Hyperdimension Neptunia - Across the Multiverse
A HyperDimension Neptunia Fanfiction by Dumbrarere1
Chapter 7 - Defense of the Esseles
Deep in Imperial space, a lone Harrower Star Destroyer was patrolling the star lanes. This was the flagship of Darth Malgus, warlord and one of the most nefarious of Sith Lords in the galaxy, second to the Emperor himself. He would be interrupted from his thoughts at the approach of his apprentice.
"Denzion. Why have you disturbed me?" he hissed.
"There have been echoes in the Force, Master. Have you felt them?" Denzion asked. Malgus could only hum in response. He'd finally speak up when he felt the opportunity arose.
"Have you ascertained the meaning of the echoes?" Malgus asked, glaring out into the inky blackness of space.
"An extradimensional being who knows the anomaly creating these echoes has provided some interesting information about it." Denzion replied. That was when Kurome walked onto the bridge. One soldier tried to stop her, but she filled his head with nightmarish visions and he crumpled to the ground in agony. The rest of the Sith soldiers on the bridge did not engage after seeing what had happened.
"Who is this you have brought?" Malgus asked.
"This is Kurome Ankokuboshi, the extradimensional being I told you about. She knows the CPUs - identified as Purple Heart and Purple Shield - that she says fell onto the surface of Tython not too long ago, and says they're helping the Jedi Order. She apparently has knowledge about their strengths and weaknesses. Being a CPU herself, she's considered a rogue among the two CPUs, and has the ability to manipulate people through nightmares and hallucinations. An ability that has earned her the moniker "Lady of Nightmares" from the crew." Denzion explained.
"Anything else?" Malgus asked irritably.
"She came to me about a proposition and seems genuinely interested in assisting the Empire." Denzion replied.
"Name your proposition, Kurome. And make it quick, for I have little patience." Malgus said as he turned to Kurome.
"I'd like for your apprentice to become my agent in this galaxy, Lord Malgus. In return, I promise you both the ability to hop through dimensions at will, and give you greater strength and power. Imagine the greater multiverse, ripe for taking by your Empire." Kurome suggested, a fiendish smirk growing on her face. "Imagine. Power enough to make the weak and squabbling Dark Council quake at your own presence, enough to make the corrupt and broken Republic turn to dust at your very touch. A slice of the Empire, all at yours and your apprentice's disposal. I get some command of your apprentice to do my work, while you and he both get what you want." she continued. Lord Malgus thought long and hard about it. Behind his mask, a smirk mirroring the girl's grew across his face.
"That is a proposition I can get behind. I accept.." Malgus replied. "And I will go one better. Stick around and take a share of the pie, for I sense a great and prestigious career amongst the Sith for you." he continued.
"Done. And I'll no doubt be staying around, for I intend on meeting these CPUs face to face." Kurome said. A dark power washed over both Malgus and Denzion as they're suddenly granted the ability to traverse dimensions at will and near-limitless potential.
Andrew and Neptune were still being held at gunpoint by Moorint and his men at the Twi'lek settlement on Tython.
"Stop it! What are you doing?!" Ranna asked as she ran in front of them, trying to deny a killing shot. They didn't notice that Asmund was waking up again.
"Matriarch, step aside. Handing over the boy's Master wasn't enough. This Padawan and the CPUs have to die!" Moorint declared.
"I told you to leave them alone! That was the pact!" Ranna shouted, ordering the men to stand down.
"Bengel Morr refused your terms. This is to save our people!" Moorint countered, refusing to back down. Andrew could tell Neptune was trying to fight back dark memories while being held at gunpoint.
"Ranna, tell your men to stand down. Neptune's going to have a panic attack soon." Andrew said.
"How could you lie to our faces, Ranna?" Asmund asked as he finally got an idea on the situation.
"I had no choice. There are too many Flesh Raiders and not enough Jedi." Ranna responded.
"Bengel Morr came to me, said he'd end the Flesh Raider attacks if we gave him your Master." Moorint explained.
"He asked us to kill you and the CPUs, too, but I said 'no.' I told him we'd keep you here. You'd be safe, and my people would have a protector." Ranna explained.
"So either keep us as your prisoners, or kill us, is that it?" Andrew asked irritably.
"If we don't do what we're told, Bengel Morr will kill us all." Moorint said.
"You want your men to stand down." Asmund said with the wave of a hand.
"I-... I want my men to stand down." Moorint said, mimicking Asmund's words.
"What?" the armed Twi'lek holding Neptune at gunpoint asked.
"You heard me, stand down." Moorint repeated. With a sigh, the armed Twi'leks lowered their blasters.
"You don't want to hurt anyone. You want to leave peacefully." Asmund said next.
"I don't want to hurt anyone." Moorint said.
"We want to leave peacefully." one Twi'lek said as he walked away. The other one followed suit. Neptune breathed a big sigh of relief to be out of the mess she was in. Soon, the only Twi'lek standing over them was Ranna.
"This was all a terrible mistake… It wasn't supposed to be like this... I was going to save you… to save us all…" Ranna said.
"Yet you sold us out to the enemy, and almost had us killed." Andrew countered, disappointed in her.
"I almost had flashbacks of some of the worst moments of my life three years ago. I hope you're happy." Neptune chided.
"No! You can still save Master Orgus! Bengel Morr took him to some place called the Forge. Reactivate your droid, it might know where to find him." Ranna explained.
"Alright. We'll forgive you, Ranna, but please don't do something like this again…" Andrew said with a sigh.
"Thank you. I won't ruin this chance." Ranna said as she got back to work. Asmund took the time to reactivate T7-01.
"T7 = power failure? Memory logs = missing time." T7 asked.
"T7. Bengel Morr has taken Master Orgus to some place called the Forge, Do you know where it is?" Andrew asked.
"Forge = restricted access. T7 = no data on location." T7 replied.
"Maybe the Jedi Archives mention something about the Forge?" Andrew asked.
"How do you know about the Archives?" Asmund asked.
"Eh, Orgus mentioned them before we left the Temple." Andrew replied.
"Ah. Good idea, though." Asmund replied.
After looking for information on the Forge, they quickly made their way to it. They arrived in time to see Master Orgus and Bengel Morr going up against each other, with Bengel knocking Master Orgus out cold with the Force.
"I sensed the three of you coming. Your fear betrayed you." Bengel said as he turned around. "You're weak. Like my old Master. You will fall with him." he continued.
"You're not hurting anyone else, Bengel. Why do you feel the need to continue doing this?" Andrew asked him.
"The will of the Force guided me here for justice, to restore what the Jedi lost." Bengel replied. "You weren't on Coruscant. You never saw our greatest cut down, or watched the temple burn. I escaped that destruction to see my Master surrender to the Sith. They exterminated us, and he gave up." Bengel said.
"So this is about revenge…" Andrew said, clearly somewhat irritated. "A chase across Tython, all for petty revenge…" he continued.
