The Story of forgotten Jedi Owen Sun
Chapter 16: Nowhere to Run
The Assassin could run but he couldn't hide as Owen was hot on his trail tracking him deep into the unfortunate realm of the Outer Rim Territories. "I'm starting to feel like a bounty hunter R4" he quipped on their cross-galaxy chase.
"We're coming up on him, stay ready" he advised.
The pursuit was undoubtedly at a head as Owen tensely awaited his arrival from hyperspace, with a flickering wink he disembarked smack-dab in the middle of the Tobali system.
Meanwhile ahead of Owen.
Limping on making patch repairs a panic-ridden alarm rang out as the Assassin turned to his radar; his sophisticated ship never lied as he'd been tracked. The Assassin couldn't believe it, it was the Jedi, like a bad replay he found him yet again through hyperspace. "Blasted Jedi, why can't I be rid of you?" scorned the Assassin.
Swinging in his cockpit chair he activated The Apparitions cloaking device, it was his only saving grace because of his ships crippled state; he would be no match for Owens Jedi Starfighter still on the mend from their skirmish above Kashyyyk. The Assassin flinched in pain, his implant wouldn't heal his wounds entirely, if he couldn't find a place to dock for repairs he would share the same fate as his ship. First, he would have to lose the Jedi…again.
"He should be right here R4, where is he?" wondered Owen.
His Padawan exuberance got the best of him again as he remembered his sneaky cloaking device, Owen flipped on his sensors trying to pick up where he was but got nothing, the Assassins sensor jammers had done their damage. He should've known by now; nothing with this enigma of a man was going to come easy. "R4, boost all power to the sensors" ordered Owen.
Even with his cloaking device activated the Assassin couldn't just blast-off into the sunset as his increased energy reading would give him away, until out of range all he could do was drift and wait.
With his R4-P astromech droids help he suddenly had a minor reading on his radar, it could just been a small chunk of meteor but like his wise Master taught him Owen trusted his feelings. "That's it R4 we've got him!" he stated charging weapons.
Flying casually he did a convincing job of not giving himself away, as far as the Assassin was concerned he was still undetected. Even while lining himself into attack position he kept his cool certain he was hidden from the Jedi's ship, but it would prove to be his last great mistake as the Assassins gamble would not pay off. "Now R4, fire!" he ordered.
With a massive explosion The Apparition decloaked sparks shooting everywhere in his cockpit. "Augh son of a Mynock!" he cursed smoke filling the cockpit.
In the frenzy the Assassin did what he could putting fires out across his ship via auto-extinguisher. "Thanks for the assist R4, he's got nowhere to run now" affirmed Owen watching his ship stagger aimlessly.
Owen could've easily blown the Assassin out of the sky but despite everything that had happened he remembered his mandate set by the Council- bring him in alive; there was still the greater concern of the overall threat, just who hired this Assassin. He opened up a channel to his banged-up ship, after several seconds of waiting there was still no response, despite the Assassins stubbornness Owen did his diplomatic duty. "There's no reason to get yourself killed, give yourself up" he tendered over the comm.
After a long pause he retorted the Jedi's offer. "I would rather die Jedi, I'm not beaten yet" he replied closing the channel.
Suddenly out of nowhere tentacles of electricity burst out the back of his ship paralyzing Owens Jedi Starfighter. He was taken completely by surprise as The Apparition still had some fight left in her. "All systems are down R4, see what you can do" he ordered as everything singed and crackled throughout the cockpit.
Things went from bad to worse as Owen spotted two giant mines headed towards his crippled vessel, like before the mines were slowly being sucked-in towards him but the quick-thinking Padawan had an idea. "Wait, never mind the other systems R4 convert all power to reverse thrusters!" issued Owen speedily.
"Dee-deet-wdeeet-det?" the little droid questioned.
"We don't have time to argue just give me everything you can now!" he pleaded mines getting closer by the second.
After an anxious few seconds R4 gave him power back. "Here we go" began Owen.
With a pullback of the shaft the ship shot back into an uncontrolled burn to the reverse thrusters, as Owen predicted the mines were too slow on the quick maneuver and he opened fire.
BOOM!
