Chapter 19
Brothers of the Broken Horn & Black Wolf Moon
GAREL
The Ghosts landing pad
Ships whirled overhead as Ezra and Ahkilleon were both training in there own way, Ahkilleon was sparring with proxy who was wielding not one but two of his lightsabers locking lightsabers they spared as Rex taught Ezra how to shoot with a blaster rifle. Chopper was holding up a stormtrooper helmet moving it around as a target, but Ezras constant barrage of laser fire just kept missing "Aim, then fire." Rex reminded him.
"Rex, I bet sometimes even you miss." Ezra said as Kanan came down, he spotted Ahkilleon sparing with Proxy, as a training droid and then frowned at Ezra who was shooting at the continuously moving buckethead.
Walking up he cleared his throat to get their attention"Speaking of, you're missing Jedi training. Which is now. Remember?" Kanan asked him.
Getting up Ezra set down the blaster rifle and sighed "You know, I can't be in two places at once."
"As a soldier, you're gonna have to learn to prioritize." Rex instructed.
"Well, he's not a soldier. He's a Jedi." Kanan pointed out.
Ezra let out a groan and muttered under his breath "Yeah, what if I don't want to be either?"
This made Kanan curious "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.
"Hey, practice squad, Hera called a meeting." Sabine shouted from inside the Ghost, making everyone training or not look at her "Attendance is mandatory." she said before Ezra hurried past both men wanting to teach him.
"So, what's bothering him?" Rex asked.
Kanan folded his arms over his chest "No idea, this is new." he said as Kanan noticed Ahkilleon and Proxy were still training, there was something different about Ahkilleon too his training was more intense. He was moving faster, striking harder, Kanan watched for a moment about to say anything when he spotted Ahsoka sitting at the edge of the Ghosts ramp watching him keenly. Not wanting to overstep another teacher, Kanan followed Ezra into the ship. Back in the duel Proxy slashed across Ahkilleons arm slightly burning him, Ahkilleon whirled around severing Proxy's arm before the droid fell down and before Ahkilleon could strike the killing blow he stopped and exhaled through closed mouth breathing in and out through his nose.
"Well done." Ahsoka said as she stood up and walked down to him, Ahkilleon helped Proxy up and the droid picked up his severed limb "Sorry about the arm Proxy, I'm sure I can fix it."
"In time , young master, your skills will improve." The droid said.
"I'll say, good job on restraining yourself." Ahsoka said to him.
He clipped his lightsaber to hie belt, "Thanks mom."
"Come on, lets see what this meeting is about, there's something we need to clear up." she said.
As they walked into the cockpit where everyone was Hera saw them come in "Good, I'll contact Sato let him know we're all here-" "Hera wait." Ahsoka said, cutting her off mid sentence.
Hera's hand hovered over the communication system and looked at her, "Before we contact Sato, there's something you all need to do for me."
"What is it?" Ezra asked.
"I've made a report of our time on Rhen Var, but I left out this Jedi King business." She said,
Zeb was leaning back in a chair "You mean the business about an entire army of fanatics believing Snips here is a prophesied savior and destined monarch, that business?" Zeb asked.
"In short yes, and I wouldn't call it a prophecy, Jedi visions are tricky, they don't always make sense." Kanan said he looked at Ahsoka, "You want us to keep it between the crew?" he asked.
Ahsoka nodded, "I know it's a lot to ask, but please, prophecies make people do stupid things, believe me." Ahsoka said.
"But why?" Sabine asked her.
"There's never been anything remotely like a Jedi King, sure there were Jedi Lords, the highest one was named Hoth. But no kings." She said, "As for why they said Ahkilleons name, the Sunguard were a cult of Sith followers before they were mercenaries and then crusaders, Ahkilleons father was a martyr to them. Right now it's just a theory, but I think they were desperately looking for any way to keep hope alive. They gave their lives to save him and a handful of other younglings, and injured soldiers to escape."
Ahkilleon gripped his arm tight not from where he was wounded, but not because it hurt; it was something else, "We promise Ahsoka, it's the least we can do after Rishi." Hera said.
"Thank you, now let's contact Sato." Ahsoka said.
In a few moments they had a hologram of Commander Sato appear in a hologram "As we speak, the frozen planet of Rinn is facing an energy crisis. When their supply of fuel cells is gone, the settlements will not be able to power the heaters they need to survive." Commander Sato said to them.
"They'll freeze down there." Hera said. "Since we're on Garel, we should check out the black market, bound to be generators or something we can get our hands on."
Commander Sato nodded "See what you can find, without delay."
"Gear up, everyone, time to go make friends with the locals." Sabine said.
He rebels all walked out of the crew, "Uh Captain Syndulla mind if I stay here, if the Burj are still watching us maybe I should hang back."
Hera nodded "Good idea." Ahkilleon walked over to Proxy who was still holding his metal arm, "Let's get you fixed up." Ahkilleon said as he took the arm and Proxy nodded.
They walked over to a space in the wall as everyone came out and he took out a tool box. "Sure you don't want to go with us?" Sabine asked for the helmet under her arm.
"Just so I can go ballistic again and get headbutted by you, no thanks?" Ahkilleon said.
Sabine squeezed her helmet tight and slipped her helmet on "Mir'osik." She hissed in Mando'a, Ahkilleon dropped his tool and stood up watching her go "What I say?" He asked, confused.
He looked back at Proxy, who shrugged.
Up in the hallway Hera had intercepted Ezra from going down the ladder "Except you, Spectre-Six. I asked you to clean the ion scoring off The Phantom's exhaust ports... Twice." Hera reminded him.
"But I had Jedi practice. And blaster practice."
"Well, now you have scrubbing practice." Hera said as her droid Chopper laughed at Ezra's misfortune, "What are you laughing at?" The droid squawked as if to ask what he did wrong "Uh-uh. You're gonna help him."
Chopper protested but Hera said "We'll discuss this later?"
"Can't wait for that." Ezra said as he watched everyone go off without him, and Ahkilleon continued to work on Proxy down in the cargo hold. He took out a splicer and some other tools and began to work. Grabbing the arm he began to reattach it with some screws and realign the wires.
Ezra on the other hand grabbed a scrubber to go clean the Phantoms exhaust ports, "Would his majesty care to help after he's done with his toy?" Ezra asked, obviously upset at everyone riding him, "Don't call me that." Ahkilleon snapped. Scoffing Ezra headed out of the ship to get started.
"Curious." Proxy said.
"What's so curious, Proxy?" Ahkilleon asked him to go back to work.
The droid looked at him, "You are usually on such good terms with the other boy, as very good friends."
"Yeah well even good friends fight." Ahkilleon said as he reattached the arm, "How's that?" He asked and Proxy began to stretch it.
The droid moved his arm around a bit "Functional young master, shall we train again?"
"In a little bit, I should go help Ezra." Ahkilleon said.
LOTHAL
Mountains
"The two moons of Lothal are called the Twilight Wolves, the legend goes that long ago at the dawn of this galaxy there was a great wolf who roamed the stars with her two cubs, the white wolf and the black wolf, she was the gray mother. For many years she and her pups traveled through the great trails of the stars till the mother grew old and could no longer run, unwilling to leave there mother behind as she curled up into the ball that would become Lothal, her pups stayed with her till there bodies turned to stone like her. Thus the two moons are known as the Black Wolf and the White Wolf." Chief San as she stood in front of the Militia members, she was looking up at the two moons overlooking the mountain range.
"You weren't joking about these people when you said they like wolves." Declan said under his breath behind his helmet next to Jay.
The cadet sighed "You have no idea."
The rest were behind her, Dray was sitting on a rock using a wooden staff as a crutch while Reik with the two Ikar Jedi stood beside him and on the other side was Naqia and the Hyenas. Chief San looked back at them "So your telling me your secret treasure trove of weapons, ships, tanks and metal soldiers is buried under one of them?"
"We believe so." Dray said.
"I know so." Reik said.
Chief San thought about it, scratching her chin as she paced and spotted Turok Skell sitting far off smoking out of his pipe with one arm, "And taht thing?" She asked.
"He has a name, and it's Turok Skell, Chief San." Captain Naqia said stepping to her and getting in front of her, the zygerrian woman barred her fangs "The Immortal Dragon, he was the first of the Militia, and you will show him respect." Chief San looked down at the small Zygerrian who wasn't backing down her hand her sword already as if she was ready to draw it at the insult.
The Militia all watched but of them spoke up, Chief San looked at Reik who was the only one who looked nervous at the possibility of a fight, "And the two monks?"
"Monks?" Declan asked.
Tai stepped forward "I am Tai Uzuma, this is my padawan Declan." she said introducing her self she gave a bow and Declan followed "Thank you for your hospitality Chief San."
"Great more jedi." she said glaring at Dray.
"We are more than just jedi, we are Ikar." Tai said rising up.
"Is there a difference?" San asked.
Dray stomped his crutch on the ground a few times to get there attention "Chief San, before we get mired in philosophy and religion, this is a pressing matter, the Dragon's Hoard was thought to be a myth, the ship we found in that lake is evidence to the contrary." Dray said looking over at Reik and then at Turok who watched from a distance "The separatist alliance stockpiled weapons in a secure location, if indeed it is up there we could do more than avenge your people, your husband we can take this entire sector."