"The weak will be sacrificed here to make the Forge stronger." Bengel said as he turned around, activating a new lightsaber as he walked over to Master Orgus. "The Jedi Order must be reborn from ashes... " he said.
"Not if we stop you…" Andrew replied, activating HDD. Neptune followed suit.
"There is value in mercy over mindless slaughter. As CPU, I will not let you lay a finger on him." Neptune said, finally speaking up. That was when Bengel charged in at full force, attempting to slay Neptune then and there, only to have his attack broken with a successful parry.
"I-impossible… A weapon not made with a cortosis weave or of lightsaber-resistant metals cannot block a lightsaber… Unless it's Force imbued…" Bengel said.
"That's Share Energy for you, Bengel." Andrew said.
"This changes nothing. You CPUs will fall into destruction with the rest of the Jedi." Bengel declared, before he engaged Neptune in an all-out battle, trying to use every trick he had to catch her off guard. But in HDD, she countered every attack. It eventually ended when Bengel was disarmed, his lightsaber destroyed. "You've- you've won… Why has the Force guided me to this defeat?" he asked, confused.
"Perhaps what you are doing is not what the Force wills as you believe." Asmund said. Bengel could only let out a mild chuckle.
"You are stronger than any Jedi I've known. You could redeem the Order and destroy the Sith. I understand now… the CPUs were the weapon I came to forge... " he said.
"You don't have a destiny, Bengel. You're sick. You need help." Asmund said.
"Don't deny the truth. Think! How else could she have beaten me? I have spent a lifetime learning the paths to power. That knowledge is now yours. Let me leave Tython and prepare the galaxy for the CPUs' ascendance. I will deliver the gifts you need to claim your destiny." Bengel said, going on a miniature rant.
"You'll get the help you need, Bengel, but you can't leave here." Asmund countered, before delivering a punch that knocks him right out, before going to wake Master Orgus.
"Padawan. CPUs. I must have you to thank for being alive." he groaned as he got to his feet.
"I captured Bengel Morr, Master. He's resting quietly." Asmund said.
"You've done a great thing. He deserves a second chance." Master Orgus said as he thought of what caused the events of what transpired to happen in the first place. "The horrors he witnessed on Coruscant broke him… destroyed the gentle Padawan I trained…" he continued.
"It is unfortunate that he had to project what he faced in such a way. I'm glad he'll get the help he needs." Andrew said.
"You, however, faced a challenge beyond any trial I could assign, Padawan. From facing down a Dark Jedi to seeing the Dark Side for what it really is… There is nothing more I can teach you." Master Orgus continued.
"Jedi = big victory. T7 = congratulates Jedi." T7 chirped. That's when a Sharicite Fragment appeared at the Forge, the excess Share Energy permeating the stone.
"That must be the Sharicite Fragment that the CPUs were looking for. So quickly, too." Asmund said.
"One of many in the galaxy, I'm sure. Their role in this is far from over." Master Orgus said, countering Asmund's comment. "Now. All that remains is for you to enter the Forge, retrieve the Sharicite Fragment, and construct your lightsaber." he continued.
"No doubt the residual Share Energy will be infused in his Kyber Crystal. It could give him an edge in combat as our Shares continue to grow." Neptune said, still in her HDD form.
"What is this place, Master?" Asmund asked.
"The first generations of Jedi came here to construct their lightsabers millenia ago. It's strong in the Force. Normally we make Padawans gather materials themselves, but… you've proven enough." Master Orgus explained, before handing Asmund everything he needs, Kyber Crystal and all, to build his first Lightsaber. "These are all your physical components. It'll be a good idea to let your crystal absorb the residual Share Energy as Neptune has expressed, but the rest will come with your mastery of the Force." he continued.
"T7 = stay with Jedi + CPUs, + keep guard." T7 announced. Master Orgus knelt down and picked Bengel Morr up.
"I'll carry Bengel back to the Jedi Temple and get him help. Meet me there when you're ready." he said. With the bob of a head, he walked away. Andrew, Neptune and Asmund walked the steps up to the ancient Forge. Andrew and Neptune collected the Sharicite Fragment, before Asmund placed a cyan Kyber Crystal on the pedestal. The crystal quickly absorbed the Share Energy the Fragment left behind, and Asmund placed the rest of the components for his lightsaber down.
"This weapon will be a light in the darkness…" he said as he entered a meditative state. Before Andrew's and Neptune's eyes, the lightsaber began to be constructed. As the construction came to a close, Asmund drew the weapon to himself and ignited it for the first time. The weapon glowed brilliantly. That's when an unnerving howl echoed across the landscape from directly behind them.
"Some kind of creature is blocking the way…" Neptune said as she redrew her Odachii, still in HDD. Andrew followed suit with his sword and shield, and Asmund stood ready with his new lightsaber. The creature threw a rock at them, narrowly missing the entrance to the Forge. T7 wailed as he was almost grabbed and tossed next.
"I feel kinda bad for Teeseven… This must be some kind of Forge Guardian. We're going to have to kill it if we have any chance of getting back to the Temple in one piece." Andrew declared.
"My thoughts exactly…" Asmund said, determined to return to the Temple alive. They dashed in, and Asmund drew the first strike. His lightsaber cut off one of the limbs of the creature. Neptune followed Suit with Neptune Break. The killing blow, however, came in the form of a blaster shot to the face from T7-01.
"Heh. The little guy has a surprising bit of firepower. Who woulda known?" Andrew mused, finally leaving HDD. Neptune left HDD as well, feeling exhausted.
"T7 = equipped with effective combat programming + latest in blaster technology. T7 = can provide cover fire for Jedi + CPUs." T7 chirped.
"Well, I'm glad to have you watching our backs, Teeseven." Andrew replied with a smile.
"Hey, you understood that." Asmund exclaimed.
"I guess I learned quickly." Andrew said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Anyways, let's head back, I'm sure that Neptune needs some rest." he added.
"The Flesh Raiders are still a threat, but without Bengel's leadership they'll be scattered and ill-equipped." Master Orgus said as the trio entered the Council chambers.
"This temple could have been devastated. The entire Order is in your debt." Master Bakarn said with a bow.
"Indeed. Without the aid of the CPUs and this Padawan, everything we'd built would have been lost. We narrowly escaped a tragedy mirroring the destruction of the temple on Coruscant." Master Satele agreed.
"The enemy found weaknesses in our defense and security. We have to guard against such things more closely." Andrew said with a sigh.
"Agreed. And now we have concerns beyond the Flesh Raiders. Recent developments in the Twi'lek settlement demand a response." Master Satele replied.
"Their Matriarch betrayed me to Bengel Morr, and almost had the three of you killed. But she surrendered herself to us for Judgement. Your doing, I understand. Good work." Master Orgus interjected.
"You three know the Twi'leks. How do you recommend we proceed?" Master Satele asked.
