what I said yesterday, Serena. You did just as well as I could have expected from you from your first stealth mission."
"Then I believe you shall require more training." Obi-Wan said. "I will be giving you personal missions with me, my Padawan, but I must return to the Temple. Ahsoka, on the other hand, can act as your temporary mentor until we are ready for missions of our own."
Serena smiled. "Thank you, Master Kenobi," she said with a bow of respect. "I promise to make you proud."
"I know," Obi-Wan said before taking out a small object wrapped in cloth. "That is why the Council thought it best to wait for a moment like this… to give you…"
Serena looked and unwrapped the cloth. She gasped and let out a tear of joy, seeing the lightsaber of Qui-Gon Jinn.
"My father's lightsaber." Serena said.
"An elegant weapon… for one carrying the legacy of a great Jedi," Obi-Wan said with a smile as Serena picked the lightsaber up. "Do your father proud… Serena Jinn Ranos."
Serena grinned and held the lightsaber up high, seeing the green blade spring to life after so many years.
"I shall… Master."
In the Drazkel System, several ships started to arrive. Darth Maul watched before Astor came in from a pool of Malice, with Charal by his side.
"I have heard about your mission," Darth Maul said. "And… that you fought Ahsoka Tano."
"She was a challenge, my Master," Astor said. "But… I escaped in the end," he added on. "And the diversion was indeed a success."
"The Stealth Ships, powered with Malice, masked from any scanners and the Force itself," Darth Maul said before Astor let out some of the Malice. "Is there enough?"
"Yes, my Master," Astor said before letting out half of the Malice from the ships. "And now… it is time."
Darth Maul watched as Astor levitated the Malice to the still-damaged Ruination. It started to cover it, and glowed as soon as it was completely coated. Soon, it transformed, turning from a damaged Ship into a brand-new one. This new Ruination had colors like the original, but with red glowing lines along the sides, as well as extra Fusion Cannons on every part of it. It was wider in mass and even bigger in height, and the symbol of the Shadow Collective shone on its side.
"Success," Darth Maul said. "Now, with the collected materials and Malice, the Ruination is fully operational once again."
"Indeed, my Master," Astor said. He looked to Charal and chuckled. "Make a full recovery… my dear."
"Don't worry about me too much." Charal said before the two shared a quick kiss. Afterwards, she walked to the Medical Bay.
"We all need to be at our full strength," Gar Saxon said as he walked forward. "Our spy on Serenno has reported activity of Count Dooku."
"Dooku was trained well, but not as well as Skywalker," Darth Maul said. "Do not make the mistake of underestimating him."
"I shall inform Vrak to make his move carefully." Gar Saxon said.
"Anakin Skywalker is the strongest," Darth Maul said as Gar Saxon walked away. The two made their way to the new bridge of the Ruination, where everyone was heading to their remodeled stations. "The DNA tracker Kast placed on him should be enough to track his movements… which is why I need you to watch his battles from the shadows with Lady Shiva, Astor."
"As you command, Lord Maul," Astor said. "And…what of the rest of the Malice we collected from Shei'Ten Kar?"
"Bring it to Mother Talzin on Dathomir, and she will tell you what to do from there," Darth Maul ordered. "Go. You have your orders."
Astor nodded and departed.
"Soon…" Darth Maul said, looking to a past battle between Anakin and Count Dooku. "We shall rise."
Author's Notes: Well, everyone, did you like my newest Chapter? I know I said that the Planet of Shei'Ten Kar would only appear in one Chapter, but I felt an obligation to go back and fix it after the mixed reception of the Planet from 2019. I hope this makes up for it, just as I hope that you like my birthday present to all of you. You always give so much to me through support and reviews and views, so that's why each year, on this exact day, I make sure to always give something to you in return. Sorry if some of it feels a bit rushed at some parts, but I had a bit of a kitchen accident after New Years, and I couldn't type as fast as I used to. I was left-handed for a day, which is why I put a bit of that in my Chapter, to show that even with my injury, I was able to press on. Hopefully by my next Chapter update, which will start to get interesting, it will have worn off. I hope you enjoy what I had for this day nonetheless. Please be sure to review, rate, and as always, if you can, Private Message me for anything on the Story. After all, I am always keen to hear from you, so long as what you have to say is positive. I will not tolerate anything negative, especially on the week of my birthday. For now, this is SuperHeroTimeFan signing off for the first time in the New Year of 2021! Have a great week, everyone! Stay safe, healthy and awesome! I'll see you all soon!