Star Wars: Arda Unleashed

by Lord Exar Kun

After the Arda Campaign ended in victory for the Republic and their local allies, the galaxy's eyes returned to the wider Clone Wars. However, the Dark Lord Sauron has yet to be vanquished. Now he has come to the wider galaxy free from the binds of Arda, and is ready to be unleashed upon the stars. As the Chosen One's fate, the Republic's and the Jedi Order's remains to be seen.

8. Into the Fire

Chapter 8

Into the Fire

The trip aboard the Actuary had been most uneventful, but peaceful. Even if confusing and strange, but such was perpetual a sensation for those unused to such manner of transport. The group, this company of eight had found themselves relaxed even if a bit confined and bored. The hobbits had taken to mingling with either Gimli or Gandalf. These old members of the Fellowship finding much to talk about concerning their last great adventure. That, and the two had managed to pillage the stockpiles of food. Some of the food they didn't have names for, and the meat was colored odd. Purple, green, orange, and the processed foods for easy storage left them confused. Yet, the pantry was soon enough no longer full to the brim.

The twins Elladan and Elrohir found themselves usually absorbed in one another. Speaking on matters concerning Estel, or their sister. As well, the thought of many of their kin abandoning Middle-Earth for the Grey Havens and diminishing into the West. An unspoken sadness was to be found in them. The old continent was both old and new. Old for the elves had been there for thousands of years and had affected much upon it, and new in that it would change and morph under the manner and control of Men when all elves had eventually faded away. To them there was still some to be discovered and wonders to be found upon Middle-Earth, even the far southern uncharted continent. Yet, they could not deny, as they sat and discussed it within this 'ship' of metal, being within the White City and nearer to the ocean had made its call all but deafening.

The Lady Galadriel mostly kept to herself. Tending to remain within the cabin given her for this journey. Though when she ventured out she would converse with any and all who would seek to join her company, or be joined by it in kind. Gandalf and her would dive into deepening conversations on the future of Middle-Earth and matters not privy to the others. While her grandsons would speak on matters concerning the elves of Lorien. After all, the two had never seen the far western shore. They knew their mother dwelt there in peace, and both were excited to see her once again. The twins sought to know more of what awaited them from their grandmother. Save for Gandalf, the only one to have seen Aman, mighty Valinor.

Tauriel felt as the outlier. She spent her hours looking outwards from the window panes. The swirling blue that surrounded them calming her even as an encroaching anxiety filled her. Thoughts and memories constantly nipping at her. Wondering why she had said yes to this little adventure. Both the King and Legolas had asked it of her. Was that not reason enough to go? Surely it was, but perhaps she had become wearied with the world. She had been so for many a year now. Yet, like many of her silvan kin she did not so easily hear the call of the sea. Even within the White City she had heard but a whisper beckoning her to go to a place she knew not. Hardly any within the Greenwood had made the journey. So, perhaps this was a chance to see something else? To experience life anew without the need of the western shores to give her peace or purpose? She didn't know, but she did know enough to realize she was chasing something.

Gandalf had watched them all meander about. He did find the constant hum of this metal contraption uncomfortable at first. However, as the day turned to two, he had come to find it almost calming. As listening to the crackle of flames from an evening fire. The company made it more tolerable too. Though the wizard had found the silence of the men who traveled along with them most unusual. The wizard did recall the Delegate Koll speaking of their 'quiet,' but he had expected something of them. Beyond these soldiers garbed in white armor simply tilting their heads their way.

The first day Gandalf had offered one fair tidings, a greeting, but the soldier had simply bowed his head and moved on towards the 'cockpit.' The place where men sat in chairs before a thing of glittering glass and undulating levers smaller then their hands lay. These men acted as their 'captains.' Steering this metal contraption toward their destination. Gandalf perceived he'd have to be more clever than a simple greeting.

So, come the rise...so he believed, of the second day, the wizard had stood in the hallway that led from their assorted rooms. Come the soldier who spent his time walking back and forth seemingly without rest, Gandalf was sure to 'stagger.' The old figure lost his footing and in an instant he fell to his right, losing hold of his relatively new staff. The soldier rushed forward and caught Gandalf who loosed a mighty sigh.

"Are you alright, sir?" The man asked. His voice sounding odd and warped from behind his faceless helm.

"Ah, yes my lad. I seemed to have lost my footing. Mind helping this old man to that table over there?"

"Of course, sir." The soldier 'helped' Gandalf toward a table sat besides a circular outcrop of metal that was lined in windows to view the outside. Quite luxurious, even to Gandalf who knew little of these peoples sense of opulence.

"My thanks, my lad." Gandalf sighed getting into his seat.

"Mind getting this old man his staff?"

"Not at all, sir." The soldier bowed and raced back, grabbing Gandalf's staff and running it over to him without a huff or further prompt.

"Here you are, sir." Gandalf smiled, taking his staff and promptly leaning it beside him.

"You have my thanks again. I don't believe I've caught your name though? Or, the names of your companions." The soldier seemed irritated. Even though Gandalf couldn't see his face he saw the stance taken. He shuffled about and looked off toward the hall leading to the cockpit.

"Ah, well I don't think I'd have a name common for you or your people, sir."

"That needn't be a reason to keep it secret. Come, what is your name?"

"Uh..." Again the soldier was hesitant, making glance left again before carrying on.

"CT-122345-Esk." Gandalf was silent. Face turned to confusion, and brow cocked. The soldier in kind brought his hand to the back of his armored neck and chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, like I said, probably unusual."

"Certainly such a name is difficult for your friends to remember?"

"Not really, sir. We clones are all born with designations like that. Most of the boys I've met have been the older generations and they are masters at memorizing designation names. Some of us get easier to digest nicknames, but we usually gotta earn it." Gandalf reclined some. He recalled Aragorn mentioning his conversation with Obi-Wan about these 'clones.' He had heard rumblings about them during their activity upon Middle-Earth. Still, he found such a thing nearly impossible. To take the creations of Eru. The Second among the children. Each of them in their own way different than the other. Even among twins and triplets. Or the many other wonders he had seen among the First and Second born. How could, by means unknown to him, anyone take a person's being and make them over and over again as one would a sword or spear?

"Sir?" The clone shook Gandalf from his silent rumination.

"Hmm." Gandalf hummed.

"I beg your pardon. I seemed to have become lost in my own thoughts. Many customs, ideas and...realities of your people are unknown to me."

"Can't say I'm surprised. I've been on the capitol when the political types bring some techno-lacking natives in. Uh, no offense." Gandalf chuckled.

"None is to be taken...soldier. Bah!" Gandalf scoffed.

"Come now lad, you must have a name! A number hardly allows you to be yourself!"

"Well...sometimes I let my pod-mates call me 'Esk.' They all think it's generic, but I always thought it was easy enough to remember. To use, ya'know? I mean I've always liked it."

"See? That I think is far more suitable, Esk." Gandalf smiled and the soldier chuckled from behind his mask.

"Thank you, sir."

"Not at all." Gandalf waved him off. Promptly he motioned to the seat opposite himself and the soldier looked to it.

"Uh...I don't know if I ca-"

"Bah, don't be foolish!" Gandalf cut the soldier off. He again pointed to the chair.

"I should like to speak with someone who is more adequately versed in the ways of this 'Republic.' I've grown restless in the silence of you men as you lot walk to and fro, hour by hour. Spare an old man your company. If even for a short time!" The soldier again chuckled, but it was clearly in discomfort.

"Well I mean...I'd be happy to, sir bu-"

"Please, Gandalf." The wizard offered.

"Uh sure, Gandalf sir. I'd like to speak with you, but you see we're...uh...we're supposed to be quiet."

"Quiet?"

"Unobtrusive, you know? We troopers aren't supposed to get ourselves mixed up with the political types." Gandalf hummed and thought on it for a moment.

"I suppose I can see the reasoning there. However, I do wonder..." He allowed a momentary pause.

"Are you silent because it's normal to be so silent? Or, are you silent because of a certain politician's order? One who may have special inclination to have this delegation go over smoothly? One whom owns this metal beast we now reside within?" Gandalf knew he was making the soldier uncomfortable. Especially as the soldier checked over shoulder once more.

"It wasn't so much an 'order' as it was a sternly placed suggestion." Gandalf chuckled and shook his head.

"If that is what we must call an order then so be it. Though, I would think the politicians on this 'Coruscant' would be quite saddened to hear that their delegate arrived in foul a mood."

"Why foul?"

"Well, when he asked one of his fine young guards for a simple conversation he was denied! Seeing as you are not busy, as far as I can see, I would have loved to talk with another from 'beyond the stars.' Alas, because of a 'sternly placed suggestion,' I was denied this." Gandalf chuckled knowingly with a twinkle in his eye. The soldier cocked his unseen head before himself humming.

"Well...I guess I can't argue with that logic, sir. Uh, Gandalf I mean...sir." The soldier scoffed at himself, which only elicited further laughter from the wizard.

"Good! Then it is settled. Sit with me, Esk my lad. Allow an old man to prod you for information. Nothing too fanciful or strange."

"Not too strange huh? Guess I can handle that." Esk laughed and finally joined the old man at the table.

"Very good. Do me a kindness and let me see you without that thing you call a helmet on your head." The man seemed taken by hesitation once more, but only for a moment. He quickly removed his helm and revealed a man of dark complexion. Dark eyes and shortly cut darkened hair atop his head. He bore a defined jawline, as well as a small scar above his right eyebrow. Truly, he was of Men. Imagining this same man copied over and over again made Gandalf shake his head. Still a thought nearly unimaginable to him.

"There we are. Much more personable this way I should think."

"Yeah, a bit more freeing. Though I should apologize for this mug." The man patted his own cheek and elicited a shared laugh between the two.

"Oh, I've seen far worse."

"I'm sure. I was on world when we had to fight those nasty creatures native to your world. What do you call em?' Orcs?"

"Yes. Foul, and nasty creatures indeed. It is a long and complicated tale as to their nature. Perhaps in time, I can tell you it."

"Sounds like fun." Esk offered with a smile.

"Good. Now, let me ask you about this Republic you serve..." Gandalf did so, ans his newfound friend did his best to answer his questions. The wizard had managed to catch the trooper while on his patrol shift. His comrades were either busying themselves at their sparse posts or asleep. Allowing him freedom enough to get away with a conversation. Gandalf had also been lucky enough to find himself free of any distractions from is own companions.

Many a question did he come to ask, and Esk answered them as best he could. Gandalf knew to take these answers as a single view from a one man. Though what he had learned had been valuable. He knew a little of what to expect of Coruscant. He knew what the name of their leader was, this 'Palpatine.' he came to understand a little more about this 'Clone War,' as he did how politics were played in this Republic. It made him all the more curious to see it more clearly and fully. As it also prepared him to be more aware of his surroundings.

By the time Esk was called away to end his shift, the trooper could hardly believe they had been chatting for two and a half hours of standard time. Regardless, Gandalf had thanked the man for his time, and was sure to remember him and his directness. It would only be, in fact another hour before their arrival to Coruscant. As Gandalf, and in fact his whole company, was soon to discover.

(Later…)

The rest of the hour leading on from Gandalf's conversation with Esk, the 'yacht,' remained quiet. The comings and goings of the crew and its passengers being on the side of mundane. Though it was quickly apparent that some were growing restless. As the moments neared their supposed arrival time, the rest of the party had been summoned to the forward 'observation deck' this ship sported. A rounded sort of room, lead into by a small staircase from the center of the lower floor. This room itself had another staircase that led directly down into the captain's nest...or the cockpit. Whichever word one may choose to use. Esk, along with the troop compliment Commander had shoveled everyone into this room. Apparently it was left as a note for them by Delegate Koll. To 'show off' Coruscant from orbit before reentry into the atmosphere.

