CHAPTER XII

The Cave

"Polis Massa." Koon repeated. "He's on Polis Massa." "Yes, Master." Anakin said. Anakin had been repeating his sentences for maybe two hours now. Koon just couldn't believe Exodus was on Polis Massa. Koon grunted in anger and got up, kicking his chair which skidded across the floor. He buried his face in his hands. "It's alright, Master." Anakin said, placing a hand on Koon's shoulder. "Why couldn't we see this?" Koon mumbled. "It was like Dragus was just a diversion. We were thinking so highly of ourselves, but we had no idea we were just chasing a freakish old woman across the galaxy! WHY THE HELL COULDN'T WE SEE IT!" "Master, Darth Exodus is very strong in the Force." Anakin said. "He must've influenced our minds somehow. He must've made us look for Dragus when we were really looking for himself." "He used Dragus as bait." A voice said. Koon and Anakin looked. It was Obi-Wan. "It's the way of the Sith." Obi-Wan told them. "Listen—the point is we're on our way to Polis Massa now, and—" "At what cost!" Koon burst out. "These fucking Jedi Clones Dragus created are at large and ready to strike! They could be attempting to conquer the galaxy as we speak!" "Even Dragus wouldn't try something that bold." Obi-Wan said. "Exodus already destroyed the Jedi Temple." Anakin said. "What would he be trying to do with the Jedi Clones now that the Temple is gone?" "Did you ask Dragus?" Koon asked Anakin, the last tiny thought of hope drifting from his head. Anakin sighed. "No, Master. I'm deeply sorry." "And I don't wish to mention this…" Obi-Wan said quietly. "But what about the UBDs?" "UBDs?" Anakin asked, confused. "Ultra Battle Droids." Obi-Wan replied quickly. "Remember the attack on the Jedi Temple? Those six droids confronting you?" Anakin shivered. "Oh, hell yeah." Anakin said. "Why'd you have to remind me of that!" "Master Kenobi, we haven't seen any UBDs since we left the Jedi Temple." Koon said. "Well…the UBDs weren't that powerful." Obi-Wan said, pondering. "I don't think there was any need to attack Tatooine or Korriban with them. Maybe after Exodus's Jedi Clone army was built, the UBDs were shut down." "Quite possible." Koon said. "An interesting theory." "Well, I thought those UBDs were freakin' impossible to kill." Anakin said. "Imagine the damage the Clones will do." "We already fought them." Obi-Wan said. "Yeah." Koon said. "They weren't that difficult. Not as near difficult as the actual Jedi…" "And Master Koon here used a saber staff." Obi-Wan said, smiling. "And he was really good. Defeated five Jedi clones with one." "Matpro taught me how to use one when we were students at the Academy." Koon said. "He said I should permanently switch to a saber staff, but I didn't like the idea because they say saber staffs draw you closer to the Dark Side." "Yeah, but you still kicked ass." Obi-Wan said with a laugh.

Obi-Wan was sitting in the cockpit, the rocky asteroid of Polis Massa ahead of the ship. Anakin and Koon were leaning behind him. "I haven't been here in ages." Koon said. "Same." Obi-Wan replied. "I've never been here." Anakin commented. "It's not a very civilized planet." Koon said. "The Polis Massians are famous for their expert medical facilities. Some of the galaxy's top hospitals are located on it. They're also famous for their ability to clone." Obi-Wan almost crashed the ship when he heard that last sentence. "Did you say they're good at cloning?" Obi-Wan asked. "Why yes." Koon said. "They are—" Suddenly Koon realized. There was a brief pause, then Anakin said "Exodus is using the Polis Massians to clone Jedi." "Dammit!" Obi-Wan yelled. "You know what this means, I hope." Koon said. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan were surprised Koon didn't overreact and burst out in anger as he usually does. "What?" Anakin and Obi-Wan asked. "We need to blow up Polis Massa as soon as Exodus is gone." Koon replied. "Anything we don't destroy today will come back to haunt us tomorrow." "He's right." Obi-Wan said. "If we leave Polis Massa as thriving as it is now, the Polis Massians will carry out orders and clone more Jedi, whether Exodus is alive or dead." "Wait." Anakin said. "What is it now, Anakin!" Obi-Wan exclaimed. "Exodus is probably on Polis Massa right now." "So you're proposing…" Koon said. "I'm proposing we just blow this place to hell right now and get out of here!" Anakin exclaimed. "Are you KIDDING me!" Koon screamed. "Quinlan is with Exodus! We have to rescue him!" "Fine." Anakin said. "Land the ship."

