The Battle of Onderon
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars; this is merely a fanfiction.
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Dawn.
The sun rose over the city of Iziz, launching its gleaming rays across the city.
A crisp chill ran through the air.
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Dawn.
Korr Sunka was sitting in his cell, head bowed. The door opened, and two Onderonian soldiers grabbed him under his arms, dragging him out.
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Dawn.
Queen Ashti watched from her cell as the soldiers carried her beloved to his demise. "Korr!"
He looked up, and the soldiers paused.
"Do not lament for me." He managed a weak smile, as though he were only going to the dentist.
"I love you!" Ashti exclaimed.
Korr Sunka opened his mouth to respond, but the Onderonian soldiers looped a gag around his mouth and carried on as Ashti watched, defeated and heartbroken.
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Dawn.
The executioner sat on a stool, sharpening his vibrosword.
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Dawn.
The Beast Riders pushed against the Onderonian military and the Imperial stormtroopers, who were bent on keeping them out of Iziz. The Beast Riders screamed and hollered, and their drexl hissed and pawed at the ground.
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Dawn.
A gallows had been built, with a chopping block in the center. The citizens of Yolahn Square came out to watch the first public execution in a long, long time.
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Everything was ready. The stage was set for the spectacular confrontation to take place in the streets of Iziz and the Royal Palace.
Another civil war was on the horizon.
Rising, just like the dawn.
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General Bostuco watched from Yolahn Square as the crowds thronged around her. Her soldiers stood guard, trying to maintain order. She hoped everything went according to plan. She hoped that slicer she hired - a Twilek named Kaden - would come through for them.
And then Bostuco watched as Korr Sunka was led to the execution block. She watched as Gazellia appeared before the crowds on an elaborate podium, making a speech.
Bostuco's eyes narrowed.
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~0~
You would sacrifice everything for your ambition, Vaklu. The Republic, Iziz - everything!
~0~
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And Gazellia lapped up the attention from the crowds as she gave her speech. "... finding Korr Sunka guilty of the murder of Moff Reeden. The penalty - death!"
The crowds in Iziz stirred, and in the distance, the Beast Riders screamed and hollered. The executioner stepped forth, wearing the uniform of the Onderon military, with a scarf concealing the lower portion of his face. He motioned brutally towards the two Onderonian soldiers carrying Korr Sunka. They roughly forced him forward, slamming his head onto the execution block.
The executioner held out a hand, furiously motioning for something. A vibrosword was proffered him, and he grasped the handle, holding it up to the morning light. He ran his other hand up and down the sleek blade affectionately, as though embracing a lover.
He turned, and held the vibrosword above his head, ready to deliver Korr Sunka the fatal blow.
Gazellia's eyes gleamed in triumph.
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~0~
That is a gross simplification, Talia. Change is a painful process. A price must be paid. But Onderon will have a new destiny, one larger than you can imagine.
~0~
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From her cell, Queen Ashti was forced to watch the holofeed of the execution. She turned away, unable to see her beloved's final moments.
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Korr Sunka closed his eyes, bracing himself.
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The blade descended.
Swoosh.
Thud.
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Silence.
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Korr Sunka opened his eyes in pure amazement. Had the blade missed its mark? Was that just a practice swing?
No!
The blade had cut right through Korr Sunka's bonds, freeing him. He turned in sheer shock to find that the entire audience was just as stunned as him.
The executioner threw back "his" mask to reveal - Pooja Naberrie! She withdrew a pistol.
"Here!"
In a moment of sheer instinct, Korr Sunka caught the pistol as Pooja retrieved a second one. The next thing anyone knew, the two Onderonian soldiers who had delivered Korr Sunka to the execution site were lying on the ground.
Stunned.
The Beast Riders who were watching in the distance cheered.
Gazellia was beside herself. She stood up, her voice magnified. "What is the meaning of this?! How dare you?!"
Pooja was just as indignant. "How dare I?! How dare I?! How about you tell everyone here what is really going on?"
"Besides you, the Senator of Naboo, turning traitor against Onderon?"
