Clone Vs Clone
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. This is merely a fanfiction. I gain no income from this story.
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"Again!"
Darth Vader was kneeling in his specially constructed chamber in the Mandalorian Base, his mask off, Plagueis standing over him, a mind probe hovering between them. Vader's mask was once again off and he glared up at the Muun with yellow eyes.
Pagueis was well-pleased. "We are making progress. We saw it together – didn't we? Yes, you striking down what Skywalker once loved has been effective. We saw Mortis … and we saw … well, what do you think we saw?"
Vader look up. " … A Daughter … a Father … and … a Son?"
"Yes. We are close now, very close."
Vader clenched his fist. His memories … erased by Mortis and also repressed by him. Vague memories of the planet … quickly changing seasons … and … Obi-Wan …
But something else was nagging at the Dark Lord. He stood up. "You promised me the power to resurrect my wife," he growled. "Instead you made me strike down her image … when? When can I have what I want?"
"When we reach Mortis, I promise … the power of the planet itself … the wellspring of the Force … it will give life to her flesh …"
Vader's fist was raised. "More vague promises. You are no better than my old Master."
Plagueis, arms folded, drummed his fingers on his arms. "Sidious could never have achieved what I have. He could never have tapped into your mind, restored memories erased, brought himself back from the brink. You are very mistaken, Lord Vader. I have outstripped him by light years. And as for you … a hideous fusion of machine and flesh. Your true potential was cut short there on Mustafar, by Obi-Wan. But … there is another gift of Mortis … as the wellspring of the Force can give Padme life, so can it restore your dead flesh, regrow your limbs …"
Plagueis touched Vader's head. Vader's eyes widened. Visions of himself, in Sith battle armor, a black cape flowing … but this time with limbs of flesh and blood. His face, no longer burned, but well-aged and still handsome with flowing hair … Vader saw himself as he would have been had he not been defeated by Obi-Wan.
The Muun Sith Lord smiled. "It can be yours, Lord Vader. It can all be yours." He turned, arms behind his back as he paced out of the room. "We will try the mind probe one more time this evening. And I am certain that this time, we willbe successful."
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A hundred Wookies were slowly moving in vines, lightened only by the pale moonlight of Kashyyyk. They struggled, weakened, moaning in pain and humiliation.
Below, Starkiller was in a battle stance, Kento Marek's blue lightsaber angled in front of him.
Joruus C'Baoth held his own weapon, a purple blade.
For a moment … neither moved.
C'Baoth hurled his lightsaber. It spun in the air like an energy disk. Starkiller batted it away and his eyes widened as lightning blasted from the fallen Jedi's fingers. The young clone deflected with his lightsaber, struggling to arc it back.
C'Baoth vanished.
There was a battle cry. C'Baoth was above in him, bringing his lightsaber to bear in a downward arc. Starkiller parried and C'Baoth landed. The two circled as they dueled, blue and purple blades flashing, Starkiller's face grim, C'Baoth's eyes wide and mad.
They disengaged. C'Baoth Force Pushed him. Starkiller absorbed the impact and redirected it, knocking the old man off his feet. C'Baoth's hair flung down over his face. His teeth clicked as her jerked himself upright, lashing out with the Force. The ground beneath Starkiller cracked and the young clone flew upward, slamming into a tree, his lightsaber rolling away.
He sat up. His weapon was within reach.
It levitated.
Away from him, and into C'Baoth's outstretched hand. The mad Jedi stood, now holding both his and Starkiller's weapons. He charged. Starkiller leaped into the air, over the Jedi Master, landing behind him. C'Baoth spun, both hands a whirl of deadly light. Starkiller charged, grabbing C'Baoth's wrists, struggling to regain control of his weapon.
C'Baoth headbutted him. Starkiller flew backwards, hitting the ground. He saw stars. C'Baoth charged again, jumping into the air, ready to impale the clone to the ground with a downward strike from both blades.
Starkiller lashed out himself, catching the Jedi in midair, throwing him into a tree. C'Baoth lost the blue blade which sprung from the ground into Starkiller's hand.
And the two charged again, their weapons clashing non-stop. Starkiller pressed his advantage, backing the Jedi up towards a tree, forcing him to commit. C'Baoth got under Starkiller's guard and with a blur of purple, cauterized him along his side.
