Oh, this is a great chapter, I'm excited for you all to read it! Thanks to those that have reviewed the previous chapters. I am currently playing a session of Stallaris, where I control the Neo-Sith Empire. every world, leader and system is renamed to match the controlled systems, and it is a blast. It truly pumped me up to be able to further the story and gave me a number of ideas, with assistance from some readers who have brilliant ideas that they bring me to use. Many thanks to those people as well! Enjoy! ~F
Chapter Fifteen
Found
Hermione was downright surprised at the sheer number of recruits that flocked to their new base, courtesy of both Master Yoda and Commander Flitwick's expeditions. The half-goblin charm's master had already returned, along with many soldiers of the Republic remnant, which had immediately started training the myriads of people that had come into a reasonable fighting force.
At the same time, work had accelerated quite well in building up the compound for their base, along with relays all across the planet. Hermione herself had been more than unneeded for, and spent most of her time speaking with many of the groups of newer recruits, assuring them that they were fighting the good fight and that things would get better for the Galaxy when they overthrew the Sith.
Still, it was not her preferred place, but the other technicians were not yet finished, and so she had to wait before she could quickly shuttle them all back to Sanctuary and the safety of their wards and charms.
Even with that, she tried to tinker with what she had brought with her, working on droids and other weaponry, but it wasn't the same as the projects that she had waiting back in her private lab on the icy world of Hoth.
"Keeping yourself busy as always, Ms. Granger," Professor Flitwick said, appearing at her side during one of these sessions where she had to express her creative side and stap away from speaking with so many new faces.
"Yes, just some small things to keep the mind sharp and spark new ideas to take back to Santuary," she explained, smiling down at the shorter Mage-born.
"Well, I have to say that so long as we rely on those technological advances to stay a step ahead of the Empire, then your work is the most important thing that occurs in the background of our rebellion." Filius said, his large smile spreading across his face.
Hermione felt pride spread through her at the praise. But at the same time, she felt somewhat sad. She had started building magi-technology in order to better the Galaxy, not fight wars and kill hundreds of thousands. The evil that the Emperor had infused into her work, and the need of such devises terrible harmed the entire idea of her labors.
Setting aside the blaster she was modifying again, she said sadly, "I wish it wasn't as necessary as it is. I wanted to build more devises that could make planets habitable, save lives and create a much better Galaxy, and all I've made for decades is weapons of war, vessels to carry troops and equipment, and structures meant to keep our people safe."
She sighed, "There's no time for the things that I loved about these tasks, and if I slow down more will die."
Filius just patted her arm sympathetically, "w all sacrifice the things we love for the needs of others. The fact that you have more than most to give just attests to your good nature, and the strength of your gift to help those around you. And in doing so, I think you are still striving to make the Galaxy a better place."
Hermione smiled. The Ravenclaw Charm's Professor had a way about him that made anyone more comfortable, even with the worst of situations. One of the Magi-tech engineers approached at that moment, "We've used up all the resources and prefab materials that he brought with us from Sanctuary, Director. We are clear to return and gather more, at your leisure."
Hermione rose, "No, we'll depart swiftly, the more prepared this base is, the faster we can start launching countermeasures against the Empire."
"Not to mention you can bring more of your laboratory with you to have things to work on here," Filius added, smirking cheekily. Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the truth and honesty in his words.
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Feyd tried to suppress his sigh of frustration when his apprentice contacted him from Korriban. Where the Mirialan had shown his spark of intelligence in going to the tomb world, Ekitc Batoi's weaknesses were apparent once he had arrived there.
Aside from wasting his time in delving into tombs in search of hidden signs of rebellion and mustering of forces against them; a clear waste of time, the powerful yet idiotic apprentice had nothing to report but his animosity for Zhar's apprentice, who no doubt was very much at home on the rocky desert world. Therefore it made sense that she would have ample opportunity to mock and torment him as he struggled.
"Clearly Zhar wouldn't hide anything in a tomb, where anyone could stumble upon it…" Feyd said after a time, feeling his frustration and anger rising at his fool of an apprentice, "search the facilities, and be more subtle, if the man's apprentice can find you so easily then there are others reporting your location back to them at all times."
"Yes, Master," Ekitc replied, seething from the reprimand that he had received, but Feyd did not care.