"Oh, there's a traitor in our midst alright! One who's been manipulating all the sides - Onderon, the Beast Riders, even the Empire!" Pooja trained her pistol on a soldier that was moving towards her. Her eyes, however, never left Gazellia's. "How about you tell everyone here that it was you who murdered Moff Reeden?! How about you tell everyone how you want there to be a war?! How about you tell everyone about the coming Mandalorian invasion?!"
Gazellia snorted. "I'm Queen for only a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur." She turned to the masses of Iziz. "And what proof does this woman have of her assertions? Will you all listen to her, a sympathizer of barbarians and murderers?"
At this latest dig, the Beast Riders screamed and hollered, and the Onderon military keeping them back was now fighting a losing battle.
"Proof? Proof? How about we listen to your own words?!" Pooja pulled out a comlink. "Now Kaden!"
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In the computer room located in the Royal Palace, the Twilek slicer known as Kaden fumbled with a comlink - a comlink containing a recording of Gazellia's conversation with The Master. He plugged it in, hacking into every single microphone that Gazellia had placed throughout the city.
"And ... done," he said to himself. All he would have to do is press a button, and Gazellia's confession would be blasted through the microphones - to be heard by every citizen of Iziz.
And now ... the coup de grace.
He moved to press the button!
"Freeze!"
He never got the chance. A dozen Onderonian personnel stormed in, placing the slicer under arrest before he could broadcast Gazellia's conversation with The Master across Iziz.
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Out in the Square, Pooja waited. And waited.
Nothing.
She raised her comlink to her lips. "Kaden. Kaden?"
No response.
Gazellia motioned to her troops. "I've lost patience for this nonsense. Shoot them now." She sat down on a portable throne, her arms crossed as the Onderonian troops made for Pooja and Korr Sunka.
It was hopeless.
There was a flash of green, and the heads of two Onderonian soldiers fell to the ground, followed by their knees.
Gazellia sprang to her feet. "What is this?!"
Rahm Kota was standing between the Onderonian military and Pooja and Korr Sunka, his green lightsaber flaring from his hands.
Whispers poured out from the crowd, in shock at this turn of events.
Gazellia's mouth hung slack. "A Jedi?" She glared at her military. "What are you waiting for?! Destroy him!"
And then there were two blue blurs, and four soldiers fell to the ground, their limbs strewn and cauterized. Starkiller stood there, his twin sabers at the ready.
"Two Jedi!" Gazellia growled. "It matters not!" She addressed the throngs of Iziz citizens. "These Jedi are siding with the murderer, Korr Sunka!"
"This man is innocent," Kota announced to the crowds.
"Really," Gazellia responded. "The evidence says no. I did not want to reveal this tape; I did not want to traduce the memory of Korr Sunka more than I had to. But I have no choice!" She held up a holocron. "This video proves that Korr Sunka was acting on behalf of Moff Zeeon in the murder of Moff Reeden! The greedy little murderer butchered our beloved Moff for a few lousy credits!"
"Lies," Korr Sunka bellowed.
"Shall I show this video? Shall I premiere it on the holonet? What say you, citizens of Iziz?"
The crowds screamed in response. It seemed they themselves were divided, some supporting Korr Sunka and the Jedi, and the rest supporting Gazellia.
On the other side, the Beast Riders were beginning to break through the Onderonian and Imperial lines. General Bostuco gave half-hearted orders to her troops, while the Imperial commanders bustled back and forth, barking commands.
"But it matters not," Gazellia announced, looking to the skies. "Look! The liberators of our planet have arrived to free us from Imperial hegemony once and for all!"
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That was when the Basilisk War Droids began arriving.
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Terror flooded the citizens of Iziz. Gazellia held out her hands in a placating motion. "Do not fear, my people! The Mandalorians come, not as conquerors, but as liberators! In the spirit of Canderous Ordo, who helped our people during the Onderon Civil War millennia ago ..."
And armored men began emerging from the Basilisks, training their weapons on the Beast Riders.
The Beast Riders paused, considering their next course of action.
But to their surprise, the Mandalorian shock troops turned their weapons on a different group - the Imperials.
