Chapter 7: The Purge Begins
The Solo children and Tahiri paced nervously outside the medical chamber of the Yavin IV School. Finally the door opened and a somber Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade-Skywalker walked out leading a seemingly emotionally shattered Kim Possible between them.
"What happened, Uncle Luke?" the three teenagers asked worriedly as they surrounded the three.
"Jim and Tim?" the Solo twins asked.
"Why is Boba Fett on world?" Tahiri asked impatiently.
"And where's my master, Uncle Luke?" Anakin asked a tremble in his voice.
"Boba Fett has been Kim's under the table partner for years, guys," Mara stated, "As for the others … Tim's in … he's in bad shape and … Jim's connection to him is hurting him as badly."
"Can we see them?" Jaina asked, her face losing its color.
"Yes, go on in," Luke nodded, as the Solo twins ran into the hospital wing.
"What about Master Stoppable, is he ok?" Anakin asked his chest rising and falling quickly with anxiety.
"Ron … he's …" Kim tried to explain as fresh tears gushed from her eyes as she once again felt her heart being painfully squeezed.
"The Sith Lord, Darth Demonus … Master Stoppable dueled with him … for a long time," Luke said avoiding eye contact. "Demonus destroyed him."
"W-What …" Anakin breathed, and would have fallen if Tahiri wasn't there to hold on to him.
"I failed him," Luke said glancing up at the sky. "Forgive me …" He said before shaking his head. "Kim needs rest. We're taking her back to her room."
Luke and Mara led the distraught redhead toward the dormitory.
"Nice one, Obiwan Kenobi." Mara shot her husband.
"I didn't lie … just told it from another point of view." Luke shrugged, "If they know that that … thing is Ron … they'll hold back, and after the fight we had I don't think he'll be holding back at all."
"I see your point," Mara sighed, "At least the worse is over with…" she breathed before glancing up when Luke suddenly stopped almost throwing both redheads down. "Or we just got to the worse …" she gulped when they saw the glaring Jedi Master Rue Fus.
"Master Rue Fus?" Luke asked, seeing the glare and seeing the sadness and hurt in his small eyes.
"Began, it has …" Rue Fus breathed roughly.
The New Republic Star Destroyer Secura floated helplessly in space. Its engine section was completely destroyed and its hull was littered with burning holes and massive damage. On all sides Sith Battle Cruisers and fighters swarmed blasting the now defenseless ship.
"Prepare to be boarded!" Jedi Knight Tara Nova said, brushing her long blond hair from her face, with her bright blue eyes staring where a boarding drill was pressing into the side. She stood proud with her fellow Jedi Knights Brick Flagg, Justine Bindo, and Adrena Lynn and a large troop of Republic soldiers.
The wall finally gave way to a long dark tunnel as the four Jedi and the soldiers waited but nothing came through. Tara's blue eyes narrowed before screaming at the group to get down as countless laser fire came through. The soldiers were unprepared and quickly fell to the blasts while the Jedi gave it their all to deflect the onslaught. They did well but Jedi cannot defend against twenty four Sith Trooper's blasters for very long.
Adrena Lynn was the first to fall, several blasts to the body, and then Justine was next; unable to deflect a shot directed to her head.
"Love ya, Tara," Brick said just as a blast penetrated his defense striking him in the shoulder of his sword arm causing him to drop his saber before being hit again and again before falling.
"BRICK!" Tara screamed before a blast finally caught her in the midsection causing her to also fall beside him.
Tara's breath was labored as the lasers finally stopped and Sith Troopers filled the area.
"Look here, it's a live one!" one of the troopers said as they spotted Tara and a small group gathered around her. "Cute too, for a Jedi."
Tears streamed down from her eyes as a trooper roughly grabbed her face, "We could have some fun with this one while she's breathing."
The group froze when the sound of a breather was heard from the boarding tunnel. "I do not believe you understood your orders." Came the synthetic voice as Darth Demonus' metal boots clanged on the Republic ship's floor.
Tara's eyes widened when she heard the pop hiss of a lightsaber, and then the weight of 4 bodies falling on top of her. "You are lucky I was in a good mood today." Demonus said as he lifted the bodies with the force and threw them to the side.