"Okay, so best I can tell," Pippin began as he stood beside Merry.

"The whole of Middle-Earth and the seas are on a..."

"A sphere, Peregrin Took." Gandalf added from behind the hobbit pair.

"Yes, a sphere. So, how long has that been?"

"I'd imagine since Arda came into being?" Merry presumed.

"Well..." Gandalf sighed.

"It is not so easy a thing to answer."

"Oh? So, you knew about the shape, Gandalf?" Merry asked turning to look at the wizard over his shoulder.

"Again, not so easy a thing to answer. The world had once been different. Made as it was to be by powers beyond. It was then forever changed."

"Changed by what?"

"That would be, whom, Master Meriadoc." Elladan offered from where he and his brother stood. The two elf lords finding themselves nearer to one of the walls. Elladan leaned himself to the wall, very 'un-lordly' like. Whereas Elrohir stood, hands clasped together before himself and bore the vision of serenity.

"The change occurred in the Second Age. The Men of Númenor sought to take Valinor for themselves. Their King, corrupted by Sauron himself, wished to live the eternal life of we elves, and so set his armies upon Aman." The two hobbits turned and listened on in fascination. The Lady Galadriel remained seated on a nearby cushioned seat and looked on. She did indeed seem to be paying attention. Though it carried the look of someone watching to ensure for accuracy. Gimli paid no mind, his hand placed upon his axe as he watched the swirling blue beyond their viewport. Tauriel listened in though. Her face showed some signs of confusion. Perhaps not all among the silvan knew the tale? Gandalf found such a notion curious though not impossible.

"What happened after that?" Pippin asked.

"The landings? Well, it is known that the Powers in the West sought the guidance of Ilúvatar. In so doing, Eru made low the armies of Men set upon Aman, and cracked the world. Sinking Númenor beneath the ocean waves, and setting the world into its current state. So the tale is told." The elf Lord added flippantly at the end.

"Gandalf?" Pippin turned to the wizard. Gandalf for his part held a distant look to his eyes, before he gave a nod.

"Indeed that is the tale."

"How unfortunate it was, that the Men of Númenor were to fall into the snare of Sauron." Elrohir offered plainly.

"It was by the corruption of Sauron's master that Men came to fear death, grandchild." Those attentive turned to the Lady Galadriel. She bore a knowing look and tone to her voice, as ever.

"The second Dark Lord had merely learned from his master before him. Fear and greed make for common ally within their hearts, and it plagues their minds. They fear death, and thus they lust for immortality. They fear an empty stomach, and crave greater wealth. They fear another from among their race whose baring and look is different than that of their own. So, they desire to dominate them, and destroy them if need be. All these things can be traced to a single source."

"The Black Foe of the World." Everyone again turned as they heard Tauriel intone. Though she did not meet their combined gazes. Clearly she did know of the old tales, Gandalf could guess. She was close friends with Legolas after all.

"Now that's some interesting history you've got there." Esk spoke up from beside Gandalf.

"Trooper."

"Eh, sorry, sir." His Commander was quick to reprimand him for speaking. Gandalf cast his Commander a narrowed gaze, but chose not to say anything for now.

"When do we revert, Captain?!"

"Twenty seconds, give or take, sir!"

"Good." The Commander called down the stairway leading to the cockpit. There seated were two of his men.

"In mere seconds, we will be met by the capitol world of the Republic, Coruscant. Forewarning, it will seem especially strange. I have been made aware your world does not sport any scenery such as Coruscant." The Commander went on, having turned to them.

"Ten seconds!"

"Needn't any of you worry. I am sure you will be given the full Coruscant welcome soon enough."

"Reversion in three, two, on-" The ship gave a horrid lurch and everyone gathered, save for the elves were thrown about. Gandalf managed to catch himself upon his staff while Merry and Pippin were thrown against one another and Gimli stumbled.

"Captain?!"

"Commander!" Was the man's reply.

"What?!"

"Up! Up!" The ship was yanked right and again everyone was tossed, but the Commander, and indeed everyone else looked upwards. All of them, not a one was left with speech. Their eyes all widened, and their breaths caught in their throats as lights filtered and sung before their faces.

"By the Valar…what is this?" Elrohir gasped.

"Captain, where did you drop us?!"

"Kriff! Hold on!" The trooper howled as some strange sound began blaring in all their ears at once.

"Gandalf?!" Pippin called, and the wizard could do nothing to answer his hobbit friend. Beyond them was a sight unimaginable to any native to Arda. Perhaps even to the troopers.

Great fires filled the darkness that abounded seemingly for eternity. Great heaps of metal loomed about, and fire of many colors erupted from their sides. Those that flew sung out with percussion that rumbled their beast of metal. As scatterings of metal and smoke flew about the space between these lumbering giants. These things that clear as day assailed one another with thunderous power and wrath.

"Captain, report!"

"It's Coruscant, sir! I swear it is!"

"How can that be-" The ship was rocked harshly and the Commander was tossed several feet. A loud crack sounding out as his armor thrashed against the metal wall. The 'ship' they found themselves twisted towards their right and out of the way of many flying things of metal. Gandalf, Gimli, Merry and Pippin had seen them before, but they fluttered as memories nearly beyond reach before their minds. These things passed over them leaving a strange sound that repeated as they did. Like a howl of some kind that seemed hollow and devoid of any life. Some among them remembering their names to be-

"Vultures! we're swimming in vultures!"

"Commander!" Esk called running to his leader's side.

"Hold on." Elladan called and ran to their side. The elf lord, and the trooper pulled the man to a stand. He loosed a groggy grumble that filtered through his helmet as he shook himself of his dizziness.

"Wha..."

"Commander, Seps!'"

"Huh?"

"Droids, sir! We're surrounded by droids!" The Commander snapped up as though remembering in a flash of instinct. Beyond them a thing of pointed metal that seemed to blot the light of what looked to be the sun beyond loosed a torrent of blue flame. The sound of which seemed to barely register for splashes of seconds from their many cold sleek maws. Gandalf watched these lights, these fires of blue scream and stream through the darkness before they slammed as catapult volleys into the side of another giant of lumbering steel. This one held a strange design, fins on either side of it and ovular a shape. It loosed jets of fire from where the blue lights landed, as it returned crimson volleys of flame and destruction that sung into the belly of the arrow-headed beast.

Yet, greater still before them was the vastness of it all. Beyond them for league upon league, even as this ship they found themselves within twisted and jolted, lay dozens, hundreds even of these massive beasts. Some were torn asunder. Things of flame that one need not know what they are to realize they were 'dying.' They burned and exploded with the ferocity of Orodruin. They 'fell' through the darkness of the empty void and were assailed by more flames of the opposing colors and lights, and by beasts of similar look and manner to the one that felled them.

"Get me comms!"

"Working on it, sir!" The Captain howled.

"We're jammed to the Corellian-hells up here." They could hear the second 'pilot' announce with breathless nature.

"You folks best get strapped in!" Esk suddenly ordered pointing to the luxury seats spread about. Some of them did indeed have straps upon them of some fastening purpose and reason.

"What's happening here?"

"I uh...I don't know." Esk shakily, but honestly answered Tauriel. Her face was the image of horror. Eyes widely sprawled open soaking in the sights of metal carnage laid bare before them all. She had become motionless, and one may have found her unblinking look to be hazardous to her health. Though she was not entirely alone. The twins showed similar ghostly reverence and despair at the terror set before them. Not a thing of fear did they feel, but a settling in morbidity. As the Lady Galadriel glowered at what she saw. As if she had expected this? That couldn't be though...could it?

"I've never seen anything like it! It looks like the stars are trying to kill one another!" Gimli offered as his own observation and analogy.

"Is this what...is this what your war looks like?" Merry quietly asked of the trooper. The trooper who was now sort of pacing between them. Not seeming to know what to do.

"Huh? War? Yeah, this sure is the war. But, it shouldn't be anywhere near Coruscant!"

"Where are those damn comms?!" The Commander howled over Esk.

"I can't get a line through! It's nothing but chaos!" Without prompt the Captain, unseen as he was, seemed to have done something. A new piercing sound grasped at all their ears and made many among them cringe. It was not merely sound without reason or rhyme or unknown a source. The many voices of crying men babbled about, and it was the loosening of the damned and dead so it seemed. A tortuous floodgate breaking. Allowing for the cries, wails, and hurried demands of thousands to race over mind and matter.

"Starboard decks five through thirteen are burning! Suppression systems are-"

"All batteries fire on coordinates, 1-23-aurek-114! Forward ba-" A horrid explosion followed.

"Defender, you've got three recusants on your tail."

"Adjusting along aft, Scintillate screen covering fire on our ten!"

"Copy all, Defender. Covering along your aft."

"My whole wing's gone! Advise on move!"

"All foils to attack position!"

"Bombers strafing the cre-" A mannish scream howled that pierced their ears. Especially the keen of hearing.

"Guarlara, you are to advance your unit forward of the Centax-II relief force. Enemy force inbound, provide cover-" A noise cut that one off.

"This is Guarlara, moving into position!"

"Sector eighteen has been pierced! I count fourteen troop transports coming in planet-side! They're nearing government sector drop points! Bring those ships down!'

"Scatter missile barrage on port!"

"Scrub the deck! Buzzdroids are boring through! Don't let them near the hull!"

"Fire all on aft!" On and on the chaos went. Without delay and without remorse. The dead and dying echoed and screamed through into the void, so it seemed.

"How can anyone listen to this?!" Gimli demanded as he, like the rest of his company, had grown both weary and sickened by the sounds. Screams, cries, pleas for help and aid of some sort. Mingled with the deathly howls of faceless men lost into the void beyond them.

"Broadcast emergency credentials on all channels!"

"Sir, the droid units will pick up our signal! They're not on our tail. We do that, we've screamed to everyone we're a Republic unit!"

"We need support, Captain. Do as I've ordered and make the damn broadcast!"

"Yes sir, right away." The reply seemed scripted. The voice of the Captain was clearly laced with consternation. The rest of the company seemed confused. That was to be expected. Even as Esk shuffled between them. The soldier looking as though wanting to order them to sit, but not fully knowing if he had the ability to. The Commander for his part nursed the top of his helm against his unseen head and awaited word from the pilot.

All eyes foreign to such ventures seemed stuck upward or forwards. Their necks craned and slowly but assuredly becoming stiff by their dazed and abject curiosity.

"If this is indeed how war is waged for these peoples I can only lament for them." Elrohir announced softly.

"A scene of fire, and death unlike any I have seen bef-" The ship rocked and seemed to undulate around them, cutting the Lady Galadriel off. Everyone was shaken and Pippin fell over once more with a thud.

"Bank right!" The ship made a sharp turn in that direction. Zipping past their line of sight 'flew' a dozen beasts of metal, more of these vultures. They scattered red beams of light that exploded in the open darkness across their field of vision thereafter. This as they made a wide arching circle back towards them after having passed.

"Uh...that doesn't look good."

"I agree with ya' laddie." Gimli responded to Merry. Neither one fully understanding what they were seeing. Knowing enough from memory and sight alone that these things meant to cause harm.

"Pilot..."

"They've got us locked, sir! Hold tight!" The pilot announced and the ship made a sharp downward turn. Many among the company gasped and grabbed onto whatever they could as their footing seemed to shift even as their placement to the ground did not. Ahead of them a thing of gray shining metal farther than the entire width of Minas Tirith came into view. Atop it...or below it several gashes of torn metal were visible leaking plumes of smoke and fire that were cast into the darkness.

