Chapter 7: The Return of Windu
"If you guys want, there is a barracks in the ship on both ends of the ship. I'd suggest you guys go there, unless you want to play a few games on the dejarik board." Both my love and I bow to my good friend for his hospitality. However, there is no need for a dejarik board when I am with my love. He heads up towards the cockpit as the two of us head over to the west barracks.
Noticing all of the Jedi presences here in the past I look over to Durii to see if she can sense it too. She nods, and we take each other's hand to see if we can feel more when we are one. We can. Everything is being brought back to us, past, present, future. It all comes to us. Everything that has ever happened and will happen on this ship is right here with us.
"Jaden, it's okay. I'll be here for you."
"I know." I bring her around and into my body. Our warmth puts us in a passionate embrace that brings everything to a halt. A halt I feel that can stop the ships from exploding and taking off. I feel that everything is safe when I hold onto her.
In the cockpit, the red haired man sits next to the cream flabby skinned Dug. Each prepping the ship before its take off. Dealing with those that are quite bothersome, to those that are regulators before any ship can take off. To them though, it is all one in the same.
"Trivas, next time your friend comes for a fair, we're making them pay double."
"Whatever you say Holass. Now, let's get this baby out of here." The engines fire up and the ancient orange bird makes its start into the air. Heading towards whatever is laying towards us on the lush Yavin moon. The bird that has made a trip there so often, it can fly itself there without help from a navicomputer.
"Look, I know your family goes back with this ship, but can't you part with it?"
"Holass, it's important. One of the only things I have left from my parents and our bloodline. I could never part with it. No matter how many YT-2400's it could get me."
"Suit yourself, but if you keep this up, you won't have a copilot for very long."
"Next time you use that one, I'm going to make sure you do it." She looks around with her neck peering around the corner to see if anyone is coming up to the cockpit. Nothing. Must be some of the durasteel rustling on the ship. She looks back through the window of the cockpit, staring into the black emptiness before us.
"What did you hear Holass?"
"I thought I heard footsteps, but I think some of the ship is wrestling apart."
"Well, if that's the case, get HK-47 and T3-M4 to work on it. I don't want this ship blowing into pieces before anything happens." She nods her head and sends a signal towards the two ancient droids.
"Question: Why does master always want us to clean his ship instead of killing meatbags? Statement: My old master would never ask me to do such horrible and trivial things." The little white droid just chimes back to his companion. The two head over to the area near the cockpit where Holass instructed them to go to.
Inside the west barracks, my love and I lay on each other within one of the bed posts to the side and look upon each other. Knowing there would be an uncomfortable feeling having sex with my friend and his copilot on the ship, we just lay as though there is a wanting of it. The passion that is ignited when wanting to love, it is what we beg for.
"Jaden, do you wish to know your grandfather?"
"Why should it matter? He was a great Jedi Master. I read about him and heard about him from what Yoda told Master Skywalker about the Jedi Masters during his life. I think I know enough about him. It might have been nice to get to know him, but just knowing who my grandfather is, that is all I need to know."
"Well, it sounds like you have a good reason." There is a pause now. The mood is dead and I am about to get up. Dejarik sounds good right now. Before I can get off from her she grabs ahold of my dark arm.
"What is it?"
"I just have another question before you go play dejarik." I love her. She is able to sense what I am about to do the very minute I am leaving for it. Maybe it is a bond within the force, or just our love that gives it away. I just know it is something.
"Yeah, Trivas is the descendant of the great Revan and Bastila Shan." Not only can she sense what is about to come from me, but I can do the same for her. It is quite a mutual relationship. One that can only be attributed to a deep Jedi love. Jedi can sense anything more easily than a regular person can. A love between Jedi allows that love to leave few questions asked by either partner.
"So, what happened to his parents? I know you tried to save them, but what happened exactly?" This is the hardest thing for me to ever do. I cannot lie to her, but I never want to admit what happened to his parents. They were extreme loyalists of the Empire, and even more so when the Empire was disbanded. Trivas, was not however and that was the hardest part for both of us. The day I constructed my light saber, that was the day.
