Author's Note: Hoo boy! I can't remember the last time I wrote a chapter in one day! What fun, for me and you all! Enjoy!
-Chapter 64: Blood in the Water-
Location: Mon Cala
"Where there is strength, there can also be weakness."
The oceanic world of Mon Cala was home to two rivalling species that dwelt beneath the waves of the planet-spanning seas: the aggressive Quarren and the peace-loving Calamari. Their world, a myriad of brilliant colour and wonderful forms of sea life had enjoyed a time of relative peace... until, that is, the Calamari king Yos Rolina was murdered.
Quarren blamed Calamari, Calamari blamed Quarren. Tensions rose, peace eroded and, in a galaxy already rife with conflict, a new war unfolded in the midst of the Clone Wars:
A civil war.
The Quarren quickly found an ally in Count Dooku and the Separatists, who dispatched the Karkarodon commander Riff Tamson to stabilize a military presence among the Quarren delegation. The Republic quickly came to the aid of the Calamari, an alliance older than most participants precipitating the action. When the Republic and Calamari put forth the suggestion to let King Rolina's son, the young and untested Prince Lee Char, the Quarren put their foot down. They'd had enough of the Calamari and were ready to do things their way. With the Separatists backing them and looking to take on a new spot in the changing galaxy, the peace between Quarren and Calamari dissolved altogether.
It wasn't long until the fighting started, quickly aided by the fact that the Separatists already had troops on the ground and were gathering for war.
But that didn't mean the Calamari weren't without reinforcements either. For the Republic arrived in force.
"Okay... I can do this. You can do this. It's another battle, but you're going to do your best." She quietly told herself, pushing back the same anxiety that crept up on her every time. She had been put in charge of another squad and was keen on doing her best, even though she wasn't exactly used to this environment.
Looking out across the sea as the gunship skimmed the surface, Ahsoka Tano was as ready as she could be. Dressed in a slim, brown wetsuit complete with gauntlets, flippers and a utility belt, her diving gear had been specifically tailored to her, as it lacked a hood so her sensitive head tails weren't hindered. Instead she wore a full-face breathing mask that left her montrals and lekku exposed. She was grateful for this, as she could not only communicate with this mask but also draw oxygen out of the water and constantly have a fresh supply without needing to worry about air tanks. She might not be of an aquatic species that could breathe underwater, but this brought her pretty close to being one.
"Blue Leader standing by," she reported into her comms.
"Red Leader standing by." A Clone stated as well. The two were working directly under Jedi Master and General Kit Fisto. The Nautolan was aquatic by nature, making him the perfect choice to lead a mission of this caliber.
A half-dozen dropships followed a Consular-class cruiser, but they'd all been disgorged from a Venator-class cruiser which hovered in the skies over Mon Cala. Ahsoka had been in similar situations countless times before, just ones that didn't involve water.
To be honest, she was fairly excited.
Master Fisto counted down and gave the order to dive and she did, crashing through the water's surface before turning and taking control of a Devilfish Submersible and diving deep alongside Master Fisto and the SCUBA Clones.
She soon saw the fighting deep beneath the sea; red and blue lasers firing wildly back and forth as masses of Quarren, Calamari and droids fiercely fought, sometimes hand to hand if they were close enough. With the Clones joining the fray, they targeted anyone who wasn't a member of the Calamari, their own lasers lighting up the battlefield. Concentrating on her role, Ahsoka gladly took to using her submersible's laser cannons to blow aqua droids to pieces, enjoying the little explosion of bubbles as heavier pieces sank to the bottom.
She could do this. This was no problem. Routing out the droids helped her allies by giving them less opponents intent on killing them. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
The Clones quickly boosted the Calamari ranks, surging ahead and taking the droid-Quarren forces head on.
Quarren fought Calamari, Clone SCUBA trooper fought aqua droid, the battle for Mon Cala was raging fiercely.
Ahsoka could see Master Fisto taking a slightly more violent approach, using his own Devilfish to mow down droids and Quarren alike, their cries of agony quickly silenced as their corpses floated in the water. At least they wouldn't be a threat anymore...
To one side, she saw her own master, who had arrived in advance alongside Senator Amidala, only he was in some serious trouble. Beset by a pair of Quarren, Anakin was having difficulties fending off the nimble water-borne warriors. He soon managed to overcome them, his blue lightsaber flashing brightly, but not before one of them ripped off his diving helmet, taking it with him as his body sank to the seabed. Anakin tried to pursue but was beset by another Quarren, this one riding an Underwater Turbo Sled Pike. Clearly, he needed some assistance.
Changing course, Ahsoka floor the thrusters of her OMS as Anakin fended off aqua droids, his hand around his neck in the universal diving symbol that stood for 'running out of air'. Making quick work of a few droids herself, Ahsoka snatched back her master's helmet before floating over to him and blasting two final droids with well aimed shots.
"You called for backup?" She wondered as he took his helmet back. Quickly throwing it on and draining the water, Anakin gasped and coughed for air while saying,
"I... had it... under... control, Snips," throwing on his trademark smirk as he finished. Ahsoka rolled her eyes and chuckled herself.
Typical Anakin.
"I knew you'd say that." She remarked before jetting off to rejoin the fight. But she didn't get far before an incoming call from Padme altered the situation.
"Anakin! I need you down here. It's Senator Tills, I need help getting her to safety. We're at the base of the palace, and hurry!"
"Ahsoka, cover the Prince. I'm going for the Senators." Anakin ordered as he swam off.
"Got it, Master." Ahsoka replied as she changed course. During the mission briefing, she'd been informed as to who Prince Lee Char was and what he looked like. Committing his description to memory, surely golden skin would stand out, she made for the Calamari lines.
The Togruta soon spied the Prince atop a gate entry, firing a blaster spear at distant opponents. Given her vantage point, swooping down from above, she could see, and he couldn't, the Separatist commander and warlord Riff Tamson surging up from the depths. The Karkarodon from from the neighbouring world of Karkaris was as vicious as they came. Many ascribed his attributes to that of a lambro or razor shark. He moved like an animal, growled and roared like an animal. Some said the Karkarodon's evolved from sharks, but regardless of backstory, Ahsoka could definitely see the comparisons.
The bloodthirsty Separatist charged Lee Char, his toothy maw opening and snapping as he dodged every bolt sent his way. Narrowing her eyes, Ahsoka drew her lightsaber and made to intervene. I can get between them faster than he can swim. She thought. I can probably escape with the Prince faster than he can recover too. Just as Tamson charged the frightened Prince, ready to take a bite out of him, Ahsoka arrived between them and fended off Tamson with a quick swing of her blade. "Grab on!" She ordered Char, who quickly did as asked.
"Good idea!" He clung to the side of the OMS as Ahsoka gunned the thrusters. But Tamson was no slouch and quickly chased after them, his natural aquatic abilities proving equal to Ahsoka's tech. She wound around rocks and constructs, blitzing past tunnels and waterways, diving and rolling, exercising moves she normally saved for when piloting a starfighter. Tampons refused to be dissuaded and managed to close the gap considerably. "Get us out of here!" Lee exclaimed, seeing the Karkarodon hot on their heels.
"Hang on!" Ahsoka replied, thinking quickly and revving the engine some more.
"I am! I am!" Char responded. Tamson was so close he could see into his black eyes and view the hungry malice and angry fervor behind them. Ahsoka rolled hard as Tamson came alongside, mouth snapping as he tried again to bite into Char. Veering sharply, her OMS crashed into his head and forced Tamson to break off for a moment. That was all Ahsoka needed and she drove into a waterway access tunnel. They were prolific feature around Mon Cala city and she figured they give her the way of escape they desperately needed.
But Tamson proved he would not be deterred so easily.
Char was behind her now, hands around her torso. Ahsoka could tell he was tense and afraid. She knew he was inexperienced with leadership and now in a fight for his life, she could assume he was petrified. And she wouldn't be far from the truth.
Tamson bashed into the transparent tunnel wall with his head, shockwaves rippling through the passage and jarring both Togruta and Calamari. Ahsoka kept driving, undeterred and determined to keep the Prince safe. "I'm slipping." Char said. Ahsoka could feel it too. She needed to do something and quick. Tamson swam to the other side and bashed the tunnel again. He did so over and over again, doggedly pursuing them with a clear intention of killing the Prince.
And then some aqua droids joined in, coming down the tunnel and block their path. "Look out! They're coming right at us!" Char cried. Seeing them up ahead with a gasp, Ahsoka planned and acted. This OMS might be their ride, but it could serve them in a different capacity now.
"I'm letting go!" She explained, releasing her grip on the steering levers. Ahsoka and Char floated to a standstill, the OMS slamming into the aqua droids with a deafening explosion. They took a moment to breathe, thankful that at least one threat had been dealt with. That's when Ahsoka spied the other one. "Look out! Behind you!" She started, pulling Lee Char away from the tunnel wall as Tamson rammed it again. Another shockwave rolled through but the wall held, Tamson diving away.
"As long as we're in the tube, we're safe." Lee said. His people built this passageway to be sturdy, surely it would hold against one man.
One very driven man.