Starkiller cried out, limping backwards. C'Baoth, sensing the advantage had shifted, charged. He leapt into the air, spinning, landing, his blade frantic, coming from all directions. Starkiller struggled through his wound to parry each blow. He had never seen a fighting style quite like C'Baoth's. He wasn't using any known forms … his attacks were … manic … random … insane …
Starkiller leapt backwards, putting some distance between himself and the madman. He looked up at the trees, at all the Wookiees suspended there. He had to set them free!
His eyes returned to C'Baoth. "You claim to be a Jedi … you're supposed to be a Protector of the innocent! Not their persecutor!"
C'Baoth's jaw clicked. "All life exists for the Jedi. We were chosen by the Force to assert order on a disorderly universe! If there are casualties along the way … so be it!"
"You're insane!"
"No! I'm perfectly rational!"
Starkiller kept looking up at the Wookies, then down at the old man. "Why did you leave Byss?"
"Such fantasies you have. I have never been to Byss! I have lived here for decades!"
Starkiller narrowed his eyes. "You were released … by the Emperor. Your fighter's destination was programmed. He knew you'd come here …!"
"No!" C'Baoth was pointing. "I'm in control! I am nobody's pawn! No one is telling me what to do!"
"You were a weapon of his … to try to sway me over to your way of thinking … and ultimately the Dark Side …"
"I am a servant of the light!"
"Vader told me once the Emperor experimented with cloning on Byss …" He looked up, realization dawning. "You're not him …"
"I am the Jedi Master Joruus C'Baoth!"
"You're a clone," Starkiller realized. "The real C'Baoth died years ago. He really did it. The Emperor actually cloned a Force User."
"I AM JEDI MASTER JORUUS C'BAOTH!"
Starkiller had struck a nerve. The Jedi Master tossed aside his lightsaber, summoning energy, sucking it out of the lives of the Wookies above, energizing himself.
"No!" Starkiller stepped forward, watching the Wookies screaming above. "Stop this!"
"You have to make me stop, boy! Do it! Do what must be done! That is the only way! Assert your power!"
Above, the Wookies were now screaming, their bodies thinning, C'Baoth body glowing with Force energies.
Without a word, Starkiller hurled his lightsaber above. It sliced through vine after vine, releasing nearly a dozen Wookies. He reached out, catching them in the air, softening their fall. "Run!"
The dozen Wookies hobbled off into the forests, leaning on each other.
C'Baoth lowered his hands. "You only saved a few. The rest remain." He took a threatening step. "You could have saved them all … if you had the will to do what needs to be done!"
"I will not be lectured by a madman," Starkiller spat. "Clone!"
C'Baoth's eye twitched. "I. AM. NOT. A. CLONE!"
He surged forward, summoning his lightsaber, more powerful than before.
Starkiller was ready. He spun Kento's blue blade, parrying C'Baoth's attack. Their sabers crossed. They stared at each other through their crossed blades, sparks flaring up between them. I have to lead him away from here … the Wookies will get help for their fellows …
Starkiller pushed C'Baoth away. He grinned. "You wanted a Jedi? You'll have to hunt for me!" And with that, Starkiller turned and ran into the forests. Deep into the Shadowlands.
With a snarl, C'Baoth darted after him.
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Good, Starkiller thought. He took the bait.
Starkiller leapt from the treetops into the upper forests, allowing himself to plummet down, down, down, into the Shadowlands.
He landed deep in the Shadowlands' heart. He was in a circular clearing. He saw ritual stones on the ground. His heart started racing. Something wasn't right. He felt … cold. Unnatural. Ancient blood stained the ground and a vine dangled from the treetops above.
Behind him, he felt C'Baoth land from a tree. "You've found it …"
Starkiller whirled around, blocking a blow from C'Baoth's lightsaber. They dueled around the circular clearing. "Andwhat exactly have I found?"
C'Baoth grin was demented. "The ritual grounds … a place of sacrifice to the dark creatures … I wonder … has the Emperor's rise to power brought them out of hibernation? Have they been awakened by the growing darkness?"
"What are you talking about?"