Tara watched in stunned awe as the Sith Lord stood over her as a command stripped Sith Trooper quickly approached him. "Lord Demonus the ship is ours, the crew is either captured or dead and …"
"Who is your second in command, Commander?" Demonus asked as the Sith Trooper rose into the air holding his neck.
"Lieutenant, report …" the Sith Commander coughed as another trooper quickly approached and saluted. "This is …" The Sith Commander started to introduce but stopped suddenly when his body went limp.
"You have just been assigned the rank of Squad Commander, Lieutenant," Demonus said to the trooper, "Remember all Jedi are to be left to me. Do not fail me as your former commander has, Commander."
"Sir, yes sir!" the new Squad Commander saluted before turning to continue the securing of the ship.
Demonus then turned to the injured young Jedi and stared into her tear-filled eyes. Those wide and shedding tears the young woman showed only slight fear of him and of death. "You are as a Jedi should be." The Sith Lord said before turning to another barely alive Republic trooper. "Where are the escape pods on this ship?"
"On … this level … take this hallway to the other end of the ship … can't miss them." The trooper said in a strange dazed voice, before gasping when his neck snapped.
"Thank you." Demonus said before turning to the injured Jedi.
"What?" Tara croaked as Demonus lifted her in his arms and started toward the escape pods.
Demonus silently carried her to a pod and laid her down in the seat before buckling her in. "I will place you in a healing trance, you will awaken among friends." Demonus said before placing his hands on either side of the girl's head. He watched silently as her eyes drifted shut. He climbed out of the pod and set the NAV system to take the pod to Yavin IV. "You will be a great Jedi Knight in the purified order, my friend." Demonus said before shutting the hatch and launching the pod.
"Lord Sidious is not going to like this," Darth Shego said as she stepped out of the shadows, grinning at the armored Sith Lord.
"Lord Sidious can get over it," Demonus replied turning his back on the dark haired woman.
"Lord Sidious is in charge, you know?" Shego said walking up to her fellow Sith Lord.
"For now," Demonus stated, turning toward the emerald eyed woman.
"Oh, are you threatening to challenge him?" Shego purred, running her fingers along Demonus' armored chest plate.
"Once I have taken my own apprentice, it's possible," Demonus stated candidly.
"Oh, that's quite foolish of you to tell me, I might run to my daddy and tattletale …" Shego said letting her hands snake under his cloak on his shoulders.
"It doesn't matter to me if he knows I'm coming for him later or not," Demonus shrugged her hands away. "It won't stop me. He CAN'T stop me."
"Fair enough, my lord," Shego whispered huskily, "As for your search for an apprentice of your own … I'd gladly submit myself to you, Lord Demonus … any way you desire me to …" she said easing her hands up to the sides of his face plate.
She gasped when the Dark Lord gripped her wrists and pulled her hands away. "Take a message to your father, Lady Shego," Demonus growled, "Tell him if he doesn't like the way I'm doing things. He can bite my metal plated ass."
Shego watched Demonus walk past her before growling out. "She'll never want you now!"
Demonus glanced over his shoulder at her. "I wouldn't want her to." He finished before turning the corner and going back toward the boarding hatch.
"I'll show you," Shego growled, igniting her lightclaws. "Kim Possible will turn her back on you, and then I will kill her for you … then you'll see."
"How are they Tionne?" Luke asked as he walked into the medical area of the school with Rue Fus riding on his shoulders.
"I'm working as hard as I can, Master Skywalker, but I'm afraid we may have to sever their bond …" she said checking their dwindling medical readings. "It's either save one or lose them both, Master."
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Luke asked as Rue Fus hopped down onto the twins' bed to gently stroke Tim's cheek with his small clawed paw.
"The only thing that's keeping Tim alive right now is Jim," Tionne said, shaking her head sadly, "if Tim was healing and his own force presence was asserting itself then it would be different, but these two boys are now sharing Jim's Force presence and Tim isn't healing at all. If we don't cut the connection, Jim will die as well."
"But that will kill Tim definitely then," Luke sighed.