"Do not allow you hatred of that girl to cloud your judgment," Feyd admonished, "she is intentionally confronting you in order to prevent you from noticing anything amiss."
"I will do so," the apprentice replied, and Feyd cut the contact between them, rubbing his eyes in irritation the moment his apprentice was out of his sight. The small consolation in this was that Zhar and his apprentice would be focused on his foolish apprentice rather than Feyd himself, which bought the Supreme Prophet time to organize his forces.
It was clear that because Zhar refused to join his faction in preparation against the Emperor, either the man wished to seize power for himself, or perhaps Zhar desired even break away from the Empire altogether. Either option was unacceptable for Feyd, as they ran counter to his designs.
Korriban was the key; the tomb world acted as the crown jewel of the Sith Empires of old, and anyone seeking to rule had to have possession of the planet. As currently that being was Zhar Quelmok, Feyd had to remove the man from power.
And if that meant by force, then Feyd had the forces to make it so.
It was true, that the Basilisk and its fleet were among the most venerated and experienced in the Imperial fleet, but it was still only one planetary defense fleet, whereas Feyd had command over many. While such action would be looked down upon by the Emperor, Feyd hardly cared anymore.
"Admiral, set your course for Korriban…" the Supreme Prophet commanded, activating his comlink to one of these fleets after another. "High Prophet Zhar has yet to see the light of the way the Empire is turning, and it is past time that we change his mind… for good…"
"Very good, my Lord," was the only acceptable reply, and the Admirals knew it.
The move completed and the pieces on their way to their intended destination, Feyd looked out onto the wide expanse of the central city of Dromund Kaas, "and now," he said to no one in particular, "the move is yours, Zhar… hope you can keep up with my forces…" he said, chuckling to himself.
The depths that he would go to unify the Empire under his rule, he hadn't conceived of yet, but if he was to pit himself against the Emperor, any traitorous elements would be removed. Zhar's death and the subjugation of Korriban would send a clear message to the rest of the Dark Council that Supreme Prophet Feyd would indeed destroy any who opposed him, and once the might of the Empire was his, he could challenge Coruscant directly.
Veneficus may be individually powerful, but even he couldn't escape the entirety of the Empire if it suddenly turned against him.
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Zhar had found it.
It had taken several hours of hasty searching, but finally a tome in the back of a corner shelf had something of an explanation. The writing had spoken of an ancient Sith Lord, whose name had been obscured by time and wear on the parchment, but it stated that this Dark Lord had progressed farther than any before him on the path of the Sith imperative, crushing the Republic, along with discovering the secret of eternal life.
"This is it…" Zhar breathed, burning the words into his mind. The secret that the Sith sought for the longest time, the answer to all the riddles of the Force. Veneficus was amassing all the collective knowledge of the Jedi and the Sith in order to achieve the end goal of all things. He wanted to live forever.
But the follow-up question was even more disturbing than the original. How could it be that the Emperor had maintained his apparent youth for nearly three decades, and yet not possess immortality? There must have been some deficiency to whatever method he was using for the duration of the war and beyond up to this point.
Wasn't there something that Euka had commented on when she met the Emperor some time ago, about the man's eyes and a seeming lapse of awareness to his surroundings? Yes, he recalled, thinking back to that time when she returned. Veneficus had had the eyes of an old man, hollow and sunken despite the youthfulness of his face. His immortality was incomplete, and from the description, the intense power of the Dark Side was still eroding the Emperor's life force. It might even be possible that, if he never found a new source of eternal life, he might die.
Now he just had to find Euka, and seek out some of the more hidden vaults that the Emperor had secluded, and perhaps they might learn a bit more from those supposedly unknown research stations that the Dark Council was only vaguely aware of.
"High Prophet, there is an approaching fleet coming in from Hyperspace," a voice said over his personal communicator, "They are flying Imperial Codes, but something feels off, there are too many ships and there is no scheduled visits anytime soon.
Thinking quickly, Zhar could only think of one thing to explain it. Feyd had grown tired of his apprentice's bumbling and sent a fleet to take command of Korriban himself, possibly intending to kill Zhar and Euka in the process, "prep the Basilisk for my and Euka's arrival, we have a traitor in our midst, and the fleet is coming to attack us, prepare to repel the invaders, I want everyone on high alert." Zhar commanded, before pressing the small button that would signal Euka to return to him and give her his location.
