HAD ABADDON SYSTEM
After tending to Tahiri's injuries, Kira escorted her into the cockpit to join Sam as he steered the Harvest away from Had Abaddon as quickly as he could.
"All right, now it's time to go back to Ord Mantell," Sam said.
"Thank you guys for coming," Tahiri said, still panting from exhaustion, "Both of you."
"Don't thank me too much," Sam replied, "Your friend here practically dragged me along."
He started to turn to the Republic command ship as it emerged from the clouds at the highest point of Had Abaddon's atmosphere.
"Look out!" Kira shouted, pointing outside the viewscreen.
Both Ultor's SuperStealther and Talon's Infiltrator appeared after the command ship, turning their sights on the Blue Harvest.
"We can't get past both of them," Kira said, "We're going to have to make a jump to lightspeed."
"Where to?" Sam asked skeptically.
"They're gaining!" Tahiri shouted, just as Talon and Ultor simultaneously opened fire.
Kira fired back with the Harvest's guns as Sam evaded the two enemy ships as best as he could.
"Just take us anywhere," Kira replied, "Quickly!"
"All right, okay," Sam said hastily, pulling the throttle to make the jump into hyperspace.
To Kira, the vibration of the ship felt stronger than usual as the Harvest began its course. She held on to Tahiri as the ship blasted out of the Had Abaddon system through the Mid Rim.
"Looks like we're not out of the woods quite yet," Sam observed, looking at his data screen.
"They're following us," Tahiri realized, "They must have put some kind of tracker on our ship."
"We can't go back to Ord Mantell, or the Academy on Ossus," Kira decided, "We'll have to hide somewhere and then shake them off our tail."
Inside the cockpit of his fighter, Ultor said into his radio, "Don't lose sight of them. They can't get away now."
Both he and Talon had jumped into lightspeed right after the Blue Harvest and were in determined pursuit.
The Harvest finally pulled out of lightspeed when it reached the next Mid Rim system.
"Let's land here," Sam suggested.
"Do you know if it's safe?" Tahiri asked.
Sam shook his head. "No, but Metacorn is always busy with trading activity. We should be able to blend in before coming up with a plan to sneak out again."
"If they catch us,we can take them," Kira said confidently. She hated the act of running away from the Sith. She would turn the tables on Ultor soon enough, Kira decided.
Sam sped down towards the crimson Metacorn and steered the Harvest into the planet's atmospheric clouds.
Metacorn had no major cities, but small trade outposts were visible throughout its large, rocky plains.
Occasionally, a vent in the ground shined red rubies that reflected into the sky. Kira could see miners down belowdigging with high-tech equipment into the ground.
"How about that town over there?" Tahiri suggested. The "town" consisted of a medium-sized landing hangar, about five interconnected avenues, a cantina, aparts dealership and a trading post.
"How're we going to hide here?" Sam asked.
"We won't," Kira growled in reply, tapping the lightsaber clipped to her belt, "We fight and we show them."
"Kira, we couldn't beat Talon with another apprentice," Tahiri pointed out, "I don't think we'll be able to take her along with Ultor."
"Weknow what to expect from them this time," Kira replied, "And this time, we won't lose."
CORUSCANT
"Master Skywalker," said Chief Fey'lya with a double-dip of triumph and wariness, "What do you have to say about the newest Senate vote? Do you accept your position as general in our grand army, or are you going to desert?"
It was an impassioned, invigorated Leia who spoke up instead.
"Luke is not a deserter," she said to the public forum, "Luke has done his duty in service of the galaxy far more than most can claim, destroying the first Death Star, and facing both Darth Vader and the Emperor at great risk to his own life. Us Jedi have long kept the peace in the galaxy when it was threatened, and we will continue to do so."
"Peace?" questioned Twi'lek Senator Free Taa, "Would you say you have succeeded, when the galaxy is being torn apart by the Coalition, led by your former student, Master Skywalker?"
Luke could not help but flush at these words, but kept his calm persona. Leia, on the other hand, raised a fist with passionate anger.
"Leia, it's okay," Luke whispered, placing a hand on his sister's arm.
"The choices of a grown man in no way reflect on Luke," Leia fired back, "I do not deny the immorality of the Coalition, but pulling the galaxy into a war is not the answer."