"What are you asking of me, Jedi?" San asked, hands on her hips.
"Information, that ship crashed over fifteen years ago at the start of the Empire, that would mean sixteen years ago there would have been ships flying in and out of one of the two moons, they'd look like shooting stars or large black specs in the sky, this place is far enough from any city or base where you could see that." Dray told her.
She paused and looked through her memory, "Yes… fifteen years ago, there were a lot of strange things in the sky around the Black Wolf?"
"The Black Wolf, which moon is that?" Dray asked.
Chief San, folded her muscular arms around her chest "What's in it for me."
"... Command of the Droid Army when we find it." Dray said.
This made the Hyenas snap his head to him and even Turok raised his, watching him, Chief San and thought for a few moments "Done, but my I and my men come with me."
"The Last Laugh can accommodate you, we are walking in blind so the more the better." Dray said.
Chief San locked eyes with Dray before she headed back behind the curtain of the waterfall, leaving Dray with his people. "Captain Naqia, prepare your ship." He ordered. She nodded "Yes Commander." with a grunt he forced himself to stand leaning on the staff, "Tai, Padawan Declan you two go with them."
"... Sure thing, Commander." Tai said as she followed the Hyenas, Reik was about to join them when Dray grabbed him "Not you, we need to talk."
Limping over to Turok, both Dray and Reik stood in front of the one armed trandoshan "Command of the entire Droid army, you do realize the Dragon's Horde is predicted to have over-" "I know the numbers Turok, but we have to give her something." Dray said.
"But not command of possibly the largest droid army ever, more than what was in the clone wars." Turok said getting up and breathing smoke "What's your plan Dray?"
He looked at Reik, "The boy?" Turok asked.
Dray explained "Reik is more than capable, he has the respect of the warriors, they call him Bloodwolf."
"And besides that being a great name for a ship or a band, what does that give us?" Turok asked him.
"Options." Dray said, limping to the side and turning around, "Chief San doesn't like us, she likes our weapons, and if we give her a droid army and ships she won't need us."
Reik cleared his throat "C-Commander, uh Mr. Skell you just gave her your word, how do we go back on that?"
"Have you ever played Dejarik?" Dray asked, inquiring about the holochess game.
"No, but I used to watch people play it at Jho's?" Reik asked.
Dray nodded "Then you know, when one person had a very troublesome piece on the board from the opposing player, the most simple thing is to remove that piece from the board."
"You plan to kill her, like her husband." Reik whispered.
"Not I, you Reik." Dray said.
GAREL
Garel City
Meanwhile in Garel City, Ahsoka, Rex, Kanan, Hera, a fully healed Zeb and Sabine were walking to the seedier part of town in search of the Generators. "Sure Ezra and Ahkilleon will be fine on their own?" Kanan asked Hera "We did leave them with Chopper, you remember what happened last time."
Hera groaned "Oh don't remind me, but Ezra needs to learn more responsibility."
"And Ahkilleon?" Rex asked in front of them.
Hera didn't say anything not wanting to overstep Ahsoka's parenting, "Wish I new, learning that the Crusade died to save him, lets just say I know what it's like to have to run when others stayed behind." Hera said.
"It wasn't just for him, there were others to remember." Ahsoka said.
"About that, was Tai Uzuma one of them?" Kanan stopped after they entered into an alleyway, Ahsoka's head turned and looked at him, "Yes, she was one of the exiles who Leo protected."
Kanan looked down "Seems like they did more than just protect."
"He must have taught them, become a new master." Kanan said pushing the theory.
Ahsoka shook her head "Not possible, Leo never took a padawan, he knew his knighthood was a lie so being a teacher would be as well."
"Not to interrupt, but we're here." Rex said as they came to the end of the alleway. There was a single door and Rex walked up to it and knocked on it six times in a rhythm. At first nothing happened then a slit in the door opened, a peephole. A set of eyes looked out and examined the party.
"Credits." the voice said.
Rex reached into his belt and pulled out some, handing them through the slit the eyes laughed "Your short fifteen." they said, "That was the price last time?" Rex asked.
"Yeah by the looks of you old man you weren't here for a long time, price has gone up." Rex grumbled about the price but paid the eyes before the door opened and they walked into a small chamber with stairs leading down. The eyes belonged to a tall nautolan with green skin and many scars wearing a poncho, he leaned on the wall and watched them go down. Soon they heard voices and other noises. Walking down deeper and deeper they came into a gigantic underground chamber with many tents and stalls of various black item goods. It was an entire underground bazaar with native Galerian, smugglers, pirates and bounty hunters. Zeb smiled seeing a shooting range to test out blasters from pistols to rotating blaster cannons. Sabine spotted a group of black sun mercenaries standing over a stall of stolen art. Rex and Ahsoka spied a few pyke members selling spice but kept walking, "Looks like the Pyke's run this place." Rex said seeing more pyke guards watching everyone. They even passed by a Ugnaught selling actual spices for seasoning but no one seemed interested in it, rather buying guns, drugs or stolen stuff.
Kanan stopped hands on his hips "How are you supposed to find generators here, Garel isn't really known for its cold climate?"
"We just have to look for the right vendor." Hera said when they heard a blast from the entrance.
Everyone froze and looked at the stairs to see the nautolan guard fall down the stairs, a smoking hole in his chest. Walking down the stairs in force in their purple cloaks and robes, holding E-7 militia blasters were the Burj. Since they weren't stormtroopers the rest of the vendors all watched and looked on while walking in, till one of them pushed through he wore a purple bandana around his head with a gold coin hanging from a braid black as coal. He had a beard to match and he smiled "Relax." He said holding his arms out to reveal over his burj garments he wore Militia armor.
"Steady." Ahsoka said as the man walked out, "We're just here looking for some spice."
The Ugnaught smiled and held up a jar of paprika oinking loudly "Not that kind of spice." The man said as he spotted the Pykes, he strode up, arms swaying as the burj soldiers followed him. They pushed through the crowd like a pack of clutter scorpions. The pykes were only three of them, their faces all hidden behind their yellow masks, their big heads looking and three fingered hands on their blasters.
"You're the Pykes, I expected you to be more… pointy?" he said. As he held out his hand.
Everyone watched the pyke in front, he was wearing a robe of dark navy blue with yellow shoulder pads, "You are here to… do business?" The pyke boss asked.
"Hmmhmmm." The man said, "I see you have a lot of men, you must be here for quite the purchase?" the pyke boss asked.
The market started to go back to usual, but the rebels watched "Yep, I'm here for it all!" the man said loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Hera made a disgusted look "Spice, it's the worst." she said "If the Burj are into it, they must be used as muscle for Cabal?" Kanan guessed.
"But I thought they sold coffee?" Sabine asked, "Probably another lie from that scaly lizard." Zeb growled as the burj started to spread out through the black market in pairs. Hera and Rex watched them as they were covering exits like the main entrance and side entrances.
Ahsoka turned around and said, "We need to go." she said to them "But we need to find those generators?" Hera objected, "We'll find another way but something is up." She said.
"I hope your men will be able to carry it all, it's quite a shipment." The Pyke boss said as the Burj man nodded as he held out a box of credits, "Oh don't worry, we'll manage." he said handing the box to him.
They shook hands before Sabine heard the sound of a blade being unsheathed and she saw the man stick a dagger directly under the pyke's jawline impaling his head, before the pyke thugs could shoot the burj mowed them down and started to kick over the drums of spice. "ATTENTION SCUMBAGS!" the burj man said as he unsheathed the knife blood caked on its steel "THE BLACK MARKET OF GAREL IS UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT!" He shouted.
He kicked the body of the dead pyke and stood on it, taking the man's robe and cleaning it "My name is Orodes Parthian of the Burj, now I apologize for the mess." He said loudly. "Unfortunately for these Pykes, their spice caused one of three of our sons to overdose." Orodes said as his men led out six other Pyke thugs and pushed them on their knees "Three sons, three pykes, we call this a blood debt, its settled but we are taking your black market, the Pykes are banned from Garel."
"Under whose authority-" The man with the knife stabbed the Pyke who questioned him.
He looked back at the other five, "Any objections?" they all shook their heads vigorously as they were cut loose, "Shoo." the man said as he looked back to his men who started to destroy the spice containers and stall as the Pykes made a break for the door.
Odores sheathed his knife and then walked over to one of his men, and the rebels saw the Burj soldier press a button on a comlink hidden under his head wrap, seconds later the entire black market heard the sounds of blaster fire and pyke screams from the entrance. "Did I forget to mention this hostile takeover is non negotiable." Odores said as he sat down on one of the Pyke crates.
"We need to get back to the ship." Hera said to everyone.
LOTHAL
Mountains
The Last Laugh was landed in a small valley not to far front he hidden Okami settlement, the Hyenas had prepped it and were getting ready for takeoff as Chief San led a column of her warriors to the ship, two dozen in all all of them armed with Militia E7 and the standard armor. But some of them had started to paint red and blue circles on it, a clear distinction from the Hyenas black armor.