Even as he made his way to the nearest landing bay, where a shuttle would be present to take him up to Basilisk, Euka arrived on a personal speederbike, pulling to a swift halt near him, "What is it my Master?" she asked, understanding that he would not have signaled her in such a manner if it wasn't serious.
"I've discovered one answer to the mystery of our Emperor, and Feyd is sending a fleet to kill us, I suspect." Zhar explained quickly, "We need to get onto the Basilisk and repel their attack, while still being prepared to flee if it becomes needful."
"You suspect more than one fleet is coming?" Euka said, dismounting the speeder and boarding the shuttle behind Zhar.
"I would do it in Feyd's position…" Zhar said bitterly.
The pilot asked no questions as they quickly flew up to orbiting fleet. Zhar however was on edge, the notion that Supreme Prophet Feyd was betraying them struck too near to the true fear that he had, in which the Emperor decided that they were no longer of use to him and decided to eliminate them.
Quickly emerging onto the bridge, Zhar spotted the oncoming fleet as it emerged from Hyperspace, and the High Prophet was not surprised to find that indeed it was more than a traditional planetary fleet ought to be. They were well outnumbered three ships to one, but like hell he was simply running without at least bloodying the noses of these enemy admirals.
"Launch fighters, I want shields double front at maximum, charge the prismatic barrier and prepare the kinetic cannons." He ordered. After the war, Zhar had intentionally taken as much of the remaining Magi-tech weaponry as he could for study, and in secret had the Basilisk and its fleet upgraded through careful application of the technology.
Outside of the Royal Fleet of the Emperor himself, Zhar was fairly certain that he had the most advanced ships in the Empire, combining the very best of Republic and Imperial weaponry and shielding.
As the first cruiser started toward them, its own fighters launching to counter the standard Imperial tactic of combat, Zhar nodded once, signaling the weapons officer to send the command for the kinetic cannons to fire.
Massive canisters filled with explosives rocketed out into space, propelled with micro gravitational batteries and accelerated with small thrusters toward the lead ship. If Zhar was correct, the leader of this battlegroup would not be aboard, as most Imperial Navy commanders tended to lead from the rear, but it would serve as a powerful reminder that he was one of the most respected High Prophets on the Council.
They had forgotten so quickly after the war, he surmised, even as the point defense cannons of the ship started to shoot at the large, slowly moving objects, rupturing them well within the radius to hit the ship. The shockwaves from the explosives rocked the ship, clearly ripping through shielding and the hull on several levels.
"Counter fire, now!" Zhar commanded, and the empowered laser fire pelted the now cracked ship, striking with well aimed precision at the opened areas, and ripped massive chunks of the hull from the vessel.
"Enemy barrage of missiles incoming!" an officer yelled.
"Cease fire, activate prismatic barrier!" Zhar ordered, watching the haze of upgraded shielding raise between his ship and the enemy force, effortlessly repelling the detonations of multiple missiles and torpedoes that had come in response to their surprise attack.
"Fire missiles broadside, have them home in on the enemy signals, and prepare forward lances," Zhar continued, guiding his command fleet through their new strategy, which he had a feeling would throw off even the most hardened of Imperial commanders.
Even as the enemy attacks slowed to a manageable level, Zhar ordered the barrier dropped and recharged, even as they swung back into the offense, the massive quartet of forward lances tearing through the next ship to engage them directly.
"Thrusters at maximum, I want us to plow through them to the jump point." Zhar ordered, suprising even his apprentice.
"But… we're winning," she said, pointing out the seemingly obvious fact that they were holding out against their enemies for dominion over orbit of the system.
"For now, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is merely the first wave of ships that Feyd had planned for us." Zhar replied, cautiously eyeing the ships arrayed against them. It was clear from their maneuvering that they were trying to block the Basilisk between their numbers and the planet, in order to prevent any escape.
That could only mean that another, more powerful, battle group was on its way, ready to punch through even the powerful stolen technology that Zhar had taken, and he was not about to allow that. Smashing through their line before it was established and escaping was the only option left for them, aside from dying here and now.
Zhar was not about to let that happen, not when he had only just scratched the surface of the mystery that was the Emperor. The Basilisk drove forward into the net of enemy ships, weapons blazing in all directions as they advanced.
