"aaaa" - talking through a holocomunicator or comlink. aaaa - inner thoughts and Force Visions. 'aaaa' - talking through a bond.
AN: RIP Bob Saget. I watched Full House when I was a teenager and I loved the show. I also watched the sequel Fuller House when it came out. I loved his role as Danny Tanner in both of those shows.
This episode-based chapter took me all weekend to write since I was just going to have Rosella go by herself, but I decided to include Ahsoka at the last minute so I had to rewrite what I already had finished writing in order to include her. I hope you guys enjoy how it turned out. Also, there will be translations at the end for any words that the clones use.
Again, I hope you don't mind that I borrowed another one of your chapter titles KaitiJo!
Don't forget to leave me a review!
Chapter 5: Teaching of Another Kind
A few days after their leave from the war, Anakin was assigned to go to a more dangerous part of the galaxy with Obi-Wan for a top-secret mission. Instead of keeping Rosella and Ahsoka at the Temple, the Jedi Council assigned them to go with Jedi Master Luminara Unduli as she transported Nute Gunray back to Coruscant for his trial. When Rosella heard how he was captured, she smirked knowing that Jar-Jar had done it by accident all because her father had left one of his cloaks aboard Padmè's ship, which had been destroyed by the Gungan in his haste to protect himself and C-3P0 from a small group of battle droids.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jedi Master Luminara Unduli walked away from where Gunray was as he was being guarded by Ahsoka, Rosella and a few clones. She was taller than both of the girls and had olive-coloured skin. The tattoos that she sported on her fingers and beneath her lower lip seemed to fascinate Rosella, who had done a little reading on Mirialan culture as soon as the briefing was over. She wore black and dark brown coloured robes, a black belt around her waist and a brown headdress with a black band near the bottom.
Rosella turned away from the clones, Ahsoka and Gunray to watch as Master Luminara turned towards the two clones who were piloting the Consular-class cruiser that they were using to transport Gunray to the Jedi cruiser that was waiting for them in orbit.
"Captain," Luminara said. "Have you made contact with the Cruiser?"
"Yes General," one of the pilots responded. "I'll patch you through now." He reached forward and pressed a button on his side of the dashboard, causing the screen overhead to come to life.
Rosella tilted her head as she saw three humans who were dressed in the bright blue armor that the Senate Commandos wore. She had heard of the group before but hadn't seen one in person since they were usually stationed in and around the Senate building. Their job was to protect the Senators within and the very best of them were charged with the Chancellor's safety.
"Jedi Cruiser Tranquility, this is General Luminara Unduli requesting permission to land," the Mirialan Jedi said.
"You are cleared to come aboard General," the blue-helmeted man replied. "We look forward to your prisoner's arrival."
"Thank you, Captain Argyus," Luminara responded. "I look forward to delivering him to you."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You know, I happen to be a man of great wealth, and I can be very generous to my allies," Gunray told one of the troopers who had taken his helmet off, revealing his dyed red hair that had been shaved into two neat strips on top of his head.
Both Ahsoka and Rosella couldn't believe that slimy Neimoidian was trying to entice a member of the GAR into releasing him.
The trooper turned to face Gunray. "That does sound like a very tempting offer, Viceroy," he said with a small hint of irritation in his voice as he reached behind his back. "In the meantime, I happen to have a little something here that I think you'll like." He smirked as he held up his hand in which he now clutched a pair of cuffs that he jangled back and forth.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella looked at her friend out of the corner of her eye as she watched the Togruta push herself off of the wall that she had been leaning against and walk over to the Jedi Master.
"Finally," Ahsoka said. "This has been such a boring trip."
Knowing that the clones were busy slapping the handcuffs on Gunray and getting him ready to be transferred onto the cruiser, the teenager joined them. "That doesn't mean that this is no less important than being on the front lines Ahsoka," Rosella told her.
"Padawan Ngaire is correct young one," Luminara said as the smaller ship prepared to dock with the cruiser. "Even the most boring missions can lead to victory in this war."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Once the cruiser had docked and Luminara, Rosella, Ahsoka, Gunray and the trooper who had put the cuffs on the Neimoidian disembarked, they made their way through the halls of the Tranquility, walking through a set of doors as they opened for the small group.
"This is an outrageous abuse of the justice system," Gunray said as the doors closed behind him. "I demand to speak with my litigator."
Both of the Padawans glared at him.
"Keep moving," the trooper stated, using the butt of his rifle to lightly shove Gunray forward as he had almost stopped moving.
"Greetings General," Captain Argyus said as he and his squad of Senate Commandos came up to them. "The brig has already been prepared for our special guest."
"Very good Captain," Luminara said. Then she turned to the trooper who had green paint on his armor. "Commander Gree, let's get underway."
"Right away, General," Gree told her. Then he looked at Gunray. "Let's move!"
The cuffed Neimoidian jumped as he heard the sharp tone in Gree's voice. As soon as he saw the helmeted trooper jerk his head, he started moving. Argyus and his men parted to let the two walk past. Then the Captain nodded at the Jedi and turned around as his men took the Viceroy away with Gree following behind.
"Why do we need the Senate Commandos here?" Ahsoka asked, a small hint of confusion in her voice as she, Rosella and Luminara followed behind them. "Gunray doesn't look all that dangerous to me. It seems like all he wants to do is get rich."
"Do not let your overconfidence give Gunray another chance to slip away from us Ahsoka," Luminara said as she stopped moving and looked at the Togruta Padawan. "Although he doesn't seem all that dangerous to you, his powerful friends and allies are. Even now, they may be thinking of a way to get him back."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Meanwhile, in a different part of the galaxy, there was a group of Separatist frigates that were moving through space. On the bridge of one of the frigates, Count Dooku was kneeling in front of his chair as he was speaking with his master, Darth Sidious via hologram.
"Gunray's capture puts us at a disadvantage, my friend," Sidious told him. "The Viceroy is a weak-minded fool and will not last long under the Jedi's interrogation."
"You have nothing to worry about my lord, for I have already come up with a plan," Dooku responded. "I will send Asajj Ventress, who is my best agent, to the Republic ship. Once she arrives, she will sneak aboard and either return with Gunray alive or silence him if he manages to say anything."