"Tim's dead already, the Sith Lord assured that," Tionne said, before glancing up. "But that is not our call, it is up to their living relative to decide."
"I'll talk to her …" Luke sighed, and then glanced down to Rue Fus, "Then we must talk about what to do about the Sith Situation." He said, and once Rue Fus nodded, turned to go toward Kim's bedchamber in the dormitories.
Mara sat at the head of Kim's bed stroking the girl's long hair as she lay curled in a ball on top of her blankets in the barely lit night chamber. Mara had never felt so helpless in her life as she watched the young woman trembling with sobs.
"It's all my fault, you know?" Kim finally whispered.
"Kim, don't blame yourself," Mara said with a sad smile.
"No it really is, Mara," Kim sniffled as she forced herself to sit up. "I walked away without much of a fight …" She whispered, shaking her head. "He said … he said it would be better this way … he said it would be better … but … I didn't believe him … yet … I still walked away…" Kim's head snapped to the elder redhead's with a wild yet heartbroken look in her eyes. "He needed me and I left him!"
"You couldn't have known he'd have fallen, Kim," Mara whispered, her own tears forming.
"I should have …" Kim clinched her fists. "I should have seen through Erik … I should have been there for Ron when he needed me … I should have …" She broke down into sobs as Mara hugged him.
"Kim, even Jedi aren't all knowing," Mara spoke into Kim's hair, "It'll be ok, I know you don't believe that now, but that's all you can really do now is believe it'll be ok …"
"I'm sorry to interrupt …" Luke whispered as he slowly entered the room with a grave expression on his face, "but I … need to talk to Kim."
The New Republic Star Destroyer Mad Dog dropped from hyperspace near the where the SOS of the Secura was sent. "Alright what have we … awe crap, people, battle stations!" Captain Barkin called out when the proximity alert sounded and the Leviathan appeared on screen. "Shields up, Darklighter get you and your Squad's rogue asses out there and start shooting!" Barkin then glanced back to General Wedge Antilles' station. "Your Rogue Squadron better be up to their name, General."
"Alright, Rogues. Lock your S-Folds in attack position," Gavin Darklighter said from the lead X-Wing of the legendary New Republic fighter squadron as they flew in an attack formation toward the grouping Sith flagship surrounded by Sith Fighters. "Let's deal with the fighters first, but only use your blasters. Save your photon for the Leviathan. Alright on my mark break formation and attack… MARK!"
The fighters engaged in a fierce battle around the wreckage of the Secura. "Watch yourself, Rogue Seven," Rogue three said as the two X-Wings flew beneath the wreckage unknowing of the dark figure looming down at them from the massive gapping holes of the Star Destroyer. "SEVEN! EISNER! WATCH OUT!" Rogue Three screamed as the cloaked Darth Demonus jumped into space and landed on the nose of the X-Wing.
Darth Demonus scurried up the canopy of the screaming pilot's X-Wing before plunging his lightsaber into the fighter's R2 Droid. He drug the saber along the back of the now destroyed droid leaving a sparking gash along the back engine area of the X-Wing before leaping from the exploding fighter and fired a grapple from his wrist at Rogue Three's fighter. He hung onto the side of the fighter before pressing the exterior cockpit release, and climbed toward the cockpit.
The Sith Lord reached out through the Force and unsnapped the pilot's safety harness and forcefully threw him into space. "I need to borrow this," Demonus said as he threw himself into the cockpit and used the force to reclose the cockpit canopy. Demonus' visor quickly scanned the controls and found what he was looking for before he rocketed toward the Mad Dog.
The Sith Lord pressed the keys to lower the deflector shields on the Mad Dog's docking bay, and flew his stolen X-Wing into the Star Destroyer before they could return power to the shields. The bay crew could do nothing as the X-Wing hovered above the launch hatch before firing a pair of photon torpedoes inside the bay striking a power conduit. The fighter spun on its axis and fired again striking a pair of unmanned A-Wings before moving again firing photon torpedoes and lasers around the exploding innards of the Star Destroyer before dropping back into space as the forward section of the Mad Dog exploded violently, breaking the massive battleship in two.
"Mad Dog do you read?" Darklighter yelled into the com as he dodged a Sith Fighter.