"By my understanding of the situation, their sudden aggression towards the Order and willingness to betray us was in no small part a consequence of our refusing to help them. That has to change." Andrew replied.
"What happened to Master Orgus is almost unforgivable. But if we do forgive - and work with them - it could only improve both our communities." Master Fane said.
"This young Jedi and these two CPUs captured a fallen member of our Order and saved this temple from destruction. I see no reason why Asmund should remain a Padawan." Master Orgus said, changing the subject to Asmund, using his name for the first time.
"Your bravery, heroism, and sacrifice show a great depth of character. You represent our best hopes for the future. You arrived on Tython a Padawan, but you leave a Knight of the Republic." Master Satele announced.
"I promise to uphold every standard of the Jedi, and the Galactic Republic." Asmund promised.
"T7 = requests permanent assignment to Jedi + CPUs. T7 + Jedi + CPUs = unstoppable." T7 requested.
"Teeseven here has been with us for some time. The four of us make a great team." Andrew concurred.
"Then I see no reason why you shouldn't stay together." Master Satele said. That was when they were interrupted by something on the holotable.
"We're getting a priority signal from Coruscant. It's Master Kiwiiks." Master Orgus announced as he turned on the holocomm, accepting Master Kiwiiks' call.
"Master Orgus. Everyone. I've discovered a situation requiring further assistance. Our suspicions about Coruscant were correct. The dark presence we have long sensed is strongest here." Master Kiwiiks explained.
"Now what could be darker than a fallen Jedi attacking us?" Andrew asked.
"That's what we need to find out. The security of the entire Republic is at stake." Master Kiwiiks replied.
"This situation calls for our very best. Master Orgus, you, your former pupil and the CPUs should join Master Kiwiiks on Coruscant." Master Satele exclaimed.
"Come to the Senate tower as soon as you can. Master Kiwiiks out."
"No rest for us, my friends. A passenger liner, the Esseles, is waiting in orbit to take the four of you to Coruscant." Master Orgus said.
"We'll leave immediately, Master." Asmund said.
"I need to wrap up some things before I go. Meet you on Coruscant." Master Orgus said.
"Farewell. The Force will be with you, always." Master Satele said, adjourning the meeting. The trio leaves with T7, and they take a shuttle to the orbital station. They were approached by another Jedi, Master Nimi.
"Master Orgus speaks highly of you and your CPU companions. He says you are the finest Padawan he has ever trained. The Force flows through you, aided by the mysterious power of the Shares. They give you strength. You have the potential to be a great champion of our Order. But first, you must learn to focus your ability. You must choose which path you will walk." he said.
"I'm not quite sure I follow, Master Nimi." Asmund questioned.
"The Jedi are protectors of the Republic. In this role, we must accept a harsh truth: to preserve peace, we must often be warriors. Some warriors - like your CPU companions - become scourges of evil, living weapons of the light. Others - much like the CPU's husband - become stalwart defenders, guardians who protect and shield others." Master Nimi explained. Asmund thought long and hard about his choices, leaning towards the path of the Jedi Guardian. From there, they went to the Star Dock and boarded the Esseles. The airlock closed, and with a shudder, the ship disconnected itself from the docking arm.
"What a pleasant ship. Cozy…" Andrew mumbled to himself. "Might as well get comfortable. No telling how long we'll be in transit. Might as well use this opportunity to go through the information Master Orgus gave me." he continued as he took out his N-Gear. He looked through all the information reading up on the basics of the recent history, from the Sith Empire's resurgence to the Treaty of Coruscant.
"Excuse me. Can I speak with you for a moment?" a female asked. Andrew looked up and saw a Twi'lek he'd never noticed before.
"Oh, no. By all means." Andrew beckoned as he put his N-Gear away.
"I don't mean to trouble you, CPU, but I'm curious if anyone from the ship's crew has come to speak with you and your companions yet." the Twi'lek replied. Andrew furrowed his eyebrows in concern.
"Why? Do you think something's amiss?" Andrew asked.
"I heard a rumor that there's an Imperial warship following us. I know, I know. The Treaty of Coruscant. But I don't trust the Empire to keep the peace." the Twi'lek said.
"Everyone has probably been on edge since then, and I understand your concern. However, these are only rumors, and rumors without hard evidence hold little weight. Perhaps there is little need for worry." Andrew countered, trying to calm the woman's nerves.
"I just wish I could get someone from the crew to answer my questions. The crew won't tell the passengers anything at all. It's not very reassuring." the female said somewhat irritably.
"Telling the passengers that Imperials are nearby would only cause a panic." Asmund interjected.
"I suppose… still, I think it's a little unsettling to think that there might be Imperials behind us." the Twi'lek countered.
"When you put it that way, even a lack of denial is cause for concern. I have a bad feeling about this." Andrew said, as he addressed everyone. That was when the klaxons started blaring, catching the passengers off guard.
"Warning! Warning! Incoming fire! All hands, brace for impact! Repeat, all hands-" a crewmember shouted on the intercom, only to be interrupted as the Esseles jolted suddenly. The ship rocked and groaned as it came under attack. Debris from exploding panels and doors flew everywhere, injuring some of the passengers with shrapnel. The rest were merely knocked to the ground, shaken but unharmed.
"Can you hear me? Are you alright?" The Twi'lek asked.
"Yeah, yeah we're okay." Andrew replied.
"T7 = run diagnostic. T7 = functioning nominally." T7 beeped as he ran a diagnostic on his systems.
"Why can't I get peace and quiet for more than five seconds?" Neptune whined.
"The Imperials seem to have forgotten about the treaty…" Asmund said, stunned by what just happened.
"I knew the treaty would break eventually, but I never thought I'd be here to see it." the Twi'lek said in shock and annoyance.
"We've gotta get to the bridge. The Captain's going to need all the help he can get." Andrew declared.
"Let's just hope it's not too late to help." Asmund agreed. The trio, with T7 in tow, ran to the bridge.
They ran mostly unopposed to the Bridge, to find the captain dead, and his First Officer standing over him.
"Come on, Tyrus! You can make it, sir! You can make it!" the First Officer cried in a vain hope the captain was alive.
"He's gone, sir! You're in charge now! What are our orders?" the navigator asked.
"Your orders? Our weapons are out, shields are out, comms are out! There's nothing we can do!" the First Officer shouted in a panic.
"Get a hold of yourself, sir, you're the only one keeping the men together." Andrew said as he approached.
"We've come to offer our services in defense of the ship." Asmund said in response.
"If you want to be useful, Jedi, then get out of here and stop interrupting us!" the First Officer shouted, lashing out at the three of them.
"Sir, we need all the help we can get. If we don't keep it together here, we're finished." the navigator interjected as he tried to reason with the new and rookie captain.
"Keep what together? The Imperials have us by the throat! We're as good as dead already!" the First Officer shouted back.
"And all I want is a nap…" Neptune said, both annoyed and exhausted.