"Ventress?" Sidious hissed skeptically, not very pleased with who the Count was sending. "I fear that you are placing a great deal of faith in an operative who had failed us in the past."
"She is very gifted at what she does, my lord," Dooku responded. "You have my word. She will complete her mission to the letter."
"Very well then," Sidious said. "You may proceed." Then his hologram disappeared.
As Dooku rose from his kneeling position, the doors behind him slid open and Ventress walked into the room. "Master," she said.
"This will be a challenge for you child," Dooku said, not even bothering to look at her. "If you want to continue your tutelage as my apprentice, you must prove yourself worthy."
"I am worthy, as you shall see," Ventress replied.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aboard the Tranquility, which was in the process of leaving Rodia's orbit, Argyus checked over everything from his post in the command center and then turned to leave as two troopers entered the room. He knew that his men could handle the work without the need to have him there. He walked down the narrow corridor to the row of detention cells, where Commander Gree was peering into one. "How goes the interrogation?" He asked, causing Gree to turn around. "Has the Viceroy said a word to the Jedi?"
"No, he hasn't said anything as of late," Gree responded, as he shifted his eyes over to the cell behind him. "Don't worry Captain. The Neimoidians may be a slippery lot, but they are no match for the Jedi. We will have the answers that we want from that worm sooner or later."
Argyus nodded. Then Gree moved aside, allowing the Senate Commando to move as close as he dared to the bright orange ray shield.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Your thoughts betray you Viceroy," Luminara said calmly, having placed her hands behind her back as she interrogated the Neimoidian. "I can sense your concern even though you are trying to hide it. You fear that you will lose the wealth and the power that this war has bestowed upon you."
Rosella and Ahsoka watched from where they were leaning against the wall near the entrance to the cell.
Gunray frowned and thought carefully about his next set of words. "I...I don't know what you are talking about," he said, his voice not as confident as it had been before when he had tried to bribe Gree to let him go. There was a small hint of denial to it as if he was suddenly afraid as to what was going to happen to him if he said anything.
Rosella glared at the Neimoidian, sensing that he was trying to deceive them.
"I also sense that you are hiding a great many things," Luminara said. Her eyes were currently closed as she was using the Force to probe the Viceroy's mind. "Like the names of your secret allies and the locations of their bases."
Rosella doubted that the Jedi Master could outright read the Viceroy's mind. She got the sense that Luminara was only doing a passive scan for surface thoughts which probably wouldn't reveal too much but the Neimoidian didn't know that. Glancing at the Viceroy, she could see that he was starting to squirm.
"I am just an innocent pawn in all of this," Gunray nervously told the three Jedi.
Luminara scoffed as she opened her eyes. "If you are merely a pawn, then who are you protecting?" She asked, a small hint of curiosity in her tone as she could sense that the Viceroy was getting scared.
"No one! I don't know anything and I am not protecting anyone!" Gunray cried out, fear in his voice.
Ahsoka couldn't take it anymore. Maybe it was the fact that she had been at the Temple for a while instead of being a part of the action like Rosella had, but it was clear that the Togruta had lost whatever semblance of patience she had once held as she pushed herself off the wall and walked forward, slamming her hand down on the table in front of the Viceroy. "Liar! Liar!" She exclaimed. Her outburst had caught both Rosella and Luminara completely by surprise. She grabbed her lightsaber off of her belt and ignited it. "I'm sick and tired of hearing nothing but lies come out of your mouth." Then she rushed forward and held the bright green blade up to the Neimoidian's throat. "Tell us what we want to know right now or else I will have no other option but to gut you like a Rokarian dirt fish!"
Rosella smirked, hearing Gunray make something that sounded like a strangled noise in his throat and watched as he leaned back as far as he could, trying to get away from the blade. She almost giggled as she saw the Neimoidian fall out of his seat, but made no noise as she saw Master Luminara walk around the table, a not-so-pleased look in her eyes.
Ahsoka felt a strong hand latch itself around her right arm and glanced up to see Master Luminara shaking her head at her. She deactivated her lightsaber and almost stumbled as the elder Jedi dragged her away from Gunray.
"Padawan Tano!" Luminara whispered in a semi-harsh tone as she lightly scolded the Togruta. "I thought Master Kenobi taught you better than that! Terror is not a weapon that the Jedi use to get answers!"
"I wasn't going to follow through on my threat Master," Ahsoka explained, pointing the hand with her lightsaber in it back at the table as Gunray began to get up. "I figured that the only way he'll say anything to us is if he's scared."
The Viceroy placed a hand on the edge of the table and pulled himself up as he fixed the crested fabric tiara that he wore on top of his head. "Erm…perhaps I was a little too hasty earlier," he said. "Let us negotiate."
Rosella, Ahsoka and Luminara all glanced at Gunray and then looked at each other. It seemed that Ahsoka's little tactic had worked. Then the ship shook, causing both of the girls to stumble and nearly fall to the ground.
Luminara stayed upright as she swiftly moved towards the ray shield. She glanced at Argyus and then turned towards Gree, who had already raised his right arm in the air and was speaking into his wrist communicator. "Captain," he said. "Status report!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A few clones who were part of the 41st Elite Corps, which was currently under Gree's command, ran from the bridge as the naval officer who was there looked out the viewport at the incoming fighters. He nearly stumbled and fell as the vulture droids opened fire on the cruiser. Pressing the large white button on the panel in front of him, he said, "We've got incoming droid fighters and they've brought boarding ships with them!"
Flying in behind the vulture droids were three ships that no one wanted to see. Pretty soon, alarms began to blare throughout the ship as the crew in the sunken pits pressed buttons which caused the turbolasers on the outside to twist around as they fired on the incoming droids.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
By now, both Ahsoka and Rosella had joined Luminara at the entrance to the cell. The three of them, plus Captain Argyus, watched Commander Gree as he tapped a button on his com, switching the frequency to the one that he used for his troopers. "Green Company!" He said. "Get ready to repel the enemy!"