As they began to march into the ship, Turok and Dray stood with Reik, "I'm not sure I can do this." Reik said to them.
Dray leaned in "You need to Reik, I understand your reservations but if were right this is bigger than Lothal now."
"Bigger how?" Reik asked as Chief San walked up to them.
"What are we waiting for, let's get a move on Bloodwolf." she said, patting his hard on the back, with her came Keiza the scout.
Turok gave a smirk "You heard the lady, let's go."
"Good luck you two." Dray said.
"You're not coming with us?" Reik asked.
Dray leaned on the crutch, "I'm not fully healed yet, but you are in good hands with Turok Skell."
"The so-called Immortal Dragon, why do they call you that?" San asked.
Turok smiled at her baring his fangs "Because people keep trying to kill me, but things always kill them first."
"And what's that?" San asked, smiling back, "Me." Turok said walking to the ship before they all boarded and it took off for the Black Wolf Moon.
GAREL
Ghost
Back on the Ghost Ahkileon and Ezra were cleaning the ship's smaller vessel the Phantom "It's "clean the Ghost," lightsaber training, blaster training." Ezra said as they were cleaning the ship.
"I know, Mom can be like that, more now with this berserker rage I have." Ahkilleon said as he scrubbed away a dark smudge on the Phantom.
Ezra snickered at that "We're calling it that, berserker mode, what is this a hologame?"
"What else do I call it, angry angry mode?" He asked him.
Ezra looked over at him "Yeah, because having the ability to kick butt and learn your a prophesied king is rough."
Ahkilleon stopped cleaning, "You make it sound like I asked for this stuff, I don't want to be a berserker let alone a Berserker King?" Ahkilleon said, looking up at the sky and sitting down. Seeing he was down Ezra felt bad about teasing him.
Chopper beeped at them and Ezra nodded "I kind of miss the old days when everything was simple."
"Running for your lives on a daily basis, stealing from the empire, giving to the poor at risk of a firing squad?" Ahkilleon asked, "Yeah, sounds simple."
"Oh yeah, well you moved around a lot, some of that had to be on the run sometimes?" Ezra asked.
Ahkilleon stopped "Yeah, we ran sometimes, but I didn't have my lightsaber, didn't have you to watch my back."
Suddenly Chopper made a loud sound of beeps, "A distress signal? From who?" Ezra asked ignoring Ezra, Chopper started to play the distress signal from his speaker and a voice came out that neither of the boys recognized.
"zz-tThis is the Broken Horn-zzt"
"Broken Horn?" Ezra said aloud knowing the name.
The voice continued "We require assistance-zzt." Then it shorted out.
"That's Vizago's ship!" Ezra said.
Ahkilleon watched the boy drop the scrubber and go running into the ship, "Whats a Vizago?" Ahkilleo asked, talking to himself. He followed him and chopper into the ship and saw Ezra climbing up the ladder as Chopper followed on the lift.
"Ezra, what are you doing?" Ahkilleon asked
"Okay. Look, someone's in distress, and if there's one thing I've learned from Kanan, it's that we help people in distress, you coming or not?" Ezra asked him.
Chopper spoke a few beeps and Ahkilleon dropped his scrubber heading after him into the Phantom, "Well, let's go see what Vizago got himself into."
"About, who or what is a Vizago, Ezra?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Ezra got into the Phantom and started it up, "He's a Devaronian crime lord who runs the Broken Horn Syndicate in this sector."
"So he's a criminal, cool." Ahkilleon said as Ezra continued.
Ezra started to turn on the Phantom and get it ready to fly "I owe him a favor, and this could square us."
"What? I know how to fly."
Chopper protested "No, I'm not running away from my problems. I am simply helping someone with their problems. There's a difference."
"Why do we keep this droid?" Ahkilleon asked him, "He argues with us all the time, and tried to kill us, who's to say he won't do it again."
"We need him, nobody besides Hera knows the Phantom and the Ghost-like chopper" Ezra said as they took off into the sky and flew to hyperspace.
BLACK WOLF MOON
The Last Laugh
Hyena squads ship continued to fly around the moon, the modified YG-ship 4120 was crammed with Hyena Squadm two gray jedi, Turok, Chief San and Reik who were flying over the surface of the moon. The Black Wolf Moon was further away than the White Wolf Moon, and as they flew over the pale white surface of dust, rock and canyons nothing seemed to stick out. In the bridge Naqia flew the ship with Fang as her copilot, Butch the super tactical battle droid was scanning the surface plugged into the ship "Anything?" Jay asked him.
"Negative, but I am picking up large amounts of ore under the surface and seismic scans are indicating a large subterranean network." Butch said.
"How about a door?" Gaser asked from the doorway where he, San and Reik stood.
Butch looked back "Is that human humor?" the droid asked.
"Are wasting our time or not?" Chief San asked still doubting, holding her rifle in her arms as if she was planning to use it, Reik looked over his shoulder at the two dozen okami militia who were all on edge, many of them feeling the ship shake and jerk as it flew.
He looked back at the Chief, "Have none of your men been in space before?" he asked.
"No." She said.
"But you have?" He asked.
She looked back "Once, long ago me and Bar went into space on a transport not impressed." She said.
"I felt the same with my family, we went to Garel to visit cousins of mine." Reik said.
"Why's that?" She asked.
Reik looked back "Just like Lothal enough." He said.
"Captain." Butch said and she looked back "Found something?"
The droid nodded "Roger, roger, I think so, twenty degrees north I'm picking up a signal, it's weak but it's there ma'am." Turning to starboard the ship flew north and Butch keep scanning all eyes on the droid.
"What kind of signal is it Butch?" Jay asked.
"It's…. It's strange, it's in droid speak but it's not a distress signal or even a binary one…" Butch said, turning to them "What is the message?" Turok asked.
Butch paused, scanning "Is anyone there…. It's on a loop just repeating over and over again, Is-anyone-there?"
A pause filled the cockpit, and everyone looked around mostly to Turok, "If this is the Dragon's Horde, it's an entirely droid automated system, that vulture droid would be a patrol vessel, the black sight never had any records of a commanding officer, even if it had they wouldn't stay let alone survive for fifteen years?"
"But you said it was a blacksight?" Naqia asked him, "That means no one would know?"
"Where's the signal coming from?" Turok asked.
Butch processed "A quarter of a kilometer from our position, at the center of that crater."
The Last Laugh flew down to a massive crater in the earth of the moon, lowering itself; they sunk down and when they landed the entire ground shifted. "What's going on?" San asked as the whole ground shook, the ground rumbled and they ran to the windows to see the gray moon dust starting to rise from the ground from the vibrations to reveal a massive landing pad.
"It's some computer system, it's registering my internal code and number, it's… it's a Separatist model it recognizes me." Butch said looking up.
The Last Laugh began to sink into the crater as a large port was open and they saw the dust falling in around it as lights on four walls large enough to fist the ship lit up their descent, "I knew it, I knew it was here!" Reik said as the doors above started to close "Congrats Reik, lets just hope we get out of here to tell the tale."
LOTHAL SECTOR
Phantom
The boys and Chopper were flying through the empty void of space, it was a long silent flight as Ezra looked back to see Ahkilleon rubbing his hands against one another. "So, if you were a king what-" "Ezra I said I didn't want to talk about."
"Oh come on it's been an hour and we haven't said a word to one another, humor me?" Ezra asked him.
"I don't want to be a king." Ahkilleon said getting up, "What, why not?" Ezra asked him looking back, Chopper squawked and Ezra nodded "You would be a tyrant droid king, Chop."
Ahkilleon paced around the small ship, "Yeah like the one we already have, the Empire has an Emperor and he's in charge all of it, you think if a monarchs were a good thing they'd have more of them, but it doesn't take long to find out most end up as tyrants."
"But you'd be a good one I'd bet." Ezra said.
"How do you know?" Ahkilleon asked, looking at him, "Because I would be there to make sure you were." Ezra said holding up the Nexu fang.
Snickering, Ahkilleon walked up, "Yeay, I'd have a pretty cool royal court."
He looked down at Chopper, "And a droid as my fool." The droid let out a snap of beeps and led out his claws swinging them around in kung fu like chops, "And I'd be your General." "No." Ahkilleon told Ezra.
The dark haired boy spun his head around "What, why not?"
"Because Sabine would be my General, I'd be nuts not to have a Mandalorian in charge of warfare." Ahkilleon said.
"Okay, okay, hmm what about the rest?" Ezra asked.
Ahkilleon pondered for a moment leaning on the chair and scratching his hairless chin, "Zebs is obvious, he'd be my honor guard captain." "Naturally." Ezra said.
"Hera would be the Admiral of the royal fleet." Ezra said, "Naturally." Ahkilleon said like Ezra had just done.
"That leaves Kanan, Rex and I, what about us?" Ezra asked him.
Thinking a bit more, "Honestly I don't think Kanan would be much of a kingsman, eh I'd let him start his own Jedi Order, with ponytails instead of padawan braids."
Ezra laughed hartley at that, "He does love that ponytail."
