Chapter 3: I Love the Smell of Molten Metal in the... All Day, Really
Erajinn's new partner (he strangely seemed more familiar that he originally thought) bolted up to the top of the plateau's lip and jumped on top of one of the lifts entering the droid foundry. Erajinn was hot on his heels, going over in his head any information he had about the interior of the massive Geonosian Droid Foundries. Before he and the Green Aces had entered the atmosphere of the alien planet, he and a few other Jedi Knights were given a short briefing on the droid foundries found on Geonosis as they were the primary target of the combatants aboard the Unshaken. Unfortunately for Erajinn, most of the other Jedi that made up his initial approach team were called away on an urgent matter, something about two Jedi and a senator getting eaten alive in a. . . gladiator ring? It didn't matter now. Erajinn and Theron rode the lift down further and further into the foundry, the sound of buzzing insect wings and mechanical whirs and bangs growing louder and louder with each second.
Soon enough, the lift shaft opened up into what seemed to be an endless expanse of conveyor belts and molten metals. The second the two Jedi entered the massive assembly chamber, alarms began to blare throughout, and soon enough, freshly stamped B1 and B2's came streaming out of various holes in the walls of the foundry, with Geonosian infantry right on their heels. Erajinn turned to look at Theron for a plan of attack but to his dismay, he had already disappeared. Erajinn turned in the direction of the sound of blaster fire and the maniacal laughter that he had now associated with the Sentinel, seeing him dance through the endless waves of clankers. Not wanting to have to put up with more of his lip for getting more scrapped droids than him, Erajinn Force-leapt into the fray, igniting both lightsabers in a spinning fashion. When he landed, the droid's photoreceptors could barely register the emerald tornado of death that had graced their presence.
The Jedi Knight and Padawan mowed through wave after wave of hostiles, rending circuits and cauterizing flesh alike. Unfortunately for the two, however, they were unable to destroy the droids as fast as they were being dished out from the conveyor belts.
"Di'kutla Geonosians, why are their factories so kriffing efficient?" Theron huffed as he relieved several droids of their heads in one fell swoop.
"You've got to give them credit, let's hope they start running out of materials soon enough!" Erajinn called from across the foundry, leaping from conveyor belt to conveyor belt, landing on one and Force pushing a contingent of droids into the dark abyss below.
Erajinn and Theron were slowly being pushed back towards a corner of the foundry, using their enhanced agility to avoid blaster fire from droids and Geonosians as they ran, ducked, and flipped from conveyor belt to boiling container of magma. Erajinn landed on one of these containers at just the wrong time, as a stray blaster bolt deflected off of one of the adjacent blast-proof containers and struck him in the leg, causing him to lose his balance and begin to tumble towards the magma.
He was lucky enough for Theron to reach out with the Force and push him across the mouth of the container as he fell. Erajinn landed with a thud on one of the still conveyor belts instead of the molten metal.
"Thanks for the save! Would have it been that much harder to just hold me in the air for a sec and then move me out of the way?" Erajinn groaned, rubbing his head with one hand and deflecting blaster bolts with the other. Theron jumped down from his place on a higher outcropping in front of his downed Jedi companion, returning fire at the small army of Geonosians and droids that had been called in to the foundry to deal with the intrusion
"Don't expect me to do it again!" He called from over his shoulder over the din of blasters, "I'm not exactly the best with the whole 'telekinesis' thing."
"You can't what?!"
"Nothing! More saber-swinging, less talk!"
"Whatever, we need an out and fast!" Erajinn called, leaning up against a pillar to find cover.
"That can be arranged my friend." An older voice said over Theron and Erajinn's comms as a loud krakroom echoed across the chamber, which was subsequently filled with smoke and blue blaster fire. Erajinn looked up to see a yellow blade cutting through the smoke. Attached to the saber was an older looking Jedi, though he moved as swiftly as a man twice his junior. Behind the Jedi came a group of black-clad clone troopers, neon green markings highlighting parts of the armor and their visor, denoting night vision and thermals.
"Glad to see you're alright, General," The voice of Captain Quiln radioed in, the leader of the special operations HALO platoon known as the Black Racers, "You've gotten yourself into quite the mess haven't you?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary Quiln," Erajinn retorted.