C'Baoth disengaged. He hurled his lightsaber at a kinrath that had appeared behind him, impaling the unfortunate creature. Starkiller watched in horror as C'Baoth used the Force to lift the kinrath carcass and tie it to the vine dangling. Blood dripped from the carcass, staining the stone below.
Starkiller felt a surge of darkness … something evil was coming.
C'Baoth grinned as he backed away towards the trees. "I was right … it's coming …"
"What's coming?"
C'Baoth continued backing away. "Awakened by the rising evil … the terentatek have awakened…"
Starkiller turned as a large beast stomped into the clearing. Sharp claws on its hands and feet. Spikes jutting out from its back and shoulders. And its jaws … teeth that could shred metal. And an immense aura of evil melting off its hulking body.
The terentatek roared, before charging at Starkiller with speed that surprised even him. It's claw sheared through the night. Starkiller dove out of the way, missing being impaled by milliseconds. He spun, unleashing a torrent of Force Lightning. The energy struck the monster's hide and bounced off helplessly.
"Oh …"
Behind him, C'Baoth was laughing. "Force powers are useless against it, boy! And their favorite food … is Jedi!"
C'Baoth cacked as he vanished into the trees. Starkiller barely had time to curse him as the terentatek charged again.
The clone dove out of the way as the creature's claws sheared a tree. It spun around, blinking furiously, and roared. It charged again.
Starkiller spun up over it, his blade running along its spine. He landed behind the creature and gasped. His attack had done almost no damage … the creature's hide was thick – even for a lightsaber.
"I may be in trouble …"
The terentatek spun, its spikes flaring. Starkiller dove – a clawed fist swung out, hurling him into a tree. The terentatek charged, pinning Starkiller up against the tree. He grabbed its tusks, holding its fierce jaws back as they snapped.
Saliva-covered teeth snarled as the monster bore down its fangs on his shoulders …
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POW!
POW! POW!
The blasts came from the trees, and all at once. Ray bolts bounced harmlessly off the back of the terentatek. It released Starkiller from its grip. The Jedi clone collapsed in a heap and watched in amazement as more bolts came seemingly out of the darkness.
Then war cries.
Dozens of Wookies were flowing into the clearing – full-fledged warriors from the neighboring tribes. He saw several of the weakened Wookies who he had freed from C'Baoth. They had gone to their tribe and come back with warriors to return the favor.
The terentatek roared as half a dozen Wookie scouts rushed it with wooden vibroblades. The creature snarled, slashing its claws. The Wookies dove back, missing being impaled by centimeters.
Starkiller was running, Kento's blue blade returning to life in his hand. He leapt onto the creature's back. The monster screamed and tried to throw him from its haunches. Starkiller grabbed one of its tusks, swung around, and thrust his sword into its soft underbelly.
The creature's screams were overshadowed by the howls of the Wookies who rushed in, hacking and slashing simultaneously. Starkiller stared into the fury-induced eyes of the monster, before slicing his blade downwards along its gullet. With a backflip, he landed, reached out with the Force. The creature – heavily weakened – was lifted into the air and hurled into a cluster of trees.
The monster shuddered … and moved no more, its carcass emitting putrid green fumes.
Starkiller allowed himself a breather.
Until the Wookies gave a shout and were thrown into heaps across the clearing. Screaming madly, C'Baoth dropped from a tree, hammering away with his lightsaber, their duel commencing once again.
And as Starkiller parried the mad Jedi's blows, another vision swam before his eyes.
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Plagueis was laughing. Vader was on his knees, mask removed, as the mind probe worked through his memories.
Starkiler saw a temple – two thrones. Light and Dark.
A planet, whose seasons changed minute by minute.
He was seeing it fully now – Mortis.
And Plagueis was laughing. "Yes … yes, very good Lord Vader. I knew its location was buried deep, deep in the recesses of your mind … yes, the coordinates … we will make for Mortis immediately …"
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Starkiller was blasted back into a tree. He slumped down.
No – Plagueis had been successful. He had extracted the location of Mortis from Vader's memories.
They were out of time!
With newfound resolve, knowing the fate of the galaxy hung in the balance, Starkiller rose to his feet.
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C'Baoth raised his fingers, prepared to fry the young Jedi alive.
But Starkiller was suddenly in front of him, gripping his fists. C'Baoth struggled … Starkiller's eyes were filled with fury. No, not Dark Side energy. Righteous fury. Righteous indignation.