Caught totally off guard, a line of stormtroopers were completely gunned down, right in front of the crowds, who began to cheer! The Imperials dug their heels in ready to do battle. Gazellia turned to the Onderonian military. "Don't just stand there - assist the Mandalorians! Assist our comrades in the liberation of our planet from the Imperial scum!"
And the Onderonian military turned, joining the Mandalorians, marching with them. The Imperials were being driven back.
The Beast Riders were unsure of what to do, which side to take. Most of them turned, and flocked to where Kota, Starkiller, Pooja and Korr Sunka were standing. The rest of the Beast Riders joined the Mandalorians in the slaughter of the Imperials.
Pooja was cursing under her breathe as she was joined on the executioner's platform by Bostuco. "Kaden's not responding," Pooja hastily replied, gunning down an Onderonian soldier that was advancing on them.
Starkiller looked over at Pooja and Bostuco. "What the heck kind of plan did you have in mind?"
"We had a slicer - he was going to hack into the Royal Palace's central computer, override all the damn microphones that witch stuck everywhere, and reveal her confession of being behind everything!"
"Nice plan," Starkiller spat, turning aside several laser bolts. "But we can't fight off four armies!"
"It was a good plan," Bostuco retorted. "If only our slicer hadn't gotten captured!"
"They've probably stuck him in a holding cell!" Korr Sunka said.
Starkiller rolled his eyes. "And if this slicer manages to - what did you say - hack into a bunch of microphones ... this Gazellia's plans will unravel?!"
"Yes," Pooja snapped. "It'll show that she planned everything, that Korr Sunka is innocent, and then the Onderonian military and Beast Riders will turn against the Mandalorians!"
"And as for the Imperials?"
"Who knows?!"
"It's always something!" He pulled out a comlink. "Juno! Juno!"
""Eclipse to Starkiller."
"New plan Juno! I need you and Proxy to get into the Royal Palace - find some slicer." He turned to Pooja. "What's your slicer's name?"
"Kaden!"
"Sounds Twilek."
"He is Twilek!"
"Get in there, find a Twilek slicer named Kaden! He's most likely in the detention block! Get him to the computer room!" He deflected more laser fire and watched as a building collapsed. The crowds of Iziz were dispersing, heading to safety ... the whole square had been turned into a warzone. "Hurry!"
"Copy! Wedge and I are on it!"
Starkiller looked over at Bostuco and Pooja, who had taken cover behind the executioner's block, returning fire at the enemies.
"My friends are on the job!" he yelled over the noise of the battle!
"Great!" Bostuco hollered back. She looked over at Pooja. "It'll be a wonder if we get out of this alive!"
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The Rogue Shadow skimmed the surface of Onderon. Below, pockets of explosions tore across the cityscape. Ahead was the Royal Palace. Juno slid out of the pilot seat. "Proxy, take over."
"Oh my." The droid ambled over, taking the controls.
Juno slid two blaster pistols into her leg holsters. "Wedge, you're coming with me."
Wedge nodded. "Remind what we're going after again?"
"A Twilek slicer. Starkiller seems to think he can this battle."
Wedge shrugs. "I'm always down for some action."
The hatch of the ship opened, and Juno leaped down, landing on a battlement of the palace. Wedge followed suit, and they watched as the Rogue Shadow ascended into the sky.
"This way." Juno pulled both her blasters free, and she made for a door on one of the spires leading into the palace, Wedge covering her.
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Proxy sat at the controls of the Rogue Shadow, humming merrily to himself when a shadow fell over him.
"Droid ..."
Proxy turned to see Zarbina standing in the cockpit.
"Oh, Madame. Would you not be more comfortable in the lounge?"
"Take me to the Palace's landing pad."
"Excuse me?"
"Just do it," snapped Zarbina.
"But may I ask -."
"I know my sister. When things don't go her way, she retreats." A grin spread across her face. "And I want to be waiting for her."
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Queen Ashti sat isolated in her cell, when the laser wall deactivated. She looked up to see two Onderonian guards throw a lump into the cell at her feet, before activating the laser wall again.
Ashti looked down. It was a Twilek.
