Authors Note: This next experience Owens goes through is visibly familiar to that of Knights of the Old Republic I when you encounter that crate on the Ebon Hawk and you're transported to the white prison with the Rakata. Although similar this next experience and the white prison in the game are entirely different, I use this example only to paint a picture in your mind while you read.
The Story of forgotten Jedi Owen Sun
Chapter 36: Battle of Castell Pt. IV
The Battle of Castell was at a critical juncture, all would be gained or all would be lost. But underneath the deep blue waters of the river there was a different battle taking place, the battle for Owen Suns life.
Owens lifeless body continued to sink to the bottom of the river with no signs of life visible, whatever was left of Owen Sun remained deep inside his mind as mentally he was about to decide his fate.
In a sudden blinding rush what was left of Owen flooded back into a coherent entity.
As if he had been just born Owen fell back into himself. "Ughhh" he moaned as he fell to the floor upon entry.
Panting heavily holding his chest Owen struggled to breathe. "(Struggles to breathe)…(struggles to breathe)"
Owen continued to gasp for air until he finally was able to steady his breathing, looking around he shielded his eyes from the coarse blinding white. As his eyes began to adjust to the white around him Owen stood up.
Not knowing where he was, what had happened, and why he was here Owen spoke out. "Hello!" he shouted into the white.
His voice seemed to stretch on forever as it echoed into the distance, he turned around and tried the opposite direction. "Hello!" he yelled again.
Nothing, he started to become unstable as Owen began walking around extremely paranoid, in a panic he started running into the unending white of his mind. Everywhere Owen ran there was nothing but white, it seemed to stretch on to eternity, he could spend a lifetime trying to find a way out.
Becoming overwhelmed by the situation Owens heart began to beat fast, he fell back to the ground as he started to choke. Heavy breathing overtook him as he felt what seemed like water gather into his lungs again, concentrating Owen steadied his breathing like before. "Stay calm…stay calm" he said to himself quietly.
As he rose again Owen held out his hand shielded his eyes from the bright new light that appeared to be coming closer, he couldn't quite make out what it was until a figure suddenly emerged from the bright light. Staring at the figure before him Owen couldn't believe his eyes. "Milla" he said in disbelief.
She nodded her head. "Yes Owen it's me"
While Owen looked on intently at his lost love he began to think he was dreaming. "Is any of this real?" he asked.
"It's more real than you know Owen" she replied.
"I don't understand…why am I here, what happened, where is this place?" questioned Owen.
"Do you remember anything that happened before you got here?" Milla asked.
"I…I can't remember" Owen replied with his hand cradling his forehead in confusion.
"Look at yourself" said Milla.
"What?" he questioned.
"Look down at what you're wearing" guided Milla.
Owen slowly looked down now noticing he was suited up in clone trooper armor with a cape draped behind his shoulders, Owens head fell into his hands. "I…just can't seem to remember" he stated struggling with his thoughts.
"Concentrate, think about the last thing you remember before you arrived here" she guided.
"I was…ughhh…it's there but I just can't place it" struggled Owen.
"Try again" Milla encouraged.
"I was inside a cockpit when…when suddenly there was a disturbance and I…I…" struggled Owen trying to remember.
In his mind Owen brought himself back to that moment. "I fell from the sky…it all happened so fast…I tried to save…or did I…ughhh" realized Owen growing angry with his blank memory.
Milla came to fill in the blanks. "Your ship crashed and you…perished"
"What…you're saying I'm…I'm dead" replied Owen in utter shock.
"No…at least not yet" answered Milla.
"What…I…I need to understand, tell me what's going on" pleaded Owen.
"If you want the answers I will give them to you, but I warn you my love we are treading on dangerous ground, you must make your choice wisely" she cautioned.
"Choice, what choice?" he questioned.
Milla put her loving hand to Owens handsome face. "Let me explain first" she said.
"Right now we are in your mind" she informed.
"My mind?" questioned Owen.
"Yes, the Force has sent me here to guide you back" she revealed.
"Guide me back, to where?" Owen wondered.
"To your body" Milla replied.
"So I'm really dead then" stated Owen.
"No…you're not dead, what remains of you is here and now" informed Milla.
"So how do I get back?" wondered Owen.
"What has happened cannot be changed or reversed, you have a choice and you must make it now" she revealed.
"A choice…but how can I make this choice if I can't remember anything" replied Owen.
"Here, let me help" she said leaning in to touch his head.
"Close your eyes" she instructed.
