AthenaRome,-
I'm proud to say that this story is actually truly interesting me! I actually feel the need to update, this story practically writes itself! Thank you to anyway who has followed or even favorited the story, it means a lot to me when I see people actually care about the Stories I write.
This chapter is very, very loosely based on the beginning of Episode III, but don't worry I don't plan on ending the war just yet, The Separatists still have a long way to go.
Padawan Illontra Ryz and her Master Juno Thermosphere join the massive Jedi Force Mace Windu has assembled to rescue Chancellor Palpatine, Illontra has a face-to-face encounter with General Grevious, Tethys' circumstantial loyalty is put to the test when she has Palpatine at her mercy, and Anaka Skywalker learns of The Consequences of Forbidden Force;)
Sorry, just had to drop the title, I'll keep it out of the actual story, i'll also try to resist jokes about Juno lacking eyes.
The Consequences of Forbidden Force.
Chapter V.
The Hunt for Spirits and Power. Part II.
Illontra Ryz.
As I followed Master Thermosphere we were joined by a Sith Pureblood woman, I was beginning to think I was having some sort of dream, I'm rescued from the Separatists, a Legendary Jedi Knight from nearly 36 centuries ago takes me as a Padawan, Coruscant gets attacked by The Separatists, and now a long extinct alien is walking next to us like it was nobody's business.
"Illontra, this is Lord Scourge, he-at the time-was displaced in time with me, only when that happened he became a she. Scourge this is my new Padawan." Juno introduced us.
"Hello." I made a attempt to bow while continuing to walk, it looked like more of a slight trip then anything.
"Formality is unnecessary, I'm not a member of your Order, simply a former Sith embracing The Light." well atleast unlike Inquisitor Gigantes she didn't use the Dark Side, it scared me to think of a former Dark Lord of The Sith living in the Jedi Temple without redemption. However my Master did seem to trust Tethys Gigantes and The Council, while weary, did allow her to stay so perhaps I should be more accepting.
When we reached the Spaceport one of the massive Venator-Class Star Destroyers had taken off, the remaining Jedi: Mace Windu, Anaka Skywalker, Ashoka Tano, Lord Scourge, Master Thermosphere and I boarded the second one.
The Six of us reached the Hyperlift and were about to activate it when we saw Gigantes' apprentice Xalek running towards us. Master Windu allowed her to board before taking the elavator to the Bridge.
"Where's your Master?" Ashoka asked to Xalek.
"Obi-Sha found her in The Training Room and took her with the Jedi on The Excellence." Xalek had apparently learned the names of The Venators based here before I did and I've lived at the Tmple since I was a child.
I had the unfortunate habit of forgetting nearly everything my Masters taught me other than combat and the Force, with Juno I hope that I can overcome this and take her wisdom to heart. I felt the need to impress my Master but I feel like I'm not even worth her time. Honestly I'm just a lackluster Jedi that doesn't particularly care for The Code and she's The Hero of Tython, she had destroyed a immortal Sith Emperor, I failed to save my Master and got captured in the process.
But, she took me as her Padawan and she is training me to become a one-of-a-kind warrior, she told me I need to overcome my self-doubt to reach that goal. I may be a lackluster Jedi but The Hero of Tython will make me a great Jedi Knight. I don't know where it came from but I got a burst of confidence and right now I felt like I was stronger and ready for war.
The elavator opened and the seven of us gathered around the Holoprojector. Mace pulled up a Projection of the Separatist Star Destroyer.
"This is the Invisible Hand, General Grevious' personal Capital Ship, The Regulator and The Aegis have already engaged, The Corellian Pride is preparing to open fire and The Excellence is only a few minutes ahead of us. Only The Excellence and The The Coruscant II have the Jedi necessary for a boarding. We're going to board from the starboard side while the others board from the Larboard, we'll meet in the Central Corridor and rescue The Chancellor, if possible Destroy General Grevious." Mace briefed.
"Who exactly is General Grevious?" Juno asked.
"He was a Kaleesh Monarch that took a offer from The Separatists to ally with them in exchange for the protection of Kalee, The Separatist betrayed him and destroyed his ship. Turning his remains into a cyborg warrior they called Grevious." A Republic Fleet Admiral walked in.
"Jedi General Windu, we are about to engage The Invisible Hand. A Boarding Shuttle had been prepped, seven seats for you Jedi, the remaing three seats are filled by your squadron's Commander and two handpicked ARC troopers." ARC Troopers? I knew this was heavy but looks like we're going all out.
"Excellent, attempt to cripple the Star Destroyer but avoid any Critical damage untill both Strike Teams are clear."
The Boarding Shuttle navigated past the Turbolasers fire of five Star Destroyers, Master Thermosphere put on her white Mandolorian mask, she was wearing brown robes instead of her customary dark blue, her white armor was freshly polished but I seriously don't that her armor would stay clean, that was the harsh truth of war. War was dirty and inconsiderate of people's needs and wants.