"What's wrong with you? Are you going to let your ship fall to the Imperials so easily?" Andrew asked.
"That ship behind us is the biggest ship in the Imperial fleet! We didn't stand a chance!" the First Officer exclaimed.
"Teeseven, connect to the ship's mainframe and run a diagnostic. See what systems you can bring back online." Andrew instructed. With a few beeps, T7 did as instructed. He beeped a few minutes later after completing his task.
"T7 = finished diagnostic. T7 = advises priority to shields + comms over weapons for time being." he announced.
"You heard him. Transfer power to comms and shields and bring them back online." Andrew directed. The First Officer nodded, and the crew performed the task they were ordered to do. Soon, the shields and comms went back online.
"Sir! Incoming message! The Imperial ship is hailing us!" the communications officer announced.
"What? Oh, well put them on." the First Officer replied. On the holocomm, the image of a gruff, hardened officer appeared.
"Republic transport Esseles, this is Grand Moff Rycus Kilran. Your defenses are entirely disabled. Attempt no resistance." the man, Grand Moff Kilran, said with a smirk.
"We are well aware of our situation, Kilran. Why are you attacking a ship with innocent civilians?" Asmund asked.
"Your ship is transporting a known anti-Imperial terrorist and seditionist, the so-called "Ambassador" Vyn Asara. I've come to collect her." Kilran announced.
"Who? We didn't take on ANY passengers by that name! I've never even heard of this person!" the captain shouted in honesty.
"Interesting. Lying or incompetent? No matter. My agents aboard your ship have confirmed the ambassador is there." Kilran said with some form of satisfaction.
"Your "agents" are obviously misinformed. The First Officer just told you that there is no ambassador aboard." Andrew countered.
"You'll forgive me if I don't take his word for it, my friend. Imperial soldiers are preparing to board your ship through its primary airlock. My agents will ensure that you do not interfere. If you attempt to stop my men from arresting Ambassador Asara, I will have every living thing aboard the Esseles killed." Kilran said as he closed the channel. Andrew was obviously bothered by the threats of mass slaughter.
"Where's the primary airlock? We'll stop the Imperials as they come aboard." Asmund announced.
"Weren't you listening?! If we try to fight, they'll slaughter us! We have to comply!" the navigator shouted.
"It won't matter. Kilran has us, now. He'll kill us all, he's famous for it. The only one he wants alive is the ambassador. If he gets the ambassador while we're sitting in his sights, we're goners. Those soldiers have to be stopped before they can succeed." the First Officer countered.
"Glad to see we're all on the same page." Andrew said.
"Why does Kilgore have to be such a sadist?" Neptune, asked.
"Kilran, Neptune." Andrew corrected.
"He's no ordinary Grand Moff. Rycus Kilran is best known as the 'Butcher of Coruscant' for his role in sacking the Republic capital. He takes no prisoners and has no remorse for innocent deaths." the First Officer explained. "Listen. I'm sorry I lost it earlier. It means a lot to me to have you all helping us right now. Thank you." he continued.
"Helping others is both a duty and an honor." Asmund said.
"Maybe so, but we appreciate it all the same. I'll have our security team meet you at the primary airlock. They haven't seen much action, but Commander Narlock knows his stuff. Good luck, you three. We're all counting on you." the First Officer said, wishing everyone the best.
The Trio, along with T7, arrived at the primary airlock to see Commander Narlock addressing the men.
"This is it, gentlemen. This is what you've trained for. The Imperials are coming, and we're not going to let them past, are we?" he asked.
"Sir, no, sir!" the guards replied in unison.
"We aren't fighting alone. Three experienced volunteers, including a Jedi, are going to help us! The Imps won't stand a chance! One of the volunteers will address you now." Commander Narlock continued.
"Alright, gentlemen. I know many of you are rookies who have never experienced open conflict. We're up against soldiers and engineers under the command of Grand Moff Rycus Kilran, the infamous 'Butcher of Coruscant.' I cannot lie, some of you may not survive. Our enemy will be well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. But we do have one key ally on our hands; the Force. As long as you stick together, remember your training and trust in the Force, we can - and will - achieve victory against impossible odds. You with me?" Andrew monologued, raising the morale of the men.
"Sir, yes, sir!" the guards replied, once again in unison.
"Good. Now, down to business. The enemy will cut through any second now, blasters at the ready. We need to take up defensive positions and drive them back." Andrew said. With a salute, the men quickly took position and awaited the coming battle.
"From a Jedi-like mind at one moment to a military commander the next. I'm impressed." Asmund mumbled.
"You haven't seen the half of it." Neptune said childishly with a roll of her eyes. They turned around at the sound of plasma torches cutting through the interior blast door of the primary airlock. Moments later, a chunk of the interior blast door fell down in a blast of thermite, with Imperial soldiers in black and crimson running in by the hundreds, only to be cut down by blaster fire from the troops with the CPUs in support. Lieutenant Isric of the Imperial Military came next, before Andrew and Neptune swooped in and took him head on while Asmund stood behind and empowered the security guards with the Force. The high ranking Imperial was ill prepared, and was cut down shortly after with a combined strike. It was then that the first wave began a hasty retreat. The Esseles Security Guards cheered at their apparent victory.
"Hah! Victory! We did it, men, we've done it! The ship is saved!" Commander Narlock exclaimed, overjoyed.
"I'm sorry, Commander, but that… that isn't the case." the Twi'lek from before corrected grimly.
"That Imperial said you're the one they were sent to capture." Asmund said towards the Twi'lek.
"Wait- you're Ambassador Asara?" Andrew asked, confused and annoyed.
"Listen, that's not important right now! We have a serious problem! First Officer Hakon walked us right into a trap. The attack on the primary airlock was a ruse. After Haken sent you here, Imperial commandos snuck aboard. They were led by a Mandalorian mercenary called 'Ironfist'." Ambassador Asara explained. Neptune slightly shivered at hearing the word 'mercenary', again remembering the war against the Heaven's Bane Crime Syndicate. Oddly enough, the word 'Mandalorian' was hair-raising for Andrew.
"What do you mean, 'Mandalorian mercenary?' What's going on?" Asmund asked.
"The Mandalorians, aside from Clan Ordo, work for the Empire. They're some of the best warriors in the galaxy, and Ironfist is the most famous." Ambassador Asara explained.
"Alright. Just how bad is the situation?" Andrew asked.
"Ironfist and his Imperial commandos stormed the bridge, and now the entire area is locked down tight." Ambassador Asara said.
"Since this is Kilran we're dealing with, Ironfist could drive the Esseles straight into the heart of the Republic capital. It would be a catastrophe. We have to get back to the bridge and stop them from gaining control of the ship!" Asmund said.
"That's why I rushed to find you. Something has to be done." Ambassador Asara concurred.
"Look, what is this all about? Why are the Imperials so desperate to capture you?" Commander Narlock asked.
