Chapter 18

Jof

Jof Favrem along with the Delta Force soldiers Colonel Smith and Lieutenant Heinkel made their way through the hallways of the Star Destroyer. "It's quiet around here," Heinkel commented as Jof sensed some troops approaching and had them hide behind a door. "Your Air Force's attack is distracting them; most of the personnel are working on supporting their fighters, or repairing any damage to the Star Destroyer. It could also be they left several thousand soldiers on Earth to help consolidate their power," Jof told him. "That's going to change when we get further," Colonel Smith pointed out. "Are you absolutely certain that your slugs can penetrate the stormtrooper's armor?" Jof asked.

"Look, we may not have lasers, but these 5.56 x45mm rounds can go through a man like a knife through butter at 600 meters. If that can't penetrate armor, I don't know what will," Lieutenant Heinkel told her. "Alright, it's just that I've never seen a slugthrower in actual battle, your words are assuring," Jof told him, then motioned for them to follow her. They passed a corner only for a laser shot to go off just above Lt. Heinkel's head. "We got OOF!" the stormtrooper didn't have time to finish as Jof Force pushed him into a wall, knocking him out. "DOUBLE TIME IT!" Col. Smith yelled as Jof and her group ran through the hall. As soon as they passed a door Jof sliced the control panel with her lightsaber, locking it shut. "We need to be quiet; I sense that there are many stormtroopers in those rooms. If my memory is correct, we are at the bunkers. We have to go past them to reach the lift that will take us closer to the engine room," Jof told the soldiers.

"Alright," Col. Smith nodded and said, "we use hand signs, I'll take the lead, you stay between me and Heinkel." Jof nodded and took her position as the three of them went through the hallway. With each step she could feel all the men sleeping in their bunks, she prayed that they would stay silent and remain asleep. She wondered if she could use the Force to make them all stay asleep, but sensed there were too many for her to concentrate on all at once, and going at it one at a time was not an option. Finally, they made it to the lift. Jof tapped Col. Smith on the shoulder and indicated that she could activate it.

He nodded and Jof turned on the lift, sensing for any movement from the bunks. Just as the door to the lift opened, Jof too late sensed that there were people on board. As soon as it opened Jof saw that it carried an officer and a stormtrooper! Jof quickly activated her lightsaber and stabbed through the stormtrooper's heart and Lt. Heinkel shot the officer in the chest, splashing his blood on Jof. The three of them quickly jumped into the lift and headed down to the Engine Room. The trip was too slow for Jof, and she couldn't help but feel the blood on her as she wiped it off her face. "First time you saw someone die?" Col. Smith asked.

Jof shook her head, "I've had to kill…too many stormtroopers and officers in the past to survive. But…" "I know. You never forget the first time, because every time afterwards you remember it," he told her and patted her shoulder, "You need to bury that for now. We got a job to do, and we'll need you to finish it." Jof nodded her head, remembered the Jedi Code and said, "Thank you, Colonel. You would have made a fine officer in the Republic." "I'm already a fine officer in the Greatest Country Ever," Col. Smith said, and Lt. Heinkel half-laughed at that. Jof smiled a little and said, "Get ready, we're almost done with our ride. There are 15 men between us and the Engine Room." They all adopted serious expressions and got ready to go.

Maddie

Maddie was behind Jack while Major White took point while Lieutenant Ramos was in the rear of their group heading for the Brig. There weren't many stormtroopers…yet. She had with her a large ecto-rifle, her ghost staff that Jof Favrem said was like a lightsaber. She had let her fiddle with it to make it lethal to humans, she didn't like the idea, but it was necessary, as well as a Fento-Sphere. She and Jack had given all of the soldiers' one each. Jack was armed with an ecto-bazooka and his ghost gauntlets and his own Fento-Sphere. Maj. White motioned for them to stop and pointed ahead. He whispered, "Four hostiles, protecting elevators I think. Which one do we take?" Maddie pulled out her GPS tracker that had been set to show the Star Destroyer's layout and said, "The one furthest from us." "Alright, Ramos and I will take point while you secure the elevator. If more hostiles show up, you may have to fight." Jack and Maddie nodded and Lt. Ramos got in front of them.

"Go go go," Maj. White ordered as he and Lt. Ramos ran forward, firing their assault rifles at the stormtroopers. The stormtroopers returned fire and Jack and Maddie had to run as fast as they could to the elevator. It opened to show four troopers. Maddie and Jack ducked aside as they opened fire and rushed out. Maddie tripped one over as he came out and blasted him right in the helmet, then shot a second in the chest while Jack felled two of them with shots to the chest. Maddie looked down at the men she had killed and Jack did as well. "I…I thought they were robots…" Jack said. Maddie had to swallow her bile and said, "This is to save Jazz and protect Danny," she reminded her husband. "Right…for Jazz and Danny," Jack agreed as they and the two Delta Force soldiers got into the elevator and headed up. "We're bound to face more once the door opens," Lt. Ramos said. "Set to full auto, then duck to the sides. I got a few grenades that might help," Maj. White told them. "I think that's a good time for the Fento-Sphere," Jack told him, "I'll use mine once the door opens and you throw the grenade. We tested it, solid objects can go out, but nothing can go in." "Got it," Maj. White said as the elevator slowed to a halt.

