The Adventures of Rickon and Osha, Chapter 9

Outline

This is the final climatic battle between Rickon and company, and the Sith and Mara Taral/Bellatrix Lestrange. It is very much a three way battle: Rickon and company; Mara and her Stormtroopers; and the Sith Lords Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine and Vader, and their Stormtroopers. The 501st Legion was borrowed from Star Wars. They originated as a Star Wars fan club who liked to dress up as Imperial Stormtroopers. They made their first canonical appearance in Revenge of the Sith. They're basically the cream of the Stormtrooper Corps and Darth Vader's elite fighting force. Readers familiar with Star Wars will also recognize some familiar vehicles. In this chapter, we see several fight scenes and two important characters meeting their end. Osha/Nymphadora Tonks settles scores with an old enemy while Han Lee and Rickon confront the Sith. Please note, I don't own any of the characters, locations, and concepts in this chapter apart from Mara Taral, Han Lee, and Tamati Kiore. Everything else rightfully belongs to George R..R Martin, Lucasfilm, and J.K Rowling. Please feel free to post reviews but keep them respectful and civil. Feel free to voice your thoughts, feedback, and criticisms.

Part 1: Able Fett's POV

"This is Vader's Fist calling Chimaera…," radioed a Stormtrooper on his comlink "We're under attack and in need of reinforce…Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrh!"

Bdow! Bdow! Bdow! Bdow! Bdow!

The Stormtrooper making that call had been felled in a hail of blaster bolts, which flashed like fireflies in the night sky. The man's shooter was Able Fett, the rogue Stormtrooper who had abandoned the Galactic Empire and was now fighting on the side of his old Jedi mate Han Lee and his local friends. Fett had shot the Stormtrooper with a repeating blaster, a larger and more powerful version of the standard blaster rifle. He regretted having to shoot his former comrades but Fett had decided he would no longer serve a government built on oppression and tyranny. Fett had always been uncomfortable with the Empire's policies. Mara's latest operation to kidnap a scrawny seven-year old boy on some remote world had been the final straw that broke the Bantha's back.

Fett had fulfilled his part of the plan by creating a diversion that would allow his Jedi buddy Han Lee and Osha to rescue Rickon from harm's way. During Mara's meeting with her master Darth Vader, Fett alone had been assigned to man Mara's Imperial landing craft Stalker. His orders had been to open fire on Darth Vader's shuttle. Fett had fulfilled that order but in a way that Mara had never expected. Now, his mission was to give enough time for Han Lee and Osha to kill Palpatine, Vader, and Mara respectively.

The air rang with the thunder of blaster shots and the roar of battle cries. The grass was littered with the bodies of fallen and wounded combatants from both sides. Initially, Darth Vader's Stormtroopers had the element of surprise on their side. Vader's 501st Legion, known as Vader's Fist, were the elite crack soldiers of the Imperial Army. Vader had personally handpicked the cream of the Stormtrooper Corps for his 501st Legion. Vader's Stormtroopers had ripped through Mara's forces like a pack of wolves. However, the destruction of Vader's shuttle had evened the scales and the fighting had descended into a stalemate. Both sides fought fiercely and doggedly, asking for no quarter and giving none.

Amidst the fighting, the direwolf Shaggydog ripped through the battlefield, attacking Stormtroopers from both sides. Shaggydog used his sharp jaws to tear off limbs and to knock off their helmets. While he was unable to pierce through their thick plastoid armour, the direwolf was able to rip through their necks. Seeing one of Mara's sharp shooters preparing to aim his blaster rifle at the direwolf, Fett dispatched the man with a well-aimed shot to the chest. The dead Stormtrooper let out a final cry and fell to the ground. A red spot of blood quickly appeared on his black plastoid armor.