To this lumbering mass was waylaid by another. This one another of those arrow-headed masses that bore a crimson streak along itself. It unleashed a vast and heavy torrent of blue light that thundered out. Crashing and boring through the already burning mass.

"I don't know what it is I behold! This is..."

"Sheer madness." Gandalf finished for Tauriel. The ship they inhabited swerved along its left and again those vultures streamed past them firing crimson lights of fire as they did. The great beast set afire 'before' them was soon erupted in a spectacular light. Fire echoed out with a corona of flame that was ejected with a spreading bubble of even thicker flame.

"Engine two is losing stability."

"Divert power from shields."

"Copy." Everyone could hear the two pilots leading this ship speak.

"Any response to our broadcast?!"

"We're pinging loud and clear, sir! The only ones to take notice so far are the damn dr-"

"Unidentified ship transmitting on Republic frequencies, this is the Captain Raness of the ship Chrysanthemum! Broadcast your security credentials immediately! You've entered into a combat zone!"

"Obviously." Gandalf, now planted against one of the cold walls of this 'ship,' heard the Commander snort. The unknown voice, resonating with a strange layer to them announced from the cockpit loud enough for all to hear.

"Emergency broadcast of security ident' inbound, Captain sir! This is the Actuary, we're on a diplomatic shuttling mission of VIP diplomatic cargo! In need of escort ASAP!" Silence passed. Unknown to those among them as to why, the moment proved tense and heavy until the voice of this Raness returned.

"Security codes ch..." A sound of rumbling and another of unknown description past over the voice. Cutting it out before it returned clearly.

"...out. Why are you entering into a war zone with VIPs?!"

"This thing doesn't have a long range transceiver, sir! We were..." The pilot was clearly annoyed. Especially as he ducked the ship down as one of those vultures darted nearly right at him. Chasing him were three unknown machine beasts loosening green barrage of fire that erupted the vulture in a cascading torrent of flame just as it passed along their right. Those nearest the windows diving away, but experiencing no pain or burn.

"Apologies, Captain! We're surrounded by vultures out here! I can debrief when I'm not piloting for my life in a yacht, sir!"

"Understood." Raness responded.

"General Tiin is in command of all naval operations. We are relaying your coordinates and tracking data now."

"Our thanks, sir. However, we are in need of fighter escort now!"

"Understood. Based on your trajectory we are along your aft. I will reroute two wings of-" Again the man was cut off and a sound of howling, of men screaming barraged all their ears. Gandalf could see everyone among their company cringe at the sounds. He, however, turned along the aft of this vessel, and saw another of these…massive 'ships.' This one sleeker than those bearing the red color mark. However, smaller and plain in look. It too bore a pointed tip shape, but this one, the one Gandalf could easily enough guess to be the one this Raness inhabited was another image of pure lunacy.

A tower seemed to extend from the base of this mammoth mass of metal. At least, Gandalf could see it once had. The tip of it was 'floating' off and away from its main body. Three cylindrical 'ships' were hammering it on either side, with a fourth of a strange crescent shape, baring a massive sphere in its center also loosed torrents of fire upon it.

"We're surrounded by fire and death."

"An unexpected welcoming committee indeed." Gimli replied to Elrohir, but Gandalf found no sense of sarcasm of callousness in the dwarf.

"Kriff!" The pilot screamed a word most among them could easily understand as some curse.

"Stow it!" The Commander called down to him having moved himself to the top of the small staircase leading to the cockpit. He held onto the two low walls with either arm outstretched to keep himself steady. Good he did too. As their ship again rattled and the lights around them dimmed in pulsating fashion before coming back fully.

"Keep on course! Get us as near to Coruscant as you can!"

"Aye sir, I am, sir! However, I've got nothing but droid binary on our tail!"

"Wha..." The Commander shot around and the rear window, higher up and likely meant for stargazing, was blotted in the distance by a stream of those metal scavengers. All of them twisting in on them. Even as they danced in this blackened void with their white shaded enemy.

"Oh Force…" The Commander aptly intoned.

"This thing have any weapons?"

"Forward turret, sir!"

"Good we can-"

"Inoperable! This is the Delegate's ship! That man doesn't have operable weapons!" The pilot's self control was waning by the moment.

"Gandalf?" He turned as Pippin ran up to him.

"What does that mean?" The wizard truly couldn't find the words to say. What could he say?! Nothing here in this moment really made much sense to him. He had seen some idea of what warfare was like for his Jedi friends some weeks back. He hadn't, however, ever imagined such a sight as this. He hadn't yet the words to describe it in full. Only ideas, inclinations. Now, these vultures were looming, hunting them and with a terrible speed and ferocity.

"Mithrandir." The Lady caught his attention. He turned to her, with his face twisted. Betraying his sense of confusion and stress as he did.

"Perhaps-" She lurched forward, but as expected of elves she caught herself. However, around them the blackness was once more alight with smoke and crimson colored fires that thrashed around them. Shaking and shuttering their metallic beast.

"Shields holding at sixty! We won't hold out forever, sir." The other pilot added, cutting in.

"What are we to do?! Stand here and let these things kill us?!" Gimli throatily demanded hoisting his axe, as though it would aid any among them in this moment.

"Mithrandir!" Her voice heightened. Bearing but a sliver of her power before the company. It brought Gandalf's attention fully onto her as he perceived it.

"Perhaps even these things must see! Even they may find light all too blinding when assaulted by it." Gandalf appraised her for a moment. Until it finally hit him. He snapped back to those things raining droplets of death around them and snatched up his staff.

"Fifty-seven percent!" Gandalf ignored them and moved back. The company all looking to him expectantly. Esk having found himself also watching the wizard.

"I shall chance it." Gandalf declared. He planted his feet to metal ground below and loosed a breath. Closing his eyes only to reopen them with intent sparkling therein.

"Beasts of metal, I cast you away! Waylay us no more!" The wizard slammed down his staff and burning within its tip at its heart a piercing white light formed. A hum filled the air and something akin to a whispered song swept over them all. So low even an elf would be troubled to hear it. The Commander twisted and saw it too. The light borne there upon Gandalf's staff burst alight and blinded the room in a piercing glow. However, it ejected itself from the ship and sliced as a knife through the void of space and with a terrible luminescence it slammed full force against the reddened eyes of the vulture droids. In an instant their optics were fried. Overloaded by a light not even experienced by proximity to a star.

The first vulture hit by this light babbled in chaotic binary before it veered right without proper adjustment. Its body was hewn and torn in two by the second behind it, and the third thereafter. Chunks of metal were thundered into by the fourth and fifth. Each one creating a new maze of shredded metal that made as knives into butter ripping their equally blind machine companions asunder.

"What the kriff…" Esk whispered, lowering arms from covering his visored eyes.

"What's going on back there?!" One of the pilot's demanded, clearly having seen nothing but a glow cascading past their shoulders.

"Whatever it was, knocked a good twenty vultures off our tails. I'll take it!" The other one laughed shakily.

"Now that," Gandalf turned to Pippin who beamed a wide grin.

"That, is why it's good to have the White Wizard on our side." Gandalf couldn't contain an appreciative smile. Not only in dear Pippin's words, but in the fact it had worked. Indeed all among the cabin bore expressions of relief.

"What was that?! You some kind of Jedi or what?" The Commander asked.

"Jedi? No I am no such thing."

"Bu...but then...how did…"

"Callsign Actuary, come in!" Again they were cut off by a new voice blasting out from the cockpit.

"This is General Hett! I've been routed to escort you safely planet-side. We'll be coming up along portside in fifteen!"

"Much obliged, General sir!" Gandalf hadn't the chance to really explain himself or his nature to the Commander. Nor had he found it truly necessary to do so. What mattered was their survival. Though that did not mean Gandalf was ungrateful such a gamble had paid off. He hadn't any inclination to believe it would. This day, however, taking a chance proved the best course of action.

"I should very much like to not be here any longer."

"Indeed. The ground is all the more desirable by the second, brother." Elladan replied to Elrohir.

"Don't worry folks. We should get through. I think." The Commander perhaps added that a bit too loudly. Putting no one at ease.

"Already is this proven a strange venture." Tauriel offered to no one in particular.

"You could say that again, my Lady." Merry piped in. Himself seeming shaky of breath as he neared Pip. The ship that bared them was soon surrounded on either side by many of those multi-winged white ships seen before. The leader of which loomed very close, and allowed those of the company to see a man. His features were not so easily discerned from the dividing glass of both ships. However, that did not matter. This man and his men were the ones who bore the brunt of these machine killers as they loomed ever nearer towards a new great sphere. An entire new world. Such a matter and such an idea should have been all consuming in its idea alone. Though, the battle that seemed to rage as far as the eye could see with a ferocity of the very sun, dampened such thoughts. Numbing those bound to be the first of their world to view such to the rapturous sensations perhaps expected.

Yet, as they neared closer they passed beyond some unexpected boundary. Separating consuming darkness with whitened clouds, and the great mass of metal engaging in war with the endless mass of metal beneath. Coruscant came into view, and truly, though numbed, though shaken by what they had seen, none among them could deny their stupefaction. A vast sea of glinting and glimmering metals. Spires as high as the clouds of a great many number, bulbous shape and size lined the unseen earth. Towers and buildings of all manner and shape extended far and wide with not a tree nor a blade of grass and neither a pool of water visible.

"I can't believe it..." Pippin breathlessly trailed off. His eyes widened as he and Merry loomed upon a window.

"I thought we'd seen it all." Merry added much in the same awe as his friend. They were joined by the rest of the company as all stared in wonder.

"I haven't the words."

"A first, brother. Though I must admit, I haven't either." Elrohir and Elladan respectively spoke.

"Such vastness of metal! Where could they have found so much?!" Gimli seemed the most aghast. Though it was not in ill a manner he was.

"Indeed. Not a sign of green anywhere. It shines in the light, but feels...empty." Tauriel gave her view of it. Perhaps to the dissatisfaction of her enamored dwarf ally.

"A strange new world we find ourselves headed toward." Gandalf remarked beside Galadriel. Allowing himself another heavy sigh. The horror and anxiety of mere moments before sweeping over them. Perhaps not fully digesting in them as they were carried from one unbelievable sight toward the next.

"Indeed, Mithrandir. Its promises are not so welcoming thus far, alas."

"War has reached their doorstep. We were not so different, but weeks ago."

"That is what strikes me." Galadriel went on. Her eyes turning left causing Gandalf to follow. The window they all peered from was suddenly cast in a consuming orange glow.

"Veer off. We've got heavy inbound!"

"Copy, General." Their pilot replied as the winged escort broke off.

Just beyond them, the company watched as one of those red stripped arrow-headed beasts fell from the heavens. It was alight in fire everywhere. Plumes of smoke thick and black churned from within as it raced heavier and faster than they towards the surface. They, none of them, needn't be knowledgeable in this unknown technology and civilization to see the horror this entailed.

A crack of it formed and broke off raining projectiles of trailing smoke and fire that pounded through and into spires and walkways tearing them asunder. The main body slammed directly into a great tower with four prongs atop itself. A cracking of metal and thunder of impact shook them even as they swerved about the skies. It rained a shattering of glass and metal far down below where their eyes could not travel nor perceive. Untold many dying and dead from such a singular act. As a howl of tearing metal and billowing roars exploded therafter. It made them all realize that they had indeed jumped from the frying pan of their own world. Straight into the fires of this world. Fires born of war. An all too familiar word, and all too familiar sensation of sight and sound.

"Open hangar awaits you, Actuary. Bay 114-D, Senate building."

"Copy, Ground Control." The pilot sighed in a great terrible relief.