In a grand explosion that nearly fried both their ships the mines were destroyed, his shields took the brunt of the blowback but everything was overheated giving the Assassin ample time to hobble away. Patience took over as Owen watched The Apparition coast towards a distant white orb, in time his Starfighter powered back on and he began to catch-up with the Assassin. "Good work R4, lets see how far our friend has gotten" he started.
The Jedi Assassin cursed in an unfamiliar tongue as he realized the young Jedi was closing in on him yet again; he had failures all across his ship, there was no way he could combat the Jedi anymore. He quickly set a course for the closest planet in the system, just as he did however Owen opened up with his Starfighters twin-barrel laser cannons. Like a groundquake had erupted across his ship everything shook with authority, the impact almost knocked him out as his helmet collided with the control panel. While his ship steadied the Assassin held his chest in anguish, the stress of the battle had aggravated his wounds once more blood soaking his cockpit chair. "Augh I can't take anymore of this, I have to land or I'll bleed to death" he thought.
The Assassins once sleekly, silver plated ship was a burning wreck but still operational as he targeted his engines. "You're finished" stated Owen.
With a direct hit to his engines the Assassins ship went critical and dropped out of the sky like a meteor as it plunged towards the white planet. Following him in Owen recognized it was obviously an ice planet but something else told him he should know this place. "R4 what's the name of this world?" he requested.
His astromech droid answered promptly. "Rhen Var huh" he replied.
According to the systems databank the world was once a fertile paradise filled with vegetation and wild life until millions of years ago an atmospheric cataclysm rendered it an icy hibernal surface filled with nothing but frozen tundra and snowswept mountains. Aside from its frigid, isolated and crumbling condition there was a deeper reason why Owen felt he should know this place; he remembered what he learned as a student, specifically these words. "All Jedi feel a reverent sorrow when visiting Rhen Var" he recalled.
Owen only knew what he heard from rumors, renowned Jedi Ulic Qel-Droma met his grief-ridden end there. Legend was he was entombed somewhere on the surface, Ulic was more so remembered by the Order as a controversial Jedi at best, most did not make reference to him due to his troubled past.
His shaky entrance into the planets atmosphere roused him from his stupor as he refocused himself to the task at hand. The windy ice and snow tore into his Jedi Starfighter while bracing the rough entry, Owen could barely see in front of him as the blinding snow of Rhen Var blocked his view. "Looks like we've flown into a heck of a storm R4, you alright out there?" asked Owen.
His droid was still with him as he beeped back an encouraging if not optimistic reply; Owen trusted his console displays radar using it as his eyes guiding the ship through the turbulent skies. Then again Rhen Var was a pretty barren planet it wouldn't be hard to get lost, for this reason he began to wonder if they were off-course but just ahead through the storm he spotted him once more, Owen used the battered Apparition like a torch as what was left of itplummeted to the surface smoke trail burning right behind it.
It was a devastating sight as the ship crashed smacking right into the side of an icy mountain; he surveyed the wreck below for sometime weighing his options. It seemed useless to risk his life on the unstable mountain; looking down at the gruesome outcome it was painfully obvious the Jedi Assassin was dead. "No one could survive that" he thought.
Deep down however Owen knew this couldn't be it, a part of him held out hope that he was still alive. It was certainly a risk with the storm kicking up quite the fuss but it was one the endowed Jedi would have to take, he needed to be undoubtedly sure when he reported to the Council. There was no possible way he could land safely on the mountain so getting as close as he could to the crash site Owen brazenly hopped out, with the icy snow tearing into him he waved the ship away as R4 retreated from his location. "I don't want to take any chances R4, land the ship nearby and I'll be in contact!" he issued over the storm via comlink.
He held his arms to his face as the blizzard continued to do its damage. "Augh!" absorbed Owen.
Making a short trip to the crash site it was difficult to tell much of anything through the wreckage, the flames and smoke had been put out by the storm but allowed closer inspection. "AH!" exclaimed Owen. "Still hot" he discovered attempting to move some of the wreckage.
Sifting through the debris he couldn't find anything. "Maybe he is gone" thought Owen believing he was dead.
But then trickled across a strewn panel he found a blood spatter, it was fresh meaning he was still alive. "Unbelievable" he stated amazed the crash hadn't killed him.
Closeby he located a blood trail in the white snow. Like a detective he followed it further up the mountain to an impossible sight. "You gotta be kidding me" commented Owen.
