Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Shadows of the Force. Enjoy the 4100-word chapter. I don't own RWBY and Star Wars. Monty Oum, Lucas Films, and Rooster Teeth do.
(Venator Class Cruiser, Trailblazer, Remnant 11:40 PM November 12th.)
Blake and Lerek both looked down as the LAAT took off from the hanger. Both the Faunus and Arkanian said nothing as the gunship departed from the hanger. Both were quiet, the duo was quiet.
"So, there's a dance going on and you DON'T want to attend it?" Lerek asked as he turned to Blake. "I don't think I've ever explained how weird things here are," Lerek stated to which Blake shrugged to herself.
"Yang would have dragged me to the dance if I didn't do this," Blake said as Lerek raised an eyebrow. "I'd rather be anywhere than dancing while White Fang is running around." Blake started to say to which Lerek hummed to himself.
"And you're going to the library with me instead." Lerek pointed out before he shook his head. "Oh, I cannot wait to hear what your friends say about that at the moment," Lerek said as the LAAT set down.
"I don't care if they think this is a date," Blake said before she and Lerek stepped off the gunship. "They're probably thinking that already. Let's just see if we can find anything they might want here." Blake added as the duo slowly began their trip.
"You think the White Fang might want something at the library?" Lerek stated to which Blake shrugged. "Well? There have been weirder things that have occurred. The will of the force works in weird ways when you think about it." Lerek added as he and Blake descended into the city.
Lerek watched as a pair of Atlesian Mantas passed overhead. Their engines roared as the craft flew overhead. Lerek didn't know what was going on, but he did know that there was a massive war possible on the horizon.
"I hope General Kenobi and General Ironwood can work something out," Lerek said as he looked at the ground. "There's too much riding on these negotiations for them to fall apart now. I don't know what we'll do if there's another war." Lerek added to which Blake nodded to herself.
"I doubt their failure this far along with their plan," Blake stated as Lerek turned to the Faunus in question. "Atlas is already at war with the Grimm and White Fang. They wouldn't devote themselves to war with a military that can easily destroy them." Blake added while Lerek put his head to his hand.
"You'd be surprised how easily people can force wars even if nobody wants them," Lerek added before he shook his head. "Trust me, there's probably a few people who wouldn't mind the republic seizing control of things," Lerek added to himself.
He was aware of how this went. The military plans for it were not easy to predict… There were plenty of things he needed to handle before he did so. He was constantly at odds with others who had their plans.
"Why exactly would they need a fancy book?" Lerek questioned himself more than Blake. "Blake? There wouldn't happen to be anything inside the library the White Fang want, would there?" Lerek asked before his Faunus friend shook her head.
"The White Fang want to seize control and power," Blake responded to which Lerek held up a 4 fingered hand.
"Knowledge is power," Lerek added before he smirked to himself more than the woman. "Maybe stay on guard a little. We don't know where they are. You sure you're ok with being here at the moment?" Lerek asked to which Blake smirked.
The feline woman started to worry him more than the monsters or dozens of droids. He could at least predict them and counter their attacks. Blake seemed to have a talent for getting under his skin.
"Are you that scared of me that I worry you that much?" Blake questioned as the Jedi rolled his eyes.
"No, not really," Lerek said before he frowned and looked at the sky. "I feel something weird in the force, though. I'm keeping an eye on what is around me." Lerek added to himself while he started to look around.
Both didn't notice the bullhead in the air which was busy hovering in the air. The ship's soldiers locked down at the duo.
"Call it in. They wanted us to keep an eye on them." The pilot said before the ship flew off into the sky.
The White Fang pilot punched in a code which was transmitted to their headquarters. They didn't notice what happened next… But their orders were still in line.
(With Blake and Lerek)
Lerek hummed before he slowly started to descend into the library. This place still seemed both lesser than the library back home and more than it at the same time. He allowed Blake past him while he started to think of what the next book, he took out was.
"Don't go too far into the place," Lerek said to which Blake waved him forward as he did.
Lerek rolled his eyes as he followed the woman into the depths of the building as he started forward. He didn't know how to reply to her considering what their talks seemed to be similar to.
Then again? He was rather annoyed by this sort of thing. The more time and effort that was put into was also weird.
"Don't forget I have no idea what you want in this place," Lerek added while he rubbed at his temples. "This is still the weirdest date I've ever been on," Lerek stated before he started to brush off his robes as he did so.