"Can I tell you some other time, it's not one I'd like to bring up."
"Trivas doesn't seem as hurt by it as you. Otherwise he wouldn't be good friends with you still."
"I know, that's what makes it so hard."
Meanwhile on the lush moon of Yavin, the small swirled color Ewok has been moving around to not be detected by the Imperial Remnants. Not trying to get close to the giant Sith training ground in order to avoid the presence of Kun. Dodging and ducking, twirling and jumping, all to avoid detection. However, he can feel friends of his coming. He knows that Durii and I are coming, but he does not know if this will help.
"Be careful Ichi. Just make sure you stay alive long enough to meet up with them. Take out only the Imperial Remnants that will harm you while waiting for them. Once they are close enough, clear away a landing area. Understood."
"Nib nub." The small furry creature replies. Waiting is not the easiest thing to do with a new Sith Lord and apprentice. He can feel my old apprentice, and he knows it is nothing good. He knows it, because he remembers it from the first day he came to the academy. He felt the dark presence not just from Exar Kun, but as well as the Bothan. It was always in him, always seething through him, but the chance he got from me must have harbored his feelings of anger and hatred. He feels it again, and nothing is good about it.
"Do you see a..."
"An Ewok, yeah. It's quite odd for one of those to be here. Last time I saw one was on Endor when they destroyed our base. Let me check this out." The man in white armor walks closer to the small creature. He looks up at the trooper and emits his green saber. Within seconds the head of the soldier is gone. His friend turns to fire at the swirl colored creature, but it is of no use. The red beam just goes back to him.
Not so far in the distance two white troopers look back in the distance. One of them says in with a gulp, "Do you think they're alright?"
"Yeah, otherwise there'd be more blaster fire. C'mon." The troopers leave the area. The Ewok is still in one piece, but now if the small creature is not careful, he could definitely lose his life. He heads up towards the trees just like how he lived on Endor to escape the clutches of the Imperials. If he is to survive well enough, he can hide in the trees. The only person that can get to him would be a trooper with a Jetpack, or a Jedi. Considering the chances of any Jedi left, or even detecting him at the moment, he could easily take down a trooper.
Meanwhile, as Darth Hades heads back to the room where he was told to murder all of the Dark Jedi, he feels a strong glimmer in the force. Ichi. He knows the Ewok is here, but last he had heard where Ichi was, he was in the midrim helping the New Republic gain another planet to their system. Luke must have asked him to come after him, but Ichi would never harm him. Oh no, Ichi has always been a good friend. Ichi must be here to try and save him from the darkness. This is all the Sith Apprentice can think of.
"Darth Hades, have you done what I have asked." The brown furry Bothan comes in with the strongest of the Dark Jedi's head. He drops it on the floor. The red liquid spilling out of the bottom of its neck as it dropped to the ground. Small creatures come all around it, to feast on the wonderous kill the apprentice has just done.
"Yes. Now I am off to kill the Jedi."
"No, there is an Imperial Remnant here. Ask for their help to kill the Jedi."
"But they are so few in number."
"DO NOT SPEAK AGAINST MY ORDERS BOY!" Each of those words run in my ears. I look around, I can tell Lisko is in trouble. I can tell there is a taint within him. Very similar to what I remember the first day I met him all of those months ago. Maybe it could be him, but I doubt it. The taint, though, it could be gone since I heard Kun's voice even though he was not talking to me directly. The bond, its coming back.
"Jaden, do you mind getting those Tie's on our back?" My good friend yells from me back in the hull of the ship where the board is as I play with myself to develop new strategies.
"Did you outfit your ship with better guns yet?" I shout back.
"Yeah, just barely in time. Get to it Jedi." I smile a bit and feel that Durii is asleep in the barracks where we were at before. I head down a few steps inbetween the hull and look at the small white, ancient utility droid working on some parts of the hull. It beeps and tutors at me and I just motion my dark hand for it to move to the side.
"Droids." I begin to go up the ladder to where the gun is, but a tug comes from behind. I can feel the clank of gears from behind me and can tell it is the legendary orange assassin.