Tamson surged up form the depths with a roar, striking the bottom with ferocity. Ahsoka and Char recoiled, feeling another shockwave roll through. Where's some shark repellent spray when you need it? Ahsoka wondered to herself as Tamson circled and lunged again. She was starting to question the stability of the walls when Tamson made another attack.
This time, he broke through.
Ahsoka quickly pulled the Prince back, out of reach of Tamson's head which had now penetrated the glass. He thrashed and roared with such violence, truly acting like an aquatic beast. Ahsoka could feel Char's absolute fear through the Force. The poor Prince was terrified.
A squad of Calamari soldiers suddenly arrived and started attacking Tamson with their spear blasters, blue stun bolts peppering the Karkarodon. Irritated, Tamson broke off his assault to attack the Calamari, moving with incredible speed and savagery. The water soon turned red with cloudy blood as Tamson viciously tore each soldier apart, smashing one corpse into the glass as he did. Ahsoka quickly escorted Lee away, now that Tamson was otherwise occupied. They needed to leave before his interest was rekindled.
Reunited with the Calamari and the Republic, Lee Char met with Senator Tills while Ahsoka joined Anakin, Master Fisto and the Calamari captain Gial Ackbar. The droids had retreated, as had the Quarren and Tamson, leaving them all to question what was really going on. They knew the Quarren would not surrender so easily and that they were likely preparing for another assault.
"I sense the real battle is about to begin." Anakin mused.
Then from the depths came a deep yellow glow, growing with every second until broad, circular shapes came into view. Ahsoka braced herself and got ready to fight as multiple objects appeared from out of the gloom.
They were Hydroid Medusaes. Techno-organic monsters that resembled jellyfish, native to Tamson's homeworld.
"We have no defence against those!" Char exclaimed.
"This isn't gonna be easy." Anakin agreed. The Medusaes started to radiate electrical energy, bolts of raw, deadly power leaping from tentacle to tentacle. There were a great many of them and they were moving as one towards their line.
"All troops! Battle stations!" Fisto declared. The Calamari and SCUBA troopers raised their weapons and took aim, waiting for a signal from their commanding officers. Char picked up a spear blaster, casting glances at his fellow Calamari as the Medusaes uttered a deep, mechanical groan.
"Do not fire until the Prince gives the command." Ackbar ordered, his own spear blaster in hand. "Steady... Steady..." the war beasts drew closer, Anakin ignited his lightsaber alongside Kit and Ahsoka. "Not yet," Ackbar cautioned. The Medusaes were practically on top of them now, their transparent yellow tops moving out of view as their deadly tentacles consumed their vision. Still they waited.
Ahsoka looked on with a mixed sense of awe and discouragement. These war beasts truly were impressive, but how could they possibly topple something like this? The Prince had said it himself; they had no feasible means of defence against them. They would have to look for a weakness and Ahsoka's eyes started to roam, darting from the tentacles where bolts of electricity lept back and forth to the veiny underside of the beast where tentacles met body.
There had to be something.
Char swam forward with encouragement from Ackbar.
"Attack!" He commanded, spear blaster raised high. The Clones and Mon Calarmari opened fire, their blaster rounds striking the Medusaes repeatedly. They were big enough targets, everyone had a good shot at them.
But Ahsoka had to wonder if they would be enough.
The Medusaes were right on top of them now, a passing tentacle barely touched a pair of Calamari and discharged enough deadly voltage to kill them both. Another touched a Clone and he screamed as he was electrocuted before going limp. So far their attacks were doing nothing, the Medusaes remained seemingly untouched.
And then, from behind, Tamson and an army of aqua droids attacked. The Medusaes had only been an unstoppable diversion!
Ahsoka went to work with a single blade, blocking incoming blaster bolts and hacking a nearby droid in two with an overhead swing. She hacked and swung with renewed vigour, cutting down droids left and right. These she could handle without question.
"Ahsoka, find a way out of here!" Anakin ordered, deeming the situation too much for them. With nod she swam over to Char, drawing her shoto and cutting down another droid as she did.
"Prince, where's somewhere safe?" She asked.
"We can't retreat, we've got to be brave." He answered, seeing her intentions. "We've got to be brave."
"There's a time to attack and a time to retreat. And now is not the time to be brave." Ackbar cut in, firing at another droid as he lent his advice. After a moment of thought, Char had an answer.
"The safest place is in the caves."
"I agree, your highness." Ackbar concurred. "Follow me." He instructed. The Senators and Prince took off after him, Ahsoka following to act as a guard. They swam down towards the underbelly of Mon Cala city, headed straight to the sea floor. Revealed below was a complex network of tunnels, the perfect place for the survivors to hide. Having shaken off the Medusaes, they collected themselves and gathered for conference. But Char sat off from the assembly, joined by Ahsoka.
"Thanks to you, Padawan Tano, and to these brave soldiers." He said, truly grateful for her assistance. "I wish I could've done more for my people. Maybe then we would've been spared all of this. The illusion that I could lead in my father's place..." He vented, the trials of the day having taken their toll on his spirit.
"Your father would be proud of you." Ackbar assured him, swimming over.
"Proud?" Char protested. "We lost!"
"Today you learned the hardest lesson a commander could learn: how to live to fight another day." Ackbar replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. Ahsoka could sympathize, having learned that lesson long ago. She'd been through a lot, but she'd had the benefit of at least a couple years experience, entering the war when she was only fourteen and now being sixteen. This was literally the Prince's first day on the job and he'd had to deal with identical situations within the span of a day. Ahsoka suddenly found a kindred spirit within the Prince and found within herself a sense of determination to help him see his true potential. She and Ackbar helped him back to the leadership circle, knowing he had a potential he just didn't see yet.
Later...
In a meeting between the Separatist representatives, a holographic render of Count Dooku spoke with Commander Tamson as well as the Quarren representative Nossor Ri.
"And the young prince? Has he been captured?" He was asking.
"No, my lord." Tamson answered, bearing the bad news. "Unfortunately he escaped capture and is hiding with what's left of the Jedi and their army."
"Do not underestimate this boy, Tamson." Dooku cautioned. "He must not become a symbol for the Mon Calamari people to rally behind."
"This child is but a coward. He is no leader." Tamson replied.
"That is irrelevant. The whispering of his name can rekindle hope and hope is something we cannot allow our enemy to possess." Dooku continued, knowing full well what needed to happen as well as what could happen.
"Excuse me, Count Dooku," Nossor interrupted, "but what of the prisoners?" He asked, referring specifically to the Calamari that had been captured during the last engagement.
"They are to be processed. Internment camps have been set up below the city, gather the rabble there and set them to work." The Sith bluntly answered.
"Surely you do not mean all of them." Nossor protested. "The women, the children-"
"Are to be sent as well." Dooku firmly stated. "Is that understood?"
"Yes my lord." Nossor complied, bowing as he did. With that out of the way, Dooku's focus returned to the Karkarodon.
"Tamson, I'm sending you reinforcements, as well as an agent suited for the task of capturing the Prince. Hold the reinforcements in reserve and wait for the Republic's next move. Employ the agent as necessary. There is much he is capable of." The Count instructed.
"As you wish, Count Dooku." Tamson replied with a bow of his own.
In the caves underneath Mon Cala city, the remaining SCUBA troopers and Calamari assembled, waiting patiently for the order to move. Meanwhile, Prince Char, Captain Ackbar Kit Fisto, Anakin and Padme sat in a meeting of their own with members of the Jedi Council. They were soon joined by Ahsoka returning from patrol who offered Char a friendly, reassuring smile as she arrived.
"We've lost contact with all Clone troopers and Mon Cala soldiers. The Quarren ambushed us, they were ready to attack long before the peace talks came to an end." Fisto was telling Master Windu and Master Yoda, who were present via holocall.
"Desperate, the situation is." Yoda mused. "Re... force your... posi... we..." The call was suddenly disturbed as Yoda's voice cut out repeatedly, his image flickering as well.
"Master? Repeat, are you sending reinforcements?" Kit pressed, trying to at least get the point across before they lost the call altogether. Ahsoka and Char exchanged concerned looks.
"You're breaking up-..." Mace managed to get out before the call was terminated and the holograph shut off. Anakin and Padme looked to each other, both of them knowing that this was likely the Quarren-Separatist alliance's doing.
"Are they coming?" Char wondered.
"We don't know." Kit answered.
"But they know our situation," Ackbar interjected, "they must know to send help."
"Yeah, but it may take them a while to get here." Anakin added. "We're gonna have to get ourselves to the surface and get off this rock."
"I will not leave my people to die." Char stated, swimming over to the Jedi.
"With all due respect, your highness, if we stay, we all die." Anakin slowly told him. He didn't like this either, but they had little choice.
"We must reach the surface and see if our ship is still there." Padme said. But Ackbar stopped her.
"The Prince will decide our course of action."
"I think it is best we try to escape using our ship." Char relented, quickly opting to defer to the experience the Republic leaders had.
"As you wish your highness. Follow me." Anakin responded. With that, they all moved out.
While the Republic force on Mon Cala set about putting their plan into motion, the Jedi Council decided to seek out an army other than the Republic for assistance, due to the fact that they had no other Clone army readily outfitted for aquatic warfare.
At Master Yoda's discretion, they decided to call on the Gungans of Naboo.
