Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
So, this will cover the last chapter of the original group of Savage Opress episodes. The others focus pretty much just on the Nightsisters and Savage, so it wouldn't really work to do covers of those episodes. But with the last of those episodes, I can.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 33- Witches of the Mist
(January 20, 1993, Terran Time)
It's a dark, rainy day on Coruscant. The dreary weather reflects the mood currently gripping the Jedi Temple.
On a landing pad outside the Temple, Obi Wan, Adi Gallia, Saesee Tinn, Colonel White, and Plo Koon (recently returned from duty on Terra, and replaced by Luminara) watch as a shuttle descends towards them. As it lands, the ramp opens up, and a squad of US Navy SEALS makes their way towards the welcoming party, with two floating coffins among them. In them are the bodies of two Jedi killed on Devaron over a week ago.
As the SEALs approach, one of them says, "They were no survivors on Devaron. Everyone was killed, including Master Halsey and his Padawan."
"In the past, only Dooku's assassin was capable of such an effort, but she was presumed dead at the Battle of Sullust," Gallia says.
"Not everything is as it seems. There may be a new threat. Someone or something has eluded us-perhaps a newly appointed Sith Lord," Plo says.
"Not quite sure I agree with you, Master Koon. I can already tell from the wounds that these weren't caused by lightsabers. This seems more like the work of a monster than anything," White says.
"I agree with Colonel White," Obi Wan says.
(A few hours later)
Obi and Wan and White walk into a room where Obi Wan had been summoned by Master Windu and Yoda.
"Master Yoda, you called for me?" Obi Wan asks.
"Master Kenobi. Show you something, we must," Yoda says.
"We have recovered surveillance footage of the massacre on Devaron," Mace says, planting a recording device on a projector.
The recording begins, showing some massive humanoid with horns on his head attacking clones and the two Jedi with some kind of axe-spear hybrid.
"Darth Maul alive? It can't be. I killed him myself," Obi Wan gasps. White is quiet, remembering the story of Darth Maul that Obi Wan had told the entire ASAT team during their training on Terra.
"Correct, you are, Obi Wan. A creature of the same species he is, from Dathomir," Yoda says.
"Dathomir? The planet of the Witches?" Obi Wan asks.
"Withces? Geez, this galaxy gets weirder by the minute," White says kind of under his breath.
Obi Wan continues, "I was under the impression that Darth Maul's homeworld was Iridonia."
"Dathomir is the planet where Maul was raised. Iridonia is where the rest of the males of the species live," Mace explains.
"Travel to Dathomir, you must. Find the source of this threat, you will," Yoda says.
Obi Wan is quiet for a moment, then nods and walks out of the room. White turns and follows his friend out of the room.
(Dathomir)
Anakin pilots the ship down towards the planet's surface, with Obi Wan sitting beside him and White sitting behind the two Jedi.
"There's the village," Anakin says as the village the killer supposedly came from comes into view up ahead.
He sets the ship down just outside the village, and the three men exit the ship. Slowly, they make their way into the village.
"Be on guard. These men are ferocious warriors and they will show no mercy," Obi Wan says.
"Neither will I," White says in a low voice.
"Calm yourself, Colonel. We need to not cause an incident. Let me handle the negotiations," Obi Wan says.
Suddenly, about a dozen Zabraks leap down around them with loud war cries, holding their weapons. Obi Wan and Anakin ignite their lightsabers, while White just cracks his knuckles.
"So much for not starting something," Obi Wan says.
"Hey, don't look at me," Anakin says.
The Zabraks again let out war cries and attack the three. Obi Wan and Anakin try to avoid using their lightsabers, while White moves fluidly from enemy to enemy, knocking them out or dazing them using just his fists.
Anakin quickly spots their leader on top of a building. He leaps up onto the roof, and quickly gets the Zabrak in a headlock, holding his lightsaber blade to his throat. "Back off!" he shouts. The other Zabraks stop attacking and lower their weapons.
"We're not here to fight you. We're here for information," Anakin says. The Zabraks glance among each other.
"A man from your village murdered two Jedi. We need to know where he is," Obi Wan says.
"What makes you think he's one of ours?" the leader says.
"Because we've seen him and he looks exactly like you, dumb***!" White cries, losing his patience a little. The Zabrak narrows his eyes, not knowing the term but knowing he's being insulted.
After another moment, the Zabrak leader says, "Mother Talzin should know of his whereabouts. One of her women took him as a mate."
"I apologize for the intrusion then. Anakin, kindly release him, please," Obi Wan says.
Anakin deactivates his lightsaber and leaps down to rejoin Obi Wan. They start to walk away, with White bringing up their rear, now with his P226 pistols drawn and aimed at them. The Zabraks look ready to attack again, regardless of the pistols aimed at them, but their leader calls out, "Let them go!"
"Who is this Mother Talzin?" Anakin asks as White turns around and faces forward.
"She's the leader of an ancient order of witches, the Nightsisters," Obi Wan explains.
"Great! Warrior like men, witches-Oh, this place is all kinds of fun," Anakin says sarcastically.
"I'm glad you think so," Obi Wan says.
The three men board their ship and make their way to the other side of the planet, where Anakin sets the ship down where Obi Wan directs.
The three make their way off the ship, heading through the massive plants surrounding them. As they walk, White hears something so faint he almost misses it, and says, "We're being followed."
"Just keep moving. Act casual," Obi Wan says.
Only a few moments later, their followers show themselves as a number of Nightsisters drop down around them, most of them hooded and wielding what look like energy bows, but with one without a hood and carrying two blades. Obi Wan, Anakin, and White all raise their hands to try and show they mean no harm.