"I wonder if they'll remember this strategy…" Zhar said with a smirk, even as the viewports of one of the enemy ships came closer and closer to their own, "Raise Prismatic Barrier, brace for impact, and push through them."
The energy wall sprung to life once more, even as they drew within impact range of the enemy cruiser, and the radiating energy collided heavily with the vessel opposing them. The entire Basilisk shuddered from the new resistance, but the engines were at maximum, and started to push them, as well as the enemy ship, through the formation and into open space beyond.
"Thrusters full starboard, broadside this ship in our way and deflectors triple portside." Zhar commanded, watching as they sharply start to pivot in place, all heavy cannons lining up with the ship they had forced out of formation, even as their escort frigates and other smaller vessels escaped through the hole that the Basilisk had punched through.
"Fire," went out the command, and the entire starboard side of the ship illuminated with a deadly close range barrage, hammering the shields of the single ship and wrecking havoc on the hull.
"Send out coordinates for emergence contingency one to all vessels, and have then rendezvous with us there," Zhar ordered, and the smaller ships that made up their escort started, one by one, to jettison off into Lightspeed, fleeing in all directions from the battle.
"Where will we go?" Euka asked, even as their ship started to pull away from the now lifeless corpse of a capital ship that they had annihilated.
"I still have allies on the Council," Zhar stated blandly, "and although I am loath to admit it, we need allies right now. Khar Delba will provide that for the time being, as I highly doubt that Feyd would have the ability to shake her from her devotion to the Emperor…"
Euka widened her eyes as she understood whom Zhar was referring to. It had been a long time since Zhar dealt with Ocraadi Nuhok in a personal setting, outside of Council meetings, but he was well aware that the Togruta was as insane as ever, contently wrapped in her power on the duel worlds that were once Naga Sadow's primary bases of operation. Idly, he wondered how she had endured the recent attacks of… unknown and unremarkable assailants some months back.
It was odd, Zhar could remember that whoever they were wanted to destroy the lineage and memory of Naga Sadow, but for the life of him he could not remember who the enemy they had fought had been.
"You may win Korriban for a day, Feyd," Zhar said as he watched the planet and the ships around them disappear into the blurred lines of Hyperspace, "but I will return for what is mine, and you had best hope that the Ocraadi does not view this as an act against the interests of the Emperor, as I hear her warriors and beasts are quite powerful now."
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Ist had wasted no time in traveling to the coordinates she had found, even daring to take an Imperial speederbike, although she had left it behind for the last half dozen miles, just in case they had locators on them.
However, once she arrived at the location, she started to wonder if the unknown figure would even still be around these parts of the dense, thorn-covered jungle. The planet was large enough, and the being had hidden this long on an Imperial world, just how did Ist hoped to locate whoever it was on her own?
Realizing that she had little choice but open herself fully to the Force and allow it to guide her, despite the risks, the Bothan Jedi Knight sighed, seated herself on the rocky ground and began the process of unweaving her shroud in the Force. It was not the swiftest of things to do, as it had to be rather impenetrable to prevent outside sources from discovering her, but Ist was careful, taking all the time she needed until at last, she breathed far easier as the Force and the peace of the Light swirled around her freely once more.
It may act as a beacon for those who were looking in order to find her, but Ist was now prepared for that outcome, if it happened. Reaching out with the Force, she struggled to push past the oppressive clouds of the Dark Side that wafted over the planet, seeking out even a scrap of the Light, which would indicate a better location for the one she sought.
It was difficult, as the sheer number of Darksiders on the planet made her hesitant to commit to delving through every aura on the planet. There was being discovered, and then there was proclaiming her presence to everyone on the planet.
Even about when Ist was ready to give up, something appeared, twinkling from a location nearby, very faint, like a glimmer of hope in a sea of despair. But Ist seized hold of that tiny spark, allowing it to lead her through the forest of brambles and thorns, eventually revealing a cave in the side of a nearby ridge.
"Why is it always a cave," Ist said to herself in tried annoyance, but still she stepped into the darkness of the cave, allowing a small glow rod to light her way. Who knew if she was being observed even now, although Ist was more than certain that there wasn't any Force users nearby, aside from the one she was seeking, but one could never be too careful. Revealing her position by the color of her blade would be the ultimate foolishness this soon.
