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All characters appearing in Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek Voyager are copyright Paramount Pictures. All characters appearing in the Star Wars saga are copyright Lucas Arts and the Walt Disney Cooperation. No infringement of these copyrights is intended and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
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Star Trek/Star Wars – Galaxies Divided Episode Two – A Time of Darkness Part Three Shatter Point Star Wars
by
Celgress
"The big moments are gonna come, you can't help that. It's what you do afterward that counts. That's when you find out who you are."
Whistler
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Two Becoming – Part One (1998).
Star Wars Galaxy - January 2nd, 1 ABY (2397 C.E)
Kamino, late morning
"Halt, identify yourself! This is a restricted planet!" One of four Shadow Stormtroopers commanded. The Shadow Stormtroopers pointed their rifles at the hooded Jedi Knight. Wind-driven rain soaked the tarmac upon which the five figures stood next to the Millennium Falcon.
With a flick of her right hand, Ahsoka Tano used the Forced to knocked the Shadow Stormtroopers into the nearest exterior wall rendering them unconscious. Now that it was safe, Sakal and Chewie emerged from the Falcon. "Stay with the ship. Even if I don't return, I'll make sure the others do. They need you to get them off this Force-forsaken water-logged world before that Star Destroyer makes it here. Captain Solo is right, he has one very fast ship, my compliments." Ahsoka said. Chewie readily thanked Ahsoka on behalf of himself and Han in his native language which the universal translator struggled to translate into anything other than gibberish.
Sakal had only known Ahsoka a short time but he already knew there was no point arguing with her once her mind was made up. "May the Force be with you," Sakal said. Although he did not place much faith in the mysterious all-encompassing energy field his stepmother Nerys and half-sister Tabani (named after his long-dead maternal stepgrandfather Kira Taban) did because of the Prophet connection. Chewie said the same once again in his native language.
"May the Force be with you both," Ahsoka said with a warm smile that quickly faded it was replaced by a look of grim determination.
Ahsoka stalked her way through the rain towards an unguarded entryway. Luckily, the complex was more or less deserted. Ahsoka harbored little doubt where all the security staff was the same place her charges and Han were facing grievous danger. Ahsoka silently offered up a prayer to the Force she would reach them before something terrible happened, again.
Area 5-1
They just kept coming. This was Hans Solo's chief thought as he fired his trusty DL-44 Blaster Pistol at the Purge Troopers who emerged from their assembly line. Han had never seen anything like it before.
This place was more akin to a factory than a cloning facility. Misshapen Jango Fett Clones were deposited from their fluid-filled maturation tubes, rinsed off by high-pressure hoses, then encased in black & red armor, given a blaster rifle, and sent on their way. Fortunately, these insta-soldiers were woefully ineffective thus dispatching them was easy or it would have been if they were not so numerous. They must have killed nearly a hundred of them in the past hour and still there was no end in sight.
"Perhaps you'd like to negotiate your surrender now, so we can avoid a messy standoff?" Han said peaking his head out from behind a pillar.
"And deprive you of seeing my creations in action, never." Special Agent Blackhole rasped. A pale old man cloaked in black hooded robes and strapped into a circular device with a motorized base, Blackhole was a curious sight, to say the least. His sickly yellow eyes gazed balefully at his intended victims.
"Hey, it was worth a try, right?" Han said shrugging at Leia who knelt next to him.
Leia shook her head but said nothing. Every so often she would jump from her hiding place to strike down a Purge Trooper or several with a flourish of her yellow-bladed lightsaber then retreat to safety. Across the broad chamber from behind another pillar, Sabine shot at Purge Troopers with her phaser pistol while Luke used his green-bladed lightsaber to deal with any Purge Troopers who came to close. The only difference in their dynamic from that of Han & Leia was that occasionally Sabine would spring forth and use her Klingon Bat'leth to help thin the herd. As Sabine explained to a surprised Han when she first drew the weapon; "Hey, I'm a Mandalorian and the daughter of a Jedi Master. My mother may not approve of being a warrior but she made sure I learned the fundamentals of combat. The Bat'leth is my favorite hand to hand weapon it is so elegant yet effective the artist in me appreciates it, got to love Klingons."
A strange atmosphere suddenly filled the chamber. The Purge Trooper production line halted. The active Purge Troopers clutched their necks as if unable to breathe. A few seconds later they toppled over dead or unconscious.
"Do you feel that?" Luke asked Leia emerging from his hiding place across from him she did the same.
"Yeah, the place stinks of the Dark Side and has since our arrival but there is something more. Something is coming, something we've faced before I think, something bad." Leia said.
"Master," Blackhole blurted out an instant before his eyes rolled back in his head. A crackling basketball-sized orb of red energy slammed into him from out of nowhere blowing apart his contraption and partially incinerating his body.