Part 2: Rickon's POV

Meanwhile, the Jedi Knight Han Lee and Rickon were locked in combat with the entire Sith Order: Palpatine and his apprentice Darth Vader. For almost ten minutes, the four had been sparring with lightsabers. Their fight had been briefly interrupted by the fiery collision between Mara's landing craft and Vader's shuttle. Both Vader and Palpatine had been completely caught by surprise. However, they quickly recovered their wits and resumed their assault with ferocious tenacity. During this skirmish, Vader succeeded in damaging Rickon's lightsaber by slicing off the top part of its hilt. Unable to continue the fray, Rickon attempted to help his mentor by using the Force to levitate rocks and debris at the two Sith Lords. However, the three combatants moved so rapidly that the objects merely bounced off them.

Despite being a skilled Jedi Knight who had passed the trials, Han Lee was unable to match the combined assault of two Sith Lords. One Sith alone was bad enough but fighting two was suicide. After another five minutes, Han was beginning to tire from the many cuts and slashes which Vader and Palpatine's lightsabers had inflicted on him. Suddenly, Palpatine drew back from the fray and unleashed a torrent of Force lightning on Han. Brilliant flashes of lightning flowed out of Palpatine's fingers and struck Han Lee, knocking him to his knees. Han's green bladed lightsaber rolled to the ground. With his opponent weakened, Vader then hurled his lightsaber at Han with the full weight of the Force, impaling him through his abdomen like a hot knife running through butter. With a flick of his right hand, Vader then used the Force to retrieve his lightsaber. Vader then flicked off his lightsaber and fixed it back to his belt.

Mortally wounded, Han Lee choked and gulped as blood gushed out of his mouth and abdomen. Witnessing the fall of a friend, Rickon heard himself scream a resounding No. Sensing Rickon's distress, Palpatine chucked. Having disarmed and weakened their Jedi opponent, the two Sith Lords then turned to face a tearful Rickon, who was cradling the dying Han.

"Rickon, your friends have all failed you," spoke Palpatine in a croaking voice "There is nothing left for you here on Westeros. Join us and we will guide you onto another path."

As Palpatine spoke, Rickon found himself swept into another Force vision. He saw himself as an adult Dark Sider, serving Lord Vader and the Emperor. Rickon had grown into a tall and handsome man but there was a certain darkness and cruelty on his face. He was powerful and well versed in the Dark Side of the Force and lightsaber combat. Rickon found himself hunting down and killing enemies of the Empire and commanding vast armies and starships. The lure of power seemed seductive but Rickon then saw himself twisted and corrupted by the Dark Side. He saw himself brutally killing other beings and destroying cities and worlds for no reason. While submerged in these dark visions, Rickon quickly remembered who he was. He was a Stark foremost and the next heir to Winterfell in the event that his brother Bran never returned from the North.

To combat these dark side visions, Rickon drew on happy memories of his family and his time growing up in Winterfell. Prior to his death, Tamati Kiore had taught him how to resist bad dreams by drawing on his positive memories through the Light Side of the Force. Rickon saw flashbacks of himself playing with his siblings Bran, Arya, Robb, Sansa, and his half-brother Jon, play-wrestling and being carried by his father, celebrating his sixth name day, and playing hide and seek with Summer and Shaggydog. He also saw faces belonging to the people that mattered in his life: his parents, his brother Bran, Osha, Shaggydog, Hodor, Han Lee, and finally Kiore. Rickon suddenly remembered what Kiore had said to him on two afternoons ago: "Never, never give in to the Dark Side. Remember the Light Side is stronger."

"No," shouted Rickon defiantly at Palpatine and Vader "No, I will never join you. You will not bring me over to the Dark Side. I am a Stark and a Jedi."

Rickon grabbed the fallen Han's green-bladed lightsaber and flashed it at the two Sith Lords. Palpatine's face scowled in anger while Darth Vader stood tall and foreboding. Rickon could sense the anger and hatred rising from the two Sith LordS.

"So, be it Jedi," growled Palpatine, smirking a cruel smile. "If you cannot be turned, you shall be destroyed like your pitiful master. Now witness the full power of the Dark Side"

Palpatine then unleashed a torrent of blue Force lightning. Suddenly, Rickon found himself overwhelmed by a torrent of electrical energy and immersed in a state of constant, excruciating pain.