"Rex, I think he's tired of war, he'd be my…. What's the word, Viceroy?" Ahkilleon said hand behind his back, finger up, "What's a Viceroy?" Ezra asked.
Ahkilleon answered "It's just another fancy title for people who like big hats."
"Okay, okay, Rex gets a big hat, stop teasing and tell me mine?" Ezra asked.
Thinking on it, "Hmm, my Champion."
"Hmm Champion, I like that." Ezra said as something came up on their sensors, Ezra looked up to see a ship, it was a modified C-ROC Gozanti-class light cruiser and the personal transport. It was green with a yellow crescent with horns on it and a divided T running down the center. "That's Vizago's ship, all right. I wonder what happened."
Ezra started to contact him "Vizago! Cikatro Vizago, do you read me?"
No answer and Chopper asked them something "Well, of course, we're going to board the ship. Vizago must be in trouble. Why else wouldn't he answer his comm?" Ezra said.
As the Phantom came up alongside the ship, Ahkilleon looked at the symbol on the side "Wait, it's the broken ship, and this Cikatro Vizago is the head of the Broken Horn Syndicate, how many people are in this organization?" he asked.
"Just Vizago and some droids." Ezra said as they locked into the ship's port, both of them had their helmets Ezra's painted bike trooper helmet and Ahkilleon holding the Phase II clone helmet with his mothers orange paint on his face"That's not a syndicate, that's barely even a gang?"
Ezra looked back "What your an expert on the galactic criminal underworld now?"
"No, but I understand proper grammar and false marketing." Ahkilleon said as they walked in to see a droid towering over them, an IG-RM bodyguard and enforcer droid no less with green and yellow paint, both boys and Chopper jumped out of their skin seeing it but the droid didn't move.
Ezra got a bit closer and saw a dozen more behind them "They're shut off. Something is definitely not right."
Before they could ask any more questions they heard music coming from the ship's bridge, walking down the hall they followed it into the cockpit to see a pair of legs sticking out from under the ship "Vizago? Vizago, is... Is that- is that you?" Suddenly the legs popped out and with them an old weequay man with a metal hat and goggles, he had many rings on his fingers and was dressed in a red and white flight suit with a leather belt and bronze buckle of a rancor.
"Uh, not exactly." He grunted getting up and standing over the two boys "Well, hello there, allow me to introduce myself. I am Hondo Ohnaka, proud owner of this fine but currently inoperative vessel."
Ezra and Ahkilleon looked at one another under their helmets and then took then off, "Where's Vizago? This is his ship." Ezra asked.
"Ah, you know Vizago? Well, then we have a mutual friend." The man claiming to be Hondo Ohnaka siad "Yes, it was his ship. But we were enjoying a friendly game of sabacc, and... Well, now it is my ship." The old weequay asked.
Ezra looked confused "Vizago bet his ship?"
The old man nodded, smiling "Right after his droids, which are now also mine." Watch. I turn them on, I turn them off." the stranger named Hondo said using a small device no bigger than an old republic comlink to turn the droids on and off. "I love that."
Ezra and Ahkilleon exchanged another look between their green and blue eyes "Yeah, okay, I... I guess that could happen."
"You know about me, but who are you?" Hondo asked, it was rude of them not to introduce themselves.
Ezra paused for a moment "... I'm Lando Calrissian-" "Lando! So at last I meet the semi-famous Lando Calrissian! A tad younger than I pictured, but to be so young and flying to my rescue proves that you must be the scoundrel I have heard of." Hondo said with a great sign of admiration and Ezra smiled sheepishly at it.
"Yeah. I mean, I am pretty good." Ezra said smiling at him, Ahkilleon rolled his eyes at the lie and then Hondo turned to this.
Chuckling Hondo said "He's pretty good…" Hondo turned his gaze on Ahkilleon looking at his face and at his birthmarks, "Have we met?" he asked "No, I don't think so." Ahkilelon squeaked.
"Don't tell me this must be the infamous Han Solo." "Han wha-" Ezra elbowed him before he could get that out "Y-yes I'm Han Solo." Ahkilleon said.
Hondo turned around "Wonderful, wonderful are you two looking for a crew? Good news. Hondo is hiring."
"Uh, we already have a crew. Speaking of, where'd my droid go?" Ezra asked, looking around for Chopper.
"Oh, you lost your droid? I lost my whole crew, thanks to the Empire." Hondo sighed and for a moment Ezra and Ahkilleon could feel the sadness in his voice, and in the force "I once was a captain, you know. Oh, the stories I could tell. So many of them are true. ( Beeping ) Uh, yeah, you want to tell a story?" Before Hondo could stat retelling his swashbuckling adventures the alarms went off and approaching them fast from the other side of the bridge window was an Imperial light cruiser closing in, fast. Ezra dropped his helmet as Chopper rolled in "Tell one to the Empire while I try to get the power back on." Ezra said.
Hondo ran to the comlink and Ahkilleon watched "Hello? How can we help you?"
A male imperial technician's voice came out the other end "Attention, transport. You have breached an Imperial checkpoint."
"Hyperspace would be good!" Hondo said as the imperial ship opened fire with green cannon fire reigning down on them.
"Think I got it!" Ezra said as they started to make the jump to hyperspace "Well, Han, Lando, it looks like we are off on an adventure!" Hondo shouted as they made the jump.
LOTHAL
Black Wolf Moon
The Last Laugh continued its descent deep, deep into whatever base they were going into the darkness surrounding them only banished by the wall lights, till it finally came to a halt. Captain Naqia walked through the hallway lined with Hyena squad and Sans warriors, "Alright, this is what we call a recon mission, we are going into this base blind, no idea what's waiting for us." She said as she pointed to Butch, "Butch here is what you call a super tactical battle droid, he was used by the Separatist in the last war as commander doids, he's on point with me, if this computer recognized him he can convince it we're not a threat."
"And if I need to convince them?" Chief San as usual questioning orders.
"Chief San, I understand we are guests in your world, but we need to be very careful here." She said back to her, "The Dragon's Horde is more than just a weapon depot, it's a factory, meant to test and build experimental weaponry never seen by anyone except a few." She said, meeting her eyes.
Turok cleared his throat "That means nobody gets lost, we all stick together."
"But shouldn't we spread out, cover more ground?" Reik asked.
"Listen, anyone who has ever gone into a mysterious hidden place that nobody has been for years always gets picked off one by one, always." Turok explained.
She lifted her helmet and slid it down on her face, "Seal your helmets, this is a droid base that means no oxygen." She said pressing a button on her helmet's left side and there was a suction noise, the other militia all did the same. Jay wearing his own helmet walked up to Turok and held up his helmet it was shaped to fit a trandoshan head with a raised wedged top and a long part in the face for him to slip on. He sealed it and they opened the ramp the oxygen getting sucked out.
"Move out." Naqia ordered.
Everyone filled out of the ship in single file and formed a line, Jay was the last one to go when Naqia grabbed his arm "Not you Cadet."
"But I should go, I'm tech support." Jay asked since the recent demise of their original tech support.
She frowned under her helmet "In most cases yes, but your still a cadet and someone needs to guard the ship, usually Butch would stay with you but we need him. Once we leave seal the ship don't open it for anyone but us…" She leaned in "Anyone but 'us', understand." She said with a clear incentive in the middle word.
"Roger, Roger Captain." Jay replied.
The away team walked out of the ship and to a large sealed door, pressing a button the door started to open but cut short not even big enough for the smallest of the group to fit through. "Butch?" Naqia asked.
Turok watched the droid walk up and hold up his metal fist, the droid inserted a splicer tool that an astro droid unit would use to open a door but while he tried to get it to open, "It's not the computer, the door's internal mechanism is broken."
"We got this." Declan said walking up, Tai joined him, both of them ignited their lightsabers and cut the door open on the hinges before it fell back. "The universal key." Declan said turning off his saber pyke "Never leave home without it."
"Show offs." Gaser said under his breath before they walked into whatever it was they were heading into. No lights came on as they entered, "Headlamps." she ordered pressing a button on her helmet, near the front, everyone repeated and flashlights embedded into their helmets lit up their line of sight clearly for them to walk into the darkened hallway. Butch led the way his orange eye sensors seeing in infrared.
As they moved the hallway was lined with sealed doors, and the architecture was clearly pre empire, "This is definitely a Separatist base." Turok said, rubbing one claw against the walls grinding the dust between his talons.
"Right, that means the command center will be at the very center of the compound, Separatist strongholds were designed to withstand sieges. The Republic clone and the jedi would always push forward, if they couldn't destroy all the droids they'd take out the command center that would deactivate them all." Naqia said beside him.
Tai smirked "It usually worked." she said next to Reik.
"You fought in the War of Core Aggression?" he asked.
"The wha-, oh yeah most people I know call it the clone wars, except for a few." Tai said looking over at Gaser who just grunted. Reik paused, seeing there was some discontent between him and her, maybe more than that or he was overthinking it.
Tai and he continued to walk as both of the Ikar had their lightsabers on to light the way, "To answer your question, no, I didn't fight at least not in the clone wars, I was a… consciousness objector." she explained.