"Because of my work. I'm a Republic ambassador. I travel to Imperial-controlled planets and convince their governments to come over to our side." Ambassador Asara explained.
"Confronting the Empire for the sake of diplomacy must take a lot of courage." Asmund mused.
"I'm no hero. I just show them an alternative to Imperial control." Ambassador Asara said humbly.
"Guys, the longer we stand here, the slimmer our chances get. We need to retake the bridge as quickly as possible." Andrew reminded.
"I already told you. Ironfist has the bridge locked down. There's no way in or out." Asara said.
"Thankfully, Teeseven here is all around gearhead, no pun intended. He helped get the ship's Shields and Comms back online, so I'd say he has a good chance of overriding the lockdown." Andrew said.
"T7 = knows ship well + can slice systems quickly." T7 said, confirming Andrew's comment.
"Even Teeseven has the confidence. He's quite resourceful." Asmund said.
"Alright." Andrew said, turning to the security guards. "Men, once Teeseven overrides the lockdown, we'll storm the bridge and take back control. Use what cover you can, and do your absolute best to keep the enemy under wraps. Under no circumstances are you to engage Ironfist directly. We'll handle him." he continued, explaining his battle plan.
"Understood, sir!" one of the security guards replied.
Back at the bridge, the men were assembled and ready to begin the attack to reclaim the ship.
"You boys ready?" Commander Narlock asked.
"Sir, yes, sir!" the guards replied confidently.
"Alright, Teeseven, do your stuff." Andrew instructed. T7 rolled up to the security console outside the bridge and began slicing it. The Imperials changed the override codes, but T7 was able to figure it out rather quickly, and soon the ray shields keeping the bridge locked down fell. The men stormed the bridge and quickly overpowered the Imperial commandos. That left Ironfist, and Andrew, Neptune and Asmund approached him. He clapped, as though to congratulate the three of them.
"Well, well. I was wondering when you'd finally show up." Ironfist said.
"So you're Ironfist… Heh, you're more bark than bite." Neptune said confidently, almost taunting the Mandalorian. This garnered a chuckle from a few of the men, and even the First Officer.
"Childish and overconfident. People like you are suicidal." Ironfist countered.
"Oh, you'll find she's full of surprises." Asmund said.
"You're outnumbered, Ironfist. Surrender." Andrew said. The Mandalorian simply laughed, drawing a vibroblade. Andrew, Neptune and Asmund each drew their weapons in response, and ran in. Ironfist was quick, blocking a majority of their attacks. Asmund used the Force to push him off balance, followed by Neptune's use of Cross Combination. The fight continued for several minutes, before Andrew swapped his sword for his rarely used blaster, ending the battle by pointing the blaster at his face.
"Go ahead, then. Kill me." Ironfist snarled.
"You were a dangerous and worthy opponent, Ironfist." Andrew said.
"Maybe I misjudged the three of you. I took you for scum not even worth my time, but I haven't had a battle like that in a long time." Ironfist said.
"I didn't know you had a blaster." Asmund said, surprised.
"It was a gift from three years ago." Andrew replied. "Now, then. I know how you mercenaries work. I know what makes you tick. You sell your loyalty to the highest bidder. Perhaps the Republic could use someone like you." he said, turning his attention back to Ironfist.
"What do you propose?" Ironfist asked.
"Whatever the Grand Moff is paying you, the Republic can triple, and even quadruple." Andrew said. Ironfist thought about it, before nodding.
"Considering the Grand Moff hasn't been paying me what he promised as of late, I suppose it's a good trade. I'll follow your orders until we reach Coruscant." Ironfist said as he stood up, allowing Andrew to stand down. Asmund, Commander Narlock and First Officer Hakon were equally surprised to see Ironfist switch sides so readily.
"Well, that is a pleasant surprise, I suppose." the First Officer said.
"We can't go anywhere with that tractor beam in operation. Eventually the Grand Moff will destroy this ship with us all on board." Ambassador Asara said. Ironfist thought long and hard, before a smirk grew across his face.
"My shuttle is in the Starboard Hangar Bay. How do you boys feel about a little boarding action?" he asked.
"Alright! Time to take the fight to the Empire!" one of the guards cheered.
"So we sneak aboard the Grand Moff's ship via your shuttle, disable the tractor beam, and come back so that we can all escape. It's bold, but I like it." Commander Narlock said, agreeing with the plan.
"Alright. I'll agree to the plan." Ambassador Asara said. They all made their way to the Starboard Hangar.
Once in the shuttle, Ironfist took direct command and flew towards the Emperor's Glory, docking in its starboard hangar.
"You've got Ambassador Asara?" Kilran asked his former ally, unaware that the Mandalorian changed sides.
"I sure do." Ironfist replied.
"Good. I'm sending a squad to take her into custody." Kilran replied, before cutting the transmission. That was when the Imperial troops arrived at the boarding ramp.
"Imperial Army! Open up!" the Imperial soldier declared. The boarding ramp lowered, revealing everyone pointing their guns out towards them.
"Didn't say 'please'." Andrew replied before he fired his blaster at the soldier up front. The Esseles Security guards followed suit, and the Imperial squad sent to detain Ambassador Asara was annihilated. The guards fanned out and secured the hangar.
"Didn't think it would go that well." Asmund said.
"Me neither." Commander Narlock said in agreement.
"Let's go." Andrew said as he swapped his blaster for the sword he's used many times before. They ran down the hallway and towards one of the security rooms, where they had to slice the terminal to get to the tractor beam, cutting down Imperials in their path. Ironfist proved a valuable asset, as he personally slew several Imperial soldiers. With the room clear, T7 sliced the security console and not only unlocked the door but also sabotaged the power systems for the node of the ship they were in. That was when Kilran appeared on the holocommunicator.
"Well… I'd seen some incredible things in my time, but you just topped the list. You know, if I'd known that Ironfist was beginning to question my authority, I'd have killed him off years ago." he said.
"Wipe that smirk off your face, Kilran. You haven't been paying me what you promised, lately, so it was past time I jumped ship." Ironfist hissed.
"Now, now, let's not be so hasty here." Kilran said, before addressing the trio. "I'm sorry I couldn't greet you in person. If only you'd let me know you were stopping by." he continued, trying to taunt them.
"Your taunts are useless, Grand Moff. This won't end until the Esseles is free." Asmund said.
"We can do this one of two ways. You can release the ship willingly and let us leave, or we can do it ourselves - by force if we have to." Andrew said.
"You sadden me. I can only be cordial through so much. My men will be along shortly to escort you to the accommodations I've arranged." Kilran said snidely.
"Guess that means we're doing it ourselves. By force, even." Ironfist said.
"Your men can't stop us, Kilran. Stop this charade while you're still afloat." Asmund said.
"You greatly overestimate your chances. Ironfist wasn't the only weapon in my arsenal, nor the deadliest." Kilran said.