Quarren-droid patrols were regular, criss-crossing the water and making things difficult for anyone trying to make an escape.
"That's a lot of enemy troops between us and the surface." Padme observed.
"It's no problem. I just hope you're a fast swimmer." Anakin replied, turning to her with a grin.
"Says the boy from a desert planet." Padme shot back, smiling herself. Ahsoka watched their interaction like she had countless ones before. She had to wonder about the relationship her master had with the senator. They seemed to be very good friends... but were quite close, she had to admit.
"Are you certain your ship is still there?" Senator Tills inquired. They hadn't made contact with the vessel in some time, due to trying to avoid a localized, traceable signal that the Separatists might locate. The answer to her question was a rocky one.
"There's only one way to find out." Anakin replied.
Aboard the Republic Consular-class cruiser on the surface, the entire bridge crew lay dead on the ground, their blood staining the floor and walls. Clones and men lay dismembered and disembodied, their corpses strewn everywhere. A lone figure, tall and broad and clad in all black, stood at the central console, keying in a most devastating command. They would have mere seconds to move by the time the job was completed, but the results would be very worthwhile...
Kit Fisto had managed to procure some of the Quarren turbo sleds from a passing prisoner transport. Ahsoka was the first to man one, taking with her Prince Char and Senator Tills. Together they rocketed towards the surface, Anakin, Padme and Ackbar on another sled not far behind. They ascended through the murky depths... but their actions had not gone unnoticed.
In Tamson's headquarters, a Quarren called in reporting the reappearance of the Jedi and the Prince. Their location was being tracked and Tamson could see they were heading to the surface. With minimal Separatist forces in the area, it seemed like they would make a clean getaway.
But Tamson had a nasty surprise in store for them.
Count Dooku had contacted him previously about the arrival of a special agent and already the commander had him go and prepare for his plan.
"Predictable." The Karkarodon stated. "Let them get within sight of their ship. I want them to watch their hope sink to the bottom of the sea." He ordered with a toothy, sadistic grin.
Sunlight from above finally appeared, casting the mighty shadow of the Consular cruiser across he face of the deep.
"There's the ship." Padme pointed.
"Still in one piece." Anakin mused with a grin. So far so good. They jetted towards the surface, drawing closer and closer as the shape of the cruiser grew bigger.
Tamson watched the red blip approach the surface.
"Spring the trap!" He commanded into a wrist comm.
All of a sudden, the cruiser detonated in a firey explosion, blown to pieces as the central reactors in the engine bay overloaded and detonated. The Republic stopped, frozen in horror as gigantic pieces of debris crashed into the water and started to sink right on top of them. Splitting up to avoid the incoming debris, all six of them were horrified.
"Oh no..." Anakin groaned.
"They destroyed it! They knew we were coming!" Ackbar stated. The Jedi driving the turbo sleds quickly executed evasive maneuvers, but Ahsoka's was suddenly crushed by debris as was Anakin's moments later. Stuck floating in the water, they looked up to where their hope had once been, only to see more debris coming down and other pieces floating in te water.
Then they saw a smaller, darker shape breach the ocean's surface. The Republic lingered for a moment longer, their curiosity getting the better of them.
Suddenly, a crimson visor flashed to life and the shape shot forward, morphing into the figure of a being as they surged through the water, propelled by jets. Snapping out his arm, the being caught Anakin by the throat and slammed him into a larger piece of falling debris.
The Wraith had arrived.
"Did you think you could just leave?" He growled. "Far from it, Skywalker. You're gonna see this failure through to the end!" Virtually nose to nose, Anakin got a good look what the infamous super-soldier was wearing.
Clad in an armored, all-black wetsuit and sporting a variation of his iconic helmet, Wraith was definitely suited up for the occasion.
Punching Skywalker in the gut, Wraith propelled off of him and shot forward, gunning for the Prince. "Come here boy!" He thundered, raising his arms and opening fire with the twin-barreled blasters mounted on them. His weapons spat shot after shot, firing twice as quickly as any droid version. Ahsoka was between him and Char in a heartbeat, both lightsabers ignited as she deflected his shots. Wraith rolled out of the way before he crashed into her and fired a few more shots as his thrusters propelled him away, but they too were blocked by Ahsoka.
"Everyone grab the debris! It'll carry us to the sea floor faster than he can move!" Anakin quickly ordered. The five did as asked and were soon descending at a rapid rate as the heavy debris plummeted towards the bottom. Wraith made to pursue, kicking his thrusters into high gear and firing wildly. But all too soon, his quarry had vanished into the inky blackness of the ocean's abyss. And having used the debris for cover, the water was too disturbed for his sensors to function properly.
"Dammit." He cursed, powering down his weapons but still giving chase in the general direction. Unfortunately, the patrolling droids found nothing either, even after the wreckage had made landfall. Wraith had to give them credit for using such a move. It worked well to hide in the debris even when it was falling. "They'll turn up eventually. They always do." He resolved, reduced to treading water as his body and scanners adjusted for the lower depths.
Returning to the Separatist hub, Wraith swam past droids going about their duty and Quarren who stopped and stared as he moved. His dark shape was like a creeping shadow, an ominous appearance and maybe even akin to a dark portent of what was to come.
Scipio was only too happy to equip him for an aquatic mission. It appeared the good doctor had been developing a plethora of new tools for him long before he was ordered to go on this excursion. But Wraith couldn't have been happier with the loadout.
Unlike his traditional armor, his wetsuit was made from a flexible, waterproof armorweave mesh, engineered with maximum mobility in mind as well as being just as indestructible as his usual armor. Special armor plating had been sewn in around his chest, shoulders and thighs, increasing his durability tenfold. Three different thruster systems had been mounted across his body to aid in maneuverability, located primarily on his back, arms and the back of his calves. His new all-black helmet was specifically designed to operate underwater, incorporating a gill grill system as well as tubes leading to the back to expel any carbon buildup. A single visor, equipped with new sonar, thermal, electrical and proximity scanning technology, replaced the twin optics usually seen on his face. His armament now consisted of his usual gauntlets but with a pair of twin-barrelled blaster cannons mounted on top. Based on the same version seen on B2 super battle droids, Scipio had specifically designed these with quick movement in mind, believing that aquatic combat relied more on ranged weaponry than it did melee. You couldn't move nearly as fast underwater as you could on land, a fact that might hamper Wraith's skills. Regardless, Wraith's firesaber, Tyth, remained strapped to the back of his belt as a just-in-case measure and his old arm blades had been retrofitted and specifically sharpened for this occasion, now stowed just under his arm blasters.
The black of his dive suit may stick out in sharp contrast to the myriad of colours that comprised the aquatic environment, but Wraith wasn't here for subtle purposes.
He was here to get the job done.
Arriving in Tamson's hub, Wraith approached the Karkarodon and Representative Ri.
"Commander Tamson," Wraith addressed him, saluting as he floated to a halt, "I am pleased to make your acquaintance in person."
"Likewise, super-soldier." The Karkarodon replied with a toothy grin, swimming about him. "I'm pleased Count Dooku deemed my mission important enough to dispatch the infamous Wraith to assist." Wraith took note of the warlord's constant movement and quickly drew a connection between his gills and the way they operated. The only way Tamson could breathe properly was if he was moving.
"Been a while since I've gone for a swim." Wraith remarked. "But any opportunity to slay the Republic is a good one. And, based on what I've been told, it looks like I'm here just in time to tighten the noose."
"Yes, even as we speak, the Republic's efforts are... drowning, shall we say." Tamson replied, chuckling at his own joke. "All that remains now is for us to deal with the remaining survivors."
"They won't go down easy." Wraith spoke while deep in thought about the situation, his tactical mindset running hot. "I've dealt with Skywalker plenty of times before, he's no pushover. It'll take cunning to stop him and brute force to topple him."
"Something we seem to have in bountiful quantities." Tamson replied. "My Hydroid Medusaes roam the city, making for an effective stopgap against any rebellious efforts. The people have been subjugated, many Clones dead and captured. It will not be long now, soldier."
"Then while we wait, we plan to strike. So that when the moment comes, our victory will be assured without a doubt." Wraith nodded, in agreement with Tamson's logic.
Back in hiding and separated from the others, Lee Char floated with Ahsoka while Kit and a pair of Clones kept watch on the flurry of Separatist activity going on in the city.
Suffice to say, Char was feeling very defeated.
"There must be something more I can do." The Prince muttered, desperate to do something.
"I know it's hard, but you have to be patient." Ahsoka told him.
"But you saw my people," Char continued, turning to her, "I failed them."
"No. Remember Captain Ackbar's words; you are the hope of your people." Ahsoka reminded him. "As long as you live, they will endure."
"I need an army. We have to fight back, but... now that the Wraith is here," Char continued, "I know who he is, Padawan Tano. He's unstoppable. I want to get up and fight, but as long as he's here..." Ahsoka wasn't too happy about bringing up Wraith, especially since she'd been doing alright pushing him from her mind. But now that Char was on the subject, she might as well try to quell his worries.
"I've encountered him too. Many times. And in my experience, there is always a way to stop him." Ahsoka said.