"We're breaking off, Actuary. You should have a safe airspace from here in." The General of theirs spoke again.

"Yes sir, General! Our thanks again, sir!"

"Don't mention it, pilot. Keep those VIPs safe."

"Will do, sir!" The wings of metal broke off and turned making back for that haphazard death zone beyond the clouds.

Coruscant awaited.

---

"The smell of fuel isn't going to get out of these robes anytime soon." Obi-Wan whined as Anakin followed his Master out from one of many service entrances to the fuel hold of Grievous' ship.

"It was either that, or deal with grapple droids." Anakin added locking the hatch behind them and using the Force to pull fuel from his clothes. Not a perfect solution, but he did dry himself off quite a bit.

"Oh, good idea."

"I tend to have those every now and again."

"Indeed, very rarely, my old friend." Anakin rolled his eyes as Obi-Wan followed his example and utilized the Force to strip hs clothing of the fuel they had been wading about before. The smell didn't quite leave, but it was better than having matted robes stuck to your skin.

"Alright, we need to move down this hall. The elevators there should lead up to the spire."

"Right, lead the way." Obi-Wan did so, breaking into a semi-hastened jog with Anakin in tow.

The ship around them rumbled and rustled from unknown happenings beyond its many layers of metal. The Jedi had to remain focused, however. Their minds set on recovering the Chancellor. The Supreme Chancellor! Abducted from Coruscant itself. Anakin could hardly believe it possible, yet here he and Obi-Wan both were. Nothing less than an unmitigated disaster.

Regardless they were here. He did hope they ran across Dooku. Despite himself of course. That old man whom had once been a Jedi set his blood to a boil. His name to the detriment of what it was and what it meant to be a Jedi for decades to come, for sure. Anakin took an intake of breath and loosed it quickly thereafter. He felt an old tinge rattle him. A withering snake traveling up his spine and finding rest at his jaw. His anger, he felt it again, and he couldn't recall feeling it. Not since being on that volcanic slope. That thought, that alone made his right hand, somewhat knowingly, somewhat unaware, tense into a fist. Memories of a sensation of knowing, of power, and of assurance racing through and over him. He had to shake it off. Yes, he had to think about rescuing the Chancellor. In fact, he looked forward to seeing his old friend again! A mentor to him, in his own way. Their talks since his return to the galaxy had been far too brief, and far too impersonal.

"Here we are. Oddly quiet though." Indeed it was. Anakin and Obi-Wan approached a set of doorways. Three of them set against a wall in a crisscrossed fashion, with two flanking either side of a central elevator door. The halls were well lit, at least for a droid ship, but they hadn't come across any since the main hall. Where an unfortunate set of grappling B2 variants had harassed them.

"We've been lucky so far. Don't tempt it, Master."

"If anyone here tempts 'fate' it's you, Anakin."

"I take offense to that!" Anakin smirked as they slowly neared the main elevator. Both of them likely replaying in their heads the map Artoo showed them. Redundant as that may be at this juncture.

"What have I done?"

"You mean besides break away from me and go droid hunting?"

"One droid...well with collateral. For the droids." Obi-Wan huffed indignantly as he pressed the button calling the central elevator lift.

"Okay, then we have your stunt with the ray shields."

"You pointed them out, and in the instant after I brought them down! You're grasping at straws I think, Master." Anakin chuckled, that same smirk gracing his features.

"'Straws?' Hardly my old friend. My point was, and is, that you are the brazen one here."

"I prefer the term 'dashing rogue.'" Obi-Wan gave a single loud half scoff and laugh. Anakin found himself laughing in return as they fell into a moment of silence thereafter. Well it would have been silent if Anakin didn't hear a dim low rumble that-

"Destroyers!" Both he and Obi-Wan turned as the Force bid them warning. The rolling noise of death approached them. One of them already unfurled and extended its damnable shields before loosing a torrent of red bolts towards the two Jedi. Both swept into defensive postures, falling easily into shien stances and movements. Two more zoomed in at speed, and rose to unfurl. Neither Jedi having the need nor the immediacy to bring them down as they heard the lift finally open behind them. Obi-Wan wordless and watchful backed into the shaft and Anakin was sure to follow suit. Bolts spraying sparks around the entrance on either side as the doors closed. Both gave a low sigh and deactivated their sabers.

"Well that could've-"

"Drop your weapons!" Anakin bore a look more of annoyance as both he and Obi-Wan twisted to see a small company of B1's armed and aiming blasters at them.

"I said drop em!'" They went on incessantly. It only took a look between he and his Master before they flew at them. Sabers brought back to life with a gnashing buzz as Obi-Wan slashed down through metal chassis followed by Anakin. Again and again they cut through the droids. Who seemed more confused than reactionary. Force…the B1's were sometimes far too dumb for their own good. It really only took a moment for the whole squad to be brought down. Leaving the two with humming blades and a burning smell of metal around them.

"Roger?" Anakin mocked.

"Roger." Obi-Wan smirked.

The two again laughed. Letting their sabers fall silent once more. The hum of the lift rising surrounded them before it gave a sudden and harsh rattle shuffling them where they stood.

"Did you press the stop button?"

"No, did you?"

"No." Obi-Wan retorted. To be fair, and in hindsight that was a dumb question.

"Well, there's more than one way out of here." Anakin ignited his saber yet again and began burning a hole through the elevator's roof.

"We don't want to get out, we want to get moving." Obi-Wan reasoned. Fair enough but they could find say...another elevator...just an idea.

"Artoo, activate elevator 31174!" He heard his Master command. Shouldn't take the droid long to-

"Come in, Artoo!" Okay, well now Obi-Wan was just being impatient. So, Anakin kept on cutting.

"Artoo, do you copy? Arfour?!" Anakin shook his head. Seeking to avoid the sparks as he did so.

"Either one of you, activate the elevator, numbered 31174." Another pause.

"Activate the elevator 31174...Artoo we-" Both stepped back as Anakin's escape route was opened and a slab of heavy metal crashed to the ground.

"See ya' up top, Master." Anakin smirked and leapt clear upwards with just a tinge of the Force behind him. He plopped atop the elevator in the actual shaft and clasped his saber to his belt once again.

"Always on the move." He heard Obi-Wan give a lamenting sigh below.

"Slow and steady aren't my forte, Master." Anakin intoned entirely to himself. Still bearing a smirk of course. He began sifting through his pockets for his magnetic reel.

"Artoo turn on the comlink!"

"Oh for the love of the Force." Anakin scoffed at his Master's insistence. There could be a million reasons why the astromech pair were taking their time.

"Artoo, can you hear me?! Artoo? Arfour? Anyone?" That's when Anakin felt it. His legs turned to jelly, but he, by sheer instinct jumped and his fingers caught the barest sliver of metal between a doorway and the now descending elevator. Itself carrying the descending and fading sound of his Master's sudden howl.

"Ah...kriff me." Anakin cursed. He shimmied along what room he had and felt his upper body begin to shake under the sudden and unexpected pressure of baring his full weight. He glanced down, but the elevator was already too far down to allow him to leap onto safely. Then, of course, the door slid open.

"Hands up Jedi!" Two B1's cocking their blasters demanded of him. Anakin...honestly couldn't believe such an order had just been made at him. By the looks of it, the other droid couldn't believe it either.

"Yeah, I would. Bit of a problem there, fellas."

"No backtalk Jedi, hands up!" Anakin shook his head, but he did continue to strain against the force of trying to hold himself up. He did hear a sudden rumble and felt the reverberations travel up the shaft. He chanced another over the shoulder glance to see their elevator, several far floors down, having come to a halt. Within another moment it then returned to rocketing up towards him.

"Perfect timing you two." Anakin tensely whispered as he felt his arms shake. The whine of the climbing elevator neared and Anakin pulled in for a Force aided leap.

"Uh oh." Ever the philosophers these B1's. Anakin pulled up with with a surge of strength and pushed off. His feet landing to the farther wall. The B1's jumped and looked to him, their bodies still jutting from the doorway. Before they were smashed to pieces and he fell atop the elevator with a sigh.

"May have been better to stay in the elevator." Anakin again spoke only to himself as he fought against the force and air of the open shaft. He managed to grasp the hole he had made and fell on in feet first.

The thrash of a saber's ignition boomed in his ears as he rose back up to a full stand.

"Oh it's you!" His Master intuited. Sounding more incredulous than Anakin thought warranted. He cast Obi-Wan a questioning gaze and yanked on his dark robes to adjust them. Just as Obi-Wan managed to not slice him in two.

"What was that all about?"

"Well Artoo has been-"

"Yeah eh, eh, eh." Anakin cut his clinically machine-impatient Master off.

"No loose wire jokes."

"Did I say anything?"

"He's trying. They both are."

"I didn't say anything!" Anakin waved him off.

"Right. That's why you called for Artoo what...ten thousand times?"

"It got him to answer didn't it?!"

"What if he couldn't?"

"Why not?"

"Droids? Battle droids I mean."

"Well clearly that didn't happen. He fixed the elevator. Unlike you! Making holes that don't need to be there. Hopping into elevator shafts. What even happened up there? I heard crashing." Anakin rolled his eyes returning once more to face the elevator doors.

"Well?"

"A couple droids, that's all."

"Oh, I see."

"What?"

"Nothing." Obi-Wan shrugged.

"What do you mean 'nothing?'"

"Nothing. I meant nothing!"

"I don't believe you." Anakin glared at Obi-Wan. His old Master again shrugging, and smiling. The son of a kath hound. Though Anakin also began to smirk as they returned to but a momentary silence. Before they felt the lift come to a softer and subdued stop.

Indeed it felt suddenly quiet. The Force was alight as it was still. They both could sense it. Old friends turned to each other and nodded before the door opened up. The air, and the Force was brimming with power. It was the Dark Side in all its muted horror. That much was clear.

---

(Before…)

"All units, be aware Priority One hostage is being held onboard enemy Providence-class destroyer. Ship identification codes are unobtainable at this time. Proceed with caution!" It was a warning message that had repeated for days now. It was blared on all ships' comm units from an override likely on Coruscant itself.

"We've been waiting on clearance for hours!" The comms officer, a one Suxton bemoaned.

"Control yourself, officer."

"Aye, sir. Sorry, sir." The Captain, Nelix, nodded and moved about the many stations manned by his officers. Many of which had no sleep for the last day. Their rotation periods shot to the Corellian-hells since this battle had begun.

"Where are our fly-boys?"

"One sector over, sir. They've engaged a vast wing of vulture droids harassing one of our corvettes. It needs escort into the atmosphere. On its last legs looks like."

"Then they have wide a berth. I want our interceptors pulled in tight as we make our advance on Centax-II."

"Aye, Captain." Another of his men nodded as Nelix pat his shoulder assuringly.

"Now hear this!" The comms began again. Some unassuming and robotic noninvasive male voice began droning in a pitched Coruscanti accent.

"All units, Priority One Hostage operation has concluded entry phase and execution. Be aware, transportation of exfiltration team and Priority one is underway."

"Underway?" Nelix repeated. His men were also creasing their brows and looking up as though to face their unseen speaker.

"Target vessel identity is as follows: Providence-class, hard-coded ship numbers: 1-3-445-12000. Call-sign, Phantom Fist." The comm then gave a whine and ended

"Does that mean they've got the Chancellor?!" An excitable officer spoke aloud. Some of his comrades sharing their hopeful glances of exhilaration. Others seeming more unsure and concerned, confused even.

"Get me comms, Suxton."

"Aye, sir." The officer slammed fingers across keyboard and then opened the channels to the Captain.