In a sudden rush of information most of Owens lost memories came flooding back, his eyes snapped open and he fell to the ground as he now understood everything. "It all makes sense now…the battle…the machines…being shot out of the air" realized Owen.
"And those machines will destroy your clone forces, now that you understand you must choose your fate" she informed.
"But what is the choice, I still don't understand" replied Owen.
"You have to decide to either go back and try and stop them or choose to die here and now" she revealed.
Silence hung in the white air for a moment as Owen weighed his options. "So if I choose to die now, I will be able to stay with you" he pondered softly.
"Yes, that is one option" she replied.
Owen smiled. "Since the day you were killed that's all I've ever wanted"
"But what about your clone army, you would leave them to die" she pointed out.
"I know the risk Milla, but if that's the price to pay to be with you I will bear the burden, the Republic will survive as it has for thousands of years" replied Owen.
"You don't know that Owen, it is the people in the galaxy that shape it and with you dead and gone certain pertinent things will not happen, there is still so much to be done… so as you can see Owen the galaxy needs you" Milla preached.
"I need you Milla, how much more blood must be spilt before all this ends…I am tired of fighting Milla, let me come with you" Owen pleaded.
"What about the Jedi, would you forsake our order in its time of need…you were sworn to protect it" she reminded.
Ignoring the comment Owen leaned in and looked straight into her eyes. "Don't you want this?"
Milla turned her back fighting what she really wanted. "Don't tempt me" she replied.
"Don't you see, we can be together, I am unimportant, surely another can take my place" said Owen.
"That's where you're wrong, you are more important than you can possibly know Owen" she replied.
"Don't you remember what Arca told you…he perceived you would become one of the greatest Jedi of our time…and what about your hopes of becoming a Master, training the students at the Jedi Temple as you have desired for so long, you'll be turning your back on them" informed Milla.
"I had forgotten" replied Owen hanging his head low.
"Enough words, you must make the choice on your own…I have done all I can" Milla said bringing everything to a close.
After what seemed like a lifetime of silence Owen had made his choice. "Even though I desire with all my heart to stay here with you…I will go back and find a way to destroy those machines and fulfill my duty as a Jedi" he informed.
Milla smiled. "I'm glad you made the right choice…I will miss you my love"
Tears began to weld in Milla's eyes. "Your blond hair and eyes, your handsome face, the way you make me feel when you're around"
Interrupting her Owen leaned in and kissed Milla passionately, as with before it seemed to last a lifetime.
As they finished their foreheads leaned against one another. "I don't want to go" stated Owen softly.
"You must" she replied.
Owen looked into her beautiful blue eyes one last time. "I love you"
Milla looked back into Owens blond eyes. "I love you"
"We will meet again" stated Owen firmly.
"Yes, we will" she replied lovingly.
"What must I do, how do I go back?" he wondered.
Instantly Milla stretched her hand forward into Owens chest.
Suddenly Owen found himself deep underwater as bubbles from his surprising return spewed everywhere, looking up Owen could see the faint shine of Castell's bright sun. Swimming frantically to the surface Owen ascended a great distance until finally he emerged above water gasping for air, catching his elated breath he began swimming to shore.
Getting atop of shore water spewed from Owens lungs as it came pouring from his mouth, after coughing and choking quite a bit he removed his wet blond hair from his eyes and pulled it back. Thinking about what just took place Owen had a surreal feeling of heartache and jubilation. "I hope I made the right choice" he thought.
Owen could still hear the sounds of battle in front of the presidents building, the loud after shock of the Juggernauts cannons rung into the air. Owen remembered what Milla told him, the ground forces wouldn't have much time, he needed to find a way to destroy the new Commerce Guild machines. Owen flicked open his wrist to access his suits radar or communicator, but got no response, both were fried. "Probably the water's doing" thought Owen.
Picking himself up and checking his suit and belt everything looked to be in place, even his lightsaber was surprisingly still with him. But Owen wasn't sure it would work, so after tapping the red ignite button his saber snapped open brandishing its yellow light. "Works like a charm" Owen stated twirling his saber in one hand.
Moving forward Owen made his way towards the loud fighting in the distance, on the way he ran into a few suburban areas of the city, that was where he spotted the droid barracks. Stepping inside the barracks were empty as all droids had been deployed, Owen then came across a control panel, hacking into it Owen was looked for any information on the deadly new machines they were facing. All he could find however where their names. "Hmm Juggernaut droids, never heard of them" said Owen to himself.
All other information on them was restricted, so instead Owen found the map of the immediate area and searched for any type of droid structures that may be operating the Juggernauts, he didn't find much except one odd indication on the map. There was an entrance port nearby that led to seemingly nowhere, Owen could see that there were high energy readings in that area and lots of traffic over the CIS droid network.