Fey'lya was not moved. "Very well, Senator Solo," he replied, "Nonetheless, Master Skywalker, I will expect all of your Knights and Masters to report for duty to receive their command assignments, or you will all risk being tried for desertion."
Luke remained silent and strong.
Suddenly, inside the Chief's booth, Omas received a buzz on his comlink.
Answering on the tiny screen in the booth, Omas whispered, "What is it, Antilles?"
Admiral Wedge Antilles replied, "Sir, we've detected several Hutt Clan ships entering our sector."
Luke suddenly turned his attention from the Senate meeting, turning his head in alarm.
"Do you feel that?" he asked Leia, "Do you feel the same disturbance in the Force that I do?"
Leia nodded wordlessly, looking around and scanning the faces of her fellow Senators.
The public tunnel leading to the lower levels of Coruscant allowed for public transport, such as a freighter carrier, to pass through.
It was guarded by a fleet of revolving Interceptors and upgraded X-Wing fighters, along with several gunships with armed soldiers on board.
Level 1313 was the destination of the Sith apprentices.
At the boarding station, Nihl, Kallus, Paxis, Wyyrlok, and Judicar exited along with their fellow passengers, now dressed in their black robes.
Many thugs and criminals still wandered the dimly lit, metropolitan streets of this level, but they were careful to avoid the patrolling soldiers and police officers.
The Aradonti Ravine separated the side of level 1313 where the boarding station was built from the tall, towering building that had formerly been the lair of Ziro the Hutt, a floundering nightclub.
It was now deserted and closed off by Republic forces, who remained in patrol.
At Nihl's silent beckoning, the six youths walked towards the metal walkway that led over the Ravine towards the former Hutt stronghold.
As they stepped over the Ravine, the Republic guards watching the nightclub started running towards the Sith's path to intercept them.
Meanwhile, about five patrol guards appeared from behind them, weapons drawn.
"Stop right there," the sergeant ordered, "You're not allowed to be in that territory."
At first, the apprentices ignored them, but then the sergeant stepped onto the bridge after the young Sith.
"I said stop," the human woman said, "You juvenile delinquents are coming with me."
"Juvenile delinquents, are we?" Nihl asked, "I like the sound of that."
At his cue, Judicar tossed a thermal detonator towards the blockade on the other side of the bridge, and six red lightsabers snapped to life.
"Come on!" Luke urged, suddenly running from the booth and using the Force to slide the doorway open.
Leia followed him quickly into the hall, ignoring Fey'lya's cry of "STOP!"
"Wait for us!" Threepio fretted as he hobbled after the two humans.
Artoo was much faster, staying close behind Luke and Leia.
Immediately, the two Jedi were met by eight armed Senate guards, who immediately moved in on the attack.
Luke raised both hands to the ceiling, causing all eight blue-robed guards to crash into it before crumpling to the floor in a heap of helmets and robes
The Skywalker siblings hurried to the nearest turbolift, pursued by even more guards.
"We need to get to the lower levels, fast," Luke said.
After exiting the turbolift on the ground floor, Luke and Leia raced across the heavily pillared reception hall, towards the hangar.
Most of the blaster-carrying, masked soldiers were unaware of the political climate or the conflict between the New Republic Senate and the Jedi Order.
Therefore, it did not occur to them to act against Luke and Leia until they had climbed into a vacated DC0052 speeder.
"Hey, get out of there!" ordered Captain Dreller.
Luke steered the Republic craft quickly out of the hangar into the open travel lanes.
"Wait!" Threepio protested as he and Artoo arrived in the hangar.
Artoo lightly bumped into Threepio with his whole body, then slowly wheeled away.
"Where are you going now?" Threepio demanded as he reluctantly followed his little friend.
Artoo stopped in front of a long 2187 speeder, which seated four and had a socket perfectly suited for an astromech such as himself.
"What are you suggesting?" Threepio asked, "I'm certainly not getting in there."
Artoo popped into the air with his rocket boosters and lowered himself into the droid socket, beeping urgently at the golden protocol droid
"Me, fly such a thing? It goes against everything I was programmed for."
Suddenly, the two droids were approached by five city patrol officers, blaster pistols drawn.
"We're going to have to take you two droids into custody for now," the man leading the officers stated, "since you both are the property of fugitives from the law."