"Central Command, this is Captain Nelix of the Venator Guarlara. Please clarify preceding message." They all of them sat or stood in anticipated wait. A sound of mingling silence and the passing stray transmissions of screams, cries and similar requests filtered through.

"Central Command, this is Captain Nelix, please respond!" Again no sound but stray comm noises met their ears.

"Blast." Nelix cursed under breath.

"What's the nearest ship?" Another officer, a corporal Qiggins swiveled in his seat and brought up a localized map. Dozens of ships firing and pelting their turbolasers or missiles into one another formed across a screen.

"It's the Arkanis-Bound, sir."

"Patch me through, Suxton."

"Aye aye, sir!" He did so and the comms switched channels.

"This is Captain Nelix of the Venator-class Guarlara, please respond if possible Arkanis-Bound!" A moment of tense silence passed.

"Guarlara this is Captain Gilad Pellaeon. I've assumed command of the Arkanis-Bound. To what is this call made for?" The man sounded a tad posh for someone whom clearly held little native Coruscanti accent to their voice. Young too. Regardless, that was irrelevant at the moment.

"The preceding call. It is imprecise as to whether or not the Chancellor has been evacuated from Grievous' flagship. Have you or your crew any idea on their situation?"

"Negative, Captain Nelix." This Pellaeon replied quick, and efficiently.

"Indeed we've requested confirmation from Central Command and General Tiin. Neither are responding."

"What would your professional assumption be, sir?"

"It is not our duty to make such, Captain Nelix..."

"But?" Nelix coaxed from the younger man who clearly wanted to say more.

"I would not assume. My ship will not engage enemy providences anywhere in this sector. Though the Central Command comm did indicate evacuation had already begun if not completed."

"I see." Nelix nodded.

"My thanks, Captain."

"Of course." This Pellaeon offered before their shared call was ended. The Guarlara gave a rumble of some unknown percussion as Nelix turned. He saw every man looking at him. None among them so sure about anything anymore. If they had been at all to begin with. Nelix swallowed and felt his throat had become dry as sandpaper.

"Keep us on course for Centax-II. We are to assume the Chancellor has indeed been evacuated." He paced back around the ship towards the forward viewing platform.

"Regardless!" He began louder, and more returned to his stern tone of leadership.

"We engage any ship that endangers our own. Understood?!"

"Aye, sir!" They all gave in shout and jumped back to work. Their minds, perhaps not at ease, but assured by his assurances. After all, what were the chances they'd come across this 'Phantom Fist,' anyways.

Force, Nelix hoped it was true. If so, then the Chancellor would be well off and secure.

"Please let this battle end." He whispered and watched the endless madness outside. Streams of dogfighting starfighters barely dodging him and his command tower.

---

(Now…)

The room was indeed large and oddly empty. Distant reverberations echoed and they could hear the distant loosening of turbolasers or other cannons of various size and power. Fighters on both sides skimmed past this tower and loosed blitzing barrages of cannon fire. Some were falling away, set alight and on fire. It was strange really. Anakin knew this room acted as an admiral's deck. A second bridge, but there was nobody here. They must've all been on the lower deck, and forward bridge. Oh well, made his and Obi-Wan's job...easier?

"Keep on your guard."

"I know." Anakin replied as he and Obi-Wan moved in. Anakin checked around the both of them. The two moved away from the many compact elevator doors along the second floor. Obi-Wan came to a guardrail and stopped. Both he and Anakin could make out the central figure sat within the admiral's chair. It swiveled around towards them. Odd that they would give the Chancellor some control, but perhaps it was for theatrics sake? Didn't matter, Anakin supposed.

Indeed it was Palpatine. He was sat in his fine robes. Seeming no worse for ware than the last time Anakin had seen him in person. Oh...over a year ago now. There was another he had not seen in that long. One so near now, and who's life he also feared for, but he couldn't...he just couldn't right now. Anakin knew it was the right thing to do. So he breathed and followed Obi-Wan down the nearby steps.

The two of them, as quiet as this uncomfortably still room, rounded what seemed to be a conference table and approached the seated Chancellor. He cast them both a restrained nod, barely perceptible as Obi-Wan bowed.

"Chancellor."

"Are you alright?" Anakin asked less formally. Didn't feel like bowing either. His hair was on end.

"Count Dooku." Palpatine said plainly. A hint of disdain in his voice as he nudged forward. There it was. Anakin felt the adrenaline surge inside of him as the Force prickled with a mingling of darkness and light. He and Obi-Wan turned, their robes swaying about them. The old man, the old butcher, the traitor calmly and elegantly walked. Flanked on either side of him a B2 that held raised arm at the ready to fire. His own robes swayed around him as he observed them. His nose turned upwards even from afar. It made Anakin wanna...stop him. Yeah just stop him.

"This time we'll do it together." Anakin moved around Obi-Wan, not taking his eyes of Dooku.

"I was about to say that." He didn't need a reminder of his 'heroics' on Geonosis. Memory alone made his hand ball into fist. Doing so again awakened some strange sensation but he forced it down. Just as the old man made a move unexpected for one his age. He leapt up balling himself before falling gracefully to his two booted feet. He snatched at that curved saber hilt of his and so began his menace towards them.

Anakin turned. Obi-Wan shuffled where he stood. Undoubtedly also replaying past encounters with the Sith Lord. He turned a little still just as Palpatine began speaking.

"Get help. You're not match for him. He's a Sith Lord!" Obi-Wan turned. Beating him to the punch.

"Chancellor Palpatine, Sith Lords are our specialty." Damn! Nearly the same line he had in his head too.

Regardless Obi-Wan turned back and threw his cloak from himself. Anakin followed in kind. His gut twisting in anticipation, and no small sense of anxiety. He could admit that much.

"Your swords please." He spoke. Force, even his voice sounded exactly like that old wizard. One meeting they had, and one was all they needed.

"We don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor." Leisurely, oh so damnably leisurely did he round the same table toward them. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning Anakin remembered every reason why he hated this man. He bore a glare into him as both he and his Master approached.

"You won't get away this time, Dooku." Obi-Wan warned brandishing his saber and falling into soresu stance. Anakin didn't bother. His vision became tunneled as it did many a time when lightsaber combat came about. He activated his saber lazily and awaited the first strike.

Of course, Dooku then activated his crimson blade. His eyes darting between them. A fencer's keen eyes.

"Just because there are two of you, do not assume you have the advantage." A moment, a mere second passed. Then they made their move.

Anakin followed alongside Obi-Wan as they plunged their sabers towards Dooku. The Sith stepped back and parried both blades with a sweeping arc. Common fencing footing and elegant handling play came into being. Dooku gracefully fell into a series of parries as both Jedi pushed at him and forced him back. Both trying to force his stability off balance.

Obi-Wan jumped around him and Anakin was sure to press hard. The old man slashed away forcing Anakin's blade down and spun around himself slashing up, bouncing Obi-Wan's blade away. He circled back, pushing at Anakin again, using his momentum to swing around and meet a downward thrust by Obi-Wan. Dooku let his saber slide down parrying another of Obi-Wan's feints. He backed off and both Jedi returned to one another as the ship...Anakin thought it was the ship gave a loud rumble.

Anakin noted his damnable old face show a smirk. A barely controlled thing of dominance, of ease. His eyes danced between the Jedi, he and his Master, and he assumed his superiority. It made Anakin sick.

"I've been looking forward to this." With a sneer Anakin rounded to the front of the old fool.

"My powers have doubled since the last time we met Count."

"Good!" He bristled.

"Twice the pride, double the fall!" He seemed on the edge of laughter.

Obi-Wan made the lunge. Even with their banter Dooku was not caught off by the other's attack. He back-stepped and met the slash with a parry. Carrying on into another set as Anakin pushed in beside his Master and joined in the exchange of sabers. His blows came from overhead and hard, as Obi-Wan swept across lightly carrying Dooku's saber. The Count met both and pushed back, allowing himself room to dance about. Anakin twirled his saber in hand. Gaining some of that coveted momentum prominent of the djem so style.

Yet, as he stabbed inward, Dooku pulled his saber up. Carrying Obi-Wan with him and forcing the blades to meet in a three pronged clash. A small struggle ensued. Somehow the old man's strength held firm against both Obi-Wan and Anakin pushing back at him. The two glanced at each other, and Obi-Wan nudged toward the stairs. Anakin nodded and used his greater strength to throw Dooku back. The Sith pulled away without losing footing.

Obi-Wan circled and let Anakin move in. The younger Jedi slashed down overhead and Dooku parried the blows. The final of which he parried with a simple maneuver of footing. Once more backing away. Obi-Wan came in behind him, but the Sith Lord just turned and sent a single wave of energy through the Force. Obi-Wan huffed as he was tossed to the leftern most stairway.

A seethe passed his lips, and as though swinging a bat he swung out and aimed at the Sith Lord's karking neck! The old man ducked underneath and continued on his damn back foot up the stairs. He was beginning to awaken that old feeling in Anakin. He was getting agitated, and he knew it. Still, he wasn't gonna ease off this traitor. Regardless of skill he would ware and wain. He slashed right, and Dooku parried. Anakin pulled back left and Dooku parried again. Anakin grit his teeth and swung down. Meeting the two blades in another dazzling clash.

Dooku pulled away, allowing himself to give out small probing feints aimed at Anakin's flanks. He met them with his own eased taps of his saber. He would follow the old man up the stairs. Play his game. He'd win this time too. The sound of blaster fire didn't go unnoticed by Anakin, but he couldn't turn. He knew his Master could handle it. Especially as he heard a burning of metal and thump of chassis to ground.

His heart was thudding in chest as Anakin slashed over right shoulder down with an intense ferocity. Dooku was forced back and Anakin saw it. His saber bounced. Not by purpose. Dooku's wrist had turned inward. His strength was indeed greater, and it filled him with a renewed vigor. However, he came in for another rounding at Dooku's right. The Sith caught the blade and the two clashed. Dooku forced him up and just in time to pull Obi-Wan's strike into another forked crash.

Dooku, with a noticeable tensing of his neck threw his saber up and tossed both blue blades and their carriers off from him. He swung at Obi-Wan, but with his left hand. Again using the Force he pulled Obi-Wan into the air. Anakin growled under breath and moved. Only to be met by an uncomfortably well placed backward kick. Enough strength having been cast into it with the Force to throw Anakin to the wall beside the main entryway. As Dooku swung out at his left and Obi-Wan went flying. Anakin pulled himself up some. Shaking in a mixture of anger and a brewing headache. Though he was aware enough to watch Obi-Wan slam, hip first into a guardrail and fall with a crash. His heart burned in an instant with anger and he pulled up. As he did, however, Dooku dropped the walkway onto Obi-Wan. Though only across his legs. Pinning him if he woke up. Though his Master was clearly out cold.

Anakin gave a shout and leapt up at Dooku. He made to slash down, and Dooku made to block. Good thing he instead kicked his foot with all his natural strength, right into the old man's chest. Dooku, for the second time this day, swung over the guardrail to the ground below. Unfortunately he landed feet first again. Though he did fall into a noticeably defensive stance.

Anakin followed after him. He jumped and swung his saber pointedly, purposefully as he hit the ground. He slashed in from his right with intensity. The two then fell into a series of jabbing probes at each others sides. Though Anakin could tell, as could Dooku that he was on the advance. The amount of times Dooku had to repeat a circular inwards to outwards parry was unusual. Anakin could see the frustration mount in his wrinkled features.

