Thire removed his blaster from its holster and lifted it over the cover that he was crouched behind. He opened fire; not necessarily to kill the Jedi (He knew his blaster alone couldn't do that), but to distract him from the second wave of security personnel inbound. Shuttles landed on the opposite side of the terrorist forces, blocking their escape. Several squads of Imperial Police poured out, flanking the now distraught enemy. The Jedi wasted no time, rushing towards Thire's position, frequently blasting waves of force energy at troopers that got in his way. The Commander ducked down to conceal himself and then dove out at the last moment of the Jedi's approach to attempt to trip him. The Jedi effortlessly bounced and flipped over him. Thire once again opened fire at the Jedi but the hooded figure deflected his bolts with ease. Another Police speeder circled around the senate building and made its way towards the Jedi. In response, he abandoned his allies and sprinted towards the nearest alleyway. Thire gave chase, beckoning for the speeder to follow overhead. Rys shouted after him.
"Sir, what about the rest!?"
"Kill them all!"
Thoughts flooded Thire's mind as he ran after the rogue Jedi.
'What Jedi just abandons his allies…? They really are traitors…. He's got nowhere to go; this whole city has to hate Jedi…. Right?'
The Jedi sensed his follower and quickened his pace to a full sprint. The alley led to series of interconnected passages and Thire found it difficult to keep up. He opened up his comm channel with nearby Guard forces.
"I need a reinforcement on my position. The fugitive is attempting to flee the scene of his crime. He's headed for Katarina Square, all units, cut him off! Priority one, Rogue Jedi!"
Generally, any sane trooper would not willingly follow an enemy force-user, but seeing as it was between this figure and Lord Vader… He would take his chances. The Jedi rounded a corner and the alley opened into a town center. This early in the morning, the stores of Katarina Square were just beginning to open up and traffic was light. The Jedi rushed to the opposite end of the center where another alley was. However, moments before he entered, a speeder searchlight beamed down onto him. Caught off guard, the Jedi stood shielding his eyes from the light. A squad of Clone Troopers rushed out from the alley that he had tried to enter, immediately opening fire. Thire did the same. The Jedi used his lightsaber to block and deflect many of the bolts, downing two troopers in a matter of seconds. The Police speeder circled above the Jedi, opening one of its side doors. A trooper with a minigun took aim and unleashed a hail of bolts at his target. The Jedi reacted quickly, diving out of the way, taking cover inside a nearby shop. The Clone Troopers surrounded the building. Thire ordered the troopers to prime their grenades. He yelled into the shop:
"You're surrounded. If you give up now and save me the ammo… Your life will be spared."
His response was less than pleasing. The Jedi shouted in return:
"Do you think I'm that dumb, clone!?"
"I think you let civilians die back at the senate building. So surely, you're not THAT smart, Jedi."
"They knew the risks when they agreed to help me. Actually, I believe it was your men that killed them."
"Just come out. You don't have to betray the Empire like this."
"Betray the Empire!? The REPUBLIC betrayed US! YOU AND ME!"
"I wouldn't call a change in leadership 'betrayal'. However, I do consider bombing a building with innocent senators inside to be betrayal."
"You know nothing, clone. You're programmed to do this! Don't you realize that we are trying to help you!? The Senate is being bribed by the military!"
"That's enough…"
Thire made a hand gesture that signaled for the target to be destroyed. The squad of troopers thrust their grenades through the windows of the establishment. Seconds later, the street was flooded with fire, gas and shattered glass from the explosion. As more troopers poured into Katarina Square, he ordered them to acquire the body and take it to the Emperor's Office as proof. The Police speeder landed in the center of the square and the minigun trooper stepped out to greet Thire. The Commander recognized him as another of his older squad mates, Jek.
"Jek? That you?"
"Yes Sir. Congratulations on the promotion, Sir."
"Thank you. Are you the new door gunner?"
Jek nodded.
"You know the lifespan of a door-"
Jek cut him off.
"Respectfully, Sir…. You have told me before."
"Right. Just reminding you."
"I like this job."
A Clone called to Thire from the newly destroyed shop.
"Sir! He's not here!"
He immediately marched into the building.
"What!?"
"Sir, his body isn't here… but we found this…"
The Trooper pointed at a floor hatch poorly concealed underneath a table. It had recently been opened and led to a dark tunnel.
"Where does this go?"
"The Sewers, Sir."
"I want units down there now, searching every inch of it for that criminal. Take an entire battalion if you have to. Find him!"
With a nod, the trooper quickly activated his comm and relayed the information to other members on his channel. Thire stepped out of the building and scanned the square. A large group of civilians had gathered around the scene, including the shop's owner. Thire gestured for Jek to come to him.
"Jek, arrest this man for illegal sewer access."
"Aye Sir."
Thire felt his belt vibrate. A holocall. When he answered the device, Darth Vader appeared.
"I do not like calling two times in one day. Tell me why you disobeyed my orders."
"Sir?"
"Do not try to deceive me, Commander. I hear you have taken prisoners AND that a Jedi was allowed to escape."
"Yes…Sir a Jedi did escape, but I gave one of my officers the command to eliminate all remaining terrorist forces. The Jedi unfortunately used a sewer hatch of a shop owner I assume is an accomplice. He is now in our custody."
"There are six rebels sitting in the holding cell of your building. Tell me how that is possible if they are all dead."
"I will handle it, my lord."
"Be sure that you do."
Thire ended the call and walked over to the police speeder in the square. He took a diagnostic data-pad from one of the pilots. He flipped through the holographic pages until he found the prison directory. Vader was right, six prisoners had been checked in roughly eight minutes before. Now scrolling to the bottom, he found the trooper responsible.
"No… that can't be right…."
The signature belonged to a 'CC-1010'…. Commander Fox…. A Dead man.
"Pilot! HQ NOW!"
The Speeder jolted to life and lifted out of the square as fast as possible.
It wouldn't be fast enough…