The blood trail continued on alright, up the side of the mountain. Owen was going to have to climb up to continue the pursuit, he carefully propped his feet and hands while beginning his way up the frozen rock. The numbing wind and freezing snow ripped across his anatomy on the exposed mountain as he endured the full brunt of what the icy world could dish out; reaching the peak of the freezing hell of a mountain he soldiered on following the blood trail through the crunchy snow his blond Padawan braid thrashing in the wind. For any normal person in cold like this they would've frozen to death by now but Owen was a Jedi and trained to steady his body temperature using his mind, yet another advantage of his adept status in Force heal; he wasn't immune but would hold out longer.
Owen noticed the blood trail growing larger with heavier amounts of blood visible, the Assassin was close. A surge of adrenaline urgency took over as he spotted him further ahead motionless, he dashed through the deep snow carefully approaching his blood soaked body. Turning him over the Assassin wasn't dead yet as he conceded with a faint pulse; upon close inspection his wounds were ghastly, it seemed beyond medical comprehension that he was still alive. He tried picking him up but the Assassin weighed a ton in his specially crafted armor, attempting to lighten the load he struggled to pull his helmet off. After several futile attempts he found two singular buttons to the side, pressing them in unison an air released hiss told him what he already knew, but as he began lifting it off the Assassin came to drilling him in the gut then face with both feet. Owen flew back into the white bed of gathered snow as the Assassin continued on forward cradling his chest, getting himself back up he followed leading him to the mountains edge. Seen from up here the miserable, icy wasteland of a planet took on a beautiful significance as the Assassin was out of options; he had to give himself up.
Over the whine of the harsh snowy wind Owen drew his saber. "Its time to go" he concluded.
With blood cauterized to himself and the white snow around him even in his fatal condition the Assassin refused to yield. "Not today Jedi, not ever" he stated through his voicebox.
Without warning he turned round firing his wrist launcher but the sharp Jedi wasn't going to get caught in that thing again as he sidestepped the cable wire. The Assassin had simply pushed himself too far and passed out once again from blood loss consequently falling off the mountain, Owens senses kicked in as he leapt after the dragging cable wire; the Assassin was no use to the Council dead. Grabbing the wire it dragged him to the edge just before he could snag it. "Gotcha" saved Owen.
He peered down teetering on the mountains edge noticing the Assassin hanging from his wrist still passed out, Owen tried pulling him up but like before his armor weighed a ton. Jarred from the rescued fall the Assassin started to move a little regaining consciousness. "Hang on I'm going to pull you up!" shouted Owen over the blinding wind and snow.
Amazingly the Assassin simply looked up, drew his forearm blade and in one motion cut the wire on his wrist. Owen couldn't quite believe what he saw as he disappeared through the storm plunging to his uncertain fate below. "He's insane" thought Owen.
It looked as if the Jedi Assassin had just committed suicide but what was he to do now? There was only one thing to do- find the body; a simple if not habit-forming solution. It took him seemingly forever to climb back down to the crash site, fortunately for Owen R4 assisted him off the mountain to the residual area below; the last place he saw the Assassin. To his utter shock however there was not one trace of him, no blood, nothing; the snow working in his favor covering his tracks well.
Yet distressing he came to an obvious conclusion. "If there's no body than there's nobody dead" thought Owen.
He couldn't have gotten far as he looked around for any possible signs of escape, playing the role of detective again he observed the area but found nothing; it was as if the Assassin disappeared. Owen peered around haplessly, but just as it seemed the chase was over off in the distance he spotted what looked like an alcove.
He held his hand up to his forehead to see through the storm. "That could be shelter" observed Owen.
Making his way towards his last hope of finding the Assassin he realized it wasn't merely an alcove but a cave entrance. "He's gotta be in there" thought Owen.
Venturing past the awe inspiring icicle stalactites that seemed to welcome Owen he made his way into the unknown cavern; his face beat red and numb to his core it was the welcomest sight he had seen since setting foot on the frozen Rhen Var. Moving on further into the cave he took in the extraordinary spectacle, everything was frozen solid in ice with no familiar grittiness of most caverns.
His cold breath escaped into the air looking up at the glacier-like cave. "Charming" he wittily stated taken aback.