This, even as Dooku swirled his saber inwards and up, catching two more parries aimed high. He swung his saber back over shoulder as Anakin built another bout of momentum. Dooku swirled in for a high slash at Anakin's neck. With his momentous swing Anakin crashed into this upwards forcing a sort of cross between the blades. This time, the thunderous rocking of the ship was not caused by any bomb or turbolaser, but by their clash. The room reverberated and whined beneath the pressures being unleashed in this instant. As the two of them forced back against the other and fought each other in a placement of footing. Beginning to circle in the small plot they inhabited.

"I sense great fear in you, Skywalker." Dooku seemed to intuit. His voice grating against the strain.

"You have hate, you have anger. But, you don't use them." He said as they exchanged starting places. Anakin didn't wanna listen to another word of this old self aggrandizing fool anymore. He fought with all his might, and glared across the burning light of their meeting sabers. Anakin twisted his saber down and shoved Dooku back. The Sith indeed fell back, but caught himself with a series of twirling parry arcs. Probably expecting some immediate reprisal or follow up that had not come.

"The only fear I have in me, is of what I'm gonna do to you." Dooku sneered, but Anakin indeed pulled on that old resource of his. A sudden bout of aggression, of anger, bloomed in him and he swung his saber back overhead and thrashed down as he menaced Dooku. The two fell into a series of hard blows. Each one initiated by Anakin. Left and right, left and right. Each one pulling more and more from the Force as Anakin completely fell into that state of tunnel vision. Dooku caught him, and immediately Anakin thrust back with intensity unexpected of him. The old man lost his footing. He had seen it.

Anakin charged again. Heavy swing from over right down. Dooku let it fall back at his right, and grazed Anakin's saber as the Jedi let him wander past him along the right. They met another twirling graze between the two as they passed. Anakin kept his back turned and gave a single prod to Dooku's saber. The old fool thought he had his back. Had his head.

Anakin swung around and smashed his saber into the downward slash. A smile, a wicked smirk flashed as Anakin dropped his saber. Dooku fell forward. The Jedi slammed his left hand down and grasped with all his might at Dooku's wrists. There was no pulling up, no using his saber. As Anakin trailed his right hand around from the other side. In a flash up it swung and Dooku's hands were no more. HE, not Dooku, had won.

The Count gasped and stared at the newly stumped and cauterized wounds where his hands had once been. Anakin easily caught that curved hilt into his left hand as he loomed over the know fallen Dooku. The high and mighty, the tall and brazen, the cold and murderous traitor had fallen onto his knees. Be it by shock or confusion he seemed to almost offer his neck to him, as Anakin placed both sabers to it, in a crossed X. Ready for the moment to lop the Count's head from his pampered shoulders. All those times, nearly forgotten, had he encountered Dooku. Either with Obi-Wan or alone. It required Dooku survive every encounter. All it took was for Anakin to win one, and he finally had.

"Good Anakin, good!" The Chancellor laughed. Undoubtedly at ease. Perhaps even relishing the enemy Head of State's current predicament. Rightfully so, perhaps.

"Kill him." Anakin narrowed his gaze, but he did not take it from Dooku. The Count did that for him. A flabbergasted, open mouthed glare of...confusion? He turned to the Chancellor and said nothing, but he was clearly shaken.

"Kill him now." So easily said for the Chancellor. Anakin felt the inclination tingle at his back and up his neck. Memories of Geonosis flooded. Dead Jedi by the scores. Dead clones unprepared for war. His arm, which even now began to tremble in anticipation. He had murdered before. It was an old and easy sensation.

The Count gasped a breath and looked up at Anakin. No more were his eyes filled with condescension or snooty lordliness. They weren't even yellowed by the dark side anymore. He was made low, a Count before a once slave. Yet, Anakin's eyes blinked. Another memory filling him. Several in fact. A woman, psychotic in her murderous appetite. At his mercy. Much in the same manner.

He blinked his eyes over and over. His lips trembled. This was all too familiar, and damn him, he felt that same looming terror fill him. As to whether he should or should not.

"I shouldn't." Anakin spoke. More to himself than anyone. The Count's eyes had never been so wide. He was in fact pleading. He was begging with a nothing but a look. Dooku had not expected this day to be his last. Yet, he alone among very few in the whole galaxy deserved it so righteously. Anakin's sabers were to this fiend's neck. As a sword had once been to a lanky ragged things neck. Unremembered among the trillions about the stars.

"Do it!" Anakin heard the Chancellor. His voice had rasped. Palpatine wanted this to happen. As much as a part of him did too. So, Anakin closed his eyes.

As he let it happen.

---

Their ship had landed after the many visions of what war meant for these strange people. The soldiers within, young Esk included all hurried them from the ship. Once outside of its confines, they were all both grateful to be upon the ground. As well as utterly confused. They were surrounded on all sides by metal. Only a gap of grand size allowed direct light of what seemed the sun to flow into so vast a chamber of metal they found themselves.

The air, it too was strange. A metallic overlay as well as scents that...weren't metal filled their noses. Yet, even those smelled off. Not exactly right. Not unpleasant, but not fully agreeable. These sights and smells were mingled with the sounds of unknowns. Warbles breathed the air outside, cries filtered in from around them on all sides, just as the metal. Some blaring sound boomed in such a quick succession as to force one's heart from chest. These were followed by lines of fire that flew up into the air and exploded as black powder from the eastern lands did. Only larger and seemingly borne of pure light of radiant colors rather than powder.

"Attention, troopers!" A voice, loud and commanding howled as the company formed into a line of sorts. Unintentionally but it mattered not. The 'troopers,' Esk included all slammed their boots to the metal and brought their hands up stiffly in a salute. One that was not common upon Middle-Earth, or Arda for that matter.

"What pod are you lot from?!"

"Sir?" The Commander from their ship questioned.

"Your pod!" This new man whom bore a prominent set of blue stripes across his white armor demanded.

"It has to be a defective one! No way in all the universe did I hear about a squad of idiots piloting a weaponless yacht through the largest naval engagement of this war. Kriff, of all wars! What were you thinking?!"

"Colonel, sir," The Commander began again, sounding controlled if loud.

"My squad was dispatched from a newer world, sir! Communication there is based on Sep' tech, sir! It was down upon our leaving, sir! Long range communications were not necessary aboard our shuttle, sir! We were transporting an official delegation from the world, sir! They are listed here upon this official document, as class one, sir!" The Commander, now breathless, elaborated in short bursts.

"What a strange ceremony." Elladan shook his head.

"Indeed. They scream as though it'll run out of style." Elrohir added with a low whisper.

"They ought to save such theatrics for when an actual need is at em.'" Gimli grumbled leaning into his axe.

"Perhaps. For now though," Gandalf cut in.

"Let us keep such observations to ourselves. Tension enough dwells here as is." The group all nodded.

The new soldier, this Colonel, looked over the 'datapad' as Gandalf knew it to be called. Handed over from the Commander. Silence passed between them as two soldiers flanking the Colonel glanced their unseen faces towards the company.

As the Colonel read whatever was there, some among the company also began peeking about this massive room of metal. Many more 'ships' were placed about. Some ovular and egg shaped. Some pointed and spear like. Some were rough and simple, box shaped, others sleek and seemed as giant mirrors upon metal legs. Yet, these were but momentary distractions.

Their ship was somewhat gated off. After having landed these rails, three in a row, had risen from the ground in a square that encompassed the width of this flat ground they stood on. However, around them were many dozens upon dozens upon hundreds of beings. People draped in all manner of clothing. Some seeming familiar others unknown to these visitors from Arda.

Though Tauriel tilted her head as she looked upon these people. She had never seen beings so similar to her kin, and that of Men, but only in basic term. Some were orange and bore horns on their brow. Some showed no hair, but what seemed to be tendrils down their heads. No ears, well some didn't have ears. More like cones of flesh. The same hue as their skin.

Some seemed like lizards upon two feet, tall and ill in look or manner. Some bore wings but were leaning into walls or sat to the ground or upon unused 'ship.' Some were tiny things. Blue and baring a distressing similarity to the tales of what oliphants looked like. Some of them had the look and baring of a giant insect. Old memories of spiders filled her elven head as she looked at one. It was short too, like the blue being before. Bulbous eyes rested atop its head. Antenna reached upwards from them, and they seemed to have implanted something to their already strange faces. So long did Tauriel stare that the being she looked upon seemed to have sensed it. Turning to her and forcing her to look away. As though she had not been gawking.

"How long we have imagined but three mortal races. Alas, I have counted more than ten unseen before in all my centuries, in mere seconds." She announced to the air.

"Yet, plenty among them are of the race of Men." She turned to see Galadriel had come to her right.

"My Lady." She bowed and gave the lady of the Golden Wood the familiar elvish greeting gesture.

"I...I had seen that. So odd a thing."

"Don't let confusion rattle your mind, daughter of the silvan kin." Galadriel smiled.

"We have much to discover about these people of the stars. Think of it not as a political chore, but as a venture. An exploration of discovery." Indeed everything they said of the Lady Galadriel was true. She knew what troubled Tauriel's mind without a word needed. The red haired elf smiled and tipped her head appreciatively.

"Thank you, my Lady. I shall try." Galadriel smiled, but said nothing further.

"All seems in order." The Colonel finally noted handing the datapad back to the Commander.

"You've dropped this lot into a clanker feeding frenzy. Good thing ya' didn't get them killed."

"Sir, yes sir." The Commander nodded. The Colonel turned to the expectant group then.

"Apologies for the wait err..." He seemed out of his depth. After all, he wasn't shouting or barking as he had been before. Nor demeaning them. Truly he must've been at a loss.

"Your 'graces.'"

"Oh, was no trouble at all!" Pippin, ever the breaker of ice began loudly.

"Gotta say, I wasn't expecting to see what I did. Never have seen such a loud and chaotic affair. Though I suppose warfare is always loud. The explosions are certainly something I'd need to get used to. Such a terrible thing I would imagine."

"Pippin!" Merry slapped his friend along his back and silenced the wayward hobbit.

"Right. Yeah well, you've been brought to the capitol during the middle of a crisis. To put it mildly. I don't have any accommodations down here. These rungs are for the civilian refugees from across the planet. Though I'm sure there's an office or suite in the upper floors we can hold you in. Until this all settles down. Hopefully." The last word probably wasn't mean to be heard. As it lowly came underneath this Colonel's breath. The elves among the group had no issue hearing it though.

"That would be fine. Though we can await anywhere, I assure you." Taking on the role he was given, Gandalf replied.

"Alright." The Colonel nodded.

"Commander, your men are still on two feet and we need more of you along sector two. The droids have mostly left the Government Sector alone since this mess has started. Yet, we do have some strays moving in from the residential zones just beyond. You and your boys will head there asap! I've got a gunship or two ready for liftoff. So, move it!"

"Yes sir, right away!" The Commander replied.

"Good. Follow this man then." One of the troopers nudged over shoulder and the Commander along with the men they had traveled with for days made after him.

"Hope to maybe see ya' folks again!" Esk called back before racing after his men.

"Indeed." Gandalf shared the sentiment.

"As for you lot. This man of mine here will lead you to an upper level. I think it best for you folk."

"Very well. Lead on." Gandalf offered and indeed the second man that had flanked the Colonel bowed and more slowly began walking. The whole company following in tow. The company followed this silent trooper into a large hall. Lined in metal, as expected frankly, and a vast rug...carpet of dark red. It seemed almost foreboding, though unimposing. While pillars of darkened hue and what seemed marble were topped with golden rings. They all glanced about taking in the opulence shown here about a world engulfed by war. An entire planet! That thought alone should have blown their minds. Alas, it was but one of many sudden truths they had to all contend with.

"And I had thought Minas Tirith was massive!" Pippin broke the silence. Just as a squad of these white clad troopers, numbering at least twelve ran by them in a loose formation. None stopping to speak a word. All of them seeming hurried.