The men who were apart of the infantry unit ran out of their barracks and through the halls of the cruiser. They grabbed their rifles from their racks and then ran off.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The three boarding ships, which looked similar to the pod hunters that had destroyed all but one of the escape pods that had contained the surviving members of Master Plo's fleet, flew down to the Cruiser, embedding themselves directly into the portside hanger. Their prongs, which hung down from the ceiling, opened up as Green Company entered the hanger. Then the door in the middle of the three boarding craft opened up and B2 super battle droids dropped into the hangar. Once a few of them had landed on the ground, they twisted their arms and popped up their built-in guns as they opened fire on the troopers who had been quick enough to duck behind a few crates that hadn't been put away.
The clones matched the droids shot for shot. Not a word was spoken throughout the entire battle. A few of the men looked back as one of them was shot and killed. Then another one of their vod jumped in and took his place. They were not going to let the droids make it any farther than the hanger.
One of the droids, who was a B2-HA, which was an upgraded model of the regular B2 super battle droid, raised its other arm. Instead of it being just a regular, standard droid arm, this series of droid was equipped with an intreated rocket launcher. It fired, launching a homing torpedo right at the troopers. The flaming white ball of pink and purple energy screamed as it raced through the air and then hit the ground. The explosion that it created rocked the area, sending demolished crates and bodies of clones flying through the air.
As more and more droids began to flood into the hanger, the leader for the unit ducked behind a crate and raised his right arm up to his helmeted face.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Jedi, who were now standing outside the Viceroy's cell, Captain Argyus and Gree were still on the detention level. The clone Commander, who had his helmet tucked under his left arm, listened as the leader for Green Company reported in. "Green Leader to Commander Gree! Super battle droids have breached our hull!"
Everyone looked at one another as they heard the news.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Back in the hangar, the droids filed out of the confined hangar space that they had been confined to, heading towards the interior of the cruiser. One trooper, who had been knocked out by the explosion, roused himself from his unconscious state and spoke into his wrist communicator, unaware of the B2 who had snuck up on him. "They're making their way towards the detention level!" He said. "We need reinforcements." Then he was killed with a single shot from the droid, who continued on his way after its job was finished.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Commander Gree, It looks like I'll be needing your assistance," Luminara told him as she began to walk towards the corridor that led to the small command center and the turbolift that led to the other parts of the cruiser.
"Let's go," Ahsoka said eagerly as she fell into step beside the Jedi Master.
Rosella stayed where she was, knowing full well that someone would have to stay behind to guard the Viceroy.
"No," Luminara said, her voice sharp as she halted and half-turned so she could look at Ahsoka. "I need you and Padawan Ngaire to stay here with Captain Argyus. Help him guard the Viceroy."
"But…" Ahsoka said, trailing off as she saw the narrowed look that the Mirialan Master gave her.
Rosella walked up to stand beside Ahsoka and nodded at Master Luminara. "We will do as you have instructed Master," she said. "Gunray won't be going anywhere."
With a curt nod, Luminara turned around and continued down the corridor, Commander Gree trailing after her. Ahsoka looked at the floor after watching them leave. Rosella turned around and glared at the cell as Gunray stepped up towards the shield.
"Well, young ones, I can see that you both are in no position to negotiate now," the Neimoidian said. "Perhaps after I have been rescued from my…"
"Rescue?" Rosella asked, scoffing as she finished her question. "Maybe they're here to make sure you don't talk." She smirked as she heard Gunray gulp in fear.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Down in the hangar bay, all was silent. Only the sounds of sparks flying could be heard. Up in one of the nearby boarding craft that were still attached to the cruiser, Ventress peered out through the opening of the ship. Freeing herself from her hiding spot, she jumped down, landing on the floor of the Republic hangar. Staying in her crouched position, the assassin grabbed her lightsabers off her belt as she took a few steps forward and glanced around, making sure that the coast was clear so she could continue with her mission. Then movement in front of her caught her attention, causing her to bring her lightsaber hilts up in front of her. As she saw the remaining trooper use a stack of crates to push himself up off the ground, she ignited her blades and ran forward.
The trooper, who was close to being able to get up off the ground, saw the bald woman racing towards him. He reached down and grabbed a blaster with his left arm. Frantically, he began to fire. Realizing that his attempts were futile, - Ventress deflected every one of the blasts that came her way with her sabers - he turned his attention to his wrist communicator. "Attention all units!" He said. "There is a bald-" He never got to finish his sentence as the last thing that he saw was the sadistic grin on Ventress' face as her twin blades swiped his head off of his body.
The empty helmet fell to the ground a few meters away from his body as it fell backwards and hit the ground, with a voice coming out of the communicator. "Trooper! Can you please repeat that? What have you found? Come in trooper! Do you copy?"
Ventress grinned to herself as she knelt and took the arm guard with the communicator from the now dead trooper before climbing on top of the boxes and using her sabers to cut a hole into the ventilation system. Once she deactivated her blades, she pulled the circle towards her and tossed it to the ground, not caring if it made any noise. The edges were still glowing hot as she popped up through the hole with one saber in each hand. As she pulled herself up and began to crawl away from the hole, she tilted her head as she heard a voice coming from the communicator. "There are too many droids! We need to fall back to the detention area! Protect the prisoner!"
The assassin narrowed her eyes as she now knew where she was headed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A group of super battle droids fired their blasters as they marched down the hall towards six troopers who were doing their best to stop the droids from going any further. One of the troopers glanced behind him as the door closed, effectively trapping them in the same corridor. Then he stood up and fired his blaster as he moved sideways in an effort to join his brothers on the other side of the hall. One of the men let out a strangled cry as he was shot dead by one of the droids. One of the remaining men ducked while the one who had joined them moments earlier spared a quick glance at his fallen comrade before focusing on the battle.
The droids were getting closer and closer. A few more well placed shots and two more troopers were gone. Suddenly one of the droids was hit. The shot caused it to spin a little as it fell to the ground. The droid who stood beside it turned to its left as it watched its partner fall and then to its right as it heard the snap-hiss of a lightsaber being ignited.
Standing in the middle of one of the side corridors was Jedi Master Luminara Unduli. Gree was kneeling beside her. In the blink of an eye, Luminara had dashed forward and sliced through one of the droids before gracefully spinning around and slicing through the other one. As she stood in front of her remaining men and protected them from the droids that were left, Gree had risen from his kneeling position and made his way into the corridor. He and the men joined their General and helped to take the droids down.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ventress decided to make a quick stop on her way through the vents to the detention level. Sneaking over to the reactor room, she quietly removed a vent cover that was in her way. As she peered through the square hole, she heard a noise coming from below her. Looking down, she saw the door slide open and a lone WED-15 Treadwell repair droid entered the room. Not wanting to get caught, she carefully slid down to the walkway and hid in the shadows.