The cave was narrow at first, only expanding out after a good way in, before it simply halted. Puzzled, Ist checked the entire cave again, but sure enough, she couldn't find any sort of passage that led further in.
"Odd, I could have sworn that I sensed someone here…" she said, moments before a shrill cry from the Force had her whirling, saber slapping into her hand. Yellow flashed to life even as a violet blade clashed heavily against it, pushing Ist back onto the heel of her rear foot.
But the figure did not press the attack, and the eyes beneath the deep hood were fixed on the coloration of her weapon. Angling the light just right, Ist gasped.
"Master Lovegood?" she breathed, hardly willing to believe what her eyes and the Force were telling her. The famous Jedi Master, and her own Master's closest friend, was alive.
"How did you survive the war?" Ist asked softly, even as Master Lovegood withdrew, keeping her saber active but passively at her side, seemingly in shock that another Jedi lived.
"Who are you?" the woman said, clearly straining her mind to place Ist's face.
"I am Ist Nanraah, Jedi Knight," the Bothan said softly, trying to ease Master Lovegood's fears, "I was apprenticed to your old friend, Master…"
"Yoda…" Luna Lovegood said, seeming to remember that name at the least. "It's been so long… how did you survive the war? The last thing I've heard is that the Republic fell and the Jedi are no more…"
"It is not the case!" Ist replied, her excitement growing as the legendary Jedi Master slowly relaxed and returned to her senses. "We have survived, although we were heavily devastated by the Emperor's attack."
"Survived… and Yoda?" Luna asked, looking hopeful.
"Alive, last I heard," Ist affirmed.
Relief surged through the Force around them, and Ist could feel how immeasurably strong Luna had become. There couldn't be any reason other than surviving direct combat with the Emperor that strengthened someone in the Force to this degree, and even Ist admitted to herself that she probably couldn't understand the half of what had happened, but she was eager to know more. "What happened, how did you come to this place, and how are you surviving here, Master?" she asked.
"It's been so long, I can hardly remember myself…" Luna said, steadying herself against the nearby cave wall, "I remember an explosion, and falling, then a lot of nothing before I wound up on this world. I couldn't use the Force without drawing the assassins to me, so I had to revive and improve old skills…"
"The Wild Force," Ist said, nodding. She knew that Luna Lovegood had been a mage-born, and her ability in those skills, while incomplete due to the needs of the Republic, had been effective.
"A few wards and charms, and very few could find me in these caves," Luna continued, pulling out a very thin, thorny wand and waving it at the cave around them. The illusions disappeared, and Ist stood in amazement as the Force surged through the network of tunnels and cambers that lay behind them. The Wild Force had functioned like an impenetrable wall, preventing even her ability to sense the falsehoods all around her.
"Come, it's not safe to stay around in the open for too long," Luna said, quickly walking to one of the passages, and Ist followed. The moment they had passed the threshold the illusion sprang back into place, and Luna was aghast when she felt the fleeting sensation of being buried, before she calmed down, the Force flexing back into place as the Wild Force energy died away.
"We can sense out, but none can sense in. Only the shock of your appearance caused me to slip and reveal myself." The Jedi Master walked farther into the secret tunnels of the ridge, before arriving at a rather rudimentary chamber, with some of the necessities of life, along with a pile of scrap and other things that Ist suspected that Master Lovegood had collected from the many hunters that had sought to kill her.
"The Assassins would have sensed me when I revealed myself," Luna explained as she took a seat on a flat rock in the middle of the room. "We'll wait until they give up again, then I can send you on your way back where you came from…"
"But the Rebellion needs you…" Ist said, "I came all this way, just hoping that I might find someone, another Jedi that survived the war, and bring you back to our hidden base."
"I can't…" Luna said sorrowfully.
Ist could not believe her ears. "What do you mean? Of course you can. It's just like you said, it's too dangerous here."
But the Master Jedi shook her head sadly, "It's too painful, I cannot bear seeing what has happened… what I allowed to happen…"
Ist felt the yearning and pain within the Force. She knew some of the history of the war, and that Luna had gone to face the Emperor one on one, but after that there was nothing that anyone knew regarding her.
"What happened?" she asked, tenderly taking the hand of the clearly emotionally wounded Jedi.
Luna looked as though she was about to refuse, when suddenly her head snapped up, eyes whirling as danger sounded through the Force. There was a tremendous quake of the ground and the illusion covering their hiding place shattered.