Blake almost bit her tongue as she realized what he had said. It wasn't like this wasn't a date as someone could see it. She also knew if her friends had asked why she hadn't come to the dance? She'd need a reason as to why it was like this. That was her excuse. It still brought a flush of color to
"You, ok?" Lerek questioned while he cleared his throat. "I'm sensing something besides what you're feeling," Lerek added while he closed his eyes to focus.
"Yeah," Blake stated while she blinked to herself. "Wait, what are you sensing?" Blake asked while she started to think of what happened next.
"Something dangerous," Lerek added while he cleared his throat. "It's something… Off. I don't know what it is at the moment." Lerek added while he looked upwards.
A wave of energy seemed to fall over the duo. They were quiet as both started to think of what it meant. They were familiar that there were dozens of enemies for either of them. Neither was caught off guard by the possibility of a fight here. Blake and Lerek both made sure their weapons were ready.
Lerek frowned and started to look around before he slowly started to look up at the ceiling. He was starting to wonder if these Faunus wanted to fight so badly.
'I can't tell if they are coming after us. If Blake was indeed one of them? They'd want to kill her for being a traitor at the end of the day.' Lerek thought to himself before he and Blake started to think of what books to get.
Lerek felt something that worried him. If it was a problem? He'd deal with it as best he could in combat.
There was no problem with fighting the white fang, however. Lerek did glare towards Blake as he started to ponder what the terrorist group wanted so badly in town.
'Why attack a city that's been under military lockdown? There's nothing worth that type of risk here. If they wanted supplies? Why don't they simply raid another port with less security? It's what I'd do if I was leading a bunch of terrorists… Then again? The droids also have been trying it before and they don't have the type of intelligence when it comes down to it.' Lerek mentally added with an annoyance that wasn't within him before.
He sighed and pushed the idea from his brain. If they wanted to battle him that badly? They'd do so and he'd be ready as best as he was able to.
"Are you feeling, ok?" Blake asked while she started to cross her arms as she sighed to herself.
"I'm sensing something weird that's throwing me off," Lerek stated while he cleared his throat. "I don't know what it is. I do know that it's dangerous and constantly making me feel bad at the moment." Lerek added while he sighed to himself.
Blake felt rather odd when it came to it. This place felt more and more off the more they stared at it. It almost felt alive at times to her. It bothered her that this place managed to get under her skin this often.
Then again? Considering almost every place she had gone to had someone tried to kill her? There was at least someone who managed to get the drop on her at least once a day. It was an annoying part of life when it comes down to it.
"Still feeling that force signature or something?" Blake started to say as her friend nodded.
"There's plenty of things I'm feeling. One of them is the people who want to kill us." Lerek said before he rolled his eyes. "Oh, that would be ALL of them at the moment? People want to kill us daily. It comes with the fact we're constantly foiling their plans or something." Lerek stated while he cleared his throat.
He almost wanted to snark at the woman who was well aware that the CIS and the White Fang wanted them dead. They had plenty of enemies at the moment who had no issues with destroying them. It didn't help that almost all of them seemed to recognize that the Jedi Knight and Faunus Huntress were their biggest enemies and sought their destruction.
"Hmm," Blake stated to herself before her ears twitched as she raised an eyebrow. "There's something weird inside. Yeah, this place does seem weird." Blake added as she raised an eyebrow before she nodded towards her friend.
The Arkanian sighed to himself as he realized there may be a battle here. He didn't want to bother anyone here, there were plenty of monsters in this world, there were also creatures and soldiers when it came down to it.
Still? Lerek wanted to at least gain a few books and set his mind at ease. He also didn't want to give his position away and there was the fact that if they wanted an ambush? They'd want the element of surprise on both of them.
He followed Blake deeper into the depths of the bidding. He stared at one of the columns of books before he began to think of
"Get the books, meet in 5 minutes, start moving in 4?" Lerek asked to which the woman nodded and started to sprint. "Drifter? Can I ask for a gunship to meet me at this location on the roof in 15 minutes?" Lerek asked as he raised his comlink and jammed the button for it to activate.
He sighed to himself before he frowned. There were far too many people here for him to risk the idea of combat here. There were also way too many hostages if these people decided to do something like that.
"I'll get one ready, sir." Drifter stated before he frowned to himself. "How's Captain Belladonna? We've had more aircraft around the Trailblazer and some of the boys think they might not be so friendly at the moment." Drifter asked before Lerek spun in place.