The Twilek straightened up, before taking in his surroundings. "Hmm, not bad."
"Excuse me?" Ashti asked, confused.
Kaden the Slicer shrugged. "I've been in worse cells than this." And with that, he reclined and relaxed.
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Gazellia was already on the move. She had slipped away in the thick of the fighting and was now moving towards the Royal Palace on foot.
Yes, almost to safety.
That was when she looked up in the sky to see at least ten Star Destroyers appear in her atmosphere and begin unloading shuttles.
And from where she was standing ...
Walkers.
Approaching Iziz.
But how? The Mandalorians were to take the Imperials by surprise. The Empire shouldn't have been able to amass such a fighting force this quickly.
Unless ...
No, someone couldn't have tipped the Empire off!
Could they?
Apparently, there was another traitor in the mix who sold her out to the Empire.
Gazellia picked up the pace.
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"Guys ... we've got more trouble!" Kota, Pooja, Bostuco and Korr Sunka watched in horror as the Imperial reinforcements suddenly appeared and began their assault against the Mandalorian, Onderonian and Beast Rider forces.
"Where did they come from?" Bostuco announced.
Pooja looked around. "Gazellia ... she's gone!"
"Back to the palace, I bet," Bostuco announced. "She can't be allowed to escape!"
"I'm on it," Starkiller replied. "Kota, get these three to safety. Once Juno and Wedge get that slicer, I'll radio Proxy and he'll get us out of here. We'll rendezvous at the Palace's landing pad."
"Careful, boy," Kota nodded. He turned to the others. "Alright, you three lumps. Get behind me! Everyone follow the green lightsaber, understand?"
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KABOOM!
A wall in the side of the palace's detention block was blasted into rubble, and through that rubble stepped Juno and Wedge. They passed laser wall after laser wall, peering into the cells as they went.
"Any Twileks in there?" asked Juno.
"Nope," Wedge replied. "In that one?"
"Nope."
"Did someone say Twilek?" It was a female voice. "There's one here."
Wedge and Juno sprinted down the block, past criminals begging to be set free. And there - a Twilek with a beautiful young woman. "I think this is it," Juno said.
The Twilek was passed out on the floor, snoring loudly. "Hey, wake up," Ashti said, shaking him.
The Twilek groaned. "Leave me alone, I told you I'd have the credits next week, you know I'm good for it."
"Wake up!" Ashti said more forcefully.
Kaden came to, rubbing his eyes. "Whatsamatter?"
"We're here to bust you out," Wedge replied.
The sleepiness instantly departed from Kaden. "Really? Then hurry!"
Juno flipped open the control panel to the door. "Hmm ... it's more complicated than anything I've seen."
"Hey, I'm a slicer," Kaden said, standing up to face Juno from the other side of the purple laser wall. "I'll walk you through it. Remove the plastic covering."
"Okay."
"You see a red wire and a blue wire?"
"Yes."
"Unhinge the blue wire, then plug the red wire into the node on the left."
Juno nodded. "Okay. Wait, your left or mine?"
Kaden held his hands up, examining them, muttering to himself, thinking the question through. "Your left. I think."
"You think?"
"Hey, I've had a rough day! Got hired for my first job in over four months, and I get arrested. Though I gotta say, it was nice being thrown in jail with such a pretty lady." He leered at Ashti who looked revolted. "And to be rescued by an equally pretty lady." He winked at Juno. Juno's look of revulsion surpassed Ashti's.
"I would say leave him," Wedge smirked.
"Unfortunately, we need him," Juno replied. "There. Wires done."
The laser wall flickered and went out.
Kayden stretched as he exited. Ashti made to follow, but Wedge held out a hand. "And who were you?"
"I ... I'm Queen Ashti, rightful ruler of Onderon."
"Yeah, and I'm Emperor Palpatine," Wedge scoffed. "How do we know you're not a hardened criminal?"
Ashti looked over at Kayden for help. Kayden shrugged.
"Wedge!" Juno exclaimed impatiently. "We don't have time for this, we'll sort it out later! Come on!"
And the foursome sped down the hall.