"Question: Do you require assistance in destroying those meatbags, meatbag?"
"Sorry, HK, but this ship from what I recall only has one gunner."
"Statement: It did in the past, but now it has been designed for two gunners. One on the top, another on the bottom."
"Well, in that case, you take the bottom gun."
"Statement: Thank you meatbag for giving me this opportunity to destroy those annoyances that are attacking us."
"No problem, but can you do one thing for me though?"
"Query: What is it then meatbag?"
"Don't call me meatbag."
"Affirmation: Of course meat... I mean Jedi." As I climb to the top, the orange droid heads down to the bottom gun. As we both enter its areas we take control of the guns. At least he put in new guns or else he'd be fried on missions. We take a few rounds looking for the Ties, no sign of them yet. A few seconds later, one rolls right by us.
"I got it."
"Affirmation: Of course Jedi."
"You've got the next." Down it goes. Two more come by after the fiery blaze appears. One on both sides, close to the top and the bottom. If I just had my Z-95, I'd be able to escort them. Except, I wouldn't want to be away from my love though. It's good to know that she is sleeping safely. A few green lasers are thrown in our direction.
"Hey Jedi, you might to be more careful, that was the west barracks. If you don't kill those things before we get hit, we might have to get rid of compartments. If west barracks is hit again, that's just about to happen." The Dug is right. I have to save her. I head down the stairs after I get out from the gunner and head towards the west barracks. Sparks and a few fires are at the area in which it was shot. I use the force to calm it so I can pass by. She's still asleep, good. I go over to pick her up and I bring her to the hull of the ship and set her down on the bench near the dejarik table.
"Your safe, that's all that matters." I look back up to the gun and then back to my love and say with assurement, "I'll be back after we get rid of those ties." I head up there and once I get in the gunner's seat I hear the orange droid speaking to me again.
"Query: Where did you go Jedi?"
"Just needed to make sure my love was alright."
"Statement: Ah, love. It's like having the perfect shot..."
"Yeah, yeah that's great and all, but how many Ties have you killed so far?"
"Statement: The task at hand is more important right now, yes. I have killed three of those Sith that were following us."
"They're ties HK, they're Ties."
"Statement: In the time where my services were used often, they would be called Sith, meatbag."
"Why are you calling me a meatbag now?"
"Statement: Because now you are getting on my nerves meatbag." After hearing this I shoot down the last two Ties and it is over. The west barracks is in need of repairs, but we're close to Yavin's moon now. Not too long before we land I'd say. I head down the stairs and hit the ground and as the assassin droid comes up, he looks at me with a stare and just heads to another direction. Maybe he feels like I'm youth of today, but who knows. The utility droid is chiming away and I assure him to go to the Ebon Hawk to work on it.
"Jaden..." I head over to my love who seems to be awake. She's not, just having a... nightmare it seems. Jedi don't have nightmares, at least, not one's that are do not happen. Luke taught us this since we entered the academy back on the lush moon. I remember him talking about how Anakin had dreams about his mother, and that's where it all began for him. Calmly I put my right dark hand over her, and rub her a few times.
"It's okay Durii, I'm here." She looks up at me with her sky blue eyes and gives off a smile.
"Jaden, I'm so glad you're alright. I was dreaming that you had..."
"I had what?"
"Nothing honey, nothing. What am I doing out here?"
"Oh, the west barracks was shot. If it was hit again, it would've been thrown into space and since I didn't want to lose you, I brought you here." She smiles and comes up to me to give me a kiss. I naturally accept and our lips embrace for minutes that seem like eternities. Our tongues coming together as though they have never met before and this is their first time. After those minutes we become our own entities again, and she still is smiling at me.
"You're getting some before we leave here." I begin to laugh as I smack the back of my head. I've never heard Durii refer to it as "some" before. I stop laughing to assure her I am not making fun of her, and she just hits my arm for being a jerk. I deserved it a few seconds ago. I pick her up and bring it to the cockpit with me, past the orange and white droids and set her down once we reach there.