Leaving the droid barracks Owen decided he would check it out as it wasn't very far, making his way there he encountered shockingly no resistance, every single droid in the area seemed to fighting against the 501st at the presidents building. Arriving Owen cautiously approached the entranceway but to his disappointment the entrance required a special code, after several attempts Owen became fed up and drove his saber into the panel short circuiting it, the entrance hissed opened revealing an elevator.
Owen got in and hit the only button in it and the elevator began to descend, coming to the bottom he carefully stepped out checking for any droids, with none in sight he began forward. All around Owen saw unfinished bare droids that were either being assembled or junked, the cold metallic facility seemed very quiet despite signs of recent activity. As he ventured further inside Owen soon realized that this underground facility was some type of core control base as hundreds of screens and control panels detailed droid movements, spider droid deployment, and the Commerce Guilds general production.
Searching through their database for information on the Juggernauts Owen found some interesting details on the Commerce Guild prototypes, luckily for them only two prototypes were produced and the main control base for them was inside the very facility. Memorizing the directions to it Owen continued on deep into the silent facility, eventually he found the Juggernaut control base and it was being operated by four high tech engineer droids. And nearby guarding it was two patrolling droidekas.
It was nothing he couldn't handle as Owen picked himself a good spot, as the patrolling droid turned on his route Owen tossed his lighsaber across the wide open area and destroyed the first, as the second rolled in and investigated what had happened he jumped up and landed right next to the droideka slashing its legs from its droid frame. Owen silently made his way over to the busy droids operating the complicated system and picked them all up at once and smashed them into the wall.
It took Owen a few minutes to figure out what the control base was exactly for until he realized he could operate the entire massive Juggernaut droids from right there. Owen quickly overrid the droids operating the Juggernauts from inside the very machine and took the helm, Owen knew exactly what he was going to do.
Meanwhile back to the fighting at the Commerce Guild presidents building.
As the golden statue of Shu Mai glistened in Castell's sunlight the Juggernaut droids continued to tear apart the weakening 501st ground forces, the clone Lieutenant did all he could but it was inevitable that they would be destroyed. But suddenly one of the Juggernauts stopped firing and retracted its guns and lasers, the massive machine than began to slowly turn towards the other Juggernaut beside it. On the ground the clone Lieutenant didn't understand what was happening. "What is it doing?" he wondered.
With its large cannons cocked and ready to fire the Juggernaut launched a shot into its prototype companion. A huge explosion took place blowing off a large chunk of the machine, then in a barrage of thick laser fire the firing Juggernaut droid tore into its companion blasting it in half, the under fire Juggernaut erupted into flames and fell over rattling the ground around it. Then in a final blaze of fire the battered machine exploded throwing debris everywhere, the clone forces on the ground were shocked, why did it do that?
Back to Owens position inside the underground facility.
Owen steered the Juggernaut droids guns towards the large durasteel doors of the Commerce Guild presidents building, bombarding the doors with the Juggernauts heavy cannons Owen had blown open an entranceway into the presidents building. He then guided its large cannons to the ground and blasted the area beneath the Juggernauts mechanical legs, the ground caved in and the Commerce Guild prototype fell into the large, gaping hole. The trapped Juggernaut eventually went offline as the impact had disabled all its functions, looking to the opposite screen Owen punched in the self destruct for the underground facility, suddenly a voice then sounded throughout the facility. "T-minus 1 minute and counting" it said.
Owen quickly jetted back through the facility using his force speed to get to the elevator faster. "T-minus 15 seconds" it sounded.
Punching the only button in the elevator Owen began his ascent back up, as the elevator arrived at the top Owen jumped out just as the facility below him self destructed, the blast ruptured into the entire area.
Meanwhile back to the fighting in front of the presidents building.
What little remained of the CIS ground forces were fighting madly to keep the 501st out of the presidents building, suddenly sending them forward a gush of air nearly knocked the clone troopers to the ground. "What was that?" wondered a clone trooper.
Eventually the CIS ground forces protecting the building were destroyed and as the clone Lieutenant prepared a strike team to enter the presidents building a brief silhouette of a figure was seen in the distance. The Lieutenant focused his optics wondering who or what it was. "What in the blazes is that?" he wondered.
Emerging from around a destroyed spider droid it was suddenly clear to the 501st who it was. "No…it can't be" said the clone Lieutenant in disbelief.
