Chapter 5
Space, near Arthas IX
"Look alive, Vanguard Twelve, we've got enemy fighters inbound," Anakin said.
"Acknowledged, Eleven," Carvar Fel replied. Since his transfer into the Vanguards, Anakin had noticed the younger Fel's prowess in the cockpit and outgoing manner outside of it. It puzzled him. Carvar was a one-eighty spin from Jag and Soontir Fel. He had no time to ponder those things now though, as they were simming against the Suns in space near Arthas IX.
"Break by wingpairs and engage, Vanguard Squadron," said Jag Fel.
Anakin broke off a second early, since he knew the order was coming, and Carvar hastily followed. "Keep on my wing Twelve." Anakin punched his thrusters to full and sped towards the Suns. "Dropping shadow bomb." He let out a shadow bomb, a proton torpedo with the thruster packs removed, guided only by the power of the Force. Sending the missile forward, he vaped Twin Suns Eight long before either side was in range.
And then space was filled with scarlet beams of light as the fighters clashed. "I'm on your wing, Twelve."
"Copy that, Eleven." Anakin let Carvar take the lead and watched the youngest Fel son latch onto one of the Suns' rookies, taking several pot shots at the XJ5's stern.
"You've got this one, Twelve. I'll get his wingman before he comes around and bites us in the butt."
"Copy." Anakin looped his ship around and sure enough, the other Sun had been angling to get onto Carvar's tail. Anakin switched his lasers over to quad fire and sent a burst at the other pilot as they slid into position for a head to head run.
Nice shot, Starkiller, thought Requiem as his X-wing spat fire at Anakin's. The Jedi pilot broke to the left, and Anakin to the right. As Requiem looped around, Anakin came up and blasted him from below.
Gotcha! he sent back at the cocky youth. Since the beginning of his time with the squadron, Anakin had noticed quite a change in Requiem. He had gone from being solemn and quiet, to a typical cocky Jedi/pilot. Anakin chalked it up to Requiem getting older, and coming out of his shell.
Carvar was suddenly beside Anakin. "Orders, Eleven?"
"None," came Control. "The sim's over. All fighters come back and dock. It's time to move on."
"Roger Control," said Jag.
"Acknowledged," Jaina added. Both fighter squadrons oriented themselves toward the Eclipse Star Destroyer and went in to land.
***
Corellian Corvette Night Crawler, somewhere in CSA space
Anakin Solo had just stepped out of the refresher, and was drying his hair, when the holo comm unit beeped. He walked wrapped the towel around his waist and walked over and tapped the 'transmit' button. Tahiri winked into existence at one quarter of her normal size.
"Hi," she said cheerfully. "General Cracken routed my transmission through to you guys. How's everything?"
Anakin did his best to look happy, but the truth was, the clone's words had cut him deep. "You'll never escape fate. You're one of us."
"What is it?" she asked as her cheerful demeanor turned quickly to worry.
"Nothing. Just a bit tense. I got into a bit of a light fight."
"You're not hurt are you?"
"Other than the skinned knee I got when I tripped over a pothole, no." He grinned, relaxing a bit more. "How're lessons back at the Temple?" Tahiri had recently begun teaching young trainees the ways of the Force.
Tahiri really brightened up. "Great! We've started basic lightsaber and combat skills, you know, Master Horn and I, he's my teaching partner..." Now this was the Tahiri he had always known.
Anakin listened for a little while longer when his comlink beeped. Hold on, he mouthed at Tahiri's image. "Solo."
It was Kell. "Lover boy, our fearless leader wants us all in the main lounge now. Tell Auntie Tahiri hi for me. Tainer out."
"Why that arrogant–" Tahiri began.
"Sorry, Tahiri, but I gotta go. See you soon. I love you. Solo out."
"Bye," she replied just before the transmission was stopped.
Anakin finished getting dressed and walked towards the lounge. Time to see what was next on the agenda.
***
CSA hidden base
Lord Vakir Garinoska and Admiral Telisk Derner walked among the cloning vats, each one glowing slightly from the fluid inside. Each tank held a body, all of them frozen in a state of stasis, waiting until the day Garinoska's technicians would awaken them. Every one of them bred for war, and most terrifying of all: imbued with the power of the Force.
It was all quite unsettling to Derner, who had been recloned himself recently. Derner had almost been captured by the Rebels, but was killed by his own hand, when Garinoska had promised him a new body. His knew body was stronger and faster.
But Garinoska had given Derner one more gift besides the gift of life. The Force, and all of the instincts of a Sith blade master. "What is next on our agenda, Master?" he asked as the walked towards a room at the back of the rows of clones.
"Follow me, Admiral, and everything shall be revealed." They entered the room. Derner gasped.
Inside stood twelve Dark Jedi clones, an operating table, and a clone tank. In that tank was a Vakir Garinoska that was barely out of his teens. "Wonderful, isn't it?" Without waiting for a reply, he continued. "This body has undergone the same modifications that yours, Solo's, and Skywalker's have. These clones, are responsible only for sending me into the new body. And you, my good Admiral, have the honor of killing me."
"But Master, what if–"
"Nonsense. I can do this on my own. The clones are only insurance." He produced a black-hilted lightsaber from his robes. "This is yours, apprentice. Use it to strike me down upon my command." Derner ignited the lightsaber, marveling at its beautiful scarlet radiance. Garinoska got on top of the table and closed his eyes, mumbling to himself, deep in concentration. "NOW!" he cried.
Derner did not hesitate. He plunged the blade into Garinoska's torso. The Sith Lord screamed and then fell silent. Derner could feel the energies gathering in the room. And then with a tremendous burst of Force energy, the young Garinoska's eyes shot open and his fists clenched. With a slight punch, Garinoska's hand smashed through the glass. He slumped out of the tank, along with all of the liquid, exhausted from the efforts of the transfer, but very much alive.