"Overestimate this." Ironfist said, just before shooting out the holocomm. "You've no idea how long I've waited to do that." he said, putting his weapon away.
"If you weren't the deadliest asset in his arsenal, it's likely he's got experimental weapons at his disposal, including assault droids." Asmund theorized.
"That makes our job that much tougher. But we can't stop now." Andrew said, before they ran off to the Tractor Beam. Once more, they had to fight their way there. When they arrived, the only thing standing in their way was a large autonomous siege platform, the ISS-7 Battledroid. Andrew and Neptune quickly struck, taking out the arms that housed its weapons, before cutting off the head of the droid where the processor was located. The droid fell to the ground with a loud clang, sparks flying out of it. With no way to slice the Tractor Beam controls, Andrew drew his sword across the terminal, destroying it and therefore permanently shutting down the tractor beam.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Kilran said. "I hope you realize that this is getting out of hand, however. You're leaving me with precious few options." he continued, still trying to taunt the group.
"Let's get back to the hangar." Andrew said. With that, they were off.
They returned to the hangar on the Emperor's Glory to find it locked down. Ironfist used his override codes and brought the ray shields down. Unfortunately, Imperial reinforcements sent to intercept them were already at the hangar and entering right then and there, and they were led by a Sith. They were in the process of slaughtering the men.
"Stop!" Andrew said as they ran in to halt the Sith's advance. The Imperial reinforcements stopped their slaughter, leaving a handful of men, along with Commander Narlock and Ambassador Asara, alive.
"Greetings… At last. A real, live Jedi. And his CPU companions. How I've looked forward to this. A true Sith cannot go a long way without a true challenge." the Sith, Vokk, said as they approached.
"How do you know Neptune and I are CPUs?" Andrew questioned.
"Denzion told us much of what the Lady of Nightmares told him. Said that you two are incredibly dangerous opponents who are near impossible to kill by normal means. To destroy a dangerous foe. That is the way of a True Sith." Vokk said.
"Denzion? Lady of Nightmares?" Asmund asked.
"Oh, you haven't heard? Denzion is the apprentice of Darth Malgus himself. During the Sacking of Coruscant, he personally slew twenty seven Jedi Knights at the Temple. Many believe him capable of succeeding Malgus for the title of Sith Lord. And rightfully so, because the Lady of Nightmares, a CPU whom your companions consider rogue, has hired him as her agent in this galaxy." Vokk explained.
"Wait, the Lady of Nightmares is a CPU?" Asmund asked, looking to Neptune and Andrew with concern and confusion.
"A rogue CPU by the name of Kurome Ankokuboshi. It is currently believed that she was responsible for what happened in Gamindustri, though to what purpose remains unknown, and she has actively been trying to halt our progress anonymously since our journey in the previous dimension." Andrew responded.
"Quite so. She intends to meet you CPUs." Vokk said, confirming everything including their suspicions about her role in the attack on the fallen CPUs and Candidates back in Gamindustri.
"Enough, Vokk. This has gone on long enough." Ironfist declared.
"Indeed it has, traitor. And now, Jedi, we shall fight." Vokk said, igniting a pair of lightsabers, glowing a glaring red against the otherwise dark backdrop of the Imperial warship.
"Two?!" Andrew asked in shock. He looked to Neptune, before they quickly entered HDD.
"Well… This is unexpected." Vokk said as he smirked. Andrew, Asmund, Ironfist and Neptune each got ready, before charging in. Andrew parried and countered the Sith's first blow, before rather unsuccessfully trying to chain his attacks. Neptune flew in and used Neptune Break on him, while Asmund used the Force to keep him off balance. Vokk, despite his confidence and selfish pride, was not prepared for the fury of their combined attacks. It finally dawned on him that he was outmatched when T7 gave him a good jolt of high voltage, high current electricity, opening him up for the final blow from Asmund, who finally cut him down, his lightsabers clattering against the metal flooring.
"Well, that's that." Andrew said, before he and Neptune left HDD.
"Jedi. CPUs. Is the mission complete?" Commander Narlock asked.
"Indeed it is, Commander." Andrew replied. That's when the voice of Grand Moff Kilran echoed throughout the hangar.
"I'm charging up our main turbo lasers' batteries. In a few moments, your pathetic ship and all your pathetic friends will be nothing but floating debris." he said.
"That doesn't sound good." Neptune said
"Everyone! Get back on the shuttle! Move!" Andrew shouted. Everyone ran to the shuttle and Ironfist got it started back up, before they flew back to the Esseles. They docked and quickly ran to the bridge, the crew keeping the shields up as much as possible.
"First Officer Haken, the enemy is powering up their primary weapons. Get us out of here, now." Andrew said.
"All power to engines, divert all shields to the rear. Navigator, punch the hyperspace coordinates in for Coruscant." Haken shouted. The ship groaned as it rapidly accelerated past the maximum operation speed, engines pushing their limits. They were behind the Imperial warship by kilometers within seconds, but even as the distance grew, the Emperor's Glory was in hot pursuit.
"They're in pursuit, sir." one of the officers reported.
"I see. They won't let us get away that easy. Without their tractor beam, they can't do much. Hold her steady, and try to keep their fire firmly on our rear while it's still protected." Andrew said. The ship shuddered against the various impacts of turbo laser fire as they continued to claw their way towards freedom. Minutes ticked by like hours, even days.
"Coordinates punched in sir." the Navigator reported.
"Punch it!" Haken ordered, and soon, they entered Hyperspace. Finally in the safety of Hyperspace, they were able to rest easy. "I can't thank you enough. The way you took command against impossible odds, changed Ironfist's allegiance and led us to freedom… It is no lie when I say the Republic Transport Esseles and its crew are in your debt. Thank you." he said.
"No thanks are necessary, First Officer Haken. We'd have done this regardless of the circumstances against us." Andrew replied.
"And here I am, seeing the skill and talent of a Jedi Master in my companion here." Asmund said with a chuckle.
"He's a pretty special guy." Neptune said.
"Even so, you did more than we could have asked. It was a valiant thing to do." Haken replied. He turned to Ironfist. "Now, then. As promised, I shall wire your payment to you immediately. When we get to Coruscant, you should seek out General Garza of Republic Special Forces. She'll want to recruit you into Havoc Squad for your skills." he said.
"I'll see to it." Ironfist said. "And thank you, CPUs. You and the Jedi have given me a new lease on life." he said.
"We should return to the passenger section of the ship. We'll leave Hyperspace above Coruscant soon." Ambassador Asara said.
"Agreed. Neptune looks exhausted." Andrew said.
"They've escaped? You're slipping, Grand Moff." Denzion asked over the holocomm.
"I know. I'm well aware of this sudden and unexpected failure. It was as the Lady of Nightmares said, though. The CPUs were indeed dangerous opponents, and very resourceful. They got Ironfist to change his allegiance and killed Vokk." Kilran replied.
"Hmm… Perhaps Vokk was too hasty in attacking them alone. His death is the consequence for his failure." Denzion muttered.