With a mischievous whistle, Artoo let out a stream of blinding nonlethal gas into the hangar.
"Artoo, what do you think you're doing?" Threepio whined as the guards coughed and gagged, one of them firing a shot that barely kissed Threepio's right shoulder.
After Artoo encouraged his partner to reconsider, Threepio reluctantly climbed in and said, "Very well, only since you obviously need me."
Before Threepio knew what was happening, Artoo launched both of them straight out of the hangar, into the skylane ahead.
"No fancy tricks, please!" Threepio begged, "Oh, I don't know why I let you talk me into this."
Deep below the underworld portal, Luke and Leia quickly landed in level 1313.
By now, Cartel mercenaries and bounty hunters had landed in their Hawk gunship, while another large transport carrier carried the entire Hutt council from the Dor'bulla towards the underworld.
Reaching the abandoned nightclub, Nihl and his fellow apprentices had left a trail of dismembered bodies in their wake, making quick work of whoever else attempted to stop them.
Armed thugs in the streets drew their weapons, seizing the opportunity to rise up against the Republic presence in the underworld.
To the Whiphids, Trandoshans, Rodians, Weequay, and other species of would-be outlaws, Nihl shouted, "Now is the time to fight back against the oppression of the Republic. For chaos!"
The Republic patrol guard was met by even heavier fire from the criminals, and their situation was made worse as the Coalition guerrillas landed down below, springing out of the Hawk gunships and opening fire in the street.
As Luke and Leia ran onto the ground platform, plasma lights of green and blue hummed to life.
Recognizing the Jedi, the Coalition invasion force opened fire on them.
The two of them used the Force to propel their speed, rushing towards the entourage of Sith apprentices in a flash of green and blue.
On the bridge leading to the nightclub where the Hutt transport was landing, Luke and Leia were forced to stop and deflect fire coming from both the gunships and armed thugs.
"Look who it is, ladies and gentlemen," Nihl gloated, "Luke Skywalker himself."
"And his good for nothing bureaucrat of a sister," Judicar added.
"Time for our moment of glory," Nihl declared, leading the charge towards the two Jedi.
"Over there!" Leia shouted as the Sith advanced on them, a large trail of red glowing growing closer.
The Skywalker twins stood back to back, lightsabers pointed in the air as they were approached by the Sith from one side, and by the Coalition mercenaries from the other.
METACORN
The Harvest sailed over the outpost in search of a better place to hide.
Wordlessly, Sam took them through a rocky plan towards a mountain full of jewels and gaseous magma poring from the vents.
"We're never going to lose them at this rate," Tahiri said worriedly.
"How about the cave?" Kira suggested.
"It's worth the risk, at least," Sam replied, swerving in the direction of a long, rocky tunnel, distinct from the crimson glow emitted from it.
The Harvest disappeared into the tunnel, losing sight of the two Sith fighters chasing them.
"Let them land," Ultor commanded with a heavy degree of calculation, "They won't get very far."
On the other side of the tunnel, the trio looked back at the crystalline cliff above them, which seemed to shield them from the Stealther and the Infiltrator in pursuit.
"I think we got away," Tahiri said breathlessly.
"We'd better make sure we stay hidden," Sam replied.
Kira was silent, still thinking hard.
The Sith were here, and there was no easy escape, as immediately safe as they appeared.
Kira was glad that they were nearly cornered, as this would give her the undeniable chance to prove herself as she had failed to do on Ord Mantell. She would vanquish the Coalition single-handedly by defeating its leader. And it went beyond the war for her as well. This battle would be personal.
The Harvest shot down in the direction of another small outpost, this time at the base of a magma-filled cliffside.
There was some busy activity in this tiny settlement, with living mounts traveling in and out, and traders moving between dealerships, landing pads, and bars.
The Republic-affiliated vehicle stood out to the residents and visitors as it docked in the small landing bay, as did the military commander and the two robed Jedi.
A Devoronian smuggler whispered to his Bith accomplice, "Those are Jedi. And that's a Republic officer."
"What do we do?" the Bith asked.
"Let's alert Baron Karde," the Devoronian suggested, "He'll be able to tell if they're here to cause trouble or not."
The three of them quietly and quickly strolled out of the landing bay's exit onto the hard stone road that led from one side of town to the other.