"Yes, dear Master Lovegood," a sarcastic female voice said snidely, "tell the dear Jedi Knight what happened aboard the Emperor's flagship so long ago… how your precious Padawan died in your arms, by your own hand…"
Ist whirled, saber raised, even as the High Prophet arrived at the head of a large group of troops and Dark Adepts. "I sensed you when you entered my office, child," she said to Ist, "You really need to be more careful…"
A fleet of red sabers illuminated the cavern, "Take them!" the High Prophet signaled, "We shall present them to Lord Gor-lak when he arrives, and gain the favor of the Emperor!"
Ist was daunted, there were simply so many, but Luna's radiance started to grow. The majesty of the Light Side of the Force seemed to shine from her, and her violet blade almost disappeared in the blinding white light that emitted from her.
Still, Ist wasn't sure if that massive amount of power could stand against so many at once, even as the horde of imperials charged at them
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Diábolis was impressed.
The cult of assassins indeed had much in the means of information for him to gather, and while he would be validating everything that they had told him, he was suitably pleased enough to allow them to keep their lives. That was, of course, so long as they continued to serve him in defeating Veneficus and taking command of the Galaxy.
The map also held some very specific data regarding a world on the very fringe of Wild Space. He was more than certain that the Emperor had never seen nor heard of it before. It was a very simple task for Diábolis to download the entire location to his personal datapad, and for good measure destroy the map so that no others could find it. The Mecrosa Order did not try to stop him.
They had quickly learned to fear his power, and as he was now their leader, he could do as he pleased with regards to what they had been previous guarding. Diábolis had sent them away, keeping only a frequency wherewith to contact them when the Sith Lord had need of their skills.
Quickly departing the ruins with his prize, Diábolis took the waiting speeder back to the spaceport, were he hoped to swiftly regroup with his fleet and continue their charade of an investigation for the rebels.
Bypassing the port authorities without incident, the Sith Lord retraced his steps to the hangar he had landed in. The same mechanic was present, dozing lazily in a corner of the corridor outside the hangar, and Diábolis sneered momentarily before bypassing the fool altogether. He had more important things to do that harass an incompetent worker.
However, when he entered the hangar that contained his ship, it was concerning that all the lights were extinguished, and the air was eerily silent. Sensing the fleeting notion of danger, Diábolis unclasped his saber, and dropped into a ready position, waiting and watching his surroundings.
He sensed the attack moments before it happened. Snapping his head to the side, he dodged around a sudden blaster bolt that sprung from the darker shadows of the hangar. Both blades of his twinsaber flared to life, catching and reflecting the trio of bolts that followed.
Leaping back, Diábolis heard the snap hiss of more lightsabers, and he understood. He had so carelessly overlooked the man who asked him too many questions, when in fact that one had been an informant of the Emperor, and had led assassins from his Master to him.
Two more assassins sprang up at him from behind, trying to rain down blows from their sabers, but the Sith Apprentice ducked out of the way, before catching and slamming their weapons into each other.
Planting a booted foot in the back of one of the saber wielding assailants, Diábolis spun sharply to avoid the stabbing blade of the other. Leaping into the air, he corkscrewed to avoid another barrage of blaster bolts, and extended a hand toward the source of the shots. Blue-white bolts of lightning flew from his fingertips, and a howl of agony answered.
Landing gently, the Devaronian spun, deflecting the two saber wielders as they tried to avenge their harmed companion, but the Sith Lord was growing tired of this pointless game. Throwing both arms out, a wave of telekinetic energy washed over the room, throwing everything backward, and toppling the two shrouded figures.
Diábolis saw his moment, and pounced, stabbing down through the midsection of the leftmost figure, relishing the scream of death. The being's companion had scarcely enough time to rise to his feet before the Sith Lord was upon the second figure. Strikes and kicks rained liberally upon the other form, and the unknown being stood no chance to deflecting or blocking them all.
Finally, a low swing caught the leg of his adversary, and once more the shrouded figure fell to the ground, quickly followed by a series of deep and swift strikes to the torso, ending the life of his second opponent.
Almost knowing that their allies had fallen, the final assassin vacated the silence, and punctuated the air with a volley of blaster shots, clearly intend on emptying the energy cell as quickly as possible rather than actually try to hit Diábolis.