As soon as the door closed, bathing the room in darkness, the droid looked around before switching on the lights inside his photoreceptors to help him as he scanned the room. Then his head tilted up, his lights moving over the vent shaft and Ventress was very glad that she had remembered to place the covering back over the opening.
Using the Force, the agile female assassin jumped behind the droid as he was scanning the other side of the room. She glared at the droid before leaping away to the top of one of the reactors. The droid turned his head as he sensed someone or something behind him, but saw nothing.
From her hiding place, she saw the doors slide open again, this time allowing a pair of troopers to enter the room.
"Do you see anything?" One of the troopers asked.
The droid turned his head around. Upon noticing the two troopers, he squeaked, saying no and then went back to work.
The trooper who had spoken upon entering the room switched on his communicator as he raised his arm up towards his face. "The engine room is all clear. We'll lock it down," he said.
"Good Captain. The enemy is steadily advancing towards the detention level and we could use the help."
The Captain glanced at his fellow trooper. "We're on our way!" He responded.
"327, you keep patrolling the room," the other trooper said.
The droid squeaked something in an annoyed tone.
"Okay, okay," the trooper said. "327-T."
The Captain turned his head while heading out of the room. "You do know that droids never like to be called by their nicknames, right?" He asked.
Both of the troopers exited the room and 327-T turned around, switched on his photoreceptors and went back to his patrol.
Quietly smiling from the hiding place that she had managed to wedge herself into, Ventress grabbed a thermal detonator and threw it into position. Then she decided to have a little fun. As the assassin set the remaining charges around the room, she used the Force to aid her as she danced around the repair droid. The poor droid could sense the air as it shifted around him and hear the whistles as the detonators flew into place, but was not able to figure out what the source of the breeze was.
Once her job was complete, Ventress jumped back into the vent, replaced the cover and continued on her way.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Luminara's green blade was up in a flash as she deflected a laser blast away from her men. She quickly deflected two more lasers and then sliced off the arm of the super battle droid on her left. Spinning around, the Jedi Master sliced the one on her right in half before turning around and slicing the one whose arm she had taken off a few moments before into pieces. Blocking a laser that had been from a super battle droid that was right in front of her, she threw herself into a front flip. As soon as she landed behind the droid, she flipped her lightsaber around and stabbed the metal giant behind her. Then she turned around as the droid fell to the ground and watched as Gree took down the last droid with the help of his blaster.
"I think we got them all, General," Gree said as he pointed his blaster in the air.
"Indeed Commander," Luminara said as she deactivated her lightsaber and glanced towards the area where the detention level was. "But I fear that our troubles are not over yet…"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Back on the detention level, Rosella, Ahsoka and two Senate Commandos stood outside of Gunray's cell. As soon as the blaster fire stopped, Rosella smirked and turned to face the Viceroy as she walked towards the ray shield. "I guess your so called rescue didn't go like you were hoping it would," she said, smirking as she propped her right hand on her hip while gripping her lightsaber hilt in the other hand.
"I…I'm ready to begin negotiating again," Gunray said. Then his eyes drifted towards the ground since he knew that he was possibly going to be spending the rest of his life in jail.
Captain Argyus turned around and walked through the corridor towards the girls. "Padawan Ngaire, may I have a word with you?" He asked.
Rosella turned around. "Certainly Captain," she replied. She looked back into the cell and smirked at Gunray before glancing at Ahsoka. "Can you make sure our friend here doesn't go anywhere?"
"Don't worry," Ahsoka responded. "He won't be leaving his cell."
"Ha-ha," Gunray said. "Very funny."
Rosella turned her back on the Neimoidian as she walked towards the Senate Commando.
"I've just received the all clear signal," Argyus informed her. "General Unduli and her forces have managed to repel the enemy."
"Good," Rosella said. "That means their attempt to rescue the Viceroy has failed…" She trailed off as her eyes shifted to the command center as she saw two red lightsabers cutting a circle in the ceiling.
There was a bang as the circle fell to the ground. Then a bald female jumped out of the hole and landed on top of one of the consoles. Both of the Senate commandos who were stationed there immediately began to attack the woman as no one besides them, Ahsoka, Rosella and Argyus were supposed to be there.
As the assassin glanced to her right, she lashed out with her leg, catching the first trooper off guard as she struck him square in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. The second trooper managed to get his rifle up into position, but before he could even get a shot off, Ventress had already lashed out with her left leg, knocking his blaster rifle out of his hands as he stumbled backwards, smashing his head on the panel behind him before dropping to the ground. Then she slowly stood up.
"Captain! Help Ahsoka guard the Viceroy!" Rosella called as she stepped to the left and raced up to the command center, igniting her lightsaber in her left hand. She glared at the dark side user as she raised her blue blade in the air. "If it isn't the hairless harpy."
"If it isn't Skywalker's filthy obnoxious little pet," Ventress responded.
Rosella rested her right hand over her chest. "Isn't someone being a little nice today," she sarcastically quipped. "How about I grant you a merciful death?"
Ventress narrowed her eyes and snarled at Rosella as she ignited both of her lightsabers. As the padawan swept her blade to the right, the Dathomirian female left into the air as she brought both of her blades down towards the teenager. Rosella twisted out of the way as she ducked and dodged Ventress' swings.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Luminara was still in the corridor with Gree and his men when she sensed a disturbance in the Force and heard the familiar sounds of lightsabers clashing. "The Padawans!" She said before taking off for the lift that would take her to the detention level.
"Come on," Gree told his men as they took off after her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella continued to trade blows with Ventress as they slowly headed through the corridor towards Gunray's cell. Argyus nodded to the two men who were standing on either side of the Neimoidian's cell and they joined him as they came up behind the teenager.
She had just ducked to avoid one of Ventress' swings that would have surely taken her head off and glanced back at Argyus and his men. "What are you waiting for?" She asked. "Shoot her!" Then she quickly raised her saber as she blocked one of the assassin's blades.