Ahead of him refocusing himself Owen spotted a bloody hand print on the clear wall, the real evidence that the Assassin was inside and more importantly still alive. Making his way deeper inside he soon found it harder than expected, with numerous pathways and dead ends he relied on his Jedi senses to guide his way through the deep cavern. But Jedi senses or not Owen was still just a Padawan and was beginning to wonder if he was lost as all clues dried up, he eventually came to an impasse with multiple pathways all around him. "Which way should I go?" he thought.
A faint noise in the distance suddenly answered his question, choosing a path he proceeded after the sound as it echoed through the cavern. The closer he got he could hear the sounds of scraping, it got louder and louder guiding his path, finally he had located the Assassin once more as he scraped madly at the caves glacier-like wall; he was truly desperate vainly trying to carve an escape through the ice.
Igniting his lightsaber it was all over for him. "End of the line" stated Owen.
He took his time turning around; scowling at the blond Jedi through his emotionless mug of a helmet he knew he was finished. "So this is it huh, you going to arrest me now?" mocked the Assassin through his familiar voicebox.
"You're coming with me" replied Owen.
He shook his bulky helmet. "I'm not going anywhere Jedi, I may be dead but I'm not beaten" he stated accepting the obvious.
"Give it up you need medical attention, this icy cave doesn't have to be your end" proposed Owen.
"You know this had nothing to do with you, I wanted your Master…not you" bargained the Assassin.
"If you think you can barter with me you got a lot to learn about the Jedi, you've murdered the last of my brethren and will answer for your crimes" countered Owen.
"Alright Jedi, you want me then come and get me!" he instigated.
"Don't be a fool, you're in no shape to do anything" discerned Owen.
Silence hung in the cold cavernous air; he was right the Assassin was no match for Owen in his condition but casually he pulled something from his belt and injected it straight into his neck. After a tentative few seconds the Assassin cracked his bones and stretched his flesh throughout his body, it was as if the harsh wound meant nothing anymore as he fell back into his battle stance. Owen suddenly realized what was happening, keeping him going wasn't his will but like a junkie he'd kept himself alive on stimulants; this one seeming more enhanced.
He knew the Assassin wasn't going to go without a fight. "Let's finish this" stated Owen.
Like a rampaging Rancor he charged at Owen with everything he had left, under heavy assault he blocked each one of the Assassins beastly strikes with fiery precision as the stimulant had rejuvenated him ten-fold. Nothing left to lose now the Assassin had reached his breaking point fighting like a wild animal; countering his forearm blades he rolled out of the way dodging his menacing double arm chop. He charged at him once more but Owen was ready for him Force pushing the doomed Assassin into the cave wall, lunging after him he hit nothing but ice as the Assassin leapt to cover his saber burning straight through the ice. Retrieving his lightsaber he Force threw it towards a hanging icicle stalactite above the Assassin, he barrel rolled out of danger as the javelin of a stalactite bashed into the frozen cave floor. Jumping in mid-air his saber returned to him slashing down towards the Assassin, Owen didn't give him time to breathe as he pounced on him with several swift, deadly strikes; each man held their own fighting to a stalemate. In the blink of an eye however that quickly changed as the Assassin ducked his swipe taking the feet out from under the young Padawan but countering right back he Force threw a chunk of ice in his path. He sprang up with an overhead strike that the Assassin defied with his forearm blades in a figure x, they were at standstill as he'd lodged his saber into his blades. Both men pulled and struggled to free themselves with unrelenting force; it appeared as if whoever could prevail in the exchange would at last best the other. After a few tense moments Owen got his foot up on the wall for leverage, he spun himself out of the entanglement and kicked him in the chest; the Assassin collected himself as the Jedi's quick shot aggravated his wound once again. Sensing defeat he desperately drew his wrist launcher blind firing hundreds of metal projectiles turning the cave to raining ice chips, Owen dodged the onslaught with his Jedi acrobatics flipping and turning each way. Twirling towards him the unorthodox move surprised the Assassin and with a light flip of the saber he cut off his wrist launcher. "Aaaugh!" he cried holding his wrist in pain.