The clones and Jedi Master landed in the middle of the swaths of enemies, laying down cover fire as Theron and Erajinn, assisted by another Racer, ran towards the makeshift perimeter that had been set up, attaching ascension motors to the cables that were dropped from one of the three LAAT/i's hovering above the gaping hole in the ceiling.
"Shall we make our egress, my young Padawan?" The elder Jedi said as he turned and greeted Theron, a thin smile stretching across his face.
"I appreciate the help, Master, but I would have gotten out fine on my own if I didn't have to take care of this one," Theron said, gesturing to Erajinn, whose brow furrowed as he opened his mouth to retort, right at the moment the ascension cables yanked him upwards.
Theron and Torin attached their ascension motors to their belts, and began the climb upward as the remaining clones on the ground provided cover fire. Once all parties were on board, the LAAT/i's jetted away from the foundry. Erajinn, who was being attended to by one of the medical trooper's along for the ride, turned to look over his shoulder at the foundry as a squad of Y-wing bombers began to perform strafing runs. He smiled as the central spire began to crumble and fall in as the rest of the facility succumbed to the bombardment.
"General Torin, an urgent message for you!" a comms trooper called over the radio.
"Acknowledged trooper, put it through," Torin responded. The black clad clone tapped a few buttons on his wrist before a voice came over the group's comlinks.
"This is General Mace Windu, Master Torin do you read me?" a strong and intimidating voice sounded over the comm channel.
"Solid copy Master Windu, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"The Separatist traitor Count Dooku has escaped our initial confrontation. According to our scouts he is on track to cross your path on his way to escape the surface. We need you to stop him or buy us time to catch up so we can apprehend him before he makes it to the hangar."
"Understood Master Windu, Torin out," The Jedi Master said as he ended the transmission, "Did everyone hear that?" the clones confirmed that they had received the message, "We are moving to intercept Count Dooku. Take care on approach, let's get this done!" Torin radioed as the clones replied with a uniform 'Yes sir!'
"Master, Erajinn and I can handle this. Get us over the drop zone and we'll nab this traitor before you can blink," Theron said, standing up to face his master.
"I can appreciate your enthusiasm Theron, but Dooku was one of the greatest lightsaber duelists in the entire Jedi Order before he left. To see that he is now conspiring with the enemy greatly concerns me, I alone have the strength to face him. You and your companion have done enough," Torin responded, shrugging off his heavy brown cloak.
"But Master, I-"
"Enough. The best course of action now is for you to tend to your friend. If I need you I will call for you. Do not leave this transport until I do so."
"Yes Master."
"General Torin, target is in sight. I repeat, we have spotted Count Dooku." one of the pilots of the troop transport said.
"Very well," the Jedi Master said as he leaned out of one of the ship's blast shields to survey the ground below, "You, young Knight," Torin called out gesturing to Erajinn, who snapped out of a medicine-induced stupor to lock eyes with the elder Jedi. "Keep my Padawan safe until I return,"
"Of course, Master Torin," Erajinn replied weakly.
With that, Torin leaped from the deck of the LAAT/i, igniting his yellow blade as he fell towards the surface, and Dooku's speeder bike. He landed directly in the path of the Separatist leader, who stopped his bike a few yards short of his once-companion.
"Master Torin, you look well," the Count remarked, his wrinkled brow furrowing as he ignited a crimson blade with a curved hilt.
"Come quietly, and you have my word you will be given a fair trial," Torin said, maintaining his composure as he entered a Form II stance.
The former Jedi chuckled, "Oh, Master Torin, you have not changed one bit. It will be your doom." And with that, Dooku lunged off his speeder towards the Jedi Master and the two locked blades. Theron watched from above as several of Erajinn's Black Racers began to take aim with their blaster rifles.
"No! Hold your fire, you might hit Master Torin," Theron called out as the troopers lowered their weapons. The two duelists moved with furious speed, so fast that only Erajinn and Theron were able to comprehend the duo's movements with their Force-enhanced vision. Both Force-wielders were skilled in their own right, but something seemed different about Dooku. He fought with no emotion, just cold, calculated fury. He sent a never ending stream of thrusts, slashes, and even overhead chops towards Master Torin. His attacks were so numerous that Torin was only ever able to get in a series of two or three offensive strikes before having to return to a defensive stance. Theron noticed this, and so did Erajinn, who locked eyes with Theron.