Through the shuttle's small windows I could see we were entering The Invisible Hand, I heard the pressure release and before the ramp was even on the ground Separatist Battle Droids were opening fire. Master Thermosphere activated her blue and black Lightsabers and leaked out ahead, blocking the majority of the fire, and drawing the rest of the fire.
Anaka Skywalker and Ashoka Tano were out next, destroying Droids, I was the fourth out of the shuttle. My yellow-green Double-Bladed Lightsaber was destroying droids with mainly Niman, but I did decide to do some field practice of Vaapad and Shien. At one point I found myself redirecting shots at the Droids with my back against Lord Scourge.
"Thermosphere has affected you much in your very brief time under her." said the woman that was once a male Sith.
"Yeah, I can feel my confidence growing." I awkwardly redirected four shots at once with my Lightsaber, a risky move but a effective move.
"Obviously." she threw her Lightsaber at the last Super Battle Droid attacking her "Juno managed to turn a Emperor's Wrath to the Light, she'll probably make you eligible for Knighthood by the end if the month." Scourge, now at my side.
Eventually we managed to destroy the Droids surrounding us and we helped the others in clearing out the starboard hanger and eventually joined the Second Strike Team, we now had a team of 12 Jedi and 7 ARC troopers.
"Alright Kenobi, Fisto, Koon, and I will take the ARC Troopers for a direct charge on General Grevious. Thermosphere take Gigantes and the remainder on Strike Team One and rescue the Chancellor"With all due respect I would like to be part of the attack on Grevious." Anaka said.
"Denied." Windu's reply was downright cold, Anaka looked angry. Hopefully she could be calmed down before we go into any combat, using offensive Lightsabers Forms while enraged is a responsible for many fallen Jedi. Juyo is notorious for driving the enraged to The Dak Side, if someone actually managed to make Master Thermosphere angry, the results would be catastrophic.
"Calm down Master, atleast you'll get to rescue The Chancellor." Ashoka's words seemed to calm Anaka down to manageable condition as Windu's team walked away.
"Alright, we have the Chancellor's life signal, he's near another signal." Xalek informed us, she and Lord Scourge had been fiddling with a small device, I didn't think it was anything important. But they just gave us the warning that might've saved the lives of this Strike Force.
"Dooku." Anaka said "There's a Sith between us and The Chancellor." Inquisitor Gigantes laughed.
"You mean the weak presence? I mistook that for part of my own Force. This fight will be over quickly." somehow I didn't believe that. Gigantes confidently took the lead, despite my very short apprenticeship I naturally fell into step at Master Thermosphere's side. It was like basic instinct, a weak creature feeling natural in the shadow of a much stronger creature. Though soon I'd be fighting a Sith Lord, I'm not weak, I'm not weak.
It was strange, every time I was feeling of self-doubt and inferiority near Master Thermosphere it's like her own confidence and righteousness was leaking on to me.
Finally Inquisitor Gigantes had lead the Strike Force of Juno Thermosphere, Anaka Skywalker, Ashoka Tano, Lord Scourge, Xalek, and I, Illontra Ryz to the door. When it opened we only was The Chancellor, no one moved.
"Alright Xalek, Scourge, Gigantes, Ryz, and I will set up a perimeter, we'll wait for Dooku to make his entrance, Skywalker you and Tano go and get The Chancellor." Master Thermosphere commanded and everyone followed without question.
I stood in the corner the massive window at one side, the door we entered from on the other.
"We're here to rescue you Chancellor." Anaka said.
"You don't understand, it's a trap!" Palpatine warned. The second story door opened and a elderly man in black robes with brown cape walked in, flanked by Super Battle Droids, in his hand was a curved-hilt Lightsaber, his hand ready to activate it. Count Dooku.
"Skywalker, have you come to lose your other arm?" It was widely known at Anaka lost a arm to Dooku at The First Battle of Geonosis "I see you have brought your Padawan too." After those words we spoken he calmly walked down the steps, doing a traditional Makashi Salute at the end, daring Skywalker and Tano to attack first.
Anaka did infact strike first, she attacked Dooku with violent Ataru strikes, Tano soon joined the fray, using her Lightsaber and her Shoto in Shien. Dooku battled them both off untill he saw a weakness in Ashoka and blew her in the wall, dropping a catwalk on her.
Dooku now focused his full assualt on Anaka. Xalek was his distraction and she began to advance on Dooku, her yellow-orange Double Bladed Lightsbaer charged with Lightning. Chancellor Palpatine looked mildly interested as Xalek walked slowly towards Dooku, like a warrior knowing she could easily end the battle and taking her time.
Xalek attacked a slash but Dooku surprisingly blocked it, however that's exactly what Xalek wanted. Xalek unleashed the Lightning, nearly shorting out Dooku's red Lightsaber and electrocuting him. Dooku used his weakened Lightsaber to quickly block attacks from both Anaka and Xalek.