Argyus and his men followed Rosella's order. They raised their blasters in the air and began to fire at Ventress. The teenager ducked out of the way as the Sith assassin used her blades to deflect the laser blasts back at her attackers, killing two of the Commandos. The third laser came flying towards Argyus, but he deftly turned at the last second forcing his armor to take the blast. He fired two more shots, but Ventress blocked them with both of her sabers before using the force to lift the Captain in the air and throw him headfirst into the controls, taking him out of the fight. Then she turned her attention back to Rosella as she brought both of her lightsabers down on Rosella's blue one.
"Skywalker isn't here to save you young one," Ventress said.
"Well then, it's a really good thing that I don't need his help to deal with you," Rosella responded as she pushed both of Ventress' sabers off hers before lashing out with her right leg, forcing Ventress to step to the side as the teenager dropped into a split. Then the assassin leapt over Rosella. The blond-haired girl whipped her head around and traded two quick blows with Ventress as the woman landed on the ground.
Gunray now stood at the top of the steps inside of his cell. "Hey! Over here!" He called out as he waved his arms in the air. "Let me out of here and I'll buy you a planet."
Ahsoka ignited her lightsaber and got into her reverse Shien style grip that she liked to use. Ventress forgot all about Rosella and turned around, letting out a growl as she saw the Togruta padawan. Not wanting her friend to face the assassin all by herself, Rosella got up and raced after Ventress.
Racing towards her, the Dathomirian traded a few blows with Ahsoka - who had never faced the woman in battle before - before deactivating her left saber and using the Force to toss her aside, smirking as the Togruta crashed into the wall on the other side of the cell area and fell to the ground. Then she deactivated her other saber and ran over to the controls, slamming her hand on the button. The ray shield disappeared and Gunray quickly backed up with his hands in the air as Rosella came between them.
As the teenager swung her saber towards her, Ventress smoothly stepped back and planted a swift kick to Rosella's back. She stumbled, falling forwards into the cell as her lightsaber automatically deactivated. Gunray quickly walked out of the cell and turned the shield back on.
Rosella rolled over and sat up a little, her eyes narrowing into a glare as she looked at the Neimoidian.
Gunray laughed mockingly as he stood outside of the cell. "Such irony," he said. "How do you like your new accommodations now, youngling?"
In a fit of anger, Rosella leapt up, ignited her lightsaber, ran to the shield and slashed at it. Nothing happened, but it did scare the Viceroy, who stepped back a little in fear and surprise. When he realized that she couldn't touch him, he grinned and rubbed his hands together.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The door to the lift opened and Luminara stood there. As soon as she saw the scene before her eyes, which included both of the knocked out Senate Commandos, along with Gunray standing outside of his cell with his rescuer standing next to him, her eyes narrowed and she ran towards them.
Ventress heard the sounds of footsteps racing towards her and turned around.
Luminara ignited her lightsaber as she approached them. "Halt assassin!" She said.
Ventress grabbed both of her lightsabers and ignited the red blades. Behind her. Rosella shifted her saber to her right as she got ready to attack the Sith assassin. Luminara used the Force to deactivate the ray shield, allowing Rosella to attack the woman only for her saber to be blocked by both of Ventress' sabers.
Then both Rosella and Luminara attacked the Dathomirian woman at the same time, only for their blades to be blocked as Ventress swung her left one to clash with the Masters, while the other one swung back to block a second attack from the newly freed padawan.
As Luminara blocked another strike from the assassin's left blade, she glanced behind her to see Gree and his men race up to where they were. "Surrender," she said. "We have you outnumbered."
Ventress suddenly deactivated her blades, returning the hilts to her belt. Then as Gunray watched in disbelief, she raised her hands high in the air. A beeping noise could be heard coming from her left brace. A small light began to blink red.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
327-T was making his rounds in the engine room when it happened. Multiple explosions ripped through the engine room. Bright fireballs of red, yellow and orange tore apart metal, making the ship shake. It had caused enough damage so that the Tranquility would be slightly crippled, but not destroyed.
The droid squeaked in fright, turned around and raced for the door to the room.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The force of the explosions threw everyone off balance. Rosella, along with Gree and his men fell to the floor. Ventress took advantage of the distraction to Force push Luminara on the ground. Calling her blades to her, she swiftly ignited them and leapt over the fallen Jedi Master, digging one blade into the ground as the Mirialan moved her head out of the way. Luminara rolled over and watched as Ventress landed on the ground and ran towards her troops.
Gree and his men had recovered enough to be able to grab their blasters and fire at the Sith assassin. Ventress easily blocked their lasers with her blades and then ran up the side of the wall as she continued to block the shots that were fired her way. Flipping over the clones, she blocked two more lasers that had been fired in her direction as she headed for the command center.
Luminara got up and chased after Ventress with Rosella right behind her.
Making it to the command center, Ventress used the Force to open the doors to the lift. The car wasn't there, but it made no difference to the assassin. Leaping inside, she dug her blades into the back wall and slid down the shaft as two of the Senate Commandos got up, grabbed their weapons and started to fire at the woman. They helped Captain Argyus up off the floor as Rosella and Luminara reached the turbolift and peered inside.
Rosella turned to Luminara. "Well?" She asked. "What are we waiting for?" She was about to leap into the shaft when she heard the sounds of the lift rushing to meet her. Jerking back, she narrowly avoided getting hit by the falling car. "That was close!"
"Everything's running haywire," Argyus told them as he was looking over the panels, getting what information he could from the readouts. All the buttons were either flashing or lighting up. "Doors, lifts. We've got no communication and no propulsion. That woman has crippled the entire ship."
Gunray came into the room, escorted by Gree and his men.
"That assassin is here for Gunray," Luminara said. "Stay here and guard him. I'll go after her myself."
"Master Unduli," Rosella said, causing her elder Jedi to face her. "With all due respect, Ventress is much too powerful for you to handle by yourself. Let me help you as I have dealt with her before."
"I appreciate the offer Padawan, but I am more than capable of handling a lone adversary who is armed with an undisciplined fighting style," Luminara told her.