"So a coward." Chief San said, Tai stopped and turned to her the constant goading of the Okami Chief had begun to wear thin, "Some would say, but like many other jedi before the war was over didn't believe in an unjust war, better to be called a coward then a hypocrite." She said before ignoring Chief Sans's words.
Up at the front Naqia had Fang behind her, "She's up to something, the Chief, she's looking to goad us into a fight."
"Stand down, for now." she ordered him, "But Captain-" "Commander Dray has a plan, but doesn't want us involved." She whispered. "Right Turok?" She asked the trandoshan.
"Keep your heads down, wait for the right moment." Turok told them as they went deeper into the Black Wolf Moon.
GAREL
Ghost
Both Hera and Kanan were standing in front of the open port to where the Ghosts secondary transport the Phantom should be, but wasn't. "Why do we even bother trusting them alone?" Kanan asked looking at Hera, "I'm not going to say I told you so, it tastes even bitter in my mouth."
"Try to raise them on coms with any luck they're just out for a joyride." Rex said from the doorway.
"And you would know?" Kanan asked.
Rex smirked "Two teenage boys with an entire ship to themselves, and no adult supervision, yeah sounds about right."
"I swear when Ezra gets back he's on double jedi training." Kanan grumbled heading to the bridge.
That's when Ahsoka appeared in "Kanan." She said holding her hand up "Perhaps we should trust the boys to come back, when they're ready."
"Really, but who knows what could happen to them?" Kanan asked.
"I know, I'd be lying if I wasn't worried too but I know the harder you try to keep people close, the harder they try to get away." she said not happy to admit it.
Kanan frowned and gave a grunt before he headed to his room to try and meditate, Ahsoka watched him and headed over to Rex, "Any word from your contacts?" "Contacts?" Hera asked.
Ahsoka waved at her to follow, they walked into the lounge and brought up the holotable "What we saw at the Black Market isn't anything new."
"What do you mean?" Hera asked, "Well how many times do you see a local group of nomads kill intergalactic gangsters in broad daylight?" Rex asked her.
"Point taken, but what does this mean?" she asked as Rex brought up a holomap and a bunch of marks started to appear in the outer rim.
Rex continued "While we've been trying to figure out what Turok and Trench were up to all this time, someone has been making moves across the underworld hitting planet's black market spots fast and hard, pushing out the syndicate."
"But the syndicates wouldn't take that lying down?" Hera said as Sabine listening in around the corner.
"They wouldn't if they knew who was hitting them, I described the blasters to my contact and they said they're the same model popping up everywhere with these groups and I got a name." "Cabal?" Ahsoka asked.
Rex shook his name "They call themselves, Militia."
"As in planetary militias?" Hera asked.
"That's just it, there are all these different planets and sectors but none of them are declaring. Usually when these attacks happen someone takes credit, they have a message, a manifesto, this is bigger than we thought." Rex said to her.
Ahsoka thought for a moment, "Rex, bring up the holomap of those pirate raids we learned about." Rex did so and not to her surprise the two maps were near identical, the same spot where the raids were happening and the planets with black markets being hit were near identical.
Hera gapped seeing this, she leaned in "Force, do we see the same thing?" she asked.
"Those weren't pirates, those were probe attacks, to measure response times of Imperial forces in each sector." Rex said looking at it, "And if probe attacks are step one, and step two is taking out the underworld, what's step three?" he asked.
Ahsoka felt the word on the tip of her tongue like bile "Invasion."
LOTHAL
Black Wolf Moon, deep, deep underground
The jedi cut open another door and their detachment moved in one by one securing the next junction, "You still picking up that signal Butch?" Gaser asked the droid.
"Roger, Roger, I can't seem to send a response. It's coming from a computer, the central one if these codes are correct." the droid responded.
Chief San grunted "Maybe you can get these lights on?" She asked and just like that all the hallway lights came on, "Hmm thanks Metal man." She said.
Butch turned his metal head around "That… wasn't me?"
"Defensive positions!" Naqia ordered, "What-" San started to say "Defensive positions now!" she and her men formed up near the walls cover and so did the rest of the Militia, those carrying holoshields activated them and formed a line of yellow energy walls to cover each of their flanks. "I thought you said these Separatists were your friends?" Chief San asked on the other side of the wall. Then alarms began to blair and there was a deep rumbling under their feet. The sound of clanking marching was heard down and behind them in each hallway as doors were heard to be opening. Around each corner came rows of and rows of B1 battle droids marching toward them with sleek gray armor the same color as the moon rock.
Captain Naqia rolled her eyes under her helmet, "The droids aren't the smartest, and we're walking in with organic soldiers, and two jedi it probably thinks-" "Halt Republic Scum!" one of the battle droids shouted with a yellow paint job on their armor.
"That…" Naqia groaned, "Butch talk to them."
"Uh.. I'll try Captain." the super tactical droid said as behind them super battle droids marched up in their bulky gray armor arm cannons raised. As everyone watched Butch walk forward they held their breaths "Halt, identify yourself unit?" the commanding droid demanded.
Butch looked back "Butch." "No, no, your serial number."
"Oh, transferring now… cousin?" Butch replied and the two droids began to speak in binary and there was a long pause.
"What's wrong with your droid?" Decaln asked the Hyenas.
Gaser grunted "Butch is a special case, he was being used by a a junker as a manual labor unit idiot didn't know what he had, so we bartered for his freedom, he was repaired poorly so his memory core and his functions aren't… mechanically inclined."
"Repaired, was he shot by clones?" Tai asked.
"No, cut down by an energy blade." Gaser growled.
The droids kept speaking before the center droid "Identity confirmed Commander, what are you doing with these organics?" The droid asked.
"We are uh reinforcements sent by uh Count Dooku." Butch said to them, the droids looked at the soldiers and at the two jedi "Wait a second, this is a jedi trick, blast'em."
"Shields!" Naqia said before the droids could fire, the Militia locked their yellow energy shields and locked them in a wall.
Butch grabbed the commander droid, punching him and taking a few shots, but his heavy armor protected him as both Tai and Declan rushed the droids "Finally some action." He said activating his saber pyke and Tai turned on her own lightsaber the green and blue blades cutting down the droids. The Milia opened fire behind their shields and Naqia held here and up "Push forward, hold the wall." She said loudly and the Militia began to move like a great turtle of metal and lasers.
"Why are we hiding?" Chief San asked as she fired at the droids behind them, "We're not hiding, we're being tactical, those are B1's they overwhelm us and this is all over." Naqia snapped as the Jedi cut a path for them.
"Follow the jedi." She ordered.
They followed Tai and Declan, with Butch using his greater strength and power to fight through the droids like the battle droid he was. "Must be like old times aye Master?" Declan asked behind his cortosis helmet.
"I never fought droids padawan." Tai said stabbing one and cutting there heads off.
They moved around a corner with the other battle droids following them, as they shield wall moved Chief San grunted "These droids aren't so tough."
Suddenly the doors on each side of them opened and squads of towering juggernauts of droids walked out with massive hulking upper bodies and faces built into there torsos "Uh…"
"B2 battle droids, very tough." Naqia said shooting at one in the face.
Turok rose up and shot two in their waits, "Aim for their lower bodies, the armor is weakest at the joints." The trandoshan shot out the droids legs and they moved forward.
"Butch, we can't keep this up." Gaser said using the rotating blaster cannon as they moved through the hallways.
"I need a panel to turn them off." The droid said, ripping off a B1's head.
For a brief moment everyone who wasn't fighting looked around, "Here, got one." Fang said, pointing to a nearby door. The shield wall moved around it and Butch came in and plugged in.
"Come on, come on, more is coming." Fang said behind cover of one of the Militia men before they went down and he had to pick up their shield.
"Bypassing the central computer, entering codes and-." Suddenly all the battle droids shut down and hunched over standing in place.
Everyone breathed a little easier as the shield wall broke, "Nice work Butch." Gaser
said to the droid.
Unplugging Butch said "That… wasn't me."
"If it wasn't you, who was it?" Fang asked wary.
The doors opened up in front of them and Butch said "The central computer… it's awake ano it wants to talk."
SOMEWHERE IN THE OUTER RIM
The Broken Horn
The Broken Horn continued through space before it dropped out of hyperspace. "It is as if we were in each other's heads." Hondo chuckled, "We only just met, and we already make a remarkable team." he said walking the two boys out of the bridge and through the halls of the broken horn.
"Yeah, but we're not." Ezra said shoving him off and Ahkilleon slipped out of it "Not yet, perhaps you know, I could use you two for a job. A little trade, that is all. You know," Hondo said before he inhaled sharply and acted like he was wounded or out of breath "I am an old man I just need help pushing a few crates."
"Crates of what?" Ezra asked, Hondo opened a door to reveal crates of power generators, the very thing the rebels were looking for "Whoa! Whoa. Power generators? That's what you're smuggling?" Ezra asked.
"These are pretty hard to get these days, old man. Expensive, too."
Hondo smiled at him as Ezra watched him deal "You're right, which is why we will sell them at a fair markup, five hundred percent."