"We'll take shelter in the outpost here," Sam said, pointing to the rectangular building where dealers could be seen making transactions for ships, droids, parts, spices, among other goods.
Inside the interior office of the building, Karde spoke to the hologram of the Devoronian.
"Jedi, you say?" he asked, "The Republic has just sent word over the Holonet that the Jedi are now wanted by the Chief for desertion."
"Should we rally the local militia?" asked the Bith.
"Not yet," the Baron replied, "We don't want to attract trouble from either the Republic or the Coalition. Just let them be for now."
Meanwhile, Kira, Sam and Tahiri proceeded from the hangar onto the street.
"You're sure it's okay to leave your ship here?" Kira asked Sam.
"Yeah, Skyler definitely has it tracked anyway," Sam replied, "And don't want to attract attention from the locals by trying to remove the device. K3 will look after the Harvest for me."
"What do we do now?" Tahiri asked.
"See if we can blend in and get a new ship," Sam replied. He turned to a nearby bar, which had some patron activity but was quiet on the inside.
As Sam want in, Tahiri leaned into Kira and whispered, "He really is the take-charge type, isn't he?"
"Sssh," Kira replied fiercely, finger to her lips.
"What do you think of him now that you've been on a mission with him?"
"Do you really want to talk about this now?" Kira snapped, "We're trying to hide from the worst people in the universe."
"Okay, sorry," Tahiri replied, following Kira into the bar.
Sam was already seated at the stool.
The white-furred elderly Wookiee bartender asked Sam a question.
"I'll take that one," Sam replied, pointing to a drink on the menu displayed above the Wookiee's head.
The white Wookiee nodded and turned to make Sam's drink.
When Kira was certain that Sam was occupied, she leaned closer to Tahiri and whispered, "I tried to kiss him and he didn't go for it."
"What?" Tahiri exclaimed, a little too loudly.
Sam was busy whispering to the Wookiee, "Do you know anywhere we can find public transport to the Core Worlds?"
The Wookiee flipped a switch on the table and activated a holographic map of the surrounding outposts.
"He didn't go for it and now I think he forgot. I really thought he was starting to like me back, but I guess I'll always be that annoying kid who stole her brother's StealthX."
"You should talk to him about it and ask," Tahiri suggested, making sure that Sam was still busy studying the map that the Wookiee had shown him.
"Nobody does that," Kira rasped.
"Well, there's a first time for everything," Tahiri replied, "Be a pioneer."
The Wookiee had drawn his attention away from helping Sam, and shuffled to the back room.
Sam slid off of his stool and went back to his two Jedi companions.
"All right, I think we can take a landspeeder to Trade Port 913, and then we'll find captains willing to take Republic credits."
"You sure we can trust this information?" Kira asked him.
"I don't know this place, but I know that your Coalition friends aren't going anywhere."
"Hey, I know where we can find a good speeder," Tahiri said suddenly, "You guys wait here and I'll go see which one is best!"
She took off from the bar, looking pointedly at Kira before rounding the corner.
"Has she been to this place before?" Sam asked, slightly perturbed at Tahiri's abruptness, "How does she know where to find a speeder?"
Kira had immediately understood what Tahiri was doing.
"Look, Sam, I wanted to say, about Had Abaddon..."
She trailed off, but Sam started talking while she was still trying to find the right words.
"I would not want to go back there," he said, "Talk about the belly of the beast."
"No, I don't mean that," Kira replied, "I mean when, well, you know..."
Sam suddenly understood. "When I had something on my face?" He began to look as embarrassed as Kira felt, which was a small comfort.
"I just wanted to say, I'm sorry if I crossed a line. I just thought that maybe we were forming a connection."
Sam faltered, this was not his area of expertise at all. He had never thought he'd find himself in a situation like this, always expecting to be the one in Kira's predicament.
"Look Kira, I really think you're great," he replied, "It's just that..."
Before he could continue, the probe droid K3 came whizzing into the bar, beeping at Sam urgently.
"What is it, K3?" Sam asked.
"Yes, what?" Kira demanded, clenching her teeth with fury. What could have been so important as to interrupt this moment, this painful, agonizing, heartfelt moment?
K3 jerked his spherical body towards the bar's exit.
The aged Wookiee bartender was now speaking to the Devoronian who had spotted the trio exit the Blue Harvest, who nodded and quietly slipped out the back door.