Slowly spinning his saber in wide arcs, the Sith Lord advanced, catching and deflecting each bolt that actually threatened his life, methodically marching toward the location of the shots' origination, before he finally leapt forward, swiping aside the last two blaster bolts with one swing, and spun midair, landing with his rear blade piercing the figures neck.
There wasn't a sound from the now lifeless body as it slumped to the ground. Wondering if there would be more assassins in wait to rush in when they discovered he was still alive, Diábolis quickly searched the three assailants, finding several comlinks and a beacon locator, which clearly was responding to a small tracking device on his ship. This affirmed to the Sith Lord that there were more, and that they had prepared for the possibility of failure.
Just as he crushed the tiny device that was attached to his shuttle, the door to the corridor slid open, and the mechanic eased his way inside, "Is it done?" he called to the room at large, foolishly unaware that his friends lay all around him, dead.
Diábolis took great pleasure in sneaking around behind the little worm, and even as the mechanic activated the lights and took in the horror of the three assassins and their dead bodies, impaling the man with his saber from behind.
"You do not trifle with a Sith Lord, you tiny worm…" Diábolis hissed in the man's ear, "…unless you truly do not value your life."
The being turned to look at him, horror and pain in his face as the life leaked from him. Diábolis shut off his weapon, allowing the mechanic to fall to the ground and die there, without anyone to aid him, even as the Sith Apprentice stalked to his ship, and took off from the hangar.
Quickly setting the coordinates for where his fleet ought to be at this point, Diábolis had about an hour to ponder what had occurred, and what he was to do about it. There was no possible way the tracker got onto his ship before he left his fleet, which meant that there indeed was a spy for the Emperor aboard his own vessel, meaning that the Emperor knew he came to this world, but not what he had found there. Once Diábolis dealt with the betrayal of his underling, he could turn his attention to the long forgotten world, and the possible knowledge and treasure that lay there, waiting for someone to take it for themselves.
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Luna Lovegood was tired, and torn in her heart from all the constant fighting. Even though the Light sang within her, calling her to battle against the forces of the Dark Side, she did not have it in her heart to venture beyond this world. The blaster bolts were halted in midair before they even reached the two Jedi, and the Force carried her to speeds far beyond what the Dark Adepts could ever hope to keep up with.
They fell in droves before her and Ist, the Padawan of her dear friend, who yet lived. Even knowing that small detail that the war truly had not taken everything from her lifted her spirits, but the darkness in her heart at the death of Leon was still too near. She could not challenge the Emperor again, or else she feared that he would destroy her utterly. Or worse, Harry could turn her to the Dark Side, and she would fall.
Almost in a daze, she dashed forward, cutting through row after row of attackers, working her way to their leader, the High Prophet Jamasila Basksyr, who apprentice had been tasked with finding and killing Luna long ago.
The young man had failed: his own anger and rage being his downfall more than Luna's blade. She had not struck the killing blow then, but actually tried to save the young human, who somewhat resembled Leon, but the ground on the cliff that they fought upon had crumbled, sending the young man screaming to his death.
But naturally, as was wont of the Dark Side practitioners, Luna was blamed for not simply laying down and letting the boy kill her, so Jamasila had sent assassin after assassin after her, no doubt promising rewards and glory upon whomever defeated her.
"Enough, I will kill you myself!" the High Prophet roared, her own blade pointing directly at Luna's throat in the opening position of Makashi. With a grunt of exertion, the female human lunged; trying to stab past Luna's defenses, but long patience and some training had converted the Jedi's mastery of Soresu to a whole new level of understanding.
The probing tip of the red blade never got close to Luna, who's own violet blade whirled and spun in shimmering arcs of color, catching and directing blaster bolts at the High Prophet, distracting her from her goal and buying more time for Ist to back away.
But the Bothan would not quit and run, but stood valiantly by Luna's side, adding her own power in the Light to Luna's. She seemed to say without words that they would fight and die together, or else come off victor in this fight.
For that, Luna was grateful, and yet her sorrow persisted, as she knew that she could not muster the courage to do what was asked of her, what in the end everyone wanted of her. They all would want her to finish the job she had started, and eliminate the Emperor from the Galaxy once and for all. And while in her heart Luna knew that it was her responsibility, she could not move past the horrors of the war and what had become of her Padawan in order to do what was right.