Several Nightsisters move forward and take their lightsabers, with one also taking White's pistols, as the one holding the blades says, "Jedi, come with us."
The Nightsisters lead the three to a large fortress-like cave. They lead them through the cave until they come to a chamber deep in the cave. They move the three inside, where a Nightsister with a more extravagant outfit is sitting at a table, with what looks like a crystal ball in front of her.
The three sit down. Once they do, the Nightsister, Mother Talzin, says in an echoing voice, "Master Kenobi."
"Mother Talzin, thank you for your hospitality," Obi Wan replies.
"I believe you have a question for me," Talzin states.
"Yes. You're right. We've had reports of a Dathomiri male on the loose. He's already killed two Jedi. Perhaps you know who he is?" Obi Wan replies.
"Master Jedi, we have no control over the males. Our clan has been in exile for year," Talzin responds.
"I find that hard to believe that you have no control over males, as you seem to be more powerful than them. In any case, even if you have control over them, who's to say you don't know them?" White responds.
"Everyone in the galaxy knows females are dominant on this planet. I do not believe anything happens here without your clan knowing about it," Obi Wan adds.
"To think that the Jedi collect their facts from mere rumors," Talzin says.
"Rumors? You call two dead Jedi rumors?" Anakin asks angrily. He's about to get up, but White grabs his wrist to stop him.
"This thing—this animal is extremely dangerous. If you have any information about his whereabouts, you must tell us," Obi Wan says firmly.
Talzin begins to wave her hands over the crystal ball. "Savage. Savage Opress," she says as fleeting images of the killer appear in it.
"Mother?" Obi Wan asks.
"He is on Toydaria," Talzin says.
"Thank you," Obi Wan says. He, Anakin, and White hurry out and back to their ships, reclaiming their weapons on the way out.
They quickly power up the ship and take off again, climbing into orbit. As soon as they have the proper coordinates, they make the jump to hyperspace, heading for Toydaria.
It doesn't take long for them to reach Toydaria. Coming down towards the capital, they see a ship on the landing platform, of a similar type to ones used by Dooku and Ventress.
"That Savage has to be here," White says as Anakin guides the ship down.
"Agreed," Anakin says before landing the ship and racing out of the cockpit. Obi Wan and White follow close behind.
As they race into the palace, they see Savage on a hovering platform before the throne, with King Katuunko slung over his shoulder.
The three men ignite their lightsabers and race forward. Anakin and Obi Wan run onto two more platforms, with White joining Anakin on his. The platforms raise up towards Savage.
Savage leaps onto Obi Wan's platform, slashing at him with his red double-bladed lightsaber. The two exchange several blows with their sabers. Obi Wan quickly leaps to another, and Anakin uses the Force to send another platform crashing into Savage's, making him stumble a bit as he tries to keep his balance.
As this happens, King Katuunko wakes up and tries to fly away. Obi Wan and Anakin leap onto Savage's platform to try and restrain him. However, Savage uses the Force to grab King Katuunko, choking him.
Seeing the king in trouble, White draws on some lessons from his Russian teammates that were formerly on the Spetsnaz. He leaps onto Savage's platform and leaps onto his back, wrapping his legs tightly around Savage's head. He then starts punching Savage repeatedly in the head, careful to avoid his horns.
The blows to the head are too much for Savage, and he releases his Force grip on Katuunko, who falls to the ground, breathing heavily. White jumps off Savage and leaps down to the ground, grabbing the king and slinging him over his shoulder.
"Hold on, your Highness!" White says as he hurries out of the throne room, trying to find a place to hide with the king.
As Savage regains his bearings, he sees White escaping out of the throne room with Katuunko. He roars in anger and throws himself to his feet, sending Anakin and Obi Wan off of him. He then leaps to attack them again.
Outside, White sees a small place to hide that will still give him a view of the entrance to the throne room. He ducks into it, then starts working to rouse the king.
It doesn't take him more than a few moments before Katuunko coughs and comes to. He looks up at White and asks, "Who are you?"
"Colonel White, Terran Armed Forces. I'm a friend of the Jedi, and I came here to rescue you. I have to ask that you remain here with me while Generals Kenobi and Skywalker are stopping the guy who came to kill you," White responds.
"You saved my life. You have my eternal gratitude," Katuunko says.
White bows his head respectfully to the king. Then, the door to the throne room opens, and Savage rushes out. Looking around and not seeing the king, he roars angrily and heads off to retreat.
A few moments later, Obi Wan and Anakin run out. Seeing them, White leans out of his hiding spot and calls, "Kenobi! Skywalker!"
The two turn towards him. "White! Is the king okay?" Obi Wan asks.
"Yes, he's fine," White says.
"Good! Stay with the king! We will pursue Savage!" Obi Wan says before he and Anakin hurry off.
White escorts the king to his quarters and uses the king's commlink to summon more guards to help him protect the king should Savage return.
About an hour later, Obi Wan and Anakin return to the palace and come to the king's quarters.
"That monster escaped," Anakin says as he and Obi Wan walk up.
White curses under his breath. "So, what do we do now?" he asks.
"I contacted the Jedi Council. You are to remain here on Toydaria until further notice to protect the king. We will be sending some of your former SAS comrades to join you," Obi Wan says.
"Understood," White responds.
Obi Wan and Anakin soon depart Toydaria, leaving White behind to protect King Katuunko.
And, I'll end there. Hope I did well on this chapter.
I decided to have King Katuunko live because the only reason I saw for killing him was to give Dooku a reason to begin torturing Savage with Force lightning. Plus, I always liked Katuunko.
Next chapter will be up soon. It will either be the first of the Citadel episodes, or will cut ahead to the start of the 3 episode Mon Cala arc.
Until the next chapter is up, leave a review, and stay tuned!