"We have to be careful." Obi-Wan said. "We can't be seen. If we are, this is all over." The Jedi had managed to sneak into one of the many Polis Massian medical facilities. "Excuse me." A voice said. The Jedi whirled around, face to face with a Polis Massian. "What are you doing?" She asked. Anakin smiled and lit his lightsaber. "Now cooperate and no one will get hurt." Anakin said. Obi-Wan sighed. "This isn't the way to do it, Anakin." He said. "Listen. What do you know about Darth Exodus?" Obi-Wan asked the Polis Massian. "He's making our lives a living hell." The Polis Massian answered. "You have no idea. We're only cloning these Jedi because he's forcing us too. He threatened us and told us if we didn't carry out his orders we would be killed in ways too horrible for us to imagine." "That's terrible." Koon said. "But we're here to stop him. Do you know where he is?" "Well, I could tell you." The Polis Massian said. "But I'm not going too. I'd be killed. It's Exodus's rule." Obi-Wan moved his fingers slightly, performing Force Persuade. "Tell us where Exodus is." Obi-Wan said. "Tell us." "There is a Force-sensitive cave to the east of here." The Polis Massian said, under a mystical trance. "I will take you to it. Exodus is there." "Lead the way." Obi-Wan said, smiling.

"It is there." The Polis Massian said, pointing to a cave in the distance. The Jedi and the Polis Massian were standing outside on the rough moon-like sands of Polis Massa. A long stretch of nothing lied before them, except for a gargantuan cliff. Built into this cliff, was a mysterious cave. "We'll take it from here." Anakin said. "Thank you." "No." The Polis Massian said. "You better let me come with you." The four of them walked up to the cave. "Master?" The Polis Massian said. "WHAT IS IT?" A gruesome voice screamed. The Jedi saw a huge red lightsaber plunge out of the darkness of the cave. The blade stabbed the Polis Massian in the chest. Blood splattered all over as the Polis Massian screamed in agony. Slimy Polis Massian body parts littered the floor along with a lot of bloodied skin tissue. A red and black hand with extremely long fingernails reached out of the cave. "Who is there?" The figure asked. "I am Jedi Master Plo Koon." Koon said boldly. "And you are under arrest."

"Why may that be?" The voice said. The Jedi had never heard a more unique, raspy voice. "For the murder of Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Yoda." Koon said. "And for the creation of an illegal Jedi Clone Army." Obi-Wan said. "And for capturing Jedi Master Quinlan Vos." Anakin said. "Really." The voice said. There was silence. "We'll see about that." The voice said. "Come in." The Jedi ignited their lightsabers and stepped in.

"Reveal yourself, Exodus!" Anakin yelled. He waved his lightsaber over the figure. Blue light splashed onto him, revealing a species the Jedi had never seen before. "WHAT ARE YOU?" Obi-Wan screamed. Exodus laughed. "I am a member of an advanced race from another galaxy." He said. "You may call us…the Yuuzhan Vong." Inside the cave, lightsaber crystals of all colors and shapes dotted the walls. There was also an old chair. Exodus took a seat in the chair. "So." Exodus said. "You say I am under arrest." "Where's Quinlan Vos?" Koon demanded. "Don't fret, Jedi scum." Exodus said. "Your friend is alive and well." Quinlan stepped out of the darkness. "Quinlan!" Obi-Wan said happily. "Obi-Wan!" Quinlan exclaimed. He ran forward and gave Obi-Wan a hug. "Plo Koon, you said your name was?" Exodus asked. "Yes." Koon said angrily. "And you are under arrest!" "Plo Koon." Exodus said, twiddling his grotesque thumbs. "Come here, Plo Koon." Koon stepped forward carefully, his lightsaber at-the-ready. Exodus smiled evilly and placed his hand on Koon's head. Koon's eyes spun out of control and his head lolled back like he was retarded. "Plo Koon…feel the power." Exodus said, closing his eyes. "What's he doing to Master Koon, Master?" Anakin whispered to Obi-Wan. "It's ok." Quinlan said to Anakin. "Koon's just playing along. Trust me, I know him." "AWAKEN!" Exodus boomed. Koon's head shot upward and his eyes went back into focus. But something was wrong with his eyes, for they were red. "Master Koon?" Anakin asked. "Master Koon, are you alright?" Anakin slowly approached Koon and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm alright, Anakin." Koon replied. "In fact, I'm the best I've ever been in my life." Then Koon took out his lightsaber and stabbed Anakin in the heart.