He collected himself from the exhausting ordeal breathing heavily into the cold air as the Assassin punched into his wrist computer with one last trick up his sleeve. Placing his arms to his side the Assassins armor then slid open revealing a large barreled hole in his chest, Owen couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. His chest then began to make an odd humming noise as he continued to witness the astonishing display, the sound got louder and a faint glowing began to emanate from inside the hole. "What the-" he thought.
Owen didn't have time to finish his thought as a massive circular plasma blast came shooting out his chest; he haphazardly threw himself out of the way avoiding annihilation as the blast collided horribly with the cave wall. The ice began to crack and splinter while the Assassin fired another deadly blast from the remarkable weapon; he once again dove out of danger as giant chunks of ice began to fall all around them. The cave was falling apart on itself but the Assassin could hardly care as a large hunk of ice landed right on top of the Jedi pinning him to the icy cave floor. Owen groaned in agony reaching for his lightsaber, he nearly had it with the tips of his fingers but the Assassin kicked it away ready to end this once and for all. "Now Jedi, to end this" he stated.
Tapping the control panel on his wrist his chest started to charge up for a much more sinister blast; even in their hopeless state Owen was ever droll. "What are you gonna do, gimme a tan?" he mocked trapped under the hunk of ice.
The gleam through his chest grew brighter; at this range the weapon would utterly obliterate Owen. "They won't even find your bones Jedi, this will boil you down to your molecules" declared the Assassin coldly.
As the blinding blue plasma readied to annihilate him he reached out with the Force with everything left in his being, Owens saber fluttered back to him and just as the blast left his chest he thrust it right through the Assassins chest. In the unstable concoction the weapon exploded on itself blowing the hunk of ice off him and the Assassin into the cave wall. Stretching his pinned down body out he noticed the icy debris had ceased now eerily quiet inside the ruined cave, Owen approached the Assassins body with ease but on discovery close up he knew the Jedi Assassin was finally beaten. Blood spewed from his body as he wheezed and coughed looking up at the young Jedi. "Don't worry Jedi you've bested me, I've got nothing left" yielded the Assassin.
"I'm taking you back with me" replied Owen.
"Look at me Jedi…I'm not going anywhere" he stated.
Owen looked over the many wounds and injuries across his body, whether he liked it or not the Assassin was right; if he tried to move him he'd die. Not even the combined strength of the Jedi Council could heal him; there was no way he would survive. "It was one heck of a fight though wasn't it ha-ha?" he chuckled lightly.
There was a long standing pause while Owen recounted their amazing cross-galaxy duel. "Yeah…it was" he replied.
He began to wheeze and cough some more as it appeared something was obstructing his breathing, he tried to take his helmet off but the blast had charred shut any attempt at that. His once unique helmet was now a gruesome sight; tattered, cracked and worn it inspired nothing now but the lost hope of a broken man. Flicking on his lightsaber Owen carefully attempted to remove the helmet, cutting a path right across it the fractured mess gave way to an astonishing revelation.
Blood seeping from his mouth the Assassin looked up at the Jedi. "Now you know who I really am"
His blond Solarian eyes could hardly believe what they saw; the vaunted Jedi Assassin was a dark purple skinned Twi'lek. "Hm surprised aren't you, I spent almost my entire life behind this façade, I cannot deny what I am" he regrettably stated seeming to have many ghosts from his past.
With a blank stare Owen was still trying to absorb the eye-opening sight as the fallen Twi'lek muttered something in his native tongue. "What is it?" wondered Owen leaning in closer.
"Forgive me (cough) you don't speak Twi'leki, I was praying to Kikalekki" he informed.
Owen shared his puzzled look. "The Goddess of my people, maybe she'll forgive me…but it's been so long, I have taken so many lives" divulged the Assassin.
He finished praying as Owen showed silent respect for the dying Twi'lek. "Know one thing before I die Jedi (cough) you were the better and I am honored to die at your hands" he disclosed.
He shook his head in respect admiring the remorseful warrior. "You were right about me you know" recalled the Assassin referencing Artus Prime.
"(Sigh) None of that matters now" replied Owen with a mournful sigh.
"…you were right" gasped the Assassin fading away.
He paused considering the statement. "Tell me who you really are?" asked Owen.
"I am no one Jedi…just an Assassin, nothing more" he admonished.
"You must've had a name?" he questioned.