"I know you told Ahsoka not to be too overconfident with Gunray, but do you think it's possible that's what you're doing with Ventress?" The teenager asked.
"Stay here, check on Padawan Tano and keep a clear head," Luminara told her before she turned around and leapt down the shaft, using the Force to slow her descent so she was able to kick against the wall at the right time and roll out at the next pair of open doors. As the Jedi Master lifted her head, she grabbed her lightsaber and ignited it as she looked down the hall that was littered with the bodies of her dead troops, along with two super battle droids. Getting to her feet, she narrowed her eyes and took off after Ventress.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After making sure that Gunray was back in his cell, and checking over Ahsoka, who had been sent to the medbay with a minor concussion, Rosella paced back and forth in front of the Neimoidian's cell as she was thinking about what to do. Captain Argyus and Commander Gree were there as well.
"I know that Luminara Unduli is a Jedi Master, but she has no idea what that bog-witch is capable of," Rosella said as she crossed her arms over her chest. She knew that Anakin could sometimes become a little too overconfident when it came to accomplishing tasks, but now she was wondering if any more of her fellow Jedi were facing a similar problem.
When the Jedi Master had spoken to her earlier about going after Ventress by herself, the teenager could hear the confidence in her voice. But there was one small problem with that plan. Luminara had never faced Ventress before. She knew that Obi-Wan had struggled a little when he had faced the assassin by himself on Teth and also knew that it was better to head into battle with another Jedi as backup.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Luminara walked into the reactor room, her deactivated lightsaber in her hand. She had been following the assassin and had seen her run into the room. As she looked around at all the damage that the explosions had caused, she heard the sound of a lightsaber being ignited from above her and looked up just in time to see Ventress leaping down to attack her.
Igniting her own blade, she twisted out of the way, managing to block the strike.
As Ventress moved to attack the Jedi Master again, she deliberately missed. Instead of striking Luminara, she cut off the end of a metal pipe.
Luminara cried out in shock and pain as a stream of burning hot steam was blasted right into her face. Quickly covering her left eye with her hand, she leapt into the air, dropping her hand as she went into a backflip, moving away from the pipe. She distinctly heard the sounds of another lightsaber being ignited and knew that Ventress was planning to attack with both of her blades. As she landed on her left knee, her right foot was planted firmly on the ground, she covered her eye again as she brought her lightsaber up in front of her.
Ventress rushed towards her. She had an angry look in her eyes and a twisted grin on her face.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Captain Argyus glanced at Rosella as she stood in front of Gunray's cell, her left hand on her hip.
"I can't just let Master Unduli face Ventress on her own," Rosella said. Then she turned to face Argyus. "I'm sure we would have a better chance of putting a stop to her plan if we worked together."
"Sometimes being a good soldier means doing what you think is right," Argyus told her. "That's why we're superior to droids."
Rosella closed her eyes and opened them again as she glanced towards the ground.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Luminara's right eye still hurt. She kept her hand over it as she twisted to her right, blocking a strike from the Dathomirian woman, but was forced to drop it as she spun around and blocked yet another attempt to maim her as Ventress leapt over her head. As they traded a few more blows, Ventress tried her best to strike at Luminara's left side since she had temporarily blinded the Jedi Master. As she forced the Jedi to take a few steps back, she grinned as she saw Luminara reach up and rub at her eye. "Answer this, Master Jedi," she hissed. "Do you still think that you'll be able to use the Force as you once did after I have separated your head from your body?"
"Even though you have clouded my vision," Luminara remarked as she removed her hand from her eye, revealing it to be swollen and red, "I am still able to recognize the all too familiar fighting style that Count Dooku still uses. Your version is unrefined, amateurish and sloppy at best."
Ventress' facial expression turned to one of anger and she let out a scream of rage as she ran at Luminara, lashing out with her blades.
The Jedi Master was able to block every strike that was thrown her way.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gunray sat inside his cell, bored.
Outside, Rosella was still in a dilemma about her current situation. "Even if I wanted to leave and help Master Luminara, I can't disobey her order to leave my post, can I?" She asked as she glanced down the hall to the command center.
Gree turned to look at her. "I wouldn't," he responded.
Rosella appreciated the response that she had gotten from the Commander of the 41st Elite Corps. Then she glanced up as Captain Argyus turned to face her.
"Don't worry about Gunray, Master Jedi," the Senate Captain told her. "We've got it covered. He won't be going anywhere."
Gunray decided to contribute to the conversation. "All I know is that I never risk my own skin unless I have no other choice," he said, causing both Rosella and Argyus to look at him. The teenager had an angry look on her face. "What? It's good business."
Rosella turned to face Argyus, having made up her mind. "Keep an eye on him, Captain," she said.
"You can trust us, Commander," Argyus responded.
With a small smile on her face, Rosella turned and ran down the hall.
"Call if you need our assistance," Gree told her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After trading even more blows back and forth, Ventress deactivated her left lightsaber, pulled back her hand and thrust it forward, intending to blast Luminara with a Force push. The Jedi Master saw what the assassin was about to do and countered with her own Force push. The energy between their two hands built up until both women were sent flying backwards.
Luminara then leapt in the air. As she flew over Ventress' head, she lashed out with her blade, only to be stopped as Ventress countered her moves with her own lightsaber. Landing on the ground, she turned around and held her lightsaber in a defensive position as she saw the Dathomirian assassin run towards her and then leap into the air.
Thinking that Ventress was going to attack with her sabers, Luminara got ready to defend herself but was quite surprised when she suddenly lost her grip on her lightsaber and fell to the walkway below.
Leaping up high into the air, Ventress sliced through some pipes with her sabers, causing the pieces to fall towards the Jedi Master.
Luminara slammed into the edge of the walkway and rolled over onto it. As she looked up and saw the pipes hurtling towards her, she raised her hands and used the Force to shield herself as best as she could. As the pipes landed around her, one of them landed on her leg. As soon as she got the sense that her leg wasn't broken, the Mirialan woman tried to free herself, but it was of no use.
Ventress landed behind the fallen Jedi and smirked as she saw the predicament. Walking to the edge of one of the pipes, she said, "Now you will fall, as all Jedi must."