Ezra frowned and looked at Ahkilleon, "Don't look at me." he whispered "Oh, okay. I help you, you give me my cut in power generators."
"Three crates." Ezra said holding up three fingers "All right. Two crates, and you have a deal." Hond counter offered.
"Two and we split the profit of the third." Ezra recounter offered.
This brought a smile and laugh to Hondo "Deal. The way you strike a bargain, you remind me of a great pirate I know. Me! Ha!" The broken horn flew down to an ice world to a large outpost with no signs of imperial presence there ,the building was a spaceport with many hangar doors already opened for their approach.
"Now, let's split up the merchandise." Hondo said as they lowered the loading ramp, both boys behind a single hovercraft and Chopper behind one as well, as hondo walked out Ezra with his quick hands grabbed the droid device and took it. "Look, this could come in handy if he gives us trouble. Hang on to it, Chop." Chopper made a whirring noise and took the device storing it in his compartment.
Ezra stopped him from following "Hey, stay here in case there's any kind of trouble."
"I know we're already in trouble. Just keep your comm channel open." Ezra told him as they pushed the cart "And try not to kill anyone." Ahkilleon told the droid.
Chopper made an insult at him when the droid said "I swear, I hate that droid." Ahkilleon said.
"Hurry it up, boys! We are on a schedule!" Hondo called back to them, the two boys pushed the crates all the way to another hangar.
"So, who is the buyer anyway?" Ezra asked. He got his answer hearing a very unique sounding voice
"Alright Where's Vizago?" A very fat stout, Jablogian man with red skin and pointed ears and yellow eyes wearing a big pale green and beige coat with dark pants, holding a large box of credits under his arm, he had guards with him all of who were armed wearing armor. "Azmorigan." Ezra said under his breath.
Ahkilleon leaned in under his helmet, they were both wearing them so their faces were hidden "You know him?"
"Long story, I helped the real Land with his farm and this guy showed up, just follow my lead."
Hondo let out a loud and proud standing boast "Ah, Vizago is indisposed, uh, so to speak, granting me the privilege of conducting business with you, O legendary one, Hondo Ohnaka at your service." Hondo said, making an introduction.
"Is this a joke? I don't deal with washed-up old relics." Azmorigan said holding a blaster pistol.
Hondo smiled as he continued "Come now, let's leave your wife out of this." Ahkilleon snickered under his clone helmet hearing that "This guy is pretty funny." he whispered to Ezra.
"There is no need for such impropriety among thieves I am certain we can reach an accord."
Azmorigan smiled as more of his men appeared "I'm certain we can. Hmm?"
Suddenly the men all held there blasters up at the three, it was a double cross, everyone held their hands up as they came to disarm them "That was easy." Azmoriga gloated as the three of them were force to there knees put in handcuffs and there weapons were taken.
"Nice going, partner." Ezra said as he hit his comlink on his wrist, "Looks like you got us captured. It would be nice if we had some backup!" He said loudly while Azmorigan walked up.
"Uh, just a thought, but why don't we just call it even and go through with the original deal? Sounds good, yes?" Hondo countered as the thugs took Ahkilleons lightsaber.
"I appreciate your offer, humbly, but I don't think you're gonna be around to collect." the red faced smugglers said.
Hondo moaned sarcastically "Azmorigan, take the fruits of our labor, if you must, that I understand, but this? Is it necessary?"
"Oh, yes. You see, the Rang Clan has a nice bounty on your head. I'll collect on these generators and make an additional profit from your death." He gloated while Hondo frowned and shrugged as if he agreed.
"Your business plan is impressive."
Azmorigan snapped at them suddenly "Of course, it is. It's mine. Uh... Who is this?" He asked looking at the two boys, he came up and took off their helmets one by one "Hey. Hey. I know you... From somewhere. Calrissian's farm on Lothal!"
"Well, of course, you know him. This is my longtime friend, Lando Calrissian and Han Solo." Hondo said.
Both Ezra and Ahkilleon started to look very nervous "What? No, he's not Calrissian, and he's not Solo, that man doesn't go anywhere without his Wookiee!"
"You lied to me? I knew I liked you!" Hondo said proudly.
"Uh... You... You robbed me." Azmorigan said and started to chuckle maliciously "Oh, I will enjoy this. I get to collect on Ohnaka, I get to kill you and I get to keep the five generators!" Azmorigan kept snickering. "All of them, five crates- wait. There are only four crates here?" Azmorigan stuttered seeing the the four Ezra had on "You were supposed to bring me five! Well, the droid had the fifth crate. Droid?" Ezra said.
"Droid, what droid?" Azmorigan said, pushing the blaster between Ezras eyes.
Ahkilleon tried to get up but he was pushed down by the guard next to him, "Leave him alone sleemo."
"Sleemo, why you." He slapped Ahkilleon across the face and the boy spat out some blood but looked back a growing red mark on his face, "Oh hoho you think your tough."
The criminal grabbed Ahkilleons lightsaber and looked at it, "W-what his this some sort of toy?" he asked. When he slid his fingers across it and suddenly the hidden blade popped out and sliced Azmorigan across the hand and he screamed, just in time Chopper came bursting in on the crate ramming into Azmorigans guard taking them by surprise. It sent everyone into a panic both Ezra and Ahkilleon jumped up using the force to summon there lightsabers and turnd them on to cut their bonds, blue and orange lightsaber blades burned bright.
"Blast him!" the thugs shouted as Azmorigan dropped the crate of credits, Hondo watched the guard next to him try to shoot Ezra but he kicked his legs out and he landed on one of the hangars empty hover carts, Hondo hit the controls and sent it flying out of the hangar and into space "Thank you for stopping by."
Picking up his blaster, Azmorigan opened fire "Die, you pirate scum!"
They all opened fire and Ahkilleon started to deflect it as Ezra dragged Hondo to cover and cut his bond "Whoa!" Hondo said, looking over and almost getting his head taken off "Well, this is fun, what's the plan?" Hondo asked.
"I don't know. Ask the droid." Ezra said before another thug appeared and Hondo chucked his boot at the man "Lando, watch out!"
"Now you die, Hondo Ohnaka!" Azmorigan said as his men surrounded thdem. Ezra, Hondo and Ahkilleon back to back, the two boys looked at one another "Push." "Where?" "Everywhere." and then Hondo ducked knowing what that word meant when someone carried a lightsaber.
"Uh-oh." Azmorigan said as the two boys pushed with the force sending all the guards and Azmorigan flying, Hondo saw the credit box lying there and ran for it picking it up "I'm rich!" He picked it up and made a run for the door but stripped onto an out of control hover cart that started to send him to the same fate as the thug he'd recently expired "I'm dead!" he screamed.
Ezra saw Hondo on a one way trip and reached out with the force to stop the cart grabbing it with the force, but it left him wide open for Azmorigan to line up his blaster and shoot Ezra's hand grazing him, Ezra grabbed it and fell back, Ahkilleon saw his friend, his brother, get shot and turned his eyes toward Azmorigan and his guards before he charged them, he deflected there shots "Run, run now." Azmorigan said before Ahkilleon drew back his hand and with one hand forward he mean to blast them with force push but instead lightning came out and electrocuted them.
Hondo had run up to Ezra to see if he was okay, "I'm fine I'm-" Ezra saw Ahkilleon shocking the thugs and Azmorigan before he stopped and walked up to them with a lightsaber over them. He raised it "Ahkilleon!" Ezra shouted and Ahkilleon stopped turning his lightsaber off and stepped back.
"Run- runaway." Azmorigan shouted running to his ship terrified of the boy, Ahkilleon rubbed his forehead starting to sweat, he looked at his hand expecting to see more burn marks but no his hand was completely fine.
Walking back he went to check on Ezra, "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, just a scratch." Ezra said rubbing his hand the wound already cauterized from the laser.
Hondo stood up and patted the box of credits under his arm "O, well, that was easy, very good. Now!" Hondo said looking at them "My friends, my friends. You might not be Calrissian or Solo, but I know one thing you are... You are a Jedi."
BLACK WOLF MOON
Dragons Horde
The Militia continued to move through the base, "So if you didn't turn it off, does that mean someone's at the central computer?" Turok asked Butch, and they followed the droid who continued to lead the way.
"Unlikely, they wouldn't have any food or oxygen?" Butch said. As they walked into a new corridor and this one had
Turok scratched his chin "Hmm this base is entirely droid automated, it stands to reason that the Dragon's Horde has a central self automated central computer?"
The others followed behind them, Reik was watching Chief Sans back as she followed the others with Captain Naqia, "We lost five of my men back there."
"They did their duty, we'll recover their bodies when we leave." Naqia said.
"Hmm, once we have control of these droids, none of my people need to die." She said holding her blaster tight.
Captain Naqia grunted, "Using fake soldiers isn't the same, why do you think they called it the clone wars, they won because they were real soldiers, not droids no offense Butch."
"None taken Captain." He said up ahead. As they entered the new hallway they saw a window, and some of them stopped then everyone stopped out the window buried deep under the surface of the moon was entire chasms of underground machinery and as far as the eye could see into the darkness there was a storage floor filled with millions upon millions of droids. Not only that they saw vulture droids in storage, tanks, transports both ground and space, there were models of machines that none of them recognized everywhere.