"This … d Dog … bridge … k we … op Enemy … rep … stop … emy …" Captain Barkin's voice broke through static on the com channel.
"OK, Rogues, they got our ship, lets pay um back! Fire all Photon Torpedoes on the Leviathan's engine section." Darklighter barked as the remaining Rogue Fighters too formation and shot toward the rear of the Leviathan. "Target the thrusters."
Rogue Squadron swooped in through the opposing fighters and fired a volley of their torpedoes. While not all went there was enough to cause majority of the rear of the classic battle cruiser to explode leaving only a single engine surviving.
"They're getting away," Rogue Two yelled as the Fighters, the stolen X-Wing and the damaged Leviathan turned and started to leave the battle area.
"Let them, Will, we've got more important matters right now," Gavin sighed, "Rogues, lets regroup and secure the Mad Dog … er what's left of it. Will, I want you to go to the nearest Republic Outpost and get some help."
"Affirmative," Will Du nodded and sat his course for the nearest military outpost in the Corellian Ship Yards and jumped into Hyperspace.
Darklighter sighed as he turned to the rapidly disappearing starships. "Just perfect …"
"I'm so sorry, K," Mission whispered, as she sat with Kim in Tim and Jim's medical room. Kim had been there for the last hour contemplating what Luke had told her. She had a choice, and a hard one. On one hand, there was the faintest chance Tim would pull through, but if he didn't he could very easily take his brother with him. So Kim had to make a choice just after she had lost her best friend and the only man she'd ever love to the darkness. Save a brother, or risk lose them both.
"Speak with Kimberly alone, I wish," a small voice spoke from below them. Mission glanced down to see the small Jedi Master Rue Fus looking up with sad eyes.
"Yeah, ok, I'll be just outside if you need me, ok, Kim?" Mission said, giving her companion's shoulder a squeeze before walking out.
Rue Fus scurried up to Jim's bed and stroked the young Jedi's strained face. "Fighting hard is he, willing to let go of his brother he is not."
"Can Tim come out of this?" Kim asked bluntly, Watching Tim's peaceful face.
"Remember the Ronald's lessons I am sure you are," Rue Fus said, "A Jedi Ron became with as much your help as the Force's. Anyway, Around us is the Force, binding us all together. Yori, Ron, Jim, Tim, me, you. Death is not the end, but the beginning."
"That doesn't answer my question." Kim grumbled.
"Prepared to take the next step, your brother is …" Rue Fus said sadly. "But refusing to release the bond of their spirits your other brother is. If Jim cannot release his brother, along with him will he go…" Rue Fus glanced up at Kim now tearstained face with a sorrowful expression, "I am … so sorry…"
"I guess … I don't have a choice then, huh?" Kim whimpered. "Go get Tionne and Master Luke … let me have a moment with my baby brothers …" Kim choked out, roughly wiping away her tears.
Rue Fus silently nodded, and made his way out of the room, as Kim moved to kiss Jim's cheek then Tim's. "I'm sorry I failed you both … I'm not much of a big sister … but I loved you so … so much … Tim … I know this is what you'd want … I hope you can forgive me, Jim … I'm sorry … I'm so sorry …
Darth Demonus exited the X-Wing in the Leviathan's hanger and made his way toward the deck manager. "Prepare my private shuttle, I wish to go to Bespin."
"How many troopers will be accompanying you, my Lord?" the Manager asked.
"None, I will go alone," Demonus said.
"But …" the Manager asked, before gasping and gripping his neck with both hands.
"Are you questioning my orders?" Demonus asked coldly.
"No … My Lord … One Shuttle … coming right up …" He choked out, and dropped into his seat gasping for air.
"Very good." Demonus said, turning quickly.
"Just curious sir, what will you be doing on the Cloud City?" the manager asked timidly.
"It is time I took an apprentice." Demonus said, beginning to walk away. 'I'll be waiting for you, Jim …' Demonus sent through the Force, smiling behind his faceplate when he felt it lock into the unconscious mind of his former friend.
To Be Continued …
C. Cowboy: Only two more chapters to go, and then we'll have Episode III of the Knights of the New Republic Series: Balance of the Force