"You killed dozens of innocent Wookies … you held a hundred hostage, sapping their energy …"
C'Baoth struggled in his grip, gritting his teeth.
"You tried to sway me over to your perverted view of justice … you tried to kill me … you're no Jedi … you're not even a servant of the light …"
Starkiller pushed down with his hands, forcing C'Baoth to his knees. The crazed Jedi struggled in his grip.
"You have no empathy for your actions … you believe power gives you the right to do as you will, all others be damned … you don't care about bringing peace and justice to the galaxy, I can see that … even now, the only thought consuming your mind is how to kill me …"
C'Baoth stared up at him, mouth open. "Who … are you?"
Starkiller's body glowed with Force energy. He unleashed it into C'Baoth's body.
"I am the Son of Kento and Mallie Marek!. Apprentice to Jedi Master Rahm Kota! And I … I am the First Jedi!"
And C'Baoth screamed as lightning coursed through his body. A whirlwind of energy encircled them, creating a crater in the clearing around them. And with a final surge of energy – C'Baoth was blasted into a tree.
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C'Baoth stared helplessly as Starkiller towered over him. The old man's energy was spent. There was a humming sound as the tip of Starkiller's blue blade hovered near his neck.
"Then kill me," C'Baoth spat. "Do what must be done and end my life. Show me that you are a proper Jedi!"
The blade danced, inching closer to meeting its mark. Starkiller's eyes were furrowed. And then …
"No. You can stay here, and rot. Let the Wookies do with you as they will. They may not be as merciful, though. Get a head start. Leave Kashyyk. Go to the furthest reaches of the Outer Rim. And never appear again."
Starkiller deactivated his blade, hooking it to his belt. He turned and began walking the opposite way.
"You think … to turn your back … on ME!"
C'Baoth was back on his feet, lightning surging from his fingertips – one last act of desperation and spite.
Starkiller spun around, absorbing the energy into his own fingertips, allowing it to swirl into his body.
C'Baoth's eyes widened.
"I gave you one last chance to live – and THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!"
Gathering all of C'Baoth's lighting, Starkiller redirected it full force. It streaked into the old clone's body, writhing down C'Baoth's prone form, crackling, sparkling, and zapping. The ground was quaking. C'Baoth was screaming as he was turned into a living battery.
And then –
There was an explosion of blue light.
Starkiller shielded his eyes. When the dust settled, there was nothing left of C'Baoth. Just a small, charred spot where he once stood.
Without another look, Starkiller turned and walked away.
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The Wookies from the nearby tribes were cutting down C'Baoth's victims. Starkiller walked among them, the Wookies thanking him.
Guilt ate away at him for the three Wookie's whose lives he stole to restore his Force powers. But seeing these Wookies rescued, and remembering the words of his parents, Starkiller vowed to remember those three Wookies … he would honor their sacrifice and finish his training as Jedi. To prevent anyone else from suffering the horrors that Starkiller himself had inflicted.
But for now – he had more pressing matters.
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The nearest starship was C'Baoth's. Starkiller had no time to find his fighter. Plagueis had discovered the location of Mortis through Vader's once-lost memories. And due to his Force Bond with Vader, Starkiller himself now knew the location as well.
This was it – it would all be decided at Mortis.
C'Baoth's starfighter blasted out of the Wookie homeland into deep space. Starkiller transmitted the coordinates to Pooja. Hopefully they would believe her that Mortist existed. Hopefully they would send their fleets in.
Starkiller hit the throttle and C'Baoth's starfighter surged into lightspeed.
He just prayed he wouldn't be too late …
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On another, dark planet, far away …
There was a cloning facility hidden. Inside were tanks filled with writhing bodies.
And in one … another body floated.
A shadow fell over it, observing it.
The body was a clone body of an aged, dead Jedi Master.
The second clone of Joruus C'Baoth twitched as Emperor Palpatine's laughter echoed throughout the chambers …
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Author's Note: Just a quick side – the C'Baoth clone Starkiller fought here on Kashyyk is not the one from the Thrawn Trilogy. The second clone is the one from the Thrawn Trilogy … not that it matters anymore with the Disney canon, but … yeah, just wanted to throw that out there.