"This building alone is beyond massive! Did you see the size of it from the outside as we err...landed?"

"Aye, I did Pip. I can't say I understand a lick of any of this. Truth be told I'm a little anxious."

"Don't worry lads!" Gimli cut in for Pippin and Merry.

"Anyone or anything gives ya' trouble I'll put em' where they belong." The dwarf chortled and the hobbits joined in a nervous, but earnest chuckle.

The group passed a long window pane as they moved down the same hall. Its end seeming far beyond them even now. The window though, it extended for over twenty feet along the wall. The company peered out and continued walking.

"Look there." Elrohir nudged to a light and his brother attempted to find it.

"Ah yes, I see it. Is that...fire?" Elladan and his brother's eyes could see far clearer than the none elves and none wizard among them. It took but a second as something set alight flying through the sky, piercing and wailing as it did sliced as a knife through butter against one of the tall spires of metal and glass. The company, all of them, jumped back. Some as whatever it had been bore down the top of the spire and gutted its way at least eight stories down before exiting out. Carrying a sea of metal, glass and fire with it as it plummeted down and crashed into a far expanding courtyard sparsely lined with statues.

"These 'ships.'" Tauriel began.

"When they fall from the sky they can do incredible harm."

"Aye!" Gimli cut in.

"Not just the big ones either, lass. The wee ones like that one, are like rock set to a catapult. Yet, their ferocity puts a dwarf battering hammer to shame!"

"Yeah, doesn't mean the big ones aren't bad." Merry put in as the images of what they had seen far above and beyond the blue sky played over his mind. Blistering ripples of lights bounding from tunnels of metal. They crashed and scarred other metal...well he couldn't call them beasts anymore. Ships? That seemed to be more proper, but their size hardly reminded the hobbit of any boat he'd ever seen.

The window shook and rattled as three ships slashed through the air. They were chased by five more. These were the good ones. They bore white and dull red colors. They loosed green fire that pelted the air and rattled those brownish ones. The ones that had tried to kill them all.

After they passed the window in awed silence and revery their guide turned left into a smaller hall. At the end of which stood two more of his kind flanking the door. They neared and the leading trooper saluted the other two, and they in kind saluted back.

"Apologies beforehand. It's a bit grim out here." No one said anything. Though the elves did bare sour looks to their faces. The doorway opened and they were led out onto a quite large veranda. Dozens of these white armored men stood about. Some sat on seats connected to vast tubes of metal. The same that seemed to spit fire and death. These were dormant but mobile under the control of these men.

More men, however, were upon the ground.

"Oh." Merry managed to intone. He did so on the part of the entire company really. Many men were sprawled along the ground. Many did not have their helms atop their heads. Allowing those who knew what a 'clone' in theory was to gain a better view of them. Indeed they bore striking resemblances to one another that could not be counted as natural.

"I feel as though my eyes deceive me." Elladan nodded with his brother's sentiment.

"In time you will come to know what I do." Gandalf spoke as they moved through this courtyard masquerading as a balcony.

"So you know what plagues our minds, Mithrandir?"

"I may have an inclination." The wizard, elusive as ever.

Still, these men, they were torn and rent in such manners as to leave one sickened. Many lay on the cold ground and were heaving breaths, sweating profusely as pain engulfed them. They squirmed along the ground as other troopers baring their armor inserted pins into their arms. Others were actively pressurizing deep wounds. Some men were burned and they lay dormant. Wheezes escaped their lungs as their eyes darted ahead of them. They had glassed over, even as their flesh bore itself as black as coal.

One man had no right arm. He was leaning against the balcony railing and his head was swooning. Another man lay dead. In fact he was mingled near a vast tract of dead men. Lined up against one another. Their hue unnaturally dimmed or dimming. Their eyes, some of them etched open, and some bearing the faces of horror, pain and shock they were felled whilst holding.

"Medic!" Gandalf paused. The man who had called the word was looking past the wizard. Another man ran ahead of him and past.

"He's losing consciousness!"

"What's the wound?" This 'medic' asked.

"He ejected from his ARC. He landed back first against a curb. May have a concussion. Definitely has a few broken ribs." Gandalf watched the exchange. A sigh passed his nostrils and without prompt he made for the men. The company pausing and waiting.

"Uh, sir?" His guide called. Gandalf ignored.

"Allow me."

"Huh? Who are you?" The medic asked, but again Gandalf ignored him. Instead Gandalf leaned in and lowered his staff as he knelt. His right hand came to rest atop the brow of the fallen man who no longer seemed among the waking world. A whisper passed by his lips, and his eyes closed for a moment.

"What do you-" The man beneath Gandalf gasped and his eyes fluttered open. Quickly silencing their guide.

The two men from before stared at one another before turning to the unknown old man garbed in all white.

"Are you a Jedi?"

"Oh no. Indeed you're only the second to ask me that." Gandalf smiled at the medic.

"My skills are not so wondrous as you may initially believe. However," Gandalf looked about the mass of torn and mutilated.

"I will help you as I can." The wizard looked back at his company and their guide. The man was silent as the others. Confused and likely in awe.

"If it is no trouble for you, of course."

"Me? N..no, no! Not at all." Their guide easily acquiesced.

"Very good." Gandalf peered down at the man who was also staring at him.

"He will indeed need rest. I do believe many bones are broken. Though his head should be well enough. Should he be allowed to keep it." Gandalf gave a sad smile. The trooper beneath smirked. These men were used to such morose humor.

"Pippin my lad."

"Yes?"

"Come here, and help an old man out." The hobbit dutifully did so and Gandalf removed his outermost cloak. He turned to another man beside the first and placed hand atop brow. He was not the greatest healer of Middle-Earth. Certainly not of Arda, but he would do what he could.

"A fine example, Mithrandir." They heard the Lady Galadriel move toward a nearby man. This one burnt horribly. She knelt and inspected him. A grim frown coming to her wizened face.

"Elladan, Elrohir, my grandchildren. Do bring me clean waters."

"As you wish." Elrohir bowed.

"Uh, this way." The guide offered and began leading the elf.

Wordless Tauriel had joined Galadriel. She inspected this man and indeed saw how some healing could be done. Even for burns so bad as these.

"Now this is a sight!" Gimli nudged Merry.

"Here we are for ten minutes and we're already saving the world. Alas, I am not a healer!"

"No, me neither." Merry lamented alongside the dwarf.

"Although, we could always get some supplies? Move em' so they don't have to. Pip is no healer. I imagine he'll be doing so for Gandalf."

"A fine idea!" Gimli chortled and shimmied over toward the group. Eager and willing to do what he could to not be left out.

As time passed many a clone would be visited by these strange newcomers to the galaxy. Many a clone would praise them too. Most of them, after all, had never heard of let alone imagined a bunch of politicians getting their hands dirty for their sorry lot.

It would not be forgotten. Nor go unappreciated.

---

A single stroke, and it had been over. Anakin deactivated both blades and they sung out no more. His right fist had fallen so utterly and so brutally he would almost have been incensed at the idea that it had not broken a bone. Dooku had fallen over along his left and lay limp. Unconscious and still missing his hands. Anakin could only glare at him. His right arm twitching and that feeling of failure resonating across him, through him. As though he was disappointing everyone. The Chancellor, the Order, his wife, the galaxy itself. Most importantly though, he felt as though he were a disappointment to himself. He couldn't do it. He hadn't been able to slice the fool's head from his shoulders.

All the images of what he had seen on the volcanic slope had slammed into him. A tall dark figure cloaked and set against a blinding white light. On some level Anakin had come to accept that part of himself. Even if he did not understand it fully. How could he then lop this man's head when he was so utterly defeated and pathetic at his feet?

"Anakin?" He turned to see the Chancellor staring at him. Eyes twisted in confusion and face scrunched in what seemed to be perplexion laced with mortification. It dd nothing to abate his sense of failure.

"I'm sorry, Chancellor." Anakin breathed. Only then realizing he gasped in a breath of air desperately needed. It escaped quickly after teetering on hyperventilation.

"I...I cannot kill an unarmed opponent. It's not the Jedi way."

"Why..." The Chancellor gave a lone chuckle.

"Why of course not." Anakin approached and used the Force to undo his old friend's binds. Palpatine rose and nursed his wrists.

"Forgive my outburst. Though I had merely though it better for the galaxy to be rid of Dooku. He is too dangerous to be kept alive, son." Anakin nodded.

"You're right. I know you're right." Anakin intoned darkly. His face twisted angrily inwards.

"But...I can't."

"You have before, son." Anakin tensed as Palpatine passed him a knowing glance.

"Your mother, and the sand people." The sounds of their cries entered his mind. Their feral beast like grunts and snorts attacking his senses. The image of his mother beaten and bloodied upon a rack. The last vision she saw of him as her savior, and the words she had spoken. Then he had killed an entire village. Their mothers and their children.

He closed his eyes and turned away from Palpatine.

"I know, your Excellency. I think about that a lot. As you know."

"Something has changed?" Anakin shrugged.

"You've always been able to talk with me, son."

"I know!" Anakin replied in outburst. Though he quickly apologized by raising his hands.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just...won't be the one to kill him. Let the ship do it."

"The ship?" Anakin glared at the fallen Sith.

"I'd like to see him get off this ship without his hands. Or without his own consciousness." Anakin mused. Honestly trying to convince himself more than the Chancellor.

"Once we're off with you sir, the Republic will have no problem blowing Grievous' ship to slag. Hopefully with both of them inside of it still." Anakin sneered at the limp form.

"I'd arrest him myself, but…" Again he trailed off. Not sure if he didn't want to do it because it would be too much for him to bare alone. Or, if he hoped on some level something or someone else would do what he should have done. What he could very well be doing right now! Force, he felt his right hand tense and that same powerful need rippled at his mind.

"Well then, let us hope you're right." Palpatine smiled, cutting through Anakin's thoughts. Palpatine motioned for the door.

"We should leave, before more security droids arrive." The Chancellor bounded, seeming more energetic in his swaying walk as he passed Anakin and made for the exit. Anakin had another matter on his mind though. He broke into a run right, having clipped both sabers to his belt and he leaned down beside his still unconscious Master.

"Anakin, there's no time. We must get off this ship before it's too late." Anakin ignored Palpatine. He figured the stress of the situation was getting to him. More importantly he checked Obi-Wan vitals and his legs.

"He seems to be alright."

"Leave him or we'll never make it!" The Chancellor may have had a point. Yet, if Anakin was gonna haul someone through this stinking ship. It would be and always shall be Obi-Wan Kenobi. Over the now fallen Dooku.

"His fate will be the same as ours." He offered clinically aware of their situation, and began pulling Obi-Wan free. Mounting the fallen Jedi across his shoulders and baring his weight. He would do what needed to be done to save them all.

---

"Captain!" Nelix knew what was going to be said. He wasn't blind.

"What is it corporal?"

"Starboard side on approach!" Nelix's frown deepened as he watched the looming approach of an enemy providence-class. It seemed to have been caught mid adjustment on its way towards Centax-II. As the Guarlara came into view they now seemed to have halted course correction and were on the way towards a clear pass.

"All turbolasers along starboard hold and wait firing orders! Prepare for broadside engagement!"

"Two support vehicles on approach!"

"Concentrate fire for maximum effect on incoming destroyer! Guns along port may engage support units if capable." Nelix replied to Qiggins.

"Captain sir!" Nelix turned as Suxton swiveled in his seat.

"Sir...its call-sign is readable. Identified as the...as the Phantom Fist." The room turned cold and silent. Nelix felt his stomach churn. Grievous' ship. The one that...had held the Chancellor. Had...it HAD. Nelix drew in a heavy breath and made himself rigid where he stood.