"Oh my God." Obi-Wan said. That was all he could say. Anakin's body slumped to the ground, a big bloody hole in his Jedi robes. "Obi-Wan." Koon said, smiling like a retarded person. "This power thingy is really nice…you should ask Exodus to give it to you." Koon walked toward Obi-Wan and tried to stab him. But Obi-Wan was ready, and he blocked the blow. "POWER!" Koon screamed. He fell to his knees before Exodus and began to worship him. "Oh, Master, my Master…" Koon whispered. "Let's kill the Jedi!" Koon said. "Kill the Jedi! Kill the Jedi now!" "Do the honors, my new apprentice." Exodus said. Koon rose and stabbed Quinlan. Obi-Wan screamed, and Quinlan dropped to the cave wall. "Obi-Wan…" He croaked. "Get the hell outta here." Then Quinlan's head came to rest, and Obi-Wan knew he was dead.

Obi-Wan ran. At least he tried to. Five Kit Fisto clones with glowing red eyes blocked the exit and ignited their lightsabers. Obi-Wan whirled around. Exodus boomed with laughter. "As you can see, there is no escape." He said. He then turned to Koon. "From this day forward, you will be known as…Darth Spidol!" Obi-Wan felt a tear run down his cheek. He glanced at the floor. Two of his best friends lying dead with bloody holes in their hearts, their heads limply propped up against the cave wall. "Now…the Jedi are finished." Exodus told Obi-Wan. "Kenobi, you are the last surviving Jedi of the Order. How do you feel about that?" "Last surviving Jedi?" Obi-Wan said, choking. Exodus laughed again. "These Jedi Clones my faithful ex-apprentice Dragus created have now been dispatched on every planet in the galaxy. Right at this very moment, Jedi Clones are striking down Jedi on Kashyyyk, coloring the rivers red with their blood. Innocent civilians are falling to their knees, begging for their lives to be spared. But no. Jedi Clones know no mercy whatsoever. They will strike them down if they get in their way." "YOU MONSTER!" Obi-Wan screamed. "Shall I kill him now, Master?" Koon asked Exodus. "No." Exodus replied. "He may be of help to us." "I'll never join you." Obi-Wan snarled. "We'll see about—" But Exodus didn't have time to finish. He and his new apprentice were hit by an overly powerful Force Blast coming from Obi-Wan. Blue shockwaves rippled the cave walls, making Force Crystals fall and shatter. Obi-Wan guessed all the Jedi Clones do were follow orders judging by the fact the Kit Fistos that were blocking the exit just ran after Exodus. But Obi-Wan's Force Blast was too powerful for them. They smashed against the cave walls and fell mangled to the ground. Koon and Exodus disappeared into the vast stretch of darkness that lay beyond the cave. Quickly, Obi-Wan hurried out of the cave and back into the medical center.

Obi-Wan was standing inside the Amber Crow. It felt so empty. Nya wasn't there. Anakin wasn't there. Quinlan wasn't there. Koon wasn't there. Three of them were dead. Massacred. One was a new Sith Apprentice. Obi-Wan was hovering outside of Polis Massa, with his thumbs on the missile-fire buttons. He drummed his fingers on them. He wanted to press them. He really did. But he just couldn't find the heart to kill Koon. Obi-Wan sat back in his chair, tears streaming down his faces. The mission was a failure. Exodus was still alive, and was thriving. The army of Jedi Clones was still upright, and ready to strike. The entire Jedi Order was now destroyed. Obi-Wan was the last surviving the Jedi. The words kept running through his head, like some sort of annoying tune. You're the last surviving Jedi. You're the last surviving Jedi. You're the last surviving Jedi. An innocent Twi'Lek girl was massacred by none other than yourself. Your loved apprentice and your friend now both lie dead with bloody holes in their chests. And your respected Jedi Master is now a ruthless Sith Lord by the name of Darth Spidol…Obi-Wan tried to press his thumbs down. Exodus would be dead. But Koon would be destroyed. Obi-Wan's thoughts conflicted with him. His mind knew there was still good in Koon. There was a chance to return him to the Light. But his body wanted to turn Polis Massa into a big dust cloud and end this whole thing right now. Yet, he found himself unable to make a move. "Goodbye, Master Plo Koon." Obi-Wan said, sniffling. "And may the Force be with you." Then Obi-Wan turned the Amber Crow around, and without further hesitation, flew out of sight from the rocky planetoid of Polis Massa.

THE END