This sort of thing bothered him at the moment but there wasn't anything to be done about it. They had plenty of time to plan an attack while he was here and the last thing he needed? An attack on his flagship while he wasn't around to coordinate their defenses in peace.
"They're not our enemy at the moment, Drifter," Lerek said before he frowned. "But if this is something wrong? Do what you think is best. I'm not throwing soldiers away for anything stupid. Don't forget your in charge as much as I am, Commander." Lerek said before he closed his comlink.
Lerek knew he wasn't supposed to concern himself with emotion, but his men were as important to him as this city. Drifter was a smart soldier and Lerek trusted him to handle business better than anyone or any soldier within his army.
He closed the line and took a deep breath while he shook his head. The more time he devoted to this? The better he was able to relax and be at ease when he reflected on things. It helped that he was able to pace himself better with the best plan to overcome this. He needed to best rip into this.
Still, there was good thought within his head that they'd probably die. That this would be for nothing more than some luck and skill that didn't entirely seem to reflect anything at the end of the day. More planning went into this than he cared to imagine. It pained him to force the thoughts to the top of his brain.
Blake looked at the Arkanian who seemed rather interested in his plans. She was well aware of the fact he probably had some insane plan on his mind. She was also no stranger to these insane plans at the end of the day. She welcomed a rather insane plan that seemed to be more fun than waiting around for more chaos to come. It was rather interesting for a soldier to be the one with rather unique plans when it came down to it.
"Does any piece of this plan involve destroying the library?" Blake bluntly asked before she frowned to herself.
"No, but part of me thinks they're happy to shoot the library to pieces if it gets to either of us," Lerek said while he crossed his arms. "And I'd like to not have the entire place destroyed. We need to get onto the roof before they blast the entire place to pieces," Lerek said as he sighed and gazed into the roof of the building.
If they were intercepted before the roof? They'd be facing off with more soldiers than one cared to count. He'd also be worried about all the hostages that there were able to gather when it came down to it. If they reached it before then at the moment? They'd be able to escape to the Trailblazer. He frowned at the fact a gunship would cause more noise than it was worth at the moment.
Still? It smashed the hell out of sitting here and waiting for them to spring their trap or call in reinforcements.
'The one time we decide to stop worrying about the war and try something new and we get ambushed by White Fang. I hate when there's too much action for one day. Out of ALL the days for them to do this.' Lerek stated to himself before he sighed and slowly started to make his way towards the doors.
He cursed that the only flaw in his plan was the fact they had to still rent the books so as not to draw attention. The more time they had to set an ambush was less time they had to escape. It also bothered him that there was an ambush her, to begin with.
Someone had followed them and it had been way too convenient that they had managed to catch them in this area. Someone had to have t been on their heels as soon as they had left their cruiser and come here. It bothered him but it also didn't surprise him that they were waiting for a chance to strike with the majority of the town controlled by Republic and Atlesian forces.
He'd need to speak with General Ironwood once they reached his ship. He also needed to confirm the fact that there were insurgents when it came down to it at the end of the day.
Blake looked at her while she frowned to herself before she hummed to herself. She was well aware of what the General was rather interested in what her former master had done when it comes down to it. She frowned while she cleared her throat to be able to speak.
"I'm going to guess we need to get back to the ship?" Blake asked while she frowned.
"Preferably without being shot," Lerek said with a smirk. "Though it'd probably be more interesting," Lerek stated while he frowned to himself.
"Is sarcasm a regular part of the Republic Army?" Blake asked to which Lerek said while he cleared his throat. "There were more soldiers probably in front of them," Blake stated while she frowned to herself.
He said nothing and smirked before he slowly started to frown on herself. He was rather happy as to what happened if they had managed to escape to his ship.
"Well, General Skywalker had been one who was well known for it so I guess yes," Lerek stated while he shook his head. "If I'm honest when it came down to it? This wasn't the dangerous mission I've been on. I didn't want to be into this sort of situation." Lerek said while he raised his arms and sighed to himself.
Blake was rather silent as she pulled her library card from her pocket as she frowned to herself as she nodded to herself and waited for the gunship to arrive. She lowered her gaze towards her friend before she nodded to herself.
The time he was ready for them. If they wanted a battle so badly? It'd be on their terms. He'd face them as a warrior at the end of the day.
"They're be expecting the gunship. They want either of us to try and run." Lerek stated with a frown as he did so. "I'm not going to fall for that. if they try an ambush on the roof? Trying to retreat in the street will make it harder for them to do something." Lerek stated while he frowned to himself.