The four young people whirled around to see the source of their unlikely savior, Darth Vader! There he stood in the distant doorway flanked by his eight Shadow Guards. Behind them, cramped into the hallway were forty Shadow Stormtroopers all with rifles at the ready. The Imperials made their way quickly into the room once Vader took several steps forward. The Shadow Stormtroopers encircled Han, Leia, Luke, and Sabine while the Shadow Troopers remained clustered around Vader.
"Here they are, Lord Vader." Director Colih said.
"Leave us, Director Colih. Your presence is no longer required." Vader said to which the Vorta nodded.
"I guess this means no date, huh sweetness?" Han said sarcastically.
"I'm afraid not. Space bum traitors aren't my type." Colih said venomously.
"Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it," Han said with his trademarked goofy grin which caused Leia to roll her eyes.
"Enough," Vader said. "Director Colih, you will be richly rewarded for your service." Understanding she was no longer wanted, Colih departed alongside her small group of personal guards.
"Murderer!" Sabine yelled flinging herself at Vader with her Bat'leth poised to strike. Amused, Vader caught Sabine in mid-air with the Force. He then force chocked her until Sabine dropped her weapon her body wracked by a fit of violent coughing. Vader flung her on the floor.
"Luke, no!" Leia warned by it was already too late. Luke rushed forward his lightsaber clashing with the crimson blade Vader ignited. Luke hacked and slashed at Vader who effortlessly blocked every attack with the barest movements of his sword arm while otherwise remaining perfectly still.
"You have power but no disciple. Your technique is sloppy, nonexistent, boy. Raw strength can seldom overcome superior blade work, allow me to demonstrate." Vader said. Vader slightly repositioned his blade so that on the next parry he tagged Luke's right wrist causing the young man to cry out in pain. Luke dropped his lightsaber grabbing his injured arm.
"You monster," Leia yelled but she knew better than to confront Vader after witnessing what he did to her brother and her friend. She was no match for him, not yet.
"Indeed," Vader said. "You four pests have cost the Empire, my Empire, dearly. An example must be made. Once I have wrung every bit of information from you, your shriveled naked sprites will be left defenseless before the Emperor. He'll teach you a new definition of suffering."
"I don't know about that. I've been told I suffer from a very persistent learning disability." Han joked no one laughed.
All seemed lost. The situation was hopeless. What could they do?
"Run," Ahsoka shouted landing next to Han and Leia her lightsabers drawn.
"Where did you come from?" Han asked.
"The vents, run!" Ahsoka said.
Han was about to ask how when a thunderous flood of water filled the chamber sweeping away Vader, Shadow Stormtroopers, Shadow Guards, and nearly our heroes along with them. If not for Ahsoka force pushing them ahead of the wave they would have drowned. The next thing they knew they were flying down a long corridor rapidly filling with water before. Somehow they reached the surface before the dark roiling waters cut off their escape.
"What did you do, master?" A panting Leia asked.
"I sabotaged the pumping system then I ruptured a couple of key seals with the Force," Ahsoka said. Her lightsabers hissed as did Leia's & Luke's (which he managed to retrieve with the Force before they escaped) as raindrops fell on them. The platform groaned shifting under their feet so it was a forty-five-degree angle. "We best hurry. I don't know how much longer it'll be before this entire complex sinks. Follow me, the Falcon is this way." Emergency klaxons blared all around them.
The group was within sight of the Falcon when out of a water-logged emergency escape hatch (all of which had automatically popped open once the alarms sounded) leaped a dark shadow. The dark shadow flew high into the stormy sky before landing directly in front of them. A flash of red illuminated the shadow revealing frighteningly familiar features. Somehow Darth Vader escaped from what should have been his watery grave.
From his left hand, Vader fired a torrent of red force lightning stopping Han, Luke, Leia, and Sabine dead in their tracks. They fell to the deck stunned. Vader then set his sights on Ahsoka who raised her green lightsaber and green lightsaber shoto to meet his challenge.
"Perhaps once they revive these children will reveal to me what you and the equally foolish Obi-wan would not; the precise number and whereabouts of the Jedi in the other galaxy, Snips," Vader said.
"Don't call me that. You lost the right to call me that because of what you did." Ahsoka said.
"What I did! What I did!" Vader growled through his mask. "What about what the Jedi did to me!? What about what my 'brother' did to me!? What about what you did to me!? You took from me the one person who loved me for me not because of my power or out of obligation!"
"You mean Imera," Ahsoka said. "I had no choice she was going to kill Padme. I'm sorry."
"Liar, if you were truly sorry you'd make amends," Vader said.
"How, Imera's dead and you know what, I'm glad she can't hurt anyone anymore. Force forgive me but I wish you were with her." Ahsoka said.
With a roar of rage, Vader unleashed the full fury of Juyo. Ahsoka did her best. She jumped and dodged and struck back whenever she could (which was rarely) yet Vader held the advantage from the start, an advantage he stubbornly maintained. All the while the platform shifted back & forth and slowly sank under their feet. The edge of Kamino's endless seas crept ever closer. When through the Force she felt the others began to stir she knew there was only one course of action open to her.