"Great, you of all my friends are a Jedi and can't hit all the Ties before they fire at us. I thought you could feel the force."
"I can, it's just I can't utilize it with a ship very well. I've only been in a ship to fly, not really for fighting. After all, my ship is still a Z-95 headhunter. I could give you support with that, but not much else."
"Excuses, excuses Jedi. We'd love to hear them, but since you've paid us already, I guess we have to. Anyway, take a seat." Two chairs appear from behind the pilot and the co-pilot's seats. We sit down and we look at the moon, and knowing how close we are, I am glad to see the end of a long road.
"So Jaden, my friend, tell me why we're going here again."
"Well, my old apprentice has become a Sith. I want to save him."
"So, this is a suicide mission now. Thanks to these Jedi, I won't even be able to spend these credits."
"Don't worry Holass, we'll get through this. My love isn't just any regular Jedi. I heard he beat Tavion, her disciples, and Marka Ragnos himself."
"Great, now I feel even more comfortable flying to his apprentice who is now a Sith. Doesn't it make him stronger to be a part of the dark side?" With that, the Dug was almost right. Many people say that the dark side is stronger than the light. I have come to realize that there is nothing stronger than the other, just more training to it. Yes, some force powers controlled by dark users are easier to deal with people, but that does not make them stronger. It just makes them more reliable on those powers. Essentially, you could call them clutch force users.
"Not exactly. When I fought Rosh when he was first corrupted by the dark side, I felt he was stronger due to more training. Not because of the side he was on."
"Well how much time do you think he's been training since he left you, buddy?" That left a dead silence in the cockpit. I could feel him, but I do not truly know when he started training. If it has been a few days on Yavin IV, I would not have been able to tell. We can all tell I have no clue. A few grunts from the Dug a sigh comes from my good friend, and a look of sorrow on my lover's eyes when I cannot answer to them at all.
"Don't worry, we'll get through this. Ichi must know how to defeat Exar Kun."
"Wait... who's this Ichi and who's Exar Kun?" My friend Trivas practically puts the ship in a dead hault. Knowing he has not been told the whole story, it is natural for him to stop the ship in order to know what's going on. My love answers so I do not have to worry about this question because of the last one.
"Ichi is an Ewok Jedi. A good friend of our's, and like Jaden, an old apprentice of Kyle Katarn. Jaden told me that once, Kyle came to him and a few other Jedi Masters to tell them he will tell Ichi how to get rid of Kun. Exar Kun, he's a dead Sith Lord from about 4000 years ago. He's been training Lisko, Jaden's old padawan. Now can we head down there?"
"Wait, so there is another Jedi that can help you. Now I like these odds a bit more." We can tell the Dug is being extremely sarcastic, but at least the ship is heading forward. I am happy, and so is my love, but I can tell they are not happy at all. As we head down toward the moon I get close to the boarding and exit ramp of the ship with my love. The two of us can hear Trivas over the comm.
"Once, you two get out. Find Ichi, who'll be able to help you. Just be careful of the Imperial Remnant forces. We can't lose you guys if we want to make sure nothing bad happens." I look at her and sigh. Not because it is her that I look at, but because I cannot tell if that dream was good or not. Maybe one of us will die, maybe we both do, maybe Ichi does, maybe all three of us do, maybe non of us do. I don't know, but I do know what I want to do.
"If we make it out of this alive. When we get back to Coruscant, I want to marry you." I could tell she is left speechless. Maybe it is too soon, or maybe it is what she wanted. I cannot tell. She jumps into me with her arms around me, at the top of my shoulders as though they are being supported by them.
"Of course I will marry you Jaden." They are still being supported. The ramp opens and before we head down. We give another kiss that lasts eternities. As we kiss, we hear rustling near the bushes. We can tell its Ichi, and we stop kissing to see him. The swirl color fur is there and we head down the ramp.
"Unnu tolle."
"We know, about what's been happening. Do you know how to destroy Kun." After I say this the little furry guy nods his head to give us a yes. My future wife and I give off a small smirk and look at the apprentice of Kyle with these small smirks.