Lerek sighed while he readied himself for a battle. He was able to leap into the gunship from the ground and it meant that he was able to escape. Blake was simply fast and agile when it came to her speed at the moment. She'd be able to retreat with enough time and effort.
When he was back on the Trailblazer? He'd make certain to look more into the White Fang and their activities when it came to their tactics. This ambush was entirely calculated, it was placed well to catch them together, it was also starting to catch them off guard. He passed the card to the librarian as he hummed to himself while he nodded while he crossed his arms and shook his head.
It made him rather at peace despite the coming storm. Blake seemed to notice a small change in his demeanor as she passed her card towards them. She wondered if he had a plan to handle this that she hadn't been told. She knew well that her former brothers in arms had been able to hear if they had the correct traits. She hummed and pondered if she had been kept from a phase of his plan simply because it did not benefit. She gazed at him as he frowned before he cleared his throat and nodded towards the door. The message was clear on his face as he did so.
"Can you grapple to that gunship?" Lerek asked while he frowned to himself and shook his head. "The one in the sky?" Lerek questioned with a raised eyebrow.
He got a nod before a burst of gunfire cut them off and forced them to gaze at the roof where the White Fang stood. It made the duo flip and roll back while both stared at the roof with their weapons when it came to their topic. He frowned with annoyance and sighed before a series of ropes slowly started to spool over the edge as more soldiers started to slowly start walking down towards them.
"Well, they're a LOT more well organized for a bunch of revolutionaries," Lerek stated while he looked towards Blake. "We need to go. I can't deal with their weapons, and this is going to get worse before they get any better at all." Lerek stated before he raised an eyebrow towards the enemy who tried to do them harm.
They had an entrenched position from what he saw and if there was more on the roof? The Jedi made the connection that there were possibly snipers on the roof which also meant a more dangerous escape than he wanted. If he hadn't the fact, he'd be placing more soldiers in trouble? He'd wish to call in air support and ask for a strafing run.
Blake who seemed to not care or wished to punish those who had ambushed them? Charged their lines with her blade batting bullets aside the same way his saber did with lasers. He smiled and joined her as she flipped into the air and landed a boot to the face of one of the rebels.
He ignited his blade and joined her with a slash to the weapon of one other soldier. He decided to deal with the soldiers who had blades as his saber wasn't to do well with the slugthrowers. Their weapons being more primitive worked against him.
Still? The challenge was not all bad. Lerek was well aware of the fact that he had some problems inside not once practicing. He slashed at the many soldiers with swings designed to defeat them without any death if possible. He watched Blake send one of the soldiers to the ground with a backhand of her weapon. She wanted to beat them and it showed in how aggressive she was in her attacks on them.
Still? The majority of them seemed to be after him as he tossed a few of them to the ground with the force. He then dodged another sword-wielding soldier before he slashed them across the back.
"They're always this persistent?" Lerek questioned as he and she stood back-to-back. "Maybe they just don't enjoy you beating them all up," Lerek asked to which Blake simply rolled her eyes at this.
There were a few reasons that were a correct assumption, yet she didn't wish to tell him the truth. The more she wanted them to stand down. She was aware that their master wasn't someone who wished to listen to reason or logic. She had been far too willing to resort to this compared to their normal methods.
What had made them come this far from what they had been in the past? Whom was the enemy who had made them this way? It hadn't been humanity since she'd not once considered terrorist attacks of this scale.
Blake went to speak before the sounds of engines stopped her. She gazed at the sky to see a LAAT which rocketed overhead with its lasers blasting. Lerek watched as 2 of the White Fang soldiers fell dead as the doors slid open and a trio of clones started to fire. Lerek nodded to Blake as both retreated towards the craft. The pair watched one of the soldiers collapse as the turret and the clones scattered the enemy. Lerek leaped into the gunship as Blake tossed Gambol Shroud towards him as the craft started to fly into the sky.
The Acarian had managed to grasp the weapon before she flipped herself aboard and landed in a crouch. She leaned on the wall as an Atlesian Dropship descended on the area. it was clear there was a lot more happening in Vale than he expected and it was honestly starting to annoy him that there was more to this plan than it seemed. If there was a piece he hadn't noticed? Then he was letting innocent people suffer for something he should be handling himself.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I wish to point out the chapters down the road will be longer than this. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be set after the dance and show more of Blake and Lerek's bond. Until the 900–6500-word chapter and sch, Lighting Wolf out!