Rosella ran into the room. As soon as she saw that Ventress was about to deal a serious, if not killing blow to Master Unduli, she knew he had to hurry. As the assassin leapt off the pipes, her blades pointed down towards the Mirialan Jedi, Rosella thrust her right hand forward, letting out a strong Force push that blasted the Dathomirian woman back into the very pipe that she had been standing on.
Startled, Luminara turned to see Rosella running up to her. Seeing that the padawan had her lightsaber in hand, she watched as the girl ignited the blade and cut through the pipe, freeing her.
Rosella watched her stand up. Deactivating the lightsaber, she handed it back to Luminara as she said, "I know, I know. You told me to stay with the Viceroy."
"Well, as long as you're here, I could use the assistance," Luminara told her, a small hint of gratitude in her voice.
Rosella smiled.
Then Ventress appeared, ignited both of her lightsabers and leapt out of the pipe.
Luminara turned around and ignited her lightsaber. Rosella grabbed hers off her belt and did the same thing.
Knowing that she had lost the upper hand, Ventress fell back into a more defensive role as she now had to block not just one, but two lightsabers at the same time. Snarling a little, she forced them both away from her and leapt up into the air, landing on top of the platform where she had fought Luminara. Then she vanished.
"Come on. We have to find her," Luminara told Rosella as they deactivated their lightsabers. "We must not allow her to get to Gunray."
Both Jedi leapt up to the platform and began to look around, unaware that Ventress was secretly watching them. Once she was sure that they hadn't seen her, she reached over and pressed one of the buttons on the arm guard that she had taken from the trooper in the hangar bay.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On the detention level, Captain Argyus's wrist communicator began to go off. Glancing at it, he knew it was time to put his plan into motion.
"Have we gotten new orders, Captain?" The commando on his right asked as Gunray came up to the shield.
"No," Argyus responded. "Nothing that you need to worry about." Then he stepped forward, turned around and shot both of his men with his blaster.
Gree turned around, hearing the noise. When he saw what the Captain had done, he was shocked. "What are you doing?" He cried. As soon as Argyus had turned on him and started firing, he ducked for cover. He kept shooting, but Argyus managed to avoid getting hit as he backed up towards the cell and pressed the button for the shield with his elbow.
Once the shield had disappeared, he moved in front of the cell, fire two more shots at Gree, then turned around and grabbed the Viceroy.
"Please! Don't!" Gunray cried out as Argyus wrapped one of his arms around the Neimoidian's throat and used him as a living shield. Then he aimed his blaster at Gree's hiding spot and fired two shots that missed the trooper.
"Shut up," Argyus told Gunray as he jerked his head to avoid getting shot as Gree fired at the two of them. "I'm getting paid a rather hefty sum of money to haul you out of here alive, so I would prefer it if you stayed alive."
Then they walked forward.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the reactor room, both Rosella and Luminara had ignited their lightsabers and were searching for Ventress when they saw movement behind a small chunk of rubble. Glancing at each other, they both ran forward. Luminara reached the pile and ripped away a large slab as she pointed her lightsaber towards the repair droid who had become trapped due to the explosion. Rosella came running up behind her and tried not to laugh as she saw the droid.
Luminara's lips curled up in an amused smile and she used her foot to fix the droid, who quickly left the area. Then both Jedi continued their search.
"Rosella…" Luminara said, trailing off as she didn't know what to say next.
"Why aren't you calling me Padawan Ngaire?" Rosella asked, glancing over at the Jedi Master.
"You were right," Luminara said. "I was a little too confident in thinking that I could handle this assassin all by myself. I've never faced anyone like her before. I should have listened to the advice that you gave me before. For that, I apologize."
"I accept your apology Master," Rosella responded. "I never meant to disobey your orders and I also apologize if I overstepped my boundaries…"
Luminara heard her comlink go off and grabbed it from her belt. Gree's voice came out of it.
"General Unduli! We've been betrayed! Argyus has freed the Viceroy!"
"I've been a fool!" Luminara said.
"Come on! We still have time to cut them off!" Rosella told her.
Turning towards the door, they both ran towards it.
Ventress saw where they were headed. She knew that she had to stop them and allow Argyus time to escape with the Neimoidian, so she used the Force to pull a piece of pipe towards her. Then she threw it at them.
Luminara sensed the pipe hurtling towards them and turned around, using her lightsaber to slice it in half. Rosella turned around as Ventress leapt from her hiding spot and ignited her lightsabers.
"We'll handle her together, Master," Rosella told her.
The Dathomirian woman let out a scream of rage as she ran towards both of them. Then she laughed as she locked blades with them.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gree popped out from his hiding spot and aimed his blaster at Argyus and the Viceroy. "Stop right where you are!" He said. "This is your last warning."
"Don't fire! I am an innocent pawn!" Gunray said, pleading for his life.
"He won't fire," Argyus told the Neimoidian. "He doesn't want to harm his prize."
Gree narrowed his eyes beneath his helmet as he shifted his blaster and fired at Argyus' left wrist, which held his blaster. The rifle went flying. "Stand down Captain!" He said.
"Come and get me!" Argyus said and pushed Gunray towards him.
Gree shoved the Viceroy aside. He was caught off guard as the traitorous Senate Captain rushed forward, kicked the trooper's rifle out of his hands and knocked his helmet off his head. Both men narrowed their eyes at each other.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ventress blocked Luminara's blade with her left lightsaber then lunged forward with her right one, only for that to be blocked by Rosella's blue lightsaber. Then the teenager hung back and let Luminara take over. As soon as the Jedi Master leapt backwards, Rosella darted forward and held her saber in her left hand with the blade pointed downwards as she blocked the red one that Ventress held in her right hand. Then she ducked, letting the Mirialan Master leap over her head as she swung her lightsaber at the Dathomirian witch.
Ventress backflipped out of the way and landed at the far end of the walkway with both of her blades pointing to her right. Summoning some of the rubble, she sent it flying towards them.
Both Luminara and Rosella worked together to cut the rubble to pieces with their lightsabers. Then the elder Jedi caught a rather large piece with the Force and sent it back at Ventress who leapt out of the way and landed back on the ground. She jammed her blades into the metal and ran at them.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Why did you do it, Captain?" Gree asked as both he and Argyus circled each other.