"Teach us, so that we can do it too, just in case." The small Ewok does so, pulling out the red holocron he found on the body of the ancient Sith Lord. It begins to play, showing us how to bring him to the realm Kyle is at. Knowing that the realm Kyle is at is full of the force, then if a person from that realm absorbs another's force who is also from that realm, wouldn't that bring them back to life? What about the other? I'm sure it has never been done before, since we have never been able to tell, but who knows.
"C'mon boys. We have to hurry to the temple. We got to make sure everything is safe before we can leave this moon." I follow her and the small Ewok starts to waddle around all the broken and destroyed trees left from his encounters with the remnants. Each body lying on the ground leaves a mark that we have violated the treaty between us and the Imperial Remnants. This could lead to an all out war.
Meanwhile within the temple hangar, the brown Sith is about to take off as he is preparing his ship for launch. Each few buttons onto another of his ship to jettison it off into the black abyss before him until he hits the core planet of his enemies. Soon, he can hear an all too familiar voice without wanting to hear it ever again on this planet. He takes his black cloak off and throws it onto the pilot seat. A few chimes can be heard from a small utility droid before him.
"Stay with the ship L3." The small dark black droid does so and continues prepping it for the take off his master was about to start. As he gets off the ramp his master appears in the blue aura he has always came in.
"You know he is here and he has brought friends. Even one you thought would never betray you. Ichi."
"Yes, but why would he do that?"
"He wants to get rid of you, not the you they see but what they believe is the taint within you. What I love about you. Now, before they can stop us, kill them all. Gain the help of the Imperial Remnants Darth Hades. If you do not, you cannot take Coruscant." He nods his head and walks forward towards the exit of the temple. Waiting for the first of his enemies to strike. He can see us, but he will not give away his position. I am sure he has learned this from his master as a true Sith would never fight without using fear to aid them. He leaps in such a distance from the temple to the three of us. I guess I was wrong.
"What are the three of you doing here?"
"To see if you are alright, my apprentice. To see if you came to give up the force, or to take up another master. I guess I was hoping to whatever I heard was untrue." His staff ignites and two crimson blades come out from both sides. He has become stronger since I have last been with him. During his training at the academy, he could never wield a double-bladed saber with ease. From the look of his stance though, it seems he has been training all too well with one now.
"Lisko, you don't have to fight us. Jaden's right, there is no reason to fight."
"Osi sanu taba."
"Shut up, all of you. This is between me and my old master, no one else. If you want to fight me you will have to wait your turn to die, but you will not defeat me. The dark side is stronger than you can ever fathom. You will parish before me Jaden, and when you do, you will beg for it to be painless and I will not give it to you. For you were always holding me back and I cannot allow you to do it anymore."
"Fine, if you truly do believe this is how it must go. Ichi, Durii, stand back. I'll deal with him alone. You two go into the temple and find Kun."
"Uso chimi cha."
"I know, you two aren't that strong, but we need to get ahead with our goal. If my old apprentice wants to fight me alone, then so be it. As long as he promises not to attack you with what he wants right now, then you two will be fine."
"By all means, try to kill my master, but your efforts will be futile." The small Ewok and my love head toward the front door of the grand Massassi Temple to find the blue aura of an ancient Sith Lord. As they head down corridors they can hear itching of sabers connecting and clashing with one another.
"What is it you plan to gain Lisko? The dark side brings nothing, but destruction."
"Lisko is no more. There is only Darth Hades."
"Then you can never call me Jaden anymore. You must call me Master Windu." I never allow anyone who I am not friends with to call me by my first name.
"I thought your name was Korr, Jaden." I cannot let this anger me. It is not his fault, he has been seduced by the dark side.
"The day I left to go find you, I found out my grandfather's last name was Windu. My father never took the name as he was the son of a whore. He took Korr as her last name. I plan to retake my grandfather's last name. I have become Master Windu since that day for people like you." My purple saber only proves this point even more. As the color is there for my old pupil to see. He knows where this is heading for, but never had he expected for me to be as this strong. I can sense it, he believes he should be stronger than me.