"But he's got swords and blasters and everything he needs to stop us! He's so strong and powerful and tough, they say he took an orbital bombardment and walked away from it!" Char emphatically responded.
"A slight exaggeration, I'm sure." Ahsoka replied with a smile. In reality, that was only half-true. "But you don't need a sword to be powerful. Some leaders' strength is inspiring greatness in others." She gently encouraged, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"But my people don't even know I'm alive. And if they see Wraith around, then..." Char trailed off. The super-soldier was notorious and the Prince had heard all the stories. Now that he'd seen him first hand, he had to wonder what could be done. Wraith's presence alone would likely be enough to kill his people's hope altogether. "How can I inspire my people if they think I'm dead?"
To that, Ahsoka did not have an answer.
Back in the Separatist hub, the planning was going well until alarms started blaring. Wraith and Tamson turned to find the source on a holomap as a droid swam over.
"What's happening? Report!" Tamson demanded.
"We've lost all radar and sonar scanning, sir." The droid reported.
"Reestablish the connections." Was Tamson's command.
"We cannot, sir."
"Why not?!"
"The building that housed the radar is gone." The droid answered, showing them the now collapsed structure on the holomap. Tampons was quick to blame the Republic and, with his lengthy training in warfare and tactics, Wraith quickly put together their plan.
"They've rendered us blind... they must be planning some kind of counterattack." Wraith realized.
"Agreed." Tamson growled, shoving the droid aside as he swam ahead. "We must prepare for an attack!" He announced.
"But there was nothing on the scope prior to the attack." Nossor challenged, not seeing the same corellation Wraith and Tamson did.
"That is precisely why we must assume an attack is imminent!" The Karkarodon thundered. Wraith nodded in agreement. The logic was sound. "Guards, Wraith, come with me!" Tamson ordered, shoving Nossor out of his way. The trio moved to obey.
"Where are you going?" The Quarren representative demanded.
"To find that meddling Prince and his Jedi friends." Tamson curtly replied, swimming off with a pair of Quarren and The Wraith right behind him.
The Separatists followed the droid reports until they arrived at the scene of the collapsed tower, finding Anakin, Padme, Ackbar and Tills fighting off the aqua droids that were swarming them. They were soon surrounded by Hydroid Medusaes as well.
"Well, there's a few of our targets. But no Prince." Wraith observed.
"He will be found, soldier." Tamson assured him. "For now, we must focus on what we do have." Wraith nodded, readily agreeing. So far, he was beginning to like his commanding officer. Tamson's logic was sound, his plans good, maybe a little rough round the edges personality-wise, but Wraith was impressed with the Karkarodon overall.
But as they made to advance, the situation changed.
Bursts of powerful electrical energy caused the Hydroid Medusaes to shudder and break formation, the sudden bombs clearly wounding them. Looking up, Wraith and Tamson saw a new army swim down to the depths, one comprised of one species that certainly was not Republic SCUBA troopers.
"Gungans!" Wraith growled. One of several species he hated simply for their simpleton nature and irritating ways, Wraith suddenly had a gleam in his eye as he realized the Gungans were joining the fray on behalf of the Republic. "Now this I'm looking forward to." He said, rubbing his hands together.
"Is that so?" Tamson wondered, hearing the excitement in Wraith's voice.
"My blades have tasted the blood of many species Tamson," the super-soldier informed him, triggering his arm blades, "Gungan has been on my wish-list for a long time." He added. The super-soldier had yet to embark on a mission which provided him with such an encounter, the closest he got being assassinating Jar Jar Binks on Alderaan. "With your permission, Commander, I would like to 'bleed' the Republic of their newfound hope." He requested. Tamson grinned, his broad, tooth-filled expression belying the kindred sense of bloodlust and violence he shared with Wraith.
"Permission granted." He gladly answered. With that, Wraith took off at top speed, flying through the water as his jets propelled him forward at their maximum thrust. Crossing the space between in mere seconds, Wraith tore into the Gungan lines with a roar, his blades shredding clean through flesh and bone with ease. His speed helped him as well, acting as a powerful momentum boost that enhanced the deadly nature of his strikes. He cleaved through any Gungan that got in his way and hacked them to pieces, filling the water with chunks of bodies and leaving cloud of blood in his wake.
"Too! Damn! Easy!" He roared, cutting clean through a Gungan with each word uttered. Charging ahead, Wraith held out his arm and skewered one, two, three on a single blade before discarding the corpses and moving on, working in a circular pattern as he wound through the Gungan ranks, killing as many as he could before coming to the end of the column and turning around for another pass. The Gungan's soon directed their attention towards him, breaking off from engaging the droids in order to protect their own numbers. Charging his blasters, Wraith opened fire as he charged them, diving headlong into their ranks as he used the combination of his blades and blasters to deadly effect. Driving his blade through one Gungan, Wraith shot a hole through his body and killed another Gungan simultaneously before moving on, blitzing a line of Gungans with heavy repeating fire. Cackling madly, Wraith was enjoying himself almost too much. The endorphin rush he'd been programmed to receive for embarking on such a successful killing spree urged him to go on and continue his psychopathic rampage.
And right now, Wraith didn't see a reason to stop.
Anakin and his cohorts watched his dismay as their help was diminished before their very eyes, turned to chum as Wraith carved a deep groove in the Gungans' numbers, turning the once proud army into another collective of survivors to hide with them.
They wouldn't be winning this any time soon.
Spearing a Gungan with both blades, Wraith shot two through him before ripping him in two. Even underwater, his brute strength went unparalleled, as many unfortunate Gungan's found out. Looking around and seeing nothing but death and ruin, Wraith could quite confidently claim victory over this battle.
But the fight wasn't over yet.
"Wraith, we've discovered a second group of Republic forces attempting to free Mon Cala prisoners! They are being aided by another Gungan force and I'm ordering you to intervene. Crush the uprising! That's where Prince Char is likely hiding." Tamson suddenly radioed. His orders received, Wraith stowed his arm blades.
"Understood. I'm on my way, this line has been broken." He replied, turning on a dime and jetting off, leaving the water cloudy with Gungan blood and the aqua droids to round up the Republic. Rocketing through the water, he really did have to thank Scipio for these jets, Wraith crossed the nautical distance in a relatively short amount of time, moving from one end of the city to the next without the hinderance of having to swim like everyone else. "Are these prisoners soldiers, Tamson?" He inquired. He needed to know if they were proper POW's or just civilians who were causing problems for the Separatists. Either option would change how he went about his work.
"Not all of them. Civilians too. Count Dooku wishes for them all to be sent to labor camps." Tamson responded. That gave Wraith pause and he slowed, floating in the water.
"But... why?" He wondered aloud. Slavery and forced labor was something that didn't sit well with him. He viewed it as an archaic and evil trade in which the weak only served to benefit the strong. It was a way of life that the corrupt Republc allowed to prosper and had no place under a power like the Separatists, who were attempting to change the galaxy for the better.
"Orders from Count Dooku." Tamson simply replied, a noticeable edge in his voice. They may be orders, but Wraith wasn't a fan of them. Why would innocents be forced into such hardships? Soldiers he understood, but women and children?
Still, he had been trained to understand that those who served the Republic and willingly aided such a corrupt organization were worthy of suffering the way the Republic had made others suffer. It was how he'd acted on Ryloth towards the Twi'leks; the defiant were cut down in order to make way for a new way of life.
It was the lesson at the core of his training: in order to make a new way of life, you have to burn down the old one. And some will always stand in opposition. Those who do not support change are to be swept away.
"Of course," Wraith finally said, starting to swim again, "pardon my inquiry Commander, I was simply attempting to understand the logic of such an action. I do now."
But he questioned if he truly did.
The battlefield at the coral bed had a lot more Calamari involved, Wraith found, as well as Gungans and Clones. They were overthrowing the Quarren guards and readily taking up arms to fight off the Separatist forces. Wraith quickly spotted the flashing green lightsaber of Kit Fisto and made him a priority target.
But Prince Char was an even higher priority.
As he was sizing up the situation, he answered an incoming call from Tamson.
"I am committing the reinforcements Count Dooku sent to this end of the fight, Wraith. Soften them up for us!"
"It would be my pleasure." The super-soldier replied, popping his blades once more. "Time to see what color Calamari blood is." Surging into the fight, Wraith quickly isolated the positions of groups offer heavy resistance. He rushed the Calamari ranks and struck hard, bisecting and dissecting the aquatic warriors en masse, spilling buckets of blood in his wake. Once the group had been cut down to a manageable size for the available Separatists to handle, Wraith moved on to the next. His blasters went to work decimating the Clones, Gungans and Calamari as shot after precise shot downed them, forcing them to disband their efforts before he even arrived. As he worked, a trio of Trident Assault ships arrived on the scene and began using their long arms and propulsion systems to generate artificial whirlpools. The intense currents quickly swept up all participants, Gungans, droids, Calamari and Clones caught up in an uncontrollable spin cycle with no way of fighting back.