Owens blond hair and cape flailing in the wind behind him was the dead giveaway. "It's him…it's the General!" yelled the clone Lieutenant getting his troopers attention.
Owen approached a shocked clone Lieutenant. "Lieutenant" he greeted nodding forward.
"General, we thought you were dead…when your fighter was hit by those new machines and you crashed into the river we believed you were lost to us" stated the clone Lieutenant.
Owen smirked remembering his entire out-of-body experience. "I thought I was too" he replied.
Turning to the wreckage of the Juggernaut droids before him the clone Lieutenant explained. "I really don't know what happened Sir, they had us surely beaten when suddenly one of them stopped and fired at the other destroying it, then after blowing the presidents building doors open it blasted the ground beneath it and fell into the hole and went offline" he informed.
"It's a real mystery General…I guess its programming short circuited or something" he added.
Owen smiled glaring at the wreckage before him. "Yeah, I guess it did"
Heading towards the Commerce Guild presidents building Owens smile grew larger as he left what he had done a mystery to the 501st. Climbing the steps of the presidents building the clone Lieutenant caught up with Owen. "Sir, don't you want any help?" he asked.
"No…rally what forces you have left and mop up any remaining droids, I'll return shortly" ordered Owen.
"Yes Sir" replied the clone Lieutenant.
Entering through the destroyed doors of the presidents building Owens footsteps echoed throughout the barren, deserted building. Glancing around he noticed gold plated across everything, obviously stolen by the Commerce Guild from worlds they ransacked, but even with all their wealth the Commerce Guild couldn't defeat a simple Jedi and a determined clone army, it was clear now that the homeworld of the Commerce Guild was lost and at an end.
Owen continued to journey through the vacated building finding nothing, it wasn't until he came across a darkened section of the presidents building that he found something. Stepping forward into the dark Owen knew he wasn't alone, keeping his eyes ever vigilant he continued forward. Catching his interest a dim light came on above Owen, then suddenly an object came flying towards him at blinding speed. Hitting him square in the chest Owen had the wind knocked right out of him, getting back up he surveyed the object that struck him, picking up the staff like weapon Owen knew exactly what it was, an electro staff. Then it hit him. "Magnaguard" he said to himself.
Coming into view in the distance in front of him the magnaguard revealed itself, with its cape draped over its shoulders it began to advance towards him. But suddenly two more sets of red glowing eyes became visible in the dark to the sides of him, the mechanical bodies of two more magnaguards stepped out from the darkness and into the dim light. The three magnaguards joined up into a triangle in front of him, dawning his clone trooper armor and with his Jedi Generals cape in tow Owen reached for his belt and grasped his lightsaber. With a snap hiss Owens yellow blade opened lighting the area around him, in a sudden attempt the magnaguard to the right of him attacked, seeing it coming Owen stretched out his hand and tossed the droid out one of the windows, the magnaguard fell a great distance and connected with a pointed pillar that drove itself right through the droid.
With just two to worry about now the next magnaguard from the left took a swing at him with its deadly electro staff, Owen blocked it and began to duel with the droid. As Owen and the droid dueled through the darkness and light the middle magnaguard reacquired his staff and got into the fight, Owen was now fending off two magnaguards with electro staffs. He blocked the frantic strikes of the magnaguards from both sides trying not to end up sawed in half by the deadly electro staff's, flipping backwards Owen separated himself from the chaotic duel. He then immediately threw his saber at the droid cutting one of its arms off, the magnaguard from the middle then attacked and Owen tossed him into the far wall. The magnaguard with one arm lunged back towards him attempting to dismember the Jedi Knight, Owen ducked the attack and spun back putting some distance between them again, as the magnaguard came at him again Owen steadied his mind and with a turn of his hand crushed the droids insides. The magnaguard fell to the golden floor of the presidents building severely damaged but still active and clawed towards Owen, as the droid dragged itself towards him cradling its chest Owen finished it off by using his lightsaber like a dart and tossed it right through his head.
After retrieving his blade from the droids skull the final magnaguard ran at him with murder in his eyes letting out a sickly mechanical growl. Owen dueled with the hapless droid throughout the area until it booted him in the chest with its prehensile mechanical leg, with Owen down the magnaguard looked to drive its electro staff right through him. He quickly rolled out of the way and jammed his lightsaber into the droids chest, with his saber still inside the droids chest he kicked the magnaguard over his head using his own momentum. As the magnaguard rose up ready to fight again Owen noticed the cumbersome cape it had on, the previous two magnaguards didn't have capes, this struck him as odd. "Must be their leader or something" Owen thought.