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The tide was quickly turning. Gazellia watched from a spire in the Royal Palace as her Mandalorian forces were being turned back by the Empire. The Beast Riders and the Onderonian military had surrendered to Imperial forces, who were now driving the Mandalorians back to their Basilisk War Droids.
She clenched her fists, then sprinted up towards the palace's landing pad.
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The door to the computer room sizzled open as the foursome of Juno, Wedge, Kaden and Ashti filed in. "Alright, Slicer, do your magic," Wedge urged.
Kaden cracked his knuckles. "With pleasure." He sliced into the computer. "When I was arrested, the Onderonians threw away the video of Gazellia's confession. But, fortunately for us, this computer automatically saves every file downloaded onto it. All I have to do is go through its memory banks ... ah, there! This'll just take a minute."
They watched with baited breathe as the computer processed the backup file.
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Gazellia reached the landing platform of the Royal Palace - there. Her personal starfighter. She would merely slip away, activate her ship's cloaking device. She moved for it.
"Leaving your own party? I'm not surprised. You always did throw a fit when things didn't go quite your way."
Gazellia stopped as Zarbina stepped from out of the shadows, and then grinned. "Hello sister."
Zarbina had no smile on her face. "You won't be getting away this time. It's time you faced justice for your crimes."
"Oh," Gazellia taunted. "Justice? You'll kill me, is that it? You couldn't even kill me when Master required you."
"Oh, I won't kill you. I can incapacitate you, then leave you to face a proper trial."
Gazellia laughed. "A proper trial? From whom? Don't you see that Onderon will now and forever be under Imperial dominion?"
"All your own doing," Zarbina replied sadly.
"My doing? My doing would have seen Onderon liberated today! But there is a traitor in my midst. You, perhaps?"
Zarbina scoffed. "Of course not. Though I loathe what you have done, I would never bring more Imperial tyranny to Onderon. You judge too quickly, as always, my sister. Always too quick to assume. Therein lies your weakness ... besides blind obedience to your Master."
"Blind obedience. It is you who are blinded! The Master has freed me, made the Force my tool, shown me how to control it! Soon my power will be unlimited!" She stretched forth her arms, blasting Zarbina back with Force Lightning. Zarbina hit a starfighter docked on the pad, before slumping to the ground.
Gazellia exhaled with satisfaction, then grunted with annoyance as Zarbina rose to her feet, relatively unscathed.
"You are deluded," Zarbina replied. "The Master will never allow you to become that strong. That is his way. You and he are just like the two Sith Lords who reign over the Empire. One who embodies power. The other who craves it."
"No Sith Lord could match my Master's cunning," Gazellia spat. "No Sith Lord could plot what he has plotted -."
"Oh, so Senator Palpatine did not singlehandedly bring down the Republic from the inside?"
Gazellia clenched her fists so tightly that blood ran between her fingers.
"Face it." Zarbina was walking towards her sister, clearly now in control. "It is over. You have shown me who you truly are when you sided with your Master over me. And now, it is time for all of Onderon to see who you truly are. To see the cold, raw, naked Gazellia exposed to all!"
Gazellia bared her teeth and actually growled.
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As the fighting intensified, the microphones across the city blared out Gazellia's confession.
"Indeed. Once you show the doctored video of Moff Zeeon paying Korr Sunka to murder Moff Reeden ... the Beast Riders will turn against the one they believe truly responsible - Moff Zeeon."
There was a lull in the fighting. The Onderonians and the Beast Riders stopped, absorbing what they heard.
And then they surrendered unconditionally to the Empire.
Leaving the majority of the Mandalorians to retreat. A few Mandalorians stayed behind, determined to fight this out until the bitter end.
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Gazellia let out an animalistic cry of rage, having heard her own voice blaring her confession across Iziz.
"You are undone," Zarbina said solemnly. "Exposed and naked before the light. Return to the light. Renounce The Master. We can return and join the Rebellion. Join those two Jedi, study under them as Padawans. We can actually oppose the Empire in that way. We can restore the Jedi Order!"
"N-NEVER!"