"Don't do it Theron, this is his fight. You'll only distract him," Erajinn warned as he struggled to get up.
"This isn't your Master we're talking about here. If it's his fight, it's mine too," Theron said as he dove from the transport, igniting his saber and landing behind Count Dooku. The Count turned to look at his new opponent, still having his lightsaber trained on Master Torin.
"Ah, a Padawan. Yours, I presume?" Dooku asked Torin,
"You stay away from him, it's me you're fighting. Theron, back up now!" Torin retorted, moving in towards Dooku with a sideways strike. Dooku blocked it with ease, laughing.
"It seems he certainly has inherited the disobedient tendencies of your youth," He mocked as he turned his attention to the young Jedi, engaging him in a duel with a renewed vigor. Dooku batted away each feeble attempt Theron made to strike him, matching each of them with a furious display of his own. Theron attempted to block and parry, but eventually dove away from Dooku, switching his saber over to his off-hand while drawing a new blaster pistol he had acquired from one of the clones, sending a volley of blaster bolts towards Dooku, while at the same rushing him with his lightsaber. This caught Dooku off guard, enough for Theron to be able to push him onto the defensive, and back towards the direction of his master. Torin saw the opportunity and rejoined the fight, delivering blow after blow to Dooku's backside, while Theron continued to rain down blaster fire and the occasional saber strike.
"I tire of this," Dooku muttered in frustration as he pushed Theron away with the force, locking blades with Torin. He kept the bladelock with one hand, while reaching out with his other hand and sending a torrent of blue force lightning towards Theron, causing the young Padawan to scream in agony, dropping his blaster and saber. A twisted smile passed over Dooku's face as he continued to pour lightning in the direction of Theron. Master Torin cried out as smoke began to rise from the writhing body of his apprentice. Torin began to force in on Dooku with a two-handed grip, using a strength that had not manifested until now. The Count began to lessen the torrent of lightning as he focused attention on Torin's pressing attack. Torin's efforts proved to be so irritating to the Count that he was forced to turn his full attention to the Jedi Master, ending the furious storm of lightning plaguing Theron.
The duel picked up just where it had when it first began. The Count on the offensive, and Torin struggling to keep up. "Your aging body betrays you Master Torin," Dooku said, spitting the last words out as he lunged towards Torin, spraying force lightning out of his hand. Master Torin was barely able to move his arm fast enough to intercept the lightning with his yellow saber.
"You will fall soon enough, Count," Torin grunted as he fought to keep the lightning at bay.
"Perhaps, but today is not that day," The Count remarked coldy as he used his off-hand to deliver a single, surgical slash across the torso of the Jedi Master causing him to drop his saber, eyes widening with shock. The torrent of lightning finally broke through, sending Master Torin flying several feet before landing in the desert sand.
Theron watched with horror as his master was cut down, unable to cry out with his singed vocal cords. His eyes welled with tears as Dooku moved in for a killing blow.
"Good bye, Master Torin." The Count said without emotion as he raised his saber and swung downward. Theron shut his eyes as he heard the sound of a second saber bouncing off of the Dooku's crimson blade. He looked up to see that Erajinn had somehow managed to leave the gunship and make it to the ground, throwing one of his two sabers during the descent. He ignited his other saber as he shakily assumed a dueling stance. Behind him, the three gunships had come abreast and revealed the platoon of clones inside, blasters trained on the Separatist. Dooku turned to look at the three injured Jedi, and scoffed.
"How far the Order has fallen." Dooku turned and broke away from the fight towards his speeder, mounting it with lightning speed as the clones above began to rain fire onto this position. It was too little too late, as he was already making his way across the dunes towards the outline of a spaceport in the distance.
"This is Jedi Knight Erajinn Kiro. Dooku has escaped, I repeat, Count Dooku is heading to the hangar. We lost him," Erajinn choked out into his comlink before he collapsed to the ground near Theron.
The last thing the Padawan saw before he passed out was the troopers descending towards his fallen master.