Gasping Tai said "By the force, there's entire army down here."
"Just what we need." Chief San said looking back at her men.
"Butch, is it possible this central computer is tracking us?" Tai asked.
The droid stopped "Yes, why?"
"Because they're are cameras right there, there and there." She said pointing at the various cameras looking at everyone.
The militia raised their hands to shoot at them "No." Turok said, holding up one claw.
Walking up to one of the cameras, "Whoever is watching us, we mean you no harm." He said up to them.
Reik watched as the cameras all focused in on Turok, "You said you wanted to talk, so lets talk."
The doors in front of them opened and a dark room laid ahead, Turok walked in and everyone else followed, one by one turning on the lights of there helmet. When they were all in the doors sealed and lights flashed on when there eyes adjusted they were standing in a gigantic chamber surrounded by computer and monitor screens and at the center a massive holomonitor built into the floor and the ceiling it came on and a bright green hologram appeared but it wasn't in the form of anyone, it was various numbers, codes, straight lines and spiraling glowing images "What is that?" Gaser
"It's a program of some kind?" Butch said looking at it.
The hologram spoke in droid speak, very deep and primal like a throat growling of a beast "What the hell is that thing saying?" Chief San asked.
"It all makes sense now." Fang said as the Militia looked at one another, "What?" Reik asked them.
"This place is the Dragon's Horde, we all thought it was just a name for what was here we never stopped to think of there actually being one?" Turok said.
He turned up to look at the red holo program, "This is the bases artificial intelligence, this is the Dragon."
It spoke again, and Chief San didn't have to ask "It's saying it has a name."
"What, Dragon?" Gaser asked him.
The holo program spoke again, "No, it's name is Levithan, and it wants to know why it shouldn't destroy us all." Suddenly the ceiling opened and two Duane turrets appeared pointing at them.
SPACE
Broken Horn
Ezra and Hondo walked back into the Broken Horn with Ahkilleon and Chopper came in from behind them, "Why didn't you tell me you were a Jedi? You know, I am an old Jedi sympathizer, I know I wouldn't believe me either, but one of my best friends was a Jedi."
"I'm pretty sure we were friends…" Hondo added.
"Well, we're not really a Jedi yet." Ezra said as Ahkilleon came around to stand next to him.
Hondo held his hand up "Well, then be a pirate Jedi!"
"We will make an excellent team, but first, tell me, what is your names? Your real names." Hondo said to the two boys, Ezra nodded and Ahkilleon gave a clear throat.
"Ezra Bridger." the bridger boy said.
Hondo turned to the other "Ahkilleon Tano."
"Tano, I thought as much." Hondo said under his breath "Thank you, Ezra Bridger and thank you Ahkilleon Tano."
"Well, you must have many responsibilities, yes?" Hondo asked.
Ezra shrugged "Yeah, too many at the moment."
"Well, then join my crew, and I will split it right down the middle, fifty-forty, you won't get a better deal than that, especially from me." Hondo offerd.
Ezra thought it over "Wait, that's only 90%. What about the other 10?" Ezra asked.
"Oh, you want me to spend that on expenses, trust me." Hondo added.
"Okay, well, how about 0% for me? I want the generators. All of them."
"You have a deal, partner! Ah! This makes me happy! You get the generators, and I get you for my crew. It is good. Let us celebrate! Droid, droid! Go to the galley and bring me the most expensive drink you can and something for my friends."
"Uh, yeah, I think I'll go with him. Of course, partner."
"Don't forget yours!"
Ahkilleon watched him go and followed Hondo to the bridge and sat down in his chair looking at his credits, "You said you thought as much, does that mean you know I am?"
"I have a pretty good idea, your mother and I have a history." Hondo said in a low voice as he leaned back.
Ahkilleon frowned and started to list off the ones on his fingers "Yeah, I know, the capturing of her master, threatening Felucian farmers, oh and kidnapping my mother to sell her?" He asked.
"Ah good times." Hondo said as he laid back, "And since you don't have those lekku thingies that means you are another jedi's son." Hondo said.
Avoiding his eyes, Ahkilleon walked over to the bridge to look at himself in the reflection, "Yeah, I am…."
"Hmm Ezra wasn't lying when you had many responsibilities, do you wish to give them to Hondo's ear?" the pirate asked.
Turning around, "Where do I start, I found out my oldest friend was a spy, my real grandfather tried to sell out my crew, my figurative grandfather figure who taught me so much, was part of a secret organization, on top of that there may be some prophecy about me, not voluntary I may add and the only girl I've ever liked is mad at me for some reason." Ahkilelon said.
"Ohoho a girl you say, this has gotten juicy." Hondo said leaning in.
"What, none of that other stuff is 'juicy'?" Ahkilleon asked.
Hondo scoffed at it, "Spies and betrayal, secret alliances are boring, but young love is special." Hondo said. "Tell me, tell me, what is this girl who captured a jedi's heart like?" Hondo asked
Leaning back he ran his hair through his short hair, "Well, she's…. Smart, she's brave-" "Pretty?"
"Like a rainbow." Ahkilleon sighed.
"Hondo understands, so what is she, twi'lek, mirallian, Zeltron?" Hondo asked.
He shook his head "Mandalorian." "Whoa, you are bold, hmm but what did you do to make her mad?" Hondo asked him.
Ahkilleon shrugged, "Last thing I told her is I didn't want to get headbutted by her again."
Hondo looked at him before he burst out laughing, Hondo laughed so hard he fell out of his chair and had his legs kicking "What, what?" Ahkilleon asked.
Getting up and wiping his eyes, Hondo chuckled out "Oh partner if you only knew, Mandalorians have this… well thing, called the Keldabe K-" suddenly the door opened and Ezra walked in with a tall green skinned devaronian man with one broken horn
"I think you two know each other." Ezra said.
"Partner, how could you let this dangerous criminal out of the brig?" Hondo asked as Ahkilleon reached for his lightsaber, "Save it, partner. Let's all relax. I take the generators, you two split Azmorigan's credits, everyone wins."
"That is a fair deal. Hmm, and it disgusts me." Hondo said.
Vizago snarled "For once, I agree. Care to hear my counter-offer?" Vizago said holding up the remote Hondo used to turn off the droids to turn them back on.
"You gave him the remote?" Ahkilleon asked.
"It seemed fair." Ezra said.
Ahkilleon took out his lightsaber, "I choose the adventure next time."
Hondo grabbed Ahkilleon by the shoulder and flung him at Ezra and Vizago knocking them back after he turned off his lightsaber, and Hondo ran out the door "Excellent work! I will invest your share wisely. Thanks a lot, partner!"
Vizago pushed the boys off him and ran after Hondo, the two boys got up to face down the IG bodyguard droids "Keep the Jedi occupied." Vizago snapped. As the two boys faced down the droids and started to cut them down with their lightsabers.
"I don't know why I let you talk me into this." Ahkilleon said Ezra.
Another droid swung at Ezra who dodged taking its arm and then its head "No one said you had to come."
"And look where you'd be if I wasn't here." Ahkilleon said, cutting down another droid as they ran into the hallway trying to get to Chopper before Hondo or Vizago got there.
"Oh so you were watching my back the whole time?" Ezra asked him.
Ahkilleon let the force unleashed out of his hand and belated three battle droids out of the way "Of course I am, I will always you stupid idiot." Ahkilleon looked back at him "Now lets crack on, I need a nap." He snapped walking toward the Phantom only to see it flying away and Vizago watching the window.
"Well, looks like you get your ship back, as promised." Ezra said.
Vizago looked back at them and grunted, "Yes, but I lost all my credits and my generators!"
Ezra corrected him "Eh, technically, they were my generators." As he said it every other IG droid came into the hallway surrounding all of them.
Moments later the two boys and Chopper were thrown into one of the ship's escape pods, with Vizago looking down at them "I hate children."
"Not sure how we're gonna explain all this?" Ezra asked Ahkilleon who was smiling.
"Hey, could we lie?" He asked "Hey we could lie, we could lie." Ezra repeated.
Chopper made a confident beep at them "What do you mean you know where Hondo will be?" Ezra asked.
BLACK WOLF MOON
Central Control Room
Forming a defensive circle they had there weapons aimed at the turrets show who were aiming right back at them, the jedi had their lightsabers on and were back to back, "Butch, talk to it." Captain Naqia ordered.
The super tatical battle droid looked up at the droid and from the flashing of it's lights it appeared to be communicating with him, "What's it saying now?" Turok asked as the holo program or Levithan spoke in the deep droid speak.
"Levithan is asking who we are, it's data doesn't recognize our armor, but it's curious to why I, a Super Tactical Jedi is working with Jedi, it thought we were using me as a trick?" Butch relayed to them.
Naqia lowered her pistol, "Tell it that you're part of my squad, that we aren't part of the Republic."
The holoprogram spoke, "It heard us, if we're not with the Republic then who are we?"
"What are we waiting for we should just blast it." Chief San said "It's just a droid." She whispered.