The magnaguard carelessly made another strike but this time Owen went to one knee and swiped upwards splitting the droids electro staff in two, with no staff the droid was defenseless so instantly before it could formulate a defense Owen simply sliced the magnaguards head right off and drove his saber deep into the droids chest making sure it would stay down.
Owen left the destroyed IG-100 Series Magnaguards and ventured further into the Commerce Guild presidents building, eventually Owen came to a dead end with two massively golden doors, attempting to open them he soon found that they were locked up tight. "Shu Mai must be in here" he said to himself convinced.
He then began to cut a hole into the throne room door, as he finished the hole a chuck of the door gave way and Owen stepped inside. The throne room of Commerce Guild President Shu Mai appeared empty, Owen searched the room using the force and found one living entity inside, approaching the desk Owen ordered the person out. "Come out…now!" he commanded.
Stepping out the lone Gossam president aid fell to his knees. "Please don't kill me" he pleaded.
Owen held his yellow humming saber to his throat. "Where is Shu Mai?" he asked.
Getting no response Owen grew impatient. "Where!" he shouted wanting the answer.
"Sh…she's gone, m…my majesty President Shu Mai is gone" the Gossam president aid informed.
Owen was suddenly contacted by the clone pilot Captain. "General it's good to know you're alive, the Lieutenant filled me in on everything" he stated.
"What is it Captain I'm kind of in the middle of something" replied Owen.
"We've just spotted a ship leaving orbit and were headed after it, it looks like president Shu Mai is on board the vessel" informed the clone Captain.
"Don't let that ship escape Captain" ordered Owen speaking into his new communicator.
"Its jumping to hyperspace…don't worry General we're going after it" replied the clone pilot Captain.
A moment later the clone Captain had disappointing news for his Jedi General. "I'm sorry Sir the ship got away, we tried following it but it masked its hyperspace route, from our scans it shows that Commerce Guild President Shu Mai was in fact on board Sir" he relayed.
"I'm sorry Sir, we failed you" added the clone Captain.
"Don't be sorry Captain you did your best, just get yourself back here" replied Owen ending the transmission.
Owen turned his attention back to the trembling Gossam president aid. "Your planet has been captured and your corporation is no more" stated Owen.
"On your feet…you're under arrest" added Owen.
Meanwhile in hyperspace onboard President Shu Mai's private ship.
"How will we explain to the Separatists council that we've lost an entire planet?" wondered the Gossam president aid.
"I will inform Count Dooku myself personally" assured Shu Mai.
"But your majesty what will we do, Castell was the Commerce Guilds homeworld, with it now in Republic hands our intergalactic corporation is no more" implied the Gossam president aid.
"As long as I still live the Commerce Guild will survive" stated President Shu Mai sternly.
"But your majesty we…" Shu Mai cut the Gossam president aid immediately off.
"We will discuss this colossal failure at a later time" she interrupted disgusted.
An upset Shu Mai then motioned her hand to the cockpit. "Set a course for Felucia"
The furious Commerce Guild President then truly began to weigh how big of a loss she had suffered. "That damn Jedi" she thought circling her failures around Owen Sun.
Back on Castell.
Exiting the presidents building with his new prisoner Owen was just in time for the tremendous explosion as the demo on the giant statue of President Shu Mai exploded sending it teetering to the ground below, with a violent thud the glorious statue shattered on impact giving the 501st one final triumph over the Commerce Guild. The clone Lieutenant led the ground forces in celebration as he roared in victory cocking his blaster rifle in the air, it was quite the sight as Owen took it all in.
Suddenly a recovered Commander Appo congratulated his Jedi General on a job well done. "You did an incredible job Sir, few Jedi Generals could of accomplished what you did"
"We all did" replied Owen.
They both continued to survey the jubilant 501st as in the air the clone pilot Captain and his fighters did a flyby. "Maybe the war will change…maybe it won't, all I know is that we did the impossible here today" stated Owen.
Owen then turned to face Appo. "With this victory they may say that you've earned the right to truly call yourselves the best…but all I know is that in my eyes you've earned my respect and adulation" he stated.
Owen held out his hand for Appo to shake. "It's been an honor Commander"
Overwhelmed Appo stuck out his hand and returned the handshake.
As the beautiful yellow sun of Castell began to set it bathed the city and celebrating clone forces in an awe inspiring glow that seemed to thank Owen and the 501st for liberation. "I made the right choice" thought Owen.
Owen would never forget this moment as he and Commander Appo continued to survey the rejoicing clone troopers. "You know before all this I said it couldn't be done…I was wrong" he finished.