Wraith kept well clear of the artificial current and, using his scanners, quickly located the Prince right in the middle of the tempest. "Aren't you a smart one. Hiding out where the current is weak." He observed. Then his scanners picked up a life form he was very familiar with. "Or perhaps you are the smart one, my dear." He whispered. Watching Ahsoka work with keen interest, the way she used the force of the current to execute a spinning strike and disable five droids at once impressed Wraith greatly. "Note to self, try that later." At that moment, Tamson arrived in person, entering the whirlpool with a guttural roar and going straight for Char. Wraith chose to hold back, waiting to see if his talents would be needed later.
Tamson attacked the Prince like only an animal would, with many growls and body-jarring roars. Ahsoka managed to keep him at bay, until a squad of aqua droids activated and started shooting. Then it was Kit Fisto's turn to handle the Karkarodon and the aquatic Jedi proved himself a true master of underwater combat, dislocating Tamson's jaw and generally causing the Separatist commander a lot of trouble. The fighting was fierce and chaotic, Kit and Tamson's combat rough and brutal. But then Wraith's listening devices picked up some tactical chatter.
"Ahsoka! Escape with the Prince, I'll hold them off!" Fisto commanded. Wraith sensed the time for him to engage was near and he made to move to a better position.
Using a grapple fired from a device on her arm, Ahsoka managed to pull her and Char out of the whirlpool as Fisto was surrounded by aqua droids.
"We need to go deeper. Is the seabed safe?" Ahsoka asked.
"There are more caves, they should work." Char answered.
But as they started swimming, the broad black form of Wraith slowly rose up before them, blocking their way. Char gasped and held back, Ahsoka frowning as she drew her lightsabers again.
"Wraith!" She growled.
"Ah... Greetings my dear Ahsoka." Wraith replied. "I had a sneaking suspicion you were here. Unfortunately, I have no time for pleasantries, milady. I'm all business today," he informed her. Reaching behind him and drawing Tyth, Wraith ignited his fiery blade. Flickering from orange to yellow, it was a magnificent sight under the water, "and my business revolves around someone you are protecting. Someone I need." Wraith continued, referring to the Prince.
"Not happening." Ahsoka firmly replied, twirling her lightsabers. "You want the Prince? You have to go through me."
"I'd rather we didn't do this, my dear-" Wraith started to say.
"Just shut up and fight me already!" Ahsoka retorted.
"As you wish." Wraith growled reluctantly. He moved forward but didn't strike, letting Ahsoka make the opening moves. She attacked quickly and fiercely, the Force aiding and improving her movement while underwater. Wraith found himself relying more and more on his strength to move, the dense water slowing his natural speed significantly. He fought defensively, parrying and blocking Ahsoka as she laid into him with acrobatic strikes.
This was one of the first times they'd fought like this.
Part of Wraith wanted to believe she was doing this out of her duty to protect the Prince. But whenever they clashed, Tyth grinding against her sabers, Wraith could see disgust in her narrowed eyes.
She despised him.
That fact made Wraith a little sloppy, and Ahsoka took advatage of his slow attacks to knock him back with the Force. Wraith tumbled through the water, but regained his direction and senses by queuing his jets and blasting back towards her. Ahsoka dodged at the last minute, rolling under Tyth as the fiery blade came sweeping past her. She fired a tether at his exposed body and hooked him, using his momentum and her Force abilities to swing Wraith around and propell him into a nearby cliffside. Wraith crashed through rock and debris, losing his senses momentarily. "Now that's something I'd do." He remarked. Ahsoka and Char were already on the move and Wraith pushed off the cliff, jetting after them. Sensing him approach, Ahsoka quickly put together a plan.
"Your highness! Your spear!" She directed.
"What about it?" Char wondered.
"Adjust the intensity to the lowest setting, then aim for his visor! We can blind him and get away." She explained, not giving a single thought to Wraith's own well-being. Char thought her idea good and did as told, lining up Wraith in his sights. Unlike Tamson, he didn't move a lot when he swam and that gave the Prince a very clear shot.
One moment, Wraith was barrelling in on Ahsoka and the Prince. The next, he couldn't see a damn thing, his visuals turning white as the blaster bolt struck him dead on.
"Argh!" He cried, grasping his visor. His systems were shaken and powered down for a moment as Wraith took a moment to let his eyes adjust.
By the time he looked around again, Ahsoka and Char were nowhere to be found.
"Tamson, I've lost contact with the Prince. I think he's gone underground." He reported.
"Understood. Return to base, soldier. We have prisoners to interrogate." The Karkarodon replied. Giving his head one last shake, Wraith swam off.
Now alone, Ahsoka and a devastated Char collected themselves.
"Now you and I are the only ones left." The Prince sighed, shrugging off the hand she placed on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Lee Char." She told him. And she meant it. This wasn't how she wanted things to go either.
"I know what I must do. I know my people need me. I just don't know how to win this war." He added, swimming off.
"Look, I know you're scared." Ahsoka assured him, swimming alongside. "But you can't let your fear control you." She'd heard the same phrase uttered many a time by dozens of Jedi Masters.
It was a lesson she herself still needed to learn.
"Aren't you scared?" Char wondered. For a moment, Ahsoka found herself at a crossroads. She could be honest with him, letting him know that he wasn't alone. But she was not prepared to be that open with him about her fears. Plus, they were a private matter, something she alone had to deal with.
Plus, Char needed motivating right now. Not empathy.
"I used to be. All the time." She lied. "Until I realized that if you make decisions out of fear you're more likely to be wrong." This was... partly true. Ahsoka was slowly learning how to take charge and lead with confidence. She refused to let others know how much stress and anxiety it caused her, let alone how she always suffered when those under her command perished. She wasn't perfect at it and struggled constantly. She'd made plenty decisions out of fear before, and the Jedi Masters had always taught her the same lesson. The lesson she was now imparting to Lee Char.
She was hoping he'd learn it faster than her.
"I will unify Mon Cala again." Char determined. "I promise." Ahsoka nodded, smiling a little seeing Char getting his strength back. The droning of a Hydroid Medusa, however, forced them to move along.
The battle might've been lost, but the war for Mon Cala was far from over.
With the Gungan, Mon Cala and Republic forces successfully routed, all save for Prince Lee Char and Ahsoka, Wraith and Tamson believed the battle was nearly won.
All that had to happen was for the Prince to be found.
Tamson wasn't in the greatest mood with Lee Char having escaped. And it showed. While the prisoners from the battle were begin escorted into cells, he was busy scheming... and fuming.
"The Senate, two Jedi Knights and some bumbling amphibians. I would've thought the Prince would be easier to capture than the four of you." He mused, staring with arms crossed as Anakin, Padme and Fisto were escorted past him, Nossor Ri and The Wraith.
"It must be part of our plan." Anakin bit back.
"I had the exact same thought." Tamson said, suddenly lunging and viciously grabbing Padme, throwing her to some Quarren guards.
"Don't touch me!" She exclaimed. Anakin protested but was swiftly held back by Quarren guards.
"Rack 'em up!" Tamson ordered. The guards then brought in a series of containment droids, one of which opened and Padme's limbs were tightly clasped by mechanical pincers.
"Tamson! Leave them alone!" Anakin demanded. But his words were met with violence as Wraith rounded a jet-powered blow to his gut, knocking the wind from him.
"Shut your trap Skywalker. You're in no position to ask for anything." He growled, grabbing the back of Anakin's helmet and holding his head in place. Tamson swam over with a sinister gleam in his back eyes.
"Do not worry, Jedi. There is plenty of suffering to go around." The commander stated, revealing a series of chained snake-like creatures whose bodies pulsed with power.
"Ah, eels. Very dangerous." Kit mused before he and Anakin were shoved forward. Pushed right into the midst of the eels, Kit and Anakin were effectively surrounded as arcs of electricity jumped from creature to creature.
"Now, tell me, where is Prince Lee Char?" Tamson questioned, roaring the last word. Anakin said nothing, glaring daggers at the Separatist commander
"He's a defiant one, Tamson. You may wish to warm him up a bit before he talks." Wraith explained, recommending they skip an initial interrogation and go straight to the 'fun' part.
"So be it." Tamson muttered with a grin. He signalled the Quarren guards to provoke the eels, causing them to unleash painful electric shocks that surged through both Anakin and Kit. The Jedi screamed in pain as they were electrocuted, a set of truly delicious sounds to the Separatists.
"Ahh... Cries and screams that are music to my ears." Wraith mused, crossing his arms. "Where do you get all these wonderful toys, Tamson?" The Karkarodon simply grinned in reply as they continued to watch the Jedi be tortured.
But behind them, Nossor Ri winced, further regretting his choices that had led to this moment.
As the electricity died down and the Jedi gasped for air and relief from the pain, Tamson turned about to see Nossor's displeased look.
"What's the matter, Nossor? Can't stomach our treatment of our enemies?" The Karkarodon wondered in a direct manner.
"Is there really such a need for this... excessive pain?" The Quarren asked.
"Are you disagreeing with my methods, Senator?" Tamson questioned, getting in his face. "Or are you having second thoughts about our allegiance?" He demanded. Wraith suddenly laid a hand on the Karkarodon's shoulder and pulled him back, out of Nossor's face.
"Ease up Tamson. He's on our side." He reminded him. Riff shook off his touch.
"If he keeps acting like this, I might mistake him for a Mon Cala next time." He growled before turning and swimming off. Nossor sighed and turned to follow, but Wraith stopped him.