Turok watched her "No, no wait." Reik said, walking out in front.
"Don't tell me your trying to reason with it?" Chief San asked.
The young bloodwolf cleared his throat, "Let me handle this." held his pistol up and flung it across the room. Walking forward the turrets aimed at him now.
"Levithan, you've been trapped here for a long time, do you know how long?" He asked.
Levithan replied and Butch translated, "Over fifteen years and… well it kept an accurate account."
"You're the one sending the message aren't you, is anyone there, yes us?" Reik asked the holoprogram.
It processed and then spoke, "That means yes." Butch.
"Levithan, a lots happened, the war is over, the Republic fell and so did the Separatist Alliance, every single battle droid outside from you have been deactivated." When he said that the red hologram glowed, no, it burned and cracked like fire speaking in a droid very angry.
Everyone looked at Butch, "Um, he doesn't like that." The turrets all primed and could be heard powering on.
"Wait, wait, listen to me, they were destroyed by the Empire, it issued Order 66 which made the clones turn on the jedi, and sent out deactivation codes to all the other droids, the Empire is our enemy, we're friends." He said.
Levithan said something and Butch translated "Levithan has been waiting here for commands from Count Dooku, or General Grievous he wants to know what happened to them?"
"Dead." Turok said answering.
Levithan got even angrier, "What's it saying?" Reik asked.
"It's angry." Butch replied.
"You think?" Gaser asked, looking at the turrets.
Reik turned around "Wait, wait, it wasn't us, it was the Empire, the Empire is the enemy and there everywhere we're fighting against them but we need your help, we need your droids." He said.
Levithan started to calm down and it asked him "Levithan, wants to know who you are?"
Reik looked up and then down, "I'm…." He stared at his hands, "I'm a farmer." Reik said calmly "My family was killed by the Empire, like yours, they may not have been droids but they were just thrown away and left to rot like they were less than nothing."
Levithan replied "Levithan says his primary program is to fight the enemies of the Separatist Alliance, as there is no Separatist alliance he doesn't know what to do?"
"I know how he feels, I know how you feel Levithan." Reik said up to the hologram. "I've lost everything, my family, my home, my future and these people and the droids with me the Outer Rim Militia have given me a new one and they can give you a new one too." Reik said as everyone listened.
The holoprogram looked to be thinking, then the machines embedded into the holoprojector churned and a panel opened with a scanning screen, Levithan spoke "Levithan says he'll join us, but he needs an organic scan uh… oh a handshake?" Butch said as the turrets receded into the ceiling.
"Oh enough of this." Chief San barked pushing forward.
"Chief San-" "No, I was promised a droid army, weapons up." All over Chief Sans Okami militia raised their blasters at the jedi, Turok and Hyena Squad.
"What are you doing?" Reik asked Chief San as she walked up to him.
She pushed him aside "Taking what's owed, droid tells this machine that I'm the new commander of the droid army and to attack Lothal, now."
"What?" Reik asked, shocked.
Chief San pushed him aside "We were driven from our home in the mountains, now we can get revenge, we'll unleash every single one of these droids on the Empire and the low lander scum." She declared looking back at her men "The Okami will reclaim Lothal as it was in the old days."
"You'll kill millions, not just the Empire but your own people, innocent civilians that won't be war it'll be genocide." Reik protested.
She glanced at him "It won't matter, the dead don't won't be alive to care." She walked up to the console about to press her hand on the scanner before Reik drew his war club and pressed it on her gauntlet "I can't let you do this." He said.
"Huh that so- RIGHT!" Chief Sand drew her straight sword and swung it at him, Reik barely had time to dodge before she swung again he parried but she kicked him in the gut his armor taking the brunt before he fell back rolling over he got up holding the club in front of him and staying low as she circled him. Everyone watched as she held up her blade pointed at him.
"You think I was going to just let you outlanders come in and use my people for your own ends, to be your soldiers, well there my warriors." She hissed.
She came at him swinging and slashing, he dodged, tried to counter but got a hook to the jaw and rolled out of the way of another swing "Never trust an outlander or an outsider, your all the same."
"Killing all those people won't save your people, if you do this the Empire will respond like they did last time, but worse." Reik said before catching her sword on his war club, locking it against the head.
Growling "Then we kill them all, every-last-one." Hatred in every word like venom from a cobra.
"Dray was right… you have been consumed by revenge." Reik said before she shoved her shoulder into him breaking the blade lock.
"Oh I haven't forgot about Dray or your militia friends, they'll be the first to die and anyone else who challenges me." She spat.
Reik stood up painting and looked her straight in the eye while he raised his club over his head "Then start with me." He said before she charged, and ran him through "REIK!" Naqia shouted but when the blood dripped out of her sword she saw Reik had moved to the side at the very last moment the blade piercing his left side missing any internal organs. He grabbed onto her wrist before she could pull back and brought back his war club before with one final swing down on her head
CRAACK
The war clubs flail smashed right into the left side of Chief Sans head caving it in splattering the floor with her blood and brains all over the place. Everyone looked at Reik who pulled out Chief Sans sword with a yell before he raised it up over his head the arm holding the war club limp "I claim this sword and with it the right to lead the Okami, who dares challenge me!" The others waited on the Okami to make the next move, one walked up taking off his helmet he kneeled, and then all of the others followed.
Panting, Reik walked over to the panel and pressed his hand on Leviathan's console soon the walls of the chamber opened up with a glass observation room of the inner workings of the moon. What they saw was more then just droids and tanks in that one chamber there were entire ships of Separatist make, Munificent Class Frigates, entire squadrons of vulture droids, hyena bombers and more. They even saw Providence Class carriers but the very crown jewel of the Dragons Hoard was there right in front of them.
"I new the dragon's horde was a legend, but I never thought we'd find this." Turok said looking at it, "That is one big ship…" Gaser said.
Reik limped up to it, blood running from his side, "What is it?"
"There were only five ever made, the Subjugator, The Malevolence, Malevolence II, the Devastation, and the fifth never made it out of the shipyard… looks like there was a sixth, a Subjugator-class heavy cruiser, more commonly known as a dreadnought." Everyone looked at the titan of a ship larger then anything any of them had ever seen besides the moon. A massive forward bow with three large ion cannons one on it's port and starboard sides another in front with thousands of cannons lining its engines on it's far end with a command tower at the top of a back fin.
Reik leaned on the glass "This isn't a moon, or a factory, it's a space station."
GAREL
Ghost dock
Back on Garel, inside the Ghost the rebels were hearing the story of Hondo, 'Lando and Han' and how they escaped Vizago as they walked in Hondo was getting to the good part "Well, wait. I'm not done. Then he let Vizago out! The villain was upon us, I'm telling you!" Hondo said as the two of them walked in.
"But those young lads, he stood tall in front of me and withstood a massive atta…" he trailed off chuckling as none of them seemed amused "My friend! I was just talking about you. How you and I rescued the generators from the evil Vizago."
Ezra frowned "Yeah, that's not true. You stole the generators and our ship."
Hondo gasped like he'd been accused of stealing the Empire's crown jewels "What an accusation! "You wound me!"
"Chopper had the Phantom on autopilot." Ezra said to them.
"Well, that's another version of the story, I suppose. I'll tell you what you can keep my generators, they are my gift to you. Goodbye!" Hondo said, holding his hand up and smiling ear to ear before walking off with the credit box stuffed tightly under his arm. He was halfway out of the ghost when he walked right into Ahsoka.
Hondo screamed like a little girl almost dropping his credits at the mere sight of her "T-t-t-Tano, so-so good to see you again." He said as she smirked arms crossed.
"Hondo." She said as she saw Ahkilleon who was avoiding her gaze "We'll talk about this later." She said to him.
Hondo kept trying not to shake just being here "Ahahaha, motherhood suits you my dear, I never expected it but well…. He really is a chip off the old block."
Ahsoka frowned as she leaned in "Go near my son again, and I take your tongue." She said before stepping aside "R-right, yes, I will be going far, far away now." He said before walking off.
Ezra followed him "Just so you know, at one time, I might have joined your crew." he said making Hondo chuckle "You might…" Hondo let out an honest one "Oh, Ezra. You truly are a Jedi."
Hera smiled hearing that before she turned to the others "Contact Commander Sato. Tell him Ezra Bridger found his generators."
"So, you went for a little spin?" Kanan asked.
"I was just trying to figure things out."
Kanan put his hands on his hips as they watched Hondo walk away "And did you?"
"I used to be like Hondo... Out for myself and alone." He said looking up at Kanan and back at Ahkilleon who climbed up the ladder and headed for his and Ezra's room to go to sleep "But that's not who I am anymore."
"You're on a different path now." Kanan said proudly of his apprentice "And I have you guys."
Kanan patted him on the shoulder "And Ahkilleon was along for the ride?" Kanan asked.
"I think he needed it too, seems like he's a bit more focused now." Ezra said as inside the room Ahkilleon sat down, legs crossed and reached out with the force, taking a deep breath in and out in and out. He held his hands up and closed his eyes before sparks of force lightning began to zap back and forth across his hands and a storm began to brew.