Gazellia unleashed all of her hatred at Zarbina in the form of Force Lightning. This time, Zarbina did not take the blast. With a flick of her hand, the lightning was deflected into the sky. Zarbina then compressed the Force in a Repulse attack, slamming Gazellia into a starship.
Gazellia was on her feet, using the Force to whip bits of metal and starship parts at her sister. Zarbina deflected them all with the Force.
Gazellia blasted her with more lightning.
Zarbina responded with lightning of her own, and the two Force attacks connected, exploding in a shower of light and sparks.
And the sisters were on their feet again.
It was at that moment that Starkiller emerged from behind a doorway, activating his twin sabers.
"Give it up," he warned Gazellia. "You've been defeated!"
"No! No, there's still a chance!"
"It's over," Zarbina said. "Accept it."
"You would do well to listen," came a harsh, fourth voice. From out of nowhere materialized a figure in a black cloak and hood.
"Master!" Gazellia kneeled down before The Master. "Master! I have tried! I -."
"You have failed," The Master simply stated.
"No! We can still win this! Master, please! There's still a chance! Just give me more time! Your Mandalorians are down there fighting!"
"My Mandalorians are down there retreating."
"But -."
"I gave the retreat order," The Master replied. "Someone on Onderon reported our plan to the Empire. All is lost here. I will move on, make new plans."
"Yes Master," Gazellia replied. "I do whatever you ask! I will make up for this, I swear!"
"Unfortunately for you, there will be no next time." The Master clenched his fist.
"NO!" Zarbina charged after him, but the Master merely glared at her from under his hood, and Zarbina slammed headfirst into a starship. She slid to the ground, unconscious.
Gazellia was gripping her throat, gasping for air.
"Enough of this!" Starkiller screamed.
"Oh, I agree," the Master replied. His thumb and index finger connected, and Gazellia's neck was snapped. Her body hit the ground like a deflated balloon.
Dead.
The Master then turned his attention to Starkiller, who raised his lightsabers defensively. The Master merely shrugged. "I have no desire to battle you, Starkiller."
"Y-you know my name?"
"Of course. I have my sources within both the Empire and the Rebellion. I've heard your whole fascinating story. Raised by Darth Vader. A Jedi hunter. Your battle on the Death Star. Whether you are the true Starkiller or merely a clone. The Battle on Kamino. Dantooine. I've even heard of your exploits on Bespin."
Starkiller smirked. "So you've heard of me. Then you know that I'm not someone to be trifled with!"
"Oh, I'm not here to challenge you. I'm here to offer you a proposition!"
"I know what you would ask!" Starkiller spat. "If you think I'm joining you, you're crazier than you look!"
"Don't be a fool," The Master cooed. "The Rebellion is fighting a losing battle. You were on the Death Star. You know what that space station is capable of. Do not remain on the losing side. Join with someone who can actually challenge the Empire. Join someone who can show you the true power of the Force -."
"I'll never serve the Dark Side again!"
"Who said anything about the Dark Side?" The Master took a few steps forward. Starkiller pointed a blade at him warningly. The Master continued speaking. "You must come to learn that not everything is black and white. As I have discovered in my dealings with both the Jedi and the Sith - the Force is neutral. True power comes from a balance of light or dark. Serving neither. Neglecting neither."
"Yeah, well, from what I've seen of you, all I see is dark!"
"Because you have the blinders of the so-called Light Side placed over your eyes. Allow me to show you the truth behind the Force. Allow me to help your reach your full potential. You want to defeat Vader and the Emperor? So do I! We need not be enemies, but allies! Together, we can destroy both Sith Lords!"
"Thanks, but no thanks! Besides, I've already got a Master."
"A blind Jedi. How the symbolism fits. His physical blindness betrays his philosophical blindness."
"Look, enough talk," Starkiller sneered. "If we're going to fight, let's do it!"
"But I've told you ... I see you not as an enemy. We need not fight. Not yet, at least. I see that you need time to consider my proposition. I will leave you in peace, and with the tender offer of brotherhood and friendship. I will allow you to escape, so that you may have time to consider my offer. Go in peace."