"Regardless, I will catch them again somehow, and I will have revenge for this. I just don't know how I'm going to go about doing it." Kilran said. That was when Denzion began to choke him through the Force.
"Careful not to choke on your aspirations, Grand Moff Kilran. That overconfidence will be your downfall." he said, before releasing the Grand Moff. "You and the CPUs will cross paths again soon. As the Jedi say, everything demands patience." he continued.
"You're right, milord. Kilran out." Kilran said, cutting the transmission. A smirk grew across Denzion's face.
"Just as Kurome has said… Perhaps there's more to her claims than first thought. The Emperor will no doubt reward her for the information she has given." he said.
Almost an hour after the battle, the Esseles dropped out of Hyperspace above Coruscant, and began to make its approach to the Star Dock.
"Attention passengers, we're arriving at Coruscant. Please be ready to disembark once the airlock has connected." Haken announced over the PA. The ship jolted ever so slightly as the docking clamps engaged, and the docking arm pressurized. The airlock opened, and everyone disembarked. They took the elevator down to the Spaceport, and left. Asmund, Neptune and Andrew turned to Ironfist and Ambassador Asara.
"Well, this is where we part ways. Good luck, you two." Asmund said.
"Good luck to you too, Jedi. And as those of your order says, May the Force be with you." Ambassador Asara says in farewell. With that done, they left.
"Warning. Coruscant = big city world = easy to get lost in." T7 warned.
"Are you speaking from personal experience?" Asmund asked.
"T7 = never lost. T7 = show Jedi + CPUs the way. T7 + Jedi + CPUs late. Important meeting = Senate Tower." T7 replied.
"We'll be sure not to fall behind, buddy." Andrew said half jokingly, telling the droid to take the lead. They were stopped by someone on the way out of the Coruscant Spaceport, however.
"Ah, you're here. It's a great pleasure to meet three of the Republic's finest." the man began. "You've earned quite a reputation on Tython. Personally ending a threat to the Jedi Temple… Inspiring." he continued.
"Any Jedi could have done it. We were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time." Asmund said humbly.
"Isn't that how heroes are made?" the man asked.
"Uhh… who is this?" Neptune asked.
"My apologies. I'm Anitol Rosspar. I represent Vanara Kayl, Senator of Coruscant. She not only speaks for our capital world in the Galactic Senate, but oversees this planet's government." the man, Anitol, finally said as he introduced himself. "Senator Kayl leads the effort to rebuild what was destroyed during the Sith Empire's invasion. Healing those old wounds has been slow and painful." he continued.
"The war's been over a long time. Hard to believe we're still rebuilding." Asmund said.
"Some wounds run deeper than others…" Anitol said. "This world runs many crises: a shattered infrastructure, booming refugee population… whole sectors, descending into anarchy. All these hinder the rebuilding." he continued, explaining the situation.
"Sounds rough." Andrew said.
"Senator Kayl believes the three of you are especially qualified to deal with a dangerous and urgent threat. She'd appreciate the favor of a meeting. Immediately." Anitol explained.
"We're short on time, and we still have to meet up with Master Kiwiiks and Master Orgus. Is this wise?" Andrew asked.
"There's no time for standard diplomatic channels. Senator Kayl will explain everything." Anitol said.
"Guess we have no choice, then." Asmund said.
"Man, this is such a drag." Neptune said, noting the mounting delays keeping them from their task.
"Senator Kayl is the greatest leader we've had in decades. She'll not only rebuild this world, but the rest of the Republic with it. Speak to Minister Imogh at the Senate Tower. Tell him you're expected. Good luck, and welcome to Coruscant." Anitol said.
Some time passed as they walked to the Senate Tower, before they entered and found Minister Imogh.
"Minister Imogh, right? We were told Senator Kayl was expecting us." Asmund said.
"Ah, at last! One moment, please…" Imogh said as he paged the senator. "Senator? Your special appointment has arrived." he said into the pager. A few moments passed before Senator Kayl finally arrived.
"Thank you for coming on short notice. I'm Senator Vanara Kayl. Forgive my abruptness, but time is a luxury I do not possess." she began.
"A pleasure to meet you, Senator Kayl. I'm Andrew Hawker, Paladin-Knight of Planeptune. This is my wife, Neptune, and Jedi Knight Asmund." Andrew said, introducing everyone.
"The pleasure is all mine. Now, as you may have heard, Coruscant is overwhelmed with refugees fleeing Imperial tyranny. Many of them have been here since the war. The refugees took over the old Galactic Market sector, huddling in shops and warehouses that were abandoned during the Sacking of Coruscant. They refuse to leave." Senator Kayl said.
"Hasn't anything been done to help these refugees? Establishing temporary refugee camps in that area and handing out supplies while more permanent shelters are being built seems like a good place to start." Andrew suggested.
"Believe me, we'd have done so long ago… But with efforts to rebuild still ongoing, our resources are stretched thin. We've offered to resettle them offworld, but they're demanding to remain here. The situation is continuing to deteriorate by the minute, and as so often happens when fear and poverty dominate, a criminal element has risen to take advantage of the situation. The Migrant Merchants Guild began as a political advocacy group for refugees, but over the years, they transformed into a ruthless and murderous criminal syndicate." Senator Kayl countered. Neptune wanted to step away from the conversation, but chose to do her best to remain calm.
"As if these people didn't have enough problems, now they're being controlled by gangsters." Asmund said.
"These criminals exploit the very people their guild allegedly protects. They rule through intimidation and extortion. They've grown increasingly hostile and violent. Their criminal enforcers have acquired military-grade weaponry." Senator Kayl said.
"Any idea on who their supplier is?" Andrew asked.
"Coruscant Security had been looking into that, until earlier today, when the Migrant Merchants Guild's thugs took to the streets. They attacked our security personnel on sight, set fires, began riots. We're facing an armed insurrection." Senator Kayl replied.
"Have these gangsters made any demands?" Asmund asked.
"They only seem intent on destruction." Senator Kayl said.
"But why attack from the old Galactic Market?" Andrew asked.
"For generations, the old Galactic Market was Coruscant's central trade hub. It's importance isn't merely economic. It's a symbol of the Republic's freedom." Senator Kayl replied.
"Alright, that explains a lot. Have we heard anything from Coruscant Security since the attacks began?" Andrew asked.
"Afraid not. The comm signals are jammed, and we lost contact with the security forces. I need your help in ending this crisis. These criminals must not win." Senator Kayl said.
"So much for meeting with Master Orgus and Master Kiwiiks…" Neptune mumbled.
"I'll focus on saving the people caught in the crossfire. Punishing criminals isn't a Jedi's duty." Asmund said.
"I suspect they'll punish themselves by attacking you. Do whatever you must to save innocent lives from that criminal filth. Find my security chief, Captain Winborn. He'll help. Good luck." Senator Kayl said, before taking her leave.