"Our orders are not changed. Prepare for broadside engagement on target!" The men watched him for another moment. A second that seemed to pass as an hour. Until they did as ordered. They flew into a state of preparedness. An alarm warning everyone across the ship of an impending broadside engagement sounded and the pulsation of emergency lights filtered behind Nelix as he clutched his hands behind his back. Praying to whatever power lay beyond to spare him death. That, and that the Chancellor was indeed off that ship.

---

Grievous loomed at the front of the observation platform. The move to Centax-II had come at a crawl, but that was normal. Especially as they passed by many an enemy warship. Their escorting pack having broken down into a select munificents. The General had heard no word from Dooku yet. Grievous knew the Jedi had managed to make it to the observation tower. Of course they had! It made his rage thrum beneath the surface. He managed to contain it though. He had other matters to attend to.

His eyes, golden and diamond slanted narrowed heatedly as he watched out the window along the ship's starboard. Captain Dofine had ordered the Phantom Fist to come about and lower itself through the atmosphere. They had unwittingly made for a large debris field that was passing through into the atmosphere and going through it may well have shredded them. When they had rounded and not yet completed their rotation they found themselves leveling out with an oncoming venator. One of thousands. Captain Dofine kept them level and pushed ahead. The venator did not change direction nor level. It knew what it was about to do, and Grievous couldn't believe it. A ship of this corrupt Republic was attempting to bare down on them whilst still holding their Chancellor hostage!

Grievous wondered if this had anything to do with that troublesome Republic Captain he had been forced to converse with but fifteen minutes before? A one 'Needa,' had boxed the Phantom Fist in with but a carrack-class cruiser. They had moved beyond it easily enough. Leaving a recusant behind to deal with it. That man had demanded to see the Chancellor though. To prove that Palpatine still remained. Otherwise he'd 'engage.' Grievous had laughed at the man's boldness before leaving his support ships behind to tend to the matter. A one off and troublesome moment among hundreds of others. Grievous had not played their game then.

Very well though! He'd play their game now if they wanted him to so badly. He'd win it too.

"Prepare for attack!" He swung about and commanded. The venator's tip met that of the providence's. They crawled by, and then the atmosphere was alight.

The first salvo was loosed, and it came from them. The ship rocked with a thud that spread across its body as droids along their consoles were thrown from the force of the hit and their frying system controls.

"All batteries fire! Fire!" Lushros commanded with urgency leaning away from the engagement in his seat.

The exchange of fire between the ships was climactic as it was destructive. The batteries of each ship loosed without relent and without choice made in their targets. Turbolaser blues slammed into cold gray steel as flak cannon reds decimated cream white durasteel. The ejection of fire and steel came as both ship's shields came tumbling down from so intense and close a bombardment barrage.

Grievous watched in anticipation for the crack of the enemy ship. The crimson flak shots slammed once, twice, three times, over and over. The Republic's cannons desperately threw slug upon slug against Grievous' superior warship. Their outer hull took the damage and the beating well enough, and they did not match level enough to hit their bridge compartment. This as blasts careened into and decimated the lower rungs of the venator's control spire.

The ships kept moving past one another in an extinguishing and dazzling exchange. Neither one letting up. Grievous was not one for space combat, but he did find such a raw contest thrilling in its own rapturous way.

One lone blue turbolaser bolt flew through the void and slammed through the ray shield of a flak canon. Igniting the reserve shells littered through the compartment. An explosion roared outwards and whined up through the entirety of the ship. The blaring emergency horn rung out over the ship and pressed outwards into the vacuum. Consoles lining the room began whining and buzzing with warning signals and their own separate sirens.

Grievous rocked where he stood but clamped his prongs down into the metal. A growl loosed from him as he bore witness to a gushing wound of smoke and fire venting out from a forward flak cannon position. The ship had gone nose-down and was plummeting towards Coruscant.

"Venting atmosphere, sir. Gravity controls inoperable." One droid squeaked out.

"Reverse stabilizers." Lushros commanded as Grievous watched the length of the Phantom Fist pass by the shaking and smoldering Republic warship. An intense burning hatred boiling through what remained of his organs.

"Reversing stabilizers." One of the droids replied. Slamming metal fingers to its consoles. The others following suit along with those present neimoidian operators. Yet, they continued to plummet as everything not nailed down began falling forwards at the destabilization of gravity and atmosphere.

"Magnetize. Magnetize!" The Captain went on, as controlled and collected as one in his situation could be. The droids of course, did as ordered. The ship continued to plummet at an excessive speed past the upper screen of combat to the lower atmospheric reaches of this endless battle. Grievous threw himself about.

"Fire the emergency booster engines!" The General commanded with pointed bony extremity. The ship gave another roar that traveled up its length from the engines. A rumble shook the bridge crew as the ship began to reorient itself in the vacuum. Slowly but surely. Grievous stomped ahead.

"We're leveling out, sir." The droids informed as some of them clung to their posts before being able to support their own stances again. Grievous glanced between the lot and grumbled as he stewed in his wrath and rage.

"Keep along baring, Captain. Rendezvous the ship with the nearest friendly concentration!"

"Yes, General." Lushros nodded and immediately went to work doing so.

Not that anyone else in the bridge needed to be told twice.

---

This day just couldn't get anymore difficult. Anakin couldn't really believe his luck. He hadn't enough time to even think about the fact he had just defeated and maimed Count Dooku himself. When he, the Chancellor and his Master, swung over his back, had to enter the elevator shaft. Run horizontal in a vertical shaft as...something happened to the ship outside. Then gravity began reorienting and they had begun falling. Obi-Wan still on his shoulders, thank the Force. They fell and he had felt his heart leap out of his chest. Until he had a second of inclination given to him by the Force and he snatched his right hand into a fist. The three were pulled down and Anakin tensed as he felt something...somewhere pull. The Chancellor was dangling onto him by his ankle and boot. While Obi-Wan remained blissfully unaw-

"Whoa!" Well that was a good start.

"Easy! We're in a bit of a situation." Obi-Wan made things easier, grabbing onto his neck and spreading his weight out more.

"Did I miss something?"

"Hold on." Anakin tried to move, but a sound caught everyone's attention.

"What is that?!"

"Oops." The three saw the floor end of the elevator racing down towards them in free fall.

"Uh Artoo, Arfour, one of you shut down the elevator!"

"Too late, jump!" Wordlessly the three did so at Obi-Wan's command. Anakin begged the Force to not let the Chancellor fall too quickly as he and Obi-Wan pulled their magnetic lines and threw them out over a passing metal bar. They clung tight and the two were sure to use the Force added to their own strength to swerve inwards. The Force seemed to be generous today too. Palpatine had caught Obi-Wan's leg and was thrown in before them. They all landed with thuds and gasps as the elevator crashed down far into the core of the ship with a resonating slam. It took Anakin a minute to realize this must've been the doorway left open by those two buffoon B1's.

"Hands up indeed." He whispered.

"Let's see if we can find something in the hangar bay that's still flyable."

"Artoo, Arfour, both of you get down here." Anakin called passing the elevator shaft a glance along with his Master.

"Artoo, do you copy?" Great, now he was beginning to sound like his Master. Though this time the familiar beeps and whirs of his droid friend, along with Arfour sounded in reply.

"Alright, they're on their way. This way." Anakin took lead and motioned down the hall as the three broke into a jog.

"I must say. It is so good to have the two greatest heroes of the Republic back!" Palpatine offered just before they began moving faster.

"Can't say I missed all the adventuring like this, Chancellor. Though it does have its 'charms.'" Anakin smiled.

"Oh indeed, does it? You will tell me what I missed won't you Anakin?"

"On the chance we make it off this droid infested ship? Yes, Master. All the details."

"Oh good. Should be easy." Obi-Wan Kenobi, ever with his sarcasm.

---

He had fallen into another bout of coughing and his wheezes were conspicuously echoed through the bridge as he gagged forward over and over again. His eyes were slits through the hammering annoyance of it. Though Grievous did turn as one of the droids neared.

"General, we found the Jedi. They're in hallway 328." Damn them. Damn all of them. They must have had the Chancellor. Dooku…damn them!

"Activate ray shields!" He roared and the droid jumped back. It was sure to do as ordered though.

Damnable Jedi scum.

---

Not even fully through one of the halls and already a bounding white shimmer came down and encased the three. They slid to stops and peered around.

"Ray shields." Anakin sighed.

"Wait a minute. How did this happen? Were smarter than this!" Alright, Anakin didn't think Obi-Wan needed to sell their 'confusion' that much.

"Apparently not." Anakin offered calmly. Kind of a role reversal really.

"I say patience."

"Patience?" His Master repeated, unimpressed and crossing his arms.

"Yes." He nodded assuringly.

"Artoo and Arfour will be along in a few moments. Then they'll release the ray shields." Anakin smirked knowingly. Indeed, he felt vindicated in his assessment as a nearby door opened. The scream of his little astromech friend sounded and Artoo came racing down the unseen hall. His cylindrical body thrashing into the opposite door frame.

"See? No problem."

"And where's Arfour?"

"Huh...oh." Anakin turned, and said astromech was thrown into the room. It warbled as it was tossed head first and slammed directly into Artoo. The blue and white droid warbling in what seemed to be annoyance. Just as two droideka's rolled out from the unseen hall and unfurled. Aiming down sights at their Republic counterparts.

In fact a whole damn legion of droids seemed to materialize from doorways, halls and every which where.

"Don't move." One B2 aimed at Artoo.

"Owe!" It cried as the astromech zapped its blaster hand. It proceeded to kick Artoo over. The three watched in a mixture of amusement, bemusement, and resignation.

"Do you ave a plan B?"

Anakin rolled his eyes and sighed.

---

L's Note: Another chapter, and so soon! Lord Kun was incapable of editing this one before he sent it my way. So, I had to write a bit of it, and look it over once, but as always I probably missed some grammar issues. I will relook this sucker over in maybe a few hours or a day or so.

Why do I upload chapters not fully edited through a few times over? Because I feel most people wanna just continue the story. Rather than wait the hours or even days it may take to edit for the 4th or 5th time. That being said, if any of you notice some serious grammar issues let me know and I'll add it to the good ole' changelog. :)

Notes:

101Asa: Thanks for the reviews! Both me and Lord Kun appreciate it! Oh, and I also wrote that cut away. I'm sure you know which. XD

ZabuzasGirl: Well they're there. More to come of course. :D

Guest: Not sure what else to call you, but thanks! Lord Kun took inspiration from the subtext of Tolkien's ideology for that conversation. As for Sauron and his plans. Trust me, Lord Kun has some ideas. Things will get...interesting. ;D

Celgress: Thanks for being a consistent reviewer! Lol, well Sidious has perhaps been left in control for too long. He has perhaps forgotten what it's like to be on the backfoot? We'll see.

Huan of Valinor: Lol, thanks for the reviews! Lord Kun was delighted to see someone caught the Gollum reference! XD I am pleased so many people seem to agree with Gandalf's viewpoint. Not only is it in character (to the best of Lord Kun's ability I feel) but it is important as an overall subtext to Tolkien and the story trying to be told here. We're happy you're enjoying the Sauron parts. They're the toughest to write for Lord Kun. Doubly so, for me. The will to write him as a cackling uber-villain exists but we don't wanna do that. We want to expand on what it is to be as old as he is and as hungry for knowledge and power as he has been shown to be. As for the songs, all I'll say is many things are being looked into for what to do with Sauron as things progress. ;)

Savior16: Uh...sure! Thanks for the review. XD

Edit Note: Edited/Updated 11/9/2019