Part 3: Osha's POV

Osha/Nymphadora Tonks sparred with Mara/Bellatrix Lestrange. The two women had edged themselves towards a seaside cliff which overlooked a crop of rocks. The Narrow Sea splashed onto the rocks, occasionally spraying water onto the two combatants. Their lightsabers lit up the night sky like flaming blades: one green and the other red. Mara was a skilled lightsaber duellist, having trained for years in both the arts of the Jedi and the Sith. By contrast, Osha was a mere novice, who had only learned how to pick up a lightsaber in the past three weeks. Osha struggled to remember the various fighting moves that Master Kiore had taught her. Since meeting Han and Kiore, Osha had eschewed her long winding skirts in favour of trousers. Han had kindly lent her one of his spare trousers. While wearing pants had at first seemed strange and awkward, Osha found that wearing them gave her a greater sense of flexibility and manoeuvrability.

Catching sight of Mara's lightsaber hilt, Osha/Tonks moved as quick as a serpent. With one blow, she slashed at her opponent's hilt with her lightsaber. Osha's lightsaber blade slashed through the metal hilt like a hot knife running through butter. Almost immediately, Mara's lightsaber blade vanished leaving Mara's charred weapon to sizzle.

Seeing the rage and venomous hatred on Mara/Bellatrix's pale face, Osha taunted: "Well, not your lucky day is it?"

"It seems that I made the mistake of underestimating you," smirked Mara/Bellatrix. "But thanks to you, I have also begun to rediscover my lost powers."

With that, Mara uttered CRUCIO and unleashed a red blast of energy at Osha/Tonks, throwing her to the ground. For a moment, Osha thought that her skin was on fire. She quickly recognized that her opponent had use the Cruciatus curse, one of the three Unforgivable Curses. A sadistic grin appeared on Mara's face and her eyes turned a glowing yellow-orange hue.

"I must say that Death Eaters and Dark Siders have a lot in common when it comes to inflicting pain," smirked a delighted Mara, as she approached Osha who was lying near the edge of the cliff.

Suddenly, Osha/Tonks felt a stinging pang in her heat. This time it was not an attack from Osha. Something bad had happened to someone she loved. Through her Force connection, Osha quickly sensed that something terrible had befallen new-found interest and companion Han Lee. In a mixture of pain and despair, Osha cried No. Tears of pain and fear flowed down her cheeks.

Due to her Force senses, Mara was able to read Osha's thoughts. Taking full delight in Osha/Tonk's torment, Mara/Bellatrix taunted her wounded opponent.

"It's real bad luck that you have to lose someone whom you hold dear twice," taunted Mara/Bellatrix "In your past life and now in your present life. Now that you have disposed of my lightsaber, I'll have to find some other way of killing you. Ah yes, it's time to show you a display of my Force powers. But the catch is that you won't get to live. Heh Heh!"

Instantly, Osha/Tonks felt a Force current pushing her towards the cliff edge. Osha tried to anchor herself to the ground with her fingers and feet but the current only grew stronger. Osha then attempt to levitate her lightsaber with the Force but Mara/Bellatrix kicked it aside. Osha saw Mara flash her a sadistic grin. It seemed that this was going to be the end. Suddenly, five blaster bolts rang through the air like thunder. Mara's face suddenly turned into a contorted mask of shock and agony as she fell to the face-first to the ground. Mara had been hit by two blaster bolts in the head and three more in her torso.

With the Force current lifted, Osha rose to her knees in time to see Able Fett, the former Stormtrooper-turned-friend standing over Mara's body. He then helped Osha to her feet and led her away from the cliff and the lifeless corpse of Mara. Mara, or rather Bellatrix Lestrange, was dead again.

"Thanks for saving me again," spluttered Osha "Those were good shots."

"No problem, but we have got to go," replied Fett "Rickon and Han need our help."