Scourge saw a opportunity and threw her Lightsaber at Dooku, but the old man surprised us by leaping in the air, Scourge Lightsaber's hit Xalek's.
Anaka took Scourge's Lightsaber as the former Sith charged in with her more customary Vibrosword. I glanced at Master Thermosphere, she nodded and we both ran into the fray.
Then a stray Turbolaser blasted the room, through all of us to the ground.
Tethys Gigantes' perspective.
If I had actually advanced from my corner the Turbolaser would've knocked me unconscious, all the Jedi were unconscious around the room, expect Illontra and Dooku, they both blew into the elavator, which had dropped in the shaft. I sensed that they where still alive, unconscious but alive.
I heard the sounds of The Chancellor in pain, he was heavily injured by the blast, I sensed something off about him, almost as if he was being blocked from the Force. I would keep this secret to myself, the Jedi would likely believe me to be trying to cause anarchy and trail me, I'd keep my suspictions of Palpatine contained.
"You" he asked me "Heal me." he pleaded.
"Why?" my Drommund Kaas accent thick with sadism.
"What? I thought you were a ally!"
"Circumstantially. I still continue to believe that Peace is a Lie." I knew exactly what I was doing and he'd catch on soon enough. His face filled with realization, then he laughed.
"Okay what do you want?" I smiled. Much better.
"You will arrange for missions to Korriban, Kashyyyk, Tython, and Athiss. Make sure that I am included in each mission and of course your silence is required."
"Deal, heal me." I did heal his wounds and successfully revived everyone, but Illontra was still trapped with Dooku.
Illontra Ryz's perspective.
I was barely regaining consciousness after the Turbolaser blast. I knew that I was on a Turbolift and I knew that the lift had hit the ground. Dooku was still out cold, I honestly considered killing him now, Count Dooku was the public leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, I could give The Republic I winning edge right now, but I chose to follow the teachings of Master Thermosphere and strictly follow the Light Side of The Force.
I picked up my Double-Bladed Lightsaber, I activated the yellow-green and I sensed something I did not expect. I blocked Dooku's attack, he had been using the Force to pose as unconscious and he was now trying to defeat me one-on-one.
"You cannot defeat me any other way, embrace the dark side!" I attacked against Dooku using Shien strikes, at a time of such fear and frustration I didn't want to risk using Vaapad. I used Shien on the offensive and I was beginning to push him back, I Force Pushed him bad and threw wall panels at Dooku, he destroyed three of them but the fourth got him. The blunt force had weakened the old man, I threw five more wall panels, he tried to block them but his attempts were in vain. He had lost.
"Surrender to The Galactic Republic and you will retrieve a fair trial!" I commanded, my Lightsaber at his chest.
"Never, I will not surrender." it really pained me to do this, he was reaching for his Lightsaber, he was trying to attack again. I stabbed him through the chest, Count Dooku was dead by my hand, if Mace Windu's attack on Grevious was effective then The Separatists would be in disarray, we might have just won the war today. I was a hero, but I felt like a filthy murderer, I felt dirty.
I found a working elevator and proceeded to the floor with The Hanger.
"Jedi! Proceed back to the Hangers, Grevious has escaped and Master Fisto is in critics condition we need to return to The Coruscant II!" I had just barely beat the rest if the Strike Force to the shuttle, I noticed that the ARC Troopers had been killed.
"Illontra! Your okay!" Master Thermosphere was relieved, she hugged me "Count Dooku, is he alive?"
"No master, he's dead." I whispered, she gently lifted my head.
"Look at me, he was a bad man and he deserved worse, I trust you where quick and merciful?" she asked.
"Yes, I was quick and clean about it, nothing unnecessary other than the actual death." I needed to calm down so I thought of the basic code that was drilled into my head since I was young, the code that is supposed to define me.
There is no emotion, there is peace,
There is no passion, there is serenity,
There is no ignorance, there is Knowledge,
There is no chaos, there is harmony,
There is no death, there is The Force.
Thank you to anyone that reviewed and anyone that favorite-d, my story! Thank you, I love you guys!
Next Chapter Tethys Gigantes will begin her hunt for the spirits she must bind in order to secure her power, meanwhile Juno Thermosphere and her Padawan Illontra Ryz organize a force of Clone Troopers and Wookie Warriors against the Seoaratist invasion of Kashyyyk, Xalek and Lord Scourge secure the Valley of The Dark Lords, Chancellor Palpatine begins to corrupt Anaka Skywalker, and Obi-Sha leaves for Utapau!
Next chapter is a big one and I think that Chapter VII: The Clones Wars Part II Anaka Skywalker's first move towards the Dark Side, Order 66 will be happening much later than it does in the movie. Enjoy!
-AthenaRome.