And to Starkiller's amazement, The Master leaped over the edge of the landing pad with surprising agility, disappearing into the city below.
Starkiller stood there, momentarily amazed, before he pulled out his comlink. "Juno. Kota. Meet me at the rendezvous point. Proxy ... we're done here."
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The Rogue Shadow hovered over the landing pad. Kaden gladly climbed aboard without asking permission. Wedge carried the unconscious Zarbina aboard. Kota looked over at Pooja. "We'll take you to Naboo. There we can hide recuperate for a day or two. Stock up on supplies."
Queen Ashti stood with Korr Sunka and General Bostuco. "We will stay here," Ashti announced. "The Empire no longer suspects Korr Sunka or I. We'll be left to govern our people. With a significantly larger Imperial garrison, however. As long as the Empire does not discover that we helped you, Korr Sunka and I should be safe." Her hand found Korr Sunka's, and they tightened their grip.
Kota bowed to the three of them. "Good luck to you then. May the Force be with you."
He climbed aboard, and the Rogue Shadow departed into space.
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Kota, Wedge and Juno sat in the cockpit. Kota was giving instructions. "Cut low across the atmosphere and try to jam the Imperial transmission. We'll take off on the other side of the planet. We'll only have less than ten seconds to go to hyperspace before their sensors are up again and pick us up."
"I've already got the coordinates set."
They were joined by Pooja. "I just ... wanted to thank everyone for all your help. I honestly didn't think I would make it through the morning. When we arrive home, I'll talk to the Queen of Naboo. I can't promise anything, but I'll try to make her see reason. Even if she can only support the Rebellion in secrecy -."
"Support in secrecy is better than no support at all," Juno replied kindly.
Pooja smiled. "I thank you all for your kindness."
"How are our other passengers?"
Pooja cleared her throat. "Zarbina will be okay. She's sleeping right now. When we get to Naboo, she can have a stay in the hospital wing at Theed. Meanwhile, I caught Kaden trying to snag a few nick-nacks."
"To be expected," Kota replied. "I had Juno and Wedge booby-trap some of the more expensive equipment. If he tries to nab any of that ... well, he'll be in for a nasty surprise."
Poojo chuckled. "Well ... I'd also like to thank our other comrade on this journey."
"The kid?" Kota shrugged. "Check the meditation chambers."
"Thank you, Master Jedi."
"Don't thank me just yet."
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Starkiller sat, cross-legged, in the Rogue Shadow's meditation chamber, his twin lightsabers floating in circles around his head.
Pooja stood in the doorway, and gently rapped on the metal wall. Starkiller opened his eyes and hooked his lighstabers back into their sheaths.
"I never got the chance to thank you. For everything you did on Onderon. Queen Ashti is my friend, and if wasn't for you guys ... we'd all be goners."
"Don't worry about it," Starkiller grunted. "I did my duty to the Rebellion. My contacts say you're very important."
Pooja shrugged. "I don't know. I support the Rebellion, but I can't quite get the rest of my people to go along with it. They're scared."
"My contacts also say that Darth Vader has been keeping a close watch on you and your family. Any reason why?"
Pooja looked genuinely taken aback. "Lord ... Lord Vader? Keeping tabs on me? On my family?"
"I take it you had no idea."
"None." She bristled. "Ugh, I don't like the idea of that creep anywhere near my family."
Starkiller stood up, stretching. "Well, maybe my contacts are wrong. Nevertheless, be careful who you speak to. If you support the Rebellion, and Vader gets wind of it ... well, that Death Star you've heard about will find its way to Naboo."
"Thanks for the advice," Pooja replied. She squeezed his arm, and he looked down into her face, into her eyes.
And there was a white flash of white.
.
.
.
A handsome young man and beautiful young woman walk the streets of Naboo with a blue astromech droid. The pretty woman points. "There's my house!" She picks up the pace, but the young man fumbles behind awkwardly. She turns around, smiling. "What, don't tell me you're shy!"
"Well ... no, but I ..."
They're interrupted as two little girls come running up to the beautiful woman. "Aunt Padme! Aunt Padme!"