After a long standing pause the Assassin gave a blood soaked smile. "T-Tatin…Tatin Baruk"
He struggled to breathe severely wheezing and coughing as the pool of blood around him grew larger. "Go Jedi, leave me here to die in peace" concluded the Assassin.
Owen gripped his hand one last time but as he got up to leave he knew it wasn't good enough, kneeling down he gently put the Assassins head in his lap. He did so with ease knowing that a Twi'lek's lekku was extremely sensitive; perhaps the focal reason why he took such care in his unique helmet. "What is it now Jedi?" he questioned.
"If you could do one good thing before you die to make up for all the death and destruction you've wrought what would it be?" asked Owen.
"I don't know (cough) why don't you tell me" he replied.
"Tell me who hired you!" Owen demanded.
He struggled to laugh at the Jedi's obtuse proposal. "Ha-ha (wheeze) and what makes you think I'd tell you that" he retorted.
"What would your Goddess say?" he posed.
With his new found reclamation the Assassin questioned the ethics by which he swore to. "I'm no Twi'lek priest but wouldn't one last great act absolve you of all past deeds?" Owen speculated.
"Well (wheeze) it couldn't hurt my chances" he joked.
"A-Alright Jedi (cough) we'll do it your way…his name (wheeze) h-his nnname is-" the Twi'lek Assassin was cut off by his own demise struggling to breathe.
His eyes suddenly rolled into the back of his head as his seconds were numbered. "C'mon stay with me, stay with me!" pleaded Owen shaking life back into his face.
He placed the Assassins mouth to his ear. "Tell me" implored Owen.
With his last breath he told Owen Sun all he knew. "(Wheeze)…Drakus" revealed the Assassin.
His head went limp and his speech cut short as the Assassin died right then in Owens lap, before he could even process this newest information the icy cave began to fracture once again collapsing on itself. Hastily dodging the falling ice he sprinted to the only opening, he quickly looked back as the roof caved in on itself burying the Assassin, scampering out of the cavern he made his way out just in time.
Owen watched with reprieve as the entire frozen cave fell down into the ice. "Farewell my friend" he thought memorializing the Assassin.
It was a somber walk as Owen made his way back to his ship recalling everything that had led to this point, almost indicative of their fight the storm was over as you could hear for kilometers in the silent cold. Without so much as a peep he hopped back into his Starfighters cockpit and took the ship high out of Rhen Vars orbit.
His R4 droid let out a curious moan. "Yes R4, he's gone" informed Owen.
Getting a fair distance away from the planet his hyperdrive ring was waiting for him where he first engaged the Assassins destroyed ship. Locking back in he began to receive an incoming message but was distorted to say the least; all he could make out were sparse fragments although the voice seemed familiar. "I…[static]…Owen…[static]…Master…[static]…alright?" sputtered the message.
Owen flicked on his comm. to transmit. "I can barely read you, say again?"
"…[static]…Owen it is…[static]…Arca…[static]…" continued the message.
"(Sigh) Master it is good to hear your voice, let me switch over to a better frequency" he replied.
"We've been tracking your hyperspace route through…[static]…systems and were beginning to think the worst, are you…[static]… alright?" transmitted Arca.
"A little banged up perhaps but okay considering" Owen informed.
"What of…[static]…what of the Assassin?" wondered Arca.
"He's dead Master, unavoidable loss I'm afraid, I did get some information from him however" he responded.
"Sounds…[static]…good Owen…[static]…I'm…[static]…sure…[static]…you-" broke off the message.
"I'm losing you again Master, you seem to be out of range, I'll bring you up to speed when I arrive…and boy do I have a story to tell, Owen Sun out" he closed.
Setting a course for the Coruscant system he reflected on his encounter with the mysterious Assassin through the vast currents of hyperspace, defeating him had been the toughest thing he had done yet as a Jedi but oddly enough part of him was sad the journey was over; the more youthful, audacious part of him anyhow. The other more sensible part however realized his Masters prediction was right; Owen had conquered his fear and doubt in his task relying like most great Jedi do on their instincts. The Councils faith in him had been rewarded and the Jedi Assassin was stopped.
But as Owens thoughts returned to the present he began to wonder about the threat still very much looming in the air, it seemed as if one clue had led him to another as he remembered the Assassins dying words.
"Drakus"…