"Fine, then let us end this, Master Windu." There is sweat across his face. He is scared, and I am ready to save him if need be during this fight. We run towards each other, our sabers hit. Trying to catch me off guard, he brings the blade on his left to come closer to me.
"You are scared of me Hades? What from?" I grab a hold of the left part of the staff. The saber is stuck and cannot move. The blade on the right is still fiercely clashing with mine. I begin to crush the saber with my right hand, and the blade on the left begins to fade away. He uses his left hand to push me aside. The left blade is gone.
"DAMN YOU MASTER!" He tears the left side off as though it is tissue paper. Now he has become stronger. With a single saber to work with and what he is more used to, then he will attack me with ease. I should have left that saber intact.
"Damn me, no damn you."
"Already there master, already there. I killed my entire tribe the day I came to the temple. I did it to become a Jedi. Now, I know I have never been a Jedi, just a dormant Sith."
"If that is the case, then you must know we can forgive you. A Jedi can atone for their sins. If you really do want to be saved Lisko, then you will see that."
"NO! I loved killing them, just as how I will love killing you." He brings the crimson saber towards me and I perry him. Our sabers connecting, clashing, hissing, and crying for what is occuring. Each blow, up, down, to the left, to the right, over, and under to tell us to stop, but we cannot hear. Neither of us can.
"Did you really Lisko. You never bragged about it. Did you really love killing them?"
"YOUR JEDI MIND TRICKS END HERE! I AM SITH, I will be the new Dark Lord of the Sith and I will bring Coruscant to its knees." Our sabers still locked between the two. The forest, burning before us to end this horrible brawl.
"You cannot do it Lisko. I still sense the good in you. That is how our bond was able to be opened once again." He pushes me to the side with his left hand. I hit the back of the tree after he jumps over to me, he grabs me by the throat. He looks up at me with his blood red eyes.
"Would Lisko have done this, master?" He points to all of the Dark Jedi he killed. The strongest I can feel is the middle one. The Quarren's head who is on the stick while the others are all clumped together. A few other heads are on other sticks to surround the Quarren.
"You killed them all, didn't you? Who are you?" I am practically crying. This is how Obi-Wan must have felt. The day Anakin was no more, the day he killed all the younglings and those other Jedi still within the temple. I can understand Obi-Wan more so than I ever dreamt I could.
"I told you, I am not Lisko anymore. I am Darth Hades." He aims to swipe me down with his saber, but before he can I bring my purple saber to his hand. When he sees it close to it, he backs away and I use the force to throw me up in the air.
"Well then you are lost." I bring my saber up to the side of my body. Up in the air, while my old apprentice brings his closer to the ground.
"No master, you are lost."
Meanwhile, my love and the furry swirled creature have checked the entire area of the ancient temple. They cannot find the aura anywhere. Even though it is a part of the force, they have not been able to sense him. Finally he shows up, not too far from Imperial Remnant forces.
"He's cutting a deal with the Remnants Ichi, you go and deal with Kun. I'll sabotage Lisko's ship." The small furry creature nods his head and runs for the aura. As soon as he exits the temple, the blue aura appears and the doors to the temple all lock at once. The plan has changed.
"You're too late. The Remnants are already leaving the moon. I just finished talking with them. Now, you will die." She runs for the garden area, it is the only open place. If she can get out, she can have Ichi help her. She can be alive so she can still live and love with me. For the moment though, she will have to prove that she has earned her title against this aura. If she cannot win, then she does not only lose her title, but her life.
"Do you know how long it'll take for them to get back?"
"Not too sure, Trivas. Hey, look at that. It's a Star Destroyer, wonder what it was doing here."
"I don't know Holass, but we're not sitting here and waiting to find out. We're going after it."
"What about the Jedi?"
"They can handle themselves. Besides, we couldn't fight a Sith even if we had the best hands in the galaxy. However, Storm Troopers are not a problem." She nods her pudgy head and the two head after the grey destroyer.