"Not all of us are like him. He just happens to be our only aquatic specialist." He reassured Ri. "You made the right choice, siding with the Separatists."
"Did I?" Nossor replied, sounding less than convinced. "Ever since this battle began I have had nothing but regrets, and nothing but hostility from Tamson and Dooku."
"You've just gotta warm up and see things the way we do." Wraith replied. "You'll get into the groove, Representative. Just give it time." He encouraged, swimming alongside the Quarren.
"If only all Separatists were as amicable as you." Nossor longingly replied.
"In time, you'll get to meet us all. Trust me, we're not all as vexing as Tamson." Wraith responded.
Returning the operations hub, Tamson, Nossor and Wraith entered a circular room where a hologram of Count Dooku powered on.
"I have interrogated the Jedi, my lord. But they will not give up the whereabouts of the Prince." Tamson reported, swimming around. "The Jedi's resistance to pain is... impressive."
"Press the interrogation tactics. We cannot allow the Prince to survive, the royal bloodline must be broken." Dooku instructed after some thought. "Perhaps you should let the super-soldier take a turn."
"A wise suggestion, my lord... but we do need them alive." Wraith jokingly responded.
"Count Dooku, is this necessary?" Nossor asked. "The battle is won! The Prince has no army to rally, now is the time for the Quarren to take the lead and think of rebuilding." He urged.
"Rebuild." Dooku scoffed. "While this battle has been won, there is still a war going on, Senator Ri. A war in which you pledged your allegiance to the Separatist cause."
"Of course, Count. We owe you everything." A cowed Nossor replied, bowing humbly.
"Do not soon forget it." Dooku threatened. With Nossor dealt with, the Sith moved on. "Tamson, have your soldiers arrived?"
"Soldiers?" Nossor sputtered.
"Yes, Count," Tamson affirmed. Behind him, a door opened to reveal more Karkarodons, "we now have the city under our control." Tamson continued as the four entered and swam around the room.
"Good. Continue as planned." Dooku instructed him. "Wraith," he said, turning to the super-soldier, "ensure that the Prince is found and that the Mon Cala offer no more resistance."
"It shall be done, my lord." Wraith agreed as Dooku's transmission ended. Tamson, the Karkarodons and Wraith made to leave, but Nossor was left, hanging his head in defeat before following after them.
He was seriously regretting having ever made this deal.
Back in the prison, the Jedi were periodically electrocuted by the eels until Tamson and the others returned.
"I grow tired of waiting, Jedi. Where is the Prince?" He asked, circling their living cages.
"Even if we knew, we would not say." Kit defiantly replied.
"Unfortunate." Tamson mused before signalling the guards to prod the eels. Once again, Anakin and Kit were harshly electrocuted by high-voltage bio-electricity. They sagged where they were when the barrage finally ended.
"To be honest, it matters little to me. I would torture you either way." Tamson sneered. "Count Dooku requires I capture the Prince... and there is the slight chance you are deceiving me and holding back some information I could use." He mused, swimming over to Padme. Wraith continued to watch with crossed arms, but did have to wonder where Tamson was going with this. "And in my position, I cannot afford to take chances!" He shouted, suddenly lunging forward and closing his jaws around Padme's helmet. She shrieked in terror, a frightened Anakin looking on as his wife was assaulted. Tamson bit down, his teeth puncturing the glass. He pulled back to cackle, only to be forcibly turned around by Wraith.
"Stay your hand, Tamson!" He stated in a rather commanding voice. "As much as I'd like to kill them too, we need them alive right now." The Karkarodon growled.
"You're soft, Wraith! You never show your enemies mercy!" Tamson shot back. "Maybe you're not all they say you're cut out to be! Maybe you're as weak as the Republic's pitiful Clone troopers!"
That did it.
Wraith struck quick, his hand grabbing Tamson's exposed gills and gripping hard. The Karkarodon vainly struggled for a moment until he realized his only method of breathing was trapped in Wraith's iron grip.
"Liken me to a Clone again and I WILL turn you into a delicacy." Wraith growled threateningly. "Your short-sightedness is inefficient and costing us dearly. We need to be willing to play the long game, the Prince isn't going anywhere. You know my true strength, you know my true power, therefore you WILL respect my advice or I WILL take control of this myself! And then we'll see just how merciless I can be... Understood?" He asked in a deep, spine-tingling voice. Tamson weakly nodded, eager to properly breathe again.
"Understood." Wraith released him.
"Good." He rumbled. "Now, time is a factor and the longer we wait for the Prince to make himself known the more resources we deplete. Continue the interrogation... of the Jedi." The super-soldier commanded, pushing Tamson away from Padme. The Karkarodon grumbled and did so, while Wraith stayed behind and reached for his belt, sighing as he did. "Just when I was starting to like him." He mused, fishing out a roll of tape. "You got breathing room?" He asked. Padme nodded. Ripping off a piece, Wraith sealed the leak in her helmet, the water stopping almost immediately.
"What is that?" Padme asked.
"A water resistant tape. In case the suit ever ripped." Wraith answered as he swam away. At that moment, he received a sudden communication from one of the aqua droids.
"We have located the Prince and have him in custody. He has requested an audience with the leadership." It reported in a monotone voice.
"Tamson! I think we just got the break we've been looking for." Wraith happily announced to the defeated looks of the Republic.
"Go and meet them! Then escort them to the throne room." Tamson responded with uncanny glee.
"The throne room?" Nossor repeated.
"Yes, I want that little one to see me in my rightful place... as ruler of this world!" Tamson growled.
"Ruler?! That was not part of our arrangement with Count Dooku!" Ri protested.
"No. It wasn't your arrangement," Tamson agreed, levelling a finger at Nossor, "it was mine!" He cackled. With that they took their leave... but Wraith was starting to question Tamson's tactics. This wasn't the first he made so far and their increasing frequency had Wraith concerned. Revealing his deal with Count Dooku to Nossor was something he deemed an error. While Wraith was not involved in whatever Tamson was doing before this, he believed such information was only to be made known after victory was secured. Where they were currently, victory was not yet theirs.
And if Tamson kept going like this, it may never be.
Intercepting the transfer en route to the palace, Wraith swam up to Ahsoka and Char as the droids forced them to halt.
"Well now, look what we have here." He mused.
"The Wraith... I suppose you're the doorman." Char replied.
"Far from it, boy. I'm an independent unit, this decision was my own." Wraith answered. "Lead him on, I've got this." He instructed the aqua droids. They obeyed and moved Char ahead, leaving Wraith with a frowning Ahsoka. "You did your best, Ahsoka. It is unfortunate your efforts were in vain." He told her.
"They weren't in vain, you'll see." She responded
"Bold words. It pleases me to see this foul situation has not hampered your fiery spirit." He remarked. As he did, he started looking her up and down, the movements of his head quite obvious and grabbing the Togruta's attention.
"What're you looking at?" She wondered.
"The design of your wetsuit. Rudimentary, standard issue, but not bad. It does a fine job." Wraith replied. Casually leaning to the right, his gaze trailed down the form of her back all the way to her rear. "A damn fine job." He started swimming around her, jets producing a slight current as he did. Ahsoka watched him, confounded by his odd actions until a thought clicked in her mind.
"Are... Are you ogling me?" She wondered. Wraith said nothing until he was back facing her.
"Just how tight is it?" He casually asked. Ahsoka balled her hands into fists and rushed him, Wraith holding her back by grabbing her hands.
"If I could breathe underwater, I swear-!" She growled. Wraith deemed her ready to bite his head off.
"Force, Ahsoka, calm down. I've been... having a vexing time with Tamson." He replied. "I did not mean to offend you in the slightest." He added in a lower voice. "Think of this as... my appreciation of your natural beauty. I enjoy admiring the finer things in life and you happen to be one of the finest." Wraith told her, floating quite close to her.
"Are you done? Because I am!" Ahsoka retorted. "Keep your crimson gaze on something else."
"Fine." Wraith relented with a sigh. Turning around, he led her into the palace where she rejoined Lee Char. A pair of Karkarodon guards took over for the droids and forced the two prisoners forward, using blaster spears and far more physical methods. The instant one of them jabbed Ahsoka hard enough to make her cry out, a toothy, sadistic grin on his face, Wraith rounded a punch so hard it shattered a few teeth. "Back off, brute!" He thundered, wrenching the spear form his hands. Covering his mouth, the Karkarodon floated off as his friend growled at Wraith. Wraith returned it with a steady gaze and a deeper, even fiercer growl that made him back down with the barest of whimpers. Ahsoka, slightly appreciative of the gesture, visibly rolled her eyes and shook her head as Wraith took over escort duties.
Leading them into the throne room, Ahsoka and Char were presented to Riff and Nossor, who sat on throne and to his right respectively.
"Greetings Prince." Tamson chuckled. "We meet again." Ahsoka and Char exchanged unsure looks as Tamson continued. "I must admit, you were more difficult to capture than I anticipated. You have my respect, as a hunter to his prey."
"I do not seek nor do I want your respect." Char responded. "I have come to demand the freedom of my people!" Tamson laughed.