The door opened to show several men in black and gray uniforms. "NOW!" Maj. White yelled as Jack activated his Fento-Sphere. A green ectoplasmic energy half-circle surrounded them just in time as the black and gray uniformed men fired their lasers. Lt. Ramos fired away and Maj. White tossed three grenades, "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" Three explosions ripped through the room as shrapnel tore through the room, killing all the uniformed men. "Let's go," Maj. White said and the four of them ran ahead into the cells. Maddie confirmed they found the right one. "I need a key of some kind!" Maddie said. "I'll get it," Lt. Ramos said and ran back the way they came. Two minutes passed and then they heard two shots and Ramos screaming.
"RAMOS!" Maj. White yelled then Ramos…FLEW at them, knocking them all down. They looked and saw that he was dead, a scorched hole through his chest. Maddie looked up to see a tall bald man in a red cloak and armor with some kind of red laser spear in his hands. "Hello there," the man in red said, and Maddie then noticed that his eyes turned an evil red. Kandall Thal…Maddie recognized him from the description Jof had given them. Maj. White raised his assault rifle, only for Thal to gesture his left hand and all their weapons tore out of their hands and behind him. "GET OUT OF HERE!" Maj. White screamed and drew a knife from his belt.

"You're joking, right?" Thal said as his spear's laser blade turned off and he put it behind his back. "The only way out is through me, soldier. Let's see what you got!" Maj. White moved forward cautiously towards Thal, then made as if to stab him from above then instead kicked at him. Thal blocked the kick with one arm then grabbed Maj. White's knife arm. Maj. White punched him with his free hand, making him let go an allowing Maj. White to kick Thal back. "Not bad," Thal congratulated his opponent as Maj. White ran forward for a stab that Thal caught and twisted the arm behind Maj. White's back. Maddie and Jack ran forward to help the Major and Maddie reached them first and did a flying side kick into Thal's face, forcing him further back. Thal just smiled at his busted lip and said, "You must be Jazz's Mother. One can only hope that in a few years she'll be as…well formed as you."

"What did you do to her!?" Maddie yelled not liking the smile he gave her. Thal only smiled at her and Maddie ran forward and tried a punch that Thal dodged then blocked her second punch. Maddie tried a round kick to the ribs that Thal caught then pushed her back just as Jack rushed forward, charging like a raging bull elephant! Thal ran back outside the hallway and sidestepped Jack just in time. Jack then turned around faster than expected for a man his size and gave Thal a ferocious back fist that sent him into the wall. "She may not have your looks, but your daughter certainly inherited your fire!" Thal said as he spat out a tooth. Jack pulled on his ghost gauntlets and roared as he charged forward for another punch. Thal dodged the punch and Jack's gauntlet-ed fist stuck into a wall, giving him an opening to punch Jack once, twice, thrice in the kidneys!

"GAH!" Jack screamed in pain, gasping out blood. Maddie grabbed her ghost staff as Maj. White grabbed his assault rifle from the hallway. Maj. White fired at Thal who jumped up into the air higher than any man could possibly do then got behind Maj. White. Maj. White jumped forward to avoid him and Maddie charged forward with her ghost staff lit up, green blades twirling like a buzz saw.

Thal activated his laser spear and blocked her attack saying, "Incredible! It's a shame that you have no real power, or this fight might be interesting." Maddie attacked with her other blade that Thal blocked then jumped back. Jack had recovered enough to grab his ecto-bazooka and fired away at Thal. Thal blocked his blasts then punched his hand forward; telekinetically knocking Jack back into the wall and making him drop his ecto-bazooka. He then gripped his hand and Maj. White rose in the air, choking. "Goodbye," Thal said as Maj. White's neck broke and his limp body fell to the floor. Maddie attacked again, stabbing forward as hard as she could. Thal knocked her blade away and sliced her ghost staff in half, the blades turned off as he shoved the butt of his spear into her solar plexus, knocking the air out of her then punched her to the ground with a furious uppercut.

"MADDIE!" Jack yelled as he ran at Thal again. Thal sidestepped Jack once more and kicked the side of his right knee, breaking it with a resounding crack! Jack screamed as he hit the floor and Thal deactivated his weapon then swung the metal handle like a golf club right into Jack's head. Maddie tried to get up, only for Thal to stomp on her solar plexus again, further driving the air from her lungs. "He's not dead…yet. I wonder what Jazz's face will look like when she sees you," Thal said as the elevator opened and stormtroopers marched out. "Secure the prisoners," Thal ordered as he marched back into the hall. Maddie heard a hiss then a yell, and the sound of boots running back to her.

The stormtroopers lifted her up just in time for Thal to grab her by the throat and scream, "WHERE IS SHE!?" Maddie just looked at him and spat bloody saliva in his face for an answer. "You think I can't make you suffer!? You think I can't use you and that fat oaf to bring her to me!? By the time I'm though with you, you will beg for death!" Thal screamed as he punched her in the jaw again, and Maddie knew only darkness.