After taking a speeder, they met with Captain Winborn in the old Galactic Market as instructed, and Andrew could already see it was a massacre down there. A security officer ran up and gave out the latest report.
"Cut power to the whole blasted planet if you have to! We can't let those crazies take over the network!" Captain Winborn shouted.
"Captain Winborn. Senator Kayl sent us down here to help. What's the situation?" Andrew asked.
"We're getting cut to pieces down here. We're not trained to fight an army of killers. These gangsters are smart and organized. Clearly trained offworld. They'll kill thousands, maybe even destroy the Senate Tower." Captain Winborn said.
"Order your men to pull back the wounded. We'll handle the criminals." Asmund said.
"It's not that simple. They came here with a plan. The gangsters brought slicers to access every network node in the sector. They're trying to take over the automated speeder flight paths. They'll cause thousands of midair collisions. It'll rain debris on the Senate Tower like a meteor storm. No telling how many will die." Captain Winborn announced.
"These criminals have gone too far. I'm taking them down." Asmund declared.
"Best news I've heard all day, Master Jedi. The Gangsters have armed patrols guarding the network access points. We need to push them back and manually lock down the terminals. Get enough terminals and we might just pull this off. My men will back you up. Good luck in there." Captain Winborn said with a salute.
"T7 = will access + lock down Network Terminals. Jedi + CPUs = provide cover." T7 suggested.
"No time to lose. Let's go." Andrew said, gesturing for Asmund to take the lead. They fought their way to each Network Terminal and defended them as T7 sliced and locked down the nodes, preventing the ravenous Migrant Merchants Guild from disrupting the traffic patterns. As T7 did his job, he found and downloaded an encrypted message of some kind. With the nodes locked down, they returned to Captain Winborn.
"My men can't believe you took on all those gangsters and lived. You're blasted heroes, you know that?" he said. "With the Network Terminals down, the speeder traffic is secure. Now all that's left is pushing the out those gangsters for good." he continued.
"Now hold up. Before we go anywhere, Teeseven found some kind of encrypted message over the network, possibly between the Guild and their arms supplier. Looks like a recording." Andrew said.
"I'd like to see that." Captain Winborn said.
"Alright, Teeseven, play the message." Asmund said. T7 did as instructed, playing back the recording.
"You gave us the arms and accepted our friendship, Senator Kayl, and our credits. All we want are the housing projects you promised our people. Now." the leader of the Migrant Merchants Guild, Prakkath, said.
"Your people will have to wait their turn like everyone else. I owe you nothing. If you continue pushing me, I will destroy you all." Senator Kayl hissed.
"Freaking bureaucrats… I can't believe Senator Kayl would deal with gangsters." Andrew swore.
"Could the message be forged?" Asmund asked.
"The call was placed directly to her office. Timestamp is only twenty minutes old" Captain Winborn replied.
"That would mean the call happened just after we left the Senate Tower…" Andrew assumed.
"Your extortion attempt has failed. My people are pushing back your little army as we speak. It's over." Senator Kayl declared.
"Nobody breaks a deal with us, Senator. We'll have what we want one way or another." Prakkath snarled, and the call ended.
"This is way beyond my pay grade. I'm not destroying the reputation of Coruscant's most popular politician. Take the recording, I don't want it." Captain Winborn said.
"Don't worry. We and the Senator are going to have a nice long talk about this. We'll make sure justice is served." Andrew said.
"She'll have a good explanation. She has to." Captain Winborn countered.
"A good explanation does not always absolve someone the guilt of association that she has." Andrew countered back.
"Senator Kayl has done great things for Coruscant. She's a good woman. Give her a chance. My men and I will stay down here. You should go back to the Senate Tower." Captain Winborn said.
Back at the Senate Tower, they walked up to Imogh.
"How lovely to see you again. Any friend of Senator Kayl's is a friend of mine." he said, before stepping aside as the senator herself arrived.
"That will be all, Minister. Dismissed." she said. Imogh left to return to his duties, leaving Senator Kayl to talk to the trio. "Captain Winborn contacted me. You've thwarted an attack that would have killed thousands. You have my gratitude. Unfortunately, you also have a holorecording I'd like destroyed. Its contents will only cause harm." she said.
"Harm to whom? The people of Coruscant? Or your own reputation?" Neptune asked in a harsh tone.
"You've associated with the very gangsters you told us to destroy. Do you really expect to get away with it?" Asmund asked.
"There's so much you don't understand about the situation. The Jedi Order left us to rebuild Coruscant alone. My opponent in the election was a vile man; lazy, stupid and corrupt. He wasn't interested in building, only taking. I HAD to win! But I didn't possess the wealth like he did. When those gangsters approached me, I accepted their "donation" and I'd gladly do it again." Senator Kayl exclaimed.
"Do you even realize how arrogant you sound? Everything that's happened, and you still won't admit to being wrong. Maybe you're just as corrupt as you make your opponent out to be." Andrew said.
"I'm NOT wrong! If you'd witnessed the suffering on this world, the poverty and despair, you'd know that. I stole from those criminals to rebuild Coruscant. Set things right. I'll bring the Migrant Merchants Guild to justice." Senator Kayl announced.
"You do not understand where I'm coming from. A crime is only good if it benefits the law in general, or saves innocent lives, so long as the criminal accepts the consequences of their actions. You're only benefiting yourself. Look deep at your actions, and how they affect you. Would you rather accept the consequences of your actions and tell them yourself, or risk someone else finding out about this and create an even worse scandal that could have you removed from office?" Andrew asked.
"My companion is right. If you really love the people of Coruscant, you'll admit what you've done. Let them decide whether or not to forgive you." Asmund said, stepping in.
"You people think I'm dishonest? I'm just a realist. But there's no point in arguing with you. I won't force you to go public. I'll call an emergency meeting in the Senate. Tell them the truth. Let them decide." Senator Kayl said.
"Coruscant will be rebuilt, with or without you. We promise to help finish what you started." Andrew said.
"Perhaps you should run for office." Senator Kayl said as Imogh approached. "I'll see to it you're properly recognized for your heroism in the old Galactic Market. Farewell." she said, before taking her leave.
"We're late enough as it is. Let's go." Andrew said, and the trio was off to meet up with the Jedi Masters.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
-This chapter took longer than the every three days I've been doing in the past. Regardless, it turned out the way I'd hoped.
-Denzion the Merciless makes his first appearance in the overall story. Vokks words act as subtle foreshadowing into the chaotic Student and Master relationship that is the Sith Hierarchy.
-Neptune speaks more, and begins to remember more memories she'd like to leave buried from the events of The Neptunia Chronicles. The political and military soup that is life in the Galaxy will no doubt affect her, but she does have the aid of the Jedi Council.
-Unlike in the original game, Ironfist is spared.
-Like before, plenty of movie and video game references. Try to spot them all.
That's about it. Keep on Nepping! Cya!