"Your 'people'." He repeated. "You are mistaken, Prince. They are my people and under my rule." Getting up, the commander swam around, butting Ahsoka aside and into Wraith's arms, who gave a short but audible growl, as he got into Char's face. "They, like you, are nothing more than slaves."
"Your rule is not recognized here, Tamson!" The Prince shot back, defying him. "My people are all those who live in these seas. Whether they be Mon Cala or Quarren." He announced. Nossor's head rose at this statement. The two locked eyes as Char gave him a nod.
"Surely you have not come here seeking the aid of Nossor Ri?" Tamson replied. "Do you really think he would trade his position to join you?" He wondered, swimming off and around the throne.
"The Quarren are already slaves! Though they may not see it." Char declared. Then he changed his focus. "Nossor Ri, you knew my father. Whatever differences our people had in the past, surely you must know we can work together to make Mon Cala whole." He implored. "Dooku and Tamson only want to exploit us and leave our cities broken and our resources depleted. What will then be left for the Quarren?"
"You speak without knowledge, boy." Wraith interrupted. "So long as Mon Cala has been a part of the Galactic Republic, the Calamari have always been favored over the Quarren, hence the Isolationist League." He stated. "The Free Dac Volunteers have proven themselves masterful shipbuilders, all Quarren will have equality and a better life under the Confederacy." Shifting his gaze, Wraith then addressed Nossor. "Representative, I urge you to look to the future of your people. You made your choice for a reason. Remember that reason." He asked the Quarren. "Dooku is only on edge and Tamson... can be changed at a moments notice. The Separatists are better than this privileged boy makes them out to be."
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Wraith." Tamson said as he swam around to the super-soldier. "Oh wait... yes I could." He suddenly added giving the super-soldier a hard shove. "You seek to embarrass me in front of this boy? In front of my subjects?!"
"If you wish to be embarrassed, by all means, continue." Wraith growled. He now deemed Tamson too full of himself and unfit for leadership of this capacity. Tamson cackled.
"A challenge I'll take you up on later." He mused with a wave of his hand as he turned and swam over to Ri. "Well Nossor Ri? Would you like to join this... pitiful little fish? And his dead father?" Tamson snidely asked. Nossor made no reply, only hanging his head further. "There. You see?" The Karkarodon chuckled, turning back to Char. "What good would their help be to you, Prince? The Quarren are more gutless than your people." He added.
"Dammit Tamson..." Wraith hissed under his breath. He was pushing his luck.
"As long as I live, I shall give all people of Mon Cala hope to fight another day." Char solemnly promised.
"Hm... hope. We are of the same mind, Prince." Tamson thoughtfully replied. "That is why I have scheduled your public execution." He revealed. "Take them away!" He ordered suddenly. The other two Karkarodons appeared and helped Wraith remove Lee Char, Ahsoka he moved with minimal aid.
"Nossor Ri, there is still time!" Char pleaded as he was pushed out. "Unite and we will defend our home!" As he left, Tamson cackled at his incoming victory, while the Quarren representative shared a few questioning looks with fellow members of his species.
There was much to consider... but not a lot of time to do so.
Lee Char and Ahsoka were separated, the Karkarodons forcing the Prince into a cell of his own while Wraith ushered Ahsoka down a hall.
"See what I mean by vexing?" He wondered aloud.
"Yeah. You two were meant for each other." Ahsoka spat.
"Come now, my dear." Wraith calmly answered, swimming alongside her. "Whatever is the matter? Is it the battle that's been lost?" He inquired.
"What do you care?" She curtly replied.
"But I do. If this is affecting you somehow, maybe I can-"
"Save the crocodile tears, Wraith. I know better."
"Do you?" Wraith asked. "Because I'm trying to tell you and you're not listening."
"Maybe that's because I'm done listening to what you have to say." Ahsoka retorted. "Nothing you can say will change my mind. Now if we could spend the rest of this escort in silence, I would appreciate that." Wraith sighed and they continued on.
"What in the nine hells of Tartaka did I do to deserve this?" He wondered aloud.
"You know what you did." She huffed.
"No. I don't." Wraith firmly responded. Ahsoka said nothing more and avoided eye contact with him the rest of the way.
Tamson's chosen ring for execution involved Lee Char surrounded by three of his Karkarodons.
It was supposed to be four, but one of them was missing some teeth.
Ahsoka hands were bound by manacles. Anakin, Kit and Padme were brought in to watch their failure come to full fruition alongside Tamson, Wraith, Nossor and the dozens of Clone, Gungan and Calamari prisoners.
"Good job protecting the Prince." Anakin sarcastically told Ahsoka.
"It's all part of the plan, Master." She replied.
"I was hoping you were gonna say that." Anakin added. "Anything I can do?"
"Unfortunately, this time it's out of our hands." She told him.
"I'm not sure I like this plan after all." He responded. Tamson started circling the ring, making a grand proclamation.
"For crimes against the Separatist state, I command the execution of former-Prince Lee Char!" He bellowed. Narrowing his blackened eyes at the boy before him, Tamson smiled, unable to resist one final remark. "It's a pity I'm not doing this myself, Prince. I would've loved to have sent both father and son to the grave!" He cackled. The Quarren and Calamari were taken aback by his bold statement, deliberately accepting the blame for killing King Rolina. They'd liked King Rolina, he had been good to all of them. The blame they'd once tossed back and forth, the source of the division between the two species, was suddenly lifted... and placed at the feet of this Separatist. The Quarren suddenly found a sense of unity with their Calamari neighbours.
A unity against the Separatists.
Seeing trouble brewing, Wraith made his move, swimming into the ring and grabbing Tamson.
"TAMSON! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" He shouted, shaking the Karkarodon.
"I am merely letting this boy die knowing the truth." Tamson retorted. "Is that so wrong?"
"Such information is to be saved until AFTER victory has been achieved! You and your single-minded stupidity have put this entire campaign in jeopardy!" Wraith thundered. "The Quarren trusted us, now they won't! You are an imbecile and a FAILURE of a commander!" He bellowed, turning and throwing Tamson to the side.
"You dare to speak to me that way?!" Tamson shot back. "I am your commanding officer!" The people around watched in great earnest as the two Separatists went at it, surprised by such infighting.
But even as they did, the Quarren readied themselves.
"You are nothing more than a greedy, self-obsessed warlord with no mind for tact or strategy!" Wraith retorted. "I'm going to salvage this... without you." He growled in conclusion. Floating up to the level of the crowd, Wraith called in a loud voice, "People of Mon Cala! Quarren and Calamari alike! Do not accept Riff Tamson as an example of all Separatists! We are better than him, we are more than him. We have a heart and soul and a mind geared only towards the freedom of the galaxy from the Republic's corruption!" He declared. "Please accept from me, on behalf of the entire Confederacy of Independent Systems, a heartfelt apology for his actions. It is not like us to wish to cause division in strife. We do what we must only to achieve galactic reform." The people paused and listened to his words, The Wraith proving himself to be quite an eloquent speaker. Even still, they're were not keen on trusting the man who had butchered the Gungans as well as their own kind. "Let me propose to you an alternative: we shall free Lee Char and he shall rule over you. Then we will discuss the Republic and the Separatist's role in your future." He suggested, now at eye level with them all. He waited for a response of some kind...
And got one that he didn't want at all.
"Touching words, soldier. But I've got a better alternative." Tamson stated. Wraith whirled around to face him, only to find Ahsoka in his grip.
"Tamson! What are you doing?!" He exclaimed, tensing up and sensing something foul about Tamson's intentions.
"I've been watching you, Wraith. You seem particularly fond of this Jedi. Why is that?" Tamson wondered, swimming circles around Wraith with Ahsoka in his grip. The commando continued to tense up as he evaluated this turn of events.
"Whatever you're doing, stop it. This is a needless diversion that will not spare you the punishment you are due!" Wraith growled. Tamson merely chuckled at Wraith's comment.
"Is that so?" He wondered. "Or is that your excuse to prevent me from revealing your true nature?" Tamson asked with a smile. For the first time in a long time, Wraith felt stark fear shoot through his body and balled his hands into fists.
He needed to get her away from Tamson before he did anything.
"You sought to make a fool out of me. Now I will make a fool out of you." The Karkarodon stated.
"Enough is enough Tamson!" Wraith retorted. "Let Ahsoka go!" The Karkarodian paused, thoughtfully considering Wraith's words.
"Interesting." He finally said. "You call her by her first name and everyone else by their last. A term of endearment..." Wraith froze, his mind rapidly searching for words. Why now, during a public display of all times?
"Let her go Tamson! Do not provoke me!" Wraith demanded, swimming closer. "You know how well that ends..." Riff growled at the memory of Wraith exercising his dominating power over the warlord, refusing to be humiliated once more.
With a sly look in his eyes, Tamson relented.
"I do." Releasing Ahsoka from his grip, Wraith breathed a sigh of relief.
But he was a bit too early to do so.
In a sudden move, Tamson ripped off Ahsoka's mask and crushed it between his teeth, leaving her without a source of oxygen and in danger of drowning.
"NO!" Wraith cried. Queuing his jets, Wraith shot forward and grabbed Ahsoka before shoving Tamson back and launching to the surface, leaving the Karkarodian behind to watch them ascend, a smirk on his face.