"I have to protect you. I'm sorry." Ahsoka told Leia who groggily looked up at her. "The Force will be with you always."
Ahsoka let the Force flow fully through her, govern her actions. She threw away her lightsabers and ducked under Vader's latest wild swing. His lightsaber singed the tops of her lekkus. Ahsoka barreled into Vader grabbing him under his arms her momentum assisted by the Forced carried them both over the edge. With a splash loud enough to be heard over the warning sirens and the endless storm, Ahsoka and Vader vanished beneath the turbulent black waters.
Leia felt numb. She did not know what to say or do. A moment later the Millennium Falcon hovered overhead. Aware if they stayed they would die, Leia dutifully rousted her companions. Within minutes the Millennium Falcon rocketed into space narrowly evading TIE Fighters and an incoming Star Destroyer before jumping to hyperspace.
Millennium Falcon, the next day
"I wish we had never come here. I wish none of this had happened." Leia said sitting in the common area of the Falcon. She felt crushed by the loss of her beloved master coming only a few short months after her brother lost his equally beloved master. She clutched at the fragment of kyber crystal around her neck. Usually, the family heirloom gave her solace via feelings of love it imparted from her parents via the Force but not today. She felt nothing from the fragment save emptiness and a vague sense of fear.
"I know what you mean, sis," Luke said. "I wanted an adventure. I was so short-sighted. I should have been happy at home where we were safe. Safe might be boring, but safety is also good."
"What now?" Sabine wondered dejectedly. "Ahsoka was the Rebel Commander. She could help them. Ahsoka was experienced. They needed her no one needs three kids who are in over their heads."
"Hey don't be so hard on yourselves," Han said. "We destroyed the Death Star, remember? Something I'll admit I thought was impossible. Ahsoka wouldn't want you guys to give up."
"Loath as I am to admit it, he's right," Sakal said.
"Gee thanks for the vote of confidence Sakal," Han said feigning offense.
"Anytime Captain Solo," Sakal said with a smile causing Han to crack a smile of his own.
"We keep on fighting until this galaxy is liberated. We owe our fallen crew that much." Sakal said.
"Yeah, we do," Sabine said thinking of Ahsoka and then her father which in turn made her think of better times with her parents. Another thought soon came to Sabine while dwelling on her mother Satine Kryze former Duchess of Mandalore. "I think I know where we can start."
"Where?" Leia asked genuinely curious.
"My Aunt Bo Katan Kryze lives on Mandalore or at least she did during the Clone Wars. Unlike my mother, Aunt Bo chose the path of the warrior she fought in many great battles winning most of them. Maybe she can help us?" Sabine offered.
"Bo Katan, why does that name sound so familiar?" Han asked puzzled.
"Probably because Aunt Bo used to be maybe she still is a leader of Death Watch," Sabine said.
Han's eyes grew wide. "D-Death Watch!? The old Mandalorian terrorist group?" He stammered unable to say anymore.
"So, you've heard of them," Sabine said without batting an eyelash.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Han groaned. "I should have stayed in the smuggling business and out of politics, it was far safer."
Deep Beneath Vader's Castle on Mustafar, night
"Ask her if the one I have brought is an acceptable candidate?" Darth Vader said to the figure who stood next to him in the darkened cavern. An eerie fractured green light bathed both in its unnatural glow. The source of the light was a man-sized egg-shaped stone that floated two feet off the ground.
"The designate approves of her new vessel." The figure said in a deep masculine voice. His form was shrouded head to toe in navy blue robes. His face was obscured beneath a featureless navy blue mask. He also wore a navy blue cape.
Vader's commanding voice wavered. "Tell her I, I, I love her."
"She knows of your affection and shares it, my lord." The figure said. "She awaits your reunion with great anticipation."
"How long, how much longer must we endure the torment of separation, Black Bishop?" Vader asked his voice full of impatience.
"The proper conjunction will occur soon. The vessel must be prepared when the hour arrives." The Black Bishop answered.
"Worry not, she shall be," Vader said.
"Which means the Force suppressant drugs you are using to maintain her docility must be purged from her system. A strong connection with the Force is vital if the spirit transference is to succeed." The Black Bishop said.
"I understand," Vader said. Before he turned to leave he added. "When Imera is once again among the living I will happily give you what you desire without delay."
"Thank you, master. Long have I awaited release." The Black Bishop said.
Vader's Castle
A group of Red Royal Guards tended to Ahsoka who lay strapped to a table her sodden clothing having been replaced by a simple black Sith robe. After spending several hours having her injuries healed she was pumped full of force suppressants and placed into a medically induced state of semi-consciousness. She was blissfully unaware of the cruel fate her former friend planned for her; spiritual oblivion so Ahsoka's body could be enslaved to the will of another.
To Be Continued
Next Up – Shatter Point Star Trek
Author's Note – I had hoped to complete "Shatter Point" in one chapter but alas 'tis not to be. I have thus divided it into two sections one for each galaxy.