Part 4: Rickon's POV

For what seemed almost like an eternity, Rickon was bathed in constant excruciating pain. Rickon was not conscious of his surroundings. The air around him sizzled with lighting. He saw his entire life flow by in seconds: sucking milk from his mother's breasts, playing with his brothers and sisters, meeting Shaggydog for the first time, smashing walnuts on the table, Theon beheading Rodrik, running away from Winterfell with Bran, Hodor, and Osha, hiding in the cellars beneath Winterfell, meeting Jojen and Meera, and his tearful parting with Bran. Everything leading up to his encounter with the Jedi, the Empire, and the Sith. Rickon resigned himself to meeting his fate.

Suddenly, he heard Shaggydog's familiar growl. Before Rickon could make out what was going on, Shaggydog had leapt onto Palpatine and bit him in the arm. Rickon heard an angry howl of pain and suddenly felt the lightning and pain dissipate into nothingness. Looking up, Rickon saw an enraged Palpatine shoving Shaggydog away with the Force. Suddenly, there was the thundering sound of blaster bolts. Palpatine was hit by two blaster bolts and fell backwards to the ground. Rickon saw Able Fett, the "good" Stormtrooper who had saved Osha and Han Lee, charging towards him and Darth Vader, who now stood alone.

However, Vader suddenly stretched out with his right arm towards Fett. Suddenly, Fett was gasping for breath and dropped his repeating blaster. It seemed that Fett was choking as if he was being hung even though there was no noose around his neck. Remembering the lessons that Master Kiore had taught him, Rickon realised that Vader was "Force choking" Fett: using the Dark Side of the Force to strangle Fett. With every remaining ounce of energy in his body, Rickon used the Force to retrieve his lightsaber and then leapt at Darth Vader. Using his lightsaber, Rickon sliced off Vader's right hand.

Instead of seeing blood or flesh, Rickon saw a strand of torn wires and cables which sizzled sparks. Taken by surprise, Vader was then attacked by a lightsaber-wielding Osha. Her green lightsaber and angry face were reflected on the Sith Lord's black armor. Osha then slashed at Vader's chest plate, damaging its electronic panels. As Vader fell to the ground, she kicked of his helmet with the full force of her boot. Vader's helmet and death mask rolled off to reveal a pale, sickly bald man.

With his life-support suit damaged by Osha's onslaught, Lord Vader struggled to breathe. With great difficulty, he managed to form a smile and chucked: "Good, cough, very good, Osha. You have bested me. I sense your anger and hatred. Now strike me down and your journey to the Dark Side will begin."

Osha at first hesitated but Rickon could see the rage and hatred in Osha's eyes. Osha had just come across her mortally wounded lover Han Lee and desired retribution against those who had harmed him. Osha raised her green lightsaber and prepared to strike Vader , Han Lee shouted: "Nooooo! Don't do it, Osha. I have seen it in the Force. An opportunity will come for Vader to make amends for his wrongs. It's not his time to die yet!"

Coming to her senses, Osha turned and saw Han Lee stirring. The Jedi Knight was visibly in great pain and his shirt was soaked in blood. Nearby, Rickon saw Shaggydog and Fett beginning to stir. In the distance, Rickon hear the screeching rumble of Imperial ships approaching. Gazing up, he saw two tri-winged Imperial shuttles approaching, flanked by several spherical starships with twin rectangular wings. Those were TIE fighters, the standard starfighters of the Imperial Navy.

"Come, let's go," said Fett "Those are Imperial reinforcements. Let's get the hell out of here before they catch us."

Rickon rose to his feet and recovered his lightsaber while Osha and Fett lifted the mortally wounded Han on their shoulders and fled into the nearby forest. Shaggydog raced into the forest at front them, determined to sniff out anymore threats and dangers to his masters. It had been a big and eventful day. Despite his aching and tired body, Rickon jogged as fast as he could. Osha and Fett tailed behind, half-carrying and half-dragging Han between them.