One more problem taken care of.
Ahsoka could barely comprehend what was going on. First she'd had her only source of communication and breathing torn away and now she was in Wraith's arms and ascending at an alarming rate. Things were happening so quickly she was having trouble keeping up, first Wraith apologized for Tamson's actions and then this...
Her lungs started to burn. Even with her training she could only hold her breath for so long. And the surface was so far away.
Wraith knew Ahsoka had mere seconds to survive without oxygen, especially at these depths. They were deep down and she needed air fast. Kicking his jets into overdrive, they ascended as quickly they could.
But Wraith had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that his efforts wouldn't be enough.
Ahsoka tried to cling to consciousness. She really did. But the loss of an oxygen supply was so sudden, she didn't have time to get a proper full breath in. Struggling with what she had, she felt her body grow weaker in Wraith's hold and her vision slowly began to fade.
The seas began to grow brighter, the surface coming into view as they shot past the towering buildings of Mon Cala city. "Almost there." Wraith whispered. Ahsoka heard him... and then lost consciousness.
Breaking through the waves at high speed, they shot clean into the air before crashing back down. Wraith thought quickly and held Ahsoka up, ensuring she had optimum access to the air.
But then he saw her eyes closed and how limp her body was.
"Ahsoka!" He screamed, looking around for the nearest flat surface. He spied. An island not far away and queued his jets once more, swimming them over. The swim was too long for him and he quickly pulled them both onto dry land. Deactiving his systems and ripping off his helmet, Wraith laid Ahsoka out flat and quickly recalled the steps to CPR. Placing both hands on her chest, he started pumping. "Come on... Come on, breathe," he pleaded, hair damp and bouncing wildly as he looked up and down her body, looking for some sign of her awakening. She lay still and unmoving even as he finished his fifteenth compression. "Come on!" He desperately cried, continuing on to thirty. Even then she didn't move. Wraith went on to the next phase, tilting her head back, opening her mouth and locking his lips with hers, initiating mouth-to-mouth.
One breath. Nothing.
Two breaths. Nothi-
Ahsoka sputtered and coughed, Wraith retreating quickly as she coughed up seawater. He rolled her onto her side as she continued. "Thank the Force." He breathed, keeping her even. The last of the seawater from her lungs, Ahsoka gasped for air, reaching out and clutching Wraith's leg. "Breathe. Just breathe." He instructed her, pulling her close. "I've got you, you're going to be okay." He assured. Ahsoka didn't respond, too busy sucking in more lungfuls of sweet, sweet air. She weakly reached out to him, grabbing his armored arm. "Take it easy." He softly said. "Just rest. All will be well." He meant it. But even as he held her, Wraith's thoughts were turning dark. Tamson had nearly killed Ahsoka.
That Karkarodon would have hell to pay as soon as he returned to the depths.
As soon as Ahsoka's breathing evened, Wraith laid her on the ground and collected his helmet.
"Where... W-Where are you-...?" She weakly asked. Wraith could've said multiple things in that moment. That he had a job to return to, a situation to resolve, a mess to clean up.
But there was only one thing on his mind.
"I'm going to go make that shark pay." He swore, donning his helmet. As the visor powered up, Wraith dove back into the water and switched on his jets again.
If Tamson had already succeeded, there would be another execution today.
Laying back on the sandy ground, Ahsoka continued to regain her breath and gather her senses. That whole situation had been a scary one, but it also opened up a new reality to her.
The Wraith had just saved her life.
If he truly wanted her only for the bragging rights, as Anakin insinuated, if he didn't really care about her, as Corsair put it, then why would he save her?
Despite everything she believed in, the logic she'd come to accept, Ahsoka was starting to wonder...
Barrelling back down to the depths, Wraith clenched his hands as he imagined every possible way in which he could kill Tamson, the two common words on his mind being slowly and painfully.
As he neared the city, Wraith could see red and blue blaster fire being exchanged. Clearly something had transpired in his moment away from everything, the logical conclusion being that Tamson had pushed the Quarren too far and they had decided to side with the Republic.
Oh he was going to make that shark pay.
His sonar picked up the tell-tale movements of a Karkarodon, one far from the main battle. Adjusting course to follow the signal, Wraith planned out how he was going to arrive-
And then the sonar signal cut altogether, replaced by a tiny blip indicating an explosion.
Confused and intrigued, Wraith followed his course to the outskirts of the city. Soon he found a small cloud of blood and a living Lee Char. He didn't have to wonder what happened for much longer as he spied the severed, sinking head of a very dead Riff Tamson.
Coming a halt a few feet from the Prince Wraith assessed the situation.
"He is dead." He observed.
"He is." Char agreed, eying the remains of the Separatist commander. Then he turned to the super-soldier. "Where is Padawan Tano?"
"Ahsoka lives. She'll be alright." Wraith replied.
"What is she to you? You're a Separatist and she's a Jedi, why did you do that?" Char inquired, swimming towards Wraith.
"That is not your concern." Wraith growled. "And if you wish to live long enough to see your coronation, you will not speak of this conversation to anyone." The word 'coronation' registered with Char and the Calamari's eyes widened in surprise.
"Aren't you here to kill me?" He asked.
"That is my mission. But this battle has been lost to us. Killing you now would earn us nothing." His answer surprised Char and Wraith swam a little closer. "You've earned this victory, Prince Char. Enjoy it. But be aware, I may return one day... and I will not be as merciful as I am now." He promised.
"I will be ready." Char swore in promise, gripping his blaster spear tightly. Wraith floated back, planning his escape.
"Long may you reign, Prince Char. May you be as great a ruler as your father... if not even greater." He cordially said, bidding the soon-to-be king farewell. With that, he took off through the water, away from the city and Prince Char.
The changing situation told Wraith he needed to leave. Now. Fortunately, his shuttle was stored aboard the Providence-class destroyer that had brought him here and was accessible via a remote command uplink in his belt.
But first he needed to get to the area.
The trip through the water offered him much time to think about everything that had happened. His situation with Ahsoka remained unchanged, if only slightly. But he did take a very valuable lesson from this; he'd have to be very careful from now on about how he acted with Ahsoka in public... if he got another chance that is.
She seemed to soften after her resuscitation, but a near-fatal experience would likely do that to a person.
What he needed to do was have a one-on-one conversation with her. He wished he could control those portals that randomly opened, connecting them. He cursed their randomness and deeply wished he knew what was causing them. Making a mental note to explore that option later, Wraith took a moment to reflect on the absolute moron that was Riff Tamson. Recalling everything the Karkarodon did, Wraith vowed to never do the same and was determined to be better than any other Separatist. Tamson was a piece of scum who paraded as qualified leader when he was far from it. Wraith had a feeling there were many like him in the ranks of the Separatists. Greedy, villainous thugs who joined a noble cause out of a quest for personal glory and power. They sullied the reputation of the Separatists and Wraith was bound and determine to kill the next one he encountered.
Shifting topics, Wraith opened a communication to Count Dooku via the systems in his helmet. He was hesitant to do so, but knew the sudden change needed to be called in. This was yet another failure of his, another in a recently long line.
He could only imagine what the Count's response would be.
The image of the Count solidified as he continued to speed through the water.
"Wraith. What is your report?"
"Tamson... fouled up, my lord." He slowly reported. "We've lost Mon Cala."
"I see." Dooku thoughtfully replied.
"I'm sorry I could not salvage the situation, my lord." Wraith apologized. "Due to Tamson's shortsightedness, the Quarren abandoned us in favor of aiding the Republic and that turned the tide against us."
"Where is Tamson now?" Dooku asked.
"He is dead."
"And Prince Lee Char?"
"In the protection of the Jedi... and it seems he'll likely be coronated soon." Wraith answered. "Again, sir, I apologize for my ineffectiveness."
"You have no need to be sorry, Wraith. It appears that the Quarren were not worthwhile allies after all." Dooku responded. His works were straight and business-like, but there was a warmth behind them that Wraith could feel. "Perhaps the blame ought to be laid at Tamson's feet. Or perhaps I relied too much on the notions of the Isolationist League and not enough on the opinions of the general populace." The Sith continued. "I am confident you did all you could, soldier."
"I did sir. But it clearly was not enough." Wraith replied, still feeling the weight of failure.
"Sometimes we can never do enough, even when others are involved. Especially when others are involved." Dooku stated. "Again, I trust you did everything in your power to right Tamson's wrongs." Wraith's hearing pricked up at Dooku's words, feeling them resonate somewhere in his soul.
And then, a sudden thought hit him.
He didn't fail because of his own ineffectiveness. He failed because of the ineffectiveness of Tamson! Tamson had hindered him!
Wraith may have been trained to operate on his own, but he was still part of a larger cause, a cause that was full of people who supported him, despite his perceieved failures. They would have his back even if fools like Tamson got in his way.
He had room to breathe now. He could take control of his life and get back up again.
If his leader was confident in his abilities, then he should be too!
"Return to us as soon as you can. We still need you, Wraith." Dooku instructed him.
"Yes sir!" Wraith strongly replied, feeling invigorated as he ended the call and continued swimming. Yes, he could carry on. He would always come back, he would always overcome.
He was, after all, The Wraith.