Padme kneels down, embracing the two little girls. "Ryoo! Pooja! I'm so happy to see you! This is Anakin. Anakin, this is Ryoo, and this is Pooja."
The two little girls look up at him shyly. "Hello." Then they spot the astromech droid. "Artoo!" The girls both gang up on the little droid, hugging him, and Artoo whistles happily. Padme laughs, and leads the girls, and the shy Anakin, into her house.
.
.
.
Starkiller broke away from Pooja, who was as equally shocked as him. "What ... what just happened?" Pooja demanded. "Did you ... did you just invade my mind?!"
"I think so," Starkiller answered.
"You ... that was my private ... that was my ... how dare you!"
"I didn't mean to do it. It's been happening a lot. I apologize. It was an accident, I assure you."
Pooja looked away. "I'm sorry. It's just ... the idea of someone in my head ..."
Starkiller was trembling. "If ... if I may ask ... who were those people?"
"My Aunt Padme. She used to be Queen of Naboo, then a Senator. Now I'm the Naboo Senator."
Starkiller nodded. "I've seen her before."
Pooja whirled around. "What do you mean?"
"I've had ... visions. It's hard to explain. I've seen her. In her final moments."
"If this is your idea of a joke, it isn't funny."
"I'm a Jedi. We don't joke."
"Have you met General Kota?"
"I'm being serious!"
"Alright," Pooja replied, hands on her hips. "Say I believe you. Why would you be having visions of my Aunt Padme?"
"I don't know! But the man who was with her ... Anakin. There's something about him. Something very familiar. It's like ... I've known him my whole life."
"You can't have. He died around the same time as my Aunt Padme. During the Jedi Purge. It was most likely Vader that got him."
"What can you tell me about this Anakin fellow?"
Pooja sighed. "Anakin Skywalker. Powerful Jedi. He was my aunt's bodyguard. That's about all I know."
"Just her bodyguard?"
"Hey, I only met the guy once or twice! Although, I did get the feeling he would've liked to have been more. If you know what I mean."
Starkiller's thoughts drifted to Juno. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."
"Well ... that's all I can tell you. But from now on," she pointed her finger in his face. "Stay out of my mind!"
She turned and walked away, leaving a very confused Starkiller to mull everything over.
.
.
.
Darth Vader stood atop the bridge of an Imperial Star Destroyer, overlooking Onderon. His arms were folded, and he was deep in thought. It had been a close call for Pooja Naberrie. Had he not arrived in time with reinforcements ... had his contact not informed him of Gazellia's plans, he might not have arrived in time.
The Dark Apprentice stood next to him silently, but with a frown on his face. The Dark Apprentice had wanted to go down to the planet, to face his "brother." He finally spoke up. "Why did you let them go?"
"Because it was not yet time for their capture," the Dark Lord replied. "Your brother clone still has a role to play in my plans."
The Dark Apprentice shook his head. "You should've let me go down there anyway. I could've stopped that witch in two seconds flat and brought you her 'Master's' head."
"No. Your temptation to face Starkiller would've been too great. I could not risk that."
"But I don't understand why you need him alive!"
"And you do not need to understand. You have yet to master patience. Do that, and then perhaps I shall allow you into my confidence." The Dark Apprentice looked up at the helmeted head. He swallowed his urge to retort with a smart comment, and merely bowed his head. "Yes, My Lord. With your permission, I would like to utilize the training room."
"Granted."
The Dark Apprentice turned and practically stormed off the bridge. Vader paid him no mind.
An Imperial office approached the Dark Lord. "My Lord ... a transmission from the planet. Your contact."
Vader nodded. "I shall receive them in my private chambers."
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.
.
Vader entered his private chamber, and the blue hologram of his contact appeared. "You have done well," Vader said. "By informing me of that witch's plans, you have allowed the Empire to tighten its grip on Onderon. The Emperor shall have promotion for you."
"Thank you, My Lord."
"You are dismissed."
"Very good, My Lord. I look forward to our next meeting." And the blue hologram of General Bostuco vanished, leaving Darth Vader alone in his chamber, his mechanical breathing echoing through the anteroom.