"You're just a clone," Argyus replied. "You would never understand. I want a life that is worth more than just empty servitude. I have no desire to continue serving as an unappreciated guardsman anylonger."
"And you would betray the Republic just to get it?" Gree asked.
"Like I told the naive padawan, sometimes being a good soldier means doing what you think is right," Argyus said in defence of his actions as he believed that he was doing the right thing. Then his eyes shifted towards the ground where Gree's blaster lay.
Gree saw it too and as Argyus dove for the blaster, he stepped on it and delivered a solid right hook to the former Senate Captain, knocking him to the floor. After retrieving the blaster, he stood up. "Well then, I guess that means we disagree on what makes a good sol-" He never got to finish his sentence as Gunray snuck up behind him and knocked him out with the butt of Argyus's blaster.
"You should have taken my offer when you still had the chance, clone," the Viceroy told the unconscious man.
Argyus stood up and made sure he was alright before pressing one of the buttons on his wrist communicator.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ventress was still battling both Luminara and Rosella when she saw her bracelet begin to beep, signalling that the plan had gone off smoothly and it was time for her to leave. Leaping backwards, she launched herself off of a wall and straight into the vent.
Racing forwards, Rosella deactivated her lightsaber, clipped it to her belt and jumped up as she intended to follow the assassin and not let her escape. Without a thought, Ventress took out her last thermal detonator and threw it, noting that it was already counting down as it stuck to the wall.
Just as Rosella's feet touched the metal surface, it exploded, sending the padawan flying through the air. The explosion was so big that Ventress was able to use it to propel herself down the shaft.
Thanks to her quick instincts, Luminara was able to grab onto Rosella's left arm before she had the chance to fall to her death. Falling to her knees, the Jedi Master struggled to pull the young girl up to safety. Finally able to accomplish her task, Luminara fell backwards with a grunt as Rosella collapsed next to her on her hands and knees.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Making their way onto the cockpit of the cruiser that had brought the Viceroy to the Tranquility, Argyus and Gunray settled into their seats as the boarding tube retracted.
"Good news!" Argyus said as he pressed a button on the dashboard. "The outer shields are still down and the entire ship is in turmoil. We are home free." As soon as he finished speaking, he released the ship and flew away from the Jedi cruiser.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She left nothing but bodies lying around.
As the door to the room with the escape pods opened up, Ventress used the Force to throw two more lifeless clones through it, smirking as she heard them hit the floor. Deactivating her sabers, she put them away as she walked into the room and climbed into one of the pods. Once the door to the pod closed, Ventress took her seat and grabbed the controls.
As soon as Rosella and Luminara got to the room, they heard the sounds of a pod taking off. Racing to one of the viewports, they both stood there and watched as the pod that the assassin had taken flew out to meet up with the consular-class cruiser that the Viceroy and Argyus had used to escape.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"That went as successful as I'd hoped," Argyus said as he leaned back in his seat, rested his feet on the panel in front of him, placed his hands behind his head and looked at the Viceroy. "I will be a legend for this."
"I always had a good feeling about you," Gunray told him.
Then the door opened and Ventress came into the room. She glared at Argyus who dropped his feet from where they had been laying on the panel.
"You see assassin?" Argyus asked, smirking as he looked back at her. "Our plan went off without a hitch."
"Our plan?" Ventress asked, a hint of coldness creeping into it.
"Yes," Argyus replied as he turned the chair around and began plotting their hyperspace jump. "Of course, I will mention your contributions to Count Dooku in my report."
Ventress narrowed her eyes.
As Argyus was about to touch another button, a red lightsaber blade pierced through his armor, striking through his heart.
Smirking as she heard the Republic traitor take his last few breaths, Ventress leaned forward and whispered into his ear, "I'll be sure to tell him myself." Then she deactivated her blade and used the Force to remove his dead body from the chair before turning Gunray who stood up in shock. "Greetings Viceroy."
"You know, I always had a good feeling about you...assassin," the Neimoidian told her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After checking on Ahsoka, all three Jedi made their way to the starboard bridge. When they arrived, Master Yoda, along with Anakin, were waiting for them.
"I'm sorry I let that despicable worm get away from us," Rosella said, not at all happy with how their mission turned out.
"I'm sorry as well Masters," Ahsoka said with a sigh.
"It's alright Rosella," Anakin told her. "You and Ahsoka did your best and that's all that matters."
Rosella knew from the way that her father spoke that he was not happy that the Neimoidian had gotten away. Yet here he was, comforting her on what had been, in her mind, a failed mission. "But Master, I..." She said, before being cut off by Master Yoda.
"Troubling is the treachery of the Senate guard, Captain Argyus," Master Yoda told the group. "Revealed all around us our enemies are."
"Not all is lost," Luminara said. "The ship that Gunray and his accomplices stole is a Republic one."
"Which means it can be tracked," Anakin said.
"Indeed," Luminara said.
"A coward, Viceroy Gunray is, but powerful friends he has. Act swiftly we must, if we are to recapture him," Master Yoda said.
"I've already contacted Master Fisto," Luminara said. "His fleet was near Gunray's last known position and can easily pick up the signal."
"Rosella, Ahsoka, I'll meet you both at the rendezvous point," Anakin said.
"Yes Master," Rosella said.
Then their holograms vanished. Both girls turned to face Luminara.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now Master," Rosella said as a small smile appeared on her face.
"I owe you my life Rosella," Luminara told her. Then she turned away and walked towards the bridge.
Both girls followed her.
"Protecting a Jedi Master is the role of a Padawan," Rosella responded.
"Yes, but teaching is usually done by the Master, not the student," Luminara said, causing both Rosella and Ahsoka to stop walking. "Master Skywalker and Master Kenobi should be proud of both of you. I was reminded that I should listen to what others have to say, no matter how old they are." Then she smiled. "Farewell. I hope that this won't be the last time that we see each other."
"Thank you for letting both myself and Ahsoka accompany you on this trip," Rosella told her.
Luminara watched as both girls walked away and turned around. "Commander," she said. "Let's get underway."
"Yes General," the naval officer said. "Ahead full!" Then he walked away.
Luminara walked onto the bridge. It was about time that she returned to the Temple with a new lesson for her padawan.
Translations
vod - brother, sister, comrade