Sam jogged after his droid companion, and Kira reluctantly trailed behind.
Once they had joined Tahiri out on the street, K3 released a small hologram of Cal Omas from his miniprojector.
"Commander Fel, you are to join the rest of Rogue Squadron and return to Coruscant at once," Omas said in the message, "The Republic has fallen under attack by the Coalition. You are expected to report for duty promptly."
Once the transmission had ended, Kira looked up desperately in Sam's eyes.
"What are you going to do now?" she asked fearfully.
Sam looked away, a glint of remorse in his eyes.
Finally, he said, "You heard what the Vizier said, Kira. I have to go back to Coruscant and fight."
"You can't leave without us!" Kira insisted.
"We can't go with him," Tahiri chimed in, "Not with Ultor and Talon on our tail."
"Chalmun will show you where to go from here," Sam replied, "And they'll be tracking my ship off the planet, not you guys."
"But you can't leave!" Kira insisted, shamefully near tears by now, "You can't just abandon us here!"
"Kira, he has to," Tahiri tried to reason.
"No!" Kira replied, pointing at her friend fiercely. She could not explain where her anger came from, maybe because Sam had just been about to reject her before this had happened.
"I'm sorry," Sam replied, shaking his head, "I'd like to help you more, but I have a duty to the Republic. You can still get to a passenger carrier from here, and travel offworld while they keep my ship on their radar."
"How could you, Sam?" Kira asked, her voice trembling. She still wasn't entirely sure why she had gotten so upset, and right now she didn't care.
"I'm sorry," Sam repeated, "I have to go."
He turned and walked away, starting to disappear into the crowd, the probe droid K3 hovering alongside him.
Kira went from upset to furious, not even noticing this internal shift.
"I hate you!" she called after the commander, full of spite due to his abandonment.
"Kira, take it easy," Tahiri urged, tugging her friend's arm back into the bar.
Once the two girls had sat down in a booth, Kira rounded furiously on her friend.
"This is your fault," she said.
"Excuse me?" Tahiri asked, caught off guard and immediately moved on the defensive, "How do you figure this is my fault?"
"You encouraged me to talk to him about it," Kira snapped, "I can't believe I told you about what happened on Had Abaddon."
"He left because he's in the Republic army," Tahiri replied, "And besides, he's going to get the Coalition away from us here."
"Yes, but..." Kira stammered, still trying to pathetically hold back tears, "But then they'll be after him and he can't get away! I can't let them get him!"
Kira sprang to her feet before Tahiri could stop her and started running out of the bar.
"Kira, wait!" Tahiri shouted, seething in frustration before following.
By now, locals and guests were running through the streets, desperate to get to their transports or any other means of escape and flee.
"Whats going on here?" Tahiri wondered out loud, but Kira was still beyond caring.
"Sam!" she cried out, coughing on the dust that the tourists and locals left while running away. "Sam!"
Kira felt several people push her out of the way as they ran past her, causing her to glare at them and impulsively reach for her lightsaber
"Kira!" Tahiri yelled from the doorway of the bar.
"What?" Kira snapped back, still angry at her best friend.
"Kira..." Tahiri looked nervous now, pointing to a spot from behind the fleeing civilians.
Kira turned her body around through the crowd of refugees and suddenly understood why they were all fleeing.
Darth Talon stood at the end of the avenue with her lightsaber drawn, a sinister grin on her face. She then drew Tahiri's stolen lightsaber from her belt and switched on its purple blade of plasma.
Kira immediately snapped her lightsaber to life, standing protectively in front of the unarmed Tahiri.
"It is pointless to hide from me," Talon taunted, stepping closer to Kira and Tahiri as they jointly formed a fighting stance in preparation for the duel.
"I have you cornered now, and you won't be running anymore. Poor Solo girl, what will your friend do with no weapon?"
"Anybody else would be a hindrance to me," Talon replied, circling around her prey, "By myself, I am more than a match for two silly little girls."
"Let's get her!" Kira yelled, not willing to stand around any longer.
"Kira, wait!"
Tahiri flinched as her friend charged at Talon, who immediately struck back.
Talon was able to push Kira away and raise her saber above her head, preparing to attack again.
"Let it begin," the Twi'lek apprentice said with a sadistic whisper.
